Jocelyn Feloray—the woman who’d made it a personal goal apparently to bring down the shapeshifter community and the P.I.A. in particular—was Grace’s aunt.
Grace had told him some things, had mentioned that her parents had been killed and she’d been raised by her aunt and uncle, but she’d never indicated who that aunt was.
A howl of rage erupted from inside him, and he quickened his pace. His volatile presence sent nocturnal animals scurrying away in surprise.
There were evil souls in this world, and Jocelyn ranked right up there with the worst of them.
The realization that had been playing in the back of his mind sank in. If Jocelyn was Grace’s aunt, that meant she likely had shifter blood. The woman was part shifter—and her goal in life was to exterminate them?
What the hell?
Christ, he didn’t even know what to do with this information. He couldn’t keep it from the agency. Could he? It would ultimately come out—was amazing it hadn’t already.
Grace hadn’t wanted anyone to know. With good reason. How involved was she with her aunt’s plans? It all made a little more sense now—why Grace would’ve signed up for the experiments. Were her goals as nefarious as her aunt’s? Was she a plant within the P.I.A. for Jocelyn?
And yet she’d nearly lost her life during the experiments.
None of it made sense.
He tried to pinpoint what part made him most angry, and the discovery left him oddly deflated.
Darrius slowed his run and paused at the edge of an incline. His gaze swept the small valley of trees below, but he wasn’t really seeing them.
She hadn’t trusted him enough, that’s what stung. He’d pleaded with her to confide the truth—because, dammit, he’d sensed she was hiding something big.
He just hadn’t suspected this.
The anger left him, seeping from his body with the sheen of sweat that now covered it.
Dammit. What a mess. What was even more screwed up was that he still trusted her. Now that the fury had abated—the shock of her betrayal diluted—he knew without a doubt that Grace wasn’t in cahoots with her aunt.
Those attacks on her life hadn’t been random, and they sure as hell hadn’t been staged. He’d seen the blood and bruising. The aftermath that had left fear in her eyes and a vulnerability Grace Masterson didn’t show many people.
And you just left her alone.
With another low growl, Darrius turned and charged through the trees, heading back to her house. No matter her reasons for hiding the truth, he’d been an idiot to run out on her.
When he arrived back at her house—after carefully maneuvering through the alarms that were once again on—he noticed the lights were still on but there was a heavy silence.
He strode in the door, his gaze sweeping the interior. “Grace?”
Footsteps sounded, and then she moved out of the kitchen to meet him in the hallway. Her brows were drawn together and her eyes round with uncertainty.
“Darrius—”
“Is she gone?”
Grace gave a slight nod.
With a ragged breath, he strode forward and dragged her into his arms. Her palms slid to his chest and she made a startled sound that he quickly caught with his mouth.
His tongue stroked deep, finding hers and lashing at it, almost punishing her for his earlier anger, and his constant need for her. She molded into him, sliding her hands up his chest to his shoulders. Her nails bit lightly into his skin as she clung to him and kissed him back.
He tore his mouth from hers a moment later and pressed his forehead against hers.
“No more lies,” he rasped. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered brokenly. “I’m so sorry.”
“I am too. I shouldn’t have run out on you. No matter how angry I was.”
“Honestly, I don’t blame you.”
He stepped back, putting just enough distance between them that he could watch her. There was the spark of wariness in her eyes, but the fear underneath sent a frisson of unease through him.
“What’s going on, Grace?”
“Aubree is missing.” She hesitated. “I think. That’s why Jocelyn was here tonight, to ask if I’d seen her.”
Darrius swore softly under his breath. “When was the last time you saw her?”
“A couple nights ago—when you first met her.”
“Any texts? Phone calls?”
“I missed a phone call from her this afternoon, but she didn’t leave a message. I’ve tried to call her several times since but she’s not answering.” She shook her head. “I just assumed she was busy with her classes. I know she has some big tests coming up.”
“We’ll find her. We can track her.” And they could. The P.I.A. did this kind of thing all the time. “Did Jocelyn file a missing person report with the P.I.A. or human police force?”
“No, she wanted to talk to me first. I don’t sense she’s in danger, and I really think I would. I have before. She hates her school, hates Jocelyn, she’s ready to be eighteen and on her own. Or with me. Maybe she just took off somewhere for a few days…”
But why wouldn’t she answer her sister’s calls then? Something wasn’t right.
“Remember how the tires on her car were slashed? I thought whoever did it was targeting me, but what if they weren’t. What if—”
“No what-ifs. Not yet. Call Jocelyn back and tell her we’re handling this. Let’s give it a day or two before we make it official. If we need to, we’ll call Larson and let him know what’s going on and recruit more help. But we’ll find her.”
“I know. I trust you, Darrius.”
Did she? He couldn’t help but arch a brow and give a low, slightly bitter laugh. “But you obviously didn’t trust me enough with who you are.”
“That’s not it…” Unhappiness flashed in her eyes and she folded her arms across her chest. “It’s just not something I publically acknowledge. I am nothing like my aunt—I can barely tolerate her.”
“Then why don’t you tell me the real reason you volunteered for the experiments?”
