Cursed Blood

by Ashley Marie

  Jeff’s gruff voice brings me back, “Do you know what happened?”

  My head comes up fast. My eyes flickering from Jeff to a fidgeting Camron.

  No. I don’t know what happened. Just the black ribbons and waves of pain and pleasure. They don’t need to know about that. It’s none of their business.

  “Do you?” My head falls to the side watching Jeff.

  There’s a long pause filling the air with a tension. I get an inkling they know something. Maybe not the ribbons but something.

  “You do know something.” I stare

  A long loud sigh comes from Jeff. He nods towards Camron who leaves the room with a sneering Aden. Jeff sits down in the brown chair by the window.

  A soulful howl rings out, causing me to flinch. I look out the windows seeing nothing but trees and the sky. Must be one of the wolves from the beach. This place is insane and that’s saying something considering where I’ve lived for the past two years.

  “Avery there is so much you need to know,” Jeff says looking at me with sad eyes.

  Secrets. There’s always secrets everywhere you go.

  “Start from the beginning,” I say. It seems rather simple to me.

  He doesn’t look at me when he speaks.

  “The beginning. Okay.” He says in a strained voice, “The man you know as your father is not your father. He’s your uncle.”

  Nothing else. That’s what he says. Not looking at me. He drops that kind of bomb.

  It’s on repeat over and over. He’s not your father. He’s your uncle. The man who raised me. Who I found bloody and dead. Is not my father.

  My walls start to crack and splinter. No.

  My eyes snap close and I turn in on myself.

  I see the wall that I’ve built. My shinning safe guard. It’s huge. Stretches as far as I can see and curves. I move forward scanning, scanning. Looking for cracks and holes. Spotting them, I vision them melding back together. Stronger and thicker than before. Once the holes and cracks are no more, I concentrate on the whole wall. Adding more layers. Thicker layers. Stronger until I am mentally exhausted.

  When my eyes pop open, Jeff is looking at me. Worry shining on his face. His lips pulled down in a frown.

  “Who was he?” My voice comes out cold and unfeeling.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kayden

  DON’T. DON’T TOUCH me. Leave. Leave.

  It echoes around in Kayden’s head. Around and around. Don’t. Don’t touch me. Leave.

  He stares at his mate, Avery with that eerily cold look upon her face. Devastation blasting him everywhere.

  Leave. Leave.

  With his wolf pushing more and more on his body. He leaves.

  Kayden passes a baffled Jeff. He runs full sprint down the hall jumping most of the stairs and rushing out the front door.

  He shifts as he passes the threshold. A beautiful chocolate wolf landing on all fours, bounding down the steps. Specks of yellow blaze in his green eyes.

  Kayden sprints off as soon as his paws touch the warm grass. Heading straight towards the trees. The thick forest that smells of pine and moist soil. Heading away from her. His pain, the reason why his beating heart is cracking in two.

  He snarls, his big head shaking, snapping at the summer air. Paws kicking up dirt and loose grass as he passes into the tree line.

  Kayden knew there was a very small possibility that Avery wouldn’t remember what happened between the two of them. That she would forget that they together completed the first step of the life mate bond.

  He snarls again, snapping off a low tree branch with his sharp teeth. The crack echoing around the woods.

  He just hoped she would remember what happened between the two of them, considering how strong their connection is-was. He felt her for the first time in that room. It was only for a second. The fear battered him. Her fear of him.

  He growls snapping at the air, he never knew it could devastate him like this. It feels like his reason for living is ripping away from him in a painful way.

  How is he going to connect with her after this? He doesn’t know, but he must try. A growl rips from his throat.

  Don’t. Don’t touch me. Leave.

  He’ll give her time. That’s all he can do at this point. Just be around when she needs him and give her time.

  Kayden turns into his senses. Letting the wolf take over. The soft feel of the rich soil underneath his paws. The keen hearing and eyesight of a wolf. Avery’s winter smell stuck to him. Overwhelming.

  A sorrowful howl rings out as he lets the last strain of his mind be taken completely over by his wolf. Running through the trees.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Avery

  “OKAY. LET’S SEE if I have this right.” I say watching Jeff pace back and forth from my spot on the bed.

