Chased (The Graysen Pack Series)

by Bartley, Regina

  I slammed the door really loud behind me. I wanted everyone to know I was angry, but mostly I felt sad. I had to be strong even though I wanted to cry. I just couldn’t break yet, not without knowing if my mom was safe. I needed reassurance. I shook it off and started to run down the stairs to get outside to my car.

  “Wait up,” I heard Sam yell from behind me. “I am coming with you.” She ran to my side.

  I couldn’t stay mad at her. She was my b.f.f. “I am sorry I snapped at you back there. You know I love you, right?” I held my fist out.

  “Of course, now let’s go. We have a long drive.” She bumped my fist.

  Sam was always easy to forgive me. I expected her by my side through all of this, and nowhere else. She would never let me down, even though I had been a major pain in the ass.

  When we reached my car, all of the tires had been sliced. “I am going to kill that girl.” I kicked the car several times. It felt so good that I couldn’t stop, until I tried punching it with my hand. “Ouch! Stupid son of a,” I muttered the rest under my breath. “Stupid, stupid car, dumb piece of crap,” I continued to rant and rave. I shook my hand trying to shake out the pain. But, it was no use. It hurt like hell. I think my knuckles are broken.

  Zen ran to me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” I yelled in his face. “Actually, no, I think it is broken,” I pouted

  He grinned at me. “Let’s go, Rocky. I’ll drive.”

  “I don’t have time to go to the hospital.”

  “You don’t need to go to the hospital. You are going to heal just fine. You’re a wolf, remember?” I nodded and followed him across the parking lot to his car. “I will take you to your mother.”

  “This is your car?” I looked at him questionably. We stood next to a black Escalade; a brand new Escalade. He obviously has more money then he knows what to do with. One of these tires probably cost as much as my entire car.

  “Yes, it’s mine. Now let’s go. You’re in a hurry, right?” He opened the passenger door for me. Aggravation was all over his face.

  “I am sorry, Zen.” I kissed him on the cheek and climbed in the car. Every ounce of my body was hoping for his forgiveness.

  He was quick to share his thoughts before he closed my door. I forgive you. As long as you keep kissing, I will keep forgiving. He smiled.

  I heard both doors open in the back. Both Sam and Zander were getting in. I smiled. I wanted Sam by my side more than anyone, my sidekick. She has always been my back bone.

  “Road trip,” Sam yelled. “And this is a long trip, so you guys better tell me what is going on. No sugar coating the goods either. I want the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Spill it Sister.”

  I could hear the smirks coming from, Zander. She has an amazing way with words. Can I tell her Zen? She is my best friend.

  He grabbed my hand. Of course you can.

  “Okay, I will tell you. First I have to change out of my hooker clothes, and into something more comfortable.” I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and pulled it upwards.

  “Whoa, whoa,” Zen yelled. He took his hands off the steering wheel, and tugged my shirt back down. “Should you be doing that with all of us in the car?”

  “Like neither of you guys have seen a girl in her bra before.” I turned to look at him. I could hear them in the backseat trying not to laugh.

  Please Love, not in front of my brother. He pleaded in his thoughts, and looked at me with the most pitiful face. Okay. I reassured him in my thoughts. I turned towards the backseat. I put my elbows on the console, and rested my chin in the palms of my hands. “Zander,” I batted my eyes at him.

  “Yes dear,” he answered as he leaned in really close to me.

  Aren’t you cute as a button? I thought. Zen quickly chimed in on my thoughts.

  Easy Love, he is my brother.

  “Oh, sorry,” I started to giggle. “Would you please be so kind and close your eyes? I would like to change.” I said in my cutest southern bell accent.

  “Yes Ma’am,” he answered with a thick southern drawl. I knew right away that he and I were going to be close friends. He was a muscular boy like Zen, but older. He had the cutest baby face and would capture your heart with just his smile. He smiled at me only using his innocent eyes, and I couldn’t help but think how wonderful he would be for Sam. He would be her calm, cool, and collected. She would be his wild, crazy, and obnoxious. He could charm the socks off of that girl.

