Hunting Human (19 page)

His hand fisted in the back of her hair, yanking her chin up. “It won’t matter. They can’t protect you. Not from me.” He wrapped his other hand around her arm hard enough to bruise. “Now I see it for the opportunity it is. You’ll live. For now. And every morning you’ll wonder if this will be the day I strike. The day I snatch their female. Her screams will ring in your ears as you die. You’ll beg for her death. Then you’ll beg for your own.”

He drove her forehead against the mirror; the glass and her skin splintering with the force of the blow. He released her and disappeared through the curtain before she’d slid to the ground.

Beth didn’t give herself a chance to breathe. She pushed herself to her feet, braced a trembling hand on the wall and lunged for the front of the store. She plowed into solid muscle. Hands grabbed her, keeping her on her feet.

“Easy.”

Relief flooded her.

Chase. Thank God.

“Lucy? Where’s Lucy?”

“I’m right here.” Lucy stepped out from behind Chase’s solid form. “I called for Chase. You didn’t sound right.”

“Who was it?” Chase gentled his grip on her arms, but his voice held a dangerous edge to it.

“Markko.” Her stomach turned as panic caught up with her. “He said he’d hurt Lucy.”

“We’re leaving. Now,” Chase ordered, pulling them toward the front of the store.

Beth tried to wipe at the blood on her face and will her trembling to stop. Gentle fingers tugged her hand away from her face.

“It’s not obvious. Let your hair down, no one will notice,” Lucy instructed as Chase cut a path to the door. The bell jingled as they exited the shop. Chase’s car sat on the curb and Lucy followed Beth into the backseat. She kept their fingers laced together for the entire ride back to the house.

***

Markko shifted the moment he slipped into the forest, allowing his wolf to run and burn off some of the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He hadn’t intended to do more than follow the bitch, he certainly hadn’t intended to corner her and give away his presence. But the opportunity had been too good to pass up.

She’d trembled and quaked beneath his hands, her face in the mirror a perfect reflection of her terror. She’d been delightfully cooperative when he’d threatened her friend. And what a delightful discovery
that
was. The Edwards clan had another female. It made his unplanned visit with the bitch completely worthwhile.

His threats against the Edwards female would drive the woman wild with fear. And the death of both women would drive the Edwards clan directly to his father’s doorstep.

He couldn’t have asked for a better scenario. He’d bide his time and bring Alek in from Europe. He’d need his help to pull this off. But while he waited he’d have a little fun, let the bitch settle, and then remind her was out here.

Are you ready for me, Lizzy? I’ll see to it you are.

Beth hissed under the alcohol-soaked pad Braden pressed to her forehead.

“Sorry,” Braden apologized but didn’t pull his hand away. “The cut’s not deep. No stitches.”

Beth’s head throbbed where it had hit the mirror, her neck stung where Markko had nicked her with the knife and the cut on her ribs burned and pulled with every movement.

“Alright, that takes care of that.” Braden pulled a tiny butterfly bandage over the cut, wadded up the wrapper and tossed it on the counter. “What else?”

Beth hesitated. Braden had carefully treated both the cut on her ribs and the cut and bruise on her forehead. With each new injury his jaw tightened and his eyes flashed, his anger mounting until it simmered just below the surface, like a pressure cooker beginning to rattle. The atmosphere in the house was charged enough. She didn’t want to add to it.

“What else, Beth?” His eyes narrowed into pricks of suspicious fury.

Beth pulled the hair away from the nape of her neck and slid the collar of her shirt down.

“That son of bitch bit you!” He slid a warm hand across her cheek, cradling her head with more gentleness than she thought him capable of. The thumb of his other hand moved in soothing circles as he inspected the area around the bite. “At least he used his human teeth.” He withdrew his fingers but the hand on her cheek remained. “Still, human bites are nasty.”

“I’ve had worse,” Beth quipped, trying to ease the tension radiating off him. Instead, he went absolutely still, as though he were holding himself on the edge of a point.

“I know,” he acknowledged quietly.

Beth laid her hand over the one cradling her cheek and sought his eyes. “I’m okay.” She put all her will behind matching her expression to the words.

He studied her face, as though trying to determine the truth for himself. Finally, he nodded, then tilted her head and began to clean out the bite.

“That bastard won’t touch you again.”

Beth blew out a breath and closed her eyes. “He’s not going to stop, Braden.”

“I don’t care. We’ll send you somewhere until we can handle him. But I won’t have him near you again.”

Beth heard the resolve in his voice, read the deadly promise in his eyes. He wasn’t going to be reasonable about this. “I can’t leave.” Beth pulled away when he reached for the antibiotic ointment. “It’ll only delay the inevitable. And make things worse for your family.”

“I want you out of that monster’s path. We can handle him, but I don’t want you involved,” he argued. “Don’t fight me on this.”

