by Bryce Evans
“Ah, Me-Len? I don’t think I’m safe right here.” Sage backed up, still watching the man. Everything appeared okay, until the bear started coming out.
“Brody?” Me-Len’s voice was high-pitched making everyone around them stop to see what was going on. As soon as she stepped back, the big man named Brody stepped forward until another big man stepped in front of him.
“Brody? Dude, you’re scaring them. What the hell is wrong?” Nolan asked.
“Get out of my way. She’s mine.” That was all the man said, and it was enough to scare the shit out of her.
Sage released Me-Len’s hand and took off running. She had no clue where the hell she was running to, but damn it the man said she was his and with his bear coming out that meant one thing to her: the bear wanted to hurt her. She heard people screaming for her to stop, but all she saw when she turned around was the man named Brody shifting into a bear and coming after her. A big fucking bear, too. She hit the tree line and finally realized that she wasn’t going to outrun a bear. She heard trees crashing and then she felt herself propelling through the air and hitting the ground hard. Now she was pissed. She had saved that girl for these people, and now her payback she was being chased by a freaking grizzly bear, who was standing over her, ready to eat her. Then it dawned on her—she was a witch. A good one at that.
Before she could spit out a spell, the bear leaned down and licked her across the face. Then licked her again, and again, and again.
“Stop that.” And just like she ordered, the bear stopped and lay down beside her. “Are you smiling at me?” The snort of wind blew across her face as the bear nodded.
She could hear people running in the woods toward them, but she was afraid to move. The ground was cold, and she started shivering. The bear just moved closer, trying to protect her from the chilly night air.
“Sage? Sage, are you okay?” Me-Len called out.
“Yes, but the bear won’t let me get up.” Sage watched as the bear shifted, and in its place was the man who even now made her so wet between the legs she couldn’t control the moan she made as she looked up at him when he got up. To make matters worse, his big thing was growing in size as she gazed at him.
One minute she was lying on the ground, next she was being lifted in Brody’s arms. The man was hard across the chest but his skin was as smooth as a baby’s bottom. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you home,” Brody answered.
“I’m not going home with you,” Sage snapped, angered. If this man thought he was just going to take her home and have his way with her, he had no idea who she was. “Who do you think you are?”
“Your mate,” Brody answered, like it was something she was just going to have to accept. Her whole body froze. Mate? No, no, no, she thought. Sage didn’t even pause to think. As soon as she saw Me-Len, she hit Brody hard in the nose and rolled out of his arms. Then she clasped her hands over her head as the magic sparkled above her.
“Why did you hit me?” Brody yelled out.
“Don’t move, Brody. You’ve angered her and she’s scared.” Me-Len held out her hand toward him, but Brody moved forward. That’s when Sage hit him with her magic, slamming him backward against the trees. Everyone in the woods froze as Sage waited to see if he was going to come at her again.
“Sage, please don’t do that again. I know you don’t understand what’s going on, but—”
Brody hit her from the side. It didn’t hurt her because she was in his arms, but this time her hands were caged in one of his above her head. “Listen, my little witch, I’m not trying to hurt you, but you’re my mate and I know you feel it too. Tell me you don’t feel it.”
Sage’s heart was beating so hard it was hard to catch her breath. She couldn’t lie to him for some reason. What the hell? “It doesn’t matter what I feel. My mother is most likely being tortured right now, and all you can think about is getting your dick in me. That’s all I can think of—getting her out of there.”
She couldn’t stop it when the first tear fell; then the dam broke and the snotty sobs came. She didn’t think he was going to let her go, but he released her arms and picked her up, carrying her out of the woods. Me-Len and the others all followed as Brody opened a door and sat down inside with her. Stroking her hair he held her tighter as Me-Len got in beside them.
“Home, Lex,” Brody said to the driver. Her body was so tired from all the stress, and the heat that came off of him felt so good, that she didn’t remember falling asleep.
Brody sat and watched his mate sleep until Me-Len came into the room. “We need to talk.” Reluctantly, he got up and walked into the kitchen, where Me-Len and the others were waiting.
“How is she?” London asked.
“Asleep for now.”
“Sage is your mate?” London asked.
“Yes.”
London smiled, then hugged him. “I’m glad she found you.”
Brody rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t think it’s going to be that easy, London.”
