Exposed Memories

by Sienna Aylen

  Rafe’s chest and lower body were still in bear form, with only his head resembling that of a human. Razor-sharp claws sliced through the air in a threat for them to keep their place on the other side of the thin stream of water that fell over the side of the cliff to drop a few hundred feet into the pool at the bottom of the pass.

  Bloodshot eyes stared back at Damien, ringed with smudges of inky black. Matted tufts of hair stuck up in random spikes, with mud speckled throughout his fur, turning it a dingy brown. Rafe held himself still, feet planted apart in the dirt. The left side of his face was suspiciously devoid of motion while the right moved freely.

  Damien noted that Rafe favored his right leg, barely placing any weight on it. The acrid smell of dried blood and bodily fluids permeated the air, making him want to gag. Next to him, he heard Desiree shift from breathing from her nose to breathing through her mouth. No other movement gave away her disgust at the pungent odor.

  More confident now that he knew Desiree wasn’t going to do anything rash, Damien sighed. With a practiced air of indifference, he crossed his arms. “What did you do to Belle?”

  Rafe sneered and pointed to the small bundle strapped to his chest. “Oh, her? I may have given her a sleeping aid, or something to that effect. I’m not so sure about the dosage, though. Now hand over the girl. Thank you for trussing her up for me. It’s so much easier when they don’t put up a fight.”

  Damien shrugged. “I can imagine. You know what I want, Rafe. Belle will be safe and sound in my possession before you get the newest Council recruit. She isn’t any of my concern, only Belle is. I’m here to trade, so let’s get to it.”

  “You always were a mercenary, just like your family. Taking things that don’t belong to you.”

  Not touching that comment, Damien continued, “I hope you didn’t do anything further to Belle, otherwise I won’t be able to leave you alive, but I think you know that. That’s why you arranged this meeting the way you did. Covered all your bases. I’m actually impressed you were able to avoid all the search parties for an entire week. Your skills have improved with time.”

  Rafe laughed. “My skills are unimaginable. I’m the one who belongs in charge of the Clan, not you. I’m the brains of this operation. It took you over three months to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I’ve always known you were a dimwit but really, three months? It wasn’t even you who figured it out. It was your brainless father.” Spittle dripped from Rafe’s mouth as he raged at Damien, “Your filthy family stole the title from my great-grandfather like thieves in the night. I’m the rightful Alpha of the Clan and I will be Alpha…that girl you’re holding assures me that.”

  Damien frowned. “How could one fifteen-year-old girl possibly make you Alpha?”

  Rafe smiled, saliva and mud dripping down his chin. “She’s the key. They’ll find all of them. When they do, the entire world will bow down. No one can escape it.”

  “Petra escaped it. From what I heard she hopped on a plane to Paris last week.”

  Rafe growled. “No one can escape it! Petra was weak, a tool to be used. A warm body and nothing else. She was entertaining for a time but I’ll never share the Alpha title with anyone, not even her.”

  Damien scoffed. “You sure she didn’t dump you, instead of the other way around?”

  “Enough! You brainless baboon, you don’t know what’s coming. A war the likes of which you’ve never seen. Those Council bitches won’t be able to stop it and neither will you. It’s already started. Everyone who opposes it will be wiped from the planet.”

  Creeping through the forest, Emma snuck through the thick brush until she was positioned behind Rafe. Waving a hand, she used a minute amount of her powers to mask their scents, leaving only Damien’s and Desiree’s drifting through the clearing. Rafe knew she could read objects, but she would bet he had no idea she could make their scents disappear. The insidious trap of excessive self-confidence he had fallen into would be his downfall.

  The timing had to be perfect for them to pull this off.

  Camouflage paint striped her and her sister’s faces, matching the clothing they wore. Their hair was pulled back into severe buns and covered with black hats. Three Council members and three bears stalked Rafe. Luckily, the bears’ fur blended into the muted colors of the brush. Jeff, Dimitri and Hunter were all positioned at intervals in the forest. They had Rafe surrounded on three sides, the only exit the edge of the cliff. If he decided to use that route, there were another two men waiting at the bottom to collect his body.

