Amethyst

by Sharon Barrett

  Another day had passed Amethyst felt stronger; the pain in her head was gone. Rain had begun to leave her alone for short periods of time during the day. He had said he hated to, but Markus was getting married tomorrow, and Markus's house had to be finished. Rain had gone out to the woods checked to see where her SUV went off the road. It was sheer luck that the SUV and the one tree had burned and not the entire forest. Rain searched for the brief case in the woods. It had been easy to find only twenty yards from where he had found her. Rain had placed it on her dresser when he got back.

  When Rain left moving slowly Amethyst slid out of bed, placed her feet on the floor and stood; she was relieved when she was not hit with pain. The IV bag had been removed during the night. She walked towards her dresser. Opening the brief case she took out a small envelope, and two thousand dollars. She slipped the money into the envelope sealed it, then put Markus, and Silver on the envelope. A wedding gift for them, she felt bad that she could not go shopping for something special in addition. Maybe she could do that later.

  As she closed the brief case she took the envelope placed it on Rains dresser. Slowly she dressed. She slipped on a skirt, and top. She brushed her hair then looked at the slash in her hair it was four inches long, "she wondered how deep it went probably to her brain, the stitches were removed this morning only thanks to quick healing of were's. The scar would disappear, and no evidence she was ever hurt. She would have healed sooner if not for the glass in the wound." She moved to the bed, sat down and braided her hair tying the end with a rubber band she had taken from the brief case. She looked at her hair when she was finished and wondered if she should cut it! Second thought she could never do any more then trim the ends it was so much apart of her appears for so many years. She could never cut her hair.

  Amethyst knew things were strained between her and Rain and she knew it was her fault. She knew she loved him with all her heart, she knew he was not perfect well as a lover he was. He did not anger quickly, when he did; watch out. He was a wonderful alpha. He stood, and listened to Joe, when he had told of killing a man. Told Joe he understood, and it was alright. He had patience's; he loved his pack members, and trusted them. He had compassion for others. And his stern ways made him a great alpha. So why couldn't she get passed what happened. Her inner voice said, "You want to punish him, you want him to feel the pain you felt" She had to stop this or she may lose him for good.

  She picked up the Lycan book took it out to the small office adjoining her bedroom sat in the chair with the ottoman and began to read.

  Two hours later Rain found her a sleep he stood watching for a moment. The book she had been reading lay in her lap. His heart filled with love, "I have to win her back, get her to trust me again. If I had not lost my temper she would have never run, never have gotten hurt. Oh I know she desires me but I want more than just sex from her, I wanted all of her; I will settle for no less". Carefully he sat down beside her leaned in and kissed her lips softly.

  Her eyes open, he drew back said "dinners ready would you like to come down stairs for a while".

  She looked into his deep blue eyes then dismissed the feeling rising deep inside her. She closed her mind to nothing but rising from the chair. Rain felt disappointment, and despair, when she did not seem to acknowledge him. He put his arm around her and he walked out the door into the hall way. Thinking as they descended the stair case, "I have to reach you some how, there as to be away.” He pulled out her chair, and she sat. Everyone at the table ask how she was feeling. She told them much better. Then the topic moved to the wedding. Silver and Markus kept glancing at one another in silent little signals to each other.

  Amethyst mind kept going back in time to when her, and Rain were doing the same thing as Silver, and Markus were doing now. She felt a little jealous of them. Amethyst thought she should have joined in the conversations, but did not feel like talking. The others at the table seem to understand and left her to her thoughts. Right at that moment it was really for the best!

  After dinner she wanted to help clean up but no one would hear of it. But wanted her to come into the kitchen and talk with the rest of the woman. Amethyst agreed to do just that. As she sat at the table and watch the women do dishes put them away, put left over food into containers in to the frig. Smiling at Willow as she refilled her cup with tea, she said, "Tell me about yourself Willow if you do not mind."

