Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle) (20 page)

“Roxy, it’s me. Don’t be scared.”

Scared? No. Strangely comforted that his growling voice was familiar. He knelt in front of her, and she noticed how the fur thinned on his abs. He held out his hand to her and she butted it with her head.

“You’re okay?” he
asked in awe.

Joey nudged Trevor, and Trevor gave him a deadly look.

Roxy wanted to shrug, or something. Anything. She didn’t know how to answer.

The last rays of the sun faded. Roxy took another look around, sounds coming to her that made her stomach growl. Smells that made her mouth water.

“Roxy, listen to me. You need to hunt. We’ll be with you. Soon after you eat, you’ll need to rest. At least this first time. Your wolf healed a lot of damage. You need to replenish yourself, then you’ll need to rest. Do you trust me?”

She dipped her head.

“Follow Sorcha. Let your wolf take control when it’s time. We’re right here with you.”

Sorcha bounced to her feet. Roxy looked over and stood as well. Sorcha and Joey flanked her as she ran into the woods.

Roxy could
feel
Trevor behind her. She let the sounds and scents of the forest pull her. A twig broke and her head snapped to the right.

She ran
at full speed as the most delicious scent enveloped her. Her wolf took control and she was only an observer as she took down a stag.

* * * *

Trevor followed as Roxy hunted. Without trying, she slipped into her primal-self better than he did for a long time after being infected. Then, instead of going for the easy prey, she let her senses seek out a stag, and a large one at that.

As a wolf, Roxy was a natural. She was graceful, fast, and perfect. Her fur was white with pale gray mar
kings, her eyes the palest blue, like a husky’s. She was the most beautiful beast he’d ever laid eyes on, which was fitting because every other woman paled in comparison to her.

She dealt the killing blow with mercy. The stag fell dead before it knew she had closed the distance. Roxy never winced
when she tore into the carcass, eating her fill

Satiated
, she slumped to her full belly, her head lolling to the side as her beast fell asleep.

Trevor moved in with soft growling words.
“They can’t have gone far, but tonight we protect Roxy. I won’t leave her side.”

He picked Roxy up and carried her back toward the cars. There was a small clearing in the center of Douglas Fir
s growing in a perfect circle with a ring of boulders in the middle. He carried her into the grassy area and sat with her in his lap, thankful she was alive, even as she slept safely.

Sorcha curled up beside Trevor to keep watch on Roxy. Joey ran off into the woods, probably to hunt for them
. He knew the rest of his clan would stay close this night.

The bumps in the road jostled her against his warm heat. She could smell clean male scent, fur, and forest.

It was the
quiet conversation which pulled her from a deep sleep, and brought the previous night into focus.

“She’ll be fine, Trev. Give her a chance,” Sorcha
reassured.

Trevor
let out a heavy sigh. “I wish I could go back and tell her everything before any of this happened. I never wanted this.”

“No shit,” Joey groaned. “Look, we need to find out how they got to her. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

Roxy opened her eyes to find Trevor watching her wearily. His scent was laced with a tangy, pungent smell. She knew he was afraid, it was in his expression.

Thoughts spiraled around her head in a windstorm. She felt like she should be pissed, but she wasn
’t. She didn’t know how the hell she would try to explain it to someone.

She cleared her throat, her eyes on Trevor.
“I need a phone. Mikey… he’s in the hospital. Maybe. Shit, I don’t know, but I got a call that he was in surgery, and I ran out the door without even thinking.”

“Shit, Roxy, I’m sorry
.” Trevor pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.

She swallowed hard, and called Mike
’s number. Doug answered on the first ring, “Where the fuck were you?”

Her eyes slammed shut as she took a slow breath to sort her thoughts.

Trevor growled low in his throat.

Roxy looked up at him with narrowed eyes before
lying through her teeth, “Writing, all night. I had the phone off. What the hell happened?”

“The guy at the desk said you answered the phone.”

“What guy?” she asked tightly.

“Nurse or something. Look, whatever. Mikey’s sleeping, but you had us all worried when I went by your house and you weren’t
there.”

“I stayed at Trevor’s but I’ve been writing all night. You know how I get. I zone
d out, and got lost in the story. I feel horrible. How is he? What happened?”

Doug let out a breath.
“He’s good. He was worried when I told him we couldn’t get in touch with you. Skylar didn’t know where you were. Neither did Jason. We all sort of freaked.”

“I’ll come down there in
an hour or so. I need a shower, but I want to know what the hell happened.”

