Save Me

by Imani L Hawkins

  I led her out of the house and toward the desert area surrounding the property. The place was full of dirt and desert shrubbery, cactuses, and stickers but it was the best I could do. The sun bore down on us and I immediately missed the home we’d left behind. Before the pack was forced to relocate, we had a comfortable home in a clearing surrounded by trees, water, and wildlife, the perfect place for a wolf to roam. Being stuck in the desert wasn’t exactly idea but it was the best we could do with what little money we had left. And the place was far enough away from civilization we could roam in peace.

  A cool breeze brushed past us and the scent of lavender reached my nose. Usually I’d find the scent putrid but there was a sweetness to it that made my wolf whimper within me. He was intrigued, just as I was, and I found myself growing more comfortable around her as we walked.

  “So, you looked into my background,” she said, coming to a halt just past a rather large cactus.

  I turned to face her, expecting her to be angry but instead, she seemed okay with it.

  “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy, but we have a pack we need to take care of. We needed to be sure you didn’t pose a danger…”

  “I get it,” she said, holding up a hand. “I guess with that type of responsibility, one can never be too careful.”

  She was right about that. Since taking over the pack, my brothers and I have made our fair share of mistakes which had cost us dearly, including our past run in with the Martinellis, her family. I grimaced at the thought of the destruction her family had caused. There I was, chatting it up with a member of a family that had taken the lives of multiple members of our pack but I couldn’t fault her for any of it. She hadn’t even been born yet. Still, I wondered if we’d made a mistake bringing her hear. If anyone found out where she was, and who she was with, that could mean devastating things for our pack.

  “I didn’t kill my mother or my grandfather.” She crossed her arms over her chest and lowered her gaze.

  “Storm told me.”

  “Do you believe him?” she asked, and I could tell it meant a lot to her for me to believe her.

  Truth was, I did believe her, if for no other reason but my wolf’s reaction to her. He seemed comfortable around her. More than that, he seemed to revel in her presence, as if she was his greatest accomplishment and that terrified me to no end. I knew wolves often chose our mates for us but she’d already been chosen by my brother’s wolf which made it all the more strange. Never before had multiple wolves chosen the same person.

  I shook those thoughts from my mind and gave her a nod.

  She smiled but I could tell she wasn’t completely satisfied with my response, though she didn’t say anything about it. Instead, she turned away from me and looked out toward the sky.

  “This is the last place I’d think a wolf would be happy.”

  “Hopefully this is only temporary,” I responded automatically, bring voice to something I hadn’t even discussed with my brothers.

  I’d been looking for something a lot more comfortable for us, a place much like the place we’d left behind and I’d stumbled upon a piece of land nearby in the mountains called Cloudcroft. It was the perfect place to roam and hunt, surrounded by trees and life.

  She smiled and I couldn’t help but notice how good that expression looked on her, especially when that smile was genuine.

  “Hopefully,” she agreed with a nod before spinning on her heel and heading deeper into the desert.

  Chapter Nine

  Joslyn

  It was around 5pm when Ash and I returned from our walk and I couldn’t help but feel as if we had grown a lot closer than I’d expected. Ash was different than anyone I’d ever been around, and though I’d normal steer clear of the ‘nice guy,’ I found myself drawn to him in a way I’d never thought possible. He was easy to talk to, easy to open up to and be myself around and gave no judgements about my past, and I had to admit, it was refreshing.

  He took my hand in his and ran his finger over my skin. The action warmed me so much I stopped dead in my tracks, wondering how such a simple gesture could affect me like that. Where Storm was all fire, Ash was cool and calm, a contrast I hadn’t known I needed until now when he looked at me with those rich blue eyes beneath his mop of jet black curls.

  I thought about Storm for a moment, and the chemistry I shared with him. Everything about him was intense and exciting. He matched my crazy with his passion for life and his attraction to dangerous situations. He was the kind of person I should steer clear from, but, no matter how hard I’d tried, I couldn’t seem to get enough of him. He had a way of making me feel alive at a time when I’d thought nothing else mattered but vengeance and I was grateful for it.

