Submissive female: This does not mean she is weak and fragile Size Difference. Large male, small female. Baculum (Bone in male shifter penis in human form) Mentions Sex Trafficking PTSD, Depression Blood, gore, torture. Detailed consensual sex scenes. Biting, marking Breeding Kink Primal Kinks. Obsessive MMC. Strong Language
Traumatic experiences regarding dreams, memories, family loss
1.ChapterOne
2 ChapterTwo
3.ChapterThree
4.ChapterFour
5.ChapterFive
6 ChapterSix
7.ChapterSeven
8.ChapterEight
9 ChapterNine
10.ChapterTen
11.ChapterEleven
12 ChapterTwelve
13.ChapterThirteen
14.ChapterFourteen
15 ChapterFifteen
16 ChapterSixteen
17.ChapterSeventeen
18.ChapterEighteen
19 ChapterNineteen
20.ChapterTwenty
21.ChapterTwenty-One
22 ChapterTwenty-Two
23.ChapterTwenty-Four
24.ChapterTwenty-Four
25 ChapterTwenty-Five
26.ChapterTwenty-Six
27.ChapterTwenty-Seven
28 ChapterTwenty-Eight
29.ChapterTwenty-Nine
30.ChapterThirty
31 ChapterThirty-One
32.ChapterThirty-Two
33.ChapterThirty-Three
34 ChapterThirty-Four
35 ChapterThirty-Five
36.ChapterThirty-Six
37.ChapterThirty-Seven
38 ChapterThirty-Eight
39.ChapterThirty-Nine
40.ChapterForty
41 ChapterForty-One
42.ChapterForty-Two
43.Epilogue
44 MoreBookbyVera
ChapterOne
Nadia rip,drip,drip
DEight hundred and ninety-two, eight hundred and ninety-three, eight hundred and ninety-four
Ididn’trememberthelasttimemystomachfeltfullordistended Nowitwasconcave Icouldeasilycountmyribs,andmy hip bones were nearlypiercingthroughthe skin. The one thingI was grateful for was that there was no mirror. I couldn’t imaginewhatmyhairandfacelookedlike.
All those times myparents satme atthe table whenIwas younginour small apartment tellingme to eatmybeans, the sweetpotatoeswithbutterandbrownsugar thatsomepoorstarvingpersonwouldlovetogobblethismealupinaheartbeat seemsreallysillyrightnow.
I’dscoldthatlittlegirlwhosatthereallthoseyearsago. “Yeah, you will be the one starving down the road,” I’dtell her. “You will be the one wishing for this moment Get some meat on them bones, girl Savor every bite ” Isniffed;mynosewasstillrunnydespitewipingit.AsIbreathedout,myglassesbecamefoggy,andIhadtotakethemoffto wipethemclean.
Eight hundred ninety-nine Nine hundred Icontinuedtorock,nolongercounting,justgoingalongwiththedripsfromthesink Iwastiredofcounting,tiredofrocking, tiredofsittinginthisconcretecelleveryday.Mostofall,Iwastiredofliving. Theykeptme alive justenough justenoughsothatjerkwouldn’tbreaka promise toMrs.Delilah.She wasn’there now. SheneverwantedMasterShaneCunningham.Mrs.Delilahdidn’twanthim.IstillheardhercryingwhenIslept. Her cries still haunt me
Leaningovertheside,Igazedlonginglyatit,myfingerstwitchingwithanticipation.Iflickedmyfinger,beckoningittoflip overandatraytoslideunderneathit Come on, Ichantedinmyhead Let today be the day
Iwantedtocryatthepaininmycheeks Instead,Iletthetearsgatherinmyeyes,tryingmybestnottomakeasound Ever since I’d remained quietabouthow IgotMrs. Delilahout, he didn’twantto hear anyword escape mylips, and now Iwas afraidtotalk,andafterwhathehaddonetome,IsworeIwouldneverspeakagain.“Iexpectyoutoremainquietduringthe durationofmydeparture.Noneofthatbangingonthedoor,likeyoudidinthebeginning,hmm?”Hecockedhishead,andmy eyeswidenedinfear
Mrs. Delilah requested little fromMaster Cunningham, but she requested no female be sexually abused or hit, which he hadn’tdonetome.Instead,hecameupwithotherwaystopunishmeinstead.
