Untamable (26 page)

Delilah shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’ll work on a wolf with blocks as strong as Dane, Brockton, or Stephan.”

“Jasper and I can take care of Dane.”

Delilah squirmed in her chair. “What about my sons? Has Jasper found his brothers?” Her tone was thick with nervous energy.

Sidda bit her bottom lip, thinking over what Delilah had just said. She had always assumed that Jasper’s brothers had been taken along with Delilah.

“When I was ten, my best friend Cole and I found Jasper as a pup in wolf form. He was hurt, but we took care of him until he finally shifted back. It scared the crap out of us at the time, but Jasper told us what happened. After that, he moved in with Cole and his mother. He assumed his brothers were taken. We searched the woods for anything, but as kids, we really didn’t know what to look for. I’m sorry.”

Delilah’s eyes filled with tears, and Sidda instinctively knew she had to do more for this woman, Jasper’s mother, her pack member. “Dane has a safe in his office. When Jasper and I found the warehouse that y’all were taken to, we found some files. Your files weren’t in there. I believe Dane has them in the safe. They should contain everything about you two, including children. With any luck, we can find Jasper’s brothers as well as the others who were taken.”

“And the babies left at the warehouse?” Scarlett’s eyes begged Sidda to say they were safe or missing, but Sidda couldn’t.

“I’m sorry, but we found the bodies of three babies at the warehouse.” Tears rolled down Scarlett and Delilah’s faces. “I’m so sorry. But we will avenge them and make the persons responsible pay for what they did. I promise.” Sidda mentally shook off the images of those poor children.

She didn’t want to think about them, not yet. She had to keep her strength. But the heartache she’d been fighting off began to rush in. Jasper had been there when she’d seen those children. He’d helped her through that horrible place, but now he couldn’t.

“Sidda?” Scarlett grasped her hand. “One of those babies was your other full brother. Dane kept them there while he moved us here.”

Sidda sucked in a breath. Damn it, she’d known that they were all her siblings, but to hear it, broke her heart. She glanced away from the two women sitting near her. What could she say? They’d suffered so much over the years, all at the hands of her father, a man who only cared about power.

“I don’t know how you two can even talk with me. Dane Velham is a monster, and I’m his offspring.” Sidda’s voice cracked. She’d prayed when this conversation came up she’d be strong enough not to cry.

Both women shot up to sit on either side of Sidda. “Oh, honey.” Scarlett squeezed Sidda’s hand. “That man is not who you are.” She sighed. “I look at Zeke sometimes and pray that he will never turn out anything like his father. But when I met you this morning, I knew how wrong I was to pray that. Dane has a strength and determination that the two of you need. I see it in you, but your determination and strength is for good, which is one of many things that separates you from Dane.”

Delilah hugged Sidda. An odd feeling of warmth seeped into her, calming her. “Not to mention that you’re made of two of the most powerful bloodlines which made you make you an Alpha female, and everything you have done so far is for the pack. You’re willing to give up the man you love to save pack members you’ve never met.”

Sidda shook her head. She wasn’t willingly giving Jasper up. She’d run from him because she’d lost her temper, then been forced to come to Dane’s. She wanted to take it back and stay with Jasper. But now that she was in the middle of it all, she had to help get the innocent away from evil.

“I’ve got to go break the bond. Jasper is going to be so pissed, and I don’t know what to do. If we make it through this weekend, I’m pretty sure things between us will never be the same.” Sidda wiped away the tears threatening to fall. This was not the time to cry.

She had to get information. “Zeke mentioned the others being taken from here. I need to know what happened. Why Dane sent them away and kept you four. What happened to the mothers of the other children from the warehouse?”

Scarlett straightened. “The other pups were about Zeke’s age, two girls and three boys. Two mothers were from the Orange Moon Pack. One was from our pack.”

Delilah’s hand slid from Sidda’s as she began to wring her hands. “Dane never said anything about them, other than they weren’t what he needed. He had Zeke and Russ. He didn’t want or need what he called ‘weak’ wolves, so he told Brockton to take them away.”

Sidda nodded. It was what Zeke had said, but there was more. “Zeke said he heard Dane tell Brockton to get rid of them, but he doesn’t believe Brockton killed them. He mentioned getting a rush of pure excitement and greed from Brockton. I think he sold them.”

Both women stared at Sidda. “I believe they’re still alive, but Brockton has some serious blocks. Neither Russ nor Zeke can really get past them, and to be honest, I think Russ would knock him out with his power. The kid’s got a zap.” Sidda smiled.

Delilah’s face lit up. “We can help. The boys are home-schooled of course, and we teach them. Dane will no doubt want their schooling ended soon so he can use them now. But while he’s busy with his plans for Saturday’s party he’ll want the boys out of the way. I’ll offer to give the boys extra lessons during that time.”

“That’s good. If I can get Brockton relaxed and calm, maybe the boys can read him and find out what he did with the others. I doubt Dane’s records will contain anything that Brockton did, as I’m fairly certain Brockton never told Dane what he did with them.”

Scarlett shook her head. “No, even Brockton wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell anyone if he sold them behind Dane’s back, especially knowing that Dane would have wanted all the others terminated. But I still don’t understand why the bodies in the warehouse were left like that. Shouldn’t they have been taken better care of?”

Sidda had thought the same thing but now had a stronger feeling. “Stephan said Dane told him they were sent to an orphanage while he was away, so he didn’t know anything about it. This is just me, but I am starting to believe that Brockton did that too, hoping to one day enrage Stephan enough to convince Dane that Stephan really is crazy. Brockton doesn’t seem real happy with Stephan for being given me or any more power.”

