Breaking Free (5 page)

The day had
been perfect. Yet Fallon felt darkness looming. Brody tipped her face up to his. “What is it, Sugar?” he asked in his slight southern drawl.

She answered automatically,
“Can’t wait to get out of here with my husband.” Fallon loved the way that sounded.

Jess ran over and tugged on Fallon’s arm. “I want you to swear to me you’ll be careful on your trip. I know you’re only going until Monday morning, but I can’t help feeling like something big is coming.
I just can’t see any details.”

Fallon’s stomach bottomed out. “Don’t tell me that
, you twit. You’re supposed to wish us a happy trip.”

“Yeah, well it’s not like you two are going to need
my wishes. You’re getting lost in the wilderness so you won’t be interrupted. I already know you two will be getting down and dirty the whole damned weekend.”

“Duh,” Fallon answered, “t
hat’s what honeymoons are for.”

Jess laughed. “Yes, well I’m worried because everything seems murky
right now.”

“
Don’t,” Brody insisted. “Fallon and I can take care of ourselves and we’ll be where no one will find us.”

Fallon nodded. Only one other person knew where they were going to seclude themselves.
Liz had grinned when she offered her cabin and the surrounding two acres to use as they saw fit. She promised not to intrude until they showed back up in Edenton.

“I would feel better if I knew where to find you
,” Jess pouted.

“Too bad. I need some time with my groom, all to myself, without any interruption
s.”

“
Yeah, yeah.” Jess sighed. “I get it. You missed my top secret trip with Slater.”

Brody chuckled. “They were gone a week, totally off the radar.” Then he groaned. “
Worse, they left me in charge, only months after I became second.”

Slater slapped Brody on the back as he joined them. “Yes, but
you are a natural leader Brody.”

“You can keep that job,” he responded, pulling Fallon closer. “My whole world is right here, and I’m happy to
simply enjoy her.”

Fallon couldn’t help the smile.
And our baby.
Excitement bubbled up, pushing out all the negativity.

Jamie slid in between Fallon and Jess with a conspiratorial grin, like she knew.

“Are you taking off soon?” Jamie asked.

Fallon nodded. “Need to get away,” she answered quietl
y, looking up at her mate. She felt as though she was about to burst at the seams and let the words spill out, but she wanted to tell him privately first.

Jamie nodded. “I think I’ll be heading home too.” She stretched, letting out a big yawn. “I’m tired.”

Fallon’s brow cocked. “Hoping to catch your Dreamwalker?”

“No.” She ran her hands down her thighs and took a step back. “I think I
might have imagined him. It felt real, but maybe I’m only desperate.” She turned to walk away before anyone could call her on the lie.

* * * *

“Something’s up with her,” Brody offered as he watched Jamie walk to her car.

“I feel like it’s my fault,” Preston answered sadly.

Jess snorted. “It’s not. You need to get over yourself, Preston. She is. She knew it wouldn’t last, it’s why I haven’t kicked your sorry ass.”

“Why thank you,” he retorted with a sneer in her direction. “I didn’t dump her.”

Jess heaved a sigh. “I know.” She grabbed Slater’s arm, and turned toward Fallon and Brody. “I suppose we should let you two leave. Enjoy your
too-short
honeymoon.”

“Remember,” Slater added, “if you want more time, give me a call. It’s yours.”

“We have to be back before Mom and Dad leave,” Brody answered, pulling Fallon toward his truck. “If that’s still okay with you,” he murmured to her.

“They’re our family, so of course.” Besides, she wanted to find a way to tell Brody before they announced their baby to the world.

* * * *

Devlin follow
ed Jamie back to her cabin. She went alone, wearing an air of defeat that chipped away at his heart. He knew he was playing with fire by following temptation, but the pull was too strong to ignore.

She stepped
through the door without turning on the lights. He made a slow circle and found her in the bedroom, peeling off her dress.

Tempted beyond measure, he landed on the sill of the open window, enthralled by his beautiful little wolf.

“Why are you here?” she asked softly, sadly even.

He made a cooing noise, not sure if he should shift back. She turned toward him, and crossed the distance. With gentle hands, she scooped him up to look him in the eye.