The small window thatopened and shutbythe door would occasionallyletlightiniftheydidn’tclose itall the way, and whenthelightcamein,itwaswelcome.Thebedwasuncomfortable,butifIcriedonitjustright,itwouldsoftenthemattress.
Theblanketwassoftwhendriedafterafew daysofwashingitinthesink.Andafteragoodwashing,theairwouldpull the wateroutoftheblanket,givingtheairsomehumidity,somesortofwarmthifIconcentratedreallyhard
Grimbithis lip, his tongue playing with the bruised skin as he hunched over the genetically altered vamp tied to the cement support beamof the club’s basement Delilah’s ex-husband and step-brother, the leader of one of the largest crimesyndicatesintheeasternpartofthecountry,wasbleedingoutforwhatseemedlikethetwentiethtimethisweek.
Journeywas sittinginthecorner,oblivious tothemayhemoccurringinthebasement Sheread,drew,or whatever thehell she did behind the partition, so she wasn’ttriggered because she’d beenthroughher ownpainas well. Grimprotected her becausehewasn’tjusttheenforcerandprotectorofthisclub,buthersaswell.Heshelteredher,fuckedher,treatedherlikea goddamnprincess,andevenprovidedherwithpinkheadphonessoshecouldn’thearafuckingthing.
Andweallcaredforher Wecaredforallthefemaleswesaved Theyhadbeenthroughasmuchaswehadbeen Shane, the wretched prisoner, letouta piercinghowl thatechoed throughthe prisonwalls. His fangs, once menacingand sharp,nowlaydetachedonthegrimyfloor,lostamidstthecrimsonpoolandchunksofflesh.Thestenchofironhungheavyin theair,andthesickeningsquelchoftornskinfilledtheroom.Itwas agruesomesight,ascenethatwouldbeetchedintothe memoriesofanywitness “Justendme!”hegargled
Switchwas tappingawayat his computer, tryingto breakinto Shane’s mansion’s security. Switchwas sweating; I didn’t thinkI’d ever seenhimso angry. He was the silent type, reclusive for a wolf, but smart, and beingunable to breakinto a securitysystemwasdoinghimin
Finally, someone else feeling frustration around here other than me.
And that was wheneverythingfell apart. Locke barked orders to get Tajahand Bram a witchand a warlock to break downwhateverspellwascastoverthesecuritysystem.
I glanced at the partition that concealed his mate, then to Shane, the prisoner we were destroying in honor of Delilah, Hawke’smateandbelovedfriendtotheclub.
“I’min,”Switchannouncedwhenheslammedhisfingerontheescapebuttonofhiscomputer. Lockesnappedhisfingers,signalingforthefinalkill.Shanewasofnouseanymore. Grimwouldn’thavetokillShaneanymoreandplacehisheadbackonhisbodyforustotortureagaineachnight Thiswould bethelasttimethatShane’sheadwouldberemovedfromhisbody,permanently Grimleaned back, his fingers digginginto the fabric ofShane’s shirt. He pushed his claws into Shane’s chest, and witha sickeningsquelch,hepulledouthisheart.Thesoundofbeatingreverberatedthroughthesilentbasement.Grimliftedhisfoot
Weweregoingtomountthiswholeassheadlikeafuckingdeer mount,butIneededfurther ordersonwhattodowithit.I needed to show thatIwas a capable brother and putmyneeds and wants behind me so Icould show mypresident acting alphaevenifhecouldnotholdthattitlewithouthiswolf thatIcaredaboutthisclubandthebrokensoulsinit
Itwasagrainyblack-and-whitepictureofafemalehuddledonacotinasmallcellwithnowindowsandonlyadoor She wasrockingherselfbackandforthwithamassofcurlyhairandatinybody
Myheart stopped inmychest whenIsaw her. Anoverprotective instinct surged inside me. It wasn’t enoughto wake the grizzlythatslumbered,butmybodyinstantlyreacted,andmyhandthatgrippedthedecapitatedheadtightened.