  “I can take care of that.” Sam leaned across him and covered his eyes. Then she winked at me.

  “No peeking.” I yelled. Then I lifted the shirt up over my head.

  Wow, are you trying to make me wreck? I can’t focus on the road, Mate. You look very hot.

  Thanks. Now drive. I pulled the shirt over my head. I unbuttoned my jeans and pulled down the zipper.

  “What are you doing?” He asked.

  “I am getting out of these tight jeans.”

  You can’t, I mean, please, I… I’m driving. His thoughts were going a mile a minute. He turned a fierce red.

  Are you blushing? I smiled sweetly at him. It’s fine, really. I have underwear on. Just watch the road. I pulled my jeans down quickly. I kicked them off, and slid into a pair of stretchy yoga pants. I peeked at Zen a few times. He never took his eyes off the road. He looked so cute. “The show is over. Everyone can look now.” I announced. I saw him relax in his seat.

  I took my phone out of my bag. I so desperately needed to hear my mother’s voice. I tried her cell number three times and there was no answer. When I dialed the fourth time I decided to leave a message. It wasn’t like her to not answer or call me back. Where are you Mom? At the beep I was quite frantic. “Mom, it’s me. Please call me back. I need to talk to you.” My voice started to crack. I took a deep breath. “It is important. Please Mom. I love you.” I closed the phone. What if we are too late, Zen? Please hurry.

  I am Love. His thoughts were sincere.

  “We have to make this ten hour drive in half the time. So please drive this car like you stole it.”

  “Don’t worry, we will make record time. Which expressway do I need to get on?” he asked.

  “The 279,” I punched the address into the G.P.S. I was still shaking a little. My legs were bouncing up and down in the seat.

  “You better start talking. I am getting bored back here. I’m about to make out with Zander, and I am sure it will be quite a show,” Sam said as she slid over in the seat. She was nearly sitting in his lap, and of course he didn’t mind. He put his arm around her.

  “No making out in my backseat before I get too,” Zen winked at me.

  “If anyone is getting action around here it’s going to be me,” Sam yelled. Everyone laughed. “Now talk Lucy.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her, crazy girl.

  “This is all going to sound real messed up. Just listen, okay?” She shook her head.

  “You know how I don’t know my father? Well, he was a wolf. I am half wolf, and these boys,” I pointed to Zen and Zander. “They are all wolf.”

  “Shut the front door, really?”

  “I am serious, Ethel. You know I wouldn’t lie to you.”

  “So they are like Jacob?” she asked.

  “Absolutely,” I answered.

  Zen glanced over at us. “What is with you girls and Jacob from Twilight?”

  “He’s hot,” we both said at the exact same time. “Right on.” We bumped fists. He just shook his head.

  “You handled this news very well, much better than I did.” I said to Sam.

  “I always knew there was something off about you.” She laughed. “How did you find this out?”

  “My dad is a member of their pack.” I pointed at Zen. “This has all been so crazy for me. I never even knew if he was alive. I have wanted my dad around my whole life. Now that I know he is really out there, it scares me. I have mixed emotions. I guess I still have a lot of anger towards him.”

  “Of course you do. Th
at’s normal, but you are strong, and I got your back, Sister.” Sam brushed my hair back. “What I really need to know, is what’s going on with you and Jacob?” She nodded her head in Zen’s direction.

  “He is adorable, isn’t he?” I smiled at her. “Actually, Zen and I are mates.” I bit my bottom lip waiting for her response. “We can hear each other’s thoughts too.”

  “Well, huh? Aren’t you the lucky one? You didn’t even have to date a bunch of dogs to find him. If only it were that easy for everyone.”

  “Dogs, really?” Zander gave her a look out of the corner of his eye.

  “Sorry, Babe. I meant to say boys.”

  “I will forgive you this time.” He smiled at her.