“I feel so much for you. I know I shouldn’t when you’re only going to leave.” She let out a strained laugh. “I don’t want to resist though. Please, do one thing for me. Stay the night?”

He hopped from her grasp and shifted into his human
form. “Is that truly what you want?” he whispered, afraid his voice would shake as badly as his trembling hands.

“I’d rather know what I’m missing than fantasize about what I can never have.” She let out a sad sound that rent his heart in two.

“What is it you want, Precious?”

“To feel your heart beat with mine
. To know if what I feel is real, or just loneliness finally catching up with me.”

“And if it’s real?”

“I don’t know. Figured I could decide once I know what this is,” she whispered, closing the distance.

Her hands went to the buttons of his shirt, slowly opening each. With
every bit of newly exposed flesh, she pressed a tender kiss. “Tell me you’ll stay the night.”

It was too late to deny her, he couldn’t
walk away without a taste. “You have me the whole night, Jamie. I promise.”

“The whole night?” She smiled up at him as she undid the button of his fly and pushed his pants down.

Before she could drop to her knees, he caught her under her arms, stopping her. “Let me worship you.” His voice was husky. He let his pants fall to the floor and pushed her toward the bed.

Her gaze dropped and the corners of her lips lifted in a smile he could barely see in the dark. It made his already hard length throb.

Insistent, her fingers slipped around his shaft, tugging as she fell to the bed. He followed, dropping his lips to hers for a slow kiss as she stroked him, exploring.

“Wait, Jamie. I want to take my time with you.” He moved back, kissing a trail to her breasts, effectively moving his hips out of her reach.

“Who says I need all that,” Jamie groaned.

“
Shh, Precious, I want to learn your body.”

He could practically feel the argument forming on her tongue, and he knew what it would be. No good answer came to him, so he spread her open and took a long, slow lick.

Her taste exploded across his tongue, instantly addicting him to her sweet nectar. He sucked at her pearl as he pressed one finger in. A strangled moan broke from her lips as he found her sweet spot.

“
Oh, Devlin,” she cried as she tangled her fingers in his hair and rode her pleasure, grinding against his mouth and tongue.

It wasn’t long before
she was coming for the second time. While she caught her breath, he leisurely toured up her body with wet kisses, causing her to whimper.

“Ready for me, little wolf?”

“Yeah, but should warn yo–” she started, but he stopped her argument with a kiss.

He pushed into her in one powerful stroke, finding her end.

“Please, oh please,” she begged as he set a fluid pace. She made a desperate sound as he glided over her sweet spot. He aimed for it the next stroke and she started to come again.

It took every ounce of will to push through her orgasm and keep gliding into her. “Dev, why aren’t you there yet?”
she cried, her nails cutting into his ass as he sped up.

“Want to make it good for you.”

“Oh, god, so good. Can’t take much more,” she gasped out.

Her inner walls started to ripple against him again, and then lights flashed behind his closed lids as he followed her release with his own.

He felt like he was falling, flying, and spinning as her emotions whirled around him, binding her to him.

Fear.

Love.

Desperation.

Loneliness.

Chaos stormed through him. He couldn’t figure out
which feelings were his, what was hers. Devlin collapsed as her panic spiked, and then it all went black.

* * * *

Jamie rolled Devlin to his back, a frown on her face as she chewed her bottom lip. She’d felt so much terror roll off him when the mate bond slid into place.

The bond felt right, safe, and offered a sense of peace. This was what she had been looking for, and he planned to leave her behind. Tears slipped down her face.

What is he afraid of? Why did I have to give in? He’s only going to tear me open and rip out my heart.

P!nk’s song played from the other room
. Not knowing what else to do, she hurried to answer. “Jess? What’s up?” she tried to keep her voice devoid of her overwhelming emotions.

“You have Preston worried,” her twin accused.

Jamie fell into the chair with a groan. “What now?”

“He says a dove landed on your shoulder
at the wedding. You followed, and when you came back you looked like your heart had been ripped out.”

It will be soon enough.

Jamie closed her eyes and fought back a strangled whimper. It was a matter of time before her heart was trampled unless she could find a way to make him stay.

She
’d already seen the beginning of the hell he’d endured. If one small taste was that terrifying, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know how bad it really was. Jamie couldn’t blame him for wanting to run. Part of her understood. If she didn’t know better, she would make the same choice if their roles were reversed.

