Beckoned (The Brazil Werewolf Series)

by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn

  He must have felt me studying him because he raised his face level with mine. I blinked, shocked to see that he possessed eyes that were the exact silver as my own. My look of shock didn’t seem to phase him. He smiled widely allowing it to reach his eyes, warming the color to a light gray.

  I continued to study him as they walked even closer. He had hair that waved gently to the collar of his shirt with strands of black, gold and brown running through it. There was no gray in his hair. His smile was jovial and made anyone near him want to smile or laugh. He was tall with the build of a boxer but he emitted only comfort and warmth. Like Sophia, he seemed too young to have a child Andre’s age.

  “This is Gavriel,” Sophia said, proudly as she took my hand and pulled me forward to meet him, “My husband.”

  His smile widened as he stepped forward and pulled me into a ferocious hug. I couldn’t help but to laugh. The hug had surprised me but the embrace felt warm and safe. I had no doubt this man would protect me from harm. When I pulled back, he stepped back beside his wife still grinning widely. I smiled as I looked at them. They did fit together perfectly somehow…reguardless of the how they came to be married. It was heartwarming.

  “I must show you my sons and daughter,” Sophia said with an excited twinkle in her eyes.

  My eyes widened as I gasped, “You have more than one child?”

  Sophia laughed as she raised her chin proudly. I could tell that she was a very loving mother as she said, “I have seven sons and one daughter.”

  “Oh,” I said, embarrassed that I hadn‘t known. I glanced at my mother really wishing that she had told me more about Sophia and her family. Annoyance crept up my spine as I struggled to apologize to Sophia, “I just thought-”

  “Andre is the oldest,” Sophia said, waving her hand in front of her face as if trying to wipe away my embarrassment. She then looked around the bonfire, “Where is he?” She asked almost to herself and then, smiled as she pointed, “There he is.”

  My gaze followed in the direction of her finger. My mouth fell open when I seen Andre laughing as he talked to a group of boys near the fire. I could hear him talking loudly where I stood and his voice was pleasant and deep. His eyes danced with the light of the fire but more impressive than everything else was his smile. His full lips rose crookedly, making my heart jump. I smiled in relief. He didn’t frighten me at all when he was happy. As a matter of fact, I could see how handsome he was.

  “The boy sitting beside him is another of my sons. He was born ten months after Andre,” Sophia said, smiling widely when I jumped.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, blushing, “How old is his brother?” I asked as I looked at her confused.

  She raised her brows and whispered, “He’s twenty two,” Sophia said, knowingly, “Andre just turned twenty-three.”

  I blushed as she continued, “His brother’s name is Marco but we call him Marc. His betrothed will be here at the beginning of next year.”

  Pity filled me for Marc and his betrothed as I studied him for a few moments. He had the same tall, muscled build as Andre but his eyes gleamed silver like Gavriel’s and his hair didn’t have the mixture like Andre’s hair. Instead, it was the darkest black imaginable and was probably inherited from Sophia. This boy was also handsome with a square face and a straight nose. His lips were like Sophia’s…very full and he also shared her deep olive toned skin. I smiled as I seen him swat Andre’s arm playfully. They were more than brothers…They were friends.

  I blinked, shutting their images out and looked back at Sophia. She was already scanning the crowd for more of her offspring. Her eyes widened in excitement when she obviously found someone.

  “There are my twins,” she said, pointing one long finger toward two teenage boys throwing a ball back and forth between them. They looked remarkably like Andre but their eyes were a vivid green. The tallest one had hair cut close to his head, while the other kept his hair long like Andre‘s. Besides their heights and haircuts, I could find no other differences. Sophia‘s voice cut through my study of them and I looked back at her as she spoke, “They are nineteen. They’re names are Luc and Tamas. If you’re wondering how to tell them apart…Luc is an inch taller than his brother and has short hair.”

