FRACTURED

by Amber Lynn Natusch

  BeforeIgotmyanswer,Seanwasonhiscell,orderingsomeoneon theotherendaroundashewalkedoutoftheroom.Ipresumedhewas headedforTreyandthenewlyacquiredcoordinatesofTobias'soon-to-be deadass.

  “Well,hesureashelldidn'tletyoutalkbecauseyouwerehelping matters,Ruby,”Cooperquipped.“Youpracticallyinvitedhimoverto startawar.”

  “He'dlose,”Isaidunconvincingly.

  “Hopefullyhewon'tlivelongenoughforustofindout.”

  BecketteyedmecuriouslyforamomentuntilIsnappedunderthe weightofhisgaze.

  “What?Whyareyoustaringatme?”

  “Youwereangry,”hesaidplainly,asifdetachedfrommyresponse.

  Hewassobizarreattimes.“Why?”

  “Why?BecauseImaynotfullygetyouguysjustyet,butIknowone thing.Youare sonotbeinghandedovertothattwatwaffle.Notonmy watch.”Iwasfumingandwasn'tcertainastowhy.Theboyswereodd andstillsomewhatunfamiliar,buttheybelongedtoCooperandme.Ifwe wantedtokillthem,fine,butnobodyelsewasgoingtodoit.Notwithout anepicbattle.ImaynothavehadScarlet'sass-kickingpowers,butI couldstillrunmymouthlikethebestofthem.I'dworryaboutgetting Seantocashthatcheckformelater.

  Withoutanotherword,Beckettwalkedovertomecautiouslyand wrappedhisarmsaroundmyshoulders.Hehuggedme―tightly.Then slowly,theotherscameanddidthesame.Iwasinagrouplovefest,UK

  werewolfstyle.

  “Enough,”Coopersighed.“Wehavethingstodo.Thefourofus needtogetbackandmakelikethingsarerelativelynormal.Ruby,you stayhere.”

  “Becareful,”Itoldhim,walkingovertowrapmyarmsaroundhis waist.“I'dbelostwithoutyourcooking,yoursarcasm...”

  “Myincrediblegoodlooks,”headdedwithflair.

  Irolledmyeyeseventhoughhecouldn'tseethem.

  “Yes,thosetoo.”

  HepulledawaytolookmeintheeyeswithafiercenessI'dnotseen forawhile.

  “Youbecarefultoo,Ruby.Idon'tlikenothavingyounearme.Not whentroubleislurking.”

  “Whenisitnot?”Irepliedsarcastically.Infairness,Iwasn'texactly offbasewithmyquestion.Whenhedidn'tseethehumorinmyresponse, Iputmyseriousfaceonandgavehimwhathewanted.“Iknowyoudon't, butyouknowthatSeanwouldneverletanythinghappentome.Ifyou cantrustanyonetokeepmesafe,it'shim.”Hiseyesnarrowedbriefly beforehenoddedinagreement.Hewasn'tgoingtoacknowledgethatout loud.

  Afterplantingaquickkissonthetopofmyhead,heroundedthe boysupandheadedout.Iwalkedwiththemtothedoorwayandwatched astheydisappeareddownthewindingflightsofstairs,theirfootfalls fadingbeforetheyvanishedentirely.Itleftaneeriefeelinginmy stomach.Somethingfeltwrongaboutbeingawayfrom them―ominous―asifsomehow,withoutmypresence,dangerwasmore likelytofindthem.IwassousedtoitlookingformethatIneverrealized howterrifyingitwastobeonthesideline,aspectatoroftheultimate game.

  Deathknewnorules,notimeouts―nosubstitutions.Hekeptthe score,rantheclock,andcalledtheplays.

  Theteamswereonthefield.

  Thewhistlehadblown.

  UnlessSeancouldstopTobiasfirst,allhellwasabouttoraindown onthepitch.

  Andtherewasn'tadamnthingIcoulddoaboutit.

  27

  Butdeathnevercame.

  Notthefirstnight.Orthesecond.Orthethird.Infact,anentire weekwentbywithoutcontactfromTobias,oreventheslightesthintof danger,andwestartedtowonderifourthreatshadkepthimatbay.Could itreallyhavebeenthatsimple?

