Hearts Unleashed: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by C. D. Gorri

  And we were supposed to be brothers.

  “I’ll be fine. I promise.” She stood on her toes and kissed Bran. Then, with only a tiny hesitation, she did the same to Conan.

  I saw Conan’s eyes widen in surprise. Which made me wonder just how long ago their bond made itself known. He was right there to protect her—that was kind of his thing in general—but her reaching out to him wasn’t something he’d expected.

  Interesting.

  “You’ll know if something is wrong,” Lena said.

  They walked away, although not before giving me the eyeball that said if I did one thing hinky, suspect, or if Lena so much as stubbed her toe, they’d end my life. I kind of thought I was going to have a fight on my hands as it was.

  Not that I’d hurt her.

  I just couldn’t be with her.

  There was too much at stake.

  Lena waited until they disappeared into the great room. “Why do you deny this? You’re only making it harder on all of us.”

  “This isn’t good for my family.” I wouldn’t lie to her.

  “You don’t know that. You don’t know anything. Sharona said this hadn’t happened before, so who knows what it means, really? We have no reference. And don’t bonds happen for the better?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I don’t know anyone who has bonded. My parents may be the closest thing, but it wasn’t the whole instant bond lovey-dovey thing.”

  “They chose it. Is that it?”

  I shrugged again. “Maybe.”

  “I probably know less about mate bonding than you do, but my understanding is that you can’t deny it. I’m sorry, Alec. I can feel that you don’t want this.” She looked away. “I don’t feel the same way. But I respect that you do, even if it hurts.”

  “You can feel that?”

  “Can’t you?” Her head tilted as she gazed up at me.

  “I have a sense of you… but no.”

  Lena inhaled deeply. “I don’t know what to tell you. All I know is that everything I’ve heard doesn’t allow for those bonded to ignore it. You don’t know me, but it’s going to make it hard on me, and maybe your brothers, if you fight this.”

  “Oh, I think I’m already on the outs with my brothers.”

  She smiled then, and the beauty, the sheer, overwhelming beauty of the woman in front of me hit me like a surprise attack in one of the pack competitions. I didn’t expect to find her so gorgeous. Or reasonable. Or… or anything. Hell, I didn’t know what I expected from a mate bond, but Lena Raff wasn’t it.

  She was so much more.

  Shit.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lena

  “I don’t know what to tell you there. You know them better than I do.” I shrugged, not wanting to laugh at his slightly disgusted expression.

  I knew that both Bran and Conan wanted to kick the crap out of him, to put it plainly. He obviously knew it, too.

  “What, the mate bond hasn’t told you everything?” Alec was more relaxed now, leaning against the door of the bedroom, arms crossed.

  Classic cool guy look.

  Classic hot guy look.

  I stifled the urge to sigh with lust. The lust was hard to manage. Thankfully Alec didn’t seem to be able to sense me as I did him. My raging desire for him, for his brothers, for all of them—was something I could keep sort of private.

  At least Alec wasn’t angry anymore. I’d found it off-putting initially, but after he touched my hand, I knew this wasn’t anger. He was worried.

  Much like Conan had been when we’d first met.

  I wondered if he realized it, that he’d relaxed with me.

  That was absolutely a step in the right direction.

  Maybe there was a way for him to break our bond. I felt that from him.

  At the thought, just the thought of breaking the bond, I felt a sharp pain in the vicinity of my heart, and my hand went to my chest.

  “Are you all right?” He leaned forward, and his hands came out toward me until he realized what he was doing and then pulled them back to his side.

  But he looked awkward, uncomfortable.

  “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

  “What did you see?”

  I could feel my face move into a frown because I was frustrated. I’d seen this vision in pieces three times now in less than twenty-four hours. Every time after the first time, I’d gotten a little more.

  But it wasn’t enough. “I don’t know. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever seen, and it’s nothing I’m familiar with.” It was my turn to shrug. “I guess I’ll have to wait and see what else I see.”

