Walker's Run (31 page)

He laughed. “No chance in that Baby-doll. I’ll be right here. I promise.” Slipping his own boots back on, he boxed up the new ones and stood back up. “It’s just one more day, hon. Amber will be back to normal…and…my baby will be getting married.”

Feeling the tears sting her eyes again, she looked up at her father, seeing both the happiness and sadness there. “Oh Daddy…” Throwing her arms around his broad neck, she hugged him.

“I know Braedyn loves you honey. If I didn’t know this without a doubt, I wouldn’t walk you down the aisle and give you to him. He will take care of you and love you for the rest of eternity.” He sniffed and kissed the top of her head.

She hugged him tighter. “I love you, Daddy.”

“Love you, too Baby-girl.”

* * * *

Braedyn smiled watching Casey pace back and forth in the living room. Peyton sat on the couch and shook his head while she ranted again about why they couldn’t just run off and elope. He knew she didn’t really want to, but she also wasn’t used to this kind of stress.

Her father shook his head. “Honey, this is your last night with Braedyn before you have to spend the night apart, per Aquene’s rules.” He grinned and stood up.

“Wait…where are you going?” Casey turned to her father, frowning.

“I figured Braedyn might let me borrow his truck, and I’ll ride around for a couple hours to give you two some time alone.”

“You don’t have to leave Daddy—”

Peyton laughed. “I am a grown man, Baby-doll. If I want to go out for a little while, I can.”

Braedyn tossed him the keys to his truck.

“I think I’m gonna head into town and have a few beers.” He smiled and shrugged into his coat and headed out the door.

She pouted when the door closed behind him.

“What’s the matter?” Braedyn asked walking across the floor to pull her into his arms.

“I am just ready for this to be over. The stress of all of this. I told your mom to just surprise me.”

He laughed, a small rumble that vibrated through her. “I’m sorry you feel pressured.”

“It’s not just a normal wedding. I’m marrying the Alpha, so it’s an even bigger deal.”

Braedyn cleared his throat and dropped his mouth to her ear. “Well I’m marrying a Goddess, how do you think I feel?”

Casey blinked rapidly and pulled back from him. “I—I didn’t think of it that way.”

“We both have something that has us a little on edge with all of this.” He reached over and pulled her to him again. “Relax, its just one day to make the pack happy. We already know how we feel about one another. We’ve already bonded and our shared symbols show us for life-mates. And…you’ll be making an honest man of me.”

She smiled and stroked his cheek. “I’m sorry, my nerves are on edge.”

“It’s all right. We all have our moments.” Tucking a few strands of platinum hair behind her ear, he sighed. “You’ll feel better when Amber recovers from her heat cycle and everything goes back to normal.”

Casey snuggled against him. “That can’t really be it, can it?”

“You’ve gotten used to having Amber around. Things are different, and you were just getting the hang of everything, and then she’s not here. Amber was your one constant when I wasn’t around.” He kissed her temple. “And you’re also not used to sharing your brother with one of your friends, either.”

A frown touched the edges of her mouth again. “I’m not a jealous person, Braedyn.”

He grinned. “I didn’t say you were. You just aren’t used to things yet. For the next couple of hours I’m going to make sure you’re not thinking of anything but what we’ll be doing lots of in the years to come.”

The grin that played across his soon-to-be-bride’s lips made his body grow hard.

Casey frowned when she roused from sleep around five a.m.. After a moment, she smiled. Amber was prowling around out front waiting for her. Easing from the bed, she slipped on her robe and moccasins, a gift from Aquene, and went to the front door.

Amber, in tiger form, was just mounting the stairs. When Casey stepped out onto the porch, the Tigress became the woman. Once more entranced, watching the transformation, she wondered if her change would ever be so beautiful.

“I needed to talk to you...” Amber looked up at Casey and stuffed her hands into her pockets.

Casey could see the confusion in her friend’s eyes and figured it would be wise to stay quiet and let Amber get off her chest what she needed to say.

“You're not angry with me, are you?” The brunette scuffed her boot and dropped her gaze.

“No, not at all; although I really could have used your help these last two days planning the wedding, you know.”

Amber gave an abashed grin. “I'm kind of glad I missed it,” she admitted. “I'm not good at those sorts of things.”