Scarlett smiled, a huge smile lighting her face and taking years off of it. “You are very smart. I am looking forward to meeting the woman who taught you to use your mind so well. She’s done a terrific job.”

Before, the thought of Sidda introducing her mother to this woman beside her had terrified Sidda. Not now. No, they would get along, and together, they would all be a family. That is if her sister backed the hell away from Jasper. If not, she’d spend the rest of her life unconscious or with an ass-kicking.

The door swung open with a soft swoosh. Stephan’s violet eyes met Sidda’s, and they darkened to nearly black. He crossed the room in a few strides, eyebrows drawn together in a harsh frown, taking in the tears on her face. “What happened? Did he hurt you? Dane told me no one would touch you.” He grasped Sidda’s hand to jerk her from her seat to stand in front of him.

She slapped at his hands. “No one hurt me. It’s a little emotional meeting my mother for the first time.” She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping slightly away from him. Well, as far as he’d let her.

“Then what happened to Brockton? The jackass has a broken nose and keeps saying that the Gandillion whore did it.” His eyes drifted to Delilah. “I don’t see any whores here, but I’m assuming he doesn’t mean you.” Delilah shook her head. “Well, then that leaves one other possibility. Sidda, what happened?”

Sidda cringed. She hated being talked to like a child, but at least Stephan acknowledged Delilah as more than just meat. Not that he’d help get her away, but maybe he’d believe the truth behind Brockton and Dane easier than she’d expected.

“Nothing happened. He ran off at the mouth, and I lost my temper. End of story.” Dread settled into Sidda’s stomach. It was time. Soon she’d no longer be Jasper’s mate.

“That is not the end of story. Later I will take care of him myself, but for now, we have to go to Dane’s office. It’s time.”

Without another word, Stephan turned, striding toward the door. Sidda glanced back at Delilah and Scarlett. Her eyes refilled with tears, and she hugged herself tighter. It had to be done, because she had to save them all. With a deep breath, Sidda pulled herself together, raised her head high, and marched down to Dane’s office, ready to take on whatever the evil bastard came up with next.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jasper stood looking over his small group of fighters. So far, four pack members had shown up to rejoin the pack. Although that number was far from what he’d hoped, it was a start.

“Jasper?” Doc’s rumbling voice drew Jasper’s attention. “I’ve contacted my pack, and our fighters will be here later today. That will add ten more.” Doc stood proud and tall.

Orange Moons weren’t the best fighters, but everybody counted, and Jasper was grateful for every one of them. “That’s good. Real good, Doc.”

A short auburn-haired wolf raised his stubby hand. “Sir, I’ve contacted my father’s pack, the Rocky Mountain Pack, and they’ve agreed to send fighters. The pack Alpha asked me to tell you he’d be in contact later today with the numbers, however, rough estimates total at twelve or more.”

The wolf smiled. “My mother’s pack, The Pacific Coast Pack, has also agreed to aid in our fight. My grandfather fought proudly for them after Dane took over. The pack is more than happy to help in any way to have the Luna Nation back in the hands of the Gandillions. Your father was a strong, honest leader. We want and need that again.”

Jasper’s chest swelled with pride. Yes, his father had been a great leader and so would he. But that still didn’t quench his unease about Sidda. She’d managed to call hours earlier to warn him about what would be coming, yet the bond held strong, and he could feel her emotions. Strong and clever, she was working Dane and his men. She’d always had a knack for getting him and Cole to do things, and it seemed she had that same effect on most men.

Jasper glanced away from the men sitting around his living room. Vivian sat to one side, writing away in her journal, while Cole looked up from his texting to stride toward him. His friend’s eyes held the same worry Jasper felt. Both wanted Sidda back home, away from Dane and his evil crew. But both knew this was something Sidda had to do and something Jasper had to trust her to do. It nearly tore him inside out that at any moment their bond would be broken. He would no longer be marked to her, but she’d always be his mate no matter whether she still wore his mark or not. Siddalee Brighton would always be Jasper Gandillion’s.

“Jasper?” Cole clapped him on the back. “My friend Jack in Texas who’s a Luna told me there was a press conference scheduled for Velham. Jack said his small pack is headed our way. They should be here in the morning.”

Jasper nodded absently. His Marking Bite burned under his skin. He turned to Doc and Ivan. “I’ve got to take care of something. Keep organizing members. Later, we will begin training and breaking off into teams.” Jasper rushed from the room as the burn stung more. He slammed the door to his room closed, aching from head to toe. The breaking process had started. Damn Dane Velham.

The tug and rip of flesh tore through his body with blinding pain. Jasper dropped to his knees, snatching his shirt off. His hands clapped over the marking on his neck. It nearly singed the skin. His head spun with images of that night, the night he’d finally bonded with Sidda. Her smile flashed into his mind. The image of her body under him writhing with pleasure while her eyes scorched him with love and passion scored his memory. She held everything that was right and good in his world. Her love drove him to be a better Alpha, and her faith in him made him want to prove he was worthy of her. Her submission to the bond gave his life meaning past being Alpha. It gave him hope and life. Now that hope, that life, was draining from his body. Blackness and emptiness filled the places once warmed by Sidda.

Only the knowledge of knowing in less than two days he’d mark her again, claim her again, kept him breathing.

* * * *

Sidda gasped, gripping the armchair tight. Her brain tingled, throbbed, threatening to pound her brains from her head. Dane had mentioned it would sting, but this was much more than a mere sting. No, he’d only said the skin near the mark would ache, not her entire fucking body.