  “Do you have a mate?” she asked him. I was really staring at them by this point. I was definitely meddling in their business, but she is my best friend, so I had a right to know. I inched in a little closer.

  “No,” he laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” she smacked his arm.

  “It’s nothing. It’s just that you would know if I had a mate. I certainly wouldn’t be flirting with you. Mating holds such an indescribable devotion. See, once you find your mate, there is no one else that enters your mind. At least not in a sexual kind of way,” he explained. Crap… Is he sure? I had to distract my mind. Zen poked me on the shoulder. I ignored him, but I was sure he would wonder why I was singing in my head. “Mary Had A Little Lamb” wouldn’t quite count as a distraction. I ignored him and focused my attention on Sam.

  “I see. So what if we decided to hook up. Could we?” Sam asked. I was, of course, still listening from the front seat. There is so much about this wolf lifestyle that I don’t know.

  “What do you mean by hook up?” he asked her.

  She grinned at him. Then she grinned at me. Oh no. I thought. I knew what was about to happen. I put my face into my hand and shook my head. Now you’ve done it. Zen looked at me with his quizzical brow.

  “You know, like getting busy, doing the dirty, knocking boots, or hide the weenie…”

  “Sam!” I yelled. I was laughing so hard I nearly peed in my pants. She could have continued on for hours. Her mouth has no boundaries.

  “What?” she yelled back. “He asked. I couldn’t leave the poor guy hanging.”

  “We get the picture, loud and clear.”

  “I was just making sure, geez. I know lots more if anyone wants to hear them. Like….” She started to name them again.

  “No,” we all yelled together.

  Sam and I bumped fists. “Right on.”

  “You want to know if you and I can have sex,” Zander quizzed her. She nodded. He never faltered. He kept gazing into her eyes, and answered quickly. “Yes, we can. We can also have babies, but we can’t be mates, unless you are a wolf and we share the signs. Which you aren’t, and we don’t.”

  “That bites a big one. Doesn’t it Love?” Sam said.

  “I really have to know where you got that mouth.” Zander lifted up her chin with his hand.

  “It’s a gift,” she smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

  They look so adorable together.

  Yes! But she will get hurt when he finds his mate. She should try not to get too attached. Zen glanced at me with concern.

  Yes, you’re right. “I have a question.” I asked aloud. “Are all wolves born that way or can you evolve into one anytime in life?” I was raising a quizzical brow hoping not to sound stupid. I have so many unanswered questions. There is so much I want to know.

  Zen spoke only after a moment. “Most wolves are born this way. It is in our ancestry somewhere, the blood that makes you a wolf, but you can be changed into a wolf if you exchange blood. Most commonly this is done with biting. However in my pack, we are taught not to bite humans unless it is a life or death situation. Even then, we still must use such great caution. We wouldn’t want to cause an outbreak of rabid wolves. Becoming a wolf takes discipline because they must control themselves in their environment. It has to be; otherwise, wolves would be attacking all over the nation.”

  “I see.” I nodded my head in agreement.

  “So your friend with the mouth,” he glanced towards the backseat, “she could become a wolf if she exchanged blood with one. Most people in their right mind would not choose this. She would have too many rules and boundaries to live by.”

  “Will I learn these rules and boundaries?”

  “Of course you will, but the rules won’t be too bad for us. Soon, Zander will become the Alpha male and lead our pack. He will step up and take my father’s position. I will become beta,” Zen said.

  “Only if I find a mate, brother,” Zander stated from the backseat.

  “You have to have a mate to be Alpha?” I asked.

  “Yes! Unfortunately! I have been waiting my whole life to become Alpha. Now I may have to step down and pass that position to Zen since he has found you.”

  I looked at him feeling his anguish. His eyes were showing such great despair. “That is so sad. I am sorry, Zander. I hope you find your mate.”

  “Thanks. Me too,” he replied. He turned to face the window. I watched as Sam took his hand into hers. She could be so sweet, and selfless, when she assumed no one was watching. At that very moment I felt sadness for her too.

