Tortured Embrace

by Julia Laque

  Flinching, she faltered. “Why are you saying this?”

  Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he said, sardonically, “You know it’s true.”

  “Know what is true?”

  “Nick,” he said, by way of an answer. “He’s the best person to take care of you. What we had was nothing. It’s over. It’s time the Blacktails did something about your welfare. You’ve been living for too long on your own.”

  Anger raged within her. “You have no right. My brother will never agree to this.”

  “He was the one to order me away from you in the first place. Of course he will. Especially if Nick is the one mating you.”

  Her arm moved faster than she could think, and before she knew it, her hand made contact with his cheek. The slap echoed around the room.

  Nodding slowly with his head to the side, Jason’s jaw throbbed, the skin reddening his perfect cheek.

  “Get out!” she screamed, and pushed at his chest.

  He stood, paralyzed for a moment, staring at the floor.

  “Get out!” she cried again, tears blurring her vision.

  With a final, agonizing glance, he left. The front door closing was like a blow to her head. Falling to her knees, Serena wrapped her arms around her and let the sobs claim her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Owen Hunter glared at the email on his laptop. Sitting in the back office of his sports bar in Chicago, the Grayback alpha mulled over the Blacktail’s message, his thick fingers drumming the top of his desk.

  A notice had come in earlier from the Fighter Alex Suarez describing the fight they’d undertaken with a convenio in Hillview. Things were getting way out of control.

  Two of his own pack members were found dead on the outskirts of the city. Owen hadn’t known them too well, but it didn’t matter. They were his responsibility and now the Graybacks were in a bit of a panic. This kind of discord didn’t sit well with him.

  Their pack didn’t have Fighters like the Blacktails. Having been too blind or stupid to realize not all werewolves were up to or strong enough to fight, he and the past alpha had not deemed it a priority. Most of the Graybacks, however, were young and naïve and had no clue what to do in the face of danger.

  Their natural extinct as Weres would be to attack, but the Blacktail Fighters were trained in combat. He flinched at the thought of his pack going through a battle like the Sweetin one with a team of mutated jackals.

  Sitting up, he clasped his hands together tightly on the desk, and reread the new message from Adam Perez, alpha of the Blacktails. Although it was their jobs as leaders to keep the other informed of certain business, Owen wasn’t so thrilled with the guy’s counsel.

  Two alphas. Not good.

  Especially when the cocky prick basically told him what he should be doing. The Blacktail was right, of course. They needed to form Fighters, but hell if he’d ever admit it. He was also right in stating they needed to band together to fight off the mounting number of Nightwalkers the witches were apparently breeding.

  A part of him admired the fact the Fighters had managed to leave the battle with no casualties; the other part was irritated they hadn’t captured the witch, Cassandra. They were unsure if she was still in the house when the bomb went off. The Fighter Alex was following the investigation of the explosion on the down low, but there was no concrete way to know for sure if the witch was dead or alive.

  Pursing his lips, he read the last few lines of the email, fists tightening together, his massive biceps rippling from the effort.

  My cousin and Fighter, Ramo Perez, will be in the city next week. He’ll be joining his wife, Grayback member, Elizabeth Vitali. Their union several years ago was a testament to keep the peace between our packs in the hopes when we found it necessary or in times of peril, the Graybacks and Blacktails would unite.

  Their alliance was approved by the previous Grayback alpha and myself. I suggest you make good use of my Fighter and allow him to train twelve or so members of your choosing to become Grayback Fighters. He is a valuable member to the pack, and I expect his support will be met with cordiality and respect.

  Owen’s nostril’s flared at the last line, which he read as You better not fuck with my boy. Really? Was this the best option for his pack? To have an outsider come in and tell his pack what to do…He didn’t like it. Not one fucking bit.

  And now Elizabeth would have to confront the husband who’d abandoned her years ago. Releasing his tight grip, he rubbed the stubble over his chin in agitation, leaning back in the leather office chair. She was going to go ballistic. The thought of the dark-eyed, voluptuous beauty heated his blood, making his length thicken in his slacks. He gripped the arms of the chair, trying to cool his raging emotions.