  He laughed softly, his gaze on his feet. “All that you can do.”

  “I think you should join us. Even if this doesn’t stay, if this whole thing isn’t permanent, I think we need to work together.”

  He sighed. “This is going to be a complete cluster-fuck. Do you realize that?”

  “No. I don’t. I walked out from my old life last night, and every time I turn around, I see how sheltered I was. It’s like I’ve been in a bubble!” The anger welled up in me.

  Alec gazed at me for a moment without speaking. “There’s a reason they did that. Yuri doesn’t do anything without reason.”

  “I’m learning that.”

  “What does your fiancé—”

  “Former fiancé.”

  “Peace.” He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “What does Zane say about all this?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since I left last night.”

  Alec pushed himself off the door frame. “We need to keep that side of things calm. Sooner or later, he’s going to learn that not only are you hanging around with Blackwoods but that you’re mate bonded.”

  “He’s going to have a big baby boo-boo tantrum.” I started to laugh.

  Alec laughed with me and then took a step toward me.

  I wasn’t expecting it, but I was glad he was willing to come near me. The bond flared up within me at his presence.

  If he decided to try and break this, I would be heartbroken. I knew that without anyone having to tell me.

  He came closer, and his hands gripped my upper arms.

  Then Alec Blackwood, denier of all things mate bond, laid a kiss on me that made my toes curl within my shoes.

  Reader, even my pinky toe tried to curl.

  He let me go, his face solemn. He stared with those deep blue eyes and then strode down the hall.

  I fell against the wall, needing a moment. Maybe a couple of moments, because wow.

  Alec wasn’t as immune as he pretended to be.

  And I wasn’t going to let him go without a fight.

  Not after that.

  He wanted to fight?

  He was going to lose.

  I pushed off the wall and followed him back to the great room.

  When I came back in, Alec was standing next to his father. His gaze, inscrutable, met mine.

  Fine. There was time to deal with him.

  Bran and Conan stood, both coming closer to me.

  “Are you all right?” Conan asked.

  “He didn’t do anything stupid?”

  Well, Alec Blackwood exposed himself to me and gave me a goal, but I wasn’t going to share that. “No. I’m fine.” I looked around. “Where’s Sharona?” I wanted to talk to her. At least, I thought I wanted to talk to her. The truth of what she might tell me was kind of scary.

  However, I’d been kept from the truth for long enough.

  “She needed to leave. She has a lot to do.” Xavier came around and sat down between Caro and Andi again. “Boys, I want you to stay here.”

  All three of the ‘boys’ groaned.

  “Why? No one knows about any of this.” Alec argued. He wouldn’t look at me. “Except Zane, and he knows less than those of us here. He knows you left after catching him, but you’ve always forgiven him before.” His words were like a blow.

  Totally unnecessary, too.


  Jerk.

  “No, not for this. I never knew he was unfaithful.”

  “Whatever. You put up with him in all his Zane Darkbane glory.”

  I guess the moment of kindness in the hallway was over as far as Alec and I were concerned.

  Xavier gazed at me in the same way that I’d sometimes catch Yuri looking at me. Speculative. Thoughtful.

  Like I was a commodity.

  No. That wouldn’t happen again.

  “I can’t see that Zane will be that upset.” I really couldn’t. “I’m not a shifter. I barely have any magic.”

  “That’s not true. There’s a lot within you, all around you.” Conan wasn’t going to let this go. “I told you. I can sense it.”

  “Conan’s right. You have a lot of power. Why didn’t we know about this before?” Xavier still gazed at me thoughtfully.

  “We’ll see.” I didn’t want to pretend I was more than I was. I wasn’t going to answer him about my skills, or lack thereof. “Zane will be able to marry another shifter. Which is always better for the pack, right?”

  “Not necessarily. Sometimes, new blood is needed. Some alphas have married women, or men, who are a different kind of supe—something that they want for their pack, or their bloodline.”