  Rain went into the den and turned on the TV and watched it, but truly didn't see anything until some names and pictures came up on the local news channel. Raw said, "Damn, it's those men who were after Amethyst, Rain."

  Willow smiled and said "certainly, my mate Peter was killed by a hunter eight years ago. I was so lost for so long. Then Rain and Pend came by the pack I live with. They were in to see the elders. While there we talked they said they were starting a pack up here and I told them I wanted to join. They said when they have things set up they would come get me. They kept their word both men came picked me up and I moved in as a house keeper. A year ago they built me my little house. There is nothing else to tell you. The last four years have been happy for me and I would not want to live anywhere else."

  Amethyst realized just how valuable Willow was since she herself knew nothing of keeping a house, let alone an alpha house with people coming, and going all the time. Smiling she said, "Willow you can be the house keeper as long as you wish."

  Willow rushed over hugged her said, "I was scared you would want to take over my duties since you are now woman of the house, and the alpha's mate. You have made me so happy."

  Amethyst hugged her back then looked up as she felt she was being watched. Rain stood in the door way with a smile on his face. He thought, "Amethyst has so much compassion, and understanding to give; he just wished she would just give a little his way."

  "I need to talk to you Amethyst come with me to my office." Amethyst felt anxious, her eyes widened. He was angry. "He thinks I kept the envelope with the money in it for Markus, and Silver a secret." She shivered her eyes went down, and her head leaded to the side in submission.

  Then Rain realized "he had spoken a little harsher then he intended to." He smiled. "Just for a few minutes; I need to inform you of new breaking events." Rising she walked past Rain towards his office. He slipped up next to her took her arm, and pulled back. She stopped she did not look up at him, but stood still. Waiting! Then he took his fingers placed them under her chin lifted her face to his and kissed her ever so sweetly. Not a kiss of desire, just a warm sweet kind that was gentle and to make her feel at ease. He walked her into the office pulled out a chair for her in front of his desk. Then Rain sat down beside her.

  Rain hesitated for a moment just to look at Amethyst. She was looking into his eyes and touching his mind. "She did a lot of that lately, but when he tried to touch her mind she shut down. She was searching for something, and hadn't found it yet. He would continue to keep his mind open to her. He would no longer try to reach her mind, giving her time to heal, and trust in him."

  "Amethyst I want to tell you myself before you hear it on the news. Those men Ray Sanjel, Dean Goodman, Douglas Claymore were found this morning dead. It appears all three men were shot in the head with a nine millimeter hand gun. The police think it was a mob hit. Ray, and Douglas was in side the vehicle, and Dean was out side on the ground. He must have been trying to escape. The bodies were found east, and south three hundred miles from here, some place on a back road. Mark Hartman was arrested yesterday and is out on bail. He has disappeared, and the authorities cannot find him at this time. If Ray had contacted Hartman, and told him your dead then your safe. However; if Ray didn't get in contact with Hartman before he died, your still in danger and we will have to be more careful now then ever before."

  Amethyst sat stunned said nothing, she got up from the chair turned to Rain, and said, "There is an envelope on your dresser made out to Markus, and Silver, and it contains two thousand dollars as a wedding gift. I thought you wanted to see me, because o
f it. I did not keep it a secret that is why it sits on your dresser."

  Rain moved towards Amethyst looked her right in the eyes and said, "I saw it; I know it was not a secret if it had been you would not have put it on my dresser for me to see." His lips moved towards her, and she backed away.

  "I need a little more time Rain." Amethyst walked out of the door and headed off to their room to be by herself.

  Chapter 7

  Rain walked out the office and out the front door, and sat down on the steps. Smitty walked over sat down. "Rain I know something is really wrong with you, and Amethyst.

  "I think I have lost Amethyst, Smitty. She has shut me out of her mind I can't seem to reach her. I lost my temper, and smashed the bedroom door. I said some nasty things to her." Rain put his head into his hands, and rubbed his forehead.

  "I suggest if you want things right try courting her," Smitty said.