“Whoisshe?”Iwhispered Itriedtoremaincalm
Iwasanythingbut Thiswomanneededtoberescued,andthatwasthewholepointofwhytheIronFangwasfounded To savethoseindistress,toregainredemptionforourselvessowewouldn’tbecompletelydamned.
Weweregainingredemption,someofusgettingsecondchances,butthiswomansittinginacell,alone,wasdoingsomething tome
AsIyankedopenthedrawersoftheoldpinechest,thesweetsmellofpolishedwoodfilledmynostrils,makingmefeellike Iwas ina forest Irummaged throughthe contents, myfingers brushingagainstthe roughtexture ofblackclothing, the cold metalofweapons,andthesoftnessofskimasks Thecreakingofthechest’sjointsechoedthroughtheroom,blendingwithmy heavybreathing.Suddenly,aflickerofmovementcaughtmyattention,butIchosetoignoreit,slammingthedrawersshutwitha loudthudthatreverberatedaroundtheroom.
“I’mheretocheckonyourhealth,Bear,”Bonessaidashewalkedin Theclubdocsethisbagontopofmypileofshit,andI scowled whenIsaw his stuffover mine He lifted it, shakinghis head and placingitonthe bedside table “Youknow you shouldn’tleave.Itisn’twise.”
Iscoffed and pulled the claws frommyknuckles, feelingthe sharp edges graze myskin. Iranmyfingers across the cool metal,thentosseditwiththerestofmystuff.“Whosays?You?Youhelpmorewolvesthanyoudobears.Bearsdobetteroff alone IdofinewhenIgooffforafewdaysandcomebackhere”
“Youdon’tknow how longyouwill be gone onthis mission.Youstill needthe strengthofothers.” Bones openedhis bag, pullingoutastethoscope,abloodpressurecuff,andaneedleandsyringe.
“No!” Ibellowed, rippingitoff “I’mgoing, no matter whatyousay” Istuckmyfinger into his chest “I’mgoingto help rescue thatwomanwhether yousayIcanor not. Youor Locke can’ttell me otherwise.” Iknocked his bagonthe floor and grabbedmyclothes,stuffingtheminsidetheduffle.
Isankmyhandsintotheplushqueenmattress,feelingthesoftnessandwarmthbeneathmyfingertips.Withmyheaddrooping heavilybetweenmyshoulders,Itookinthesightofthedisheveledblanketsscatteredhaphazardlyacrossthebed,remnantsofa restless night’s sleep. As I closed my eyes, the silence of the room enveloped me, broken only by the sound of my own breathing.
My grizzly didn’t wake up, didn’t claim that female, so what? But my protective instinct awakened. I wanted to help someone Ineededareasontolive Apassion,adrivetodosomethinggood Onthelastmission,whenwefoundJourney,I waslosingthatsparkandwilltodogood.Seeingthatbatteredgirl,Ifoundmeaningagain,awilltowakeup.Thecandlethat wasburningoutinsidemehadsparkedagain.Ididn’twanttoletitgo;itgavememotivationtoliveuntilIfoundmymate. “No,”Ireplied.
Irolledmyeyes “I’vebeenslipping,Iknow that IgaveJourneyhell inthebeginningaboutthissecondchancething I’ve beensnappingatAnakiwhenheaskedmeifIbelieveinallthissecondchancestuffsinceHawkehasDelilahnow Thething is, Ido believe init. IthinkI’ll geta chance, but” Ipulled onmybeard “Idon’tknow ifI’ll getmychance intime. I’m gettingjealous,irrationalandcan’tholdbackmyemotionslikeIusedto.Iwantamate.Iwanthernow.
