Beckoned (The Brazil Werewolf Series)

by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn

  I squinted into the darkness and found that I was in an ordinary bedroom on a large bed placed in the center of the room. There were shadows of a dresser and nightstands and perhaps, an armoire. A chair sat beside the bed and the shadow of someone sitting within it, proved that I was not alone.

  “You shouldn’t sit up,“ the shadow said, in a pleasantly, deep voice, “You’ll just make yourself sick. You have a concussion“

  I looked at the shadow, studying its form. Finally, light hit the darkness as he reached forward and turned on a bedside lamp and I was able to see the identity of the person sitting with me…Garridan.

  I opened my mouth to yell…to scream at him to let me go but he seen my intention and lifted his finger to his lips telling me to be quiet. For some reason, I listened to him.

  Garridan cocked his head to the side as if listening and then, allowed his silver gaze to fall once again on me. His lips pressed together and then, he rolled his shoulders back.

  “I want you to know… I didn’t expect for him to hurt you,” he said looking troubled, “I am sorry you were hurt.”

  For a moment, I remembered his look of sympathy as he had stared at me…and he had told my father that he didn’t want to take me from my mate…that it was cruel…that it would kill me. I narrowed my eyes as I studied him, confused. Still, as I looked at him, I realized there was a kindness to him that I did not see in my father. Maybe it was best that he was the one who watched me. At least I knew that he had an aversion to hurting me.

  I trembled again as I looked at him, “Please,” I whispered, “Let me go. I don’t love you. I love Andre. I want my husband back.”

  He looked at me as his face twisted. Tears swam in his silver eyes, “I know that,” he said hoarsely, “As much as I wish that I didn’t see it, I do.”

  I stared at him as he leaned forward, tilting his head to the side, “Garridan, I am sorry,” I whispered, feeling my heart clench because of his pain, “I don’t know you but I am sorry…for your pain.”

  “I think you mean that,” he said, frowning, “But it doesn’t matter. I had already decided to help you, Aurora.”

  My eyes widened in surprise, “You’re going to help me?” I asked, frowning as suspicion twisted its way into my mind, “Why?”

  “Because maybe I don’t want someone who will never want me,” he said, and then, shrugged, “I know that you’ve already mated with him. Your pheromones were high. There is a good chance that you’re pregnant.”

  I swallowed hard as I thought of a child growing within me and then, looked at him as the irony of the situation nearly made me laugh, “So, I’m tainted goods to you.”

  “More than that,” he whispered, “I wouldn’t give up my family for just that. I need to be free from your father.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, confused. How did he expect me to help him do that? I had no power over whether he was free or not.

  “You know what we are,” he said, frowning.

  “Yes,” I said and then, bit my lip, still trying to understand, “We are werewolves.”

  “Yes…werewolves. However, there are still some things that you must learn. The first is every wolf pack has an alpha. Some families…like Andre‘s have an alpha that does not weild his power over them,” he said, “This family has an alpha…your father, who expects us to bend to his will. It doesn‘t matter what it is, he wants us to do everything his way.”

  My heart clenched as I looked at Garridan feeling true remorse. My father was definitely a cruel and merciless tyrant who would expect Garridan or anyone else under his rule to do as they were told. Garridan must be tortured everyday with my father’s demands.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered as I pursed my lips, “I wish there was something that I could do.”

  He looked at me puzzled, “There is,“ he said, raising his brows, “Only someone from his bloodline can free me.”

  I raised my brows, feeling the pain in my head thrumming dully as I realized what he meant, “You’re talking about me,” I breathed, suddenly tense from this admission.

  He nodded and then, took a deep breath, “You are the only one that I know who can break this bond with me.”

  I laughed shortly, thinking this was a joke but Garridan’s face darkened, “I can’t help you until it’s done.”

  I lost all hint of a smile and pressed my lips together. Finally, I sighed, “What do I do?” I asked, resigned. Even if this was a trick, I still had to take the chance. I had to be back with Andre.