  “My father Max is named Blackwell, not Black. He changed our names to hide us. He’s my Uncle and your younger brother.” I pause and watch Jeff. He stops and gives me a slow nod.

  “My mother’s name is Eva Blackwell. Your younger sister and Max’s twin. She died giving birth to me. She also made Max my legal guardian. What about the man that got her pregnant.? Why did Max take me away from all of you?”

  I reach over to the night stand grabbing the full cup of water, while I watch Jeff run his hands down his face. The ice has melted a little making the water colder. I sigh as in moves down my throat. Which is still sore and somewhat scratchy? Might be from all the talking I’ve been doing.

  Jeff finally stops trying to rub his face off and turns towards me with crossed arms, “I don’t know. Eva wouldn’t tell any of us no matter how hard we tried to get her to tell us. And as for Max moving you guys away, he thought it would be safer that way for you. He never did say the reason why. Maybe Eva told him something and that’s why?” Jeff sighs looking at the window.

  My eyes narrow on him, “Why?”

  He must have an idea to why Max would ship us off. Away from family, something is not adding up.

  A quick knock pounds at the door as Jeff opens his mouth to speak. He lets out a relieved sigh and snatches the door open.

  “Avery.” Jeff smiles, “This is Doctor Keen.”

  A sneer forms on my face. My body’s natural response to a doctor. I don’t have the best track record where doctors are concerned. First, it was the hospital where I was taken after finding dad, Max. The shots full of sedations. The bruises from the nurses and Doctors holding me down as I screamed and tried to pull my hair up. Draw blood along my arms from my nails. I guess that I more my fault then theirs, though.

  Next was Green Bier. The burns on my wrists and ankles from the leather straps. The zombie drugs they kept giving me. It calmed down there for a while when I learned how to lock out the emotions. Eventually, it got bad again. Shock therapy. Scaring me. Trying to find something I liked to only take it away. All of that just to see if I would show any signs of emotions. They failed. I believe if I did feel, that alone would have traumatized me. Good thing I’m hollow, right?

  Dr. Keen is an older man, maybe seventies, with a grey button up shirt and black slacks. He has a head of white hair and dark brown eyes. He sits a black bag at the end of the bed. “Your color looks much better Miss.” His voice is strong. Stronger for a man his age. I expected something shaky and raspy. Not this stronger brittle voice.

  I nod which Dr. Keen returns with a kind smile.

  He has crow wrinkles branching out from his eyes, the only wrinkles on his face. I look at his hands. No wrinkles. Could I be wrong about his age? I’m usually good at guessing people’s ages. I look back at his face and realize it’s his eyes that are old.

  Jeff sits in the chair, hands teepee in front of his mouth as Dr. Keen moves to me. Dr. Keen checks my heart and lungs. Next, comes my throat, ears, and eyes. A normal check-up I’ve had done a thousand times growing up. What’s not normal is his cold hands running along my ribs, poking and prodding. Both of my wrists get rotated. He runs his han
d down my shin bone and my ankles get rotated also. My right arm gets twisted this way and that as he feels along the bone.

  “You’ve improved more than what I thought you would. But sill dehydrated.” He gives a pointed look at the tubing and needle now rapped around the iv stand, “Lots of fluids and something to eat. Broth, I think.”

  He nods to Jeff picks up his bag and walks out of the room.

  I look towards Jeff. He holds my eyes not saying a word.

  “Why did he check my arms and stuff?” I gesture to the rest of me.

  Jeff shakes his head, “Let me get you some food and then you can have a bath. Drink your water.” He gets up and leaves the room.

  “Sure,” I say to the empty room. These people. I shake my head looking out the window. Trees fill my vision with the orange and pinks lighting up the sky. It’s almost dusk. Another day lost. I’m spending my time away from Green Bier well.

  I snort at that.

  Why would Max think I’d be safer away from family. Blood. You would think being with family would be the safest place and considering what happened to Dad, makes more sense he should have kept us here. Unless being here is where the danger is. And what about my birth father? Why wouldn’t Eva tell anyone who he is? Could he be the one who killed dad and why I’m not safe?