  I turned back around and stared out the window. I watched as the road signs passed by quickly. The dense, dark, fog was eerie and caused unwanted goose bumps on my body.

  I tried calling my mom again. Each time I called it would go straight to voicemail, leaving my stomach in an uneasy mess. I know something is wrong. She should have gotten my missed calls and messages by now. She should have called me back by now.

  My body began to feel restless again. Only this time I couldn’t contain my tears. I was really scared for her, and upset. I couldn’t help but cry.

  Please don’t cry, Love. I cannot stand to see you so upset. Zen was comforting me with his thoughts.

  I couldn’t answer him. I reached for his hand to show my appreciation for his concerns. I never bored from his touch. It was so soft and warm. Yet underneath it all, I felt that fire inside. It was like unspoken electricity that formed when we had contact. It would light something inside me that would make the butterflies in my stomach go crazy. He felt it too. I could tell because when our hands met, his breathing became heavier and I swear I could hear his heart beating faster.

  I still wasn’t able to speak to him. I kept hold of his hand for the comfort. The tears still fell from my cheeks.

  I heard snores coming from the backseat. I took a quick glance at them and thought of how tired I was. There were no possible ways for me to sleep under these circumstances. Even if I had tried, I wouldn’t have accomplished it. Sleeping was the last place my mind thought of.

  My poor helpless mom; my thoughts were constantly on her. She is there all alone and defenseless. I couldn’t help but think back to all the wonderful times we had shared together, just the two of us. It had always been just her and me, except now. When she really needed me, I was not there. I defied her by being with Zen, when she had told me not to. Now, she is paying the price. I was acting a fool, a selfish fool.

  I dialed her number again. “Pick up the phone Mom. Pl-please pick up. I am sorry. I am a selfish brat.” I was nearly screaming into the phone. I had to breathe and then I had to plea. “Answer, please. I need you, Mom. I love you. I will be there soon.” I hung up. I could have screamed at the top of my lungs, but didn’t. What good would that do me? So I prayed. I prayed for her safety and my forgiveness. I vowed that I would protect her forever, the same way that she has protected me.

  Chapter Eight

  I stared out the window straight ahead. I was lost in my own thoughts. It seemed like the silence was hours long. I was jolted back into reality when the lady on the GPS suggested we take a right in one mile.

  “Do you recognize anything? It looks like we are getting close,” Zen said.

  I nodded my head,
“Only about ten minutes from here.” I couldn’t help but feel sick the closer we got to my home. My legs started to jump and shake, a nervous habit.

  These mental flashbacks kept playing in my mind. One in particular stood out, my third grade tap dance recital. My mom was on the sidelines cheering me on. She was waving and smiling, unconcerned with my lack of skill and know how. I was a day late and a dollar short, she’d always say, and I was. Always three steps behind, but she was my biggest fan, regardless.

  Please hurry, Zee. Something is wrong and I can feel it.

  When we pulled into the driveway, I didn’t even wait for the car to stop before I jumped out. All the lights were off, including the porch. This was odd. The porch light was always on.

  Frantically, I tried opening the door. I twisted and shook, but it was locked. I ran back to the truck to find the keys. I was shaking and fumbling. I searched my purse over and couldn’t find them. “I know they’re in here. I had them before we left. Where the hell are my keys?”

  “I’ll help you.” Sam dumped my purse out into the seat. It only took us a moment to find them.

  “Thanks,” I yelled back as I ran for the door.

  “Wait,” Zen ran to me. “Let Zander and me go in first, in case someone is in there.”

  “Okay, but please hurry.”

  Zen unlocked the door and walked in quietly. Zander followed close behind him. Sam and I stayed right behind them on their heels.

  You could hear the floor crack as we walked across it. There was no use trying to be quiet. The house was so old, it made sounds all by itself. I felt like I was walking through a horror film. I was breathing heavily, waiting for someone wearing a mask to come around the hall and chase me.

  Zen nearly scared the pants off me when he spoke. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone here,” he said.

  I smacked his arm. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry, Love.”