Tortured Embrace Read online

  ****

  “We need to talk,” Adam told him, blocking his way into the kitchen.

  Jason nodded his head noncommittally. When Adam said nothing, he raised his eyebrows at him.

  “Not here. Take a walk with me,” Adam said, stepping around him toward the door.

  Alarm bells went off. He reached out and felt the tension his friend was radiating. “What about Serena? I don’t feel comfortable leaving her.”

  Adam waved a hand toward the kitchen. “Ramo’s here. She’ll be fine,” he said brusquely. The tension in his friend multiplied the instant he’d said Serena’s name. It didn’t take a genius to know what was coming.

  Jason followed Adam out of the round house and down the street. They walked at a casual pace, neither one keen on being overheard by the occupants in the house.

  Adam broke the silence after several awkward moments. “She’s back,” he muttered low, almost as if he still couldn’t believe it.

  Jason nodded again, his conversation with the woman in question still weighing on him. It felt as though he were crawling out of his skin.

  They neared the park, and his eyes landed on the swing he’d watched a young Serena sit in as she’d read her book. He focused on the empty black seat as Adam went on.

  “She’s hiding something. So is Eva. And you know what? I don’t want to know what it is.” Adam’s voice tight, he stared straight ahead, his eyes hooded. Jason knew he was fighting back tears. He didn’t respond to his alpha, but he couldn’t help the shot of remorse coursing through him.

  Adam’s head whipped around. “Fuck,” he groaned. “Did she say…”

  Jason shook his head, his gaze still on the swing. “Let’s not do this. Neither of us is up for it,” he said gruffly. He wished to God he didn’t know. Still didn’t, really. Serena had been pretty vague on the details, but he could only imagine what they’d done. He sure as hell wasn’t going to put his friend through the agony he was going through. One crazy motherfucker was enough.

  They passed the park, and Jason trained his eyes now on the ground. He saw Adam nod silently from the corner of his eye.

  “Look,” Adam began, his tone cautious. “Serena wasn’t raped.” He cleared his throat. “She was thrown in a room with Michaels during the moon heat.”

  A blast of jealousy ripped through the air. Clenching his teeth, Jason tried in vain to erase the horrid image in his head. Avoiding Adam’s stunned expression, he walked on.

  “She told you?” he asked, incredulously, his blue eyes narrowing at him.

  Jason uttered through his teeth, “Yes.”

  The fact Serena would share something so intimate with him must have been the cause of Adam’s stunned silence. Too late, Jason realized Serena wouldn’t have said anything unless there was something between them.

  “J, I know how you feel about her, and I’m sure you know she’s had a thing for you since she was a teenager, but I didn’t like it before, and I don’t like it now. I don’t think…”

  “You don’t think I’m right for her,” Jason finished for him, his words coming out clipped. Trying to keep his emotions in check, Jason walked on waiting for the inevitable.

  Adam coughed. “It’s not that I don’t think you’re good enough for her. It’s the life we lead. Especially after what’s happened. You know the danger that surrounds us. Look what’s happened to Eva. I nearly got her killed, and now she’s a vampire.” He shook his head, letting out a huff. “I’ll never forgive myself for what I did to her.”

  “Yet you’re still with her,” Jason said without thinking.

  Adam bristled at his words. “She’s the mother of my children.” He glanced at Jason before going on. “You and Serena…nothing’s happened. You don’t have a relationship or anything and you haven’t mated so it shouldn’t be too hard…”

  Jason stopped and turned to face him, his arm muscles rippling at his sides. “Get to the point, Adam. You don’t want us together, right? Got it. But don’t presume to know what the fuck I’m feeling.”

  He’d never wanted to hit his alpha so much in his life. He knew he was bad for Serena, but having someone tell him to stay away from her was like being kicked in the head. He stared his master down, jaws tight.

  Adam’s upper lip curled back slightly at Jason’s hostility. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed his finger at his chest. “You know what’s best for her.”

