The Lamb Who Cried Wolf (8 page)

Taking a deep breath to control his rising temper, he wrapped Carson in a towel. There were no robes around, so that would have to do. If the medic even breathed wrong in Carson’s direction, Brody would deck him, injuries or no injuries.

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Thankfully, the medical examination was professional, with no useless, additional comments. Carson and Brody were prescribed plenty of rest and given a few salves that would speed up the healing process. Even if his senses identified them as genuine, Brody still tested them on himself first before applying them on Carson. Later, after the doctor left, they received food, meat for Brody and a vegetarian meal for Carson, and even a change of clothes.

Of course, Brody hadn’t forgiven his brother—how could he?—

and he couldn’t help but wonder what game Soren was playing out.

Still, for the moment, he could do nothing but wait. He felt his strength returning with each passing second, but he couldn’t take any chances.

If only he could get a message out to Liam or Carlie. He still didn’t know what happened to his friend. He didn’t think Liam would abandon him. They’d been through too much together. But then again, he couldn’t rely on others. This whole fiasco had happened because he’d trusted the wrong person. He needed to come up with a plan. But what?

Leaving Carson to rest, Brody went to the windows and analyzed the bars. They were made out of silver and were quite sturdy and thick. Brody would never be able to break them by hand. Perhaps he could use one of the pieces of furniture as a tool, but then, the guards would hear and it would be pointless. He might be able to take them out, but it was very unlikely that even if he succeeded breaking out of the room, he and Carson would be able to leave the pack grounds without being detected.

Carson sighed, having obviously caught onto his musings. “
Brody,
come to bed
,” he said. “
You can’t get us out
.” He continued to speak through their connection, “
Perhaps tonight we’ll have more luck.

Their vigilance might lower.”

Brody didn’t say anything else. His mate had a point, and trying to escape now would indeed be futile. Brody sat down on the bed and wrapped his arm around Carson. “I really messed up, didn’t I?”

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“Don’t say that,” Carson answered. “You couldn’t have known your brother would react like he did.”

“I
should
have known.” Brody sighed. “I just thought wolves valued mates more than they did their prejudice. I suppose I was wrong.”

He didn’t know how much time passed while they just sat there, hugging. They didn’t touch each other sexually—it was not the time, or the place. Even if they were alone in the room, the guards outside would hear and feel anything.

Still, it couldn’t have been much later when Brody sensed a familiar presence approach. Brody tensed and broke away from Carson. “Who is it?” his mate asked.

Brody sighed, once more cursing himself for putting Carson into this position. “My father. Just stick behind me, little lamb. His problem is going to be with me.”

Or so he hoped. A few moments later, the door opened and his father walked in. The older wolf looked just like Brody remembered him. In many ways, he was an older version of Brody and Soren, his black hair having gone gray and the occasional line creasing his face.

However, even with that, he still seemed as alert and strong as ever.

No one would ever dare to challenge Elder Kevin Wade for his position.

He sensed Carson’s disbelief as his mate realized just how traditional and important Brody’s family was. Brody wished he’d had the time to explain it to Carson, but then again, he wished for many things, and none of them seemed to have any chance of coming true.

“Greetings, my son,” his father said formally. “I hear you’ve gotten yourself in quite a distasteful situation.”

“Hello, Father,” Brody answered. “I suppose it depends on what you would consider distasteful. Personally, I’m not very fond of the way my brother has treated my mate.”

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His father ignored the comment. “The problem with this lamb of yours is very upsetting. Your brother thinks we should just leave you alone, but I disagree.”

Brody’s heart fell. If his father chose to be stubborn in this, he could very well ruin their lives. It was the second reason why he’d remained close-by and not fled when he had the chance. It would have made them fugitives from wolf shape-shifters. Unfortunately, their kind was spread out all over the world, even in tropical lands not native to actual wolves. So unless people suddenly decided to have a colony on Mars, there would be nowhere for them to hide.

“So what do you suggest, Father?” he asked. “We merely want to be left alone.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” The older wolf frowned. “You must understand, son, this mating you insist upon cannot be. He is your prey. That’s the normal course of nature, and it cannot be disrupted.”

Soren entered the room, followed by a group of soldiers. The situation didn’t look very promising. “I will kill you if you touch him.” Brody growled.

His father let out an exasperated sigh. “You do realize there is nothing you can do if I should choose to slay the lamb, don’t you? By rights, it is what I should do. However, your brother pointed out a certain injustice inflicted upon you. Therefore, I have decided to spare your lamb, on one condition.”

Brody was torn between relief and anxiety. “What condition?”

His father nodded, and the soldiers parted to allow a pretty bitch to enter the room. She didn’t speak or introduce herself. Instead, she just met Brody’s eyes and smiled shyly. If she thought she was fooling anyone with her demeanor, she was sorely mistaken. Brody knew she-wolves, and they were foes to be feared.

At last, his father answered his question. “You will part ways with the lamb. We will take him back to his town and drop him there.”

“But he is my mate,” Brody protested. “You cannot be serious.”

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“I’ve already thought about that.” His father gestured toward the female wolf. “This is Roxanne. She’s agreed to help us out in this unpleasant situation. If you do have a bond with the lamb, claiming her should help you break it.”

Brody gaped. His father couldn’t be serious. Matings couldn’t be broken just like that, especially not between true mates. He realized his family didn’t truly believe Carson and he were bonded in every sense of the word. And as he looked into his father’s eyes, Brody understood that the man would never accept it. If he tried to explain it now, Carson would end up dead. There was no other choice than to accept his father’s supposed generosity.

To his surprise, before he could answer, Carson pushed past him and faced the gathering of wolves. “No. No way. I won’t allow it.”

