**********
We had two days to honeymoon before Tamas had to go back to work with his father. They would be chopping down trees to clear out room for more motor homes and because of that, they would be some distance away, I was taken to Ion’s house where Mirella and Garridan were helping him tend to Fiona. The sight of the woman broke my heart but as soon as Tamas left I understood what had happened to her. I experienced his absence in a physical way. It hurt more than a typical absence from someone loved. There was a gaping hole in my soul while Tamas wasn’t with me. Worse, I understood that he felt the same. I trembled as I gazed at Fiona. She was dying because Emilian had died and had left her with the bond. What would happened if Tamas died? I didn’t have to ponder the answer. I’d want to follow. It was only made crueler by the fact that Fiona didn’t choose to be bonded as I had. It had been forced on her and if there was a way to break it and Emilian knew how to accomplish it, he was never as bonded as she was.
I shook my head of the thoughts as Mirella chatted as if Fiona wasn’t fading away more and more with every second that passed. My heart ached as the hours passed with the woman crying or whispering Emilian’s name or worse, asking to die. I found a deep desire to help her and in turn, help Aurora get her mother back. Darkness fell after what seemed like an eternity. Aurora arrived just moments after the last rays of the sun faded behind the mountain. She glanced at her mother with a sad mixture of hope and desperation. My heart ached to see how attentive she was and how determined she was to save her mother even when there was so little hope.
I stared out of the window again to escape the sadness around me staring at the moon as the inky, black clouds moved over it blocking its rays. The phone rang finally pulling my gaze from the window. Mirella answered with her usual grin spread over her face and her chirp of a greeting. Slowly, her grin faded and darkness replaced the joy in her eyes.
“I want to come home,” she said into the phone as tears filled her eyes. She hung up and glanced around the room as if deciding what to say.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing and stepping toward her. Her gaze met mine as she blinked releasing the tears to fall from her eyes and down her cheeks.
“The Grey wolves have attacked dad,” she said on a choked sob, “He was ahead of them, marking trees to be cut down. Tamas and Luc are bringing him home while the others search for the wolves responsible. I’m sorry. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home so I’ll be there to help Momma when Daddy arrives.”
“I’ll walk you,” I said but even before I finished speaking Garridan was shaking his head.
“I promised Tamas that I wouldn’t leave your side,” he said and glanced at Mirella, “And I won’t allow her to walk by herself. Eva has it out for her. Neither of you have transitioned so you won’t be able to protect yourselves. So, I’ll walk with you.”
“Thank you,” Mirella said on a choked sob.
Garridan’s face softened, “Of course, Mirella,” he said, picking up her jacket, “Put this on. It’s cold outside.”
I grabbed my jacket and stepped behind them out of the door into the cool air. We walked slowly through the park as our breaths puffed in front of us in misty streams. Garridan was rigid as he glanced around us scanning the area for any wolves. Every few moments, he would inhale.
“Their scent is everywhere,” he said, frustrated, “I won’t know if they are near.”
“I don’t think they are here anymore,” Mirella said, “I think they’ve g-“
Mirella’s voice halted as a low howl broke in the air. She inhaled sharply as I glanced at Garridan with my eyes wide in fear.
“Tamas,” I whispered, terrified. My stomach clenched at the thought of him in danger.
“He’ll be back with you as soon as Gavriel is with Sophia so she can heal him,” he said, frowning, “He’ll be okay. Right now, I’m worried about us.”
“But those wolves aren’t one of ours,” I said as my stomach twisted with the knowledge.
“No, they aren’t,” Garridan said, glancing around, “Which is why we should get you somewhere safe. Your home is closer. We’ll go there until I’m sure that they’ve gone. I’ll take you home after that, Mirella but I promised Tamas and Sophia that I would protect you and Nadia. I intend to do just that.”