  Does this guy actually think he’ll be “joining” his estranged wife? Was he stupid? He didn’t even know Elizabeth. Didn’t know she’d have him flat on his ass outside her door if he dared to go near her. There was no way she’d welcome him home after leaving her for years without a word.

  Idiot.

  Not looking forward to having this discussion with the fireball, he made a mental note to send notices to everyone in his pack, but her. News like this should be delivered in person and as her alpha, it was his job to help figure out how she wanted to handle this.

  He ought to send the douche packing, but, as pissed as he was about this whole business, Adam’s message had hit the nail on the head. The Graybacks needed this alliance more now than ever.

  Hitting the keys on his laptop, he searched for files on every member of his pack, then picked up his cell. He and his beta had a long night ahead of them. Deciding just who was capable and willing to fight against Nightwalkers wasn’t going to be easy.

  ****

  Tanked, blitzed, plowed, shit-faced, blasted, juiced…these were just a few names for what he actually was at the moment. Sitting on the floor of his apartment, Jason leaned up against the kitchen counter facing the television on the far side of the wall, which was turned off. Everything in sight bugged the hell out of him, so T.V. wasn’t an option. In fact, being here was a bad idea. Everything reminded him of Serena. The front door, the windowsill, the bedroom…God, he was pathetic.

  Looking around his place, he thought he’d ought to blow it up too, since he’d trashed it a week ago. He didn’t have much to begin with, but he knew the stool, chair and bottles didn’t belong where they were. His poor cell had been smashed on the far wall days ago when Serena left him a gut-twisting message.

  I know why you’re doing this, but it won’t work. Adam will not force me to move, and you know it. I’m staying here, Jason. Please. I love you and only you. Come back to me.

  The womanly voice she spoke in pierced his heart. After everything she’d been through, how could she still be so calm? Why wasn’t she running away from him? Didn’t she know this was the best option for her?

  Palming the bottle of Johnny Walker Blue at his side, he thought of his brief convo with Nick. Taking a swig, he welcomed the fire burning down his chest as angelic Nick’s face seared into his brain. The guy had been completely thrown off by his proposal. Adam had tagged along to give him the news, not agreeing to the plan, but not disagreeing either. The alpha knew his plan was solid in the long run, but he flat out said he wasn’t forcing it on Serena and Nick.

  Now that the seed had been planted, it was up to Nick and Serena to do whatever they liked. Jason was taking care of the bill for a place deep in the mountains in Colorado Springs so they could live happily ever after together.

  Hunching over, he placed his elbows on his knees, head in hands as the pain laced through him again. He gripped a handful of hair, biting down hard. Does the pain ever end?

  If it’s an order, then I have no choice. I’ll do the best I can to make her happy, but I won’t force her.

  Nick’s honorable speech filled his mind.

  I’m sorry you feel this is the best option, but I have to be frank now…What the hell is wrong with you? We’
re not in love. She loves you. Get your head out of your ass and go to her.

  He’d ignored this, of course, heading to his place instead where he’s been curled around bottle after bottle since.

  The front door opened suddenly, and with surprising speed, Jason reached for his gun at his side aiming it at his guests.

  “Watch it,” Adam murmured, darkly.

  Lowering his weapon, he shook his head. So far gone, he hadn’t sensed his own pack members’ presence in the building.

  Nick had come along for the visit and stepped to him, snatching the gun from his hand. Growling, Jason glared up at him, eyes narrowing at the man who he’d made his enemy.

  “You can knock it off,” the blond angel said, clearly pissed. The guy’s soft features were now hard, his face flushed. He looked to Adam. “There should be a new law about Fighters throwing their fellow Fighters under the bus. This way I’d get to watch him all night in the pillory.”

  Rubbing his brow like he had a migraine, Adam shook his head tiredly.

  “You look like shit, J.”

  Leaning back against the counter, he sat lazily eyeing the two with heavy lidded eyes. Having no will to utter a word, he raised a wobbly fist and flicked off his alpha then let his hand fall in his lap.

