Shattered Emotions (Redwood Pack)

by Ryan, Carrie Ann

  Not only could she feel exactly what Maddox was feeling—something that not all mates could do—she could also do the same to the Pack. Some mates could feel some feelings and some relative positions, but it depended on the mated pair on how strong that was. Before all of this, Maddox couldn’t feel her emotions through his Omega powers, but now it came through in full force.

  The connections to the Pack grew and stabilized with each passing moment. It wasn’t a huge barrage of feelings that could overwhelm her. She could feel their anger, their confusion, their love, their…everything, but she could also feel the emotions flow between her and Maddox. It was what she’d thought—what she’d hoped for. They shared each other’s burdens.

  That morning she’d woke in his arms and inhaled his scent for a blissful moment before life had crashed in. She’d known they couldn’t wait for their bodies and bonds to heal and form any longer. They had to go out and find Charlotte.

  Now, they were here, not precisely against Edward’s wishes, but darn close to it. They hadn’t brought any of the others to help them because they needed to be as quiet as possible. Too many wolves and they might have alerted the Central wolves. They would have loved to have others fight by their side, and Ellie knew the Jamensons would have come, but they hadn’t been able to.

  Just the idea that she had a family now that would risk their lives for someone they had never met made her want to scream in happiness. She’d never had that before, and now she had almost everything she wanted.

  Almost.

  Goddess, she just wanted this to be over, but she didn’t think it would be any time soon.

  Maddox’s words finally registered, and she turned to kiss under his chin.

  “She’s in his dungeon. That’s the only place I think he’d have her now. He might have hidden her away before, but now that he’s truly pissed at us…”

  Her words trailed off because she was unable to say what could be going on.

  Maddox held her tightly, their wolves rubbing against their skin. She only knew Maddox’s wolf was at the surface because of their bond and the way her wolf growled at the closeness.

  “Let’s go,” he whispered, and she nodded.

  They quickly ran, darting behind trees as they went, toward the dungeon.

  When they made their way out of this, she’d do everything in her power to avoid stepping foot in this building again. Goddess, she hated it, but her innocent sister was locked away, and there wasn’t a choice.

  They walked down the empty hall and made their way to the room Ellie thought Charlotte would be in. Just like before, there were no guards. The Centrals didn’t guard this building as much as the other ones since this was for Corbin’s fun, not anything else. After all, it had been Ellie’s room for so long when she’d been a child. It had been where the beatings had taken place… the torture. The rapes had been in other rooms. Ellie just hoped this is where Charlotte would be.

  She couldn’t feel another adult wolf around her, only a small presence that had to be a child. She let out a breath, and Maddox slowly opened the door, which caused a creak.

  Oh praise the goddess.

  Charlotte still wore a collar, but it was different. Ellie recognized it because it was one Ellie herself had worn in what seemed like a lifetime ago. Charlotte was chained to the wall, sitting on the floor but otherwise looked unharmed. She stood when Ellie entered.

  The little girl’s eyes widened. “You came back,” she whispered.

  Tears slid down Ellie’s cheeks, but she brushed them away, not wanting to scare the child.

  “Yes, we came back,” she said in a low voice. “We need to go now though. Will you come with me and my mate, Maddox?” Once they found the key that had her chained. Goddess, they needed to move.

  Charlotte looked between the two of them and looked as though she was fighting with herself. Ellie couldn’t blame the child. After all, she knew only that Ellie was her sister, but Corbin was also her brother. Who knew what the child could be thinking?

  Maddox took a step inside, his palms raised. “We won’t hurt you, Charlotte.”

  The little girl blinked and nodded.

  The relief that swept through Ellie was short lived, however.

  Four guards rushed in, and Ellie turned, her claws out, ready to fight. Maddox turned as well, his eyes gold with rage, and he growled.

  The guards attacked, and Ellie jumped on the closest one, her claws tearing through flesh along his side. It didn’t matter that these men had once been her Packmates. There were no longer, and even before, they’d done nothing to help her.

