“You would have killed your father?” I asked, blinking in surprise.
“I don’t think of him the way you think of your father,” she said with a shrug, “What I knew of him was evil. He has tried to ruin my life and Lilly’s too. I have no feelings for him. He’s only lived to keep my mother alive. That’s it.”
“And now I’ve killed her,” I said, trembling with guilt.
“You didn’t kill her,” Aurora said, raising her chin, “She’s not dead yet and from what I understand, there may be hope. However, I want you to know that if she does die, it wasn’t you that did it. My father did when he forced the blood bond on her.”
I glanced away from her still experiencing the guilt. I was ringing my hands in front of me. It had become a habit since washing the blood from them. It seemed that I would never be clean. I could imagine it sinking into my pours. Aurora covered my hands.
“You’re not the only one who has killed,” she said, giving me a sad smile, “Lilly did too.”
I nodded, “Andre’s crazy ex.”
Aurora smiled, “Yes,” she said with wide eyes, “And she was definitely crazy and she deserved it just like Emilian did. Still, I think Lilly can help you because she must have gone through the guilt of it too.”
I pressed my lips together and then, sighed, “Maybe.”
Aurora shifted and then, sighed, “Luc told us that you said you are in love with him,” she said with a soft smile, “Did you really say that?”
I nodded and whispered, “Yes, I did.”
“Do you really love him?” She asked, tilting her head so she could gaze into my eyes.
I swallowed over the thick lump in my throat, “Yes,” I said with a sigh, “I am in love with him. I don’t think it matters though.”
“Why do you think that?” She asked as she blinked.
“He never returned the sentiment. He hasn’t even spoken to me. When I gave him more of my blood, he pushed me away because he doesn’t want more of a bond,” I said, thickly, “So, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t feel the same.”
“He was chained to a wall when you admitted your love for him,” she said with raised brows, “Maybe he just didn’t want to say it then.”
“He hasn’t said anything since,” I said, shaking my head.
“Sophia hasn’t let anyone near you,” Aurora said, raising her eyebrows, “I’m surprised that you were able to leave. You picked the one time that she had to go home. Now she’s frantic and blaming herself.”
My heart twisted in my chest, “I’m sorry about that,” I said, shifting. The last thing that I wanted was to make Sophia worry.
“As long as you come home and not run away again,” Aurora said with raised brows, “It should be fine.”
“I wasn’t running away,” I said, raising my chin, “I was coming here to be near people who loved me.”
Aurora stood and reached her hand out to help me on my feet, “You don’t have to come here to be near people who love you. You can stay home. If you ever want to visit your parents, I’ll come with you.”
I smiled at her as I placed my hand in hers and she tugged me to my feet. Once I was steady, she linked her arm with me. She looked down and shook her head, “And the next time you decide to lose your mind, wear shoes.”
I gave her a wry smile as we began our walk home. I sighed feeling much lighter than I had when I arrived.
**********
We entered Sophia and Gavriel’s home to Sophia’s sob of relief. She surprised me by hugging me hard enough for me to lose my breath before pulling back with her lips pressed together.
“Where were you?” She asked with her hand to her chest, “You scared me half to death.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, shifting beneath her gaze, “I didn’t mean to frighten anyone. I went to my parent’s graves.”
“Luc is out of his mind with worry,” Sophia said and then, ground her teeth together before she spoke again, “He thought you left him. He thought you weren’t coming back.”
“Why would I do that when I risked my life to save him?” I asked, frowning.
“I don’t know,” she said with a relieved sigh, “Maybe he thought like the rest of us…That everything you’ve gone through has been too much. Maybe he doesn’t think he was enough for you to stay.”
I swallowed hard and my heart dropped into my stomach, “Where is he?” I asked as I glanced around.
She smiled sadly, “He’s looking for you,” she said throwing up her hands, “Where do you think he is?”
“I need to speak to him,” I said, raising my chin stubbornly.
Sophia shifted, “If you want to wait here…”
I raised my hand and shook my head, “I want to talk to him alone,” I said, meeting her eyes. I could see that she was trying to protect me but I wouldn’t hide behind her. I needed to face him.