  Jason cocked his head. “And you know what it feels like to live without the woman you love,” he countered. You’ve got some fucking nerve.

  Adam’s expression faltered. He lowered his hand. “I’m sorry, but this is how it has to be,” he said.

  Jason looked away, letting out a deep exhale. “I know, man. Just hearing it…I don’t want to be told what to do when it comes to her. It feels wrong.” He passed a hand over his face, massaging his chin with agitated fingers. “Nothing’s happened. Nothing will happen, but I can’t leave her alone. I have to protect her, and that means I’ll be around. You know I can’t help it.”

  Adam nodded, but he looked worried, eyeing him mistrustfully. “Yeah, I know.” He coughed. “Look…”

  “Forget it,” Jason uttered, edgy. He needed to put some distance between them before he said something he’d regret. He’d already toed the line by telling him to back off, but he seriously couldn’t help it. They weren’t mated, but to him, Serena was his.

  Now he was being told not to get involved with her. God help him. The thought nearly killed him. Staring off toward the house, he gnawed on the inside of his cheek, dreading the one thing that finalized it. He squinted off into the distance. “Is this an order?” he asked, his chest stung as he waited.

  “Yes.”

  Jason gave a clipped nod and walked away, leaving his alpha behind.

  ****

  The moment she stepped outside, Serena felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. The cool fall day against her skin made her feel alive. Wrapping her favorite sweater tighter around her, she closed her eyes and let the sun’s rays warm her cheeks.

  “Are you okay?” her brother asked.

  “Yeah,” she assured, opening her eyes to give him a small smile.

  Instantly alert, they both turned toward the north end of the street. Someone lurked in between the houses, watching them.

  “Get back in the house,” Adam ordered.

  Serena shook her head, her gaze honed in the voyeur’s direction. “No, Adam,” she said calmly. Picking up on whoever skulked down the street, she couldn’t feel any danger. Besides, it was going to take a lot more than some nosy passerby to frighten her now. “I love being here and spending time with my nephews, but I need to go back home.”

  “Serena, there is someone watching us right now. Do you think it’s a coincidence?”

  She looked over toward the meadow where she felt Jason’s hackles raise as he too sensed their unknown company. “I’ve got you and Jason. Plus, you’ve added enough security measures it’ll probably take forever to get into my house. I’ll be fine. Besides, I don’t recognize the scent. From what I can tell it’s human.” She squinted back down the row of houses. “It’s probably some researcher, trying to get a look at the Blacktail alpha. Or better yet, his beauty of a mate.” She smirked up at him, and he scowled back.

  By the glow on her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s face these past couple of days, Evangeline and Adam had made up when she returned from the King’s Coven.

  While she recuperated, Evangeline and Serena had had a long and interesting conversation as they played with the twins. She couldn’t believe her brother actually kidnapped Eva. The brute. Poor girl must have been scared out of her mind. Although, the longer they talked the more she saw how in love Eva was with Adam. Serena liked her a lot and was very pleased to see her brother so happy with his new family.

  An ache filled her chest at the thought of her nephews. She wanted to spend every waking hour with Daniel and David, but she had to get back to some semblance of her life. After spend
ing four days in the roundhouse building her strength and playing with the boys, she was completely healed with just a few faint scars remaining on her thighs.

  Her stomach tightened as a flash of a blade cutting into her skin filled her mind, momentarily blinding her.

  “Serena?” Adam’s voice severe, he watched her carefully.

  Shaking her head, she conjured up an image of Daniel’s expression as he’d spit up on Ramo yesterday. His little mouth had formed an O and big green eyes seemed to say, Oops. His chubby cheeks could cure anything.

  Yes, going home and throwing herself into her work would take her mind off things. The longer she stayed with her brother, the longer they’d continue to treat her like a patient.