Her heart clenched tight as she
doubled over to keep in the wail of desperation.

“Jamie, what the fuck is going on? I keep seeing you making love to
no one
, yelling at him, whispering sweet nothings, even dancing. Don’t tell me
Stephen,”
she sneered the name, “is visiting you from the grave. That fucker better be in hell.”

That startled a
strangled laugh out of Jamie. She hadn’t thought of the man in years.

The mate bond she shared with him had been sick, twisted, and wrong. From the moment he became her mate, he tried to control her. She tried to run, tried to leave, and h
e had nearly killed her.

Jess had shown up just in time. Stephen
infected her with lycanthropy before her sister blew his head off.

Jamie shook off the memories.
“No. I couldn’t take the look Preston was giving me.”

“It’s more than that. Ever since those dream
s started.” Jess let out a long sigh. “Maybe Fallon was right. Maybe he’s real.”

Oh, he’s real. He’s passed out in my bed after I had the best sex of my life, and now I’m mated to him.

I tried to warn him, but he wasn’t listening.

Jamie finally muttered, “What do you want me to say?”

“Tell me you’re okay. Really, truly okay.”

“I’m fine
, but I want what you all have. I’m losing faith I’ll get that.” She let the tears fall down her face. “Go enjoy Slater.”

“You don’t sound fine. Want me to come over?”

Jamie knew she would in a heartbeat, and that was the very last thing she wanted. “No,” she managed calmly, when she was screaming inside NO! at the top of her brain’s capacity to yell.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jess told her.

“Tomorrow,” Jamie replied and clicked the phone off. She tossed it on the couch and went back to her room.

She leaned against the wall, watching
her mate as he slept. The mate who was fully prepared to walk away from her.

He reached for her in his sleep.
Or someone. Shit, what do I really know about Devlin?

“Precious,” he murmured, his hand sliding across the bed.

She slid down the wall and let her heart crumble to pieces.

Standing over the old man, Sarah watched him bleed. “I will get answers. You may as well save yourself a measure of pain and
tell me about Devlin O’Shea and what direction he took.”

“I know of no Devlin,” the ancient
-looking man answered boldly.

She palmed his face
, her thumb on one temple, her pinky on the other. Without preamble, she dove into his memories, flipping through each and discarding them until she found scarlet hair and emerald eyes staring back her. She honed in, watching.

Devlin
gave no name, paid with cash and drove away in an old car that was in good shape. Smart, but she saw a road map folded showing the Northwest part of the US. She needed to get within a hundred miles of Devlin to track him.

Her smile was evil as she let him go. The
used car dealer started to fall, but she caught him, and struck, her fangs sliding past delicate skin.

The sharp tang of witch’s blood filled her mouth. He was strong, much more than she
had anticipated for one who appeared so decrepit. His power churned through her, setting her own blood ablaze.

She drew his very essence into herself as he faded away without fighting. There was a smile on his face as the light dimmed in his eyes.

Before he passed into death, he whispered, “You’ll never get what you’re after. That man can’t love what you’ve become. You truly are a monster.” His soul slipped away, and his face only held peace.

Sarah threw his corpse
across the room, cracking the drywall in the man’s office.

Her eyes landed on the photos lining his walls. They started when he was young. There was a beautiful woman on his arm. The pictures progressed through the years. Children, grandchildren, and even a new great grandchild. She started aging somewhere along the
way, and soon after, he did as well. The last several pictures didn’t include his wife.

His decision to let go of his power baffled her. Sacrificing everything
, including an incredibly long life, for one person didn’t make much sense. She couldn’t remember a time when she was willing to give up so much to make one person happy.

The old witch never once tried magic, instead letting her take his life. Without his wife, he was ready to move on, and she
granted his final wish.

Sarah screamed in rage as m
emories tried to float around her mind, but they were firmly blocked. Somewhere, she felt like she had lost someone, something, important. Something was missing.

She had a mission
.

* * * *

Devlin woke, cold and lonely on an unfamiliar bed. He felt alone, truly and utterly alone in a way he had never experienced. He sat up slowly, feeling the need to pull someone close as he tried to get his bearings.

Not just anyone, he needed Jamie.

