Lured (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 4)

by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn

  I had fallen asleep when my door opened yet again. This time Jaelle returned glancing at me warily as she moved close to me. She studied my face as she sat across from the bed I laid on. Her eyes were puffy from crying and when she sighed it was broken in sadness and regret.

  “You’re really my sister,” she said, tilting her head as she spoke. Her lip trembled as she continued, “Why didn’t you or momma or daddy come for me?”

  “We thought you died,” I whispered as guilt slammed through me, “We didn’t know you were alive or we would have.”

  She nodded, “I thought that was what happened,” she said and then bit her bottom lip as her shoulders slumped forward.

  “I’m sorry for earlier,” I said as my heart clenched, “I realize that it must hurt to hear the woman who raised you say that she doesn’t love you.”

  Jaelle nodded her head causing her dark hair to shake with the movement, “It’s alright,” she said and raised her trembling chin, “It told me where I needed to be and who I needed to help.”

  “Help?” I asked with wide eyes as hope flooded me.

  She nodded as she met my eyes, “I’ve led your husband and his brothers inside without being seen. I was told to come in here while they retrieve Garridan and Mirella,” she said with tears in her eyes, “Then, they’ll be back for you.”

  “You’re coming too,” I said, grasping her hand, “I won’t leave you behind.”

  She swallowed hard, “Are you sure that you want me?”

  “Of course I am,” I said studying her as my heart broke, “You’re my sister and our mother and father love you. Pesha will love you too.”

  “Pesha?” She asked, frowning as she said his name.

  “Our little brother,” I said, giving her a small smile, “He’s four years old.”

  She returned the smile but it faded as the door opened. Her eyes widened in fear and we both jumped. My eyes flew upward to find Tamas’ beloved face. I ran to him and he embraced me. He cupped my cheeks in his hands as his eyes roamed over me searching for injuries.

  “Are you alright?” He asked in a broken voice, “They didn’t do to you what they did to Mirella, did they?”

  “No,” I said as he kissed my forehead.

  “Is Mirella and Garridan alive?” I asked, trembling, “I heard their screams. I wasn’t sure if they had been allowed to live.”

  Tamas’ eyes darkened, “They are though they will need to heal,” he said as he glanced from me to Jaelle, “For now, we need to get you and your sister far away from here.”

  I nodded as I turned and reached out my hand to Jaelle. For a moment, she simply stared at my hand but finally she reached forward and took it. A single tear fell from her eye as she glanced around and then took a step. My sister who we assumed dead for ten years rejoined our family very much alive.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Resurrections

  Tamas led us outside as the long, low howl of a wolf rent the air. Tamas’ eyes widened as he pulled us along toward the trees, no longer trying to hide. Growls erupted around us as we joined Garridan and Mirella who were huddled together in the trees.

  My heart clenched as I gazed into Mirella’s nearly lifeless eyes and I wondered again what they did to her inside the room but I realized a moment later that I didn’t want to know. Garridan was rocking her back and forth as his own eyes, haunted by what had happened stared off into space.

  A virtual war had broken out around us as we moved back further and further into the trees.

  “Nadia,” my mother said as we moved well into the tree line. Jaelle stiffened beside me and I squeezed her hand in comfort as I turned to face her.

  “Momma,” I said as Jaelle turned to face my mother. A sob escaped her throat and a tremble worked its way down her spine as she awaited confirmation that her worst fears didn’t really happen, “This is Jaelle.”

  She raised her trembling hands to her lips as she took in her daughter’s face, “Jaelle,” she whispered as she took a step toward her, removing one of her hands from her mouth to touch Jaelle’s cheek, “It’s really you?”

  Jaelle nodded her head as tears escaped her eyes, “It is,” she said before my mother pulled her into a fierce hug.

  Tamas glanced back at the neighborhood the Grey wolves occupied. Wolves fought in the center. Eli had just exited the house and sniffed the air, scenting it. I realized he was searching for me.

  “We have to go now,” I said, terrified of being captured again and taken away from Tamas.

