Emily's Story (23 page)

“I know, I just wanted to say hi,” he replied in a low sexy voice.

She quickly gave him another soft kiss and headed to the house. Approaching Amy’s room, she could hear giggles and laughter coming from inside. She knocked on the door.

“Come in Emily.” Amy said in a voice filled with happiness.

The twins were on the bed naked in their human forms. The day before, Amy explained it was impossible to keep clothing on beastkind children until their third year when the word “appropriate” sunk in. She said it usually took the entire year for them to understand the true meaning.

The soon to be bride looked up from her game of patty-cake, “Zenya will be here to get them in a moment. They will have a quiet dinner in their room and then it’s off to bed.”

Roman stood on wobbly legs and suddenly launched himself at Emily. In midflight he changed to his wolf form. She was surprised but managed to catch the little hellion.

Sierra tried to do the same but Amy held her back. “No you don’t, she only has two arms, and you would land on the floor.”

The angry baby she-wolf began to wail and with perfect timing, Zenya entered. Gathering the twins into her arms, she quickly removed them from the room.

Mandy arrived and the women helped one another with their hair. Emily followed Amy’s directions closely. The first dress out of the closet was for Emily. It was a beautiful shimmery gown in royal blue.

“Brandt sent me your measurements and I had it made for you. I asked Zenya to be my maid of honor but she told me she couldn’t handle it yet. I’m hoping you will stand with me for the ceremony.”

Emily’s huge smile was her answer. The next dress was a lighter shade of blue and fit Mandy perfectly.

It was then time to get Amy into her dress. Yards and yards of white silk, the back, cut low had thin strips of material to hold it together, it was exquisite. The front became sheer lace a micrometer above her nipples.

“I chose this for Marcus. It will drive him crazy tonight and I plan on partying for hours. I’ll only get married once.”

A knock at the bedroom door interrupted the women. Emily opened it slightly and saw an unfamiliar man standing on the other side in a dark tuxedo similar to the one Brandt was wearing. From his scent she knew he was a wolf and the smell was somehow familiar. Before she could ask questions, a female hand wrenched the door completely open from behind her and Amy threw herself into the wolf’s arms.

“Oh my god Ivan, you’re here. I didn’t think you would come.”

Ivan held the vampire gently rubbing her back.

She finally eased away and looked up into haunted alpha eyes. “Have you seen the babies?”

“No, I’ll do that tomorrow and then I’ll be gone. I’m sorry but I’m only here to give away the bride. My scallywag son may be alpha but it’s my right.”

Amy fought tears and then hugged him tighter.

His sad eyes looked over Amy’s shoulder and gazed at Emily. He may have passed the reins to his son but this man would always be an alpha.

Brandt walked up behind the bride.

“It’s time; I thought I would walk my mate and her sister down the stairs.”

Emily and Mandy smiled with gratitude. Ivan and Amy stepped aside and Brandt took Emily’s hand and brought it to his lips, “You are exquisite,” came his whispered words.

A gentle shove against his shoulder from Amy made him laugh.

“You are supposed to compliment the bride.”

He took her hand and gallantly pulled it to his lips. “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”

A sigh from Mandy and he looked her way. “You are too beautiful for your own good, and I won’t let you out of my sight.”

Everyone laughed and they made their way downstairs for the wedding. It was a joyous night with love and laughter ringing throughout the house. Thankfully the fights the night before took the edge off the wolves and everyone was on their best behavior.

The only mishap was when Ivan requested to sleep in the babies’ room. Zenya quietly disappeared. Her terrified scent left a trail behind her but Ivan showed no awareness. They all hoped he would change his mind about leaving but the next morning he was gone.

With the celebration over, the line of vehicles began to clear out one after the other. Columbus was there to see everyone off, while Marcus and Amy slept through the day. At the small airstrip, Brandt and Nicolas said their farewells and their packs separated into two jets.

Emily, Mandy, and Caleb slept the entire flight home. Emily hadn’t seen much of Caleb after their arrival and she hoped he had stayed out of trouble. Her thoughts faded and sleep took over.

Strong arms lifted her drowsy body from the seat and carried her from the plane.