  OnthenightTobiashadpromisedusawar,SeanhadorderedJay andtheboystoconvergeuponthelocationofthetracedphonecall.They foundanewlyabandonedwarehousewithanundergroundfacility,which wasfullyequippedwithcages―thekindthatcouldhouseahuman.They foundnoevidenceofwhathadbeendonethere,onlystainlesssteeltables andshelves.Jaydescribeditasanabandonedautopsyroom.

  Behindthebuilding,theyfoundamassgrave.Freshbodypartshad beenrecentlydisposedofinit.They'dbeencrudelydismemberedand thrownawaylikegarbage.

  Theyappearedtobehuman,butthePCboysknewbetter.

  Tobiaswasstillatlarge,andthoughSeanshouldhavegoneoverto assistwiththesituation,herefusedtoleaveme.Hewastornbetween loveandduty―amorethanfamiliarpredicamentforhim.Inretrospect, itwasagooddecision.

  Justaswestartedtothinkwewereintheclear,Tobiasshowedupin force,anarmyofwerewolvesaccompanyinghim.Iwatchedfromthe relativesafetyofSean'sapartmentastheyconvergeduponmyhome, attackinginthedeadofnight.Analarmhadsounded,startlingSeanand meoutofourslumber.Hesprangintoactionwithblisteringspeed―my visionblurredtryingtowatchhim.

  Withblackeyesblazing,hefledhisapartmenttoaidCooperandthe boys.WhenIwenttoyelldownthestairwelltohim,wantingtotellhimI lovedhim,Icouldn'tgetout.Somethingwasdifferentaboutthedoor.I'd beensealedin,eitherforprotectionfromtheattackersorfrommyself.

  HeknewI'dtrytoescape.Hereallydidplanforeverything.

  SothereIstood,breathless,clingingtothepartiallydrawncurtains besidemeforstrength.Ineveroncefearedformyself.Ididn'thavetime to.Instead,Istaredoutintothemoonlitnightandprayedthattheywould survivetheattack.ItwasallIcoulddo.Losinganyofthemwas unacceptable,andIdidmybesttoimpressthatfactuponthepowersthat be.

  OccasionallyIwouldseeaflashoflightthroughthebaywindowof mybedroom,butthatwasall;Ineversawtheactualbattle.Maybethat wasforthebest.Somethingsareimpossibletoun-see.

  Whatseemedlikehourslater,Seanreappearedinhislivingroom completelyunscathed.Icouldn'tbringmyselftoaskverbally,soIletmy expressions,whichhecouldsoeasilyread,speakforme.Withonlya momentarypause,hefilledmein.

  “Theyaredead,”hesaidflatly,hiseyesasdarkastheshadows surroundinghim.

  Myheartsank.

  “Dead...?”Iwhisperedasatearsprangfrommyeye.Mylegs disappearedfrombelowme,andIcrashedtothefloor.

  “Ruby,no,”hesaidasherantomyside.“Notyourboys.The others. Theyaredead.”

  “Myguysareallright?”Iaskedwiththehopefulnessofachild.

  “Cooper?Ali?They'reallokay?”

  “Yes,”hesaidsoftly,wipingtheroguetearsfrommyface.“I'm sorry.Ididn'tmeantoupsetyou.Ishouldhavewordedthatbetter.”

  Ilaughedaslightlyunstablelaugh.

  “Yes,well,youareinreportmode,so...Iguessit'sunderstandable.

  Frankly,Idon'tgiveashit.I'mjustgladthey'reallintactandbreathing,”

  Isaid,wrappingmyarmsaroundhim.“Thankyou.Thankyouforhelping them.”

  “WeneedtogetthePCovertheretocleanupabit.Cooperisin yourstudiobandagingAlistairup,buttheothershaveonlyminor wounds.Yourapartmentontheotherhand...”hesaid,trailingoff.

  “Needlesstosay,itwastightquartersforabattleofthatmagnitude.”

