Running In Fear: Coming Home (4 page)

Inside, Shelly, Belinda, and the other women were in the kitchen organizing the food. They all stopped when she entered the cabin as Remi carried her past them.

“Should you be here?” Shelly asked, walking up to her and kissing her cheek. There was sadness in her sister's eyes.

“I needed to come home. I want to thank all of you for the work that you've already done already outside. I'm sorry I won't be able to help today. I just want to rest in my own bed.” Jaycee laid her head back down on Remi's chest.

He strolled by the women and took the steps upstairs two at a time. He placed her in the middle of the big bed. She said a few words and her nightgown appeared on her. Remi pulled up the covers, tucking her in.

“Would you lay with me till I fall asleep?” Jaycee asked, staring up at him. He lay down on the bed, pulling her body to his, holding her gently. “I'm so sorry, Remi. I wanted this child so badly. Why can't they leave me alone?” Tears slipped down to his chest as she rested her head on his chest. He rubbed her back.

“This isn't your fault, Jaycee. I'll find the people who did this. There are always others who want what we have. They can't handle it and want to take away what we've worked so hard for. But I won't let them hurt you again, baby, I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “Sleep, Jaycee. Your body needs to heal. We'll have other babies,” Remi whispered.

That was the last thing she heard before drifting off to sleep.

When she woke, she was alone in her bed. She looked at the clock, it read eleven thirty, and knew it was the next day. She shed the blanket and looked down at her stomach, it was healed.

She got out of the bed slowly, wobbling a little, and made her way to the bathroom. She stepped into the shower. Her body was still sore, but the hot water felt like heaven. Her heart hurt, though. She touched her stomach where her child had been, and she felt her tears stream down her face again. Would she ever stop hurting?

She turned off the shower and stepped out. She dried off and pulled on jeans and a sweater. She walked into the bedroom and grabbed her socks and boots and then headed downstairs. She took her time walking down the stairs because her stomach muscles were sore. When she reached the lower level, she found Shelly and Marsha setting up the long buffet table.

“Can I help?” Jaycee asked, sitting down on the bottom step and pulling on her socks and boots. Both women turned, surprised to see her.

“What are you doing out of bed, young lady?” Marsha asked, standing there with her hands on her hips. Jaycee rolled her eyes.

“I'm healed and I can't lay upstairs in bed all day. People are here to help build and addition onto my cabin. I should be helping.” Jaycee looked down at her boots. “I don't want to think any more. It hurts too much.” She whispered the last part. Jaycee felt Marsha's arms surround her, hugging her.

“If you ever want to talk, I'm here. I also lost a child, so I know how much it hurts.” She stepped back. “Now, you can help, but no lifting. I know you're still sore.” Marsha handed her plastic silverware and napkins. “Go sit in the living room and wrap the silverware in the napkins like you did before.” Marsha turned around and started moving the tables around.

Jaycee sighed, taking the items into the living room where she saw Remi talking to two of her pack members at the door. They stopped talking when she came in, lowering their heads in respect to her. She smiled at them, sitting down on the sofa. Placing the silverware on the floor and the napkins in her lap, she started to roll the silverware. Jaycee looked up when she noticed someone blocking the sun from the window.

Remi stood there, frowning down at her. “You should be in bed.”

Jaycee shook her head. “I can't sit in bed and do nothing, Remi. I need to keep busy. Thinking about it all hurts too much. Plus, I'm healed. I'm just a little sore.” Jaycee smiled up at him. “Marsha wouldn't let me do anything else, so I'm resting in a way.”

“Well, don't do too much, baby. Do you want something to eat or drink?” He asked, kissing her head.

“I would kill for some caffeine. Coffee. No decaf, please!” She smiled up at him. He grinned at her, shaking his head, but went and got her some coffee. She looked up when Dane's old love, Blair walked in the cabin. He was all smiles until she saw Jaycee.

Jaycee growled and slowly put her stuff aside that she was working on. “What the hell are you doing here?” She snapped, getting up into her face. Shelly and Marsha ran up to her, but she didn't back down.

“I came to help. I have apologized to Dane and Remi, and they gave me another chance.” Blair lowered her head. But Jaycee could see her grin, knowing Blair was pleased that she was upset.

“Get out of my house and stay away from me. You're not welcome here!” She snarled, when Dane stepped in the cabin behind Blair. He gently walked around Blair and tried to pull Jaycee back, but she wasn't having it.

“Let me go now! You did this!” She growled, as her clothes started to rip and she shifted to her beast. Blair stepped back, looking over at Dane and that was it. Jaycee let the beast loose and would have torn into the woman, but Remi was there in a flash, picking her up.

“Get her out of this house now! She isn't to be anywhere near here!” Remi ordered trying to hold Jaycee. He sat down on the sofa with her in his lap.

“Calm down, Jaycee, she's going. I didn't know she would be here. I was going to tell you she apologized, but you were hurt.” He whispered in her ear, petting her. “Come on, baby, shift back. You need to settle down,” he pleaded with her. She watched Dane growl at Blair and push her out the door, slamming it shut.

Dane approached her slowly. “I honestly didn't know she would be stupid enough to come in here, baby, I'm sorry. I've sent her back to the hotel and told her to stay there. She can go back to the pack tonight.” Dane reached towards her to kiss her, but she pulled back, growling. She shifted, clothing herself, and frowning at him.

“Do you honestly believe she's sorry? She's not sorry. She stood there smirking about being here. I want her gone. You banished her and then you took that back. Do you know what that's going to look like to the pack?”