“She’s terrified about her mother, and frankly, I am too.” Brody looked over at Me-Len. “What do you think Claudia will do?”
They all watched as Me-Len lowered her head, putting her hands over her face. “Kill her.” She sobbed.
“Me-Len, don’t say that. We have to stay positive. Now that we know where she is, we need to hit her. Now!” London demanded.
“She’ll be gone by the time you get there.” They all looked at the door where Sage stood. “She has several houses in secret locations, and she never told us where they were. She has already left, I’m positive.”
“And your mother?” London asked.
“I can only pray that it was quick. I’ve seen what she does.” London approached Sage and stuck her hand out to her.
“I’m your cousin, London.”
Sage looked down and hesitated. “Nice to finally meet you. I’ve only heard stories, so it’s nice to put a face with the name.”
“This is my mate, Ryder.” London pointed at him.
“Nice to meet you, Alpha.”
Ryder grasped her hand and shook it. “Ryder will do.”
“Okay.”
“This is Kayden and Zoey Lynn,” London said. “And this fellow here is Nolan Banks, and this is Judd, and Maggie Walsh. I think you have already met Brody King, the Alpha of the King bears.”
Sage nodded and sat down beside Me-Len, who was silently crying. She wrapped her arms around her and rubbed her back. “Mother wanted to get to know you better, Me-Len, but she also knew that if we didn’t do something to help, then the world would be doomed. We both knew what we were getting into, and knew the likelihood of us getting out was slim.”
“I know, but I will never get to know her like a mother should.” The room stayed silent as Me-Len cried.
Brody walked up to Me-Len, leaning down with a mug in his hand. “Me-Len, drink this. It’ll help.” She looked up and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Thank you, Brody.” The scent of chocolate permeated the air as steam came off the mug. Sage thought she could smell something else inside, maybe some type of liquor, but she couldn’t be sure.
“Yes, ma’am.” She could still feel his eyes on her as he walked back over to his chair and sat down.
“Tomorrow we start with Maggie feeling out everyone. Sage, we need to know everything that you know. We figure that she’ll change her plans now, but maybe she won’t. Will you help us?” Ryder asked.
Everyone waited for her to answer. “Of course I will. The biggest problem she has is getting the Book of Thoth open. I couldn’t believe it, but the vampires didn’t destroy the book. Now the worst witch in the world has it and wants to open it and unleash its power. She plans to make shifters and vampires her slaves. Only witches and wizards will be able to live like normal here on Earth. The woman is crazy, and the sad fact is that she has a lot of followers.”
“Then we need to find out who here in Alpha City is a traitor,” Ryder
said.
Sage nodded her head. “She has several people in Alpha City telling her stuff. She fields calls all the time from people. I don’t know who they are. She has a problem now that Carina can’t open the book for her. She’ll have to rethink this and try to open the book another way. That’s what scares me. The woman got Jamal out of Hell, so conjuring up someone else isn’t going to be hard for her.”
“Then we start out with Maggie tomorrow. You up for it, Mags?” Ryder asked with a smile.
“You bet.”
“Good, then let’s all get some sleep and start bright and early tomorrow.”
Sage stood up and kneeled again in front of Me-Len. “Where do I stay?”
“Here.”
Before she could say no, Brody held up his hands. “In your own bedroom, of course. Me-Len can stay here as well. You’ll be safe here.”
“Sage, I know Meryl will be worried about me if I don’t come home. You’ll be safe here and Brody won’t touch you. I can see that he has control now, but he is your mate, dear. Nothing we can do about it. Just stay here and we’ll meet back up in the morning. If you feel uncomfortable, I can tell Brody you’re coming to Ryder‘s house.”
“No, I’ll be fine here. He knows what I can do to him if he tries anything. Go be with your mate, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Me-Len kissed her head and walked out with London and Ryder.
Sage heaved a sigh and stared off out the window. She didn’t realize everyone had left the room until she heard Brody behind her. “I believe this cloak belongs to you.”
Sage turned around and found him holding the Cloak of Edengraf. “Thank you.” He put it in her hand and walked back a step.
“You’re part of the Order?” Brody announced.
“Yes, I guess I am.” Sage unfolded the cloak as it dropped down.
Brody pointed to the symbols woven in gold. “It has the same markings that are on my necklace and Bast’s sword.”