  “Aw,man,”Isighed,pullingawaytoseehisexpression.“Couldn't youguyshavetakenthebattleupstairstotheloft?Italreadylookedlikea warzone,”Ilamented,thinkingthatitwouldhavebeenniceforjustonce nottohavemyapartmentbecomeabattleground.

  “Cooperandtheboysambushedthem.Itwasatacticalmovethat paidoffinspades.”

  “Howbadismyplace?”Iasked,afraidoftheanswer.

  “Decimatedmightbeanunderstatement.”

  “IsitsomethingyourboyscantakecareoforamIstartingover withacontractor?”

  Hesmiledadevilishgrin.

  “I'vegotthe Specialistcoming.It'llbepicture-perfectbythetime he'sthrough.”

  “CanIgethisnumber?MaybeIshould
puthimonspeeddial.”

  Helaughed.

  “Ithinknot.I'mtryingtogetyououtofneedinghisservices,notin needofmore.IfIhaveanysayinit,thiswillbethelastdramaticeventin yourlifetime.”

  “Iwouldn'twagermuchonthebet.”

  Hefrowned.

  “No,Idon'tthinkIwilleither.YouandIdon'tliveinanideal world,Ruby.Thisisourreality.”

  Don'tIknowit...

  Istoodupslowlyandlookedbackoutthewindowtomyapartment.

  “CanIseethem?”Iasked,lookingtoSean,whowasleaningagainst thewindowbesideme.

  “Soon.”

  “SodoesthismeanTobiasisdead?Thatwedon'thavetoworry abouthimanymore?”

  “Heisdead,”herepliedwithatightexpression.“Astowhetheror notweshouldstillworry,I'mnotsocertain.Idon'tlikewhatJayfound overthere.Somethingisoff.Theboysweretellingthetruthaboutpack membersdisappearing,butwedon'tknowwhy.”Hecollectedmyhandin hisandpulledmetightagainsthisbody.“Ineedtogoovertherewith Trey.Untilwesortoutwhathewasupto,I'mnotsurethatyouoryour refugeeswillbesafe.”Brushingacurloffofmyface,hepulledmeup towardhimandkissedmesoftly.“Imaynotcareabouttheirsafety, Ruby,butyoursisparamounttome.WithoutScarlettoprotectyou...”

  “I'mcannonfodder,”Ilamented.“Iknow.”

  Hegavemealovingsqueezetoacknowledgemyfrustration.I didn'twanttobehelpless,butagainstawerewolf,that'sexactlywhatI was.EvenwithanUzifullofsilver,I'dlikelybemoweddownbeforeI couldevengetashotoff.Ineededtohitthefiringrange.Unfortunately forme,RonniewastoobusybeingVeronicatoaccompanymeonthat venture.

  “I'mgoingtofigureoutwhat'shappeningtoyou,”hesaid convincingly.“Scarletcan'tbetrulygone.It'simpossible.”

  Iwasn'tsosure.

  “Howareyougoingtosortitout?”

  Hischestrumbledagainstme.

  “Therearethosewhodealinthingsofthisnature.Iwillhaveto contactthem.”

  “Who?”Iasked,notsurethatIwantedtheanswer.Itprovedtobea non-issue.Hewasn'tgoingtotellmeanyway.

  “That'sunimportantnow.FirstIhavetosortoutthisLondon situation.Afterthat,wefindScarlet,thoughIcan'tsayIentirelymiss her.”Again,hiswickedsmilestretchedwideacrosshisface.“She'sa massivepaininmyass.”

  Thatlogicwashardtoargue,thoughherabsencemademyass vulnerable.Igreatlypreferredhavingreinforcements.

  *

  Whenwewalkedintomybuilding,Iwasimmediatelystruckbya strangevibration,whichstoppedmedeadinmytracks.

  “That'sthe Specialist,”Seansaid,encouragingmeupthestairs.

  “Youcanrelax,butwecan'tgointhere.Notyet.”

  “Soundsfantastictome,”Ireplied,walkingdirectlypastmy apartmentdoortothethirdfloor.Coopersteppedoutontothelandingand lookedovertherailingatusasweapproached.