“You know you're wearing a dress, right?”

Amber's eyes narrowed. She fixed Casey with a purely tiger glare. A small growl rose in her throat.

“Oh no, you can't threaten me, hon. You are wearing a dress whether you like it or not. You do know who I am, right?” Casey grinned when Amber lowered her gaze then smiled up at her. “I will, however, let you pick out the one you want and give you color choice.”

“Well, that's
nice
of you.” Amber leaned against the railing and glanced out over the yard. “The last few days have been…insane.”

Casey looked at Amber. “Please tell me that you’re not about to go into details about having sex with my brother.”

Amber laughed again and shook her head. “No, I'm not that cruel. But it has been…the most enjoyable time I've ever had, I must admit.”

She groaned at the implication. “Gee thanks.”

“Sorry.” The brunette sighed and looked back out into the yard, worry creasing her brow again.

“What's wrong?” Stepping closer, Casey laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You can tell me. I promise to hold anything you say in confidence, even when it comes to my brother.”

“I'm not sure how I feel, Casey. Dean has made me feel like no one else.” Amber looked down at her hands. “I don't know how I'll be able to face him in the morning. Without the cover of my heat, I don't know to act, and I don't want to hurt him. He's been so kind and sweet. I...I'm not used to that. Weres are usually brash...well, that might just be me.” She shrugged her shoulders with a slight grin. “I just don't want to hurt his feelings.”

“I think Dean will understand.” Casey patted her friend’s back. “He's strong, and most of all, he's patient. If you're feeling this way, I can only imagine how he is.”

Casey saw the tears glimmer in her friend’s eyes and knew Amber struggled not to show emotions in front of others. The brunette closed her eyes and put a hand to her brow. “I'm not ready right now to be what he wants me to be. I don't think I'll ever be.”

“No, you can be. Not right now, maybe. But you will be able to one day. You just need to know he’s willing to wait for you. I have the feeling Dean has finally reached that point in his life. He has Daddy's patience, bless him because I sure as hell didn't inherit it.” Casey laughed when she saw Amber's smile. She blotted the gathered moisture from her eyes. “Just be patient with him and yourself. Try not to over think things, and just see where things go. No one is expecting you to move straight into a relationship. I mean, it’s not like you have the mating symbol, right?”

Amber lifted her left hand and turned it over, there was no sign of a mark. She shook her head. “For one stupid moment there, I’d wished there was,” she admitted. “I just…I don’t know about anything right now.”

“And no one expects you to make a decision right now, Amber.” Casey put an arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Just try not to be a total bitch to him in the morning. Dean is kind of tender hearted even though he doesn’t look like it.”

“I can't promise you,” Amber mumbled and dropped her gaze to her feet.

“Just promise me one thing?”

Amber looked up and raised her brows.

“Just listen to your heart—”

Amber rolled her eyes and pulled away from Casey. “Uh-huh, I can hear the club remixes bounding through my head now, thanks.” She turned and gave Casey a wry grin. “I just needed to get some of it off my chest.”

“I'm your friend. That's what I'm here for.”

“Thanks.” Amber smiled and changed back into the Tigress and took off back toward her little bungalow.

Casey shook her head, watching Amber lope with grace through the snow. She turned and went into the cabin and returned to Braedyn's arms.

* * * *

Braedyn sat behind the wheel of his SUV and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Peyton was keeping Casey busy, going through the last minute preparations and getting the last few things in place so things tomorrow would go off without a hitch. He looked up at his brother’s house and let out a deep breath. This was a conversation he didn’t want to have.

He flexed his hands, rolled his shoulders, and then stepped out of the old truck. Waylon Greene opened the front door, one of the men he’d stationed to watch over Elan since the attack.

Braedyn shook his outstretched hand. “How is he today?”

“Threatening to tear our throats out if we get close enough,” Waylon said with a shrug. “You know how he is.”

“Don’t turn your back on him. He’s not the man we thought we knew.” Braedyn ran a hand through his hair and stepped in the door. Donovan Parrish and another young Were named Tim Brooks were standing post outside Elan’s bedroom.

Nodding to both men, he motioned for them to step aside.