Sage nodded and folded the cloak up. “I woke up one morning and it was draped across my bed. How it got there I have no clue, but I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. It’s supposed to help me save lives. But I couldn’t get my mother out with it.”
“But you got Carina out.”
“One lives and one dies, for what, Brody? Why does my mother have to die to save someone else? It’s not fair!” Sage cried out.
Brody pulled her closer and hugged her. “No, it’s not fair, and I’m sorry about your mother.”
“I’m so tired,” Sage muttered in his chest.
“There are some clothes on your bed. London had some sent over while you were asleep. There’s also a shower and tub in your room if you want to take a bath. Get some sleep; we can figure something out tomorrow.” Brody opened the door to her bedroom up and waited until she walked in. He didn’t want to let her go, but if he wanted her to trust him, he had to do this.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Brody walked out and closed her door.
She couldn’t believe he just left, but in all honesty this was all starting to freak her out. How the hell was she going to be a mate to someone? Sage didn’t date much, if you could even call what she did dating. All she wanted was a night to forget, and then she was gone, no ties to anyone. But now they were saying she was Brody’s mate. The Alpha of the King bears. How could she be a mate to anyone, much less an Alpha?
Chapter Twenty-Five
All she remembered after taking a shower was slipping into the bed, then nothing. Sage had fallen into a deep sleep. When she woke up, the clock said it was nine in the morning. Shit; she had overslept. Sage ran to the bathroom and took a quick shower, pulled her hair up in a ponytail and walked out of the bedroom.
Me-Len and her mate Meryl were sitting at the table with Brody, eating breakfast.
“Hey sleepyhead.” Me-Len smiled.
Before she could sit down, the man that had driven them home came running in the door. “Alpha, we need to get to town. Ryder just called—they found a body.”
Me-Len was up and already out the door. Sage wasn’t going to be left behind; she ran out behind Me-Len. “All in the vehicle with me,” Brody demanded.
She didn’t care who she was riding with, but she wasn’t going to be left out when she could help. They all drove in silence toward town. She watched as two more vehicles followed. When she glanced over at Me-Len, she looked pale.
“Are you okay?” Sage asked.
“Yes.”
It wasn’t long before they were back at the city limits. She couldn’t see anything; all of the cars were blocking the roadway. She got out with Me-Len, and they walked over to where London and her mate were standing. London turned around with tears in her eyes. When they moved aside, she saw the city limits sign. Her mother was tied to the sign. The dragon had whipped her body with it’s tail so badly that there wasn’t much left. He had left her head unharmed, so Sage would be able to recognize her.
Sage screamed out, “No, no, no, no!” She tried running up to her, but Brody grabbed her and held her tight.
“The body has been tampered with, Sage. You can’t touch her,” Brody pleaded with her.
Me-Len was on the ground crying as Meryl and London tried to console her, but nothing would. Sage couldn’t take her eyes off her mother’s beautiful face. The pain she must have endured before she finally died. Before they strung her up like a scarecrow, like an object, something that didn’t matter at all.
“I’m going to kill you. You hear me, Claudia Blackwood?” Sage screamed. Her heart broke in a million pieces. “I’m going to kill you!”
* * *
The End
Also by Bryce Evans
The Ashland Pack
The Trinity
Big Bad Alpha
* * *
The Love of a Shifter
Once Forgotten: Twice Loved
Healing Their Mate
Destiny of Three
Destiny of Blood
* * *
Alpha City
Obsessions
Cravings
Choices
* * *
Royal Guard
Guarded Hearts
* * *
Dixon Pack
Bewitched by the Alpha
Beta’s Delight
* * *
Keep up with all of Bryce Evan’s new releases via her website:
http://www.bryceevans.webs.com
About the Author
Bryce Evans is a mother, wife, and author who loves to escape to the world she has built in the Ashland Pack and other stories. She burst onto the publishing scene with a hit in The Trinity. As an active police officer, Bryce needed another outlet from the pains of others. Writing filled that void.
She loves talking to people who have the same tastes as she does and enjoys storytelling about vampires, werewolves, witches, and fairies.
She loves to read books and write about places that come together in her head. She tries to write about what she knows and usually you will find some aspect of law enforcement in her writing.
Travel with her to a world filled with vampires, werewolves, witches, and fairies were the paranormal run wild and romance blooms.
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Find out more about her current projects at
@Bryce__Evans
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www.bryceevansauthor.com
[email protected]
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