I stared into his determined face and as Mirella nodded. We stayed in the shadows as we made our way to my home. I opened the door and stepped inside with Garridan and Mirella behind me. We moved into the living area but the sound of the door closing behind us caused us to turn. Eva stood there with a grin and I blinked wondering how she’d gained entry through a locked door. I swallowed as I realized that she must have picked the lock.
“Hello, Garridan,” she said as he placed his body between us and her. She raised a brow as a growl rose in his throat, “Don’t fight this.”
“You won’t touch them,” he said, just as someone stepped behind Mirella and grabbed her. Garridan turned and was hit in the head with the butt of a gun.
My eyes widened as I saw three werewolves in the shadows. A tremble shook me as I realized that Eli held Mirella. He grinned and I understood that he would use her in any way that he could to get me to go with them. He would kill her if he had to. I glanced down at Garridan on the floor. He was unconscious and wouldn’t be able to help us. I swallowed hard as Eva spoke in that malicious voice of hers.
“We’ll take the two women and this traitor,” she said, kicking Garridan in the ribs with her booted feet. The other two men pulled Garridan up and began to drag him to the door.
Eva walked to Mirella, “I have something special planned for you,” she said with a grin, “It will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”
Eva turned back to me and grabbed my elbow sinking her nails into my skin. She grinned, “Don’t fight,” she said with a laugh, “I wouldn’t want to give you another scar.”
Then, Mirella and I were pushed out of the door to follow the two werewolves dragging Garridan toward the forest.
*********
I was shocked to find that the Grey wolves lived in a neighborhood and not in motor homes. I suppose I shouldn’t have been. They didn’t care if they harmed humans and they were arrogant enough to believe themselves invincible against them even they were exposed as murderers and werewolves.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance as we were led to a house at the end of the street. It seemed perfectly normal from the outside but as we neared the scent of human’s blood and death permeated the air. It was obvious that many people had lost their lives within its walls. I wondered briefly who they had been.
Eva pushed me from behind and Eli grinned as he moved ahead of me and stood on the porch. He gave me a lascivious grin. I raised my chin determined not to let him see my fear.
“I have plans for you,” he whispered as I passed by him on the way to the door. My thoughts moved to Fiona and I almost shivered. Could he break the bond I had with Tamas? The thought made me nauseous. I didn’t want to lose my bond with him. If I did, I would lose a piece of him.
Eli stepped in behind me as I was ushered into a room by myself. The room was empty except for a full size bed. I frowned as I turned and glimpsed Mirella’s terrified face just before the door closed between us...separating us from each other. Eva’s voice drifted through the door and I moved toward it bending down to peer from an old fashioned key hole. I pressed my eye to the door surprised at how much I could see through it.
Three men circled Mirella as she cringed away from them. Garridan narrowed his eyes dangerously at them and I was relieved when I noticed that his strength was returning. He’d be able to transition soon and save us.
“She’s pretty for a Brazil,” The largest of the men said sniffing her before grinning, “And innocent too.”
“Oh, Sean,” Eva said with a smile, “I know how you love the innocent ones.”
“I will kill you, if you touch her,” Garridan said, taking a step forward. Eva moved behind him.
“I can’t let you do that,” Eva said and a moment later she had a syringe imbedded in his neck. Garridan sank to his knees as the scent of silver mixed with wolf’s bane permeated the air. I swallowed as all hope of Garridan transitioning vanished. The mixture would keep him from turning. I inhaled sharply as Eva kicked Garridan in ribs causing him to gasp for breath.
Eva turned to Mirella, “He seems protective where you are concerned,” she said as an evil grin lit her face. She turned to Sean, “Do what you want with her but don’t kill her.”
Mirella’s eyes widened as Sean gripped her. Eva turned back as her eyes glinted darkly. She tilted her head as she studied Garridan. She glanced at the other two who were standing to the side as they awaited orders.
“Make him watch,” she said with a raised brow, “Make sure he sees every single moment of it.”