“Pastmissions haven’tdone itfor me Inormallygeta rush, a sense ofaccomplishment Itfills partofthe void since my animalisnotthere ButthenIsawher Thatwomanonthescreen Forthefirsttimeinalongtime,Ihadaprotectiveurge,an instincttogoandrescuesomeone.Ineedtodothis,Bones.Keepmymindofffindingamateandprotectsomeone.AndIdon’t needyouorLocke’sdamnpermissiontodoit.I’mgoingbecauseifIdon’t,I’lllosemyselfmorethanIalreadyhave.”
Bonesstaredatmeforalongmoment,hiseyesneverleavingmine “IcanonlytellLockewhatIknowaboutyourphysical abilities Ican’ttell himwhatyouwantto do Ican’tputyouona plane withthe teamand putthemindanger It’s for their safetyandyours.I’mdoingthisasyourfriend.Ihopeyouseethat.”
Igrowled.Bonesbackedup,headingtoLocke.Lockechuckled,playingwithanunlitcigaretteinhismouth.“Nah,he’ll be fine.Won’tyou,Bear?Youwon’tscrewthisupforDelilah’ssake,willyou?” “No,sir,”Isaidandgrabbedmyduffle.“Iwon’t.”
Once more, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the world outside my window. I gazed in awe as the electric bolts dancedfromcloudtocloud,lightingthenightsky.Thethunderthatfollowedrumbledthroughtheair,shakingtheplane’sfloor. AsIlookedon,Isawthelightningstrikethegroundbelow Theearthtrembledasthelightspreadlikewickedwitch’sfingers, clawingatthegroundbelow MystomachchurnedasIwatchedtheterrifyingdisplayofrawpower
Ireachedoverthetwoseatsthatseparatedmefromthewindowandslammedthemovableblindshut,noticingthatIleftthree scratchmarksontheplastic.Ipulledmyhandaway,lookingatthethreetinyclawsprotrudingfrommyfingers. The hell?
Igazed at myhand again It was onlyona few fingers, myindex, middle, and ringfinger Not enoughto do anyharmto anyone,notaslongasmygrizzly’s,butitwasenoughtogetmyheartpounding.
Thenailsweredark;allofthemwereonmylefthand,meaningtheyweren’tnails;theyweremyclawsgrowing.Iscratched thebackofmyhead.ThethunderrolledinthedistancewhileIcontinuedtostareatthephenomenon,atwhatthiscouldmean. Was Bones right? Was I going rabid?
Joiningthe IronFanggave mygrizzlysomethingtoholdontobefore he fell intoaninfinite slumber.Italsogave me some hopethatshifters likemedidn’thavetobealoneandsuffer insilence.Stayingtogether as amismatchedpackor community gaveusenoughstrengthtorelyoneachother.Evenifbearsstayedinsolitudemoreoftenthannot.
CyranandQuillianwere partofthe IronFang’s special ops forces Locke putinplace a few years ago Theygounder the guiseoftheMoonlightOutcasts,arockbandthat“traveled”aroundthecountry.Theyweren’tbad.Theyplayeddecentmusic andkepthumansentertainedwhenthebrothersandsistersoftheclubscoutedfortheirmatesonFridayandSaturdaynights.
Quilliansatnexttome,hismetalchainsclangingagainstthearmrestwhilehisblackmeshtoprustledwitheverymovement. He looked like the epitome of a rockband lead singer, but it onlyinfuriated me. I despised how effortlesslytheyput ona façade,blendingintotheirrolestooseamlessly.MaybeitwasbecauseIloathedvampires,ormaybeitwasthesharpmetallic scentofQuillian’schainsmixedwiththemustysmellofhisleatherpantsthatmademyskincrawl
The IronFangdidn’tcondone anyracistjudgmentshit. Locke said thatfromthe beginning. Anyone who was rejected was welcome tobe there.Vampires hadmore time ontheir hands thanthe shifters before theywentdamncrazyafter a rejection, though.Theyhadbetterhandleonthedemonsthatinhabitedthem,morewilltolive,ormaybetheyactedmorehuman.HellifI knew
Theystillgavemethecreeps.
