13
Harmony’s hand shook as she read the letter that had been left for her in her favorite spot, where she watched the sun set each night.
There is no place we will not find you.
There is no escape.
The paper slipped from her numb fingers and fluttered to the ground.
It was proof.
Proof that even in Lost Lakes, she was not safe. Clothesline couldn’t control this new animal inside him, he couldn’t trust it.
She wanted to run, to hide, but there was no place for her to go. She was trapped, and she didn’t know who to turn to.
“They want a child.” Came a deep voice.
Harmony looked up to see Lucian Everly. He was the most feared shifter in the world and the most powerful. It was a battle, she knew, there were those with more money, but he was smart. He knew how to handle rivals and he knew how to gain loyalties.
She looked up into his green eyes and knew he understood and he knew the answers.
“What can I do?” Tears were thick in her throat, but she wouldn’t let them fall.
“You keep it from them. You have time. You aren’t pregnant, and it isn’t known if you can even become so. Why worry over something so unknown?”
His words seemed so simple.
“I know, but how. If they can reach me here… I will never be safe.”
“They are trying to scare you.” He said as if she were an idiot.
“It’s working.” She whispered and his gaze jerked to her.
“I thought you’d have more spirit. It’s disappointing.” He frowned and shook his head. “Your brother speaks so highly of you, of your courage.”
“What am I supposed to do? They killed Line’s wolf and not even he trusts his lion. They want my baby and they can obviously get in here to taunt me. I’m human! I am one woman against who knows how many lions. I…”
He held up a hand to stop her. “Are you finished feeling sorry for yourself? It’s tedious.”
Her anger rose.
“Feeling sorry for myself? Are you really this heartless? How can I…”
“Please…” He held his hand up again. “Your mate is in pain, more pain than you can imagine. He has lost a part of himself, or thinks he has. He has something inside him that he hates and can’t control. He has a mate that could bring him peace, but she is hiding with the coyotes instead of comforting him.” He looked disgusted. “Because she is afraid.”
“I… River sent me…” She let out a huff. “What am I supposed to do? I’m safe here.”
“Obviously.” He waved his hand toward the letter.
She was deflated. She had told herself she was safe, but the letter proved that she wasn’t. There was no place she was safe.
“What should I do?”
He studied her face.
“You are stronger than you let yourself believe. You have lived through hell. You handled a man that was more insane than sane, that is the case with most of his kind by the way, he wasn’t remarkable in that. You did what you had to do to survive. You did what you had to do to protect your brother. You are still staying close to him and he no longer needs you to. So, tell me now, why are you acting like such a coward? Why can you not love your mate as much as your brother? Why do you now refuse to protect the one who needs you most?”
She had no words. She’d protected Reed for so long, but Lucian was right, Reed no longer needed her. Line did.
“Perhaps this will help.” He handed her a large manila envelope. “I will be heading to Wolf Pack in an hour. If you want to accompany me, meet me here and I will suffer your company for the trip.”
He walked away from her.
She opened the envelope to find pictures. They were of Line and she knew it the moment she saw his dark eyes. There were pictures of all stages of his life, some of a pink cheeked boy and some of a more awkward boy trying to be a man. There was a woman too, one that loved him, his aunt, she assumed. The scar appeared when he looked no older than seven and it broke her heart. The look in his eyes changed then, there was a terror there, a hardness that no child should have, but there was also strength.
She pulled a single sheet of paper from the envelope.
Subject: Zane Imari
Sex: Male
Species: Mixed Lion/wolf
Mother : murdered by Jelani Pride
Father: murdered by Jelani Pride
Born: June 2, 1973
“Zane.” she whispered and ran her finger over the picture of him as a young boy.
Warmth filled her heart and she laughed. She had been such a fool. They were stronger together than apart, together they could face anything.
She walked back to the house, feeling lighter than air. She climbed the stairs to her room and packed her few belongings. She would go to him and she would stand with him and she would never leave him again.
They would face the hell that threatened them and they would do it together.