20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Juliana
M y head is pounding, and I smell blood. I’m lying on something hard, and when I try to lift my hand to my head, I can’t. A fog coats my memories. My eyes refuse to open, and all I feel is pain. Panic sets in. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, and my mouth is dry. Why do I smell smoke?
The closet. I was in the closet debating on whether to leave the safety of the house. It looks like I fucked up bad. Why? I delve deeper, and my head screams at me. Pushing through the agony it causes, I remember. The text. Someone sent me a picture of Rylee. She was hurt and lying in the woods. Her eyes were closed, and I feared she was dead. They told me to come to her, or they would kill her. I acted without thought and flew out of the basement. An explosion rocked the earth and a few steps later, a pain exploded on the back of my head.
After that, everything went black.
Forcing my eyes open, I exhale harshly when I can’t see anything. There is something over my eyes. I jerk and barely move. The chains ring, and chills race over my body. I’m blindfolded and restrained. Is someone watching my struggle? Fuck, I can’t tell. It’s silent around me, and I’m cold. I turn my head to the side when I hear a door squeak, and I want to cry out. I bite my lip and hold in my pleas for rescue. The steps get closer, and I feel nauseated.
“You’re awake.” A man. I can barely focus on his voice. “I wasn’t sure the plan would work,” he says gleefully. “I didn’t know if I had the timing of the explosion right.” He planned the explosion as I left the house, everyone was upstairs, and I was concentrating on finding Rylee. “You're still beautiful. Even bloody.” I swallow, and suddenly, the covering is removed from my eyes. I blink several times, and when my vision clears, I wish it didn’t.
“Stanly,” I croak as I see his smiling face.
“Hey, pretty girl.” His grin widens as I stare. “You know, your mother has always liked me.” I shake my head and then cringe. “She told me once that she thought we should be together. I laughed it off. You weren’t my type, but after that, I saw you differently.” Looking away, I’m tied to a large metal bench in a dilapidated building. It looks like a small old barn, and half of the ceiling is missing. Everything is hitting me at once, and I can’t think. Stanly circles me, going round and round the bench. His hand strokes the metal. “We would talk all the time about the future.”
“My mom,” I rasp. Did she hate me that much?
“Yeah,” he shrugs. “She was great. Levi told me horror stories about her, but she was nice to me.”
“Nice. My mom was nice.” The sick feeling in my stomach intensifies. I don’t remember seeing them interact much.
“Now, she was a flirt,” he whistles.
“Don’t say it,” I beg, hoping he’s not going to say what I think.
“What?” He stops at my feet, cupping my ankles, leaning over the table. “Tell you that we fucked?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I want to vomit. “She was amazing. Knew all the tricks. But she knew our time was limited, and I wanted to be with you.”
“I don’t—” I lick my lips. “Why?” He called me sweet names when we were younger, but I’ve hardly seen him for the past year. His girlfriend is nice and devoted to him.
“You never did see me,” he sneers, his grip tightening. “I was in love with you, and you looked through me. I would ask Levi to ask you to hang out with us all the time. He would brush me off and threaten me to stay away from you.” Tears gather in my eyes. “He knew. The fucker knew I had it bad. I thought you could be the one. You didn’t flinch when you found out I was a coyote. You accepted it. Accepted me.” He pounds his chest and moves to my side. “I grew up, and you became my obsession. Your mom told me to be patient. To date other girls until you loved me back. I took her advice. I moved on. Girl after girl. I was hoping you would be jealous when I found Trina. I told Levi I was going to propose, and I knew you would finally admit you wanted me for yourself. ” He shakes his head, places his palm on my stomach, and I shrink away. “Don’t,” he growls, his jaw flexing. “Do not pull away from me.”
“You never told me.” Someone will come for me. Heath. I need him. The others have to know I’m gone by now.
“You should have seen,” he grits out, digging his fingers into my shirt. I fight to keep the groan from escaping as his claws bite my skin. “How many ways do I have to prove my devotion? I took care of Levi for you. When we were younger, I spent money on him and helped him experience life. I kept him safe. I urged your mom to take it easy on you.”
