Running in Fear Escaped

by Trinity Blacio

  “I know, Jaycee. I felt it, too, but not like you. We'll just have to comfort each other. We'll make it through this.” Mark's voice comforted her. He rubbed her arms and grabbed the blanket his sister handed him. Jaycee felt the warm cotton envelop her, but it didn't fight the chill that had invaded her soul.

  Everyone went still. Tremors moved through their bodies as the sound of a woeful cry filled the air. A murderous roar followed the sound of grief. The battle cry shook the windows of the house. Jaycee looked at Mark, and she watched tears form in his eyes.

  “Pierre's older brother has been told. He's out for blood, and nothing will stop him now,” Mark told her, and Jaycee cringed. “He's going to blame me,” she whispered.

  “Don't worry about it. He'll see it's not your fault,” Mark said.

  The living room door flew open. Dane and another male strolled in, followed by two others who were carrying Pierre's body.

  Jaycee pulled out of Mark's grasp. She wrapped the blanket around herself and approached to Pierre's body. They'd laid him down on one of the extra sofas. Jaycee kneeled down by his head and brushed his long hair away from his face. Tears rolled down her face as she stared at him. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “You promised to show me your new toys. I'm so sorry, Pierre. It's entirely my fault. I should have never come back, but I wouldn't change a thing. I love you.” Jaycee held him close to her heart. Tears covered both of them.

  “Jaycee, I want you to meet Pierre's brother, Remi LeBlathe.” Dane pulled her away from Pierre's body and held her close.

  She looked up to an almost mirror image of Pierre. He had blonde hair where Pierre had had brown. Their eyes were the same, but their bodies were different. Remi was huge, twice the size of Dane. Standing at least seven feet tall with a huge chest, her gaze shifted to his hands. Claws, instead, greeted her. Fangs and bright red eyes glared at her. Jaycee tried to step back, but Dane held onto her.

  “You were bonded with my brother and brought this evil here?” He snarled at her, not caring that the others growled at him. Jaycee inhaled and took a deep breath. She boldly met his gaze and took a step towards him. She lowered her head in a show of respect.

  “Yes, I was bonded to him. It's my fault – that they followed me here. I should have never come here; none of this would have happened. I'm sorry. I only knew Pierre for a short time, but I loved him,” Jaycee whispered, and glanced back up at him. He took a small step forward, growling, and sniffed the air around her. She waited, not moving.

  “You tell the truth. I'll find these men again and destroy them. We'll talk then,” he snapped, glancing down at his brother's body one more time. He left the house at a run. A howl pierced the night as he shifted to his beast form.

  Jaycee shook as she turned and placed a blanket over Pierre's body.

  “Your brother loves you very much. I'm sorry, Pierre,” Jaycee said and covered his face, turning to go upstairs.

  “Where are you going?” Dane came up to her on the stairs.

  “I need to lie down, Dane. I'm tired,” Jaycee said, glancing upstairs.

  “Baby, I don't want you upstairs by yourself. Come down here. We can curl up on the couch until this is over. Turk has my men and Remi has his. He'll finish this soon.” Dane pulled her into his arms and carried her over to the sofa.

  Mark picked up the puppy and laid him down by the fire. Dane sat on the sofa, wrapping the blanket tightly around her as she curled up with both of her mates.

  “When will we bury Pierre?” Jaycee asked, her eyes closed.

  “As soon as this is all over. The Council ordered James’ death along with the guards. We can't let word get out about us,” Dane whispered into her ear. A howl rang outside.

  “Shit, they left. We lost them again,” Dane snapped and placed her into Mark's arms.

  “This is never going to end. Maybe I should just leave, and then the pack would be safe.” Jaycee got up and poured herself a glass of wine.

  “You're not going anywhere. This isn't your fault, Jaycee. We have half the problem taken care of. We'll find Curt,” Shelly announced and held her hand.

  “Shelly, can I borrow some clothes? Mine are ruined. Just a pair of old jeans and a tee-shirt would be great.” Jaycee walked to the window. Snow billowed in the air.

  “Sure, let me go get you some. We can go shopping soon as this snow lets up.” Shelly left the room.

