In the Dark by Lila Rose

by Lila Rose

  Screaming I loved him was impossible when the anguish he’d caused still flowed through my veins.

  Smiling sadly, he shook his head. “You don’t have to say anything.” He shrugged, such a human thing to do. “I needed you to know it has always been you. I’ve been foolish, so very foolish, but never have you been from my thoughts, my dreams.”

  “Isaac, I really—”

  “Kid,” Jack called. I turned to him and he gestured to the car. I was caught up on deciding to go with my uncle, to get away from the awkward situation, or staying, talking it out and being with Isaac and his family.

  “Go,” Isaac said. Facing him, I was surprised when I felt his kiss on my cheek. Stay with him, help him, hug him, kiss him. My soul seemed to yell.

  Shaking my head, my eyes sought out his. He grinned. “You still have so much to talk to your uncle and father about. Spend some time with them. We’re going to Boozers. If you have time, come there later.”

  Nodding, because my mind was busy with so much racing through it, I watched him silently turn and walk off to meet his brother and sister. They gave me a wave, which I returned, before they disappeared in swift movements into the thick woods behind the graveyard.

  Isaac Grey loves me.

  I was giddy with happiness.

  My hand covered my mouth to hide my smile. He loves me. Holy shit, Isaac Grey loves me.

  But he also hurt me.

  Shut the eff up.

  He did it because he thought he was protecting me.

  Was the excuse enough?

  Maybe. Just maybe.

  If felt surreal sitting in the living room with my father. However, there he was. We’d come back from the funeral, had some lunch and we were since sitting quietly while Jack was out doing something with his team.

  “Feels strange, doesn’t it?” Dad’s question startled me, causing me to jump.

  “If you mean having you here in the living room after five years, then yes.”

  He sat forward on the chair, his hands clasped in front of him. “Do you understand why I left, Leila?”

  I offered a shrug, because really I wanted to hear it again. Hear how he chose Stacey over me.

  “It wasn’t because I picked Stacey over you.” Great, he could read me well. “I would have stayed if I could. I wanted to stay so much. I never wanted to leave my daughter after what you’d been through.” He sighed at my raised brow. “You mean more to me than what she ever did. I kept her around to play a part and that was all. I left with her to keep you safe. If she had gone to someone and told them about you—”

  “We could have fought that battle together,” I snapped.

  “I’m your father. I wanted to protect you.”

  “By taking away the only person who showed me I wasn’t a monster?” I whispered with such raw emotion my tears threatened to fall.

  His head fell back to look to the ceiling and when he looked back to me, his own eyes were filled with tears. “I’m sorry you think I picked wrong. I’m still not sure I did wrong if it kept you safe all these years. But I will forever be sorry I lost five years of my daughter growing up.” He stood, stepping over to the couch where I was sitting and sat next to me. I stiffened when his arm came around my shoulders. Anger burned too close to the surface for me to let down my guard. Still, he didn’t remove it. He took a breath and when he spoke, his voice was soft. “There’s something you have to understand. Do you know why we chose to protect you?”

  “Because you all want me safe.”

  “There is that, but most of all, we do it because we love you. We love you more than anything, even above our own lives. Even though I don’t like what I see when Isaac looks at you, that boy was doing what I did. We left, we hurt you because we loved you enough to want so much more for you.”

  “But what you all don’t understand is I can help. I can fight.” If I’m not outnumbered. Still, I’d give it my best shot to come out on top.

  “We know this, sweetheart, we do. No matter how much we hate it, we understand it because you care for us as much as we do you and you want to protect us as we have done for you. I know I do, and I’m sure Isaac does as well, but we will forever regret our choice.”

  “It made me think I wasn’t worthy,” I whispered.

  “God, no. Never think that. Never, Leila. I love you.” He kissed my temple. “I don’t believe in your choice to want to fight, but I’ll stand by you as I’m sure they all will.”

  “Seriously, you men give me a headache.”

  He chuckled. “And I’m sure it will happen many times more.”

  Nodding, I said, “That’s true, especially with Isaac in the picture.”

