Little Red

by Trista Jaszczak

  It’s Red and the babies first.

  But, we have to keep them safe,” I say.

  “And next time you need a minute alone, Red, don’t be afraid to ask.”

  She gives me a nod

  “That still doesn’t take care of the full moon in just a few nights,” Ian says, “and, the Kentucky pack.”

  I nod and let out a breath.

  “I know.”

  “Their scent could be mixing well, since they’ve been here so long,” Ian points out

  “I know.” That’s the scary part, I think

  I get a surprise when we finally trail downstairs and James has a cup of hot tea waiting for me.

  I sigh and happily accept it as he helps me sink into his recliner

  “It’s lavender and chamomile; should help you stay relaxed.” I feel his fingers lift my chin as he finally inspects my marks.

  “Going to be hard to keep our control with these guys,” he says, looking at Ian and Ethan

  “Our biggest concern is Ethan,” Eli says, trailing from one of the hallways.

  “He has to hold the boys before the curse will be broken.” I look up and into Eli’s eyes.

  He and Maggie both want a family.

  They want children of their own, so deeply it hurts, but he couldn’t bear to pass such rage on to his own.

  Their entire future is riding on Ethan and his self-control

  “Ethan will be fine,” I say.

  “I know he can do this.” I finally have a sip of the tea that James was kind enough to make

  “That blonde one,” Colt says.

  “I messed him up pretty badly.

  They won’t stand for that.

  He’s the youngest.

  He’s their Ethan.”

  “The Alpha won’t stand for it,” Trent says.

  “I can feel that much.

  But, he’s older… much older.

  I have a feeling he’d be a weak one in a fight.”

  “A fight?” I ask.

  My eyes shift from one brother to the next.

  “You can’t actually be planning to fight them!” I cry out, standing up as quickly as I can.

  “Are all of you completely insane?”

  “Red,” Trent starts, “we have to stand our ground.

  We have to be willing to defend our territory.

  Ethan has to show them he will stand up to them.

  He will defend you as his.”

  “Is that really what has to be done?” I ask.

  “Can’t you just try to talk it out?”

  “Talk it out?” Ethan finally speaks.

  “One of them tried to rape you, Red! And, would have done God only knows what else.” He shakes his head.

  “Did you see what he did to you, Red?’

  I look at him and see the rage flash across his eyes.

  “See.

  That’s why you can’t let him fight.

  You can’t.”

  “You just said you knew I could control myself,” he tells me

  “That was before I knew you were going to purposely fight them, Ethan!” I look down.

  “Do you know what they could do to you? To any of you? What would happen to the babies?”

  “Okay,” Trent says, walking over to me.

  “We all need to relax.

  Just calm down,” he says, making me sit down in the recliner again with a light push.

  “We’re grown men.

  Obviously, these guys were out for a fight to begin with.

  But, they won’t stand for what Colt did to their own.” Everyone’s eyes lock on him.

  “We have to hunker down.

  Watch Red like a hawk.

  We’ll only fight if they call us out.”

  James nods.

  “I think he’s right,” he says.

  “We don’t need to over excite her.

  She’s too pregnant.”

  Ethan’s eyes lock on mine, and he nods.

  “I’m relying on you all to keep her and my sons safe.”

  “Sons,” Ian huffs.

  “We’ve been through this.

  They’re girls.”

  I laugh as I reach for Ian’s hand.

  At this very moment I couldn’t be more thankful for him and the other brothers.

  Not only do they have to protect me, they have to watch Ethan, too

  It’s truly amazing what the full moon can do to people.

  Mine and Ethan’s house is so filled with testosterone that I can barely see straight.

  The pull that the moon has on the twins is strong enough that I have to force myself to be calm.

  To make matters worse, I feel quite strange.

  My back has an almost unbearable ache.

  My lower belly is beginning to show signs of an unusual cramp.

  Not to mention, I’m just simply uncomfortable

  I feel James’ hand on my shoulder.

  “You okay, honey?”

  “It’s just my back,” I say.

  “Carrying these two around is hard work.”

  He laughs as he pushes Ethan over to me, who sits on the couch next to me.

  He guides me to where he can easily rub my lower back, and I immediately feel relief

  “That’s a whole lot better.” Trent laughs

  I give them a nod as I stare at the TV.

  Ian has been mindlessly flipping channels.

  Eli and Trent have been running over the piles of books that Ethan has collected.

  Aaron and Colt have positioned themselves at the windows and haven’t moved an inch to my surprise.

  James and Ethan have been spending their time making me comfortable.

  After Ethan’s rage episode, the past few nights have been quiet and peaceful, and he’s been more than attentive.

  When the strange tightening hits my lower belly again, I manage to push through it but make a strange face

  “You sure you’re okay, Red?” I hear Ian say, who seems to be the only one who caught my strange, twisted face

  I nod.

  “Just sore is all,” I say.