  From where Emma was crouched under a bush, she couldn’t make out her sisters’ locations, though she knew Gwen had taken to the trees with her sniper rifle. She would be in a high perch, one that was covered and provided a perfect vantage point to cover her intended target. Steady and sure, she would sit there for hours in the same position if it was needed to get the job done. Never twitching or giving herself away. A predator silently outwaiting her prey.

  Tessa, on the other hand, was adept at sliding along the ground like a viperous snake— Just as deadly and just as poisonous when riled. Knives were her weapon of choice— knives dipped in venom. She had infinite patience and could sneak up on her prey, ending their lives before they knew what hit them. Blending into her surroundings with graceful movements, no one able to spot her among the dirt.

  Emma might not be able to see her sisters, but their whispered voices in her head, first Gwen then Tessa, confirmed their presence, giving her the calm she needed to finish the job.

  “Emma, Tess, I can’t get a shot off until Belle is away from his chest. If I shoot his sorry ass now, she’ll go over the edge of the cliff with him. She’s knocked out but I want to finish this before she wakes and steals his attention. As long as she’s quiet, his focus will stay on Damien. Right where we need it to be.”

  “So we find a way to get him to hand her over, Gwen. Emma, can you come up behind him?”

  “Damien should be able to manipulate him into handing her over. If not, I’ll go in from behind and cut the straps holding her. I’ve got the straps, Tessa, you get Belle. Then you can take a shot, Gwen. You’ll only get one.”

  “All I need is one.”

  “We wait for the signal, Gwen. Tessa, be ready. If Damien can get Belle, then the original plan is still in play. If he gives the signal, we go in guns blazing.”

  Damien’s voice echoed through the clearing, buying them all time to get into position. “Well, what do you say Rafe? I think the best way is for you unstrap Belle, and place her in the middle between us.” Raising one hand, he placed it on Desiree’s shoulder. “Then this one here can bring her to me. Afterward, I’ll leave with Belle and the girl will be yours.”

  “Shit, that’s the signal. He knows Rafe isn’t going to hand her over. Gwen, Tessa, I’m moving in.”

  Eyes on Rafe, Emma squinted. On his back, sticking out of his fur…was the tip of a dead-man’s switch. “Shit, shit, shit, he’s got an explosive! We move now!”

  Between one breath and the next Emma was inching her way out of the brush, Rafe’s towering height looming in front of her. Soon she was completely exposed, without cover. Damien and Desiree kept their attention centered on Rafe, though she knew they could see her. They wouldn’t give away her position. Even one eye flicker would alert Rafe to her presence.

  Everything happened in a flash.

  Emma’s blood ran cold as she saw Rafe’s hand shift into a human hand behind his back before he tucked it underneath Belle’s legs. “You know, Damien, I’m not an idiot, either. I’m sure that you brought others with you even though I can’t catch any scents. That’s why I brought you here, you see. If I can’t be Alpha of the bear Clan then neither can you.” Light glinted off the butt of the gun as Rafe yanked it up and pulled the trigger, the sound of the shot ricocheting in her ears.

  The air left Emma’s lungs in a long hiss. Frozen to the spot, she watched as the bullet pierced Damien’s chest, a tear appearing in his shirt as he fe
ll to the ground with a sickening thud. Like a marionette without its strings. Lifeless and limp.

  No! Damien!

  Time seemed to slow as Emma flung herself the rest of the way onto Rafe’s back, slicing the straps from his shoulders with her knife, though she wanted to slam it into his face.

  Trusting Tessa to do her end of the job and catch the unconscious child, Emma used the momentum from her legs and a bit of help from her powers to jump away as the second shot echoed through the pass.

  Clambering to her feet, Emma ran toward Damien’s fallen body, not bothering to watch the hole that would appear right between Rafe’s stunned eyes. In the corner of her vision she saw Tessa catch Belle and roll away in one move. Blood gushed down Rafe’s nose as he stumbled, feet sliding on the sheer rocks, his own body weight propelling him over the edge to the valley hundreds of feet below.