  I nodded my head and Sophia smiled. She looked around again and pointed at three more teenage boys. One was about seventeen years old and taller than the boys surrounding him. He had the build of a football player. His hair was a mixture of chocolate and black and his eyes were deep brown. Sophia pointed at him, “That is Luca,” she said and pointed at another boy who seemed to be about sixteen. He had black hair and the same color of eyes as Andre and Sophia. He seemed quieter than the rest as he watched his brothers with a soft smile on his face, “And that is my son Bo,” she said and her eyes landed on the last which seemed to be about twelve years old. She smiled lovingly at him. It was obvious that he was her baby. His hair was chocolate brown and curved around his ears and toward his olive toned face. His eyes were wide and silver and fringed in long thick lashes, “And the youngest of my sons is Stefan.”

  I smiled at Sophia. It was obvious that her sons made her proud but what about her daughter. She had yet to point to her.

  “You said you had a daughter?” I asked but Sophia was already scanning the crowd finally landing on a younger version of herself. The girl who held her interest was about fourteen and danced jovially around the fire. Her black hair whipped around her in the wind.

  “Her name is Mirella,” Sophia said, smiling gently at her and turned back to me, “She is very happy you are in the family. She is tired of being the only young girl.”

  I smiled warmly. How could I not? Sophia and her husband emitted so much love that it seemed to swirl around, infecting everyone around them. Sophia must have seen my ease with them and she reached forward and cupped my cheek gently.

  “I am very happy to have such a beautiful daughter to join our family,” she said and then, sighed as she looked at Andre. She lowered her hand and wrinkled her brow as if worried about my reaction to her next words, “Now, we must get you to Andre so that we can announce the engagement.”

  My smile faltered as I looked toward him. His eyes met mine. Thankfully, no anger flowed from them…only an intensity I could not name as he stared at me. Sophia grabbed my hand in hers and pulled me toward him. For a moment, I thought I should run but he stood and began to walk toward me. A smile stretched across his face showing even white teeth and small dimples. How did I not notice his dimples before? For some reason, my heart began race.

  When he stood in front of me, his smile widened as he looked toward Sophia, “Hello, Mother,” he said and then, turned to me, “Hello, Aurora.”

  I frowned up at him, trying to understand why anger did not mark his face or his voice. Instead, he seemed almost affectionate. I blinked again in surprise, “Hello, Andre,” I whispered, afraid that the angry man he had been during our first meeting would make another appearance.

  Sophia sighed, obviously relieved that we seemed to be on good terms. She looked at both of us and then, sighed again as if the first had not released all of the tension that she had held in.

  “Well, It’s time to announce your engagement,” she said, finally smiling. Andre surprised me by grabbing my hand in his. I frowned at the jolt of awareness that shot into my skin at just his touch and nearly jerked my hand away but he grasped my hand tighter in his by lacing our fingers together. Oddly, He jumped as if he had felt it too but still held firm to my hand as we began to walk toward the bonfire.

  When Sophia began to walk in front of us, Andre leaned close to me and whispered, “So, have you decided that it wasn’t so nice to meet me yet?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, “I think that I had decided that before you had even left,” I raised one of my brows, “Of course that was before I knew that I was supposed to marry you.”

  He lost his smile and looked ashamed, “I’m sorry about that,” he said and shrugged, “I didn’t k
now that your mother hadn‘t told you.”

  I frowned, “So if I had known, you would have still been angry at me?” I asked, confused.

  “I wasn’t angry at you, Aurora,” he said and looked at me with such seriousness that it surprised me, “I was angry at the tradition and I was just letting you know that.”

  I nodded understanding, “I think that we have the same feelings about that,” I whispered, “I don’t like the traditions either.”

  He smiled and he gripped my hand tighter, “Well, get ready,” he said, looking forward at the bonfire. I followed his gaze to see his father as Andre whispered in my ear, “You’re about to participate in one…you’re about to be announced as my future bride.”

  A tremble shook me and he squeezed my hand in reassurance. I looked up at him confused and relieved at the change in him. He smiled, looking as nervous as I was, “It’s okay,” he said with a shrug and took a deep breath and said as if trying to convince himself, “It’s not the wedding yet. It’s just words.”