“No,” Garridan said weakly as two of the men lifted him. Sean picked up Mirella and threw her over his shoulder.
“This is going to be fun,” the man said as my stomach twisted. I searched for a way out…For a way to save them but when the screams began, I realized I was too late.
Chapter Fourteen
The Truth About Jaelle
Mirella’s screams continued interwoven with Garridan’s pleas for the men to leave her alone. They were driving me insane as I moved to the corner of the room and sank down. I placed my hands over my ears and shut my eyes until the screams ended. Tears burned paths down my cheeks as I worried that they were dead. Only when the door opened did I worry about my fate.
Slowly, I raised my gaze to find the girl who I believed to be my sister. She stared down at me sadly as she glanced over her shoulder. She stepped toward me and bit her lip. A frown marred her face as she played with the hem of her shirt.
“Who are you?” She asked simply before glancing over her shoulder again. My eyes widened as I realized that she was not supposed to be with me, “You seem familiar.”
“My name is Nadia,” I said, pressing my lips together to keep from frightening her by blurting out my suspicions, “What is your name?”
“Jaelle,” she said as she studied me, “Jaelle Grey.”
I inhaled sharply at the sound of her name but I knew better than to get excited and push her to the edge, “Are you Eva’s daughter?”
Her eyes darkened and the pain of years of torment came to the surface, “I’m her adopted daughter,” she whispered, “My parents and sister died. She saved me.”
“Did they?” I asked as my nostrils flared. I took a deep, calming breath, “How did they die?”
She frowned as she closed her eyes. When she opened them heartbreak was within them, “An attack,” she said stepping forward, “I remember some of it even though I was only three.”
“What do you remember?” I asked, standing to face her. She took a step back as if afraid I would strike her.
“The werewolf attacked my sister,” she said, tilting her head as she studied me again, “Her name was Nadia like you. She had hair the same color and your eyes…They are the same color too.”
I took a step toward her as I moved my hair to the side and turned so that my back was to her. Slowly, I pulled the shoulder of my blouse down exposing the scar.
“Did she get slashed like this?” I whispered.
I heard the sharp intake of her breath as she backed away. As I turned, she moved to the door shaking her head, “No,” she said in a voice broken by betrayal, “My mother wouldn’t keep that from me.”
“Yes,” I said, desperate, “I’m your sister. Your parents are alive. You have a brother now too and we were attacked. We thought you were dead. Eva is the one who attacked us.”
She shook her head so hard the ends of her hair slapped her in the face, “You’re lying,” she said, grasping the doorknob, “You just want me to hate my mom so I’ll let you go.”
Then, she was gone leaving me with my heart in my throat as the locks of the door clicked back into place.
**********
I stared at the door for an immeasurable amount of time before it opened yet again. This time Eva stepped through. Her face was smug as the two guards who had dragged Garridan into the room followed her. I glanced at them terrified as I wondered if they were about to do to me what they did to Mirella.
“Don’t worry, Nadia,” she said as if reading my mind, “We have a different fate in mind for you.”
“What’s that?” I asked as a shiver slid from the base of my skull. I understood anything she had planned wouldn’t end well for me.
“Eli,” she said with a twitch of her lips at my expression of disgust, “He’s your fate.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my temper from rising, “I won’t let him touch me,” I said, raising my chin, “I would rather died.”
Eva scoffed, “That not my concern,” she said with a shrug, “It’s his. What he decides to do to you is up to him.”
“What about my sister?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, “What concern is she to you. I thought you’d killed her.”
Eva straightened and turned back to me with narrowed eyes, “So you have realized who my adopted daughter is. Her death could still be arranged,” she said with a crooked grin, “You see, I was going to kill her but I realized that I would do better to keep her alive and let her grow attached to me. Eventually, I would be able to use her against you or your parents. I didn’t realize that I would be able to use her against you.”
“You don’t love her at all?” I asked, angrily, “She’s someone you use for revenge?”
