Enlightening Bloom (13 page)

Chapter 28 – Bloom

              My eyelids grate against my eyeballs like sandpaper as I pry them open. As I try to push myself up into a sitting position I feel arms come around my back and shoulders to help. I turn into my helper, planning on thanking them, but when I meet the gun-metal grey eyes of a stranger I recoil. He steps back and runs his fingers through his golden hair. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.”

              “Who are you?” I ask, my voice coming out croaky as my wolf rumbles her warning.
Strange wolf, don’t trust!

              He straddles a chair that’s setting in front of a vanity table. His arms laying along the top he asks. “If I tell you will you promise not to explode until I’ve given you an explanation?”

              I narrow my eyes. “You’re the Wright Pack Alpha.”
Enemy!

              “I prefer to be called, Carson, but that’ll work as well.” He sighs.

              I force my legs out of the bed and try to stand. I almost collapse to the floor, so I settle on sitting on the edge of the mattress. Glaring at the man I growl. “You kidnapped me!”

              “You’re mine.” He responds instantly.

              “You’re delusional.”

              He stands, pushing the chair out of his way. He’s in front of me so quickly I gasp. He wraps my hair around his fist, forcing my head back, so I’m staring up at him. Leaning down so his face is right in front of mine he growls. “You. Are. MINE!”

              “Too late, asshole.”

              “If you think a bond to that weak wolf is going to stop me from claiming what is mine then you are sorely mistaken.”

              “You can’t break a mating bond.” I say, trying to push him away.

              He releases my hair, but doesn’t move. “Little do you know. Killing your mate is a pretty effective way of breaking the connection you have.”

              My mouth falls open in shock, and my wolf lets loose a warning growl so strong that it causes my skin to ripple. Is this guy completely off his rocker? “You’ll kill me.”

              “Not as long as I mate you right away. Bonding with me will save you.” He smiles like a big fat know-it-all as he eyes my rippling skin, questioningly. I try to resist the urge to hurt him, but my anger over rules that, and I end up punching the jerk in the eye.

              He slaps me so hard my head snaps to the side. Grabbing me by the back of the head he jerks me forward. “You will learn your place or I’ll beat it into you.”

              “Do you really think that’s the way to treat the person you see as your mate?”

              “If they need to be trained, then yes.”

              “I’m not your mate, and I sure as hell am not some pet you need to train.”

              “My parent’s sent your mother to mate with that human so you would be born. For me! You were created…For me! If that bitch hadn’t taken off and hidden you from us you already would’ve been here with me, and I’d have you trained to know your place. But since she pulled the shit she did you’re behind so let me start with your first lesson.”

              “Oh, Psycho, please enlighten me.”

              He ignores my comment and continues. “You don’t mouth your Alpha, and you sure as hell don’t slap him. Doing so will cause you to be punished by my hand. That slaps was just the tip of the punishment iceberg you have coming your way if you keep this behavior up.”

              “Thanks for the suggestion, but I choose to set my own rules.”

              “So be it. But don’t cry to me when you’re more black and blue than creamy white.” He says releasing his hold on me and walking away. At the door he stops and turns. “I’ll send someone in with food. I don’t know what that worthless pack was doing to you, but you’re about as weak as a rag doll, and I need you strong for what I have in store.”

              “Good, strengthen me.” I mumble as he makes his exit.
We’ll use it to rip out his throat.
My wolfs adds, and I whole heartedly agree. If the fool thinks I’ll just roll over and let him take possession of me he’s a bigger moron than I thought.

Chapter 29 – Tucker

              My connection to Bonnie leads us deep into Kentucky. The heart of the Wright Pack’s territory to be more exact. Rose guides us to a two-story Greek revival home that is surrounded by woods. The brick building, with its large white pillars, is being guarded by no less than ten wolves. That should be deterring me from wanting to barrel in to rescue Bonnie and Bloom, but my wolf is on the verge of going feral, and wants nothing more than to run in there to rip apart the enemy. We want our mate back. We want our sister back. And we want the strange wolves dead, especially the one who dares to claim our mate.

              “The house has a secret entrance in the woods that leads into the cellar. Not many know about it, so I doubt they’ll have it heavily guarded. We can get into the house that way, and hopefully get to the girls before someone catches our scent.” Rose explains. She starts moving through the woods taking us away from the house. We enter a crumbling cemetery, and she goes straight to a mausoleum. I don’t take the time to read the names engraved on the tombs as she pulls open a trap door in the floor and descends a rickety set of wood stairs. Pike follows behind her and I take the rear, making sure to close the door behind us.

              “When we get inside I’m going for Bonnie first.”