“Appendicitis. It nearly burst. They rushed him in. He’s okay, and he’ll be doing better when he knows you’re all right. I was getting worried, and Jordan’s a fucking mess over you disappearing.”

Roxy scooted out of Trevor’s lap and hugged her legs to her chest. She felt like hell for scaring everyone, but it wasn’t like she could do a whole lot about it now.

“Tell him I’ll be there soon, and I’m sorry.”

Doug sighed. “You know he can’t stay mad at you. Get here when you can. He’ll feel better if he sees you.”

“Tell him I’ll bring his favorite coffee.” She hung up and handed the phone back to Trevor.

“Appendicitis. They were all freaked out when they couldn’t find me.” She slammed her hand into the seat and threw her head back. “FUCK!” she screamed.

Trevor
scooted to her, taking her face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Roxy. So sorry. I should have brought your phone yesterday. I shouldn’t have been so selfish. You would have known and then you could have been there with him instead of hiding away. I’m so…”

She covered his mouth with her hand.
“Don’t. This isn’t your fault. I’m fine.” She frowned, running her hand over her thigh where she knew a chunk of her flesh had been ripped from her, then her side as her breath came in great gasps. She brushed her hand over her arm where that bitch, Dina, had tried to rip it off. Her laugh was wobbly. “I’m fine, we’re fine. I have questions, but right now, I’m worried about Mikey. I wasn’t there for him, and he’s always been there for me when something happens. I’m the worst fucking sister in the world.”

“No. I’m
a bastard who kept you away from him all day yesterday because I…” Trevor would have kept going but she clamped a hand over his mouth.

“For the love of
god. You’re not to blame! It’s a mess, but it’s okay. We’ll figure it out, but stop with that bullshit.”

Sorcha giggled, her tone sing-song.
“Told you she wouldn’t freak over the werewolf thing.”

Roxy swiveled toward Sorcha.
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m still in shock and only woke up like a minute ago. Give me time, I may still freak.”

“Nah, you’ll be fine. You managed to get through last night and your first thought was about your brother. You’re telling Trevor to stop worrying
,
and you are perfectly rational.”

“Yeah, well I haven’t gotten to the thinking about a giant canine ripping chunks of flesh from my body.” She looked down, noticing the shredded jeans and the
Pogues shirt. Her brow arched. “Your clothes?”

“Couldn’t have you running around naked, and we all keep extra clothes around. Sometimes you shift before you have time to strip.”

“Right.” Roxy turned to Trevor. “So werewolves are real?” She half-laughed. “What else?”

He smiled weakly.
“All that stuff you write, it’s real. Not with those names, but you obviously see things even if you don’t believe it. And you, you aren’t just a werewolf, Roxy. Fiona can better explain. You’re like her now.”

Roxy snorted.
“What do you mean I’m like her?”

“She’s a druid, was, now she’s something… different. Her magic is different than it once was, but it’s still powerful.”

Her mouth fell open as she stared at him. She tried to come up with some rational argument. Any argument really. The more she thought about it, the more she knew it to be true. Too many weird little things over the years. She would shock someone when she was angry, the ground sometimes rumbled. Occasionally plants would seem to respond to her.

“Shit,” she whispered.

“Hate me now?”

Blinking, she shook her head.
“Should I?”

He brushed his lips over hers in a gentle kiss.
“No, but I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I wasn’t honest with you. You were attacked because of me. It’s my fault they hurt you.”

The memories of the beast tearing into her slammed into Roxy
all over again. She took a shaky breath and shoved them aside as she met his gaze with fierce sincerity. “You didn’t hurt me. You brought me through it. Something tells me you’ll answer any questions I have now. I get why you didn’t explain it before. I’m not sure I would have believed without seeing it.”

He opened his mouth like he was going to argue.

Her eyes narrowed, and she started with the most important question. “Do you love me?”

“
He nodded, his expression softening as he pulled her closer. You are my everything,
A Chroí
. I would do anything for you.”

“Then don’t argue. Not about this.”

A little smile lifted one side of his mouth. “Okay.”

“
Will you go with me to see Mikey? I’m going to need to change, but we can get some coffee and bring him one. I need to see him.”

“As soon as we get you home and showered, we’ll go.”

She had a sinking feeling. “Not my place though, right? You didn’t want me there for a reason. Dare I even ask?”