She visibly swallowed and there was anguish and regret in her eyes. “Essentially I was blackmailed. She threatened to put Aubree in them if I didn’t volunteer. My sister isn’t quite eighteen and unfortunately my aunt has complete custody. She would’ve used her chronic pain from her disability as an excuse.”
Of course. It made complete sense from everything he knew about Grace that she wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice herself for her sister’s safety.
“Those of us in the experiments went through hell, and to think that she might’ve had to go through that… She’s not as tough, Darrius. I don’t know if she would’ve come out alive.”
It was almost too incredible to believe.
“What the hell kind of aunt would do that to her own niece?” Darrius ground out. “Why does she hate shifters so much? Hell, isn’t she one?”
“She’s half. And I have no idea.”
Wait a minute. “Was your mother only half as well?”
A flush darkened her cheeks. “Yes.”
“So that makes you and Aubree—”
“We’re not full-blooded shifters. We’re three-fourths, but it’s always been enough for us to have most of the same capabilities.” She glanced away. “Some things we just have to work a little harder at. It’s another thing I don’t share openly, because I’d rather not have that flaw on my record.”
Interesting. He’d never sensed she wasn’t full. Any disadvantage Grace had at having diluted wolf blood she hid damn well. The P.I.A. would’ve known, because she would’ve had to have disclosed her shifter status when she applied. A blood test would’ve confirmed it.
Three-fourth shifters weren’t discriminated against, though. Not the way that those with only half-shifter blood had been. It was only with the recent discovery of the drug that could give halves the ability to shift that had balanced things out more—had there been more acceptance.
Someone li
ke Sienna, or Jocelyn’s aunt, might not have even realized they were shifters before unless they’d been told.
“Did your aunt ever take the drug she created? The one that ended up giving halves the ability to shift?”
Grace’s laugh was loud and full of harsh amusement. “Never. She’d rather die first. I know she hates that side of her.”
Hmm. Someday they’d figure it out. Learn why that bitch hated the side of her that most of the shapeshifter population saw as a gift.
“Thank you for coming back tonight.” She stepped closer to him again. “I would’ve understood if you chose to leave.”
“I couldn’t.” Hell, he’d been mad, but leaving her would’ve been impossible. Something connected them that confused the shit out of him, but it was potent and couldn’t be ignored. He was more protective of her than he could remember being with his mate. There wasn’t a sacrifice he wouldn’t make to keep her safe. It made no sense, but he couldn’t deny it.
“Give me a moment to get ready, and then maybe we can go drive around?” Grace suggested. “Check some local spots I know she frequents?”
“Smart. Let me throw on some clothes.”
Her lips quirked. “Probably a good plan.”
When she moved to pass him, he caught her hand and stopped her, drawing her close for another slow, and hopefully reassuring kiss.
“We’ll find her.”
She nodded and squeezed his hand before slipping away from him and into the bathroom a moment later.
Darrius returned to her room to throw on some clothes. He’d just pulled on his pants when he heard her soft footsteps.
“That was quick…” He trailed off, not as much distracted by the expression of disbelief on her face, but the item she held in her hand. His heart accelerated into a quick thump. “Uh, sugar, what is that?”
“A pregnancy test.”
He waited a beat, felt his heart lurch into his throat. “Okay.”
“I just found it on the floor… I’d knocked over the garbage earlier, but somehow missed that this had fallen out behind the toilet.”
“Something you want to tell me?”
“No. God no, it’s not mine!” She shook her head and gave a small frenzied laugh.
Darrius took a step forward, unable to ignore the relief that she might’ve been carrying another man’s child. The idea of another man impregnating her had a growl of rage building inside him. But why? Grace was not his mate and never would be. Someday, this very well may be her reality. At some point she’d be rejoicing at the fact she’d gotten pregnant.
But not today. It wasn’t her test, she’d just admitted it. He quickly restrained the raging wolf inside him that threatened to surface.
“What’s the result?” he rasped. “Can you read it?”
“It’s positive. Crap, it’s positive.” The longer she held the test, the more the color seemed to leech from Grace’s face. She looked up at him again, and her eyes glazed with shock. “I think Aubree’s pregnant.”
Chapter Seventeen
Grace leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes, trying to stop the nausea and spinning.
She’d left countless messages on her sister’s voicemail and Darrius had driven her around town for the last two hours. Now it was creeping up on midnight, but they still had no idea where Aubree was.
Pregnant. Her little sister, not even eighteen yet, was pregnant. There was no other explanation of who that test could possibly belong to.
It all kind of made sense now. The way her sister had been behaving the last week—the way she’d rushed out of the bathroom looking a little stunned. Had that been when she’d taken the test?
“Why didn’t you confide in me, Bree?” she whispered, opening her eyes again.
“I brought you some tea.”
Darrius entered her line of vision and deposited the teacup on the coffee table. The delicate china looked almost silly in his large hands.
But the gesture, so patient, kind and without expectation, brought tears to her eyes.
“Thank you.” She leaned forward to pick it up with unsteady hands, and took a sip of the hot liquid.
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard from her?”
She gave a slight shake of her head and set the tea back down with a sigh.
