by Clare Atling
As she was running, she pulled her mobile out and tried calling several numbers.
‘They won’t answer, Seth,’ Hope cried out to him. ‘Do you think they’re okay?’ She was frantically running behind him, trying to keep up. ‘Why won’t they pick up?’
‘They’ll be fine, Hope,’ called out Seth. ‘Greg’s just fucking with us. Get in the truck. I’m going to pull up against the building so we can get home. Hurry the fuck up, Brandon.’ He voiced his thoughts out loud. The wait for his brother seemed a lifetime, but he couldn’t abandon them now. He just hoped his family was safe.
Chapter Ten
Brandon heard Greg's screams echo around him before everything went silent. He shuddered at what had become of his close friend, but right now he didn’t have time to mourn him. He had to save Maggie from Colt’s hand.
‘Right, this is the room,’ whispered Glyn. ‘Fuck, Greg has the keys.’ Glyn made to run back, but stopped when Logan came trotting through, still in wolf form, and dropped the bloody keys on the floor.
‘Thanks, Logan.’ Brandon grabbed the keys, whilst Logan kept an eye on Glyn in case this was a trap. Although the kid looked scared and just plain tired, Brandon doubted he would last another week let alone be strong enough to fight him and Logan. He placed the key in the lock and opened the door. He didn’t like what he saw.
Maggie heard the key in the lock and instinctively placed herself in front of Colt. She wouldn’t let his father beat him anymore. The man had taken enough. He had been sleeping soundly for a while now and she hoped he had recovered to help fight them. However, when the door opened she knew she had to be dreaming, because there stood the one person she had wished for all this time.
‘Brandon?’ Her voice was no more than a whisper. Tears instantly pooled in her eyes, but he made no attempt to move towards her.
‘You okay?’ he asked. ‘Did he hurt you?’ She noticed his fists were clenched by his side and he was looking at the bruising on her face, then at the figure lying on the floor behind her.
‘No, it was Greg who punched me.’ She touched her face as if to remember. ‘Colt needs help. He’s been badly beaten. Can you help me get him out of here?’ She bent down to Colt and Brandon saw how she ran her fingers down his face. It appeared to him that this woman, his mate, had already made her bed, and it wasn’t with him. ‘Brandon, please help him.’
He stared at her. How could he deny her pleading voice?
‘Shit.’ Brandon walked forward and looked down at the bruised man. ‘If this is a trick, Maggie, I swear I’ll kill you both.’ Brandon knew he would never kill her, but he would never again trust her if she was tricking him. It broke his heart when he saw her wince, as if she believed his words.
‘Brandon,’ she sobbed, ‘I know you don’t think much of me, but right now I just want to get out of here. I can’t leave him here like this, defenceless against the pack. His father would kill him. Please…’ She lowered her head. She loved Brandon so much, but she knew at this moment they would never be together, because he didn’t trust her. But he had come for her, so maybe there was a spark of hope somewhere down the line.
‘Fine, whatever,’ replied Brandon. ‘Pull the blanket on the floor and I’ll roll him onto it. Logan can drag him outside.’ Logan made a growling sound that Maggie suspected meant he wasn’t happy about helping Colt. Well, too bad, she thought to herself. He was possibly the one and only friend she had and she wasn’t about to let him die.
Brandon led the way out of the room and down the corridor, back the way they had come. As they entered the meeting room, Maggie heaved at the sight of all the blood, then at Greg’s lifeless body on the floor surrounded by the others from the pack. She held onto the table to stop her legs from giving way, but before she could collapse she felt herself being swung up into strong arms.
‘Don’t look, Maggie. He’s not worth it.’ Brandon pressed her heard lightly into his chest and rubbed his thumb against her cheek. Closing her eyes, she let the sensation wash over her. His strong scent enveloped her and she knew she was safe; never again would he let Marcus have her. Either way, she was going to get a new life, with or without Brandon, but hopefully with.
Outside, Brandon carried her all the way to the truck.
‘Quickly!’ urged Seth. ‘Get in. We’ve got to move.’
Brandon swung Maggie into the passenger seat next to Hope. That was when the emotions hit her and, for the first time since she had left the island, she broke down.