Brody sensed how difficult it was for Carson to go against his nature and stand up for himself in front of a pack of predators. At the same time, however, he noticed the wolves’ immediate reaction upon seeing Carson put himself in the center of attention. Their nostrils flared and a sense of greed and anticipation filled the air. Carson tensed but didn’t back down. “I won’t allow it,” he said again.

Brody’s father looked at him. “Brody, decide now. I’m not discussing this with your lamb. You know your options. I’m waiting.”

Yes, Brody knew his options, and only one of them would allow Carson to get out of here unscathed. “All right, Father,” he told his sire. “You win.” He felt sick to the stomach as he turned to his mate and said, “Carson, you and I are predator and prey. This was nothing more than a huge mistake.”

Brody actually felt Carson’s heart break.
“But, Brody,”
Carson protested through their connection,
“there has to be a way. You can’t
break our mating. You can’t tie yourself to her. We belong together.

That’s what you said, remember?”

Yes, Brody well remembered what he’d said, but his promises meant nothing in front of the odds they faced.
“Well, I was wrong.

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Don’t talk to me through this bond anymore. It’s off-limits starting
now.”

Truly, he’d been a fool to ever consider a mate bond with a lamb.

Lambs were his lunch, not potential lovers. They lived in different worlds, and as much as it hurt, it was better to break up now than pay the price later.

He stepped away from Carson and joined his father. The bitch took his hand, and Brody allowed it. “I want to see him safely off to his town before I do anything else,” he told his father.

The older wolf didn’t protest. “Of course. I’ll give the orders now.” He clapped Brody on the shoulder. “Congratulations. You made the right decision.”

Brody nodded, even if he felt numb inside. Whatever he might have claimed to his father, the connection with Carson remained there, as strong as ever. Once Brody bit Roxanne, however, it would be tainted, strained, or perhaps disappear altogether. It was the only known way to eliminate a mating, though, by replacing it with another one. Still, the mark of the first mating never went away, and the severing of the bond would affect Brody forever. The only thing that reassured Brody was that sheep did not mate like wolves, and Carson would find someone else with ease.

The emotional pain that came from Carson didn’t dwindle, however. The lamb allowed the wolves to manhandle him, never once protesting, as if lost in a dream. His eyes remained fixed on Brody, so blue and clear, and Brody again felt like he’d let down and betrayed his mate.

He followed after the rest of the wolves with Roxanne clinging to him like an annoying leech. As a small comfort, he caught sight of Liam appearing from a room and joining them. His friend gave him a look of regret, and Brody was thankful that at least, someone understood. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help,” Liam mouthed.

Brody just nodded in distant acquiescence. He didn’t blame his friend for any of this. Liam couldn’t have changed Soren’s mind or
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influenced the outcome of the situation in any way. Brody was only glad wolves had not turned to shooting the messenger like they had with breaking mate bonds.

The soldiers led Carson into one of the cars, but his father didn’t let Brody climb into the same one. Perhaps the man feared Brody would change his mind. As if anything could be done at this point.

He’d taken this decision for Carson’s sake and would not back down.

Liam climbed into the car with Brody, but didn’t speak. Everyone seemed to grasp Brody’s foul mood.

The trip back to the outskirts of Ramston took far too little time than Brody would have liked. They didn’t go too far or too close to the sheep town. With the previous attack, the sheep must have strengthened their defenses, and the wolves had no desire of getting shot.

Brody left the car and watched as Carson did the same. His lamb took one final look toward him then walked away from the vehicle and disappeared into the forest.

“There you go,” Brody’s father said. “He’s safe now.”

Brody didn’t feel quite satisfied. The forest might be full of animals that could hurt Carson. “I’ll rather see that for myself.”

The other wolf frowned. “That’s fine, as long as you take a couple of men with you.”

Brody hadn’t expected his father to trust him, so he wasn’t surprised at the request. A couple of men turned to be five huge werewolves, led by his brother. Liam joined them, as always, by Brody’s side. They followed Carson’s trail into the forest, staying at a reasonable distance. At one point, Brody sensed Carson realized he was being followed, but didn’t seem to care.

Finally, they reached the edge of the forest, just in time to watch Carson enter his town. “You see?” Soren whispered. “He’s fine. Now let’s go before anything worse happens.”

Brody went, turning his back on Ramston and the life he’d hoped for.

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“But Carson, I don’t know why you’re so adamant in staying away from us. It’s been two years. We’re willing to forgive and forget.”

Carson took a deep breath and focused on not slamming the phone against the wall. His mother didn’t know about everything that had happened to him during those few life-altering days, or rather, chose not to know.

After Brody’s rejection, Carson had returned to his town, only to be faced with a new problem, his brother. Ray had invented some fucked-up story about how and why he and the other young rams left their posts. It involved Carson getting eaten by the wolves, and it had been quite believable, or so Carson gathered. And naturally, when Carson returned, claiming the wolves let him go, everyone turned against him, including his own mother.

Disgusted and uncaring, Carson had left Ramston behind. Besides, he didn’t think he could live in the same town as his brother and his cronies anyway. No one believed his story about his near-rape either, so Carson no longer felt any need to live in Ramston. He did miss the forest from time to time, but he’d built a new existence here, something better than he’d ever had in his home town. From time to time to time, however, he called his mother, just to check up on the lambs. Alas, she ended up throwing accusations at him and making him so angry he couldn’t see straight.

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“Forgive and forget,” he repeated in disbelief. “Well, I haven’t forgotten your rejection, or the way my brother instigated his little friends to rape me.”

At the other side of the connection, an exasperated sigh sounded.

“How many times do I have to tell you it was your imagination? It must have been the wolves who did that, and you merely replaced their images with Ray’s because he was there.”

All the strength drained out of Carson. “Whatever, Mother. I don’t have the time or the patience to argue. I have to go to work now.