  My eyes start to droop and I decided a nap won’t hurt. I scoot down in the bed, wrapping my arms around my pillow that smells like cut grass and rain.

  My eyes flare open when Camron skips into the room like a hyper child. A stark Aden on his heels.

  Those two are never far apart from each other. Could they be a couple? If so I praise Cam on sticking with his grumpy butt.

  “What did Dr. Keen say?” Camron asks bouncing on his feet, a full smile in bloom.

  I watch him. Up and down. Up and down. This boy has way too much energy.

  “I’m fine.”

  That earns me an excited smile from Camron and he claps his hands together like a proud cheerleader. Yellow and pink ribbons spin about his body. I watch them twirl and dance. A tightness forming in my gut.

  “So. What do you think?” He asks jumping on the bed and crossing his legs.

  “About what?”

  What is he talking about? My head tilts as I watch the ribbons speed up.

  “About being an Empath silly and living with shifters.”

  His smile slowly falls as he looks at my face. The ribbons shift color to grey and blue.

  “What do you mean?” My voice snaps out like a cold whip.

  Camron stumbles back off the bed. A frown pulling at his lips and looks towards Aden who shakes his head.

  “Um. Didn’t you and Alpha talk?” He wrings his fingers together looking nervous as all get out.

  Alpha? Who the hell is Alpha?

  “I talked to Jeff.”

  Camron gulps with panicked eyes, “We should leave.”

  “Ya think.” Aden snaps.

  They move towards the closed door but stop when Jeff opens it and almost smacks a jittery Camron in the face.

  “What are you two doing in here?” Jeff growls moving around the boys and comes to the bed. He places a tray gently across my lap.

  I look down. A small green bowl holds chicken broth and off to the side is four crackers. I forgot I was hungry till the smell hits me. My stomach grumbles.

  I pick up the spoon, not looking at them answer Jeff, “Camron was just explaining something to me about being an Empath, living with shifters and someone called the Alpha. Sounds like a story from a book.” I say smoothly and start to spoon in the warm broth. It’s delicious.

  I hear a yelp and a snarl making me look up.

  Camron is now hiding behind Aden who looks bored while facing a pissed off Jeff.

  “Sorry.” Camron squeaks out like a mouse, “I thought you told her.”

  “No. I was going to wait.” Jeff barks out, “Leave.”

  I smirk as Camron runs out the door with an irritated Aden at his heels.

  “You have some explaining to do,” I say in a sing song voice which comes out rather creepy and goes back to eating. This broth is really tasty.

  “Yes. Well, you finish eating then take that bath you wanted.” He turns shutting the door behind him.

  He doesn’t want to explain what Camron meant. I’ve seen movies about people turning into wolves and vampires. Can they seriously believe that those things are real? That they are wolves? I guess we all should be hospitalized. But hey, at least I fit in this bunch. Crazy loves other crazies, right?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kayden

  “CAMRON,” JEFF YELLS from the hall.

  A sulking Kayden sips from his beer as he watches Cam freak out.

  Cam turns left then right. Makes two circles in the kitchen with panicked eyes and dives underneath the table.

  “Cam really?” Nick laughs from his perch on the counter top.

  “Shut it.” Cam hisses scurrying further underneath the table and smashing himself up against the wall and closes his eyes.

  Normally Cam’s antics amuse Kayden to no end, but not to today. He feels broken with Avery denying him. She might not realize that’s what she did, but she did it none the less. Making both him and his wolf this trembling mess of hurt.

  Kayden sips he’s beer again watching Jeff stomp into the room and roll his eyes.

  Nick chuckles again.

  “Really. Cam just because you have your eyes shut doesn’t mean I can’t see you.” Jeff huffs looking at a balled-up Cam underneath the table.

  “I’m sorry. I really am. I just thought you would tell her.” Cam mumbles opening his eyes.

  “That’s the thing Cam you should not assume what I will and will not tell her.”