  In fact the two that fought her now had also taken her innocence.

  Something they would pay dearly for.

  She roared and slashed her claws down one of the bastard’s neck. His eyes widened, and he gripped the wound, blood pouring out of him. She kicked him in the stomach, and he fell to his knees. He wouldn’t be healing from that neck wound since she’d cut his jugular, so she kicked him again and turned to face the other one that had taken so much from her.

  “I’m going to fuck you like I did all those times before, you bitch. Then, when that little bitch behind you is older, I’ll fuck her, too.” The bastard continued to taunt her, but she let it roll off her.

  She wasn’t chained down like she’d been before. No, now she was strong and free.

  Something this wolf would never understand.

  Maddox roared again as he killed his second guard and launched himself toward them. She knew he’d heard what the wolf had said, but this was her fight. She shook her head, and Maddox stopped, seeming to understand her need to take care of this on her own.

  The other wolf jumped at her then, and she ducked out of the way, falling to her knees but coming back up again near Corbin’s tools. With one quick movement, she picked up a sharp knife and twisted on one foot, burying the knife to the hilt in the guard’s neck.

  He seemed surprised for a moment, and then like his friend, he fell to his knees.

  She twisted the knife then pulled it out, watching as the life faded from her tormentor’s eyes.

  “You’ll never have me again. Ever,” she whispered as he died.

  Ellie looked up at her mate and saw the love and admiration in his eyes. He’d let her fight for herself, yet she’d known he’d be there if she’d needed him.

  This was just another reason why she loved the man.

  “Touching, really fucking touching,” Corbin drawled from the doorway. “I’m not surprised you’re back for the little wolf. I am surprised you two came alone. It’s as if you want to die by my hands. Something that can be arranged.”

  Corbin lunged then, apparently done talking. His claws were out, and Maddox jumped forward. Their bodies crashed against each other as Maddox pushed Corbin into the wall. Ellie ran to help her mate but hit the ground as two more wolves entered the room, pouncing on her.

  She kicked the nearest wolf, ignoring its whimper, then stabbed the one above her with the knife she still held. The weight of the wolf burned her arms, but she pushed it off then scrambled to her feet as four more wolves entered the room, their teeth bared, their souls just as black as the others. The darkness that seeped from them was so blatant, that anyone could have seen it; felt it.

  Goddess, they were outnumbered.

  However, she and Maddox were stronger than the other wolves because they hadn’t been eaten away day by day by a magic that was darker than anything she knew. Only Corbin and Caym were stronger, and she had a feeling Corbin was only stronger because of Caym himself.

  She tamped down the fear that threatened to take hold and charged, taking down one wolf with her knife to its chest. She ducked to the ground and rolled, slicing another wolf at its paws. Another wolf jumped on top of her, and she twisted, trying to get away. The wolf clawed at her, and she screamed but didn’t stop moving.

  The weight was lifted off her as Maddox picked up the wolf and threw it into the wall. The crack of its back breaking
echoed into the room, and it whimpered. Maddox pulled her to her feet, and she nodded, not able to do anything more than be glad he was alive.

  She glanced at Charlotte who hid behind a table, huddling, tears running down her face.

  Maddox turned toward Corbin again and started at him, his fists flying. More wolves poured into the room, and she went on autopilot, fighting as hard as she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mate fighting. He was a thing of beauty, his muscles bunching and flexing as he moved. Her empath was quiet and smooth yet fought with a grace like no other.

  Ellie killed two more wolves and turned to help Maddox with Corbin—who was stronger than them both—then screamed as another guard in human form pulled at her arm and flexed his wrists, breaking the bone in a sharp sting that flooded her body with pain.

  Maddox turned at her scream then shouted.

  Corbin smiled and pulled the knife out of her mate’s side, Maddox’s blood leaving a crimson stain on the blade.