‘Shhh,’ said Hope, cradling her head in her shoulder. ‘It’s okay, Maggie. We’re going home. You’re coming home.’
‘But Brandon doesn’t want me there…’ sobbed Maggie.
‘What can I say? My brother can be a bit slow on the uptake, but it’ll be okay.’ Hope kept Maggie in her arms as Seth started the engine and began the journey back towards the island.
Colt, still unconscious, had been placed on the truck bed in the back, with Logan, still in wolf form, and Brandon. Maggie peered back through the cabin window to check they hadn’t left Colt there and were getting him to safety.
‘I’m so sorry about everything, Hope.’ Maggie pulled herself up and was staring out of the front window.
‘Hey, none of that. We need to get home now, but when you’re settled back in your room we will sit and have a long chat, okay?’
‘Sure.’ Maggie didn’t want to return to the island only to have to leave again, but she knew Hope was right. She needed to let them know how sorry she was before she got on with her new life. A cell phone rang in Seth’s pocket as he pulled it free and answered.
‘What?’ he said. There was an urgency in his voice and the two women looked at him anxiously. ‘Wait, Callie, where’s Sarah? Callie… Wait, slow down. We’re coming.’ Seth threw the phone on the truck floor. Then, while still driving, he slid the back window of the cabin open.
‘Callie rang to say Dad’s hurt,’ he called out to the two brothers in the back. ‘Marcus is there but I couldn’t hear her. Fuck!’ He banged the steering wheel so hard that Maggie thought he was going to break it. ‘Ring Alex. Make sure the boat is this side – we need to get home quick. Fuck!’
Chapter Eleven
Callie skidded to a halt outside Christopher and Mary’s house. She’d had four missed calls from Hope, so she had run outside to redial. She was hoping she had called to say they had Maggie. However, before she had the chance to press a button, she heard the one voice she’d always dreaded.
‘Hello, daughter.’ Whirling around, Callie came face to face with Marcus. ‘Nice little set-up you have here. Shame I’m going to rip it all apart.’ He grabbed her throat and, with incredible force, threw her through the air against the front door. He smiled to himself as she slumped to the floor. Then, he watched in amusement as the other stupid Penn Lake pack members came running out of the house. Sarah was the first to spot Callie and went straight to her side.
‘Callie, are you okay? Callie, can you hear me?’ The fear in her voice only fuelled Marcus’s anger the more.
‘Well, well, look at what we have here,’ he sneered. ‘Leaving the ladies, whilst the men go out to work? Very traditional.’
‘Not all the men, Marcus.’ Christopher stood taller and placed himself in front of the women.
‘My, how the once mighty alpha has fallen. You’re too old and weak to fight me and win. As for the rest of your puny pack, I could kill them before they even make a move.’ Marcus gazed over all the females. ‘Still, at least I’ll have something to do until the precious brothers return with their distraction.’ Christopher knew that Marcus had planned for them to rescue Maggie all along, just so he could cause some damage here, but he would fight with all his life before he would let that happen.
‘Sarah, Mary, get Callie and go,’ he ordered. ‘I want you locked upstairs. No matter what happens, you don’t come out. Do you understand me, Mary?’ He looked at his wife of many years and saw the terror in her eyes.
‘Please,
Chris, no. Don’t fight him,’ she begged. The pain raced across his heart.
‘This has to end,’ he continued, ‘and I can’t let him near you or my girls.’ Although he was no longer alpha, Christopher still had the fight in him to protect his pack and family.
‘How very touching,’ snarled Marcus, ‘but when I rip your throat out I’ll have my own fun with your family.’ Suddenly, he changed into his wolf and lunged forward. All Christopher could do was to shout ‘Run!’ before he, too, changed into his wolf.
Mary ushered Sarah inside and helped her drag Callie back inside the house, down towards the kitchen.
‘Grab a knife,’ cried Mary frantically. ‘Anything to protect yourself. If in doubt, turn. You are stronger and faster as a wolf. Don’t stay. Just run and find Seth.’ Callie had started to come to, and tried to sit up.
‘Sarah? Marcus?’ Her head felt like it had been run over by a truck and her whole body ached.
