Bryce Evans (24 page)

“
Where are they?” Mace yelled. 

“
They’re not here.  I smell two other people beside Lexy and Star but no one else,” Damen reported. 

“
Mother fucker.  I should have never left them.  It’s my fault.  I knew better,” Mace bellowed as he punched the wall with his fist, breaking the drywall. 

“
Listen, Mace, I left, too.  They must have been in the house while we were here.  They had to have masked their scent.  We saw Damen coming in the driveway as we were driving away.  Look, call everyone, Damen, and get them out there looking for them.  They had to have a car nearby.  What is out back?” Reece said tightly.

“
Let’s go.”  Mace and Reece took off out the back door tearing their clothes off as they ran then shifted into two wolves.  Jacob followed on foot as Reece stopped and sniffed the ground trying to pick up any scent.  Star’s and Lexy’s scent was here and two others.  Reece closed his eyes then began following the sweet scent of strawberries.  Mace followed as the scent led to a clearing where a vehicle had once sat.  No communication was needed between the Alpha and his Beta as they ran back to the house to meet up with everyone. 

Amanda pushed Star into the barn.  “Get the rope, Brandi.”  Amanda reached down and grabbed Star by her hair, dragging her toward a pole that was stuck in the ground.  Star growled at Amanda when her hand got near her mouth.  Amanda jerked her hand back then slapped Star across the face.  “Don’t you ever growl at me again.  You should all be kept tied up in the barn like the filthy animals you are.”  Brandi brought the rope over to Amanda.  “Put your arms around the pole and if you try to bite me again then I will knock all your teeth out.  Understand me?” Amanda snapped. 

Brandi grabbed Star
’s arms and jerked them around the pole so Amanda could tie her hands together.  Amanda pulled a knife out of her pocket then cut the end of the rope off using the other piece to tie her legs together around the pole. 

***

Declan walked in the house with Samson and two other guards.  “We went by Malcolm Holliday’s house and...”  Declan hated telling Mace because he knew he was going to go on the warpath. 

“
What, Declan.  Tell me?” Mace growled, his wolf very close to the surface.

“
We found Malcolm Holliday dead in his house.  His throat was cut.  His wife was knocked out and tied up in her bedroom.  When we got her awake, she said her son had gone crazy.  He said he was going to take over the Twisters Council and make Lexy his mate.  His dad slapped him when he told him what his plans were, yelling that he was going to mess everything up.  Patricia Holliday said that Cain went crazy, slamming Malcolm into the wall, and using his magic then pulled out a knife and cut her husband’s throat.  He told Amanda and Brandi to tie her up in her bedroom.  She said Amanda was the one who hit her knocking her out.

Reece started to panic after hearing what Cain was capable of.  Reece grabbed Mace by the arm. 
“Let’s go, Mace.  Send everyone out looking.” 

“
Okay, let me think, where would they take them?  It would need to be somewhere secluded.  Some place no one would see or hear them,” Mace murmured, turning himself around, looking out the window.

“
He would need shelter so what abandoned houses do we have around here.  He was near this area when he took them.”  Mace looked at Damen for any suggestions.

“
Well, I know of about seven old farmhouses that are for sale,” Damen declared.

“
That’s it.  In my vision, I saw Lexy walking up a path to an old farmhouse.  I couldn’t see much of it so we check all the old farmhouses in town.  It has to be close by.”  Mace blurted out.

“
Split up.  We will have to check them all,” Reece, shouted instructions.

***

Cain pulled Lexy into a bedroom that had candles lit all around the room. 
“You like?  I did this all for you.”  He gestured at the room. 

Lexy looked around the room and then over at the bed that had straps on each end of the bed.  She knew what Cain was going to do.  He was going to rape her.
“What are going to do, Cain?” 

“
Well, what does it look like, Lexy.  You are going to put up a fight,” Cain proclaimed, “and as much as I love the fight, I want some time with you, and with you strapped down, then I can wipe that filthy animal smell off you.  You see, Lexy, I need my scent all over you and in you and then they will know whom you belong to.  ME!” 

Cain snickered as
Lexy started panicking looking around the room for anything. 

“
Your father will never allow this.  Remember, I’m no good and you don’t want someone that is tainted,” Lexy sputtered out.  Her voice was shaking.  She was trying anything to keep the conversation going.  She knew Damen was at the house by now and Mace and Reece would know they were missing.  They would be searching for them.

“
Don’t worry about my father anymore, Lexy.  He can’t keep us apart.  I made sure of that.”  Cain smiled as he caressed her face with the back of his hand.

“What did you do, Cain?” 

Instead of answering, Cain pushed Lexy against the wall, jerking her hair back as he kissed her mouth.  Lexy kept her mouth shut, not allowing him to kiss her. 