My heart, my soul, my mate.

Oh Goddess, what have I done?

She was there, close. He could feel her presence. Looking through the unfamiliar room, he found her next to the door, curled into a ball on the floor, hugging herself as she slept.

He felt like the worst kind of bastard. She had tried to warn him, but like a fool, he couldn’t stop. He hadn’t wanted to. He barreled through, forging an unseverable bond. Her whimper tugged at his already straining heart.

Unable to resist, he moved from the bed, and scooped her into his arms. She curled against him as he lifted her from the floor and carried her back to the bed. He couldn’t control his desire and now he was in a position that was sure to break his heart, and hers.

It was too dark to leave. If he was anywhere outside, Sarah had a chance to find him. He
’d covered his tracks, but the sadistic beauty had gifts most Shadowstalkers would kill for. Not to mention her humanity was long since stripped away.

After nestling her under the covers, he
took a slow breath as he stood again. He walked around the room, casting wards to protect him from Sarah’s search.

Finally, he
sat down beside Jamie and fingered the white gold chain he’d placed around her neck. She already had his protection, the same he gave himself. He hoped it worked, hoped neither of them would be found and tortured. He wasn’t sure what else to do. He needed to keep her safe, to protect her. Running was the only thing he knew.

How can I do that without being here with her?
Dad’s plan didn’t turn out as well as he’d hoped for my mother. Will my plan work any better?

She turned, curling her arms around his waist. “You’re still here,” she whispered.
Coyly peeking up at him, her brow arched. “I smell magic.”

“
A few wards, that’s all. I need you safe, Precious.” Devlin swept her hair behind her ear, with a sad sigh. “It’s why I think it’s best if I leave…”

She moved in an instant, straddling his
lap as she looked into his eyes. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I’m not sure I can,” he admitted freely. “I wasn’t expecting a mate bond to form. I’ve been with other wolves in the past. Never anything like this, though.”

She shook her head, a look of disdain on her pretty face. “I don’t want to know about them. I don’t. I’d rather not think about you and anyone else.”

He sighed,
fully understanding. The thought of her and that mage twisted his gut. There was history there. He knew it. It was obvious the man cared. Even if their relationship was over, they still shared feelings.

Devlin took a slow breath. “I have a past, Jamie. A dark, twisted past. I don’t deserve someone as good as you. I don’t. I’ve done things, despicable things I can’t even begin to justify.”

Her eyes sparked with anger. “Stop. Don’t. I don’t believe you’re as bad as you seem to think.”

His head dipped in a nod, letting her take control of the conversation.

“You hate what you’ve done. I feel it rolling off you. There is so much regret, fear, and loathing for whatever it was they made you do. That leads me to believe you were given little choice. We can get to that conversation, but let me explain something first. Our mate bond is pure. It’s meant to be. I’ve seen the other side of a mating gone wrong, and this is not that. You leaving would break us both.”

“I’ve heard.” His heart started hammering as he thought back to the wedding and his sister. “We need to talk if you’re ready.”

“You’re not leaving without warning?” she whispered, hesitant, but she wouldn’t look at him.

He pressed his finger under her chin, raising her eyes to his. “
No, but after you hear my story you might want me to go. I won’t blame you if you do.”

She shoved him back, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t start with that bullshit. Talk first, then
we
can decide. WE! Do you understand me, Devlin?”

Nodding dumbly, he took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “I understand I have a demanding little wolf who
may have what it takes to deal with the horrors of my past.”

She brushed her lips over his and sat back.
“We should dress, then talk. I need to know what’s going on, and then I may call in a favor, if you’re amenable. Right now, I need to understand.”

“A favor?” he asked with an arched brow. “What kind of favor.”

“Oh no, Devlin. Don’t argue.” She climbed out of his lap and went to the closet. “Get dressed, or we aren’t going to get around to the talking, Dream-man.”

She winked over her shoulder and disappeared.
Thirty seconds later she came back from the closet wearing a simple sun dress that he wanted to push up so he could bury his face in her slick heat and taste her sweet nectar all over again.

Crossing
her arms over her chest, she nodded to his clothes lying on the floor. “Get dressed. I promise to let you do whatever you’re thinking about after we talk.”