  As he fell over, a shocking boom sounded, ricocheting through the pass. The blast whipped up the wind and hurled pebbles into Emma’s face. Throwing an arm up for protection, Emma flung her body over the top of Damien’s, hardly noticing her knees skidding on the rocks littering the ground. Desiree was already on the other side, having ripped off her cuffs the moment that Emma lunged for Rafe. Desiree’s fingers were on the pulse in his neck.

  “Damien! Stay with me, baby.” With both hands, Emma gripped the sides of Damien’s face before ripping open his shirt from the collar down to where the bullet had pierced his chest.

  A deep cough assaulted her senses as Damien roused and looked her straight in the eyes. “Damn, that hurt. Getting shot sucks.”

  Underneath the black shirt, Emma’s hands brushed against an unmistakable black Kevlar vest. The silver butt of the bullet rested right over his still-beating heart. It took a moment before Emma comprehended the image. He was fine, alive and unharmed. The small bullet had embedded in the fabric and not his flesh. Kevlar. He was wearing protection and hadn’t bothered to mention it before they left the house. Ugh, men. Emma slapped his arm with brute force before leaning down, fisting his collar with both hands and mashing her lips against his.

  When she finally came up for air, Emma groused, “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

  * * * *

  The warm evening air caressed Tessa’s face, pushing back her hair. It had been a full twenty-four hours and she was still jittery. She had almost missed when she lunged for Belle. Two inches and she would’ve lost her. A very thin line separated life from death. It wasn’t one she wanted to cross.

  As she approached the lake, Tessa could make out Gene’s back, the box of ashes in his hand. There hadn’t been much left of Rafe after the bomb exploded but what they had found they’d cremated. Stopping a few feet behind him, she stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets. “It wasn’t your fault, you know.”

  Gene stared out over the lake and took a deep breath, turning the box back and forth in his hands. “I knew he was smug and self-important, but I never saw this coming. I never would’ve thought that he could do something like that. I raised him. I thought I taught him right from wrong, but apparently I wasn’t that great of a parent.”

  Tessa placed one hand on Gene’s shoulder, the balance flowing around them in sympathy for the older man’s pain. “You did the best you could. There comes a point when they have to make decisions for themselves. You aren’t responsible for the choices he made. You can only be responsible for your own choices. He made his and they just happened to be the wrong ones.”

  His voice was low and gruff when he finally replied, “I have no one left. I’m the last of the Potters. After all this, I should just pack up and leave, find a new place to call home. Start over. A new life.”

  Tessa’s heart went out to Gene, his pain sharp and biting in its intensity. “You should stay. I’m not saying that it will be easy, but no one will blame you for Rafe’s mistakes.”

  “No. I need to go. It’s time.” Flipping open the lid, Gene tipped the box and let the ashes of his nephew float away, the wind carrying them into the lake. “Tell Emma and Damien the treehouse is theirs, a mating gift. I hope their kids enjoy it, too.” Gene took three steps to his truck before looking over his shoulder. “Thank you, Tessa, for believing in me when no one else did. I’ll never forget it.”

  Tessa stood there long after he left, hoping that he’d find the peace he was searching for.

  * * * *

  The crisp morning air was a soothing balm, calming Emma’s mind and gifting her serenity. Crickets chirped and birds twittered throughout the valley in the early hour. Their plan had worked. Despite the obvious mishaps they all had done well as a unit. A team. A family. Three days had passed but Emma still felt the grip of fear that had choked her. The image of Damien falling to the ground would forever be burned in her brain.

  Tipping her feet down, Emma rocked herself back and forth on their porch swing. “How’s she doing?”

  Lisa took a sip of her coffee before looking to where Belle was playing with Kyle and Lucas in the grass. Superhero figures and dolls littered the ground in a semicircle around them. “She’s doing fine. The doctor said she was only given a small dose of the sleeping aid. Thankfully, she doesn’t remember much about the whole ordeal. I think it rattled me more than it did her. She’s excited that everyone keeps sending her treats though. Just today we got a pan of cinnamon buns, chocolate bars and a peach cobbler. She’s going to be spoiled rotten at this rate. I want to thank you, Emma, for everything. You brought my baby girl back to me.”