  Jaycee first noticed his eyes, the feral red piercing through the white snow. Remi was back, and he was furious. Shelly came up next to her and stared nervously out at the snow, seeing Remi come towards the house.

  “What's wrong? You have nothing to fear from him. He's mad at me,” Jaycee stated and held her hand. They watched him stalk through the storm like an avenging angel.

  “Dane has told me so many stories about him, that he has special powers and that he is very powerful. He's never taken a mate. It is said no woman interest him, because no one can take his size.”

  Jaycee smiled at her friend. “I'm sorry, but that's nothing to be afraid of. If anything, that would excite me more. Pierre was big,” Jaycee said as the front door slammed open. Remi stomped the snow off of his biker boots. Some of his men followed him into the house. They were all huge; wherever they came from, they sure grew them big.

  “Shelly can we go and sit in your room? We can just talk. I just need some quiet time to figure out if I missed anything about Curt,” Jaycee asked.

  Shelly wrapped her arm around her, and they walked towards her room.

  “Where are you two going?” Dane questioned from across the hall.

  “We're just going to my room. It's right around the corner, and it's been checked, so don't worry. Jaycee just wants some girl time,” Shelly said and kept walking. Jaycee heard her mates’ grunts of disapproval, but they didn't try to stop her.

  Jaycee stepped into the room and looked around for a minute before her eyes found the window. “I have a confession: I'm leaving again. I need to take care of something, and maybe if I'm lucky, it will stop this crap.” Focusing on her powers, Jaycee surrounded Shelly in a protective bubble and ran around the room shoving clothes and money into a backpack. She could hear friend struggling to get out. Jaycee stared sadly at her.

  “I'm sorry, but I need to do this. They took Pierre from me. I won't have any of you hurt again. You're my family, and I love you all. It's time to face my demon. This bubble will conceal your sound and everything for the next half hour. Even if someone were to come in here, they couldn't hurt you.” Jaycee threw the window open and shifted into her beast form. With the backpack on her back, she ran. Anger and anguish surged through her as she thought of Pierre. She needed to go east, to the closet city, where she could catch a cab to the nearest airport before her mates found out she'd left.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jaycee glanced around. She had to be about a mile away from the city.

  Jaycee, where the fuck are you? Dane shouted, and Jaycee smiled. She loved his growls; they sent pleasant shivers up her spine. Her nipples peeked, out wanting attention, but now wasn't the time. Her mates were tracking her, but she had a far enough lead that they wouldn't catch her.

  I'm sorry, but you can't help me with this. I won't risk your lives anymore. I'll be back in a few days.

  You'll turn your butt back here now! We have to find another mate for you. Your powers will escalate beyond your control, Dane demanded.

  You expect me to pick another mate, after I just lost Pierre! Are you fucking nuts? I'm not a damn machine, you pretentious ass. Jaycee knew where they were. A boulder sat near them. She focused her powers and picked it up, throwing it at their heads.

  * * * *

  “Duck!” Dane yelled to Mark and Remi as the boulder flew towards them.

  “What the fuck was that?” Remi demanded. He stood up and brushed the snow from his clothes.

  “That is our furious mate, because this numskull here said she needed another mate,” Mark snapped and glared at his bro
ther.

  “Well, she has another one, and it's Remi. You heard what her father said. Her powers will keep growing, and she'll need us to help control them.” Dane took off again running.

  “I want to be able to tell her without all this drama.” Remi glanced at Dane as they ran.

  “Well, I'm afraid right now there is no way around it. You have to mate with her as soon as we corral her,” Dane snarled.

  Jaycee, I mean it. You get your behind back here now!

  Sorry, but no! I'm already in the cab – see ya!

  “Mark, call the boys have them meet us in town. She's already in a cab. God knows where she'll end up.”

  “If I can touch you while you talk to her, I'll be able to track her, no matter where she is.” Remi smiled evilly.

  Jaycee, we have three males waiting to see if they're your mates. You need to get back here now! Dane smiled at Remi. Remi held onto Dane's shoulder, concentrating.