“Open your mouth.” 

Lexy shook her head trying to free herself from his grasp.  Cain grabbed Lexy by the hair, throwing her to the floor.  She fell against the bed railing hitting her head. 

“Fuck,” Lexy screamed as she threw her hand up to her head, feeling blood drip down her scalp.

“
Lexy, you will let me kiss you or you will regret it.”

“
Like your dad is regretting it?” asked Lexy, trying to buy some time.

Cain grinned wickedly. 
“No, Lexy, I don’t think he is regretting anything right now.”

“
What did you do to your dad, Cain?” asked Lexy.

“
He killed him, just like he should do to you,” Amanda blurted out.  She was standing in the doorway watching Cain.

“
You just used me to get to her.  You always wanted her.  Didn’t you?” Amanda argued.

Cain laughed but the laugh sounded eerie, almost sadistic.  Lexy could see the dark magic all around him
, then she heard him say, “Yes, Amanda, I use you.  You were only a means to an end for me.  Or and easy piece of ass, whichever you prefer.”

“
You son of a bitch,” Amanda yelled as she rushed Cain, throwing herself against him, knocking him against the wall.  Amanda punched Cain in the face then reached back to punch him again when she went flying through the air, hitting the wall.  Lexy watched in horror as Amanda slid down the wall falling onto the floor.  Amanda lay on the floor motionless. 

“
Bitch,” Cain slurred as he picked himself up off the floor.  “Get up.”  Cain motioned for Lexy to get up off the floor.  His lip was bleeding where Amanda got a lucky punch, catching Cain in the mouth.  “I said get up or do you want to meet the same fate as she did.” 

Lexy had had enough.  She wasn
’t going out like that and she sure as hell wasn’t going to let him touch her.                Lexy’s anger grew, and as her anger grew, the stronger she became.

***

Brandi watched from the hallway as Cain threw Amanda across the room.  She could hear bones break as she hit the wall, realizing that Cain had lost his mind.  She knew they would be looking for them.  Brandi decided that now was a good time to get the hell out of dodge.  She ran out of the house and got into her car—leaving town.  Brandi knew she would have to change her name and find a new identity.  Cain was working with someone else, but she didn’t know whom that was.  Cain was so secretive with that information, but Brandi knew that whoever it was wanted Cain to create a diversion for them so they could get into town.  The Trinity and the Ashland Pack was what they wanted.  Brandi pulled out onto the highway leaving Cain to fend for himself. 

Star listened for the two bitches to leave the barn. 
Star needed to go get help for Lexy.  Not hearing them anymore, she called to her wolf and shifted.  The rope fell to the ground as Star shook the clothes off her.  Star was a beautiful brown wolf with a red tint to her fur.  She walked up to the door but remembered that she couldn’t open the door.  Star was a young wolf and knew if she shifted to many times then she would have to stay human or wolf for a couple of hours.  She knew she didn’t have a choice and this was her only chance so she shifted again, opening the door slowly, looking for anyone outside.  Star saw her chance, shifted again into her wolf, and ran out the door toward the driveway for help.

***

Lexy grabbed the side of the bedpost, pulling herself up off the floor. 

“
Get on the bed,” Cain yelled.  

As Lexy leaned over, she felt the protection necklace that Mace
’s mother had left for her and Mace.  She heard the words in her head as she reached up and held the stone between her fingers. 

Gemstones emit vibrations that can help you to become more attuned to those things that will make up a safe, secure environment.  These include harmonious relationships, a balanced state of mind, respect for self and others, trading fear for love in all decisions.  If you need protection, you will know when to use this.  It will protect you and your love ones when you least expect it.  The words will come to you when you need them the most
.

Lexy knew now that she had a relationship with two wonderful mates.  They loved her and she loved them.  Her life was worth fighting for and she would protect it with everything she had. Lexy had gone through life for such a long time believing she didn’t deserve anyone.  Cain and Amanda had done that to her, made her doubt herself.  It was time to be strong and live. 
I’m going to live
, Lexy thought.

***

Mace, Reece, Damen, and Jacob drove down the road looking for the Cutler’s farmhouse that had been empty since old man Cutler died two years ago.  Mace drove as fast as he could, praying they would find them in time. 

As they drove, Reece pointed up ahead,
“What’s that crossing the road?” 

Mace and Damen looked harder.

“It’s a wolf,” Jacob said quickly.

“
Stop, that’s Star’s wolf.”  Mace slammed on the brakes.  Reece quickly jerked his hands up bracing himself from going through the windshield.  Reece looked over at Mace frowning. 

“
Sorry,” Mace muttered. 