Slowly, she nodded and then, let out a long pent up breath, “Wait at your house for him,” she said, putting her hand on my arm and rubbing it in soothing circles as she gazed into my eyes, “But before you go, you need to realize that everything isn’t what you think it is. He wanted to be near you every second that you were in that room but I didn’t allow him to. I did it because I was afraid. I didn’t know how you would react to anything he said. You’ve been through so much and it was obvious that you were going through a lot of regret. Some of that regret may be your marriage or what you said while facing Emilian and Eli. However, he’s been so worried about you that he’s sick with it. He hasn’t slept and he hasn’t eaten.”
I winced as she spoke and then, nodded, “I appreciate that you’ve protected me. Now, I need to face him…no matter what happens,” I said and then, swallowed before meeting her eyes again, “So, tell him where I am and tell him I’m ready to talk,” I said and then, I turned and walked out of the door toward my home where something I feared worse than darkness or a date resided. It was fear of rejection from the only man who would ever have complete possession of my heart.
Chapter Seventeen
Heart and Soul
I paced the living room as I waited for Luc while wringing my hands in front of me. My heart trembled as hours passed without his presence and I began to worry that something had happened. As night fell, I sank into the chair, trying not to think of all of the terrible things that may have befell him but failing to do so. As midnight approached, my eyes grew heavy and although I fought it, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
A caress against my cheek woke me and I opened my eyes to find Luc in front of me. His face was dark in worry as he studied me.
“Mary Jane,” he whispered and then, sighed relieved as he grasped his chest, “You are tearing my heart out.”
I blinked because that was an apt description to what he’d been doing to me. I swallowed over the tears as I met his eyes, “I wasn’t running away,” I said, simply, “I wouldn’t do that.”
“How was I to know that?” He asked and then, bit his lip, “You’ve been through so much,” He said with wide eyes and then, he ran his hand through his hair.
“I went to see my parents,” I said as my chin trembled, “Aurora found me at their graves.”
“She told me,” he said, pulling a footstool in front of me and sitting there so that he was eye level with me. He leaned forward and grasped my hand in his, “She said you were upset about killing Emilian and that you believed that everyone hated you for it.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” I asked with a raised brow, “Fiona will die because of me.”
“It’s not because of you,” he said with a frown, “Still, I didn’t think that you ran away because of that,” He took a deep breath before he spoke again, “I thought you regretted that you told Eli that you were in love with me.”
I blinked and then, shook my head, “No,” I said, frowning, “I wouldn’t regret that. I was trying to save your life.”
Luc swallowed and he rose from the stool. His face had fallen as he faced me, “So, what you sai
d wasn’t true.”
I tilted my head as I watched him begin to pace in front of me. Slowly, I rose and blocked his path, forcing him to face me again. A tear had fallen down his cheek and my heart twisted as I reached forward, stopping its progress with my thumb.
My gaze met his, “It was the truest thing that I’ve ever spoken,” I whispered, brokenly, “I am in love with you, Luc. I have been for a while. I just hadn’t realized it until that moment. ”
He inhaled sharply as he pulled me to him. His eyes darkened as his mouth slammed against mine. Immediately, my hands twisted in his hair as his tongue pushed past my lips before he pulled back from me. He rested his forehead against mine as he stared into my eyes.
“You have no idea how relieved I am that you said that,” he said, pulling me even closer to him. He reached up and caressed my cheek as he smiled and whispered, “I love you, Mary Jane.”
“You do?” I asked as my heart lifted.
He laughed, “Yes,” He said, gripping my cheeks to look into my eyes, “And before you even doubt it, it’s not because of the bond. I know that because I would do anything to make sure you were okay. You have gripped my heart since the first time I saw you. Even if we weren’t bonded, I would never be able to let you go. You are a part of me. You always will be.”
I started to cry and he pulled me to him, “Don’t cry,” he whispered, “I don’t want to ever make you cry again. You’ve already cried too many tears.”
I gazed up at him, “Even if they are happy tears?” I asked, “Because that’s what these are…Happy tears.”
He bit his lip and then, nodded, “Okay. You can cry those,” he said, kissing me quickly on the lips. His eyes found mine, “Will you say it again?”
I smiled and then, said, “I love you, Luc and I always will.”