Trevor swept her hair behind her ear and leaned his forehead against hers.
“We’ll figure that out. Dina and Boyd moved in to the condo across from yours. Fiona made it so they can’t enter your place. Everything is safe there.”

“Except me,” she
noted.

“We’ll take care of them. Especially after what they did.”

Roxy nodded, closing her eyes. “I thought I was going to die. How the hell am I whole after that?”

He brushed his thumb over her cheek.
“We heal very fast. Faster when we shift. The moon was going to force your shift, no matter what.”

“Why were we all wolves, and you, you were something else
?”

“I don’t know anyone who can do half-man the first time they shift. In fact, not everyone can do it. I
needed to be able to talk you through, and I can’t do that as a wolf.”

She met his gaze, a smile forming on her lips.
“I love you. You know that? You made last night easier. Knowing you were there kept me sane when nothing else could have.”

He leaned back. A frown spreading, his brow furrowing.
“Hang on. There’s a lot you don’t know. Remember how I told you if I made love to you I wouldn’t let you go? I meant that, for more than a few reasons.”

“Yeah.” She grinned, tracing her fingers over his heart. “That only made me want you more.”

“What I feel for you goes deeper than love. I felt it from the second I caught your scent, and then I saw you and I knew. When we came together as one, it forged a bond which can’t be broken. It would tear me apart to lose you.”

Her smile faltered. “Are you saying that what you feel isn’t real? That it’s just metaphysical or
biological, and it isn’t from the heart?”

“No, no, of course not. My love is very real. God, there are s
o many things I should have told you.” He slumped back, laying his head on the seat as he pushed his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, Roxy. This wasn’t how I wanted to you to find out.”

Roxy
shifted to straddle his lap. “I figured out your flaw.”

He let out a tortured groan.
“What’s that?”

She
took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “You blame yourself for things you can’t control. Stop it, Trevor. I’m in love with you, and you’re stuck with me.”

Hope filled his eyes.
“Promise?”

“Mmm, I do. Now stop worrying about what we can’t change, and help me figure out my new reality.”

His arms wound around her, crushing her to him. “I will do everything in my power to do just that.”

* * * *

“Go talk to her,” Sorcha shoved at Trevor.

“She’s taking this too well. Do you think she’s mad?” Trevor
speculated.

Joey groaned.
“She was awfully frisky with you in the backseat. I don’t think she would be horny if she was mad.”

“I don’t know.” Sorcha smirked. “Trevor still has her mark from before we picked him up.”

His hand went to his shoulder, tracing the light imprint of teeth he knew was there. “At least now I can’t break her so easily.”

Joey slapped him on the back.
“Exactly.”

Sorcha folded her arms over her
chest, tapping her foot as her glare switched back and forth between Trevor and Joey. “Oi, that so? Us women aren’t going to break from a little hard loving.”

Trevor licked his lips, trying to push back a need that had been burning in him ever since she shifted
back to human in his arms. His wolf was every bit as taken with her as he was. “You’re right. Look, can we meet up with you later? She needs to learn about us, but I don’t know how to tell her. Maybe it would be good for all of us to get together.”

“
Sure, I’ll call with details,” Joey answered.

“Make sure Fiona is there. Please.”

“Will do.” Joey saluted and pulled Sorcha into the hall. Sorcha waved before shutting the door.

Trevor headed straight for the shower, dropping his clothes as he went. He stepped in behind Roxy, pulling her back against his chest.
“How you doing?”

“Better with you here.
”

“Really?”

“I could hear all of that. I’m not mad.” She turned around to face him. “Why would you think that?”

“Paranoid I guess.” He gave her a sad smile. “We have a lot to talk about. You don’t know half my past. And I’m kind of glad you didn’t ask my age, because I would have had to lie.”

One dark brow arched, humor danced in her sparkling blue eyes. “Do I want to know?”

“Is age a problem?” It was a serious question.

She chewed on her bottom lip as she leaned back against the wall. “How old are you, Trevor?”

He stared into her eyes, waiting for any response.
When her expression didn’t change, he winced. “One hundred and forty-seven years old.”

Her eyes widened but her corners of her mouth lifted in a smile.
“I can live with that. Just please tell me Joey is older so I can tease him.”

Relief flowed through Trevor. He smiled back.
“Oh, he’s older. And Shane is his father. Fiona is the oldest.”

Roxy
’s nose scrunched up. “Wait. Shane is Joey’s father? Does that make Sorcha’s twin her Mother-In-Law?”

“Try not to think about that too hard. It will give y
ou a headache,” he teased.