  “Ah, is he, are you two…?”

  “Dad, right now we’re friends.”

  “I’ve noticed some tension between the two of you. Do I need to kick his arse for you?”

  Laughing, I shook my head. “No, thanks though. I’m pretty good at arse kicking.”

  “I believe that.” He smiled and then gave my shoulder a squeeze. I looked up to him. “Are we going to be okay?”

  “Yeah.” I grinned. “I think we will be.”

  “Good.” He kissed my temple.

  The back door suddenly opened. I stood immediately, with Dad beside me. We looked toward the kitchen as Jack walked around the entryway.

  “Kid, there’s someone here who wants to see you.”

  “Who?” I asked. Kalvin appeared beside Jack and my heart stuttered at the sight of him. “Um, hi.” I waved lamely.

  His smile was big. “Hi,” he practically purred. A blush lit my cheeks. “Do you mind if we talk?”

  Not at all, I had questions for him.

  “I’ll meet you outside.”

  “Thank you.” He grinned and left the room.

  Turning, I gave Dad a hug. His arms wound around my shoulders and he held me close. As I went to pass my uncle in the doorway, my wrist was caught.

  “We good, kid?” he asked.

  We were. We always had been. Even though he wasn’t around much, I knew my uncle didn’t have a clue with how to deal with a thirteen-year-old in his life.

  He still annoyed the hell out of me. However, Dad was right. We were very much alike.

  “You’re still a boof-head, but…” Shit. Tears filled my eyes. Jack’s eyes widened. I waved a hand around and mumbled, “Don’t worry, I’m just due for my period.”

  “Crap, kid. Do not talk to me about that shit.”

  Giggling, because I couldn’t help but remember the time my tough uncle told me I was going to be menstruating. His exact words were, ‘Kid, as you get older things change. Worse for women because to have babies you need to bleed outta your privates for a week every month. Life’s tough. We just have to deal with it.’ And then he’d left.

  Suddenly, I had an urge to hug him. So I did. My arms went around his waist. Hesitantly, his wound around my shoulders.

  “Thank you. You drive me nuts, but I have appreciated everything.”

  “Same, kid, same.”

  With a nod into his chest, I spun and walked out the back door.

  A smile settled on my lips as I stepped down the back steps off the deck. Kalvin stood near the woods. He looked up and spotted me, grinning.

  When I was close, he said, “How have you been?” He’d asked me as if we hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Weird.

  “Okay and you?”

  “Better now.” He winked. My body tingled in awareness. He was so damn handsome.

  Purring and rubbing was out of the question. I hardly knew the guy, so I wouldn’t let myself do what it wanted to.

  Turning to me, he leaned against a tree. I found myself wishing I was that tree, yet I also knew the pull I had to him wasn’t as strong as it was to Isaac.

  Did I wish it were?

  Maybe.

  At least then, I wouldn’t give Isaac the chance to hurt me again.

  But you love him.

  Oh, God, did I?

&
nbsp; “Leila,” Kalvin called my name longingly. Glancing up at him, I waited for something else. “You’re very beautiful.”

  You’re very forward.

  Shrugging off the comment, I asked, “Why don’t you have an eye like mine? I thought all werecats would.”

  He smirked. “I’m not sure. My only guess would be your feline is stronger, so it shows while you’re in your human form.”

  Nodding, I looked back to the house and then Kalvin. “Do you know of any more werecats?”

  “No, not until I met you.”

  “Why aren’t there any?” I asked more to myself than Kalvin.

  Still, he answered, “I’ve heard that Gerald hunted them and killed them.”

  Shock had my heart beating hard in my chest. “Why?” I whispered.

  “A prophecy of some sort.”

  “Do you know what it says?”

  He glanced behind him into the woods. “Not all of it.”

  My brows drew together in confusion. “Are you going to tell me?”

  His eyes met mine with heat. He took a step toward me, reaching out a hand and trailing his fingers down my cheek. “I’d rather talk about something else.”

  A thrill shivered through my body at his touch. His eyes told me he wanted me. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Leila,” he whispered, his lips closer to mine.