  Kyle stood up abruptly and ran around the group in a circle calling, “Batman’s coming to the rescue in the Batmobile!”

  Palming her mug of cocoa, Emma watched the scene before them with a grin. “I’m just glad she’s all right.”

  Lisa smiled. “How’s Damien doing?”

  Emma sighed. “A bit sore, I would imagine, his chest is a nice mixture of black, blue and purple.”

  The front door swung open as Desiree walked through, holding her own mug of cocoa. Damien was close behind her, grimacing with each step he took. Without hesitation, Desiree joined Emma on the swing, rolling her eyes. “I tried to make him stay in bed but he was determined to come out here and see Belle for himself.”

  With a pout, Damien sat on the opposite side of Emma, sandwiching her between him and Desiree. “It’s only a bruise. I wasn’t actually shot, you know.”

  Emma smacked his thigh. “Weren’t shot! That bullet was less than an inch away from killing you. You should’ve told me you were wearing a vest.” Even thinking about it made her want to hyperventilate and smack him. This must’ve been how he’d felt when she’d been injured. Like the breath was stuck in his lungs. She made sure to check up on him multiple times every hour, just to make sure he was still breathing and that she hadn’t dreamed it all up.

  Damien chuckled and nipped the tip of her ear. “You’re still mad about that?”

  Swinging her head around, Emma met his gaze, and would’ve told him off, but the boys ran up the steps and bounced up and down in front of the swing. “Belle has cinnamon buns and chocolate, can we all have lunch at the treehouse, Mom? Please, please, please!”

  Sighing, Emma met Lisa’s gaze and had to cough to cover up her laugh. “Well, I suppose we can go, if you make sure to tidy up your rooms.”

  Kyle whooped and jumped in the air while Lucas crawled up into Emma’s lap and kissed her cheek in thanks.

  Lifting her head to Damien’s, she smiled. “He called me Mom.”

  Damien rubbed his nose against hers. “Of course, he did. You’re their mother now. You got just what you wanted, a family.”

  Emma blinked when a warm hand encased her own on her other side. She turned and looked at Desiree in surprise.

  Desiree shook her head, her eyes damp with unshed tears. “He’s right. You are our mother now.” She cleared her throat. “I should go make sure the boys are tidying their rooms.”

  * * * *

  An hour later, they were at the treehouse. The s
tructure was magnificent, a sprawling dwelling tucked away in a crook of the lake. The foundation spanned three trees with a balcony overlooking the lake and a crow’s nest at the top. A quaint wooden bench sat on the edge of the lake, looking out over the narrow dock.

  Lying back on a blanket, Emma stared up to where the kids were eating on the balcony of the treehouse, their bare feet hanging over the edge between the railings. Giggles echoed through the trees.

  “This is an amazing treehouse. I’m kind of sad that Gene left, though. I think he would’ve liked to see it in use.”

  Damien tucked her into his side and propped one arm behind his head. “He knows how much the kids love it. He saw them using it when we were out here last week while you were laid up. Besides that, I emailed him a few pictures of the interior now that it’s decorated. I knew he would leave. He’s always been a loner, and if it hadn’t been for Rafe, he would have left years ago.”

  “I got that feeling from him. He wasn’t comfortable with so many people around.” Turning so she was on her stomach, Emma propped her head on her hands, her shoulder spasm barely noticeable. “I was wondering if you think you’ll be feeling better in a few days.”

  With a grin, Damien closed his eyes. “A few days and I’ll be back at one hundred percent. Why do you ask?”

  Twisting a piece of grass between her fingers, Emma watched a pair of swans landing in the water. “The twins’ birthday is coming up. Your mother has been planning a big party and I wanted to make sure you were up to it.”

  Damien pulled Emma closer and ran his hand through her hair, twisting the ends between his fingers. “It sounds like fun. I can’t believe they’re already turning seven. Before we know it, they’ll be teenagers and Desiree will be in college.”