“It’s about time to give him another dose of that stuff Amber brought over,” Donovan said producing a syringe.

Braedyn nodded, taking it from him. “Is he still chained down?”

“Yeah, we just made sure he was secure before you called. We were hoping to have him doped back up before you got here,” Tim said with a shrug.

“No, I’m glad you didn’t. I need him lucid for this.” Braedyn put his hand on the door knob. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go in alone.”

Donovan frowned. “Are you sure about this?”

“He’s chained down, and you’re just outside the door. I think I can handle him for a few minutes.” Braedyn lifted the syringe. “I’ll be all right.”

Though the men didn’t look too comfortable with the thought of their Alpha being alone in the room, they stepped back and did as they were told.

Braedyn turned the handle and pushed open the door.

Elan was chained to his bed. His shoulder length hair hung over his face. Dark eyes peered at Braedyn through the clumps of sweaty hair. “Have you come to finish the job yet, Brother?” Elan growled low in his throat.

“I don’t want to kill you, Elan.” Braedyn closed the door and leaned against it, taking in the sight of his younger brother. His heart ached at the betrayal, but even more at how he was forced to keep Elan in order to prevent him from hurting anyone else.

“You’re a fool,” Elan spat. Shaking his hair out of his face, Braedyn saw the dark circles under his younger brother’s eyes.

“Have you eaten today?”

“You think I’d eat the gruel they bring me? It’s probably been poisoned.”

Braedyn felt the muscle in his jaw twitch and twirled the syringe in his palm behind his back. “Your food hasn’t been poisoned, Elan. If I wanted you dead, you would be already.”

“You’re not going to change my mind, Brother. Once I get out of here, I promise I’ll make you regret that you let me live.” His mouth frothed at the edges.

Braedyn moved over to the nightstand and poured a glass of water. “You have to be thirsty.” Lifting the glass, he turned and watched Elan lick his lips, staring at the glass. “I won’t unchain you, but I will let you drink.” He held the glass in front of his younger brother and watched Elan drop his gaze while he drank. When he’d drunk more than three-fourths of it, Braedyn pulled it away and set it back on the nightstand.

“You’re getting married tomorrow, I hear.”

“I am.” Braedyn uncapped the syringe behind his back. “I’m trying to make this a perfect a day for Casey.”

Elan sneered and shook his sweaty hair from his face once more. The muscles in his neck bulged. He pulled against the chains. “That bitch, Tigress treated the cuffs with silver so I wouldn’t pull hard enough to break my skin. I’ve got to admit she’s pretty clever.”

“She is,” Braedyn agreed and shifted a little closer to the bed.

“You can’t keep me here forever, Braedyn. You’ll eventually have to kill me or let me go.”

“I know, little brother, but if I let you go, there will never be peace.”

Elan sneered once more. His eyes flashed golden. “As long as I live, Braedyn, I swear I will never let you have peace.”

“Why Elan? Why do you hate me so?”

“You’re the reason Father died. You and that bitch you’re marrying. Then you get to become the Alpha? It’s because of you Tala turned out the way she did. You’ve destroyed our family all because of Casey. Then she becomes the Silver Wolf?” Elan’s maniacal laugh echoed through the room. “Uncle Harlan was right when he said the return of the Silver Wolf was bad. Look at what Casey has done to our family. I bet Mother is just fawning all over her. Both of those bitches—”

Braedyn grabbed Elan by the throat. “You watch what you say about them, little brother. Mother is the only reason you’re still alive.” He slid the needle into Elan’s neck and pressed the plunger. The fiery glow in Elan’s eyes slowly diminished and his head slumped forward.

Gritting his teeth, Braedyn threw the needle across the floor. He wasn’t sure what he had hoped to achieve trying to talk with Elan. Today had been no different than any other day since they’d kept him captive. He opened the door and looked over at Donovan.

“I want him moved. Keeping him here and comfortable isn’t going to break him.”

Donovan nodded. “I can take him to my place.”

Braedyn raised his brows. “What will Sara think?”

The older man’s eyes narrowed and he shrugged. “I’ll deal with that. It’s the least I can do to thank you for putting up with us.”

“You’ll stay with him through the wedding tomorrow?”