Untamable (22 page)

“Scenting her will not answer your questions. Only I will.” Dane smirked at her from behind his large desk. His body relaxed, mocking her.

“Then answer them. If you’re as smart as you think you are, what are my questions?”

Dane’s lips quirked into a knowing smile. “You are your mother’s daughter. But I warn you against following her path. It took years and lots of her screaming in pain to break her. You should ask her if that pain was worth it.” He flipped his hand toward the woman seated behind her.

Sidda’s spun around, their eyes met. The woman stared at Sidda, and remorse and regret flashed in her eyes. Sidda sucked in a breath of air, trying to stop any signs of emotion . Dane would use her emotion against her, and she would not allow him to harm anyone else.

“Ask her,” Dane goaded.

Sidda shook her head, still staring at her mother. “I don’t have to. You haven’t broken her. If you had, she wouldn’t be here. You’d have lost interest. Showing your dominance over a submissive female is not what gets you off.” Sidda’s mother’s eyes flared wide before a smile tipped her lips.

Beside her, the other female threw her head back and laughed. She met Sidda’s gaze and smiled Jasper’s heart-stopping smile.

“Oh, Dane, I believe this one will do it. Yes, she is the one.”

“Shut up. All of you shut up.” Dane slammed his fists down on the desk, gaining her attention once again.

“What will I do?” Sidda raised an eyebrow at him.

“That one has held onto a dream of freedom. She is delusional, and I should have killed her years ago. Maybe it is time.”

“Father?” Two boys ,strode into the room. Their faces trained on the women sitting behind Sidda.

“Oh yes, my sons. Siddalee, meet your siblings. They are the only reason I have yet to get rid of those bitches.”

One young boy met Sidda’s eyes. His small frame gave him the appearance of just a child of no more than ten or eleven, but his eyes held maturity. They bore into hers, and the black that colored them when he’d looked at Dane swirled to a midnight blue, a color that warmed her soul. His auburn hair curled around his ears, just short enough not to be messy.

He tilted his head before smiling widely at her. She returned his smile. “Sister?” His high-pitched, pre-puberty voice cracked.

Sidda sucked in a breath of air to settle her unease. Looking at the smiling boy, she knew without a doubt she would protect him, because he was her brother. “Apparently. I’m Sidda Brighton.”

Dane gritted his teeth. “Siddalee Velham is your name. You are my daughter and will carry my name to the world.”

Sidda’s head snapped in Velham’s direction. She’d choke using that as her last name. No way in hell did she want the world to know she had been born from such a bastard.

“I’m Zeke Velham.” The young boy’s voice caught her attention and stopped her from arguing with Velham about it.

“
Ezekeiel
Velham,” Velham said.

Zeke continued, “This is our mother and our brother, Russ.”

Dane huffed out a breath. “Demetrius. When will the two of you—”

“It’s nice to meet you, Zeke, Russ.” Sidda winked at them. She could call her brothers whatever she wanted. Her heart soared. She had brothers, and beautiful, strong wolves they were.

Her eyes flicked to her mother then to Jasper’s. “Strength and Reason?” Sidda had learned lots of trivial junk over the years trying to keep her mind from missing Jasper. Both women had named their sons well.

“Yes, and when I gave birth to you I named you Mossette, for savior.” Sidda’s mom’s eyes brightened.

Why did they all think she was some kind of miracle? She shook her head. “I go by Sidda, so please call me that.” She flicked her gaze toward the tall, thick-chested young man standing behind Jasper’s mother. The black-haired, green-eyed miniature of Jasper dipped his head slightly, his eyes swirling to the green she loved so much. The teenager smiled brightly.

“I’ve dreamed of you, sister. I see my brother has fulfilled one dream already.” His eyes strayed to her mark before his gaze fell to the woman seated in front of him. “My mother Delilah, your mate’s mother.” The tall thick boy squeezed his mother’s shoulders.

“My eldest son chose well.” She inclined her head, bringing tears to Sidda’s eyes.

Dane snorted. “Our first order of business. The bond must be broken between you and Jasper. You were promised to Stephan as a child before you were lost. Now that you are back, you’re his mate. I will not have another Gandillion whore in my home. You’re not with pup, so the bond can be broken.”

“Fuck you.” Damn. Sidda regretted the outburst instantly when Dane narrowed his steely black eyes on her.

“You defy me already?” Dane rose.

“Yes, I won’t break our bond.”

“You will, or I will force you.” He towered over Sidda. She glared up at him. “Do you challenge me already, daughter?” He leaned in close, his mossy scent filling her nose. “You’re strong, and I doubt physical pain would break you, however, there are other ways to inflict pain on you.” His gaze traveled to the four people behind her. His lips curved into a hateful smile. “I see four ways here in this room, not to mention the pathetic human who raised you. I’m sure she could fill this house with her screams before I killed her.”

Sidda jumped up from her chair, no longer able to contain her rage. She’d simmered until the boil of fury had taken over. He would not touch either of her mothers, nor would he touch her brothers. “You pathetic coward. You’d use innocent women and children to force me to mate with Stephan? Why? Why not just kill me now like you tried so many years ago? You know I won’t fall in line.”

Dane laughed. “Oh, but you will. Your beautiful soothing face is what all the Luna Nation will see and trust. And beside you will stand Stephan, the one wolf I’ve cultivated to cause fear in all others. The two of you beside me will gain me all the power I need.”

