A Cursed Bloodline (WG 4) (13 page)

He motioned to where Shayna knelt over Koda and flicked his hand. Her head was wrenched to the side as if yanked and her limp form slumped against the pavement. Koda awoke abruptly and pulled her into his arms. Emme shrieked and raced to her side.

Taran started toward them only to suddenly still. Slowly she turned and stared at me with irises that had bleached to white. “Something’s here,” she said in a hollow voice.

She’d felt Anara’s presence.

My gaze darted around. Anara was gone. Aric rose, his blue shirt saturated with my tears. He didn’t glance at Shayna, Taran, or anyone else. His light brown eyes fixed on me. He sensed my fear, but he failed to understand it. “Celia, tell me what’s happening.”

Anara’s voice whispered savagely in my head. “Make him hate you.” Shayna screamed again. He was hurting her just to be sure I was listening. My head whipped from her to Aric. “Make him hate you or they both die!”

I clenched my teeth. “Misha is planning our wedding.”

Aric froze.

“He wants to be with me.”

Aric fell silent, but his anger tore forth like a raging bull.

My voice quivered. “I can never see you again.”

Aric’s large form trembled with uncomprehending fury. “This is why you broke our bond—so you can be with
Misha
?”

“I…”

“Answer him, Celia!” Anara growled.

“Forget about me, Aric. Forget you ever knew me. You deserve better.”

Aric loomed over me, his deep timbre thick with anger. “You’re right. You’re no good for me. You’re no good for anyone—except maybe that
fucking
leech!”

My heart stopped as I watched Aric disappear. Danny’s cold hand on my shoulder kept me from falling over. When I faced him, his skin was ashen.

“God, Celia,” he said. “How long has Anara been hurting you?”

Chapter Twelve

“Shut up, Danny,” I hissed.

The desperation in my face instantly silenced him. I stumbled forward to Shayna’s side. Koda sat her up. She rubbed her neck. “I’m fine, puppy,” she told him.

Koda didn’t appear convinced. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. It felt like someone tried to break my neck.” Her slender fingers swept over her sternum. “And my heart kept trying to stop.”

Koda glared at me.

Danny’s hand returned to my shoulder. “Celia was over by me.”

Blue and white fire crackled around Taran. “Damnit, Koda, don’t look at her that way. Something was here. I
felt
it.”

“What was it?” he asked. Taran didn’t say anything. “If something was here, tell me what it was!”

She jerked a flaming finger in his face. “I don’t know what it was. All I know is that it was dark and sinister and strong. Like
ungodly
strong.”

Koda rose, lifting Shayna to her feet. “That’s because evil deeds attract evil beings.”

Emme’s eyes widened. She knew he meant me. “Celia isn’t evil.”

She reached for my hand, but Liam pulled her away. “What Celia intentionally did to Aric follows the path of evil. The dark ones enjoy that level of torture. If any were present when she broke the bond, they might have followed her, waiting to strike.”

Out of Aric’s best friends, I was closest to Liam. His scrutiny crippled my already tattered emotions.

Koda stalked over to me. “Your selfish acts could have cost me my mate.”

Gemini clasped Koda’s shoulder and pulled him back. Good for him, because the way I felt I would have nailed him in the face. “Enough, Koda. You’re jumping to conclusions. We need to take care of this mess.”

Taran had charmed the crowd into dispersing and ignoring the destruction around us. Danny took in the demolished furniture. “I have some money I can contribute toward the cost.”

Gemini’s dark almond-shaped eyes shimmered with barely controlled rage. “You’re not doing anything. You’re no longer one of us.” His hands tightened to fists. “Daniel Matagrano, as Beta to Aric Connor, pureblood and Leader of the Squaw Valley Den Pack, I hereby strip you of your title as Warrior. Step foot on our land, and I will personally end your life.”

My sisters and I gasped. Danny bowed his head. The title of Warrior had been his crowning achievement—more than his doctorate degree, more than his academic accomplishments. This had been the honor that made him feel like he finally belonged.

Taran stomped toward Gemini. “Damnit, you can’t freaking do this to him!”

Taran was Gemini’s kryptonite. His resolve typically melted like ice in her presence. Not this time. He righted himself and met her with equal force. “This isn’t up for discussion. Dan’s actions are inexcusable. As his Leader, Aric has a right to kill him for his betrayal. Dismissing him from our Pack will spare him so long as he keeps his distance.”