‘Oh, Callie…’ Sarah swung her arms around her friend. ‘Christopher’s outside with that maniac. We have to do something – we can’t just sit here.’
‘Mary, run and get some of the pack members,’ said Callie, once she was able to think straight. ‘This time of day they are probably all back from work. Get help. There is only one of him and a few of us. We’ll try and distract him.’
‘No, I’m not leaving Chris...’ Mary was shaking her head.
‘You’re not leaving him, you’re helping him,’ said Sarah. ‘Please, get help.’ Mary knew Sarah was right. She couldn’t just sit there and listen to them fight. She ran towards the back of the house, while Sarah and Callie ran to the front.
Callie had changed to her wolf by the time she’d reached the front porch. She stared down in horror. Marcus had his teeth around Christopher’s neck, his sharp teeth drawing blood where they bit down.
‘Let him go, you bastard!’ Sarah bent down and threw a rock at him, making him drop Christopher, who fell limp to the ground. Please don’t be dead, was all Callie could think. She needed to get Marcus out of the way so she could check on him. When Marcus started towards Sarah, she saw him limping on his back leg. Good, she thought. Hope it fucking hurts. Sarah kept taunting him, trying to distract him, and it appeared to be working.
‘Help is coming,’ shouted Sarah, ‘and we’re going to rip you apart.’ With that, Marcus launched himself at her, snapping his teeth.
Callie ran to pull Marcus off her. Sarah had held her arm up to protect herself against the assault, but Marcus bit down so hard that Callie heard the bone crushing. Sarah let out a piercing scream, but Callie couldn’t get to her fast enough. It was if her body was in slow motion. Movement came from the corner of her eye and she saw Christopher’s wolf back on its feet and running towards them. Sarah’s screamed pierced through the air until Christopher bit down hard on Marcus’s back leg. He instantly let go of Sarah’s arm and jumped Christopher again. Callie ran to Sarah’s side, changing back to her human form.
‘Sarah! Oh god, are you okay? Don’t move. I think it’s broken.’
‘Fuck, it hurts.’ Sarah cradled her arm against her body and the two women watched as the two wolves became locked in a fight.
Marcus was just about to pounce when several snarls and howls filled the air behind Sarah. She looked to see the rest of the pack ready to fight. They all gathered around her and Callie and she smiled, feeling the immense pride she had for her pack members and knew Marcus would never survive the attack. They were safe.
‘Callie, call Seth. We need him back now. Christopher is hurt!’
Sarah managed to get up and stood in front of the pack. Marcus snarled and showed his teeth and, for a while, she thought he was going to take on the entire pack. The man sure is sick in the head, she thought. However, he growled one last time and took off towards the woods. Several of the pack took off after him and she only hoped they would come back safe. More of them stayed behind, just in case there was a further attack.
Sarah looked around and saw Mary hugging a very still Christopher, still in wolf form. She ran over and sat down, cradling her arm.
‘Is he...’ Sarah didn’t want to know the answer. How was the family going to manage without him?
‘Not yet,’ replied Mary softly. ‘I can still feel the mating feeling inside. If he died, that part would die with him. We need to get him to help. He can’t change back to human form as it might kill him. His wolf will heal him. It has to…’ She pressed her face into her husband’s fur, tears running down her face. Sarah put her arm around Mary. He couldn’t die, not like this.
‘I’ve called Seth,’ said Callie, running up to them. ‘They’re on their way. How is Christopher?’
‘I don’t know,’ replied Sarah. ‘It looks bad, Callie. Can we move him inside?’ Mary looked up and nodded. Sarah didn’t have to ask, as a few of the pack had changed back to human form and carried their old alpha inside to the bedroom.
Chapter Twelve
The drive home had been a long one. However, once they made it back to the island, Maggie was relieved to hear that Brandon’s father was still alive, albeit close to death. Logan and Seth had taken Colt to the local doctor and left him there to be looked over before they returned to their mates and parents. She didn’t want to intrude, so she headed to Hope’s house.
She decided she would start preparing dinner for them all. She thought that, after their long day, they would need to eat, but mainly it was because she wanted to keep busy. Brandon hadn’t spoken to her, or even looked at her, during the journey home. The wolves that chased after Marcus had returned, having lost his scent after he swam across the water and it was decided they would head a hunting party to find him in the morning.