“Why now?” I didn’t think my mom could be any more of a shit mom.
“I spent years,” he spits, leaning closer. “Years begging for your attention. Trying to prove my loyalty and love. I thought you were scared to be with a shifter. All it took was one minute in the presence of that unknown animal, and you let him touch you. He appears, and suddenly, Levi disappears and stops fighting. Do you know how much money I lost? He took away the woman I love and all my money. Two years. All I needed was two more years of that money until I get way more fucking money than his fights brought in. His men threw me out like trash, and you let them. I watched you stand in his arms. Do you remember when I touched you?” he asks. I stay silent. Every time he did it, I shied away. I have to stay alive until Heath comes. “You acted like it made you sick. All the shit I did, I deserved a little appreciation.” He slides his hand up between my breasts and circles my neck. “I deserve a touch. A taste. Instead, you let him take what’s mine. I find you in his home. At his bidding.”
“How did you find me?” I whisper. His touch revolts me but I try to stay still.
“Like I said,” he whispers, dragging his hand away. “Your mom likes me. I decided to send you messages expressing my disapproval. Then I spoke to her when you wouldn’t answer my calls, and I couldn’t reach Levi. She did me a favor and reached out to Levi. It took several calls, but he finally gave her the information I needed. He could never keep a secret for long and expressed his excitement about his new job. A job your precious Heath gave him.” Levi is in denial. He thinks Mom will be proud of him someday and must have thought she realized how serious he was with his new boundaries. “He spilled everything, including your decision to live with a shifter. A shifter who isn’t me.” He takes a deep breath. “I would know your scent anywhere. I have it committed to memory. So I could have found the animal’s house without an address. Fortunately, after a few questions around town, I had it. Everyone is curious about the new construction in the middle of the forest. I talked to your mom, and she encouraged me to spill my guts.”
“Why would she help you?” She has never done anything without getting something out of it. Stanly looks away as if deciding what lie to tell me, and it hits me. “What did you promise her? The money,” I whisper.
“If she is going to be my family, she should be taken care of,” he says.
“Oh fuck,” I gasp.
“She didn’t have to ask. I offered to set her up once we are married, and the cash hits my account.” He lifts a shoulder, unconcerned about my greedy mother.
“My mom is a horrible person,” I snap, and he narrows his eyes. I’ve never felt such rage. I’m terrified, but hearing the things she has done to her kids cuts through the fear.
“She cares about you,” he denies.
“Bullshit.” I cry out as he grips my chin, leaning close to my face.
“You need to learn respect. Do you think I enjoy panting after you?” His eyes roam my face as he licks his lips. “Waiting for any sign that you are ready to be my mate. She is the only one who cares.”
“She’s your fuck buddy, and you’re her retirement plan,” I growl. “Even if I wanted to be with you, the fact that you slept with her is a deal breaker.” He vibrates with anger. “I am not your mate.” I need to be smart and keep my mouth shut, but it’s not in my nature.
“You are,” he insists.
“How do you know?” He’s a shifter, so I assume he knows about the bond.
“I just do.”
“I don’t think so,” I mutter, and he pushes me away, lurching back. He pulls his hair, staring into my eyes.
“You have to be,” he whispers and starts to pace.
“What about Trina?”
“She was a placeholder,” he says carelessly. Before meeting Heath, I didn’t know what a mate meant, so I assumed he loved her. I feel for her. “I broke up with her two days ago. I don’t want anyone else. You are mine.”
“Stanly, I’m not.”
“You think you are his,” he hisses, stomping close.
“Yes.” I don’t see his fist coming. The pain explodes across my cheek. The expression, seeing stars, is an actual thing. My face throbs in time with my heart.
“No,” he screams, his claws scraping the metal beside me as he drops his head. “He can’t be. No one even knows what he is. What the fuck is he? I have never smelled someone like him.” He looks at me through narrowed eyes. “He doesn’t need you. I do. I need you to love me.”