  “It’s simple for you,” he said, smiling as if relieved, “Order me to be free me from your father,” he whispered.

  I grinned, crookedly, shaking my head, “It sounds too simple,” I whispered, skeptically, “That can not be all there is to it.”

  He scoffed, “It wasn’t so simple for me. I had to wait until you were old enough,”

  My mouth dropped open in shock as his reasons for wanting me for a wife slid into place, “You chose me because of what I could do.”

  He shrugged, “It doesn’t matter why I chose you, does it?”

  I shook my head, frowning, “Not really.”

  He smiled, bitterly as his silver eyes darkened, “Good.”

  “And you’re sure that just speaking the words will work?” I asked, pursing my lips.

  He grinned, “Does everything have to be so magical? Should I get candles or some incense to make you feel better?” He asked and then, laughed. I narrowed my eyes at him and his face fell in seriousness, “The words will be enough.”

  “Okay…I demand that you be free of my father,” I said, feeling absolutely ridiculous, “You do not have to do anything else he says.”

  He laughed quietly, “I know you said it like a joke,” he said, smiling, “But it worked.”

  “Now, how are you going to help me, escape from here?” I asked, frowning.

  He tilted his head to the side as if listening again, “Lay down and pretend to be asleep.”

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  “Lay down and pretend that you are asleep,” he repeated, quickly.

  “Okay,” I said, laying back down, “Why?”

  He looked at me afraid, “Because they’re coming,” he said, “And if he finds you awake, he’ll insist that we bond.”

  Terror shot through me and I laid down slamming my eyes closed. A moment later, the door opened and my father entered.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Eavesdropping

  I knew the moment my father entered the room. I could feel his presence as though it was a part of me…living and breathing a fiery path through my soul. It took every bit of my will power not to move as I felt his gaze on me. I focused on my breathing trying to keep my thoughts somewhere else besides on him but still, he was overwhelming.

  As if he knew how hard it would be to resist his pull, he reached forward and brushed his hand over my forehead. I had to stop myself from cringing away from him…from even tensing in acknowledgment of his presence. Somehow, I managed to stay perfectly still and finally, as if satisfied, he turned from me.

  “Has she woken up yet?” He asked Garridan. His voice was soft and even, as it had been when he had beckoned me in my dreams and I found that it was still hard not to obey him even when I knew who and what he was.

  “No,” Garridan lied easily though his disapproval was clear even in that one word.

  It was silent for a few moments when my father’s voice lashed out, promising punishment if Garridan continued to show defiance, “Why do you sound so upset, Garridan?”

  “You were too rough with her. You shouldn’t have hit her,” Garridan said, simply, “You’re her father. You should have been more…gentle.”

  “You’ve attacked her before,” My father said, as if that had given him the right to hit me, “You attacked her right before she married that…dog.”

  My mind twisted in anger at my father’s obvious disgust of Andre. I wanted to rise from the bed and defend him but knew that I co
uldn’t. Again, I had to struggle to stay still. Thankfully, Garridan spoke, soothing my anger in an instant.

  “I didn’t hurt her,” he said, and I realized that he hadn’t. I couldn’t remember a time that he’d hurt anyone. He had threatened but he had never proven true to those threats. They had always been empty. Even when I had fought back, he had simply restrained me.

  “No,” My father said, obviously amused as he gave a short mocking laugh, “As I recall, she hurt you.”

  I heard Garridan growl menacingly and my father laughed, “Oh, don’t let it hurt your pride. She’s a strong girl,” he said, proudly as he caressed my forehead again, “She got that from me,” he said, and then, I could feel his hand pause on my head and then, lifted from me, “She’ll turn within a few days, I think, and my last chance to have her in this family is the blood mating. You still want her even though she slept with that…dog. So, I expect you to bond with her.”

  Blood mating, what is that? I wondered. As far as I knew, I had bonded with Andre every way possible. If there was another way, I did not want it to be with anyone but him.

