Shattered Emotions (7 page)

There were things worth the overwhelming feelings in life—like watching his twin laugh when one of his brothers did something to them to make them feel like idiots.

He and North looked alike in every way, even though they were completely different. They each smiled and laughed with the others, but he knew they both had darker sides.

It was the twin thing he guessed.

Before their party, however, he had to go outside the den to help a fellow Pack mate with something. Henry was opening a new store out in the human world and was a little anxious about it. Usually things like that fell under Jasper’s job as the Beta, but Maddox thought this might be better suited for it as the Omega. Henry had all the details taken care of, and Jasper had even helped with some of them, but the anxiety of stepping out on his own and dealing with humans on a daily basis fell under Maddox’s domain.

He’d help his friend get situated then come back to the den and enjoy time with his family.

Yes, today would be a good day.

He made his way to his car and drove outside the den walls. The trees reached up to the sky, the forest scents infusing him with strength. He loved being a wolf, even if being the Omega was a little too much sometimes. As he aged, so did his powers, meaning with each year, he’d be able to feel more and more. He only hoped he’d be able to handle it all later.

He’d just driven past another checkpoint when he came upon a fallen tree in the middle of the road. He pulled over to the side and got out, trying to figure out what to do. He could go back and get one of his brothers or the enforcers to help him move it, or he could try to do it by himself.

What he didn’t know was why the tree fell down in the first place. There hadn’t been a storm recently, and as far as he knew, there hadn’t been any fights or anything that could have caused it. Cautiously, he walked to the end of the tree to look at its roots and cursed.

Someone had cut it down, blocking the road.

But why?

He heard a branch crack under a footstep, and he turned, ready to fight.

Something hit him on the back of the head, and darkness overcame him before he could lash out.

Hell, it was supposed to be a good day.

He awoke to someone standing over him in a mostly darkened room, illuminated by only a bare bulb.

“Are you sure this is North?” the man above him spat. “How the fuck are you supposed to tell?”

Another man walked to his side. He looked like the other man, and from their power signatures, Maddox had a pretty good idea who they were.

Hector and Corbin, Alpha and Heir to the Central Pack.

Why the hell did they want him?

No, not him. They wanted his twin, North. He and North looked so much alike that even their parents had a tough time telling them apart without sensing their wolves.

“I don’t know,” the older one, Hector, said. “My contacts said the doctor would be leaving the den to check on a patient. This one must be him. Tell me, boy, I know you’re awake, are you North? Or are you the useless one, Maddox?”

Maddox bit back the angry retort. He wasn’t useless, but he wasn’t about to get in a fighting match with these wolves. They had him at a disadvantage. Not only were there two of them, plus countless others in their Pack if they were indeed in the Central’s den, but they’d also chained him to a table with chains strong enough to hold a werewolf in.

Fear crept up his belly, but he didn’t show it—couldn’t show it.

“I’m North,” he lied. There was no way he’d let them know they’d gotten the wrong twin. Yeah, they’d probably kill him anyway, but he wouldn’t let North get hurt. He’d protect his twin at all costs.

Corbin grinned. “Finally, something good.”

“Why did you take me?” Maddox wasn’t sure they’d answer him, but if he got out—no, when—he needed to make sure his family was safe.

They were all that mattered.

“You, North, will be an issue later, so we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Hector drawled as he walked to the door. “Our elder is a seer and had a vision that you’d be the one to end my boy here.” Hector narrowed his eyes. “There’s no way I’ll let that happen, you see. Corbin is the Heir to this Pack and will not be killed by a fucking Jamenson. You’re going to die today, son, but first Corbin is going to make sure it hurts. My son is special that way.”

Hector left the room, locking the door behind him, and Maddox growled.

“You kill me and you’re starting a war.” Maddox fought at his restraints, knowing it might be useless. His wolf growled and clawed at him, hating being weak.

“They’ll never know it was me. Those wolves that took you weren’t ours. We hired them, and now, they’re dead. There’s no trail.”