Quillianpulled a vape thathungaround his neckand stuckitinhis mouth. He puffed onitseveral times and letthe vape gather around us. “Tell me whyLocke letyoucome withus?” He looks me up and down. “Youaren’treallystealthy, can’t squeezeintosmallspaces,andbeingquietisn’tyourstrongsuit”Heletoutapuffofhisvape
We wanted to tryto get whatever redemptionwe could before goingrabid That was before Now that Grim, Tajah, and Hawke got another chance, we were more hopeful. Things were looking up, great things were happening, people were believingagain.
I’dbethebeartomakesurethisfemalewasfreeandstartedanew life Anew apartment,ajob,andsafety,tobewiththe IronFangwhereshewouldbeprotectedandlookedafteruntilshewaswell.
The image ofher tinybody, her arms wrapped around herself, shaking, was enoughto strengthenmydozinggrizzly’s heart fromafewbeatsaminutetopumpingmoreregularly.Maybethatwaswhymyclawswereappearing.
The plane continued withits turbulence Myhead leaned backinto the seatas the vampires and one wolfshifter, who had beenadoptedintotheMoonlightOutcastsyearsago,laughedandjokedwithoneanotherwhiletheyputtheirdrinksawayand gotreadyforthedescent.
My grizzly was unsettled as he slumbered, my nails turning blacker as I continued to concentrate on what mission I had beforeme.Thiswassupposedtobeastealthmission,notmyforte,I’dadmit.
Igripped myGlocks under eacharmholster and pulled themout, switchingthe safetyonand off. Silver, holywater, and dogwoodfilledbulletswereinvariousclipsonmybelt.Notjusthumans,butothersupernaturalscouldbeinside.
Iletoutabreath,tighteningmybeltas we loweredthroughthe clouds,the rainpeltingontheplane This was it Soonwe wouldbelandingontheprivaterunway.
MyheartpoundedasIracedacrossthedarkenedlawnoftheestatewiththeotherfiveMoonlightOutcastmembers The smallrunwaywasfarenoughfromthemansionsoitwouldn’tdisturbanyoneontheproperty,andthepilotcouldland withnolightsontherunway.
Thepilothadtobecompelledoveradozentimesoverthetripacrossthestatesbecausenoneofthevampires’compulsions would last more than an hour Much less than it usually would if they were at full strength before their own rejections
“Remembertostaytogether,”Quillianreiterated. Igrowled,rollingmyeyes Iwasreadytomove,readytoblastintherewithgunsblazing,clawsout,andfuckingkillthem all.
“See thatis notwhatwe want,” Quilliansnappedatmyhuffing.“This isn’ta Locke mission.He isn’there.I’mthe one in charge.” His blackleather gloves stretchedaroundhis hands andgrabbedontomynightvisiongoggles,pullingthemtoward him “Don’tfuckupmysystem,Bear”
Isnarled, showingmyteeth, and he letgo, his eyes wideningfor a fractionofa second. He shookhis head and threw out somehandsignalsonlyhisguyswouldknow.
Switchspoutedoffdirections,hisvoicecalm,cool,andcollectedashegaveoutorders Itwaslikehewasrighttherewith us, readingthe map. He knew whatwas around everycorner, ifa guard was nearby, tellingus whento wait, whento grab someonebytheneckandtakethemout.
As we moved through the house, we entered the massive hallway It did not surprise us as we entered a den area with sleepinghumanbodiesscatteredaroundthecouchesandTVblaringwithinfomercialsperSwitch’sdescription.Therewereno women.Justbeerbottles,linesofcocaine,drugs,glasspipes,andbongslyingeverywhere.