  “There is a car down here,” Tamas said, grasping my hand and pulling me along. I glance back, noticing that Garridan carried Mirella and my mother was leading Jaelle.

  I turned back to the trail and focused on getting to the car. We turned the corner but stopped when we heard a yelp. I turned to find Eli. He had barely missed grabbing Jaelle. My mother stood between them, her eyes glowed red as her wolf came to the surface threatening to spring free.

  “Jaelle, get back!” I yelled. She took two steps back and fell as my mother transitioned into a wolf. Eli’s eyes widened as she lunged at him with her teeth bared. He didn’t have time to summon his own wolf before my mother’s teeth sank deep into his neck. As his blood flowed into the ground I understood that Eli wouldn’t bother us ever again.

  **********

  Tamas drove us into the motor home park with everyone in strict silence. No one spoke until my mother who was naked and wrapped in a blanket directed us to stop by her house so she could get clothes on before heading to Ion’s motorhome so he could administer treatment to Garridan who had been stabbed in the shoulder at some point during our captivity. He still refused to release Mirella as we walked inside. Her head rested solidly on his hurt shoulder but he did not attempt to move her. Instead, he pulled her closer as if afraid to let her go.

  Ion gazed at them as his face fell. He didn’t ask what had happened. He didn’t need to. The blood of Mirella’s lost innocence scented the air. She’d been raped and whatever else that had happened only made it worse.

  Ion stepped toward Garridan and gazed into his friend’s eyes, “You’ll have to release her for me to tend to your wounds,” Ion said, quietly to his friend.

  Garridan faced him and shook his head, “Work around her,” He said through clenched teeth. Ion opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it as he met Garridan’s glazed eyes.

  “Let me check on Fiona first,” he said, pained as he glanced down at Mirella, “She’ll need help too. She’s been hurt.”

  “No one touches her,” Garridan said, almost shouting.

  Ion frowned but nodded his head, “You’ll have to tend to her wounds,” he said in a gentle voice, “We need to make sure that she doesn’t get an infection. There is a chance she will die if she does. I’ll be back as soon as I make sure that Fiona is resting.”

  Garridan nodded as Jaelle stepped forward, “Fiona is here?” She asked, glancing around the room with wide eyes.

  “Yes,” Ion said, confused and glanced at me and then, my mother, “Did you find out how to break the bond between her and Emilian?”

  I shook my head as my heart broke. I had wanted to save her but had doomed her instead by getting kidnapped, “No,” I said, “Eli was killed before we found out.”

  My mother stifled a sob, “He was going to hurt my daughter,” she said, glancing toward the room where Fiona rested. Her voice broke as she whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  Jaelle moved her gaze to me, “Was she ever in love before?” She asked frowning, “I mean…Was she ever in love before Emilian?”

  “No,” Ion said, shaking his head.

  “That’s not true,” My mother said, stepping toward Ion, “She loved you but she wouldn’t put Lilly at risk. She couldn’t be selfish. She told you that.”

  “She still left even after I asked her to marry me,” he said, blinking back hurt, “Lila, she didn’t love me.”

  “She did what she did for Lilly,” My mother said and glanced b
ack at me and Jaelle, “She loved her as much as Aurora. I’m a mother. I would do anything for my daughters. She would too.”

  “If she loved you,” Jaelle said, interrupting the argument, “You can break the bond.”

  “You know how to break the bond?” Ion asked desperate to discover its secret. His eyes searched Jaelle’s face.

  “I wasn’t supposed to but I heard my….Eva talking about it. I know how it’s done,” she said with a shrug, “It’s why I brought Fiona here when Eli asked me to. I thought you would break the bond. I didn’t realize that you didn’t know how.”

  “What do I do?” Ion asked, frowning.

  “You just blood bond with her,” she said, shaking her head.

  “It can’t be that simple,” I said, frowning, “Eli would have blood bonded with one of us by now.”

  Jaelle shook her head, “Usually, it’s not that simple,” she said, glancing around, “Usually they make sure you are weak and then, they begin to give you the things you need. They make you grateful and then, you do love them…At least in some way.”