  “What did he say?” Nick asks swinging his legs.

  “Told Avery she’s an empath and we’re shifters.” Jeff sighs taking a seat making sure to kick Cam in the legs. Who yelps crawling out the other side of the table.

  Kayden’s eyes brows go up at that, “How she takes it?”

  “She thinks we’re all crazy.”

  Kayden gulps the rest of his beer. He feels restless, that run did him no good. What he needs is to be beside his mate’s side.

  “What now?” Aden leans against the wall.

  “I don’t know. I really don’t know. Max screwed this whole thing up.” Jeff rumbles.

  “How do we even know she made the transition?” Kayden asks popping another beer open.

  Jeff eyes the bottle in Kayden’s hand, “We don’t but knowing Max he didn’t let it happen.”

  “It could have happened anyways. She’s been around Max her whole life that alone should have triggered it.” Nick hops off the counter.

  “No. Not if Max never shifted around her.” Jeff says.

  “He could hold the shift off for fifteen years?” Aden asks.

  “Yeah. Max is a stubborn ass.” Jeff chuckles.

  Kayden’s green orbs narrow on Cam, “You told her she’s an empath. What makes you think that?”

  Cam’s face turns red as he pulls on his shirt, “I don’t know. Just a feeling.”

  “What kind of feeling?” Nick watches a fidgeting Cam.

  “I don’t know. A feeling.” Cam mumbles sliding closer to Aden.

  They all watch Cam.

  “I don’t know.” He yells throwing his arms up.

  Their all quite for a while. Kayden thinks and thinks. How is he going to get close to Avery? How is he going to bring some life back into her cold eyes? His hand squeezes around his almost empty beer.

  “I’m going to bed,” Jeff states leaving the room.

  Kayden looks up, “How is she?”

  Cam’s face softens, “She seems fine. No different from before.”

  That’s not what Kayden wanted to here. He’s happy that she’s fine but he wants her to want him the way he wants her. The bond took so what’s the problem.?

  Aden scoffs, “That girl is far from fine. Can’t you te
ll something is really messed up about her.”

  Kayden’s teeth lengthen at the insults Aden is saying about Avery.

  “She is cold.” Nick mumbles.

  “Empty,” Cam says.

  “She’s like a freaking robot.” Aden snaps.

  Kayden tosses his beer into the trash and leaves the kitchen. If he stays he’ll rip out Aden’s throat.

  So, what if Avery is cold, empty and like a robot? Wouldn’t any other person be if they went through what she did? Kayden doesn’t care what she’s like only that she is his. His to love, to hold and protect. Eventually, he’ll get her to the same level as he is on. Time. He just needs to give her time no matter how much he hates it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Avery

  IT’S BEEN A week since I came out of my three-day comatose state. Three days was all it took for my crazy life to flip once more. Life loves throwing punches my way.

  I stop and slip off my shoes, sitting down on the dock. A sigh escapes me as my feet hit the cool water of the lake. I swing my legs back and forth causing the water to ripple out away from my moving feet.

  I’ve learned a lot in the last seven days. I don’t want to believe them but how can I not when I’ve seen or heard things and some of the stuff they’ve told me. All things that belong in a movie or books.

  My eyes close as I tip my head back letting the sun shine down on my face. Soaking in its warmth. My pale skin could use the vitamin D.

  I still can’t comprehend the fact that the man that raised me. The man I believed to be my father is my uncle and not only that but his twin sister is really my mother.

  That’s not the strangest thing I’ve learned this past couple of days either.

  My whole family is composed of werewolves. Yeah, a werewolf. People able to change into a wolf. Maybe I shouldn’t say werewolves they find it offensive and their eyes seem to take on a yellow glow whenever I call them that. They call themselves shifters or people of the moon. I snort kicking my feet again. People of the moon. A story book if I’ve ever heard one.

  They’re able to shift into a wolf when they come into the transition at age fifteen, but there’s a catch. For a wolf to shift or transition they must be around others of their kind at age fifteen and on. Some are known to make the transition in days. Others take weeks sometimes months. Being around their own kind jolts the process into starting.