  “K-Kalvin…”

  “We’re meant to be together.” His hand threaded into my hair, pulling my head back so I would meet his gaze. His other hand went to my waist while I stood there like a limp biscuit.

  Then his lips touched mine. It wasn’t gentle. It was rough, wet and hard, but good. His tongue forced its way in. My hand went to his shoulders. Half of me wanted to push him away, yet the other half liked what was going on, causing me to kiss him back.

  His lips left mine and trailed down to my neck where he nipped. “Say you’re mine. Be with me. Come with me now and we can escape all of this and live peacefully.”

  Yes.

  Wait, no.

  What?

  Stop, I needed to stop it.

  I shoved at him. He faltered back a step and looked at me with surprise.

  “You want me.” He grinned. “I can feel it, taste it even. All you need to do is trust that I can take care of you.” His eyes widened a fraction. “We need to leave. Come with me, be with me and live happily with the one person who knows all of you.” He swiftly kissed me again. My body caved for a moment, until I turned my head away from him. “We need to go. We have to hurry before evil gets here.”

  Huh?

  My mind was a fog. An urgency thrummed through me to listen to Kalvin. He could protect me. He wanted me. He was like me.

  Shaking my head, I tried to clear it. Nothing was making sense.

  Why would I think those things when I fought so hard to be my own person? I didn’t need anyone to care for me, to protect me like I was weak, because I wasn’t.

  A feeling of pure contentment washed over me.

  “Kalvin?” I uttered.

  “Yes, baby. Yes, come on, we can leave and love each other forever. We will be happy. We’ll have a family. A perfect future.”

  It all sounded nice. Sweet. Perfect.

  Smiling up at him, I nodded. His grin was gorgeous. His hand reached out for mine and we started walking into the woods.

  “Leila!” was roared in the distance, and a shudder ran over my body. I knew that voice… Didn’t I?

  Kalvin, with swift speed, picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. From my position, I watched the backs of his legs as they blurred together with how fast he ran into the woods.

  Why was he running? To keep me safe. Something bad was after us. Kalvin wanted to take care of me. He was my love, my life, and I would do anything for him.

  A deep, painful throb in my head had me gasping for breath and cradling my head between my hands.

  Leila, do not let him take you from me.

  Who are you?

  No! Snarled through my mind. Leila, remember. Remember me, who you are, where you belong. Why you want to fight.

  Flashes of images ran through my mind.

  The sexiest man I had ever seen standing in my bedroom only wearing jeans.

  His smile.

  His kind eyes.

  A kiss that seared my soul.

  A touch that caressed more than the spot he touched.

  People surrounding me.

  Family.

  Isaac.

  Gregory.

  My dad, uncle, all the reasons why I wanted to fight.

  To help protect the ones I loved, instead of them going head-to-head on their own.

  With a severe intake of breath, I flung myself off Kalvin’s shoulder. He stumbled, righted himself and faced me.

  “What did you do?” I snarled.

  He smirked. “How did you break it?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Standing, I glared at him. “None of it matters, but if you want to live, you’ll tell me why.”

  He stalked towards me, his movement angry. His hands clenched at his sides as his face pulled into a sneer. “Why, you ask? Because you have killed all of my family,” he yelled in my face.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, not backing up. I would not show fear.

  “MaryJane told me.”

  “MaryJane. You’re doing this for her? But she works for Gerald. He probably killed your family.”

  “He did, but he did it because of you.” He shoved me back. “I should take care of you myself, but my mate wants to do it, and her, I would do anything for, even lay my hands on such filth.” He spat to the ground before my feet.

  “Mate?”

  Had he been smoking pot before trying to kidnap me? Because he certainly wasn’t making sense.

  Leila?

  Isaac?

  Yes, we’re coming. Keep him distracted. Relief washed over me. Isaac was on his way. He saved me, broke the spell Kalvin had on me.

  “What did you do to my mind?” I asked.

  He laughed. “As you know, we can make connections with our minds. You’re probably too stupid to work out we can also do other things. Take thoughts, change feelings. Even kill.”