  Ten minutes later, Adam was showing her how to work the added alarms to her bungalow. She tried to pay attention to what he was saying, but was too excited to be home. How she’d missed her little cozy house. It was small, which annoyed Adam, but she didn’t need much space. The front door opened right into the living room/dining room facing a plush sectional taking up most of the area opposite an obnoxiously large flat screen her brother had bought her last Christmas. A small coffee table sat in front of the sofa where piles of books still lay. A throw was tossed haphazardly, and she thought of how late she’d been up the night before her abduction, reading.

  “I’ll send Maggie over. The place could use a good scrub,” Adam said, referring to his cleaning lady.

  “That’s all right. I’ll clean up.” She took her sweater off, feeling quite hot. She didn’t want to acknowledge how her skin itched at the feel of clothing, her jeans beginning to irritate her. The T-shirt she wore wasn’t so bad, but her bra and underwear were suffocating. The minute her brother left, the jeans were coming off.

  “What? You’re going to clean now?” Adam asked.

  “No time like the present.”

  He followed her into the tiny kitchen where a small table for two sat just under the back window, providing a panoramic view of her backyard. Looking out, she saw the wretched state of her rose bushes and froze, a sudden overwhelming sadness flooded through her, stinging her chest.

  The red buds had shriveled to a dry chalky black. The crispy petals which managed to hang on drooped from crusty vines with cracked leaves. The sight was disturbingly haunting. Her throat swelled, and she felt her lungs cut off. It wasn’t until a brown paper bag was shoved in her face that she realized she was hyperventilating.

  On her knees in the middle of the tiled floor, Serena took long exaggerated pulls of air as her brother rubbed her back, trying to calm her in a hushed tone. The tears relentless, she couldn’t control her ragged breaths. She kept lifting the bag from her face, sobbing hysterically.

  “My roses, Adam! My roses!” she cried in a high-pitched voice, rocking back and forth. Dizzied with panic, Serena blinked profusely at her blurred vision. The stabbing pain in her chest was unbearable. Anxious, she vaguely wondered what was happening. She had no idea what had come over her, but her kitchen seemed to be closing in on her, her heart beating loudly in her ears.

  “Breathe, Serena…” he hummed.

  “No…my…” She took a deep breath. “…My…” she spluttered.

  “It’s okay, Rena. Next year, honey. I’ll help you. You’ll have your roses. I promise.”

  A howling cut off his words of comfort far off to the east.

  Sniffing shakily, she stiffened.

  Adam’s hand stilled at her back as they both listened to the prolonged wail echoing around her house.

  Serena closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, taking deep inhales and exhales… in and out…in and out, letting the sound of her wolf’s agonizing howls slip inside her soul, easing the pain.

  She was all right. She was home. Her brother was here, and Jason was just outside, comforting her as he called out. Just hearing him suffer for her, was enough to pull her back. She was okay. There was no need to panic. I’m okay, she thought, knowing he’d sense she was on the mend. Her heaving shoulders slowed, her breathing easing up.

  Taking one last long breath into the bag, she removed it from her face, dropping her hands in her lap. Opening her eyes, she stared listlessly at the legs of the kitchen table. Her chest swelled as she calmed, but evenly now. “I’m sorry,” she said, a numbing sensation paralyzing her on the floor. Strangely, she liked the feel of the cool tile beneath her.

  Adam kissed the top of her head. “Don’t apologize,” he said thickly.

  She didn’t know how long they sat there, but a strange calm had settled inside her. The cold, hollow pain in her chest still lingered though, and she wondered if she’d ever feel right again.

  God, what was that? Why had she reacted in such way to a bush? It was fall. Of course her roses would be dead by now. She hated to admit it, but perhaps it would be best if she’d talk to someone, other than Jason and Evangeline. She wasn’t sure it would do her much good, but it was worth a try. There was no way she wanted another episode like this to happen. People would think she was out of her damn mind.

  “I don’t want to leave you alone. I know you want to be home, but can I send Eva over to stay with you for a while?”

  “No. The boys need her more than I do. It’s okay Adam. I’m feeling much better.”

  Her brother still looked worried as he helped her up. His mouth thin, he bit down hard before he spoke. “Okay. Let’s get started.”