  Rain looked at Smitty. "What like give her flowers?"

  "Yea; flowers, jewelry, candy buy her some gifts." Rain looked at Smitty, and his face began to crease with a smiles.

  "Tell everyone I'll be back after a while I am heading up to Spring Water to do some shopping. Do me a favor, make her a jewelry box."

  Smitty smiled his eyes twinkled, "sure Rain I'll do that he whispered."

  Rain picked out two dozen white roses tipped with purple. Then went to a jewelry store picked up a bracelet he liked had it engraved with the date of their mating. Then walked into a women store, purchase a pair of shoes size six, a denim jean skirt, and three tops all in different shades of lavender, and had them gifted wrapped. With purchases in hand he headed back to the house.

  He sneaked up to the front door opened it slightly looked in discovered Willow at the stair case placing flowers down the railing for the wedding tomorrow. He walked in said, "Willow where Amethyst?"

  Willow looked up and smiled, "She is in the basement with Fire."

  If Amethyst tries to come up stairs delay her." Up stairs he placed the shoes, skirt, and tops in his side of the closet, then placed the box with the bracelet in it on her pillow. Then he ran down stairs grabbed four vases headed up stairs placing a half a dozen roses in each vase. He set one on his dresser, one on each end of her dresser, one on her night table on her side of the bed. Smitty knocked walked in, handed Rain a jewelry box he made special for Amethyst per Rains request. The box was set in the middle of her dresser.

  Smitty looked around smiled, "Now you got the right idea Rain, do you think you went over board?"

  "Do you think I did Smitty?" Rain asked with a frown on his face.

  Smitty laughed," no Rain it's just right considering the rift you have to over come with Amethyst. And Smitty walked out with a big smile on his lips. Once Smitty was out side Rains rooms, he laughed then thought, "Amethyst is not going to know what is coming her way if Rain has anything to say about it. He will have her defenses down in no time. Then his alpha will have a smile on his face once again."

  Rain went down stairs to the basement, and found Amethyst helping Fire and Silver putting up decorations. They were hanging a large paper bell from the ceiling in the center of the room. Markus was busy setting up the bar, and stocking it. "Pend must be up stairs with Kelly' he thought. Markus and Silvers house was finished right down to the furniture, but Markus refused to let Silver see it until after they were mated. Rain offered to help, but decorations were done once the bell was hung.

  Guests were arriving, and shown to their rooms by Willow. Storms room was kept vacant; he had a habit of showing up at the oddest times. Rain half expected him any moment he knew about the wedding he said, "he'd come." Storm seems to enjoy being the last one to arrive, and usually after dark. "It was a privacy thing with Storm," he thought to himself. They were close he knew more about Storm then any one else in the world. When they were kids they worked as one unit at what ever they were doing. They new exactly what the other was thinking and how they would react to situations. It pulled them out of more jams then Rain cared to think about when they were young!" They had gone their separate ways when he reached eighteen. Storms view of life and his had changed, each wanted different things back then.

  The day ended with a big dinner for everyone, and Amethyst was tired out. Rain smiled, "she had taken more interest in the conversations at the table, and had even joined in on several of them." Rain was busy with last-minute details only he could deal with. Amethyst had gone to bed, and he was still up. He sat wondering if she liked the bracelet, and the flowers. Then smiled to him self, and thought, "How could she have not liked them? He could have tried to reach her mind, but chose not too. Rain wanted to give her privacy, and time to heal as she had asked him too."

  Amethyst opened the door to her bedroom. The room was filled with beautiful roses. Four vases filled with six roses each. She took one out of the vase, and put it to her nose then placed it to her lips. Replacing the flower back into the vase she walked over to the bed noticed a small box on her pillow. She picked it up unwrapped it, opened the lid. Inside were two gold hearts, and the date of their wedding was engraved on them. She smiled, placed the bracelet on her arm. She walked over to her dresser to get a night gown out, and noticed a hand made, hand carved jewelry box. She picked it up ran her fingers over the small delicate rose designs. Then opened the lid, inside was a small note that read, "Made especially for Amethyst Walker." She closed the lid set it back on her dresser and her eyes filled with tears. She undressed completely. Slipped the night gown over her head let it fall to her knees. With tears running down her cheeks she crawled into bed took Rains pillow pretended it was him, and cuddles it. Between the cuddling the pillow, and the tears she fall a sleep.

