Chapter One

~ Emma ~

A whimper of pain escaped my lips as the bulky boot hit my side again. I heard the crack but was beyond the pain, floating somewhere he couldn’t reach. I was too broken to call my wolf. I couldn’t reach her, hadn’t been able to for too long. I had no idea how long I’d been locked in this room. Alone. Without food or water. Without light. With nothing but four walls that acted like a cage I couldn’t break free of.

“Emma, Emma, Emma. Such a disappointment. I expected so much better from you.”

From the proximity of his voice, I assumed my father was squatting beside me. My eyes had swollen shut…yesterday? The day before? I didn’t know. I didn’t know where my brother was, didn’t know what had happened to my mother, didn’t know any of the information my father demanded of me. The only thing I felt certain about was, I would never leave this room. Not alive anyway.

A sigh left my father’s lips. We’d never been close. Once upon a time, I’d bemoaned the fact my father rarely acknowledged my existence. I’d give anything to go back to that now.

“Alpha, there’s a call for you. Says it’s important.”

Hard fingers gripped my hair, ripping several strands free, when he shook me by that tight grip.

“I’ll be back. Think real hard while I’m gone, little girl. I won’t go easy on you next time.”

I didn’t know where my laugh came from, but it bubbled up my throat on a stream of blood, spraying the air in a wheezing exhale.

“Stupid bitch.”

I knew that voice but couldn’t place it. One of my dad’s new enforcers. Someone young, dumb, and easily controlled. That was how he liked them. I was certain the male who’d spoken was the one who’d broke my wrist when he’d refused to release his grip as I was slammed face-first into the wall.

“Want me to rough her up some more? Shake some memories free?”

Another gurgle from my throat. Inside, I was still the sarcastic woman I’d always been. Inside, I laughed at the thought of him doing anything else to me. I couldn’t feel it anyway. Outside, I lay on the floor in a pool of my own blood and piss, waiting to die.

“Leave her. We’ll bring the hose when we come back. She smells.”

I must have passed out at some point. Next thing I knew, I was hallucinating.

“Oh, my baby. What has he done to you?”

“Mom?” I wasn’t sure if the word cleared my lips or not, but tears burned as I felt the soft sweep of her hand along my battered cheek.

“I know you’re hurting, but we’ve got to get you out of here. Quickly. Before he realizes I’m here.”

I whimpered as I felt those hands skim along my sides and try to help me sit up. I was broken in too many places.

“She won’t be able to shift,” Mom whispered to someone. “You’ll have to carry her.”

“And take her where? No one will take her in and protect her from him.”

“I know someone who might.” Sadness wrapped around my mother’s voice. “Just help me get her out of here. I’ll tell you where to take her when we get her to the car.”

Strong arms slid beneath my back, lifting me high against a chest. I focused on the sound of his footsteps, though he moved with the quiet stealth of one of us. I didn’t recognize his voice, but wasn’t that how delusions worked? Why wouldn’t I imagine someone saving me from the hell I was in?

“Oh, God.” My mother’s voice again. “What did he do? My baby.”

“Sam?” I wasn’t sure if I slurred out my brother’s name or not.

“I don’t know where he is. I have to believe he’s somewhere safe. Get her in the back. Gently. Gently. Oh, my baby. I’m so sorry. I never thought your father would hurt you. Never in a million years. I’ll make this right. I swear to you, Emma. I’ll make sure he pays for what he did.

“How the hell are you going to make him pay?” I heard the male with her ask.

“Listen to me. I need you to take her to the James Pack.”

“Why the hell would you send her there? They’re not exactly known for their softness!” The male’s voice was hard, but his touch was gentle.

“They’ll take her in. Protect her.”

A snort of disagreement.

“They will. Now, listen. Ask for the beta of the pack. His name is Cyan.” My mother paused, took a shaky breath. “Cyan Richards.”

“Richards?” I was glad the male was asking the same question floating in my mind. Richards wasn’t an uncommon last name, but there was something in my mother’s voice that made me think it was no coincidence this beta shared my surname.