I clenched myhands tightly, feelingmynails digginginto mypalms as myheart thumped wildlyagainst myribcage. The soundwasdeafening,likeamuffleddrumbeatechoinginmyears.Butitwasn’tjustmyownheartbeatthatIcouldfeel there wasalowgrowlemanatingfromthedepthsofmybeing,aprimalsoundthatrumbledinmychestlikethunder Icouldsmellthe muskyscentofmyownfear minglingwiththe sharptangofadrenaline,makingmynostrils flare.Andbeneathitall,Icould sensethestirringofmygrizzly,restlessenergythatpulsedthroughmelikealivewire.Itwasbothexhilaratingandterrifying, andIwasn’tsurewhatitcouldmean.
As my claws grew longer, they shredded through the leather with a faint scratching sound Quillian and the others were completelyoblivioustothetransformationhappeningtome.TheywerestaringatCyran,whowassniffingtheirair,pullingoff hisgogglesandreachingforthekitchendoor.
“Hey, big Bear,”afamiliarvoicecameonthecommanditwasnoneotherthanJourney Grim’swomanwastheclub’spriestess.TheMoonGoddessblessedherwhenshewillinglylistenedtotheGoddessmonths agowhennooneelsewould.Shedamnsavedusallandistryingtogetourstubbornassestofindourmates notthatIwould everrejectasecondchance But,nowthatshewastalkingtome,maybeitwastoolate “We are on a private line, Bear It’s just us, ” shesoothed IswallowedhardastheteamwatchedCyranstaringatthekitchendoor. “Canyouaskhertogivememoretime?I’mtryinghere.”
Withouthesitation, he swiftlylifted the unconscious female, whomhe had previouslycommanded to sleep, and cradled her delicatelyagainsthisbroadchest.Alow,comfortingpurremanatedfromhimasheheldherclose.
“Beloved.”Hesmiledandrubbedhercheekwithhisthumb.
Fuck, everyone gets their female
“This wasn’tpartofthe plan, Cyran” Quilliantookoffthe goggles and shoved theminhis bag As he approached, Cyran heldthefemaletighterandhissedathim.
Quillianstoodbackandheldhishandsup.“Quiteright.Yes,well,congratstoyou,oldchap,butwehaveamissionnow,and you’re outsince you’re compromised. Butwhat’s thataround her neck?” He pointed to the blackcollar witha red blinking light Cyrangrowled,andhisfingerswrappedaroundit,readytopull.
And thenwe descended, leavingthe kitchenbehind Switchguided us further into the abyss thatwas nota basementbuta dungeonthatseemedtobeanafterthoughtofthegloriousmansionthatwetraveledthrough.
Thisplacereekedofdeath,thepungentstenchofbloodandammoniamakingmynosewrinkleindisgust.Myheartpounded painfully in my chest, the worry that we might be too late to save the poor female making my stomach churn My grizzly companion’s eyes snapped openatthe same momentthatthe thoughtcrossed mymind, his keensense ofsmell detectingthe acridodorthatpermeatedtheair.
“Break it down. Grab her, get out,”Lockesnappedthroughthecomm.“She doesn’t look like she has much time.” Ifrownedandopenedthesmallwindowthatshutautomaticallyifyoudon’tholditopen,andwhatIsawthrewmystomach intoknots.
The woman was adorned in threadbare clothes that barely covered her skeletal frame The sound of her labored breaths filledtheroom,accompaniedbythefaintcreakingofthepoorexcuseofacotthatstruggledtosupportherweight.Therewasa pungentsmellofsweatmixedwiththemustyodorofunwashedfabric.Herarmdangledoffthesideofthecot,exposedtothe chillyair,withablanketofnothingbutragstoprovidewarmth.
Thedustflewfromtheconcrete,andIsteppedonthedoor,walkingin Quillianwasrightbehindme Herushedandtriedto bolt infront of me to checkonthe girl, but I gripped himbythe armand held himclose to myface “Don’t touchher,” I breathed.Iglancedatherbody,herchestbarelyrising.
Quillian, the asshole leader of the group, raised a brow to retaliate, but his eyes sunkbackinto his head, and his hands grippedmywristholdingontohisarm.“Youreyes,yourbear ” “Iain’tjustadamnbear.I’magrizzly,”Icorrected.“Andhe’sawake.”
