Chapter Three

~Anthony~

She slept for eighteen hours straight. Cyan and Bas had both been by. Twice. The way Cyan looked at her made me think he suspected something, but he wasn’t saying anything until she woke up. Bas had dropped off some clothes from his mate, Raina, since the male, Wallace, hadn’t left behind anything but Emma.

Both Donovan and I slept beside her during the night. One on each side, above the covers. Though Donovan had shared he’d brushed his finger over her during her bath, and she’d dressed in one of my T-shirts before sliding back into our bed. Though I wanted to touch her, taste her, we would wait until she was awake and a willing participant in everything we did.

I heard voices in the other room and reluctantly stepped from the bedroom when I realized Michael was here. He’d been our closest friend since we’d all become part of the James Pack. Donovan and I had already been a duo, but when Michael had joined the pack the same day, the three of us had vibed well together. That was saying something as Michael preferred the lone wolf life, or at least, as much of it as he could get and still be a member of the pack. Hell, if Donovan and I hadn’t interfered, Michael would still be pretending he wasn’t all about his pretty, young mate, Piper. We had, though, and they were finally together.

“Hey,” Michael said when I walked out. “How’s she doing?”

At this point, everyone in the inner circle of our pack knew Emma was here. I’d talked to a few of the others on the phone when they called to see if we needed anything.

“Sleeping,” Donovan muttered. I knew it was driving him crazy that she was still out. He wanted to know who’d beat her, because every injury to her body left no doubt that someone had.

“Probably best,” Michael said. “It’ll help her wolf heal her enough to shift. Then you can get some answers. Piper sent over some clothes. Raina called all the mates and let them know Emma didn’t have anything. The others will show up eventually with different things for her. Piper said to give her Emma’s sizes when she’s awake, and she’ll go get the more intimate items of clothing for her.”

“Tell Piper we appreciate it,” I said.

Michael nodded. “Let me know when you find out what happened. Whatever you guys need; you know I’m here.”

“Thanks,” Donovan said then headed toward the bedroom. “I’m going to slip in and check on her.”

Michael’s brow lifted in question.

“Yeah,” I answered, knowing what he was asking.

“Both of you?” he voiced. “Both of you are her mates?”

“Yes.”

He chuckled. “I know we all teased you that would happen, but I don’t think any of us really expected that. How do you think she’ll react?”

“She’ll be fine.”

We might not have had a chance to discuss things before she’d fallen asleep, but I’d seen understanding in her gaze. She’d been drawn to both Donovan and me. Once we had the chance to show her how things would be with the two of us as her mates, I felt confident she’d accept the bond. Michael and I both turned toward the front window at the sound of a vehicle pulling up.

“It’s Cyan. Third time he’s been here since you brought her home,” Michael said.

“He’s by himself this time.”

As Cyan stepped to the door, I could tell by the expression on his face that his visit was important.

“Anthony. Michael,” Cyan greeted. “How’s Piper doing?”

“We’re good. She’s probably waiting for an update on Emma, though. I’ll see you guys later.” Michael was good at reading the room. He nodded to me, letting me know without words he’d be waiting if I needed anything.

“Still sleeping?” Cyan asked as soon as Michael left.

“Yeah. Donovan’s with her.”

“Get him,” Cyan ordered. “I’ve got something to share, and I’d like to talk to you both at the same time.”

My hackles rose, my wolf sensing I might not like what was coming, but I turned to follow my beta’s command, ducking into the bedroom. Donovan was lying next to Emma, stroking his hand through her hair while he spoke softly to her. She looked peaceful. The bruising on her face was still dark in places but had faded in others. It made me wonder how hard she’d been hit that it was taking so long for her wolf to heal her.

“Cyan’s here,” I said when Donovan looked up. “He wants to talk to both of us.”

“Finally ready to tell us what he knows,” Donovan muttered. He dropped a kiss on Emma’s forehead before rolling to his feet and standing.

I walked over, easing to sit beside her. Even under the swelling, bruising, and cuts, she was a beautiful woman. I ran a finger along her jaw, caressing her skin before leaning down to place my kiss on her cheek.

“We’ll be back soon, love.”

Reluctantly, I got back to my feet and glanced at my best friend. I wasn’t surprised at his vow.

“I won’t give her up. I don’t care what Cyan says or thinks. She’s ours. Our woman. Our mate. The only one who can tell me no is her.”