  You stupid, ignorant asshole. What gives you the right to have men lined up for me? We haven't even buried Pierre. What the hell is Remi going to think? He's going to hate me more!

  Dane smiled at Remi.

  “I have her. She's at the airport.” Remi ran for the road, and they waited for their men.

  * * * *

  Jaycee sat on the plane and fumed. How dare he line men up for me. It would serve him right if I didn't to come back at all. She looked out the window. Pierre, I miss you! Jaycee closed her eyes and relaxed. It was a six hour flight to California. She would arrive around eight in the morning. She'd reserved a rental car already. It would be there waiting for her arrival.

  While she slept, she dreamt of Pierre and the last time they had made love.

  The plane landed without any problems, and no one was waiting for her when she got off. The rental car was there, just as they said it would be. Jaycee drove for an hour to her hotel after her stop at the mall.

  She threw her bags and the summer clothes she'd just bought onto the bed. Grabbing a summer dress, she walked into the bathroom. She hopped in the shower and washed off all the grime from the night before.

  The dress fit tightly around her body. She grabbed the knives she'd purchased at the store, concealing them in hidden spots in the dress. Jaycee grabbed the keys to the car and walked out of the hotel room. Locking the door, she gazed around the lot. No one was around. She hopped in the car and drove to her mother's home, the one place she'd always promised herself she would never set foot in again. It was forty-five minutes to her destination. This is for you, Pierre.

  Pulling off the side of the road about a mile away from the house, she slipped out of the car. She would have to go the rest of the way by foot. Jaycee didn't think her mom would bring guards. She'd always thought she was above everyone else, that no one would ever try and attack her.

  Jaycee stalked to the house that they had used as a vacation home when she was young. No guards could be seen as she surveyed the property. Jaycee stumbled as a bombardment of deep, seething rage ran through her senses. The men had returned, and boy were they pissed. She turned around just as Dane grabbed her waist. He pulled her into the bushes, and she glanced around to confirm Remi and Mark's presence.

  “What the hell do you think you're doing?” Dane snapped. Remi reclined against a tree. A piece of grass stuck out of his mouth. His gaze scanned every inch of her body.

  “I'm here to take care of my mother, okay? She always comes up here when things go wrong, and she never brings guards. I've already searched the property, and I haven't seen anyone. I'll finish this part now, Dane. She's hurt me enough.” Jaycee snarled and tried to get out of his grip. He held on and grabbed a handful of hair, forcing her to look at him.

  “Remi's brother Ralph and his men have the house surrounded. They have marked several guards; you just can't see them. We've already taken care of the ones that spotted you,” Dane hissed and kissed her, hard.

  Jaycee wrapped her arms around his neck, and her body pushed up against him. He pulled his head back. When she looked around, she realized what he had done. They had moved away from the house.

  “You jackass!” Jaycee hissed and pulled out of his arms, running towards the house. She could hear Dane behind her. Just when she'd reached an open area, Dane tackled her to the ground.

  “I am going to tan your hide. Didn't I tell you that there were guards all over the place?” he demanded and sat on top of her, pinning her down.

  “I have to deal with my mother. Not you or anyone else. She hurt me and had my mate killed because of her jealousy. I won't stop, Dane. I need to finish this,” Jaycee shouted.

  Remi stomped in her direction, and she shuddered with trepidation. His fury and something else she couldn't place washed over her.

  “What do you mean, she is responsible for Pierre's death?” he demanded.

  “My mother is the one who ordered the deaths of anyone close to me, and she turned me over to Curt for his sick pleasures. That way my mother wouldn't have to deal with him,” Jaycee snapped, and watched Remi get up. He stalked towards the house.

  “I'll take care of her myself,” Remi said.

  Jaycee's fury knew no bounds. She hit Remi with her magic, slammed him up against a tree, and held him there. She pulled her leg up and wrapped it around Dane, flipping him off her, only to have Mark grab her. Her beast broke free, and she forgot to keep Remi pinned.

  He stalked to her and glared. “What the hell did you do to me?” he snarled.

  “She's my mother, and I won't have you hurt. This is my job to take care of!” Jaycee yelled.