  The mating bond tightened in pain then pulsated, sending a scorching heat toward each of them as tears slid down her cheeks.

  Goddess, it wouldn’t end like this.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Charlotte pulling at her chains, working hard to try to break free.

  At least the little girl was safe for now, but, goddess, Ellie needed to fight harder.

  Despite the pain in her arm, she fought, clawing and tearing at what she could. Only three wolves remained, but she’d kill them all. She had to. Maddox continued to fight Corbin, even with the blood running down his side.

  Finally, finally, she broke the last wolf’s neck and turned toward her mate. There had to be a way to end this. She took a step forward then screamed her body freezing.

  Caym stood behind her, chanting a spell she didn’t understand, but she could feel the bond between her and Maddox shaking.

  “It’s a lost cause, my dear,” Caym drawled. “I have a perfect spell for you, and believe me, you’ll break under the onslaught. Your Omega can’t tamp down the emotions anymore. Now, everything he’s ever felt is amplified, and since you’re mated to him, you’ll both feel everything.”

  The emotions suddenly flooding through her system, her mind, her nerve endings, rendered her speechless. Goddess, she could feel it all. The pain, the happiness, the sheer amount of the endless bonds, to not only the Redwoods but to something far darker. Her old bond to the Centrals that had been broken flared again, and she could feel the evil seeping through it and enveloping them. She and Maddox locked gazes and fell to the ground, their bodies shaking. She reached for Maddox as tears stained her cheeks.

  Oh, goddess.

  The pain.

  They tried to fight the evil threatening to take hold but neither could breathe.

  Everything seemed heavy, the weight on her chest capable of killing her.

  Caym and Corbin laughed as they moved toward her. Her brother picked her up, each point of contact between them a searing pain.

  The darkness dripped off him, covering her like a thick blanket of hate and fear. They stepped over Maddox on the ground as he struggled to get up. Caym kicked him but didn’t look down. Corbin chained her to the wall and smiled.

  She hung from the wall, her toes barely touching the ground, her broken arm going numb, the pain so intense she nearly passed out.

  Corbin took a step back and tilted his head. “I’m sorry that it had to end this way, dear sister. You should have been by my side all this time, but you ran away.”

  Everything around her seemed to pull her down, each movement became slow, heavy. She pulled her head up and looked into his black eyes.

  “I’ll never regret it,” she said, her words slurred.

  Corbin shook his head. “You won’t have long to regret it.”

  Caym handed him something, but she couldn’t tell what it was. Her vision had blurred from the pain and the influx of Pack bonds.

  He raised his arm, and the light bounced off the barrel of the gun.

  “Good bye, dear sister,” he said and fired.

  Her chest exploded, fire scorching her as she gasped for breath.

  Her head fell forward, and she looked down, not really understanding what had happened. With one last effort, she looked up at her mate, her Maddox.

  He crawled toward her, bleeding, screaming.

  Their bond screamed as well.

  Ellie closed her eyes, her lids heavy.

  The darkness took over.

  Chapter 19

  Maddox screamed.

  His throat burned as he yelled, his voice hoarse.

  The mating bond throbbed then thudded to a quiet breath.

  Oh, goddess, no.

  Ellie’s head lolled to the side as she hung from the wall, the large hole in her chest a stark reminder that everything had gone wrong, that everything had changed.

  Though their mating bond had dimmed, it wasn’t completely gone. It couldn’t be. He tried to reach it and tried to pull her to him, at least through the bond, but he couldn’t grasp it.

  No.

  Goddess, no.

  The assault of whatever spell Caym had forced on him still echoed through him, coming and going in shifts until it reared up again, knocking him back down to his stomach. There was no way he’d just stay there though. He’d get up and get his mate.

  She was not dead.

  There was no fucking way she could be dead.

  He heard a whimper behind him, and he closed his eyes.

  Charlotte.

  Hell, he’d get her out too.

  Ellie would be okay.

  She had to be.