  “I do want her,” Garridan said, sounding truthful but I knew that he lied, “But I don’t want her hurt anymore and I want your word that she won‘t be..”

  My father chuckled again, “It is good that you’re protective of her. It‘s what I would want in a mate for any daughter of mine…someone loyal and protective,” he said and then, sighed as he conceded to Garridan’s request, “She won’t be hurt anymore. I didn’t enjoy it this time and I‘m sure that I wouldn‘t enjoy it again. You have my word…but keep her under control.”

  “Thank you,” Garridan said with a relieved sigh.

  I assumed that my father nodded because he didn‘t answer. Next, I heard his footfalls as he walked to the door, “Tell me when she wakes,” he ordered.

  “I will,” Garridan said, quickly as my father walked out of the door. I heard the lock click behind him as the door closed.

  A few moments later, I heard Garridan whisper, “It’s okay. “He’s gone.”

  Slowly, I opened my eyes, “When are we leaving?”

  “We’ll do it tonight,” he said, looking at me worried, “Rest until then. You’ll need it.”

  I nodded, wondering if I should trust him. Still, he was my only hope. Slowly, I closed my eyes again…waiting for the night.

  **********

  Garridan shook me firmly, waking me from my slumber. His face was fierce in the darkness as he put his finger to his lips, silencing my protests. His face darkened as he thrust food toward me and I looked at it blankly.

  “Eat,” he demanded in a whisper, “You’ll need it.”

  I nodded as understanding hit me. I had not eaten since noon the day before. The shadows across the room told me that it was night. I had missed three meals and that weakened me and the last thing I need was to be was weak during an escape. Quickly, I began shoving the food in my mouth, not tasting any of it as I did.

  Garridan watched me with his head tilted, “You haven’t eaten in a full day and you didn’t realize that you were hungry?” He asked, frowning as if troubled, “You haven’t even begun to shift, have you?”

  I shook my head as I wondered what signs I would show if I was about to transition, “I don’t think so,” I whispered, “I did start my ovulation cycle but I don’t know what else, I would do during the shift.”

  “Can you move quicker than before?” He asked, frowning.

  “Not that I know of,” I said, sure that I would have noticed if I had done anything super fast, “I haven’t really run lately though.”

  “Well, we’ll see in a few minutes how fast you can run. If you’re still slow, we’ll have to go at human speed,” he said, and then, sighed as he shook his head, “That makes it more dangerous. Your father could catch us.”

  I looked at him panicked, “But you will make sure that he doesn’t catch us, right?”

  “I will try,” he said and then, his face set in hard determination, “Just make sure that you do everything I say.”

  “Okay,” I whispered and he smiled softly. Still, worry crossed his brow only relaxing when I said, “I promise.”

  Then, I shoved the rest of the food in my mouth, barely chewing any of it. Garridan handed me a bottle of water, “Drink this and then, get up,” he said, frowning. The demanding tone had not left his voice but his eyes were darkened in fear, “We have to go now while your father is gone. Just do what you’re told, okay. Look frightened and fight a bit as I take you to my house. Act like you hate me. Once at my house, we’ll turn on my bedroom light letting everyone assume that we are mating and then, grab the packs I have there and we’ll leave out the back door. As soon as we do, we’ll run toward the forest. If we run upon Andre’s family, you’ll have to keep them from killing me. You’ll have to explain what has happened.”

  “I can do that,” I assured him and he smiled, relieved.

  “Okay,” he whispered, “This may hurt but it will help you look uncomfortable. I‘m not used to being gentle.”

  He grabbed my upper arm, grinding his fingers into my flesh and pulled me to my feet, “Are you ready for this?”

  I nodded terrified as he grasped the doorknob. Still, I said, “Yes.”

  “I promise that I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered and then, stepped out of the door, gripping me tightly as he drug me through his family’s dwellings. My heart beat quickly as I took a deep breath, knowing that this would lead me back to Andre and I knew I was willing to go through anything to be with him again.