  Ash gave my hand a gentle squeeze, pulling me from my thoughts of Storm and I bit my lip as guilt stabbed at my chest. I shouldn’t want them both. I knew that, even as I stood there with Ash, wishing he’d take me into his arms and kiss me like he did on our walk. I could still feel his lips hot against mine and the thought made me tremble with need. I could tell he sensed my arousal when his gaze darkened and his muscles tensed.

  “Jos,” he warned, as I pressed my other hand to his cheek. He leaned his head into that touch, letting out a small groan as his fingers curled around my hand even tighter.

  I looked up at him, taking in everything about him. He was radiant and handsome, with a boyish charm I used to find abhorrent in men but with Ash, I loved it. I loved how gentle natured he was in comparison to the others and the way he filled a space within me I never knew was empty. Where Storm was darkness, Ash was light and…fuck. It should have been impossible to fall for two men at the same time, especially when they were brothers, but I couldn’t help the way I felt. For a brief moment, I wondered if the fact they were wolves had something to do with it. I’d heard before they chose their mates based on some sort of magical connection that bonded two people together, but I couldn’t imagine that was it. Not when I felt just as strongly for them as they seemed to feel for me. Still, it made little sense to me why I’d be drawn to them both, and why I was willing to give myself to both of them so completely.

  Looking into Ash’s eyes, I could convince myself that there was nothing wrong with wanting him as well, but deep down, I knew that would be a lie. It would hurt Storm, and after everything he’d done for me, he didn’t deserve that. I let out a huff of air and took a half step away from Ash.

  “I love Storm,” I said, and I could see the hurt in his eyes as I said those words. But I had to be honest. I had to make a choice. In that moment, I knew what that choice had to be.

  I relaxed my grip on his hand, ready for him to let me go, but he didn’t. Instead, he pulled me toward him until my body was pressed up against his. She snaked an arm around me waist, pulling my closer as he lowered her head toward mine so close I could feel his warm breath glance across my lips.

  “I’m sorry,” he said in a whisper.

  Before I could respond, his body tensed and within moments he turned toward the house.

  I parted my lips to say something, but before I could, he raced toward the house. I tried to keep up with him, wondering what could have caused such a change but he was too fast. He was at the front door in moments, leaning over what I could only describe as a bundle of clothes or blankets? I wasn’t sure. But whatever it was had a look of terror flitting across his face. It wasn’t until I’d gotten closer that I begin to make out the shape of a body, sprawled across the porch in a pool of blood.

  Fear gripped me as I stalked toward the body, noticing a piece of paper pinned to the corpse. I saw Ash pick up a piece of paper that was attached to the body and read through it. I asked him what the note said. He hesitated, not wanting to read it aloud, but I asked again with urgency in my voice and with a force I knew he just couldn’t resist.

  He finally read the letter to me. The letter was from Jackie, my father’s new wife and enforcer. I’d known about his affair with her and was surprised she wasn’t t
he first person he’d sent after me

  “If you want to see your brother alive again, you’ll meet me in the large field just past Boles Acres and make sure you don’t bring any of those pesky mutts with you.”

  Fear gripped me and I could feel my palms growing sweaty. If he sent her, he was desperate, meaning he’d go after my brother as well if I didn’t go along with whatever scheme they’d cooked up., I knew what I had to do if I wanted my brother to live. More than that, they knew who I was with. They knew I was with wolves and that thought terrified me more than anything else. It hadn’t taken them long at all to piece it all together, which meant if I didn’t show, the wolves’ lives would be in danger as well.

  I glanced down at the keys dangling from Ash’s hip and I knew he’d figured out my train of thought when he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t let you go out there alone,” he said, shaking his head.

  “You’re right,” I responded, trying to hide the deception in my voice. “She’ll kill me the moment I step foot in that place. But I can’t not go.”

  Ash considered my words for a moment before letting out a string of curse words. Once he was done, he let out a huff of air and ran his fingers through his hair. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”

  He took a few steps toward the vehicle parked just a few feet from me and I followed him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. My hand came up to the knife I always wore, tucked into the waistband of my jeans as I quickened my pace to catch up to him. Once I reached him, I placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him, knowing he’d turn around to face me, and knowing he wouldn’t realize what I’d planned to do before it was too late. I buried the blade in his belly and watched his gasp in horror as the reality of what I’d just done hit him. I knew he’d heal from the wound, but I knew the cut had to be deep enough to keep him from coming after me before I’d had a chance to make it to Jackie. My brother’s life depended on it. More than that, the pack depended on it.