He licked his lips as he stood, his cock bouncing with the sudden movement. He felt bold, aroused more than
he’d ever been, and he was falling head first, faster than he ever imagined possible. “How about we talk after I make love to you again,” he beckoned.

“Get dressed.” She turned and walked out of the room as she began to pull bobby pins from her hair, letting the tresses fall in tumbled waves.

Stubborn. Fiery. Demanding.
He never would have expected to be turned on by those qualities.

Devlin pulled his clothes on and went to the living room. He found her sitting cross
-legged on the overstuffed chair as she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

Jamie was pure seduction without even trying. She had an innate sexuality
which called to him. Simple, sweet and sassy. He craved her, had a feeling he always would.

He strode over to the couch and sank down, his eyes devouring her. “I don’t know how long I can resist you, Jamie.”

A smirk lifted one corner of her lips. “We’ll figure this out. First, I need answers.”

He nodded but closed his eyes to sort out his thoughts. An impossible task with her crystal blue
orbs staring back at him.

* * * *

Finally, she felt some hope enter the jumble of his emotions, but also shame. Whatever it was, Jamie needed the whole truth. Or at least enough details to understand what was coming for him.

When
he opened his emerald eyes. She got a flash of Fallon looking at her the same way after going through hell at the hands of the Dales.

The truth clicked into place. “Oh shit,” she whispered. “I know who you remind me of.”

He gave her a grim smile. “Who?”

“Fallon. Oh, dear god, how are you related to her?”

He swallowed hard, not breaking her gaze. “I’m her brother. The one she can’t remember, for very good reasons.”

She shook her head. “You don’t believe that,” Jamie stated, feeling the doubt and misery creeping around him.
What the hell was lurking in his past?

He let out a short, bitter laugh. “It’s the truth, even if it doesn’t exactly feel like it. When the reasons come to
light, it makes sense. At least here,” he tapped his head. “There is a lot Fallon doesn’t know about our father, and why he disappeared from her life. Or me for that matter.”

Jamie blinked, a look of confusion on her face. “What are you saying?”

When he didn’t respond right away, she started to worry. She watched and felt a dozen emotions pass through him as he sorted out his thoughts.

He finally took a breath and started.
“Some of this I should tell Fallon first. I would prefer to tell her about our father’s reasons for leaving in person, but I don’t want to take her away from her honeymoon.”

“Whatever it is, you
have a sense of urgency. What’s going on?” she demanded, possibly pushing too hard, but she had to know.

Devlin ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “The Dales have been after our family for decades
, and for very specific reasons Fallon doesn’t know about. Our parents were trying to protect us both from their past.”

“They’ve been after Fallon longer than I’ve known her. She’s always overcome them.” Jamie
stood and paced away. When she turned back, her eyes narrowed. “So, warding their fighters is just a bonus for them?”

He nodded. “
Right. They want much more.”

Understanding dawned and her
head tilted to the side. “Is that what I saw? The Dales taking you?”

“Yes,” he whispered, looking away. She could feel his pain, his heartache, his dread,
and the shame that bled through all of it. Devlin was chock full of emotional baggage.

“Dev,” she moved closer, sitting on the coffee table in front of him, “please trust me. I want to understand.
But in order to do that, I need to know everything.”

He looked straight into her soul and her heart ached for him. “I know. This is going to be hard. There’s a lot of ground to cover.”

“I won’t judge you. I’ve had my share of shitty experiences. Apparently not on your level of fucked up, but bad enough.” She took his hands as she leaned forward. “Tell me, all of it.”

* * * *

Fallon lay tangled in Brody’s arms, under the starry sky. Excitement churned through her. Their baby growing inside. Every time she opened her mouth to tell him he was going to be a father, the words died on her tongue. She wanted the moment to be special, but he continued to surprise her with sweet romantic gestures.

As horrible as it seemed, she longed for
a dull moment so she could brighten his smile the way he kept doing for her. Of course, his smile hadn’t dimmed since she walked down the aisle, into his waiting embrace.

How she landed the perfect man was beyond her, but Brody was everything she never believed she
could have. He had so many great qualities she still had a hard time believing she was good enough for him. And now, they were going to have a child. The one thing they didn’t have but both wanted. Even if she hadn’t quite managed to verbalize her desire to start a family.