ChapterFive
Nadia
Iknewtheirscreamsweren’treal Thehigh-pitched,exaggeratedcriestheymadeformeechoedinthedarkness Thesweet namestheycalledmeasachild “littlesweet,”“mouse,”“angel” werenowlacedwithlonging Theenticingpromises wewouldbetogetherasafamilyonceagainwerenothingbutadistantmemory,likethefadedscentofmymother’sperfume thatlingeredintheair.AsIlaythere,thecoldnessoftheroomseepingintomybones,IrealizedthattheloveandwarmthIhad oncefeltwerelonggone Myskin prickled withgoosebumps as I lay there in the dark, feeling as though somethingwas watching me The more I movedhereinmydreams,thedeepertheclawsrakedmyskin.
BeforeIcametothisprisoninthebasementofthemansion,Inever feltpaininadream.Thatwasall differentnow,andI wasn’tsurewhy HereIfelteverything,anditwasmagnified “Nadia, please, we are over here” Icould hear mymother’s thickRussianaccent echo throughthe darkness, and Papa’s gruntsbeatingawaywhateverwaspullinghimandMamaawayfromme.Hewasn’tfightinganythingbecauseIknewhewasn’t reallythere.
IknewbecauseItriedforthelongesttimetofindtheminthedarkness,andwhileIdid,thelongclawsofwhateverheldme inplacewoulddigdeeperintomyskin,makingmescream,makingtheirowncriesthatmuchlouder I laythere, feelingthe sharp claws sinkinginto myskinwhile their cries and mytears mingled together. Beingawake or asleep, either way, was torture. There was no rest, and Ithought or atleasthoped thatwhenIclosed myeyes this time, I wouldmeetmymaker.
Arumbling, deep and motor-like, came fromdeep withinthe wall holdingme. I wasn’t put off bythe deep vibrations; it remindedmeofthemanytimesridingintheoldcarmyparentsusedtodrivearoundwhenIwasachildtoputmetosleep.The wallitselfwasvastandsoft,andIuncoveredmyeartoinspectwhatIwasleaningupagainst
Itwasaman,butnotjustanymanwhohadmeinhisarms.Insteadoffindingaclean-shavenmafiamanlikeIusuallysee,this one had a thick, darkbeard and was tall witha wide chest His eyes were goldenyellow, not normal inthe slightest, and despitethefurrowinhisbrowandhisclenchedjawtomakehimlookintimidating,Ididn’tfeelhewouldhurtme.
“We’vegotaclearshottogetoutofhere.Wearegoingtoheadoutthebackofthekitchen,”amansaidbehindhim. Iput myhand backonmyear to muffle the noise, and the mancarryingme turned, and we shuffled out ofthe room. The turning, the racingup the stairs, and the heavyfootsteps were all movements I wasn’t readyfor Luckily, mystomachwas empty,andthenoisewasminimal.
Once outside, I tookinmyfirst breathof freshair. Myeyes widened, and Idared to openthemall the wayand saw the brightestmoonI’deverwitnessed.Itwasn’tcompletelyfull,butitwasthemostbeautifulthingI’dseen.
AsIleanedagainstthetoweringfigureholdingme,Igazedupatthevastexpanseofthesky Thecooleveningbreezeswept over myskin, carryingthe scentofbloomingflowers Witha heartfull ofgratitude, Isilentlywhispered a thankyouto the heavens above. I let out a contented sigh, feeling the soft fabric of the man’s shirt beneath my fingertips. It was as if his embracewasshieldingmefromtheharshnessoftheworld.Therhythmicsoundofhissteadybreathingwasasoothinglullaby, lullingmeintoapeaceful state Atthatmoment,IrealizedIfeltsafefor thefirsttimeinwhatfeltlikeaneternity Perhapsit wasbecausehistouchwasthefirsthumancontactIhadexperiencedinsolong,ormaybeitwasbecausehehadchasedaway thedarknessfromnotjustmydreamsbutmyrealityaswell.