  I grabbed for his keys, yanking them from his belt as he slumped to the ground.

  “Don’t do this…” he pleaded, but it was already done.

  Chapter Ten

  Joslyn

  I finally arrived at the place after what felt like hours, parked my car by the side of the road and recited the plans I had come up with. Looking around, I saw the place was deserted and wondered if I was at the wrong place. I couldn’t afford to drive around again. I had already lost enough time and was at the brink of having a mental breakdown. With a bit of muttered prayers, I crossed to the other side of the road and headed towards the sign post I saw earlier; it read ‘Boles Acres’ and behind it was a path. Looking around for any sign of human presence, I decided to follow the path which hopefully would lead me to Jackie. With every step I took towards the field, it felt like my heart took 10, it was beating so fast that I thought I would have a heart attack. That was when I felt the softness of the ground beneath me and looked down only to realize that I had been walking on sand. I slowed my pace becoming more conscious of where I was, I became like a cat ready to pounce on my prey – a mouse. I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself at the moment – especially if I was on the right path.

  Determination slid through me as I kept walking – it was after I had walked for some minutes that I realized the sandy terrain was slowing my pace and I had spent twice the amount of time that I would normally spend for the distance I just covered. I had been walking for what seemed like ages but, it seemed like I was getting nowhere. I decided to check my surroundings properly and realized I was in a desert-like area. There was nothing green here; it was full of soft sand. I saw some shrubs and cactuses like those at the wolves’ place. I was about to give up and turn back when I heard the voice of the witch loud and clear – it felt like it was vibrating all over me. She was here, that cunning little bitch. I cussed under my breath. I couldn’t see her since it was getting dark but I knew she was around.

  “I almost thought you weren’t coming,” she said, stepping from the shadows of a cactus.

  “How could I resist such a warm invitation?” I asked drily.

  “Oh that temper! Feisty. I love it. Reminds me of your mom.”

  I’d always called her a witch and she definitely looked the part dressed in all black – a leather jacket over a leather pant and a pair of combat boots.

  I smiled mentally before responding. “Bringing up my mother won’t help you here.”

  Jackie smiled and started walking in circles around me.

  “You haven’t changed much. Still the piece of shit brat with an attitude. I thought you would have grown out of that by now! Besides, we have a lot to discuss.”

  “Like what?” I responded.

  “Oh, nothing extremely important,” she began. “Besides the fact you’ve cost us a great deal of talent. Do you know how hard it is to find good talent these days? How many bodies have you buried so far? Six? Seven?” She gave a theatrical yawn. “I’ve lost count! I was almost tempted to convince your father to take you back into the fold, seeing your skills far outmatched my students’. “

  Anger welled inside me but I didn’t say anything. Instead, I let her ramble on as I tried to come up with a plan of attack. She wasn’t alone, no matter what it appeared. She wouldn’t risk not being able to walk out of here alive.

  Problem is, you are just like your mother. She never did know her place and when it was best for her to do as she was told. It’s a shame really. Such a waste.”

  That statement hit me – it felt like thunder struck me. I narrowed my eyes, the hair on my back standing straight as I thought about her words. I felt something stir within me. The fact she felt comfortable speaking about my mother was bad enough, especially after what her and my father put my mother through but there was something more there. Something sinister in the way she spoke.

  “You’re treading on thin ice speaking about my mother,” I warned.

  “With your sharp tongue the least I expect from you is to be smart. Your sharp tongue can’t get you anywhere, your mother was like that, where did it take her to?” Before I could respond, she said “The grave.”

  “What do you know about her death” I asked calmly trying not to lose myself.

  “Is it not obvious you fool? I KILLED HER!” she screamed and moved several meters away from me. Fire shot up within me, it was like my whole body was on fire and for a moment all I could see was red. Anger blurred my vision as her words kept resounding in my ears. I screamed from within. I was shocked at the level of anger that I had bottled up within me and for a brief moment I saw fear in her eyes – but as quickly as it came – it disappeared. She was confident, knowing that she was a safe distance away from me and that was the only thing that prevented me from pouncing on her.