  **********

  Garridan’s grip tightened on my arm as we made our way through the houses where his kindred lived. I frowned as I seen their dwellings for the first time. They lived in actual houses and not motor homes as we did. Most of the houses were nice and had clean cut lawns. Porches with swings or chairs decorated many of the houses. Children played in the front lawns and women gardened the flowers in the beds. The scene should have been endearing but instead, I trembled because I had realized that they had taken over a full neiborhood. They were settled…more comfortable and in that, I seen that they were more dangerous. They would be less likely to pick up and leave if trouble came. They would kill innocents to keep what they had.

  Fear poured from me as everyone stopped what they were doing to turn to look at me with hungry, interested grins. I knew that if Garridan was not with me, they would devour me in an instant. I swallowed hard, wanting to scream as one of the women came near. I struggled against Garridan’s grip but he grasped my arm harder, causing me to cry out.

  “Stay still,” he ordered, making sure the woman heard.

  She stepped even closer and I was able to really see her. My mouth dropped open in shock as I studied her. This woman had the same hair…the same eyes…the same coloring to her skin as me. My scalp tingled with awareness and she smiled so coldly that our resemblance faded away.

  “So, this is my niece, Garridan?” She purred in a voice rich with seduction. My eyes widened, suddenly realizing the reason for the resemblance. She was my father’s sister.

  “Yes, Eva,” He said, looking at her cooly as I cringed away from her, “She is. Aurora, this is your Aunt….Eva.”

  Eva studied me and smiled again, “Yes, I seen you when you were a baby,” she purred and then, scoffed, “Just think, if I had not seen you, Emilian wouldn’t have known that you existed.”

  I stared at her silently, taking in her words. She was the reason my mother had been so frightened nearly all of my life. She was the reason why we had been constantly on the run. My eyes narrowed as I struggled to hit her smug face. Eva laughed as she dodged away from me.

  “She’s got fire…this one,” she said, patting my cheek, “You better watch her or she’ll run,” She smiled cruelly as she looked at Garridan, “Though she wouldn‘t be the first of this family who ran from you,“ Her attention returned to me as she purred yet again, “Don’t worry, Darling…He’s a s
tud.”

  My eyes widened in shock as I realized that she had been with Garridan. I looked at him, seeing him shift uncomfortably. My eyes widened as the second reason he had wanted me slid into place. He loved her and I looked like her. I frowned, suddenly feeling even more pity for him.

  “Come on,” he said, grabbing my arm so roughly that I cried out in pain. He looked at me apologetically, loosening his hold and then, pulled me along to his house.

  Once inside, we went to his bedroom where he grabbed the packs hidden in the bottom of his closet. He helped me place mine on my back, “The walk isn’t far from here but we may need this stuff. There are guns and some food and water just in case we have to hide for the night.”

  I nodded numbly as I stared into his eyes, “Garridan, you loved my aunt, didn’t you?” I whispered, still uncomfortable with his sadness.

  He paused in adjusting the straps to my backpack, “Yes,” he said, frowning, “But that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m breaking away from this family…remember?”

  I nodded, knowing that he didn’t want to talk about it any further, “I remember.”

  “Good,” he said, leading me to the back door and pointing through the glass, “Do you see those woods?”

  “Yes,” I said, staring into their dark depths.

  “As soon as I open this door, run toward them. Try not to be seen but don‘t stop until you are hidden by the trees,” he said, looking at me pointedly, “If anything happens to me, run until you feel your kindred. You should feel a tickle up your spine…or your neck…or your scalp…but make sure it‘s them. You‘ll feel the same things with this family.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to you, right?” I asked, terrified. I did not want this man to die. He had helped me when he didn‘t have to.

  “Just do what I say,” he said, sternly, “Remember you promised.”

  I swallowed, feeling my heart pounding harder by the second, “Okay.”

  He placed his hand on the door and took one more look around. Then, he looked at me, nodding his head, “Ready?”