              Pike glances over his shoulder. “Of course.”

              “We’ll meet back in the cellar.” Rose suggests.

              Pike’s head snaps in her direction. “We’re leaving out the front door.”

              “But…”

              “I’m killing everyone who helped steal my mate.” His voice holds no room for arguing, not that we would anyways. It’s his right to eliminate the threat to his mate. Rose concedes with a nod ash she continues guiding us through the tunnel.

              After a short distance we reach a wood door. She lays her hand on it, but stops short of pushing it open. She lets out a sigh. “I’m going after, Kyran.”

              “Rose.” Pike warns with a low growl.

              “To kill him, Alpha.”

              “Mom?” I gasp in shock. I know this has to be done, but I never thought it would be her to do so.

              “Are you sure?” Pike asks.

              She nods. “I’m his mother. I need to be the one to put him to rest.”

              “Fine.” Pike looks at both of us and adds. “Let’s get this done.”

              Rose pushes the door open so we can enter the cellar, taking stairs that lead to the main floor. Pike snaps the neck of a man who is standing guard, and starts taking the steps to the second floor two at a time, not caring if anyone sees him.

              The mating bond is telling me to go right to find Bonnie. I turn to go that way but hesitate long enough to warn my mother. “He won’t take it easy on you.”

              She’s staring down the left side of the hall, where Kyran’s scent is strongest. When she looks at me I see her mouth is twisted into a frown. “I know he won’t.” We hold each other’s gaze and after a moment I lean down to press a kiss to her cheek. “Love you.”

              Her hand comes to my jaw as she flashes a weak smile. “I love you too, Son. Now go get your mate.”

              Placing my hand over hers I pull it away from my face and give it a gentle squeeze. “Please, be careful.”

              She jerks her head in a nod and then turning on her heels she takes off. I watch her until she rounds a corner and is out of sight. There’s a feeling of dread settling heavily in my stomach, but instead of dwelling on it I turn to the right. It’s time to find, Bonnie.

****************************

Bonnie

             
Holding my hand out in front of my face I inspect my nails. The bastard chipped one. I fling my dagger at his head. It imbeds itself in the headboard, a millimeter from his right ear. The bastard whimpers, causing me to smile. “You’re a sadistic bitch.”

              “Hey! It wasn’t me who wanted to be handcuffed and spanked. That was all you, Christian Grey wannabe.” I walk to the bed and jerk my dagger out of the giant wood frame. Luckily, the guy had one made that could withstand his supernatural strength, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to keep him contained. But there’s no way he’s breaking that solid wood structure. This kinky bastard even had metal loops built into the headboard to latch his handcuffs to. Handcuffs that are surprisingly not breaking under the struggling he’s doing. I trail the dagger along his throat, letting it slice open the skin near his jaw.

              “So are you going to tell me where your Alpha’s keeping my friend?”

              “Fuck you.” He growls.

              “Nope, sorry that’s not an option.” I wipe the blood off my dagger onto his bed spread, then stand and cross back to my previous seat at the end of the bed. I drop into the seat and kick my legs up onto the footboard. “Here are your options, though. One, you can tell me where to find my friend and I’ll kill you quickly. Or two, you can keep your mouth shut and we’ll just wait on my mate to get here. And I can promise you he won’t kill you, well not quickly.”

              I hear the bedroom door open and I look to find Tucker leaning against the frame. To an outside observer he’d look carefree, but being connected to him the way I am I can feel the rage rolling off him. “Looks like you lost your options, Daryl.”

              “Bonnie, what the hell?” Tucker growls, taking in the room, including the shifter cuffed to the bed.

              “I was entertaining myself until you got here.” I tell him with a shrug of my shoulders.

              He looks to the ceiling and I know he’s praying for patience. It’s not the first time I’ve caused him to take that action, and it definitely won’t be the last. When he’s done asking for divine intervention as a way of dealing with me he moves to the bed and snaps the other shifters neck.

              “You were supposed to kill him slowly!” I tell him, jumping to my feet.

              He comes to me, putting pressure on the back of my neck with his hands so he bring me in for a kiss. When he pulls back he grins. “Sorry to change your plan, but we needed to end this fast so we can go help the others.”

              “Fine, but next time I’m kidnapped I expect you to take your time killing my attacker.”

              He takes my hand, pulling me from the room. “There won’t be a next time.”

              “You can’t be sure of that. I’m a prize, many people are going to want me for themselves.”

              He stops and looks down at me. “Are you wanting me to chain you to me for eternity? Because that’s where this is going if you keep up the kidnapping talk.”

              “Can we switch out the chains for handcuffs, and add in a bed?”