  My stomach turned as I remembered the meal that Eli brought me. I swallowed as I realized that he was attempting to make me grateful. I glanced at Ion who was staring at Jaelle with suspicion.

  “It wouldn’t hurt to try,” I said, tilting my head as I studied him but the bond would affect him too, “That is if you want to be bonded to her.”

  Ion blinked and stared at the room where Fiona lay dying. He nodded once and moved to the back room. Tamas and I followed as Ion stopped beside the bed where Fiona rested.

  “I hope this is what you want,” He said and then, took out his pocket knife and slit across his wrist. Blood rose to the surface of his skin as he placed his wrist against her lips. Immediately, her eyes opened wide as she grasped his wrist pulling it closer to her mouth and sucking Ion’s essence down her throat.

  Her face began to gain color and I understood in that moment that she would heal. I glanced back to the living area wishing the same for the others inside the room but as grim as it was, I understood as I gazed at Garridan and Mirella that it would take a long while for them and that was only if they were able to heal.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Eva’s Final Blow

  We stood around the bonfire pit. The scent of celebrations past permeated the air. My heart sank as I realized that the times for celebrations had past. We stood in a time of darkness and it wouldn’t fade for a long time. Me and Tamas, Tamas’ brothers and their wives, Ion and Fiona, my parents with Jaelle and Pesha stood in a semi-circle around Sophia and Gavriel. Sophia’s eyes glinted dangerous in the moonlight as she gazed at each of us. Her anger and hurt reflected on each of our souls.

  “We didn’t make the first move against the Grey wolves,” Sophia said, raising her brows as she glanced at each of us again, “We’ve tried to be peaceful. We’ve tried to live separately from them without engaging them but we’ve been attacked. Stefan and Ella died.”

  Mary Jane shifted uncomfortably as Sophia’s gaze landed on her, “Your parents were good. They were kind. What happened to them should not have happened. They should have lived to see your children. They should be avenged.”

  Mary Jane’s eyes filled with tears as Sophia turned to Aurora and then, Fiona, “Fiona has been avenged when it comes to Emilian and Eli but what about Eva. She would have used you until your death.”

  Fiona nodded as a tear fell down her cheek, “She would have,” she said as Ion put his arm around her still weak shoulders, “And she would have done more to me than that. I witnessed so much while I lived there. I can’t believe that I allowed it to go on. I’m ashamed that I was brainwashed that much.”

  “It was because of a blood bond forced on you,” Sophia said raising her chin, “You had no control over your actions.”

  “Momma, you weren’t you,” Aurora said, swallowing over her tears, “You only understood the bond and it was driving you to be someone that you never were.”

  “And that could happen to any of you,” Sophia said as her gaze fell on Luca, “Soon, your betrothed will be here and they’ll come for her too.”

  I watched as he shrugged and my heart sank. He didn’t care what happened to the girl. Sophia narrowed her eyes, “It would be a disgrace if anything happens to her,” she said and Luca shifted uncomfortable, “I raised you to protect your family. She will be your family.”

  Sophia turned and came to Lilly, Mary Jane and Aurora who had just found that she was with child, “You three will be more vulnerable,” she said, gazing at them with love clear in her eyes, “You won’t be able to fight.”

  She stood in front of Andre, Luc and Marco. Andre shifted Ruby in his arms as his mother caressed her face, “And she will be in more danger than ever,” Sophia said as she moved to Pesha, “And so will he. You should leave soon. The betrothal for Ruby and Pesha has been agreed upon and Nadia is settled here. You will be safer away from here for a while.”

  My heart ached as my mother’s eyes flew to mine. Still, I nodded. I would rather my parents and siblings be safe.

  “We ran once and they still found us,” My father said, glancing at my mother and then, me, “I think we are safer here where we can band together with you to protect our families.”

  “What about Pesha and Ruby?” Sophia asked, “We would be breaking tradition for them to grow up together.”