She and Brandt were the first to disembark. He took several steps down the stairs but suddenly turned his back, his arms loosening and then he tried to throw Emily back into the plane.

All hell broke loose and loud popping noises came from every direction.

Emily could feel the impact to Brandt’s body as bullets pummeled his back.

Samson appeared at the plane’s door and reached for her and Brandt.

Suddenly she felt herself falling when someone below the stairs pulled her feet out from under her. She landed hard on the tarmac and saw Samson grab Brandt and lift him into the plane.

Maggie managed to get past Samson and jump off the stairs. She landed a few yards from Emily but couldn’t stop the first dart that entered Brandt’s mate. A gun, with true bullets not darts, changed its site when the furious female alpha refused to go down.

Maggie didn’t think. She launched herself high and landed on Emily, her stunned eyes, showed pain and then slowly faded to nothingness while bullets continued to strike her body.

Emily fought the effects but the drugs went to work on her nervous system. She was unable to do anything but watch when they heaved Maggie’s body off her. The incredibly brave she-wolf was dead and Emily didn’t know if her mate was alive. Her screams were deafening and she went wild trying to rise. Something hard landed against the back of her skull and her world went black.

***

The room was dark. She couldn’t help the groan that escaped her lips and her eyes struggled to adjust. Thoughts of the attack at the airport filled her mind; Maggie’s lifeless eyes and her last glimpse of Brandt when Sampson dragged his unresisting body into the plane.

Brandt couldn’t be dead, she would feel it. Slowly she began taking inventory of her body and realized thick chains held her restrained. She panicked as the nightmare became real and the memories of her basement prison filled her mind. She wasn’t aware she was screaming until the light flashed on.

The door flew open and two men entered. Emily didn’t know who they were but by their scent knew they were cats.

One of the men walked immediately over to her.

The blow to her stomach caused intense pain and the air left her lungs.

“Shut the fuck up bitch,” said the angry voice of the man who hit her.

The other man checked the chains holding her to a metal bedframe. Emily could feel some kind of straps beneath her and knew she wasn’t on a mattress. After much needed air entered her lungs, her eyes met those of her attacker. Her fear was gone and only cold rage remained.

“My mate will kill you.” She put every ounce of loathing she had into the words.

“No, your mate will see you die,” said the man obviously in charge. He walked to the door and called into the next room, “Fredock, bring the camera.”

Emily had no idea what was going on but if Brandt was able to see her die, he must be alive. Her joy was short lived.

The man named Fredock came into the room with a handheld video camera, “It’s recording my alpha.” He then pointed it at her.

Emily had no idea what they intended. The first blow hit her jaw and blood sprayed the wall. The second strike found her breast but no screams left her throat. She would not give them additional satisfaction and though she couldn’t get away she did what Brandt commanded weeks before and let her wolf take over.

Time stood still and pain coursed through her body. Blood now slid down the walls. One eye, only able to see a small sliver of the room, watched the gun barrel lift and move toward her.

“I love you Brandt.” She knew she hadn’t said the words out loud but that was all that passed through her mind when the first bullet struck her chest. It didn’t hurt until the second shot sounded. Slowly, her world went black and the pain faded at last.

***

Black agony, helplessness, and rage consumed her. Her blood; sticky, tangy, and dripping from her body onto the floor caused her mind to float. She knew she was dying, should already be dead. Tears squeezed out between her eyelids though they were swollen completely shut. Brandt would see the video. It would kill him slowly. Her world faded.

“Emily!”

It was Brandt’s voice yelling in her mind. She knew she was dreaming and a smile formed on her swollen split lips but the darkness continued to close in.

“Emily damn you, don’t stop fighting! God damn it don’t.” With those words, Emily revived enough to hear noises coming from outside the door. The solid wood disintegrated but Emily heard nothing more.

The next time she woke, a soft mattress pressed into her back, and when she tried to lift her head, arms instead of chains held her down. Red burning agony allowed her to take only shallow breaths. Pain traveled her body.

“Shhhh my love, breathe slowly.”