              He eyes the room we just exited that now holds the dead, handcuffed shifter. “Only if it’s you in the handcuffs. I’m not letting you use me as target practice like that fool. How’d you get him handcuffed anyways?”

              “He wanted to mate me so I let him think I was into it. The kinky bastard’s a submissive, so I used my best dominatrix skills to get him just where I wanted.”

              “And how were you wanting him?” Tucker growled.

              “I was shooting for a crying mess, but you showed up and ruined my fun before I got him to that point.” I shrugged. “Maybe next time.”

              He curses under his breath. “There’s not going to be a next time!”

              “We’ll see.”

Chapter 30 – Bloom

              “You need to eat.” Carson says, dropping a tray in front of me. I’m starving but there is no way I’m going to put any of that food in my mouth. I push the tray away as I arch an eyebrow in challenge. His fists ball at his sides.

              “You will eat.” He growls. I roll my eyes at his command, and with the back of my hand knock the tray over. Pointing at the mess he orders. “Clean it up.”

              I pull in the little bit of strength I have, and use it to cross my arms and legs in defiance. His eyes narrow as he lifts his balled up fist. I should be flinching, trying to get away, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. I’m an Alpha. I won’t show this psycho any fear. No matter how weak I am, I won’t back down. He’ll have to beat me to death if he wants to get me to submit to him.

              My eyes meet his angry ones and I wait. But instead of the sound of his fist hitting my face, I hear the sound of the door crashing in. Carson spins around at the noise, and I get a clear view to the smashed in door. A midnight black wolf with piercing blue eyes stands there, his eyes focused on Carson. Pike.

              I smile. “It’s about time, Tennessee.”

              Pike doesn’t even glance my way as he moves further into the room. He’s stalking his prey. I laugh out loud. “Looks like you pissed him off, Carson. Maybe if you stand still and beg for mercy he’ll kill you fast.”

              “I’m not afraid of him.” Carson snaps.

             
Fear.

             
“Nice try, but my wolf smells your fear, so I know my mate does.”

              “She’s mine. You took what’s mine.” Carson growls at Pike. His clothes rip as he starts to shift, but Pike isn’t messing around. He didn’t come here for a challenge. He came here to kill, and that’s what he does. As the Wright Pack Alpha begins his shift Pike strikes fast, tearing the shifters throat out.

              Carson crashes to the floor, his body shifting back to his human form. I ignore the cold eyes that stare hauntingly from his dead body as I struggle to stand and get to Pike. On weak legs I walk to him. Before I can finish taking the few steps that separate us he shifts and lifts me into his arms.

              He nuzzles my neck and whispers. “Did he hurt you?”

              “No.” I answer, but even with that reassurance I can still feel the doubt running through him. My hand to his jaw, I force him to look me in the eyes. “I’m safe, you made sure of that. Now kiss me so we can get me the hell out of this place.”

              He chuckles but he follows my directions, kissing me so deeply that it steals my breath. Then he releases me from his kiss so he can carry me out of here.

****************************

              He’s carrying me down the stairs when the sound of snarls causes him to start running, not an easy feat with me in his arms, but he still manages. He comes to a halt in what I’m guessing was once a living room, but is now a smashed up mess. He places me on my feet, keeping his arm around my waist to keep me upright. Tucker and Bonnie are standing there, as well, and just like us they’re watching the fight in shock.

              Two wolves with similar blonde coats are attacking each other like their lives depend on it. I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins because they’re so tangled together; biting, clawing, killing. I feel the need to stop them so I take a step away from Pike, planning on doing exactly that. Tucker reaches out and grabs my arm stopping me, though. He shakes his head. “She’s got to do this.”

              “She?” I ask out loud as my head swings back to the fight in front of us. The two wolves move in just the right way, and I see flashes of emerald and amber eyes. Rose and Kyran. I fall to my knees, my hands flying to my mouth in shock. I can’t say or do anything other than sit there and watch the carnage unravel before me. Pike kneels to put his arms around me. He may be saying comforting words, but I can’t hear them. All I can see or hear is the sounds of the wolves in front of me. The wolves who are part of me. My mother. My half-brother. I thought neither wanted me. She abandoned me so long ago. He wants me dead. Yet, here she is killing him. Killing my brother…for me. I don’t want her to make that sacrifice. No-one should have to, but as I’m on the verge of saying those very words aloud she sinks her teeth into his throat, taking his life.

              I sit there un-moving with tears streaming down my face. She limps her wound covered body to me and collapses with her head in my lap. My head falls to her neck. My hands run over the bloody fur of her coat. And I feel as she takes her last breath.