“I love you too, Mary Jane,” He whispered as he wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
**********
Three months passed and I had begun to settle back into life with Luc. Even though nothing had happened, we were always on alert. Aurora worked feverishly to find a way to save her mother while Lilly helped as much as she could while her pregnancy progressed. Also, Tamas’ chosen bride would be arriving soon and we were making plans to ensure that Eli would not be able to harm her or her family.
Still, I was grateful for my life. I didn’t think that anything could make it better. I was wrong. One night, I was sleeping next to my husband with my head on his chest. Because of the bond, his heart beat in rhythm with my own. As I listened to the beats of our hearts another joined it. My eyes widened as I sat up so quickly that Luc woke with a start.
“What’s wrong?” He asked as he glanced around quickly, looking for danger.
I bit my lip, “Nothing,” I said, frowning, “But something may be right. Stay here.”
I moved quickly to the bathroom and searched the cabinet for a box that Lilly had given me. In it I found the pregnancy test. I swallowed as I unpackaged it and read the instructions three times. Slowly, I sighed as I went through the motions and waited. I glanced at the screen as a knock sounded at the door.
“Mary Jane, are you okay?” Luc asked.
I moved toward the door and opened it. I knew my face was pale from shock as I stood in front of him. A frown crossed his brow as his gaze moved from my face to the stick in my hand.
“Is that what I think it is?” He asked, tilting his head, intrigued.
I nodded as I sighed, “A pregnancy test,” I said as I bit my bottom lip.
He glanced down at it, “What does it say?” He asked, moving closer to me.
“Well,” I said, shifting from foot to foot as I gazed up into his expectant face, “It says that you should get used to being called daddy very soon.”
“Really?” He asked as his grin widened. I nodded and a moment later, I was wrapped in a hug so tight I lost my breath.
“I think you should be gentle,” I said, laughing, “You’re squishing us.”
He immediately let me go, “Are you okay?” He asked with wide eyes.
“Yes,” I said, laughing, “Are you?”
He nodded, “I’m happy…happier than I’ve ever been.”
I stepped back into his arms and caressed his cheek, “Me too,” I whispered, laying my head against his chest as I listened to his heart beat mingling with mine and finding the heartbeat of the child that came from our love.
Epilogue
Eva Grey stood among the other members in their family. Her eyes were bright as she raised her face to the full moon. Her long black hair fell down her back in shiny blue black strands.
“We make history tonight,” she said with a crooked grin as she faced the other members of her family.
They were staring at her expectantly as she walked among them, “For the first time in twelve generations a new alpha in our family was chosen because of murder and not because of natural death.”
All of the men and women, nodded. Anger flickered in their eyes as she continued to speak, “But you shouldn’t worry,” she said, raising her chin, “The Brazil family will suffer and do not think that excludes my nieces. They have betrayed us by choosing those dogs over us.”
Each member nodded and she smiled as she stood at the head of the family. Her face darkened in anger as she thought of her brother lying dead in the street.
“Who is our new alpha?” A woman asked with wide eyes, “I want to thank him for avenging your brother’s death. He was a great man.”
Eva stepped forward and touched the woman’s cheek, “You won’t be able to thank him,” she said and then, grinned, “But you can certainly thank her,” She said as she raised her chin.
She raised her voice as she lifted her hands toward the moon, “I am your new alpha,” She said in a power filled voice, “Kneel before me.”
Every member of the Grey family dropped to their knees, except for one. He remained standing in the trees, vowing to steal her throne. Eli smiled widely as he laughed. After all, how hard would it be to take out a woman?
Other books in
The Brazil Werewolf Series
Beckoned
Summoned
Coming in 2015
Book 4
Lured
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
The Meeting
Chapter Two
A Product of Revenge
Chapter Three
Decisions
Chapter Four
Bonfires
Chapter Five
The Choices and the Consequences
Chapter Six
The Reality of Dreams
Chapter Seven
The Gift
Chapter Eight
Letting Go
Chapter Nine
Wedding Bells
Chapter Ten
One More Choice
Chapter Eleven
The Inevitable
Chapter Twelve
Strike When It’s Right
Chapter Thirteen
A Bond Unbreakable
Chapter Fourteen
Admissions
Chapter Fifteen
The Choice
Chapter Sixteen
Beyond Heartache
Chapter Seventeen
Heart and Soul
Epilogue
Enticed (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 3) Page 11