  Dane ripped his shirt off and shoved a piece of it into her mouth, shutting her up. With another piece from his shirt, he tied her hands behind her back. He didn't say a word as Mark held her.

  “Tie her to the tree over there. Then we can go in and finish this,” Dane commanded.

  Mark tied her to the tree. He shook his head and followed his brother.

  Jaycee stood there, dumbfounded, and watched them enter the house without her. Curt followed in behind them. His taunting words came back to haunt her.

  “You'll never get rid of me. I've been watching you for years. Every night I would slip into your room and watch you sleep. Well from now on, you will be mine.” His dirty hand twisted her small breast. “Your body likes pain, and I love to give it,” he hissed.

  Jaycee shook her head, pushing the unwanted memories away. Using her claws, she slashed the material that held her to the tree. She grabbed the piece of material out of her mouth and threw it to the ground. It ends today, you pig.

  Sneaking up into the house, she could see Curt aiming his gun at Dane. Jaycee grabbed one of her knives and threw it at him. It hit him with a thud, sinking into his back. He fell to the floor, his gaze full of hatred. Blood seeped out of his mouth as he tried to speak.

  Jaycee ignored him and ran upstairs. She left Dane, Mark and Remi to deal with the other guards. She had taken care of the main threat. Rounding the stairs, she heard her mother yelling at the maid. She didn't have a clue that she was in danger. Jaycee strolled into the bedroom and stared at her mother. Her gut twisted with hate.

  “Hello, mother. I see you're the same old bitch you used to be. Rosie, why don't you take the next week off? She's not going to need a maid anymore,” Jaycee snapped, stepping further into the room.

  “I see my wayward daughter has returned home. You do know Curt is hunting for you, right? He has some new toys to try out on you.” She laughed and glared.

  “I'm afraid Curt is already dead. So he won't be trying to do anything. I think it's time you joined him,” Jaycee sneered.

  “What, do you think you have the nerve to kill me?” An evil laugh followed her question. “You couldn't even kill a spider when you were small.”

  “She won't need to. I will.” Remi strolled into the room with the same piece of grass sticking out of his mouth. “By the way, little one, great job with the knife down there.”

  “Remi, this is my busine
ss. Please. I don't want to have to use my powers against you.” With that warning out of the way, Jaycee jumped her mother.

  Her mother shifted into her beast and racked her claws against her arm.

  She swiped her own claws across her mother's face. Her mother screamed in pain and fell to the ground. Jaycee's snout wrapped around her mother's throat and squeezed. But she was grabbed from behind and picked up. It was Dane.

  Remi stepped up and snapped her mother's neck, killing her mother instantly.

  Dane hoisted Jaycee up over his shoulder, walking out of the room and down the stairs towards the front door. Jaycee didn't say a word. Mark and Remi followed.

  Dane threw her into her rental car passenger side and slammed the door. Remi and Mark hopped in the back; Dane joined her in the front.

  “Where are the keys?” Dane asked, not even bothering to glance at her. Jaycee opened the glove box and handed him the keys. Dane tore out on to the road, going in a different direction then her hotel.

  “I have things at my room I need to get,” Jaycee informed him as she gazed out the window.

  “We'll pick them up tomorrow on our way back to the airport.” He drove into a long driveway surrounded by woods. A huge mansion sat back against the large trees.

  “What is this place?” Jaycee asked, staring in awe and getting out of the car without waiting for Dane.

  “This is my brother's pack home.” Remi walked up to the door, opening it, as Dane pushed her forward. Mark followed next to them. Four males waited in the living room, and Jaycee remembered what Dane had said about finding her a new mate. She stopped dead in her tracks and spun furiously around to confront Dane.

  “If you think I'm going to fuck anyone to find another mate, then you can go fuck yourself, because it's not happening,” Jaycee gritted between her teeth.

  Dane pulled her to him. “You'll do whatever I tell you. I'm tired of you not listening to me. Now shut up and quit being rude,” Dane demanded and pushed her forward. Mark said nothing, his glare icy. She didn't say a word. The men stopped talking as she approached them.