  “That doesn’t always work out well.” Caro was studying her hand, then looked up at Xavier.

  He nodded. “True, but it works as often as it doesn’t. Regardless, we have to deal with the weddings that are going to be different in our family.”

  “You’re not going to break them off?” Bran was outraged. “I’m not marrying Nina. I won’t go through with it. I don’t care if we have to leave. I’m marrying Lena. End of discussion.”

  “Bran.” Andi’s tone stopped his rant.

  “Of course, we’re not going to break them.” It was Alec who spoke. “You know what happens if we do.”

  “Just because you want to deny the truth.” Bran shot at his brother.

  Alec wisely didn’t respond.

  “Don’t pretend you’re not relieved.” Andi gave Alec a piercing look, one that only a mom could get away with.

  Color rushed across Alec’s cheeks. “That’s not the point. I’m worried about what happens next. I don’t put myself above the pack. Being a leader means the pack comes first.” The accusation that was directed toward his brothers was strong.

  “For now, that’s for me to worry about.” Xavier made it clear he would brook no discussion on this matter. “When you need to worry, I will let you know. Stay in the compound. That is an order.”

  I felt the tremble that an alpha’s order, done in the alpha’s voice, sent through the wolves.

  All three of the Blackwood heirs nodded.

  Xavier got up, holding out a hand to his wives. “Ladies? You want to come with me when I talk to Morena?”

  “No.” Andi didn’t hesitate.

  Caro laughed. “Coward still.”

  “She’s going to be unhappy. Everything was moving along so well.” Xavier sighed. Then he glanced at me. “I know you think this is wrong, but it has to be done.”

  I was still trying to catch up. He wasn’t going to break the engagements. He was going to force my mates to marry another. How could he?

  Yeah, I was stuck.

  Xavier must have seen my face. “But she will want to meet you, so brace yourself.”

  “Mom will be fine.” Conan defended the absent Morena.

  “Says the one guy she won’t fight.” Alec made a snorting noise.

  “Just because she kicks your ass to this day,” Conan smirked.

  Their levity lessened some of the tension.

  “Whatever.” Alec looked at his dad.

  “We need to go.” Xavier, still holding hands with both Andi and Caro, left.

  Leaving me alone with my mates.

  Alec looked between his brothers and me. “I’m not going to go along with this. I can’t.” He held my gaze with his own. “It would ruin my family—our pack. I can’t let my feelings, my wishes—” he stopped, and I could feel the longing through our bond. “I have to do what is best for all of us. Not just myself.”

  “That’s not going to help.” Bran gazed at his brother, his arms crossed, his expression hard. “You know this.”

  “I don’t know anything!” Alec yelled. “When was the last time we knew anyone who was bonded?” He looked at Bran and Conan. “We haven’t. It doesn’t happen anymore. We’re the sons of the alphas. We have responsibilities. You both may decide to be selfish assholes, but I’m not going to.” He turned on his heel, walking down the hallway to the room where I’d found him earlier.

  Bran came to me, wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t let him get to you.”

  “This is one heck of a birthday.” The realization hit me. It was also supposed to be my wedding day.

  Which, in a way, it was. I’d bonded three times. Each time, I knew it was right. I knew that these were the men for me.

  But you couldn’t force a mate bond. It sounded like Xavier wasn’t even going to allow it.

  “Happy birthday.” Bran kissed me.

  I fell into his kiss, wanting to make the pain of the last hour go away.

  When I opened my eyes, it was to see Conan staring at me with hunger, desperation.

  And a great deal of sadness.

  I reached for him.

  He didn’t take my hand.

  “What is it?”

  His head dropped. “I want you, Lena. I want to honor our bond. But I can’t.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” As I spoke, I could feel Bran’s anger well up next to me as a feeling of despair formed in the bottom of my belly.

  “No. You need to wake up. If I deny this, it will make things easier. I can’t go against Dad, against Alec, against Mom. I can’t do this to the pack.”