Sidda narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to argue.

“Sir.” A lean blond man walked into the office. “A stranger has broken down the gate. He’s outside demanding you release his mate. With him are a female wolf and a human male. They are nearly through the guards.”

Jasper. Sidda’s heart sang as she bolted from the room. Behind her Velham cussed, and Stephan called after her while she ran as fast as she could to the door with her brothers on her heels.

She snatched the heavy wooden door open. On the lawn, Cole wrestled one short wolf to the ground. Fists were flying everywhere, and surprisingly, Cole held his own, years of fighting boyfriends and husbands finally paying off.

“Go out that door and I swear her blood will flow until she’s dead.” Velham’s cold voice stopped Sidda in her tracks. She spun around, nearly running into Zeke.

Velham held Delilah by the neck, a knife pressed into her throat. Blood trickled down the front of her neck from where he’d already cut her.

“Go to him and I will cut her throat open and make sure he knows you are the reason.”

Sidda looked over her shoulder to where Jasper stalked his large opponent, Dane’s other guard. The man stood a good six inches taller than Jasper’s six foot, but Jasper showed no sign of fear.

“Siddalee, make your choice. Go to him and have his mother slaughtered or step back to Stephan’s side.” Dane moved closer, dragging Jasper’s mother along with him. The blade of his knife dug deeper, creating a line of crimson running down her neck.

“Father, let my mother go.” Russ stepped to his side.

“Are you challenging me, little boy?” Dane snarled at Russ.

Russ glanced at Zeke than at his mother, her eyes filled with tears. “No. Not yet.”

“Aw, but one day you believe you will. Maybe so, but for now your sister is the one holding your mother’s life in her hands. Ask her to step back, to break the bond between herself and Gandillion.”

Russ stared at Sidda. His eyes met hers. “
Sister, please help us.”
His words were a soft whisper in her head.

Sidda looked out at Jasper ,who was now striding toward her. The guards lay unconscious behind him. “Siddalee Brighton, get your ass out here now,” he growled, making her cringe.

Without thinking, she opened her mind to him. His fury swept over her so strong she nearly hit the ground on her knees.
“Jasper, please stop. I can’t go with you. I have to help your brother and mother. He’s going to kill them if you come in or I go to you. Please don’t make me knock you out again.”

”Sidda, you’re going to have to kill me to keep me from hauling your ass out of there after I kill Stephan and Velham.”

Tears burned Sidda’s eyes. She didn’t know if he’d forgive her, but the angst in Russ’s face and the fear in Delilah’s eyes kept her focused. Jasper would just have to hate her. Sidda closed her eyes and focused on all of his Alpha power, praying the entire time he’d realize when he cooled off this was for the best. “
Jasper, I love you, but I have to stay.”

“Sidda…”

Before he finished his thought, she pushed past all his mental barriers and commanded him to sleep. His eyes closed, his mind relaxed, and he slumped to the ground. Behind him Cole’s eyes widened while her sister’s filled with regret. Regret for what, Sidda didn’t know, but she did know Jasper really was going to strangle her if he ever got his hands on her again.

Chapter Twenty

“Very good, Sidda. I’m glad to see you have your powers in control. This week we will need them.” Dane’s malicious smile sent a sliver of cold down her spine.

“Let her go. I’ve sent him away, so there’s no need to have a knife at her throat now.” Sidda’s eyes bore into his.

He narrowed his at her and shook his head before releasing Delilah. “Gandillion hasn’t done a very good job showing you how to express respect for your Alpha.”

Sidda snorted. “Of course he has. But you’re not my Alpha, he is.”

Pain shot through her face, and her eyes blurred. The son of a bitch had hit her. Her jaw throbbed. She sucked back all the rage burning inside her, knowing he’d get off on seeing any pain or weakness. Stephan was at her side, cupping her face to make her look at him. His eyes, a deep purple, nearly black, left hers to bore into Dane’s. The buzz of his wolf neared the surface, and his hands vibrated with magic from his upcoming shift.

If she didn’t stop his change, Velham would destroy him. For a split second, she thought of letting it happen, but then clarity hit her. Stephan was her ally in the house. If he truly believed her to be his last grasp at sanity, he’d help her.

She put a hand on his heart. He stilled, gazing down at her. Sidda closed her eyes and opened her mind, dragging the anger and rage from his to hers. She imagined a door, a plain white door. Turning the brass doorknob, she opened the door to reveal a huge black hole. She smiled and poured his anger into that hole before shutting the door to it.

After shutting the door, she thought of the joy she got from seeing Jasper’s sexy teasing smile. Her body instantly warmed, and the hand over Stephan’s heart burned as she poured the peace she gained from Jasper to him. A shudder passed through Stephan.

Sidda opened her eyes. Behind them Dane smiled brilliantly.

“So I see he’s taught you more than I’d thought. You are strong, very strong. But disrespect me again, and you will force me to harm your lover’s mother. Do you think he’d ever look at you again?”

“Yes. He’d know I hadn’t caused her pain, but you had. Don’t threaten me with bullshit. Jasper’s smart. He’d know.” She stepped away from Stephan to glare at Dane.

“Maybe, but how would you ever live with yourself if you got your own blood killed? Stephan, take Ezekeiel to one of the cages. Either Siddalee will cooperate and break the marking bond this afternoon, or her brother dies.”