  Growing angrier by the second, Nick said, “Please tell me there’s a punishment for giving your alpha the finger?”

  Scowling at the Fighter, a low drone sounded from deep inside him.

  “Shut up, Nick.” Adam moved closer to Jason, his blue eyes trained on him. “Look at yourself. You’re fucking useless. You really think this was the best option when I’ve lost my beta? Is that what you want? Cuz at this rate, you’ll be asked to resign. I need my Fighters in tip-top shape, not a drunken mess on the floor.”

  Continuing to glare up at Nick from the floor, Jason barely heard a word his alpha said. “Have you seen her?” Jason asked Nick in a chilling voice he hardly recognized.

  Nick smirked, uncommonly snide. “Yeah, I did. We had a nice long talk.” Pursing his lips he let his words settle in the air.

  Jason whipped the bottle at his face.

  Ducking just in time, Nick continued to smile bitterly after the bottle smashed against the door. “You’re an idiot.” Bending forward he gripped Jason by the throat and hulled him to his feet, pushing him up against the counter. “You really want to fight me, man?” he asked in a disgusted voice, his face inches from his.

  Too trashed to pull him off, Jason stammered back, “Go ahead. Hit me.”

  Nick’s look of disgust grew and he let him go, stepping back. “I’m not going to fight you. Yeah, we talked. It was a moot conversation when neither one of us plans on going anywhere. She’s not into me. Never will be. Stop being an idiot and go protect her yourself.”

  Nick’s face blurred in and out of focus. Leaning his elbows on the counter, Jason swayed a bit where he stood. “Not good for her…” he stammered, then pointed to his chest, “Cursed.”

  Closing his eyes, he let the terrifying details of the Sweetin fight creep into his head. He’d failed her twice. Twice! He couldn’t keep her safe because he was a goddamn curse.

  His cheek stung as someone slapped him. The memory of Serena’s delicate hand coming at him warmed him a bit. God, he’d give anything to watch his brave girl land one on him again. Opening his eyes to mere slits, he saw Adam’s face up in his grill. “Sober the fuck up. You’re at the site tomorrow at six and on rotation in the evening.”

  The last thing he remembered before hitting the floor was Nick’s pitiful expression right before the Fighter coldcocked him.

  ****

  Jason was still with her.

  Aware that he was dreaming, he lay on his back completely naked over the covers, watching her over his large pecs as she worked her mouth over him. His blood roared, shooting straight to his shaft. Her dark eyes met his and smiled seductively. Moving over him, her lithe bare form straddled his hips, taking him inside her.

  Ah! He moaned, lifting his hips to move deeper. Watching her breasts rise and fall before him, Jason caressed her chest, her breasts, down to her belly, bringing his hands to cup her ass, impaling himself slow and deep within her sex. She moaned delightfully, her head thrown back, moist lips parted. Damn, she was so beautiful. If he couldn’t have her in life, at least she’d forever be with him in his dreams.

  In his fantasy, it was dusk and the setting sun shown bright on his girl. Her skin glowed, an angel giving him the pleasure he needed, yearned for. This Serena was not pale or thin, but supple and strong, her golden skin damp with sweet perspiration.

  Bending her head forward, she gazed at him as she continued to plunge up and down on his shaft with deliberate strokes. Jason’s depraved mind couldn’t control his mouth when he was inside her. “Keep fucking me, honey. Don’t stop.”

  His fantasy Serena, smiled again, gripping his thighs as her sex squeezed him. Bits of reality surfaced and he flinched. No. Picturing her doing this for his fellow Fighter incensed him. She was his. All his. His eyes hooded, he licked his fingers, blocking out the horrid image. His damp fingers reached her center, rubbing the swollen nub tenderly as she moved. “This is mine,” he uttered possessively.

  Dream Serena nodded as sighs escaped her lips. Closing her eyes, she climaxed over him, her fervent thrusts driving him to the breaking point. He cocked his head into the pillow, squeezing his lids tight, his body ablaze as he filled her.