  “IwantyoutoknowthatI'mnotentirelytoblameforwhat happenedtoyourapartment.”Hisgrinwaswideandwarm,andIranup thefinalsteps,tacklinghimwhenIreachedthetop.Hestumbledback againstthewallasaresultofmyflyingsquirrelattack.Iclungtohim likefallingoffmeantmydeath.“Doesthismeanyou'rehappytosee me?”heaskedplayfully.

  “Youcouldtakeitthatway,”Ireplied,myvoicemuffledbythe chestI'dburiedmyfacein.“Coop...”

  “Iknow,Ruby.Iknow.”Hegavemeareassuringsqueezeand delicatelypeeledmeoffofhim.“Youshouldgoseetheboys―theywere worriedaboutyou.Ali'sbangedupprettybadly,butnothingthatwon't healupbytheendofthenight.”

  Seanlingeredbehindmenotsayingaword.IfIhadn'tknownany better,Iwouldhavethoughtthathewasbecomingmorecomfortablewith thedynamicamongstthethreeofus.ButIdidknowbetter,andthe secondthatCooperleaneddowntokissmycheek,Iheardconfirmation ofit.Seanwasnotafanofsharing.

  Cooper'sgrintwistedslightly,makingitfarmoremischievousin nature.HelovedgettingunderSean'sskin.Icouldn'tblamehim;itwas reallytheonlyweaponhehadagainsthim.

  “Ruby!”avoicecalledfrommystudio.Shortlyafterward,Alistair stoodinthedoorway,bandagedandcarryingmoreweightononelegthan theother.“Theydidn'tcomeafteryouthen?”heasked,alookofrelief washingoverhisface.

  “No,Ali.Nobodygottome.”

  “We'repleasedtohearit,”JannersaidfrombehindAlistair.“Itwas an... uneasyfeeling,knowingyouwereleftalone.”

  “Theycouldnothavegottentoher,”Seandeclaredfrombehindme.

  “Imadesureofthat.”

  Bythelooksofconfusiononeveryone'sfaces,itseemedthatnone ofushadanycluewhathemeant.Noneofuswereabouttoaskfor clarificationeither.Ifiguredithadsomethingtodowithwhateverhe'd donetothedoor.Maybeitwaswerewolf-proof,ifthereevenwassucha thing.

  Ineededhimtohookmybuildingupwiththesametreatment.

  Astheawkwardnesssettledinaroundus,thesoundofmyapartment dooropeningechoedthroughthestairwell.WhoevertheSpecialistwas, hewasapparentlyfinished.WhenItriedtopeekovertheedgetoseethe silentwonderwhowastakinghisleave,Seancaughtmyarm.

  “He'sshy,”heinformedmewithawrysmile.“Ifyoudon'tmind...”

  Hepulledmebackawayfromtherailandgentlyheldmyarmuntilhe heardtheexteriordoorclose.“Youmayseeyourhomenow.”

  Withoutpause,Imademywaydowntothesecondfloor.Seanhad describedmyabodeas“decimated.”IneededtoseejustwhatIwasleft with.

  IshouldhavebeenshockedtofindeverythingasitwaswhenI'dlast beenthere,butIwasn't.TherewasmoretothePCboysthanmettheeye, andIwasstartingtolearnthattheyallseemedtoholdspecialqualities thatcameinhandy.Myapartmentwasacaseinpoint.Notasingledetail wasoutofplace.

  “How?”Iasked,knowingfullwellSeanwasrightbehindme.

  Hesaidnothinginresponse.

  WhenIturnedtolookathim,hegavemehismostnoncommittal shrugthatmeantbotheverythingandnothing.

  “Ruby,Ihavetoleave.Now.Jayneedsmyhelponthisone.Trey too.”

  “Iknow.It'sfine,”Isaid,notreallywantingtoseehimgo.Onthe flipside,itdidgivemesometimewiththeguys.TimeIhadn'thadina week.Ineededthenormalcythataneveningofpopcornandamovie couldprovide,evenifitwaswithafewextrabodies.