  She looked at him. “What?”

  Heading for the cabinet under the sink he said, “I’ll help you clean, and then we’ll order a pizza and catch up on the soaps.” Trying futilely to sound like a bad ass as he took out supplies and gossiped about her favorite soap opera, he said, “Sonny’s getting on my nerves…”

  Serena listened to her brother ramble on, her throat closing up as the tears began, unbelievably thankful for his presence. A small smile lifted her cheeks as she watched her enormous brother shake out a can of Pledge as he chatted on about the new girl on the show. Serena was to blame for his little soap addiction. He’d had no choice but to watch every episode with her when she was growing up.

  Taking a deep breath and some serious control on her emotions, she headed for the pantry to take out the broom, determined to make a fresh start.

  Chapter Nine

  By the time Adam left the previous evening it was nearly midnight. After cleaning, stuffing their faces with pizza and hot wings, and their soap opera marathon, she went straight to bed.

  Serena passed a fitful night, though. Several times she awoke in a panic, expecting to see the black stone wall of the prison, not the beige coloring of her bedroom. She stared inertly now at the espresso wood dresser across the foot of her queen-sized bed. The white floral duvet always comfortable, now suffocated her.

  Turning roughly onto her side, she tried to go back to sleep. Feeling disorientated frustrated the hell out of her. And if she was honest with herself, it scared her as well. The wretched notion she could still be back in the damp cellar, fighting the pain drove her insane. She found it difficult to separate the past from the present, to distinguish reality from horrifying memory.

  No matter how hard she tried to forget, she lived in a perpetual state of fear. She was afraid of being alone, and even worse, of being physically hurt again that it was odd to feel healthy.

  At five in the morning her eyes shot open again when she heard the familiar sounds of footfalls on stone stairs, but it was only her warped imagination. She wiped the sweat off her brow and yanked the covers off, her hands immediately going to her thighs, but there were no open wounds. They moved automatically to her forearms, searching for a needle imbedded in her vein, but none was there.

  I’m home. I’m safe, she told herself. Why couldn’t she feel safe?

  The lamp beside her was still on, having no desire to wake in the dark thanks to her imprisonment. She could now add must sleep with the light on to the pile of her dysfunctional traits.

  Forcing herself out of her musings, she got out
of bed and headed to her dresser. Rummaging through her drawers, she found the only workout gear she owned. She’d never really had the inclination to work out. Runs during the full moon were exercise enough, but Evangeline bought her several yoga videos, insisting they’d ease the tension in her body and help her relax.

  Still uncomfortable with a lot of clothing on, she glanced up at her reflection in the mirror to gaze at her bare body. She was still too thin. Serena had always been around hundred and twenty pounds, but she must have dropped about forty. She’d put on a few at her brother’s with all the food Evangeline and Adam made her eat. She obliged them, even though the food tasted like sawdust in her mouth.

  Knowing Jason thought her too fragile, she was resolved to build her strength, to prove to him she could get better, and filling up was just the beginning. Determined to thicken up, she thought pancakes might be in order, knowing this was probably the only item left in the cupboard she could fix herself.

  She turned to the side. The way her bones stood out on her hips and ribs made her cringe. Her breasts appeared smaller too, but a few days of burgers would remedy this.

  Her hands fell over her belly, but before she could fall into a state of depression over her unborn child, she straightened and immediately got dressed. Throwing on black stretch pants and a V-neck, Serena headed into the living room barefoot. She took a quick glance outside, peering through white wood blinds as she wrapped her too long hair in a ponytail.

  It was still dark out, her street softly illuminated by two lampposts. There were only a few cars out since everyone on her block had garages. Looking further down the street her eyes landed on a familiar pickup. Her heart rate escalated. This is why she’d glanced out the window, her wolf instincts telling her someone was out there in the quiet night. From where she stood, she could clearly make out Jason’s silhouette in the driver’s seat. Had he been there all night? She hoped he’d gone home to rest. He’d run himself ragged if he kept this up.