  Eyes shot open as his breath caught, chest heaving violently. “Serena!” he uttered breathlessly, completely spellbound.

  Sitting atop him, Serena’s naked body glowed like his dream Serena. Only…it hadn’t been a dream.

  She was here.

  Serena had him in between her legs, hovering over him as if staking her claim. It had only been a week, but she’d gained more weight, the olive color of her skin was back, even her breasts appeared fuller. She was healthier now than she’d been before. And more beautiful and confident than he’d ever seen her. The scared girl he knew so long ago was gone. Here was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and took it. She’d literally just taken him, woken him from his deep slumber and had her way with him.

  Jesus Christ.

  Taking her wrists, he pinned her with a glare. “What the hell are you doing?” Half sitting up, he was about to let her go to get her off of him when she twisted her hands and caught him by the wrists, placing his hands on the bed over his head. Leaning over him, her hair draped over her cheeks.

  In a demanding voice she said, “Listen well, Jason. Nothing you do or say will ever keep us apart. As I said before, you’re mine.” She kissed him, softly. “And I’m yours.”

  This whole scenario was almost comical. His sweet and tiny Serena splayed across his enormous frame, holding him down to the mattress. As a werewolf she was strong, not stronger than him, but pretty damn sexy-as-hell strong.

  “I told you…” he started, but she cut him off.

  “You told me you were going to marry me. Now, do I need to take this up with the alpha because as beta your word is binding?”

  “Serena…” He tried to get up, but she let go of his wrists and pushed his chest down with her delicate hands.

  “Tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll leave.” Her eyes were hard on his, her mouth firm as she waited.

  Shaking his head, he let the fight go. For years he’d fought his feelings. He let go for a couple of days and he’d fucked up again, putting her in danger. He thought what he was doing was the best option. Still did every time he thought on it.

  She’d be away from him, away from the chaos surrounding their town, safe and secluded. He’d be a miserable fuck for the rest of his days, but so what? No. Not miserable. Dead. For the first time in his life, he’d felt the icy coldness in his heart as he pictured a life without her. Hell. He hadn’t been able to function. Going a week without food, water, working…Jesus. Did he still have a job? Was he still a Fighter?

  Brown eyes penetr
ated his soul, filling him up with warmth once again. “I’m an idiot,” he said, utterly defeated. Smirking, he thought of Nick saying those exact words before he hit him. Shit.

  He’d almost ruined his relationship with a member of his pack. Nick was like a brother to him. Not blaming the guy for the sucker punch, he wondered if his pack mate would forgive him for putting him through this.

  “Yes, but you’re my idiot,” she said, leaning forward and gripping his cheeks in her soft hands, kissing him again. When they broke apart she asked, worriedly, “How do you feel?”

  Furrowing his brow, Jason wondered how the hell he got to his bed. “Strange, I was sure I was going to have the mother of all hangovers.”

  Laughing she asked, “You really don’t remember a thing, do you?”

  “What?”

  Placing her chin on her hands, she rested adorably on his chest. “Adam called me after he left. Don’t know if you realized, but you were drunk at eight o’clock in the morning. I came over and found you passed out on the floor.”

  Shifting uneasily, Jason flushed. “I really wish you hadn’t seen that.”

  She giggled. “It was rather interesting. When you came to you kept talking about curses and Nick…I don’t know who you thought I was, but you kept talking about me too.” An awed expression flitted across her features. “You remembered some of the strangest things this morning. You kept telling me I had to take care of Serena. To make sure I had the jasmine soap she liked and to keep string cheese and saltines in the kitchen.” Her eyes glazed over him lovingly. “You made me promise to bring her favorite sweater and to be sure I locked the doors at night.”

  Even trashed he still worried about her. He guessed this wasn’t too embarrassing. “How’d you get me cleaned up?”

  “Once I got you off the floor you were pretty easy to manage. You chatted on about one thing or another, then I got you in the shower. You were quiet in there, just staring thoughtfully at me. When I helped you into bed, I made you take about four ibuprofen before you knocked out.”