“He’s my son.”

I whimpered at that admission. I had another brother?

“I sent him away when Clayton killed his father and took over as alpha. It was the only thing I could do to protect him. Clayton would have killed him if I’d tried to keep him or to leave with him. Tell him who she is, and he’ll protect her. Promise me you’ll get her there.”

“What are you planning?”

“Just promise me, Wallace. Promise me you’ll get her to him. If you do, your debt to me is paid.”

Debt? What debt did this man have to my mother?

“I promise.”

That soft hand caressed my cheek again, then her lips were at my ear. “Wallace will get you to safety. You’ve got to let your body heal enough so you can shift. It will hurt, but when you do, your wolf will finish healing you. When you get to the James Pack, ask for Cyan. Tell him what happened. Tell him Sam is missing. That Jonathan is dead. Tell him… Tell him I’m sorry. I should have done more. Should have been better. Tell him there was never a day I didn’t think of him, didn’t hope he was happy and thriving. Tell him I loved him with every beat of my heart.”

“Mmm.” I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t force the word past my swollen lips.

“Shh. Be quiet. Rest, my baby. I failed all of my children. You all deserved better. Every choice I made I thought I was making to protect you, all of you, but I only made it worse. I shouldn’t have left you, Emma. Please forgive me, baby. I love you. More than anything in this world. I love you.”

The soft brush of lips over my skin. I knew I was crying, heard the whimpers spilling from my lips, but I couldn’t get words out. Couldn’t tell my mother I loved her. Couldn’t beg her not to do whatever she was planning. Another brush of lips, this time lingering over my skin. I felt a drop on my cheek and knew my mother was crying, too. Then she was gone, taking all the warmth with her. The door shut.

“Get her out of this town and don’t look back. Take her to Cyan. Ask for him and only him. Get her to safety for me. That’s all I ask of you.”

“I won’t be back,” he vowed. “Once I drop her off, you won’t see me again.”

“That was never in the plan anyway. We both know how this needs to end. He can’t be left unchecked. Clayton Richards has to die. Don’t you dare break your word to me.”

“I’ll get her there,” he snarled, but I didn’t think he was mad at her order. Did he have feelings for my mother?

“Good. Now, get behind the wheel and drive. Don’t look back. Not even when the dust flies.”

I heard the door open, and Wallace grunted as he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“Stay down. If any of his people see you, we’ll never make it out of here alive,” he warned. “Sleep if you can. Resting will help you heal enough that we might be able to get some food and water into you later. We’ll stop when we have to. I’ll do my best to find some place with a shower. No offense, but you don’t smell too great.”

There went that wheezing laugh of mine again. Was I really in a car with a man named Wallace driving me away and leaving my mother behind? No. I’d never leave my mother behind. More than likely, I was still on that cement floor, waiting for death to finally take me. Please, God, let me die before they come back for me. I didn’t want another beating. My body might be able to withstand more, but my mind couldn’t.

I was somewhere between conscious and unconscious when I heard the loudest noise I’d ever heard. It was a boom that seemed to shake the whole world.

“Jesus,” Wallace muttered. “She did it. She fucking did it. I hope that bastard roasts in hell.”

I was whimpering. Couldn’t stop no matter how loudly he ordered me to be quiet. Something had happened. My mother had made something happen. I wasn’t sure what, but I knew it was bad. Worse than what I’d already suffered. It was a good thing this was all in my head. I could let myself go, then I’d see my mother again. Actually, see her instead of merely hearing her voice. I just needed to let go.

Emma! I’m going to find you! Where’s my little angel?

I held my breath, trying to stay super still as Mom wandered around the room, glancing behind couches and chairs. She’d never find me this time. I was hidden so well. I just had to be still and quiet.

“I got you!”

I fell into a fit of giggles as Mom pulled back the curtain and reached for me where I sat on the window seat.

“You found me!” I lost myself in the scent of her. She always smelled like sunshine and roses. They were my favorite.

“I’ll always find you, baby. Always.”