Taran rammed her finger in Gemini’s chest. “This isn’t his fault!”

Gemini leaned back on his heels. “He has free will, Taran. He made a choice. Are you suggesting Celia forced him to break the bond?”

My sisters turned to me, I guess with the expectation I’d save Danny and make things right. The wolves didn’t have such hopes. Their anger surged as they continued to regard me as their enemy.

Danny knelt before Gemini in acknowledgment of guilt. “He’s right. I could have refused Celia, but I chose not to.” Tears dripped down his long nose. “I accept the conditions of my exile and the penalty placed upon my life.”

Taran lurched away. “For a bunch of wolves you spew a lot of horseshit!” she screamed over her shoulder. Emme wiped her eyes and helped Shayna lead Danny to a nearby bench. I begged the earth to swallow me whole. All my actions—every last one of them—had caused nothing but harm. “I’ll pay for the damages,” I mumbled.

Gemini rubbed his goatee and huffed, “No, Celia. You’ve done enough.”

It stung to have him speak to me that way. He was the most reasonable and patient werewolf I’d ever met. But even he hated me for what I’d done.

Taran influenced the manager to send the bill to the Den and to believe college coeds had destroyed the hotel room. As we waited for the wolves to wrap up damage control, my hatred for Anara grew more hostile. I’d done as he asked and severed the bond, and still it hadn’t been enough. He’d forced me to hurt Aric yet again.

And he wasn’t going to stop. No. That twisted bastard was having too much fun. My only choice was to distance myself. The events of the day had taught me as much. I took in Danny’s despondent state. Maybe he’d like to come with me. Then my baby and I wouldn’t have to be alone.

Taran left the bench when Gemini appeared, stormed to our light blue Legacy, and slammed the door shut behind her. Gemini watched her before addressing me. “Celia, we will take you back to the vampire’s estate. There’s much we need to discuss with you.”

The last thing I wanted was the lupine express back to the mansion. Emme grasped my hands, her voice trembling. “Everyone’s fighting, Celia. Please go and try to make amends.”

I couldn’t say no to her or to Shayna, who hugged her body tight. And while I knew nothing I said would appease the wolves, I’d let enough people down that day. I followed the wolves back to Koda’s mammoth Yukon.

Koda drove with Gemini next to him. Liam and I sat in the back. Koda took the long way back to Misha’s, along the Nevada side of the lake. I supposed he felt we needed more quality time. No one spoke until we reached the Zephyr Cove–Round Hill Village area.

Liam twisted his body and leaned toward me. “You haven’t been yourself. Tell us what’s happening, Celia.”

In loving my sisters, and standing by Aric, the wolves had become my family. But like Aric, they were safer hating me, too. I crossed my arms. “If Aric’s been ordered to stay away from me, why do you have a problem with what I did?”

Koda looked over his shoulder and grinned. “Actually, we’re happy you’re finally out of his life.” His eyes blazed gold and he backhanded me across the face.

Koda’s strike broke my nose and launched me into Liam’s chest. Liam wrenched my arms back, leaving me open for Gemini’s attack. Gemini’s eyes fired with gold as he hurtled his way into the cabin and punched me in the head. My tigress went ballistic. I kicked Gemini away and butted Liam with the back of my skull. Liam released me. I sliced at the seat belt, but Liam yanked my left arm and snapped it before I finished cutting through.

I roared with agony and raked my claws across Liam’s eyes. The move gave me time to rip through the strap just as Koda caught one of my thrashing feet. He crushed my instep within his grip. I ignored the excruciating pain and kicked him in the face and thrust my other foot into Gemini’s throat. Koda lost control of the car and smashed into a utility pole. I threw open the door and rolled onto the street. A passing car swerved to avoid me and slammed into the side of Koda’s SUV. Screams echoed behind me and cars screeched to a halt. I didn’t look back. I clambered onto the sidewalk, using my knees and right arm to slide myself across the concrete.

An elderly man on the corner yelled at me to stay down and stop moving. I pulled myself up and ran for my life, cradling my limp arm and dragging my injured foot.

Human reasoning abandoned me completely. I was nothing more than a desperate and frightened animal whose only thought was to flee with her baby. I cut through an alleyway and then another, only to hit a dead end.