Maddox narrowed his eyes. There was always a trail, and one of his brothers would find it.

Corbin grinned again, sending a shudder down Maddox’s spine. He’d deal with anything the bastard brought as long as it meant North was safe.

He had to find a way out of the room, but he knew that wouldn’t happen with Corbin by his side. Maybe once the other wolf took a break, Maddox would find a way.

Corbin turned to pick something up from a tray, and Maddox closed his eyes, knowing what was to come would hurt like nothing he’d ever felt.

Corbin cut deep into Maddox’s legs, side, and arms using a small knife, and laughing as he did it. Maddox felt fiery agony rip up his body, but he didn’t scream out. There was no way he’d give Corbin the satisfaction.

“You’re not screaming,” Corbin complained with a frown. “I suppose I’ll have to use a different knife.” He pulled a new one out, and Maddox bit back a groan. “This one was dipped using a special spell, so it will hurt more. It’s one of my favorites, so I hope you don’t disappoint me. I hate to be disappointed. First, though, I’m going to have you turned over so I can get to your back.”

Corbin moved to the door and brought two men in before Maddox had a chance to move and test the restraints. His cuts bled, and the trails of red stained his clothes and the floor from what he could see, but there was nothing he could do.

He was helpless.

The two wolves, both of whom were built like tanks, moved him to his stomach, and he fought against their hold because they’d loosened the chains to do so. They squeezed his arms, digging into his cuts, and he grunted, trying to break free.

They chained him back down again, the metal links digging into his skin.

“Yes, keep fighting, I like that,” Corbin crooned from behind him.

Maddox’s wolf whimpered then growled at their position on the table. There was no way to see where Corbin was coming from…no way to protect himself.

The dagger sliced through his skin, and he groaned, holding back the scream that threatened to break free. This cut burned more than the rest, the spell wrapping itself around his body, choking him.

“Finally, a sound out of you, North,” Corbin said, pleasure in his tone as he cut deeper slashes along Maddox’s back.

At the sound of North’s name, Maddox gritted his teeth and bore down. This was for his brother; he had to remember that.

Maddox closed his eyes and drew inward, letting the pain wash over him as sweat rolled down his back. Corbin cut and sliced while Maddox tried to ignore it.

There had to be a way out.

Finally, he heard Corbin say something else, and then Maddox felt arms around him again, moving him to his back. He tried to fight to free himself, but with the spell and the loss of blood, he was in too much agony to do much. His body felt weak and his limbs heavy, but he tried to get away, to no avail.

They chained him back down, this time tying his head to the table so he couldn’t move it. Corbin stood above him, this time with a new dagger in his hand.

“You’ve done remarkably well, despite how much I’d hoped for the latter. Before I kill you, though, I have a new toy I want to try. I’m going to use it later on my toy, but first I want to see if it works. You see, it’s a special one that seals the wounds automatically. I know that doesn’t make sense, but you’ll understand when you see the final result. It scores the skin and bones so they can’t heal correctly, so it will leave the worst scars possible. As much as I love pain, I love seeing the scars and memories more. Let’s see how this goes.”

Corbin pressed the tip of the blade under Maddox’s right eye, and Maddox froze.

Fuck.

“Yes, I think a scar on your face before I kill you will work out perfectly. There’s no way I’ll let you kill me later. Oh, I will say that this will hurt more than the other blade. At least that’s what my witch told me. We’ll see.”

Maddox braced himself as Corbin pressed deeper, slicing his skin, and he screamed. He’d been so strong before, but now, he couldn’t hold back. He screamed until his throat was raw and his voice cracked. Corbin didn’t stop. He just smiled and continued cutting. Maddox could feel fire arch along the cut, searing his skin as it went, scaring him for life.

However long that life would be.

Blood poured out of the wound before it healed, filling his eyes, nose, and mouth. He choked on it, trying to breathe, trying to live.

Maddox felt Corbin pull back, relief and fear filling him.