Maggie’s role in all this was very unclear and she didn’t know if she should stay or just go. Brandon had come to her rescue at the cost of his father’s life, possibly, so she figured she couldn’t just up and leave again. Plus, she wanted to make sure they were all okay. Apart from that, however, she had nowhere to go. Colt had promised he would help her start a fresh life, but how could she trust him? Had he simply said that to keep her hopes up when she needed it? She ran her fingers roughly through her hair, not knowing what to do, and began to pace up and down.
‘You’re going to wear a hole in my floor.’ Hope’s cheery voice rang out in the quiet house.
‘Hope!’ Maggie ran and hugged her as if she was never going to see her again.
‘Hey, Maggie. It’s going to be fine. Doc says Dad’s a fighter and a strong wolf. He should show signs of improvement in a few days. Mum’s going to drive him nuts by fussing over him, anyway.’ The red rings around Hope’s eyes showed she had been crying, even though she sounded positive. Maggie knew it had been a close call with their father and he wasn’t out of the woods yet.
‘I’m so pleased, Hope,’ she said. ‘I never would have forgiven myself if he had died whilst you were recuing me.’ She pulled out of her hug and looked down into her hands, which were now shaking.
‘I would do it again every time, Maggie.’ The deep tones of Brandon’s voice sent shivers up her spine. She whirled around to see him standing against the door frame. He held his hand out to her to take, but she eyed it suspiciously. ‘Can we talk?’
Oh god. Maggie knew this was the moment he was going to tell her that, now she was rescued, she could get the hell off his island again. She squared her shoulders and walked to him. Hope cleared her throat and made to leave the room.
‘I’m going to stay with Mum tonight,’ she said. ‘So I won’t be here... all night!’ Hope added the last words in a suggestive tone. What did she mean?
When Hope had closed the door after her, Brandon took a step forwards.
‘Maggie, please. I need to tell you something.’ Brandon took her hand and wrapped his strong fingers around hers. The electric spark raced through her vein. Now was not the time to get horny, Maggie. She braced herself for ‘the talk’.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘What do you n
eed to tell me?’ Her heart was almost beating out of her chest and she was sure he could feel the sweat gathering on the palms of her hands. Brandon didn’t say anything. Instead, he simply placed his hand to the back of her neck and leant down to kiss her. The sweetest, most gentle kiss she had ever had in her life. It was so sweet that tears formed immediately in her eyes. ‘Brandon?’ She didn’t understand.
‘Maggie. I’m sorry for the things I said to you and, as my sister and Callie pointed out, I fucked up.’ Maggie made to speak, but he cut her off with another sweet kiss. ‘Let me finish. I love you, Maggie. My wolf craves you. I know we need to work on a few trust issues, but I know it was hard for you to come clean when you did. To risk your life to tell me about Marcus’s plan and everything he had done to you and your mother was a big step for you, and I destroyed your trust in me. I promised I’d never let you go, but I did just that. Please forgive me, Maggie.’ She wrapped herself in those big arms that felt just like home.
‘Brandon, please,’ she replied. ‘I’m the one who should have come to you sooner and told you before I fell in love with you.’ Maggie watched his eyes turn from the deep brown to his wolf’s amber. ‘I found out about Greg the night of the wedding and still I kept it from you. I’m sorry. I’ll never keep anything from you again, if you could just learn to give me another chance.’ God, she was begging for him, but looking into his eyes and wrapped in his embrace she didn’t care. ‘I love you.’
Brandon leant down towards her and kissed her mouth so hungrily she thought he might swallow her whole. But she didn’t care. All she cared about was being in his arms again. His hands swept down her back and groped her arse as he lifted her against his waist. She instinctively wrapped her legs around him as he walked towards the table and planted her down.
‘Get these clothes off you. I need to be inside you again.’ Brandon ripped her T-shirt down the middle and was working on the button of her jeans. She raised her hips so he could pull them off her. Once she was naked, he kissed her again and started undoing his own buttons. She realised he was going to fuck her right there on Hope’s kitchen table, but still she didn’t care. Brandon’s scent and warmth engulfed her whole body.