“Levi will never speak to you again,” I threaten, hoping the friendship means something to him.
“Fuck, Levi.” He shakes the table. “He never supported my love. The second a better opportunity came along, he ran. He left me and the prospect of all that money. He was the best fighter, and we could have had it all. I could have you, and we would have been true brothers. I would have paid it all back, and we could have lived in luxury.”
“He loves you. He wouldn’t want you to do this.” I rotate my wrists, and the restraints dig into my skin. “You were there for him when he needed someone. How can you throw that away?”
“He did. He threw me away.” His fingers turn white. “Levi doesn’t matter. You matter.”
“Is that why you have me chained?” I hiss.
“You wouldn’t listen. It’s been years of begging for scraps. Would you have had dinner with me? If you would have answered my calls?” He leans his forearms beside me. My emotions show on my face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“What are you going to do? Make me love you?” I lift my head. “Do you think this is the way to get me to love you?”
“I need you to listen,” he growls, and I drop my head.
“Fine. Here I am. It doesn’t look like I have a choice.” If I was a snake, I could slither out of these chains. I want to go home and never leave the basement.
“Jules, I won’t hurt you.” I turn my head and lift a bloody brow. “Anymore. I just want us to be together. We are perfect for each other. You can talk to Levi. He’ll start fighting again if you insist. We could go anywhere. Live anywhere with the money I’m getting. I want to change you. Make you a coyote. You’ll be beautiful. We can make babies.” He drags his finger over my neck, leaving a trail of blood that drips down my face. “Your mom offered to stay with the kids when we want time alone. She would love them. She promised to be a good grandma. You have to give her a chance to show you she has changed. Her life is different now. She is getting married, and she wants to spoil our kids. She said she will apologize. The mistakes she made won’t happen again.” I exhale harshly and blink the blood from my eyes.
“I can accept my role in not seeing your obsession and putting a stop to it. I can accept the fact that you kidnapped and chained me. I am helpless and should feed into your love and give you hope. I can’t accept your devotion to my mom. I don’t care that she fucked hundreds of men. I am all for taking control of your sexuality and the partners you choose to share your body with. What I can’t accept is doing that in front of your young children and causing damage that will last a lifetime.” He straightens. “The only thing I can thank my mother for is giving us life. I will be thrilled to never see her again. No apology will erase years of abuse and neglect. How could you think I would want her to be a model to children? She slept with you, dreaming of your money, while encouraging you to continue to love me.” He flinches and presses his lips together. “I would kill her before she got her hands on any kids of mine. By the way, you will not be the father.” His face reddens, and his claws grow. “Levi wants something better. I’m so fucking proud of him for waking up from the dreams you convinced him were his. I will never encourage him to go back to fighting. He isn’t your paycheck to tide you over until the money comes in. Get a fucking job. I don’t love you. I will never be with you. I am not your mate.” I lift my body as far as I can toward him. “Heath is. Heath is my mate and he will be the only one to give me kids. Keep me chained. Beat me. I will never give in to you or my mother. Just know, with Heath, it is my choice and desire to be restrained.”
“You bitch,” he snarls and lifts his hand.
“I wouldn’t do that,” a voice says. He turns sharply, his hand hanging in the air, and I see Sally standing in the door. “There is a very pissed-off man heading this way. He will not like to see the blood on her face.” She walks further inside, and River follows. I could cry in relief.
“Who the fuck are you?” Stanly asks, turning to face them, his hand dropping.
“I’m sad,” she sighs.
“Everyone should know you, Sally,” River drawls.
“Thanks, wolf.” She grins.
“Rabbit,” Stanly sneers.
“I get that a lot.” Sally saunters closer, and Ava and Kerian enter. “I don’t give a shit about your opinion. If we were judging by species…” She shakes her head sadly. “Hon, you are the worst.”
“Listen, bitch.” He takes a step in her direction.
“I wouldn’t do that either,” River threatens, stepping close to Sally's side. “Heath wants to kill you himself, but if you make a move on her, I’ll face his anger and kill you.”