“I’m going to let you stay here like this until I feel like killing you, North Jamenson. Thank you for showing me what my new dagger can do. Ellie should enjoy it.”

Maddox didn’t know who Ellie was, but he was sure as hell sorry for her. He didn’t want anyone to go through what he’d just gone through…what he was still going through.

He couldn’t see with the blood blurring his vision, but he could still use his dulled senses to figure out what to do. He was alone in the room, but weakened beyond reality and chained to a table. He pulled at his chains, trying to get free, but it was no use.

Unless Corbin unchained him to kill him, Maddox would die in his brother’s place without his family knowing what had happened to him.

Adam had to be feeling something as the Enforcer since someone outside the Pack had done this, but without evidence, there might not be a trail.

He could only hope they’d find a way to find him before it was too late.

Maddox heard the door open, and he braced himself for what was to come.

This was it.

“Are you alive?” a small feminine voice asked, her voice a fear-filled whisper.

Was it a trick? Was she there to give him hope before Corbin killed him?

He didn’t say anything but felt a small hand on his chest.

“I can feel your heart,” she whispered. “I can get you unchained and maybe even across the border, but you’ll have to get home on your own. I don’t want Corbin to find out.” The last words broke her voice, as her fear became a tangible thing, heavy in the air.

Maddox couldn’t scent her, couldn’t see her. He only knew she was someone who was either lying or someone who could give him hope. She had to be a teenager or someone young enough not to pose a threat to his wolf.

The dagger’s magic seemed to have taken his wolf’s strength as well because his wolf didn’t even speak to him, didn’t even move to help him.

At this point, he didn’t have much choice. He had to trust the girl.

He gave a nod that sent pain down his back and face. He felt her small hands on the chains as she unlocked them. How she’d gotten the key, he didn’t know, but he’d get out of there no matter what.

Once he was free of his chains, he pulled himself up, the cuts ripping open again as they’d begun to heal. Bile rose in his throat as he fought the pain that threatened to overtake him. She put her small body against his, under his armpit, and they made their way out the door and down a hall.

His feet barely held him up, but he didn’t want to put too much pressure on her.

He couldn’t sense any other wolves around and was grateful for that, even though he wasn’t sure why he couldn’t. He still couldn’t see or smell the way he should, not with the spell working on him and the blood still filling his pores.

“This is as far as I can get you,” she said after they’d walked for twenty agonizing minutes. “We’re at the border. I know you can’t see, but keep going for another hundred feet or so, and you’ll find the road. I’m sorry.”

“Tell me your name,” he whispered, needing to know who had saved him.

“I can’t. Go, please, before they find out.”

He moved away, taking painful steps the way she’d told him. He heard her running the other way, presumably back to her safe spot in the den. At least he hoped so.

He’d made his way to the road when he heard the scream, a young girl’s excruciating scream of terror as she screamed for whoever was hurting her to stop.

Oh, hell, it was her.

Her screams cut off abruptly, and Maddox bent over to throw up.

He’d killed her.

She’d helped him, and his own helplessness had killed his savior.

There was no way he could go back and try to help her…it was too late.

She’d died saving him, and he’d never forget that.

Just as he’d never forget Corbin’s promises. North would always be in danger as long as Corbin was alive. There had to be a way to protect his family. He touched the newly formed scar on his face.

There would be no chance of mistaking one twin for another now.

That meant Corbin might try again, but not if Maddox had anything to say about it. Maddox and North would always have to look over their shoulders for danger.

Maddox vowed to protect his brother at all cost, even hiding who’d done this to him. If he told his family, they’d start a war, and he couldn’t risk his family.

No, this would be his secret.

His burden.

Anything for his family.

Anything for North.

Anything for the girl who’d saved his life and lost hers in the process.

He wouldn’t let her die in vain.

He’d have to make sure he was worth something. He would have to make sure he was worth that girl’s sacrifice. He couldn’t be the man he was before; that man was long gone.

He was the Omega.

He’d protect them all.

Chapter 6