  “What are you saying?” I whispered. “This doesn’t make anything easier for me. Not for you.” I didn’t want to lose Conan, too. Alec’s turning away hurt. I hadn’t had time to process it, but I knew this was a hurt that wouldn’t go away. I didn’t want to add Conan to this barrel of naked pain that I could feel with me, like a shadow.

  Conan came close to me. Slowly, carefully, he kissed the top of my head. “It was never going to happen. But thank you for not taking me being an asshole personally.”

  I tried to open my mouth, to speak, but nothing came out. First Alec, and now Conan? “Please don’t.”

  “I have to, Lena.” He stepped back. “Bran, you need to take her and go. It’s better that one of us…” he broke off, and like Alec, he turned and walked away.

  Down the hallway.

  Away from me.

  Away from the bond. Our mate bond.

  How could they walk away from this?

  It hit me, then. They loved their family as much as they could have loved me. The thought made me want to sob.

  “Hey, hey, don’t cry. It’s going to be us.” Bran leaned down and tilted my chin back, kissing my cheeks where the tears fell.

  “It hurts. It’s actual physical pain.” Their leaving was sinking in. It felt like someone tore a piece of my heart out, and I was left, out in the open, with my chest ripped apart and my heart broken and bleeding.

  “I hate admitting that grouchy bastard is right, but we should leave.”

  “What? Why?”

  Bran took my hand and towed me along. Normally, I would protest because my days of being dragged hither and yon by others were done, but he was mine, and he cared for me, and I was in shock.

  Perhaps being toted hither and yon had its purposes.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re going to my room. We’re packing, and we’re leaving. We’ll leave the piss ant’s bike here, so no one can say we stole it.” This was a different Bran. Focused, steely-eyed, and ruthless.

  I sat on the bed while Bran moved around, tossing things into a bag. He looked up. “We’ll get you what you need when we get where we’re going.”r />
  “Where are we going?” I felt numb, barely holding it together.

  This was why mate bonds had to be honored and worked with. Just knowing that two of my mates were choosing a life other than with me was awful. Twenty-four hours ago, I hadn’t known they’d existed. Now, I was devastated that I didn’t exist to them as far as they were concerned.

  “Baby, I know that this is going to be tough. I can feel your pain, and I feel the loss of them.” He looked at the door of his room as though he could see through to wherever it was his brothers were. “But we can make this work. It’s there, for us. And I am never letting you go.”

  I threw my arms around him. “Please don’t. I don’t know if I could stand it. Bran, this is insane. I’ve never felt like this before.”

  He grinned suddenly. “Neither have I, and I hate that it’s so shitty right now. But I can’t wait to take you away. I will love you forever, Lena Raff.”

  “You can’t say that. We’re bonded, but we don’t lo—”

  “I can say it. I mean it. As soon as I touched your hand last night, I knew. It wasn’t just the bond. It was you. I knew that you were the one I was meant for, the one meant to be with me. If Alec and Conan choose otherwise….” He shrugged. “That’s on them, and they’re dumb as hell for it.”

  I kissed him as more tears fell. “Thank you. Thank you for saying that.”

  “I know you’ve been hurt. I know this hurt you more. But I swear to you, I’ll spend the rest of our lives making sure you have nothing but love.”

  His face was so earnest I had to smile. Not only earnest, but fierce, and determined, and hungry.

  He meant every word.

  His strength made me ashamed. If he could pull it together, so could I. “Thank you. You are amazing.” I kissed him again.

  “Then let’s go. Let’s get out of here.”

  “But your dad told you to stay. Even I felt the alpha tone.”

  Bran shrugged. “I can get around it. All of us can. You have to learn how to do so if you’re the alpha’s kid.” He picked up his bag and held out his hand. “Come with me.”

  Even now, he was giving me a choice.

  “I go where you go.”

  He kissed my hand, held it tightly in his.

  Together, we walked back into the main living area and out the front door. Bran led me to a garage on the side of the house.