I protruded my claws and tried to scale the wall. My feet had barely left the ground when I fell backward and onto my spine. Jolts of anguish reverberated across my useless limbs. It was impossible. I couldn’t climb.

The hammering of approaching footsteps grew louder. The wolves had found me. I could smell their blood. I spun from my back and forced myself upright. No way could I take them on. My only choice was to
shift
into the sewers, but I didn’t know where I’d land and feared the fall would exacerbate my injuries. So I tried to slow my breath and waited. If I made contact, I could
shift
them and make my escape.

That is, if they didn’t kill me first.

A hideous growl exploded from deep within me, bred from fear and desperation to protect the child within me. The hulking forms of the wolves appeared and their urgent steps slowed. Their eyes no longer glowed in that horrible, angry gold. To my shock, they appeared solemn and completely freaked out.

Gemini softened the intensity of his stare as he took in my injuries. “Celia, it’s okay. No one is going to hurt you.”

“Stay away from us!”

They scanned the alley, expecting the presence of another. I’d impulsively referred to me and my baby. Except they didn’t know that, and my comment only deepened their unease.

“Celia, it’s me. Your buddy, Liam.”

“You’re not my buddy,” I said through clenched teeth.

Koda took a step but stopped when I unleashed another ferocious growl. “She must have injured herself when she jumped from the car,” he murmured to the others.

My breath came out in quick frantic bursts. Either they were losing their minds or I was. More footsteps approached. My sisters screamed when they saw me.

Taran tried to shove her way forward. “What the hell did you do to her?”

Gemini snatched her around the waist and hauled her back. “She attacked us while we were driving. I’m not sure what provoked her.”

Furious tears leaked from my eyes. “I did
not
. You attacked me!”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Oh shit. She believes what she’s saying.”

Gemini released Taran and spoke with a soft but level voice. “We didn’t attack you, Celia. We merely attempted to restrain you when you assaulted us.”

My sisters drew back, absolutely sickened. “I didn’t,” I cried. “You have to believe me.”

My sisters exchanged glances. The wolves’ crimson-splattered shirts hung in tatters from where my claws had struck, and blood coated their hair and faces. Hell, I guess I wouldn’t have believed me either.

Gemini inched forward. “Let’s take her back to the Den. Perhaps the Elders can help—”

“
No!
I’m not going anywhere with you!” My instinct to run took over. I made the mistake of trying to barrel through the wolves. Koda immediately seized my waist. My fangs shot out and dug into his shoulder.

“Shit. Get her legs!”

I
changed,
only to collapse on my damaged limbs. My sisters shrieked. The wolves wrestled with me along the ground, struggling to restrain my 370-pound form. My roars of pain echoed out of the alleyway and into the darkening sky as my damaged bones snapped beneath me.

“Put her out, Taran!” Gemini hollered. “She’s going to kill herself.”

—

You know it’s going to be a bad day when you wake up crying.

My sisters surrounded me, their faces grim. Blotches smeared Emme’s fair skin and puffy eyes. Misha waited in the corner, standing perfectly still. If it weren’t for his scent of sex and chocolate, I’d never have noticed him. Emme moved when he approached, so he could sit beside me. He pulled me into an embrace. I let my head fall against him, comforted by the knowledge that he could never hurt me.

Unlike the wolves.

“How long have I been out?”

“Just a few hours, dude. You woke up when it started to rain.”

Taran swore and paced in front of the bed. “We’ve called a psychologist. She’ll be evaluating you in the morning.”

I stared at the wall of my room. It was a soft sage, such a pretty color…peaceful. “That’s not necessary. I’m leaving tomorrow and taking Bren with me.”

Misha’s arms tightened around me. “No.”

Emme leaned forward. “You’re sick, sweetheart. You need help.”

I stood abruptly and went to the window. “The only thing I need is to get out of this cursed state.”

“Damnit, Celia. You can’t just run away from your problems!”

Shayna’s voice broke. “And what about us, Ceel? We always promised to be together.”

I began to hum. It no doubt reinforced their belief that I was loony, but it helped soothe me and kept me from having to explain myself. One by one, everyone left.

I stepped into the family room sometime later. Emme sat alongside Bren, combing through his thickened beard and trimming it with long, sharp scissors. He grinned at her and so did Little Bren.