Reece and Jacob jumped out of the truck and whistled as Star jumped over a log.  She stopped and looked back seeing Reece waving at her.  Star didn
’t know if she should cry or jump for joy.  She ran toward Reece, jumping into his arms, licking his face.  Star tried to turn back to human, but her body wouldn’t let her.  She had no energy left to do it. Reece set her back on the ground.

Jacob blew out the breath he had been holding since they found an empty house.  He knew now that Star was his mate, but she was too young and needed
time to grow up.  He needed to speak with Reece when this was over and tell him the truth.

“
Can you turn back, Star?” Reece asked, bringing Jacob out of his thoughts.

Star shook her head.  Reece picked Star up
again, putting her in the front seat with him.  “Just drive, Mace.  She can’t turn back yet.  She must have turned too many times.”  Reece looked down at Star.  “Bark, Star, if we are near the road where Lexy is at.”  Star put her paws up on the console looking around until she made eye contact with Jacob.  Star turned back around, seeing the fierce look on his face as he stared at her.  As Mace got near the dirt road that led to the Cutler’s farm, Star started barking. 

Mace reached out and patted Star on the head. 
“Good girl.”  Mace turned onto the road as Damen instructed Declan and the others over the phone to where they were headed.

***

“I said, get on the bed, Lexy.”  Cain pushed Lexy, making her fall on top of the bed. 

Lexy found her opportunity.  Cain
’s front was wide open for her.  She kicked out with her foot hitting Cain in the balls.  Cain screamed then fell to the floor in pain.  Lexy got up and held the gemstone between her fingers.  She closed her eyes as the protection spell fell from her lips. 

On this day, I invoke the powers of three

The protection of the sisters before me

I need you not

I want you not

Leave my life now

And never come back never

And it harm none, so be it

So mote it be

So mote it be!!!

Cain looked up as Lexy was chanting the spell.  Her hands rose up as fire shot out of them, hitting Cain as he yelled in pain.  Lexy watched as Cain floated off the floor and slammed into the wall. 

“
No,” Cain screamed as he fell to the ground in pain.  Cain’s face looked contorted as he pulled himself up off the floor.  Cain screamed, “I’m going to take your magic, you bitch.”  Cain lifted his hands and chanted a spell she had never heard.  As Cain threw the magic toward Lexy, it bounced off before it even reached her.  Cain screamed again, “No, No…” 

Cain ran toward Lexy with his hands up
but he was thrown backwards, hitting the wall, knocking the candles onto the floor.  She watched as the candles caught Cain’s robe on fire.  He tried pulling himself up but fell back to the floor.  Lexy backed up, watching the flames slither up his body like a snake.  She watched in horror as the fire continued to burn Cain’s clothes as he screamed, rolling onto the floor, trying to put the fire out.  Lexy turned around as the fire spread across the room.  She ran out the bedroom, headed to the front door, and left the house as Mace and Reece jumped out of the truck.  Lexy ran out the front door and jumped into the arms of her mates.  “Cain, he is in there.  Fire.  The house is on fire.  We have to get Star out of the barn,” Lexy screamed out.  Lexy heard Star before she saw her. 

Reece pointed as Star jumped down from the truck and ran over to Lexy. 
“She escaped from the barn and went for help.  We picked her up down the road.” 

Everyone turned around at the high-pitched sound of someone screaming.  Lexy gasped then jumped back as Cain came running toward the front door on fire but when he got to the front door, he bounced backwards.  Lexy had never heard such a scary sound.  Cain was trapped in the house.  The protection spell wouldn
’t let the danger out and near her.  They watched as the house began to burn.  The fire seemed to scream out as it traveled along the walls to the roof.  The roof creaked as the fire blazed higher then erupted into flames as it crashed down onto Cain who laid on the floor still screaming.  Lexy turned her head into Mace’s chest as the fire consumed Cain and the rest of the house.  Star had her head in Damen’s arms.  Damen held his hands over Star’s ears, shielding her from the screaming. 

Jacob stood watching Star.  He wanted to touch his mate and tell her it would be okay, but if he touched her
, the mating pull would get too strong and she was too young.  He wanted her to enjoy life and even let her go to college.  He was so confused on what to do, after already deciding to talk to Reece, he realized now wasn’t the time. He would stay as far away from Star as possible, then when the time was right, he would speak with Reece.

Lexy listened but only heard the crackling of the fire burning as the house completely collapsed.  Mace and Reece held Lexy close, breathing in her scent. 
She hugged her mates tighter as the sun began to set.

Declan and Samson pulled up, got out of the car
, and ran up to the truck to check to see if everyone was safe.  Afton and Selena pulled up next.  They got out of their vehicles, grateful that Lexy and Star were safe.  Adrianna was made to go home by her mates after Declan called and informed her that they had found Lexy and Star unharmed.