  “My shields don’t let anyone in. How did you do it?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Being the same helps and there’s only another who could force entry, your mate.”

  “Wait, stop. Nothing you’re saying is making sense.”

  He snorted. “MaryJane did say you were dense.”

  “Whatever. Tell me why you joined Ty’s team if you’ve sided with MaryJane and Gerald.”

  “I’ve had enough questions for now, Leila. I can feel his power coming closer. My mate didn’t want me to harm you, but I see no other choice.”

  His hand wrapped around my neck and I watched as he shifted his other hand into a claw. “You will die tonight. Isaac will have nothing worth living for and then Gerald will succeed.”

  As if slow motion took over, I saw his clawed hand pull back. He intended to force the blow to my stomach, maybe even stab me with his sharp claws. I couldn’t allow them to touch me or I would die. Hate burned in his eyes. I didn’t understand it, but I could see it and he meant to kill me.

  Raising my feet off the ground, I kicked out just before his claws would have sunk deep into my stomach. Instead, the force behind my kick loosened his hold on my neck. I jumped backward and he stumbled back and hissed.

  “I won’t be an easy target to kill, Kalvin.”

  “We’ll see,” he growled and pounced, shifting on movement, turning into a large cat. The only difference I noticed was his form was more solid than mine, his fur darker too. I scrambled backwards, away from him and called forth my change.

  Bones crunched and popped. It was the fastest shift I had ever done, but I had to.

  Silently, I screamed through it.

  In the final stages, I reached my arms up and jumped high, landing over Kalvin in my feline form. Kalvin t
urned. I started to run, but he caught me, his paw taking out my back one. I rolled to the ground. He was on top of me snarling and hissing in my face. Growling, I snapped my jaw at him, anywhere I could. We rolled and I dug my claws into his sides. He howled in pain and then managed to sink his fangs into my flesh at my side.

  A blur of black and white passed me. Kalvin was knocked off me. Staggering to my feet, I found us surrounded. Isaac had Kalvin pinned to a tree. His arm across Kalvin’s chest while Darik and Adan held his claws at bay. Kalvin snapped his teeth at Isaac, until Isaac gripped Kalvin’s fur on the top of his head and forced it back so they were eye-to-eye.

  “No one touches her. No one rolls her mind. You will be killed tonight, you will…” Isaac stopped snarling in Kalvin’s face, and Kalvin’s eyes widened and something flashed in them. Isaac smiled, his fangs showed. “Hello, MaryJane.”

  Startled, my gaze roamed the area. However, she wasn’t around. Xavier came to my side and whispered, “Master sees her within her mate.”

  “You will be happy to know your mate has failed you. His game of taking Leila away from me didn’t work and now we have him.” Isaac’s smile was vicious. “No, MaryJane. I will kill him for even thinking he could take her.” He paused. “Crying and screaming will get you nowhere. Not after what you’ve put us through. Siding with Gerald has got you nothing, and even now it will be less. You must thank your master for it.” Isaac reared back, his mouth wide and his fangs long.

  Isaac, no! Knock him out, but keep him alive. We can bargain with MaryJane for him when the time is right.

  If Isaac heard me, he chose to ignore it. His hand snapped out, vise-like, gripping his neck. Kalvin howled and hissed, but Isaac had other plans. Darik adjusted his stance as Isaac freed his hand from Kalvin’s neck and lifted Kalvin’s front leg up.

  Isaac’s fangs were out sharp, long and ready. He was going to drain him, take every last drop of Kalvin’s blood. Isaac tore into his arm. The sound of flesh tearing apart echoed through the woods. Kalvin growled in pain, yet I didn’t look away as the man I loved, drank until it was done. The three of them stepped away as one and Kalvin slumped to the ground, his form shifting back to human in death.

  Isaac turned to me, wiping his mouth with the back of his arm, his eyes wild with fury. “Lessons must be taught if I am to rule, and that lesson was to everyone who thinks they can harm you. Think they can take you from me. No one will touch a person in my fold, not without a fight.”