  Rain was just about to head out of his office and up stairs when in walked Storm. He sat his butt down in a chair across from Rains as he sat back down in his office chair. Storm was six-foot three, black hair like his, and matching blue eyes. His face was more like his fathers, and Rains more shaped like his mothers. It was easy to tell they were brothers.

  Rain I have news for you, I purchased some land west, and slightly south of your land. I am going to build a house. I contacted the Lycan registry, and let people know a new alpha house is up, and open to anyone. Storm never gave Rain a chance to speak five words. Rain had to admit his brother was committed. It took him long enough to come around.

  It was well past three in the morning when Rain and Storm went to bed. Rain had not had the chance to tell Storm he was mated, but would later that day. Storm was too excited about purchasing some land south and west of Rains. Storm had contacted the Lycan registry and put word out he was opening a new pack. A wolf with dusty brown hair named William Bartel was now his beta. And a young couple also joined his pack by the names of Samuel and Apple McKinnon.

  Rained walked into the bedroom a small light was on, and Amethyst who usually was turned away putting her back to his side of the bed was half on his side, and cuddling his pillow. The bracelet he had purchased for her was on her wrist. Rain smiled, and thought, "She liked it." Rain slipped off his clothes, and slid under the sheet pulled Amethyst into his arms. He held her tight to him and wondered if she finally forgave him. His last thought was Smitty had been right!

  The dream began with Amethyst in her fathers den. "He was talking to her about keeping money in the house, where it was hidden. In side the lining was a piece of paper. The dream seemed so real she whimpered." Then her father fading into a mist and disappearing from her sight. She began to cry.

  "In the lining her father whispered."

  A voice in the dream was telling her she was safe, but she didn't feel safe. And she could not see who was telling her. She felt alone, and she wanted her father to come back. She searched for him in the mist, but could not find him. She would get glances of her father, and then he would change into Rain. Rains face was smiling at her, his arms were stretched out to her. She ran towards him, and his face became angry, then she was running from him. The mist grew so thick she
could not see. Voices from all directions were calling her. Then the whispered words again reached her ears, "in the lining."

  Shortly before five in the morning Rain woke to hear Amethyst whimpering in her sleep. Then she shivered, and then began to cry. He pulled her closer to him and whispered, "you're safe, and with me. I love you Amethyst, the words seemed to relax her. Then suddenly she sat up in bed her eyes were wild her face filled with fear, then smoothed. She jumped out of bed rushed to her dresser grabbed the brief case, opened it, dumped the contents out of it on to the floor and began pulling at the lining. It finally gave away.

  She screamed at Rain who had jumped from the bed, and was at her side. "I hate secrets, they hurt, they destroy, and they are filled with destruction! They make all rights so wrong!" When finally the lining tore away there inside was an envelope. She pulled it out. Her hands shaking, Rain took the envelope, and opened it. Inside was a small piece of paper with a telephone number on it.

  Now Rain understood why she could not seem to leave the brief case behind, why she always took it before anything else when she ran. Subconsciously her mind would not let her leave it behind. All the time he thought it was because of the money inside, and it wasn't.

  Rained looked at it then said, "We'll call the number later in the morning it is to early right now. Come back to bed Amethyst."

  Amethyst turned and looked into Rains eyes her eyes filled with tears and she threw herself into his arms. "Rain, oh Rain I love you. I don't want to punish you any more; I have missed you so much. My heart has bled enough for a life time. I have cried enough in so short a time. Please tell me you still love me, want me, and desire me?" Amethyst hung on to him as if he was a life line for her.