  “We’ll leave before Pesha’s seventh birthday,” My father said, “That’s well before they start puberty.”

  Sophia nodded, “Then, I agree.”

  “So do I,” Gavriel said, gripping his ribs as he winced. He glanced at each of us, “We have to do what we must to protect our family and be able to stay in our home.”

  Sophia nodded, “Yes, this is our home,” she said with a far off expression, “No matter what has happened, this is where we belong. It’s where our memories are and we will fight to stay here.”

  She met each of our eyes, “The question is whether you will fight with us.”

  One by one, we all nodded our heads. We would fight and we would die if need be but we would stand. I stared in the direction of where the Grey wolves lived and narrowed my eyes. If we took some of the Grey wolves with us, it would be worth it.

  **********

  Sleep did not come easily for me that night. Blood and the screams of Mirella and Garridan came over and over again. I awoke as sweat poured from me soaking my gown. I sat up in bed as my heart pounded. I inhaled deeply and frowned as I inhaled again.

  I swallowed hard as I nudged Tamas. He sat up and glanced around instantly on guard.

  “What is that smell?” I asked, glancing around the room terrified.

  He inhaled sharply as he jumped from bed, “Smoke,” he said grabbing his pants and throwing them on. I grabbed my clothes and did the same. He clasped my hand in his and pulled me with him outside. My eyes widened as I realized which direction the smoke was coming from.

  “Oh no!” I said as Tamas and I ran toward his parent’s motor home. We reached the inferno as Garridan rushed inside. Ion moved forward as did Tamas.

  A moment later, Garridan exited with Stefan and Bo. They gasped the cool air as Garridan ran back in. Tamas exited with his parents. He bent forward and took a few deep breaths as Ion arrived and raced in. A few moments later, he exited with Luca. I stared at the door as flames whipped around the entrance. My heart was in my throat as I stared into it. My eyes burned as the smoke whipped around us. Finally, Garridan jumped through holding Mirella close to him. Both were coughing and gagging.

  Laughter reached my ears and I turned to find Eva standing near the bonfire. She waved once. Her eyes glowed in the night. I blinked and then, she was gone.

  “Did you see her?” I asked as I stared out into the darkness where she had stood.

  “I did,” Luca said in a voice hoarse from coughing.

  “I’m going to kill that bitch,” Garridan said, angrily as tears from his watery eyes fell slowly down hi
s soot covered face.

  “You’ll have to get in line,” Sophia said in a rough voice.

  I glanced back at her and then, toward the motor home where they had lost everything in one night and the name of the one who had caused it, whispered through all of our minds feeding the need for revenge. Eva.

  Epilogue

  Eva Grey stood staring out of the window of her home still smelling of the smoke of the Brazil’s motor home. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Sean knocked on her door, a malicious grin stretched over his face.

  “That was fun,” he said as he stood beside her.

  “You’ll have more fun soon,” she said, going to her dresser and pulling out a picture. She smiled as she gazed down at the picture of a pretty young woman.

  “Send your men to find her,” she said with a grin.

  “Who is she?” Sean asked with a glint in his eye.

  “Her name is Claire Black,” she said, narrowing her eyes, “Find her and kill her. Make sure to bring me her head. The Brazils want to fight for their children’s betrothed. We’ve made sure that their daughter won’t be wanted. Make sure that their next son doesn’t get his mate.”

  “Can I do what I want to her before I kill her?” Sean asked licking his lips lasciviously.

  Eva smiled before turning to him before patting his cheek, “Yes, you may,” she said and laughed as she turned and walked away from him, “Oh and Sean?”

  “Yes, My Alpha?” He asked with raised brows.

  “Make it brutal,” she said with narrowed eyes.

  “My pleasure,” he said. She nodded once and left with the understanding that the Brazil family would be totally destroyed before she was done with them.

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you so much for reading Lured (Book 4) The Brazil Werewolf Series. I hope I gave you some enjoyment. I want you to know that your support means so much to me. I wouldn’t be able to be an author without all of my wonderful readers. So, thank you with all my heart.