  “I am thirty-five weeks pregnant.

  That’s enough to make anyone sore.”

  Ethan laughs as he begins working more on my lower back.

  I look at the clock; it can’t possibly happen tonight, not now.

  Ethan hits such a wonderful spot that I open my mouth and push out a long sigh

  “Keep that up, and you’re giving us all back rubs,” Aaron jokes from the window

  I look up to see Trent pass James a strange look.

  I’m careful enough to watch James pass the look to Aaron and Colt, who become more vigilant on the windows.

  Eli gives Trent a discreet nod, who in turn passes the little nod to Ethan, who gives my spot a push filled with relief

  I shake my head.

  “I’m not stupid.” I look at Trent.

  “I see what you’re doing!”

  “Red, they’re here,” Trent says

  I shake my head.

  “No, no, no.

  Not tonight.” I turn slightly to face Ethan.

  The corners of his lips point downward.

  “Not tonight.”

  “Honey,” I hear James say.

  “They’re here.

  We have to.”

  “You don’t understand,” I say.

  “Not tonight.”

  “I know, Red, but I have to go.

  But, I’m not leaving you alone.”

  My mouth drops.

  “Ethan, please, you don’t understand.”

  He touches my face tenderly.

  “I can’t let them hurt you.”

  I feel the strange tightening again, which causes me to make another fa
ce

  “Red, I’ll be fine.” I hear Ethan’s voice in my ear as his arms envelop me.

  He brushes the hair from my face and stands with his brothers

  “Ethan,” I say

  “I’ll stay with Red,” Ian says.

  “I’m not leaving her.”

  Ethan gives him a nod as they begin trailing down the stairs from the loft one by one.

  I scurry to my feet and follow with Ian a few steps behind me

  “Ethan, you can’t.

  Not tonight,” I say again

  “I know, it’s the full moon,” he tells me.

  “But Red, we have to.

  I have to.

  They are expecting me.”

  My eyes shift to James, whom I expect and hope to talk some sense into Ethan.

  “Honey, he’s the one they’re calling out.”

  “We’re only his back up,” Trent says.

  “We will make sure nothing happens to him.”

  My eyes shift to Ethan as another pain courses through me.

  I fight to keep a normal stance and expression.

  The Kentucky pack and full moon is clouding their judgment, otherwise they would pick up on my pain immediately

  “Oh Ethan,” I sigh.

  “Please.”

  “Red, I have to defend you.

  I have to show them that I won’t give you up,” he says.

  “I have to show them that they cannot have you or hurt you.”

  “Why you?” I ask as I feel a few tears dribbling down my cheeks

  He quickly wipes them away and smiles.

  “Because you’re mine, Red.”

  I can’t fight off the horrible feeling that I have.

  I look into Red’s eyes, and I take her in: how beautiful she looks in her red sweater dress and tall, flat black boots, the way her skin glows even with a few minor bruises, her full lips, bright eyes, and soft hair that I so love to bury my face in…Red…My Red.

  I trail up to her and drop one hand on her waist, letting the other run in her hair.

  I pull her in for a kiss, a deep one that I’m not embarrassed to show my brothers.

  I feel her moan softly as she pulls me closer, begging me not to go.

  “I love you, Red.” I look at Ian.

  “Please, keep Red safe.”

  Ian is quick to give me a nod as I feel Aaron’s hand on my shoulder

  “Lock the door behind us,” I order

  Red takes a few steps, making Ian gently tug her back

  Before I take the step out the door I hear her say, “I love you, too.” I take one last look at her before the door slams shut.

  Aaron and Colt have already bounded into the woods with James, Eli, and Trent on their heels.

  I blow Red one last kiss that she can’t see, and I sprint after them

  We run into the woods.

  The Kentucky pack’s smell is as strong as it has ever been.

  It fills my mind and body with a rage that I can only hope the run will release from me.

  My heart leaps from my chest as I see their scent has led us directly to Elise’s cabin and the place of Red’s attack.

  I feel my body tremble, and I glare at the full moon.

  It’s not just the moon; it’s my sheer anger toward them that I feel take me over.

  I suddenly feel Eli and Aaron on me.

  They feel my struggle

  “Parker pack!” I hear a voice taunt.

  “Nice to see all of y’all out.” He emerges from behind a tree.

  He’s older, just as Trent said.

  A few inches shorter than me with salt and pepper hair that’s a little too greasy for my taste.

  “Allow me to introduce myself.

  I am Beau Avery.”

  “Why did you follow us all the way to our home?” Aaron growls, gripping my arm

  Beau tilts his head back and laughs.

  “You were stomping all over our territory.”

  “It was only temporary,” James says.

  “We left.

  We came home.

  You followed us!”

  “At first, we wanted to teach you a lesson,” Beau says.

  I begin feeling the woods.

  Counting as I go.

  Beau is one.

  Two more off to the right of the cabin make three.