  I swallowed hard and looked up into Andre’s face as we stood next to Gavriel. Sophia stood to his other side and my mother took her place beside her, looking nervously at me. I knew she was afraid I would run away but I didn’t. Instead, I just gripped Andre’s hand tighter as everyone in the crowd stopped in their celebrations and gathered around us.

  Gavriel cleared his throat loudly and then smiled as his voice rose over the crowd. I swallowed as I looked around at the faces surrounding us. All of them were strangers to me.

  “We are here to celebrate one of the happiest times in our family,” he said in a calm, deep voice, “Marriages and births are blessings in our traditions. My son Andre and my new daughter, Aurora’s marriage will be just that…a blessing. So tonight we celebrate…Andre and Aurora and the continuance of our family!”

  Cheers broke out but a moment later, a long low howl of a wolf broke through the air and caused me to jump. A hush fell over the crowd and Andre’s hand tightened on mine as everyone stiffened but as quickly as the howl began, it ended. I looked up into Andre’s face, frightened.

  “Is that a wolf?” I asked with wide terrified eyes. The memory of the nightmare came unbidden to my mind.

  He smiled but it was weak, “Don’t worry,” he said but he didn’t look at me. Instead, he was looking toward the forest, “They rarely come here.”

  I frowned as I followed his gaze toward the forest. A deep chill covered my body and I unconsciously moved closer to him. A tremble shook me, making him look down at me with his brow furrowed.

  “Don’t worry, Aurora,” he whispered with a grin, “I won’t let them get you.”

  I forced myself to smile…but in my mind I heard a voice calling my name.

  Chapter Four

  Announcements

  Even with Andre’s promise of protection, I could not stop trembling. He looked down at me with a wrinkled brow as his father continued to toast us. It was as if the wolf‘s howl had never happened to Gavriel. Andre tightened his hand around mine, trying to comfort me. I stared up at him, pursing my lips as I wondered what had caused his change. Though I was thankful for his recent kindness, I knew that it was strange for him to change so quickly. I shook my head realizing that it was for the good and it could only help our predicument. I realized that Andre knew that too and was finally able to push the thought from my mind.

  I shifted on my feet, causing Andre to give me a small smile. Thankfully, Gavriel’s speech came to a close with a loud cheer. As soon as the cheer died down, Andre pulled me to a seat by the fire and motioned for me to sit down beside him.

  I sighed a bit relieved as we sat on the the bench of one of the many picnic tables. I felt dazed and Andre seemed hyper-aware of it. I frowned at him. It seemed strange that he would already seem so attuned to my feelings but it was also comforting. I managed to smile at him nervously. He answered it with a crooked breathtaking lift of his lips and I found that I was dazzled. He really was handsome.

  “Are you okay?” He asked, watching me intensely. He still gripped one of my hands in his and his thumb was rubbing the back of it lightly.

  “Yeah,” I whispered and then, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “There has just been too much to happen today.”

  He gave another crooked grin and my heart tripped over itself, “Tell me about it.”

  I almost smiled but it died quickly on my lips when my name floated to me again louder than before. I sat up straight and looked around because this time, the voice seemed too real to be in my head. Andre stiffened and I knew that he had heard it too. He stood pulling me to my feet and pushing me behind him, protecting me with his body. A moment later, I heard my mother’s gasp. I found her standing only a few feet away from me. I frowned as I realized how close she was.

  Her rosebud mouth opened, “Emilian,” she gasped. Her blue eyes widened in fear as she took an instinctive step backwards. Slowly, my mind registered what was happening. My name had been spoken by my father and had not come from my mind. He was here…for me.

  “Where is my daughter, Fiona?” He asked, angrily. Danger poured from him in dark, suffocating waves as I peeked around Andre’s shoulder to look at my father standing before my mother. He stepped closer to her as if he stalked her and I tensed wanting to protect her. Andre pressed further into me as if he knew what I was planning to do.