  “I'lltextyouwhenIarrive,”hesaid,cuppingmyfaceinhishand.“I don'texpectthistotakelong.WithTobiasdead,allwehavetodois rounduptheremainingpackmembersandputthepiecestogether.”

  Iknew“roundup”wasaeuphemism,butIletitbe.Sean'shands wouldalwaysbedirtyinonewayoranother.Itwaspartofwhohewas.If Iwantedtobewithhim,itwasapartIneededtoaccept.

  “Cooper,”hesaid,turningtofindhimleaningagainstthefarwallof thelanding.“I'mtrustingyoutokeephersafe.”

  “Always,”hedrawled,lookingboredwithSean'scomment.

  “IentrustRubytonoone,butI'mentrustinghertoyou.Doyou understandme?”Seanaskedthroughthedoorway.Cooperpushedoffof thewall,standingmilitantlystraight.“Donotfailmeonthis.”

  Thetwoeyedeachothermenacingly,buttherewassomethingelse intheirgazes―arespect.Theymightneverlikeeachother,bedrinking buddies,orevenberemotelycordialtooneanother,buttherewasan understanding.Theirbondwasthroughme,eachknowingthat,nomatter what,theotherwouldputmylifeabovehis.Maybethatwasallthosetwo wereevergoingtoneed.

  Coopernoddedonce,andwiththat,Seandisappeareddownthe stairsonhismissiontokickassacrossthepond.Ifeltbadforthosestill breathingoverthere.Theywereinforanunpleasantencounterverysoon.

  “So,”Coopersaid,coming
insidetheapartment.“I'mnotreallyup foratotalrehashingofevents,butIamupforadrink.Anyoneelse interested?”

  TheUKtriounanimouslyagreed,soIcaved.Ithadtobecloseto twointhemorning,butwewereallsowiredthatitwasclearthatnobody wouldbesleeping.

  “Movie?”Iasked,archinganeyebrowinquisitivelyathim.

  Hegrinnedinresponse.

  “I'llstartthepopcorn.”

  28

  Janner,Cooper,Beckett,andIallscrunchedtogetheronthefloorinfront ofthecouch,allowingAlistairtostretchhiswoundedbodyoutonthe sofa.Heseemedalmostbacktonormal,butIthinkhewasmilkingitfor allitwasworth.Weindulgedhimanyway.

  Cooperwasrelativelytight-lippedaboutwhathadhappenedto Alistairduringthefight,butIcouldtellhewasproud.Allhewouldtell mewasthatAlihadmadegoodonhispromisetome,attackingTobias thesecondhementionedmyname.Outgunnedandoutclassed,the youngestofthewolvesmaynothavealwaysbeenthesmartest,buthe wasbravebeyondmeasure.

  Forty-fiveminutesintothemovie,mybuttwasfallingasleep.All thetosscushionshadalreadybeenbogarted,soIgotupandclimbedover Coopertoheadformybedroom.AsIwalkedpastthebathroom,Alistair emergedfromwhathadtohavebeenhisthirdtrip.Hehadthebladderof afive-year-oldgirl.

  “Ruby,”hesaid,catchingmyarmlightly.Hisenergywasyetagain impossibletoread.

  “Yeah,Ali.What'sup?”

  “I'msorryforthepainwe'vebroughtyou.Wereallyneverintended forittohappen.”

  Ismiledandgavehimalightkissonthecheek.

  “Iknowyoudidn't.I'vemetenoughmadmeninmylifetoknowthat nobodycanplanforwhatthey'lldonext.Typically,they'llgotowhatever lengthsnecessarytogetwhattheywant.Theiregoswon'tsettlefor defeat,”Itoldhimearnestly.“Butdeadguysdon'tusuallyhavebigegos.”

  IsmileduntilIthoughtaboutwhatI'dsaid,Gregory'simageflashing throughmymind.“Okay,maybethat'sabadexample,butyouknowwhat I'msaying.”

  “Inamostdisturbingway,Ido,”hereplied,beforemakinghisway downthehall.Hislimpwasbarelyvisible,butI'dhadafewdrinkssoit waspossiblethatIwasn'tthebestjudge.