  “Why?” I questioned, but I already knew the answer. For greed. It was as simple as that. Everything I’d been through for nothing more than petty greed.

  She took a step back. “I killed that excuse of a person you called your mother.” I kept quiet as I waited for her to go on. “She was in my way. Why do you think your dad married shortly after your mother died? He loved me and not that whore you called a mother. And your grandfather? He was just a bonus. After the years he’d spent treating me like I was his lapdog.

  This time, the force of her words hit me and I fell backward into the sand, my head was spinning with the load of information I had just received and I just wanted the world to end. My grandfather was the second pillar I had in life, he was more of a father than my own father was. Tears rolled down my eyes freely and the will to fight left me. Jackie seemed to be enjoying the show – she loved the effect her confession had on me, then she continued – “I don’t know what your father ever saw in your mother that made him get married to her when he could have been with me all these years.” She started walking towards me with caution, “You see, too much information is dangerous. Your mother and grandfather knew too much, and they thought they could kill your father to have peace
– but they messed with the wrong person. Killing them was one of the easiest jobs I had ever done.” She said proudly.

  “I watched your mother begging me not to kill her, pleading for her life. She even said she would do anything including leaving the country.”

  And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I walked towards her. “And you plan to do the same to my brother?”

  “That depends on his actions. As long as he remains compliant, he’ll live,” she smirked and that was it.

  Without thinking, I launched forward to attack her when I saw two large figures – the twins – appear from nowhere - which made me stand still while Jackie started encircling me.

  She smiled, “Did you really think I would come here alone, without anyone to protect me from all the crazy thoughts that run through your head? I might be –” she paused as though thinking of what to say, “I am the last killer of my kind and powerful though. But Josyln dear,” she said before she held my chin tightly “Say goodbye to the world.” She then turned to the men behind her and said, “Rip her apart then bring her pieces to me” all with a smug look on her face.

  Chapter Eleven

  Joslyn

  For the longest time, I didn’t know what was happening around me. All I could recollect was Jackie giving the men a command and now they were running towards me with blazing eyes like people who had just been injected with an overdose of marijuana mixed with cocaine - mouths wide opened and screams sounding like a deflating balloon. I knew somewhere in my head that they were coming for me but for some reason, I could not bring myself to move and in a split second they were in front of me. One of them hit me with a force that would render anyone unconscious. I saw myself floating in the sky for about 5 seconds and wondered how high I must have been in the air. My thoughts were shattered when I landed back on earth with a loud thud, the world seemed to be upside down as I tried to stand. Just before I could, I saw a fist coming towards my face. I rolled in time so the fist missed by a few inches. I heard the sound of his fist as it hit the ground - and then I picked up a handful of sand and threw it at the face of my attacker, hoping that it would destabilize him. It was when I heard a growl that I remembered that I had two attackers. I tried to spot their differences - while one was more aggressive and impulsive, the other was more calculating, he almost never misses. Considering what just happened, I think I am about to face the calculative one. I braced myself up and made an attempt to pick up another handful of sand to throw in Tweedledum’s face but he had already anticipated my move and picked me up swiftly before I could gather the sand. He flung me like I was a flimsy doll with a force that could bring down a wooden door. Pain seared through my body as I had landed like a log of wood but nothing was broken yet. I tried to fight back but I realized I had no chance and worst of all - no weapon. I thought about the knife I always carried with me, it could be useful, at least to make a cut on one of their identical faces. I reached for it but it wasn’t there. Then I remembered how I had used my weapon, the only thing that could protect me from these men, to stab the one man that had done nothing but protect me. My mind had started to picture a million and one things that could happen to me but the roar of the men brought me back to reality. Surprised by the amount of strength I could muster; I got up to my feet and started running. I knew I was fast but I had no idea how fast these men were and I was not sure how long I could keep up with the chase. I couldn’t even remember the last time I ran but I kept running. I needed time to the think. These men came prepared, knowing full well what I was capable of and were fighting a lot harder than they had before. That was the disadvantage of being in a previous fight with someone. They had time to study you, to learn your moves. I was pulled out of my thoughts by the increased loudness of the roars. I picked the pace up and decided to invest my thoughts into something more productive, a plan to save myself.