“Was Aubree involved with anyone that you can remember? Dating?”
“No, not at all.” She frowned, another memory tugging at her mind. “Although, we did have an interesting conversation recently where she said something about guys being stupid. Or something like that.”
“Trouble in manlandia.”
“No, I mean, I didn’t think she was dating. She told me she wasn’t. This makes no sense.” Frustration gnawed at her gut, and she picked up her phone again to check for a text message or call that maybe she might’ve missed.
It was silly, because of course nothing had come in.
“We’ll find her.”
“What if she doesn’t want to be found? I’ve already driven all over Seattle and half the suburbs. I’ve contacted the few friends she has, but they aren’t close. And none of them have seen or heard from her.”
Darrius sat down on the couch next to her and slid an arm around her shoulders.
“Sugar, trust me on this. Your sister is a teenager with not a hell of a lot of resources or money. It’s only a matter of time.”
The comfort from his presence was immediate. Grace snuggled closer to him, placing her hand on his chest and breathing in a slow breath.
But what if they couldn’t? What if Aubree wasn’t just a scared, pregnant teenager in hiding? What if she were actually in trouble?
“We should get some sleep.” The reluctance in his tone indicated he wasn’t thrilled by the suggestion either.
“You’re right. I don’t know how I’ll sleep, but we should try.” She eased away from him, but kept her phone clutched in her hand.
She continued to clutch it when they settled into bed a few minutes later. With the comfort and peace of having his arms around her, and sleep dragging at her exhausted body, a part of her brain still waited for it to ring.
The sound of wood snapping outside had her eyes blinking open and Darrius sitting upright in bed.
Dawn hinted it was near by the fading darkness through her curtains.
“What—”
“I’ve got this. Stay in bed.” Darrius was up and across the room before she could reply.
Stay in bed? Her heart pounded as she tossed back the comforter. Did Darrius know nothing about her?
She grabbed a robe and tied it around her, then ran into the living room. The sight awaiting her almost brought her to her knees.
Aubree rushed forward with a sob, flinging herself into Grace’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” her sister cried. “I know you’ve been so worried.”
Relief and emotion slammed into her over and over, making tears fill her eyes and her cling to the Aubree’s waiflike body.
“It’s okay. Oh, sweetie, why didn’t you call? Text? Anything to let me know you were okay.”
“I didn’t know you were looking for me. I should’ve. The moment I left school, I should’ve known Jocelyn would find out and go to you.” Aubree drew in a ragged breath, heavy with tears. “I threw away my phone. I knew she could and would track it. Track me.”
Grace drew back enough to take in the tear-stained face of her sister and the hint of fear in the back of her eyes.
“Bree, was that your pregnancy test?”
Fresh tears flooded Aubree’s eyes, before rolling in fat drops down her face.
“Yes.”
Heavy disbelief washed over Grace again, but she struggled to hide it. She wasn’t going to ask how it was possible, she knew how babies were created. But her sister was so responsible, so shy with people and especially men. And yet now it appeared she’d not only engaged in a sexual relationship, but she was pregnant.
“Aubree, why don’t you sit. I’ve go
t a blanket.” Darrius’s words were gentle as he took her arm and guided her to the couch.
Her sister didn’t protest, but curled up on the couch and drew the fuzzy blanket around her.
“I’ll give you two ladies some time to talk. Go make some breakfast for us all.”
Grace sank down onto the couch next to her sister, but met his gaze over the back of the couch.
Thank you, she mouthed, knowing her eyes also reflected the depth of her gratitude.
He gave a small nod, his own gaze troubled, before he disappeared into the kitchen.
Grace turned her attention back to Aubree and tugged part of the furry blanket up and over her legs. The scenario wasn’t all that unfamiliar. In fact it could’ve been any Saturday morning when they were growing up. They’d always sat on the couch together, sharing a blanket while watching TV and talking.
Despite their age difference, they’d always been close friends. Closer than any friends they’d met in school or otherwise. It wasn’t until recently and joining the P.I.A. that Grace been able to say she had loyal, true friends.
“Can you talk about it, Bree? Can you tell me who the father is?”
Her sister scrunched her eyes closed, her face pinching with misery.
“You don’t know him. He’s just a guy I made the mistake of trusting. Of falling for.”
Someone from school. “Is he like us?”
“Yes, he’s a half-blooded shifter.”
Not that it mattered as much this day and age, but Grace gave a small nod.
“Did he mark you?”
“No. Oh hell no.”
Maybe it was better that way. It certainly sounded better that way.
Gently, she asked, “Have you told him you’re pregnant?”
“I can’t. I don’t want him to know. I don’t want Jocelyn to know.” Aubree opened her eyes and the sheer panic there momentarily took Grace aback.
“Bree,” she began gently, floundering for what to say. Could’ve never begun to imagine herself in this situation. “He has a right to know. And it’s going to be really difficult to hide a pregnancy from Jocelyn, from your school. Or… I didn’t even ask. Do you intend to have the baby?”
“Of course.” Aubree almost seemed shocked as she slid her hand to her belly, pressing against it through the fleece blanket. “For me, there is no other option.”
Savage Betrayal: Savage, Book 2 Page 18