“Why would I love her?” She asked with a laugh, “She isn’t part of our family. She’s part of your filthy family.”
I swallowed as I saw Jaelle’s face beyond the bodyguards. Tears flowed down her cheeks, “Did you tell her we were dead?” I asked, trying hard not to face Jaelle.
“How else would I have earned her love?” She asked and sighed as if tired of the conversation, “Regardless, this will not matter to you soon. You’ll be be bound to Eli and he’ll be all that matters to you.”
“I will never be Eli’s,” I said, narrowing my eyes as she shrugged and turned to go once more, “You do know that he wants to take the spot of alpha and he will kill you to get it.”
She turned and stared at me for a few moments and then, grinned, “Yes, I do,” she said and laughed, “But just like your sister, I have bigger plans for him. He just doesn’t know it.”
She turned leaving me with my mouth hanging wide open as I realized she meant to kill him and that would kill me. I would waste away like Fiona. The locks clicked home in the door once more, leaving me to face my fate with Eli.
Chapter Fifteen
The Darkest Revenge
Eli came soon after bringing me food. He stared at me for a few moments when I refused to come near and sighed as he sat it down on the bed. He raised a brow and pressed his lips thin as if upset I didn’t trust him.
“It’s food,” he said, frowning, “I wanted to make sure you were fed. I didn’t want you to starve.”
“I want you to let me go,” I said as a muscle twitched beneath his eye, “I want to go home.”
“You are home,” he whispered, frustrated, “No matter how much you fight it, this is where you will stay.”
“Do you think that Tamas won’t come for me?” I asked as my stomach twisted. It had only been a few hours and the damage the Grey wolves had done was irreparable. I winced as my mind drifted to Garridan and Mirella.
Please let them be alive, I thought, Please, don’t let them be dead.
“It won’t matter if he does,” he said, tilting his head as he studied me further, “He’ll die as soon as you’re bonded with me.”
“I am bonded to Tamas,” I said through gritted teeth, “I’ll never be bonded to you and I’ll never want to be.”
“Yes, you will,” he said, narrowing his eyes, “I told the other one we knew how to break the bond. We will do it with you.”
I raised my bro
ws in a challenge, “You’re lying” I said, narrowing my eyes, “If there is a way, tell me how it’s done.”
“Eat,” he said, ignoring my demand. I eyed the food suspiciously. I wouldn’t eat anything he prepared. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if the food held the answer to breaking the bond. He narrowed his eyes at me, “The food is just that food. There is nothing in it that will separate you from Tamas.”
“What does break the bond?” I asked and he pressed his lips together as he rose. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration before gazing into my face with his nostrils flaring. He took a few deep breaths and shook his head. When he looked at me again he was calm.
“You don’t have to eat,” he said, softly, “But if you need anything, all you have to do is ask for me and I’ll get it for you.”
“I want to go home,” I said, stepping toward him and he shook his head, “I need to go home. If I don’t, I’ll die.”
He shook his head again, “You won’t die,” he said with raised brows, “You’ll get weak and you’ll be grateful for what I give you. Then, we can begin.”
Fiona’s face flashed through my mind, “So, I have to be weak for you to break my bond with Tamas?” I asked, confused.
“Not necessarily,” he said with a shrug, “It helps for you to get into the right mindset.”
“And what mindset is that?” I asked, stepping toward him.
He raised a brow, “If I told you, I’d give away the secret,” he said with a laugh, “I’m not ready to do that yet.”
“When will you be?” I asked angrily.
“Soon,” he said and then gave me a crooked grin, “Until then, I’ll leave you alone. If you need me, tell the guards to come find me.”
“I won’t ever need you,” I said, narrowing my eyes.
He glanced at me once more, “We’ll see,” he said and left me alone in the room again. My stomach twisted as my heart yearned for Tamas. I glanced around the room desperate to get out and return to him.
**********
Lured (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 4) Page 8