  “Don’t do it, Aurora,” he whispered, “No one will let him hurt her.”

  I looked back at my father. His silver eyes glinted dangerously as he stepped closer to my mother. I watched as the men from the mobile home park created a circle around her. Sophia moved to stand beside her. I was thankful for their presence. Oddly, I trusted them to protect my mother.

  “Where is she?” My father asked again narrowing his eyes at my mother.

  “I will never tell you,” she whispered timidly but her chin rose in defiance.

  “You will,” he said with his nostrils flaring. His very demeanor threatened murder as he spat out, “Her marriage has been set. She must marry before the next season passes.”

  Sophia stepped forward with a raised brow. I could tell that she wasn’t the least bit afraid of my father, “And she will marry before the season passes,” Sophia said, smiling haughtily, “She will marry my son, Andre.”

  “She will not marry into this…family,” he sneered as if disgusted and then, looked back at my mother pointedly, “I will receive my daughter,” he said, turning his gaze to Andre, “One way or the another.”

  I knew that he must have seen me then because his face softened. I frowned confused because the look he gave me was almost one of…love. He turned back to my mother and the softness faded so completely that I knew that I must have imagined it.

  He narrowed his eyes again at my mother as he spoke his next words with a growl, “If you don’t allow me to leave with my daughter then I will come for her at night and I will keep coming for her until I receive her.”

  Anger pierced me hot and potent as I stared at this…monster who had fathered me. I could not help but to hate him for he what he had done to my mother…for making me in such a way that was dirty and cruel and made me feel ashamed for even existing. I couldn’t help but to be angry that he would not leave me alone and continued to try to ruin my life. I stepped forward though Andre kept me at a safe distance from Emilian by grabbing my forearm. I raised my chin as if unafraid and spoke in as ominous a voice as I could, “I won’t come with you. You raped my mother. You are not my father.”

  He sneered at me though for a moment he seemed wounded by my words. Maybe there were some paternal feelings for me. A moment later, his eyes hardened, “Is that what she told you…that I raped her?” He laughed bitterly, “Sometimes, you shouldn’t believe everything that she says.”

  I frowned at him doubting my mother for only a moment but then, looked into her terrified face and knew she had told me the truth, “You lie,” I said as defiantly as possible, “You aren’t a man. You’re a mon
ster.”

  He stepped forward and Andre pulled me backwards…pushing me behind him protectively. Emilian stopped moving as he smirked.

  I peered around Andre and he glared at me,“Reguardless of what you believe, you are my daughter and you will leave with me now or later.”

  I shook my head from side to side as Andre pushed me further back.. Emilian’s eyes landed on him and he laughed.

  “You’ve picked a boy to marry her,” He said, looking Andre over as if he were a piece of trash, “A boy to protect her.”

  Andre’s eyes narrowed. Again, anger suffused his face, “I will protect her,” he said through clenched teeth. The determination in his voice made me shiver, “Especially from you.”

  My father laughed as he looked beyond Andre to me. He smiled, “We’ll see tonight,” he said and turned as if he didn’t have a care in the world, “You may be surprised at how easy it will be. I will call for her and she will obey my voice.”

  I frowned. I couldn’t help but to think of my name spoken only to me in my mind…beckoning me even in my sleep. He smiled and fear pierced me as I watched him turn and leave. Could it be possible he was calling for me? Had he been the person who had spoken my name in my dreams and even while I was awake? A tremble shook me even though Andre’s hand was still firm on my arm. Why did the possibility seem so real? Andre turned and looked down into my eyes with a frown marking his face.

  “Don’t worry, Aurora,” he said with anger sparking from his eyes, “No one here will let him touch you…especially me.”

  I frowned wondering why he would bother. Wouldn’t he be happy if my father took me? It would free him of his obligations. Still, I couldn’t help but to be grateful for his protection because even though I was upset about the arranged marriage, I was more terrified of my father which meant I needed Andre’s protection.