She felt Brandt kiss the inside of her hand. One of her eyes wouldn’t open at all but with the other she made out a large shadow over Brandt’s shoulder and terror made her draw in a sharp agonizing breath.

Brandt stepped back and Dmitri was there. His teeth sank into her arm before she had time to register that Brandt was safe. Darkness descended once more.

Chapter 26

Emily felt someone squeeze her hand and jumbled gibberish changed to voices that formed sentences in her brain. Struggling past the fuzz in her mind, she opened her eyes. Brandt, Mandy, and Caleb surrounded her bed. Her mate held her hand but Mandy’s head gently came down to rest on Emily’s shoulder and her tears quickly soaked the light sheet covering Emily’s body.

“It’s okay,” she slurred past her dry and cracked lips. Her vision and comprehension slowly increased and she saw her brother take Mandy by the shoulders gently pulling her away. He gave Emily’s hand a squeeze and walked his crying sister from the room.

The intense pain was now a memory and she could breathe normally with only a slight twinge.

Brandt lowered his head to her shoulder and inhaled deeply. She could feel a tremor run through his body. Her arm finally cooperated and she was able to rest her hand on his back.

His low and husky voice clogged with unshed tears murmured. “I love you so much. I was afraid you left me.”

Emily couldn’t hold back tears. She thought she had lost him too.

His kisses began on her neck and cheek then moved to her forehead and hair. He finally lifted his head, brought her fingers to his lips, and kissed each one slowly, never taking his gaze from hers.

Emily smiled through her tears.

Brandt divested himself of his clothing, climbed into bed, and gathered her body close to his.

She dreaded asking but needed to know. “Tell me what happened.”

Brandt took a deep steadying breath. “We were attacked. Two vampires accompanied by more than fifty cats attacked the chateau and we believe approximately a dozen cats hit the plane simultaneously. It was well organized and meant to wipe us out.”

“Maggie’s dead.” It wasn’t a question though she had to know the worst. “Was anyone else killed?”

“We lost ten in all. My dad was severely injured, but will be okay. Two vampires tried unsuccessfully to stop Cheri and did keep her from getting to the plane when I sent a distress call.”

“Why did they take me then attempt to kill me so quickly?”

“I think their original intention was to take you alive and kill me. When their attempt on me failed, they knew our mate link would lead us straight to them once you woke and they had to act fast. I lost consciousness when Samson pulled me into the plane. I could kill him for leaving you behind. I may kill him still.”

“You know he saved you and Maggie did her job too.” Tears slowly made their way down her cheeks. She looked around the room and recognized the décor and scent. It was the same hotel they stayed at when they came to the city to shop. “Why did Dmitri help?”

“Cheri is at the chateau with my father and other injured wolves but primarily she’s there if we’re attacked again. The cats transported you to the city. Dmitri is our friend. He and his bears took up residence on this floor for your protection. I think even Dmitri is a little spooked and it’s safer if we keep our allies close. I’m sorry but I have more to tell you.”

By his tone, Emily knew she didn’t want to hear and closed her eyes to avoid his look of heart wrenching devastation.

Brandt’s hand squeezed hers tightly and he took a deep breath. “Nicolas’ pack is gone. They’re all dead, even Franklin the clan leader.”

Emily’s tears fell harder and tremors laced her words, “Nicolas?”

“We haven’t located his body but we have little hope that he’s alive. We think they did to him what they did to you. We can’t spare people to look for him right now but soon.”

“What about Marcus and Amy,” her heart stopped, “and the babies?”

“They weren’t attacked. We think the cats didn’t want to risk attacking a clan with two vampires although we know they were next. They thought they had a better chance of success by hitting Cheri and Franklin’s clans first. They were right. They had two vamps on the team that hit Franklin and they managed to kill him quickly. Once he was gone, the vampires and cats killed everyone. They attacked Nicolas’ airplane simultaneously like ours. The cat pride had four vampires total. Cheri killed one and more than twenty cats died.”

“How could they do this?”

Brandt’s teeth clenched and his jaw tightened. “We have no doubt there are traitors supplying them with information. We were all at the ranch for the wedding and we think Zenya gave them our flight schedules.”