  Another close to Beau makes four.

  And, the last behind the cabin makes five.

  “You did stomp all over our territory.” He laughs again.

  “But, then, when we got here,” he smiles such a twisted smile I feel myself lurch forward, only to be held by Aaron and Eli, “we found out that you have something that we want.”

  My eyes flash as I fight the rage that is pushing itself through my body.

  I shake and tug on Aaron and Eli.

  I feel their feet slide in the dirt.

  I’m becoming more than they can handle

  “What exactly is that?” James questions, locking himself into a strong, powerful stance.

  He’s bigger than Beau, younger too.

  He knows he could take him

  “Why, it’s pretty Little Red Riding Hood.” Beau grins

  I let out a crazed growl as my brothers fight to hold me.

  Aaron digs his fingers into my bicep as I pull forward

  Beau lets out a laugh as his eyes lock onto mine.

  “Oh, she’s yours.”

  “She is!” I growl.

  “And, you will not lay one hand on her.”

  He only laughs.

  “We’d planned on laying more than one hand on her.”

  I can feel Eli and Aaron work harder to steady me as I fight to free myself.

  The rage washes over me.

  My Red.

  She’s mine

  “We were just going to have a little fun with her.

  But, then,” Beau continues, stepping to the side, “this happened.” He pulls another man to join him, the blonde one with a broken nose and busted face.

  “This here is my baby brother, Jax,” Beau tells us.

  “And my oh my, did he want your Little Red…so bad that he took her.”

  I bite the inside of my jaw, hard, drawing blood and creating a spot of ragged flesh

  “But, your little pup over there got to him and did this,” Beau says.

  “I mean, look at his pretty little face.”

  Jax’s twisted and broken face grins.

  “You think you’re so strong.

  You really think she’s safe?”

  I see Aaron’s silver eyes flitting into the woods, feeling for the others.

  I feel his panic, his worry, but I can’t move my eyes from Jax

  “Just wait until I get my hands on her.

  The things I’ll do to her, she won’t even recognize herself.

  First, I’ll get rid of your little half-breed pups.

  Then I’ll fuck their mama.

  And, the best part, I’ll give her back to you and see if you can put her back together again.”

  A growl releases from deep inside me as I try to break from Aaron and Eli.

  To my surprise, before I can move, James lunges forward, attacking Beau and knocking him hard on the ground.

  I feel Aaron suddenly release me as his eyes lock with mine.

  “There’s three missing!” He cries before sprinting into the woods, leaving Eli to hold me back.

  The pack members from the side of the house have emerged, and Trent has managed to use brute force to knock them both down with ease.

  Colt makes a dash for the final member in hiding, which to our surprise has already recognized our strength and took to the cover of the woods

  My eyes lock on Jax, who smiles and winks, sending me even deeper in my rage


  I manage to work through the hard tightening in my lower belly.

  They’re coming so hard and fast that I hardly have a moment to breathe

  “Are you sure you’re alright?” Ian asks

  I give him a nod as I lean back in Ethan’s recliner in the downstairs living room.

  As long as I breathe, they will pass quickly enough.

  I stare hard at the clock again.

  It hasn’t been that long, I remind myself.

  No more than a half hour, surely.

  Ethan is fine.

  I’m sure he’s fine

  The loud ringing of Ian’s cell phone makes me jump.

  I panic and stare as he talks.

  “What?” He sounds shocked, worried.

  I take a breath and rub my belly

  Please, don’t let it be Ethan, let him be okay, I think.

  Let them all be okay

  I hear him end the call with haste as he meets me at the recliner.

  “Red, you have to go up to the loft,” he tells me as he lifts me from the plush, cream-colored seat

  I look at him with worry, and for once he returns with a worried glance.

  My mouth drops, but I make no argument as I trail up the steps to the loft.

  The loft overlooks the downstairs living room with an open balcony.

  I look behind me for Ian, but see he’s still downstairs

  The loud crash of the front door swinging open and thumping into the wall makes me jump.

  I slump to the floor as another pain hits my belly and see that Jeb, along with two other men, have entered the house.

  They’ve left Ian outnumbered, three to one

  Jeb laughs.

  “Well, if they didn’t leave the little playboy all to us.” He shakes his head.

  “You’ll never take on the three of us.”

  I slump to the ground as another pain hits.

  This is not happening.

  Not now.

  I feel the tightening in my lower belly become unbearable as a sharp pain hits my back.

  I hear Ian’s feet bound for the stairs and Jeb’s voice trailing just behind him.

  He has a plan.

  He has to.

  He would never just lead them up to me.

  Ian reaches the loft and turns to face the steps.

  He does have a plan! As Jeb approaches him, Ian begins laughing.

  “Jeb.

  Fucking seriously, who picked that? That must be why you always have a stick up your ass.” Jeb doesn’t think.

  He’s quick and lunges for Ian.