  The salt from his tears tasted bitter on his tongue, and he forced himself to work through the pain in his side and in his bones. He lifted himself up and almost fell back down but forced himself to his feet.

  Corbin and Caym were staring at Ellie, ignoring him.

  Their mistake.

  On shaky legs, Maddox rose and staggered toward his Ellie, his mate. Quietly, he lifted the knife that had been used on him from the table and moved.

  Corbin turned in that moment, surprise on his face.

  The knife slid into Corbin’s heart like butter, the blade smooth, heavy in Maddox’s palm as he twisted.

  Corbin fell to the ground, his black eyes still wide in surprise. Caym turned on his heel and frowned. Without another word, Caym’s arm shot out and slammed into Maddox’s chest. Maddox hit the wall, sliding down to the ground, his chest on fire from his ribs most likely being broken.

  Maddox watched under heavy lids as Caym cupped Corbin’s cheek. It would have been an almost intimate gesture if there had been any emotion whatsoever on the demon’s face.

  Caym whispered something Maddox couldn’t hear, and Corbin screamed. The bastard wolf’s chest shook as Caym slide the knife out, leaving no wound behind.

  Fuck.

  It seemed it wouldn’t be him who killed Corbin today. He only hoped what Corbin had thought was true, and North would be the one to do it and do it soon.

  Caym picked up Corbin and made his way to the door, his process slow, labored. Apparently, the magic he’d used—twice in a row—had taken its toll on the demon.

  Good.

  Caym stopped at the door, having walked over the bodies Ellie had taken care of before.

  “I’ll give you ten minutes because I admire the way you surprised me, Omega. Ten minutes.”

  With that, the demon walked out the door, limping slightly.

  Maddox pulled himself up, ignoring the searing pain and heavy magic pushing him down. He limped to Ellie first.

  Goddess, no.

  She had to be okay.

  He slowly unhooked her from the wall. Corbin had been so sure of himself he hadn’t bothered to lock the chains. After all, considering the curse Caym had thrown at them, what use was a mere lock?

  His wolf howled as Maddox slid to the ground, Ellie in his arms. Her eyes were closed, and she looked completely white. He grit his teeth
as another wave of emotion slammed into him, but not from his Ellie, and he brushed a lock of hair from her face.

  The bullet had pierced her heart.

  Her heart that was no longer beating.

  Their mating bond slowly faded to almost nothing, but unlike the way Adam had lost Anna in that split second of severing, Maddox could still feel his mate, just not her life.

  Another hit of whatever spell Caym had placed on him caused his body to convulse.

  Hell, he was dying too.

  His chest shook as he screamed again, his body convulsing in gut-wrenching sobs. He’d only just found her. He’d only just let himself believe he could be with her.

  And now she was gone.

  “I’m sorry,” a little voice said from the corner, causing Maddox to look up with a growl.

  Charlotte cowered in the corner, her collar now off her neck. The chain must have been pulled off the wall during the fight. Somehow the little girl looked okay, despite all that had happened around him. Yet she hadn’t run away, instead staying with him and Ellie.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” he said honestly.

  Though they’d come to the den to save her, it wasn’t her fault Maddox hadn’t been strong enough to save his mate. It wasn’t her fault that Corbin was a sadistic bastard and had killed his own sister.

  Killed.

  “Can you help her?” she asked, yet there was no hope in her voice.

  He ran his hand through Ellie’s soft hair, willing her to be okay, to come back to him. He looked up at Charlotte and started to shake his head then stopped.

  There was still that bond.

  Why?

  Maybe his and Ellie’s bond was stronger than most.

  He also had all this extra energy and emotion running through him. Emotions were part of life, a life force unto their own. Maybe he could use what Caym had given him and save his mate. Hannah could heal even the worse of wounds, maybe he could use part of her power through the Pack bonds and whatever else he could.

  Goddess he hoped so.

  Caym had given him only ten minutes, and two had already passed. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the bond. It was there, thin and thready, but goddess, it was there.