The moment he stepped back, Beth stood and moved away from him. “I can’t. You don’t understand. You didn’t face him in the dressing room mirror. You didn’t hear the things he said.”

Beth repressed a shudder as the ghost of Markko’s words slid across her ear. “He wants me dead and he’s determined to make me suffer. He’ll try to get his hands on Lucy, if only to torment me.”

“Then she goes, too,” he said, as though that settled the matter.

The thought of Lucy’s vibrant energy leaving the house left a hollow feeling in Beth’s stomach. Lucy had the unique ability to infuse everyone and everything she touched with a warm, happy energy. A selfish part of Beth wanted her here, buffering the darkness and doubt that lurked around every corner. But the thought of Lucy dead, lying in a pool of her own blood, her vibrancy and warmth utterly silenced, cut straight through her.

“Lucy should go. But I can’t. He’ll only hurt the rest of your family. If he can’t get to Lucy, he’ll try to hurt the rest of you.” Beth clenched her fists against the fears that battered her. “Or he’ll go after my family in Boston. Whatever it takes to draw me out, he’ll do it. I won’t let another person die because of me.” Beth cut off Braden’s protest with a stony glare and a sharp gesture. “You can’t protect me from this. Send Lucy somewhere. Keep her out of it. But I need to be here. This has to end.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Lucy strode into the kitchen, Chase hot on her heels.

“Lucy…”

“I won’t be sent away like a child, Beth.” Lucy pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. “My life is here. I won’t put it on hold. Besides, I’m perfectly capable of defending myself if it comes to that.”

“Lucy, please.” Anxiety twisted Beth’s stomach. She had to make Lucy understand. “You don’t understand the things he’ll do…” Beth swallowed against the horror that clogged her throat. “He’s determined to hurt me. You’re nothing but a means to an end for him. Please, let your family protect you.”

Lucy wilted and leaned against the counter. “I’m sorry this upsets you. Really, I am. But I’m not leaving my family, my home, my
life
. We’ll work this out. I’ll be careful. I’ll even let this one—” Lucy said as she jerked her thumb in Chase’s direction, “—dog my every step without complaint. But I’m not leaving.”

“Even knowing how much additional strain it’ll cause? I could face this so much easier if I knew you were somewhere safe. Please?”

Lucy responded with a toothy grin. “I think the fact that you would try to guilt me into leaving bodes well for our friendship. You must already be getting attached to me. I like that.” Her sharp green eyes cut the space between them. “I’m attached to you too, though. So, sorry, I’m not going anywhere.”

“This is ridiculous. I don’t care if we have to haul you to the car, you’re leaving,” Braden raged.

Beth’s expression stopped him in his tracks. “What, with a jack and a Taser?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and scowled. “I just want you safe.”

“I think we can all agree that is our priority.” Mr. Edwards strode into the kitchen, followed by Anna. “But I agree with Elizabeth. Sending the girls away is unlikely to accomplish anything.” He raised a halting hand when Braden opened his mouth to argue. “I understand your concern.” He turned to stare at Beth. “I am sorry. Markko should never have gotten near you. We would not have allowed you to go shopping if we thought he’d be so bold as to approach you in broad daylight, in the middle of town.” He sighed and wiped a hand over his face. “This is not going to be as easy to resolve as I’d hoped. I understand from Chase that Markko confirmed what we already feared? His brother is dead?”

Beth jerked her head in a nod.

“Then there will be no end to this until he’s dead himself.” Mr. Edwards placed a hand on Beth’s shoulder. “We’ll work this out,” he promised. “But from a place of strength. For now, you must remain here.”

“We protect our family,” Anna agreed, shooting a significant look at Braden.

“Now, do I need to call Mike to come out here and take a look at you?” Mr. Edwards maneuvered Beth around and tilted her chin to inspect the bump on her head.

“No, sir. I’m fine.”

A heavy frown marred his face. “Sir? Really, Elizabeth, I must insist you call me Matthew.”

“We’re hardly formal in this house, sweetheart. First names are fine,” Anna added. How did they continue to make such an uncomfortable and volatile situation feel so normal? They acted as though they’d done nothing more than give her their stamp of approval, rather than say they’d protect her from death and dismemberment. They treated her as family.

In the face of everything else, why does
that
scare me?

***

Beth pulled the bedroom door shut behind her; relived to be out of bloodstained clothes. Raised voices filtered down the hallway and snagged her attention.

“I said
no
, Chase,” Braden growled, tightly leashed fury soaking his tone. “She’s got enough to deal with.”

“You aren’t doing her any favors,” Chase responded, eerily calm in the face of Braden’s temper. Beth was beginning to realize Chase was rarely anything else.

“She’s not ready. You didn’t see her last night. I’ve never seen anyone suffer as much under a change as she did. I won’t put her through that any more than necessary.”

Beth moved closer to the doorway, careful to keep her footsteps quiet and her breathing shallow.