Icoulddiehappynow.
Hetightenedhisholdonme Myheadfellbackintohischest,andIsmiled,sohappytobeoutoftheprison Whereverthese peopleweretakingme,mayitbeanotherprison Iknew Iwouldn’tlastlong Icouldpretendthismanwasmysavior That therewassomepartofgoodintheworld,evenifitwasjustforanotherday.
Thearea was darkas the menslinkedtheir wayacross the courtyard.Theywere quiet,guns intheir hands andlookingall aroundthem Theyweretrainedandskillfulinwhattheydid,butthegiantholdingmestoodoutmorethantheothers He was taller andbroader;he didn’tfitinwiththe restofthem He didn’tduckbehindstatues or trees;he walkedlike he ownedtheestate,andhisjawwassetsotenseIfearedhemightbreakhisteeth.
Theplanewentintomotion,andsoonenough,itwasairborne,andtheshakinginmybodysoonsubsided. It was better than food
As soonas the plane stabilized and the distinctclickingofseatbelts beingundone filled the air, Iinstinctivelybroughtmy handsuptomyears.Iwincedatthehigh-pitchednoises,buryingmyfacefurtherintoBear’schest.
Bear unbuckled our seat belt, picked me up, and traveled to the backofthe plane. Bear tapped ona door, and it opened rapidly,revealingagentlemanwithsaltandpepperedhair
“Loweryourvoice Shecan’thandleloudnoises,”Beargrumbled,pushedthegentlemantotheside,andbargedin The softvoice Bear used onme earlier was gone, and now Ifeltmore guiltyfor causingproblems. Butmaybe itwas all becausehewastryingtogetmeontheplaneandbecompliantanyway.
I nodded a few times, wrappingthe blanket tighter. “Canyoutell me your name?” Bones sat downona stool, so I was lookingdownathim.Itmademefeeltaller,likeIwasonthesamelevelashim,butIwasstilluncomfortable.Ihadtwomenin theroomandthenme,agirl,withnowaytocommunicate
Bones pulled outa clipboard, flipped over a piece ofpaper, and handed me a pen. Iheld the penas bestIcould withmy hand,butitshooksobadlyIcouldhardlykeepitsteady.Ibitmylip,tryingtoconcentrate,butmybonyfingerswereunableto grip IdroppeditseveraltimesuntilBearcametomyaidandsatmeupbeforepullingmeintohislap
AssoonasIrealizedshewasmine,Ifeltasuddensurgeofstrengthcoursingthroughmybody Iknewinstantlythatitwasall becauseofher Icouldsmelltheheadyaromaoffreshlypickedwildblackberriesdrippingwithsweet,stickyhoney Thescent was so strong that it filled my nostrils and permeated every inch of my being. It was the most delicious smell I had ever experienced,anditbroughtbackmemoriesofmychildhood.Icouldalmosttastethesweet,juicyberriesonmytongueandfeel the stickyhoneydrippingdownmychin Itwas like beingtransportedbackintime towhenIate itas a cub,carefree ofthe worldandthedangersthatsurroundedme Thesensationwasoverwhelming,andIknewIwouldneverforgetthismomentfor aslongasIlived.
Mybear reared his uglyhead, shookwhatever fur leftofour emaciated body, and setoffa deafeningroar thatalerted the guards.IknewQuillianandhismenwoulddealwiththemquicklybecauseQuillianranoutthedoorwhileIscoopedmymate inmyarmsandpaidthemnomind.
I had her I finally had her Icradledher,smelledher,buriedmynoseintoherneck Shewokeuponceandshowedmedeepblueeyes,andIknewshe hadmewrappedaroundherfinger.I’ddoanythingforher,andrightnow,Ineededtogethertoasafeplace.
As we went to the plane and her grip on my shirt tightened, I hoped she would remain awake so she could answer my questions.Icouldknowhername,knowwhoshewas,andfinallyhearhervoice.