“Agreed,” I swore then nodded toward the door. “Let’s go.”

Donovan followed me out, closing the door quietly behind us. Cyan took one look and shook his head.

“I’m not here to take her from you. I know you’ll both let her make her choice before anything happens. I just wanted to share some information with you. At least, what I can.”

“What do you know?” I asked.

“Her name is Emma…”

He paused, and I almost growled that we knew her damn name, but he finished before I could.

“Emma Richards.”

“Richards?” Donovan asked, sharing a look with me.

“My sister,” Cyan replied then amended. “Half-sister. Same mother. My uncle is her father. Was her father.” He shrugged. “Intel’s not real clear on Clayton Richards just yet.”

“Did he do that to her?” I asked. Had her father beat her to hell? Donovan growled. It took every ounce of my willpower not to join him.

“I don’t know yet. I made some calls. Got some people checking into things for me. Nico Volkov is using his contacts, as well,” Cyan said.

“Nico?” I asked. The lone wolf whose sister was mated to Rowan Byrd wasn’t much of a pack male. He visited, checked up on his sister, then went back to doing whatever it was he did. He had a lot of connections, though. Hell, if he ever took up Bas or Rowan on being a pack liaison, we’d be lucky.

Cyan continued. “So far, I know my uncle’s oldest son, Jonathan, was killed a few weeks ago. By his father. Middle son is missing, and Emma turned up here. There was some type of explosion. Emma’s dad may or may not have been killed in it. Our mother may have been, as well.”

“How did you know she’s your sister?” I wanted to know. Cyan wasn’t the type of male who would leave a woman to be abused. Had this Clayton Richards beaten the mom and daughter?

“The last time I saw her, she was a young girl, but she looks like her mother,” Cyan said softly, closing his eyes. “I don’t know why Emma came to me, but I plan to find out. And if her father did that to her, if he’s still alive—”

“We’ll kill him,” Donovan interrupted. “I’ll shred him.”

Cyan didn’t say anything to that. He knew Donovan and I were ready to claim Emma as our mate. We’d made that abundantly clear when I’d called my best friend to help me transport her to our house.

“I want to see her when she wakes up. Talk to her,” Cyan commanded.

“As soon as she’s ready,” I agreed.

“We want to know as soon as you or Nico know what’s going on,” Donovan added.

“Last time I saw her, I was barely eighteen. She was ten. Tiny little thing. Quiet. She didn’t run around hooting and hollering like a kid should. Had her nose in a book. Barely looked up from it. Until our mom walked to her. Her mom,” Cyan corrected himself. “Emma’s face lit up then. She became so animated.”

“What happened then?” I asked. “Did they see you?”

Cyan shook his head. “I’d planned to confront Claire Richards. I was as big as my dad had been by then. Wanted to show her it hadn’t hurt when she’d tossed me away. That I was fine. But she’d already replaced me. She was laughing and happy. It was as if I’d never existed. I walked away and never looked back.”

That had to hurt. I couldn’t imagine. My mother had loved me until the day she’d died. She’d been older when I was born, a single wolf who’d taken on the role of pack auntie when she’d never been blessed with children. Then I’d arrived. Mom had never talked about my father other than to say he’d been passing through and they’d spent a wonderful night together. He hadn’t been her mate. Hadn’t been the great love of her life. He’d been a passionate moment on a cold night that had given her the greatest love of her life. Me.

I’d left the pack when she died. Maybe, stepped into the shoes of my drifter father while I rode my motorcycle from town to town. Then I’d met Donovan. A few months later, we’d run into Simon Hollister, our alpha’s personal guard. We’d helped him round up a few rogue wolves who’d tried to stir up trouble for the newly formed James Pack. A few days later, Donovan and I had joined the pack along with Michael. Now, we were part of the most respected and feared wolf packs to exist.

“He killed my father,” Cyan shared. “My uncle did. He wanted my mom but not me. She chose him. Chose him and a new life and never gave me another thought.” He blew out a rough breath.

“It’s not Emma’s fault,” Donovan stated, a growl in his throat.

“No, it’s not,” Cyan agreed. “If she agrees to the bond, I’ll accept that. I won’t stand in the way. If she doesn’t, I need you to know she’ll still be welcome in this pack. She came to me. I won’t make her regret that.”

“Understood,” I agreed, but Donovan growled.

“Donovan?” Cyan growled back.

“Understood,” he muttered then turned and made his way back to the bedroom where Emma still slept.