“That’s the problem,” Chase replied. “You don’t know what that sort of change does to a person. You’ve never seen the wolf as a burden, as a
disease
.” Chase huffed, the only audible sign he was frustrated. “You’ve never seen the change kill someone. Never seen it take such a toll that the heart stops under the burden. I have. More than once.”

Shock tore through her. She’d never imagined the shift could have killed her.

“And you want to expose her to more of that?”

“It’s to her credit she’s come this far on her own. But she’ll continue to suffer every month until she finds a balance with the wolf. She can learn. If she couldn’t she’d be dead already. Either the shift would have killed her or she’d have done it herself.” Chase’s tone, as much as the words, struck Beth. Before now she hadn’t believed he held anything but contempt for her.

“She can’t take any more right now. There will be time for this later.” Braden paused, “Just drop it.”

“You may think you’re helping her,” Chase argued, “but you’re only rendering her helpless. It’s going to get her killed.”

“I said
drop it
.” Braden snarled, his tone as threatening as a fist.

Beth took a deep breath and pushed open the door. “Chase is right.” She edged into the room, skirting around Braden. Chase was sprawled in an armchair by the desk. To look at him she’d never know he’d been arguing.

“Beth?” Braden beckoned her with a hand. “I didn’t know you were there.”

Chase didn’t look surprised in the least.

“I think your brother has a point.” Beth rubbed her damp palms against her jeans and forged ahead. “I don’t know how to control this, this…” She forced herself to take a deep breath and sputtered, “This wolf.”

“That’ll come.” Braden crossed the distance between them. He reached for her again, but stopped short when she didn’t move. “It doesn’t have to be now.”

“When?” Beth steeled her resolve. “I’ve been ignoring this for a long time. I can’t anymore.”

“You survived. No one could have expected more.” He wrapped fingers around her wrist and pulled her to him.

Beth resisted the urge to push her head into his chest and just give in.

He’ll make it easy for me. I know it.

But he couldn’t shield her forever. The wolf was always there, at the back of her mind, waiting for the next moon. She’d face it again sooner rather than later. Avoiding it only guaranteed another rough month. Beth pressed her hand flat against Braden’s chest, the steady beat of his heart pulsed beneath her fingers.

She stood her ground.

“I can’t live like this anymore.” She withdrew her hand and skirted Braden. “You can teach me?” She asked, directing the question to Chase.

Chase straightened from his relaxed position and assessed her with serious gray eyes. A furrow cut a deep path between his brows. “Yes. If you’re willing.” He stood, glanced at Braden and headed for the door. “We’ll start tomorrow after lunch.”

“You don’t have to do this.” Braden’s voice was thick with tension and something else she didn’t recognize. “You’ve survived this long without putting yourself through this. It can wait until things are more…stable.”

“No.” Beth tried to push away from him, unwilling to back down but attempting to avoid the argument. “I’m sorry.”

His large hand closed on her elbow, holding her in place. “I’ll teach you myself after all this is over, but slowly. You can ease into it. You don’t have to choose the hardest road, Beth.” He pulled her around to face him, one hand brushing the side of her cheek and threading through her hair.

It was hard not to wilt beneath his pleading look and gently caressing fingertips.

He doesn’t understand.

“It’s my
choice
, Braden. Finally.
My choice
. I want answers. I want control.”

“What’s the rush?” He withdrew his hand and paced away from her. “I can answer all of your questions. Show you everything you need to know. Over time. Chase…” Braden glanced toward the door his brother had disappeared through, hostility plain on his face. “Chase won’t be patient. Or kind. He’ll push and pull at you until you’re exhausted and spent. Give yourself some time.”

“No. I’ve waited this long because I didn’t have an alternative! What was I supposed to do? Google it? Do you have any idea how much crap comes up when you search werewolves on the internet?” Beth reined in frustration that had been mounting for years. “I survived because there wasn’t any other option. Now there is. I need to understand everything about how to control this.” She slashed the air with her hand when Braden opened his mouth. “No. Not soon. Not slowly. Now. Markko is out there, and I know your family will do their best to protect me, but I have to be able to protect myself. I need to do this.”

“Fine.” Braden physically deflated as he gave in. “But let me teach you.” He reached for her again, running his fingers down the side of her face, gently skimming over the top of the bite Markko had left before moving down to rub her arm.

It took every ounce of will she possessed to resist leaning into his touch.

Don’t.

She couldn’t depend on him. She had to figure this out for herself, learn to deal with it on her own. She couldn’t count on him to always be there, easing the way.

Rely on yourself.

She forced herself to pull away. “No. I can’t trust you to push me hard enough. Chase will.”

The corners of his eyes tightened and his mouth pressed into a thin, hard line.

“Please, Braden. This has to be my way.”

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “Fine.” He jerked away from her and stalked out the door.

Alone in the office, Beth sank into the closest chair, suddenly lonelier than she’d been in days.