“Who are you?” Stanly steps away from me and into the middle of the room.
“Me?” River presses a hand to his chest. “A concerned friend. We are here to make sure you don’t run.”
“You didn’t think about who you were kidnapping,” Sally says.
“And who she is connected to,” River adds.
“Or her mate,” Kerian says. Ava is slowly walking to the left, Kerian following close.
“Just leave. We don’t want you here,” Stanly spits, turning back and forth as the wolves circle him.
“I don’t think that’s true,” Sally disagrees, slowly moving closer to me. “Jules, do you want us here?”
“I would never send away friends,” I say, the knots in my stomach slowly unraveling.
“See.” Sally continues her slow approach.
“This is between me and my mate.” Stanly holds his arms away from his body, flashing his claws.
“Whose mate?” I want to run into Heath’s arms as he fills the doorway. His gaze flicks over Stanly briefly before settling on me, and his eyes glow. He stares at the blood on my face for a moment and then travels over my body, his eyes narrowing as he sees my ripped shirt. “Juliana, Levi will be upset.” His cane taps on the floor as he moves. “I’m going to kill his friend.”
“He’ll get over it,” I whisper, and he nods.
“You took my mate,” Heath says, turning his attention to Stanly.
“Fuck you. You can’t have her. She’s mine,” he whines. I’m surprised he is standing his ground.
“Yours?” Heath tilts his head, his jaw ticking. “You think she belongs to you.” His hand whitens on his cane. “Bane.”
“Yeah, Boss.” I notice Hunter and Bane behind Heath. The vampires stand in the doorway but move inside as the building slowly fills with shifters and vampires. It is a beautiful sight. All of Heath’s family came for him and me. They form a big circle around Stanly.
“Hold this.” He throws his cane into Bane’s waiting hand. “I heard you were asking about me,” he says, taking off his jacket. Hunter takes it from him. “You demanded to know what I am.” He slips off his shoes. “A lot of people have wondered. My animal is in the mood to show off. He doesn’t get out much.” He unbuttons his shirt, and I barely pay attention to Sally beside me. The shirt is draped over Hunter's arm. “He wants to play,” Heath hisses. Magic in the air causes the hair on my arms to rise. In a split-second, Heath shifts. Suddenly, a snake is on the ground.
He is stunning. I watch as he grows, surpassing his height in human form. His girth pulses as he expands as big as a log. He’s bright blue, and his skin glows like his tattoos, the designs remaining. Stanly is frozen in fear.
“No shit,” River whispers.
“Damn, that’s amazing,” Sally mutters.
“No way,” Saphira gasps, but her mates don’t look surprised. Roxanne watches in fascination.
“Do not get in the way,” Micah says, Daisy’s hand held tightly in his.
“His skin is poison if he chooses it to be,” Quinn rumbles, stepping in front of his mate.
“I fucking knew it,” Ryker says.
“Shit, I owe you.” Bash hands Ryker a handful of cash.
“I don’t have words,” Breeane whispers.
“Unreal,” Lucas says, his brothers stepping close to Breeane.
“Don’t snakes eat rabbits?” River asks Sally as he takes a bite of a burrito.
“Fuck off.” Sally grabs the chains around my wrists, shattering them. My surprise takes my eyes off of my mate. “I’m small but mighty.” She flexes, and I want to laugh, but I am drawn to the scene beside me.
“No,” Stanly whispers. “It’s not possible.” Heath is suddenly at his feet. I didn’t see him move. “Fuck, please.” His pleading words don’t matter to the snake slowly wrapping around his body.
“Shit, now I have seen everything.” River leans against the table, his gaze fixed on Stanly and Heath, taking the last bite of his food.
“Let me help,” Sally says as I try to move. I nod and take her hand, sliding the edge of the bench. My body screams at me; everything hurts. I settle on the edge beside River, trying to stay upright.
“It burns,” Stanly moans as Heath reaches his stomach.
I grin.