Dane stood staring at her. He shook his head. “Jaycee, she has nowhere to go, I knew her parents. All her family is dead.” Dane ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Remi held her still, not saying anything.

“Then let her go to another pack,. Send her to Ralph's pack in California. She would still be in a pack, but I won't have her near ours. She would undermine everything I do!” Jaycee yelled, staring at Dane.

Dane turned and looked at Remi. “What do you think Remi? Do you think your brother Ralph would be okay with it?” Dane stared at them. Remi shrugged.

“I don't think he'd mind. He needs females in his pack anyway. Call him and if it's okay, we can send her tonight.” Remi kissed Jaycee's neck.

Jaycee watched Dane place the phone call. She walked over to the table and grabbed the cup of coffee. She watched Dane shut the phone and then flip it back open, making another call. She took a sip from her cup, suddenly realizing what she was drinking, and moaning at how good it tasted.

Remi laughed when he heard her moan. “I can think of many reasons to moan, baby, but for coffee?”

Jaycee grinned looking up at him, “Hey, I haven't had any caffeine in over a week. And you can make me moan later.” She giggled as he growled at her.

Dane walked over to them smiling. “Okay, Ralph was happy to take Blair in. I've called Derek and he's going to make sure she gets on the plane to California tonight.” Dane kneeled down, looking into her face. “I'm sorry, baby. I should have thought of this before.” He cupped her cheek and she rubbed her face against his big calloused hand.

“I'm sorry I seem like a bitch, but she has tried since day one to undermine everything I do. She still wants you. Now I know you have plenty to do. And where's Mark? He keeps disappearing? I haven't seen him since yesterday.” As soon as she asked the question, the front door opened and Mark came walking in. She smiled, getting up and going into his arms. He hugged her tight, just holding her, his head resting on hers.

“I missed you. You keep running off.” Jaycee said, looking up at his face. He smiled down at her.

“I knew you needed time with Remi, but I'm glad you missed me, because I missed you too.” He lowered his head, capturing her mouth kissing her softly, but taking control as they all did.

Jaycee pulled back when she smelled smoke. Turning around she noticed the fire was fine in the fireplace, but the smell wasn't coming from there. Jaycee walked back towards the kitchen. Mark frowned as she walked away.
What the hell is that smell?
She walked towards the back family room that stored boxes of unpacked things she had sent. Jaycee touched the doorknob and yelped, “Fuck!” Her hand was burned. She looked at it and a blister had already formed.

“Did someone burn something?” Remi came up behind her, looked at her hand and then at the door. He yanked her away from the door, shouting.

Black smoke filled the small cabin as Remi held tight to Jaycee. “Everyone out now!” He ran for the front door. Dane and Mark pushed the women out with them and everyone ran outside.

Jaycee turned her head just in time to see her cabin blow sky high whimpering. Remi dove to the ground taking her with him, covering her with his body. He didn't know who shook more, him or Jaycee. Everything was gone, including their baby.

He slowly lifted his body off her, looking down at her. Tears fell onto her cheeks, and a sob broke through her lips.

“Everything is gone … Our baby and now all my things …” She hiccupped as he pulled her into his arms, hugging her. Dane and Mark kneeled down next to them, touching her as everyone stood around watching her cabin burn to the ground. Bo's whole pack was there, stunned.

Dane glared at Remi who nodded. No one would get within two feet of their mate again, even if it meant one of them would have to be with her twenty four hours a day. He turned to see Bo shift halfway, the cat's ears back, his whiskers twitched, and he roared. Only a few powerful shifters could do this, including the three of them.

“Jack, go around to the back. Sniff around to see if you can find anything. This was set on purpose and I want that person caught now!” Bo growled, staring at what was left of the cabin.

Jaycee's fingernails dug into Remi's chest. “We might as well go back home. There's nothing left.” Jaycee whimpered against his chest as her tears soaked his shirt.

Dane whipped his phone out, calling the hotel as they walked towards the truck.

Remi got inside the truck with her in his lap. Dane sat in the driver's side, his hand settled on her knee, as he pulled out of driveway. She looked behind her and saw Mark following in another truck.

“Where are we going? To the plane?” Jaycee asked, looking over at Dane.

“No. I just registered at the local hotel. We have the honeymoon suite.” He smiled at her quickly,. She smiled back, but her heart wasn't in it. She laid her head down on Remi's chest and just stared outside as they drove.

He glanced up at Dane.
I don't know how much more she can take. It's like she's given up.

Dane frowned and squeezed her leg.
I know. This has to stop, Remi. It seems every freak around is coming out of the woodwork to destroy her and she has done nothing.

They pulled into the hotel, parking right in front of the doors so he and Jaycee could get out and go right inside. Her head hung low as she walked into the hotel with Remi. Mark and Dane stepped up to them as they waited at the counter by her side holding her hands. Her father and Kate stepped off the elevator into the lobby. Jaycee went into her father's arms.

“Oh, my poor baby, we'll find them. Are you okay?” He pulled back, looking down at her face. She nodded, smiling at Kate, and then she turned to see Blair standing in the corner of the room a big smirk on her face.

Remi frowned and turned to follow Jaycee's gaze as she growled.

* * * *

Jaycee scanned down Blair's body, black soot covered the bottom of her pants,. She sniffed the air and the smell of gas came from her direction. Blair looked over her shoulder and smiled as three men came up behind her.

“Jaycee what is it?” Remi crowded next to her.

Jaycee looked over her shoulder, and then nodded at Blair. “Look at her pants, Remi, and I smell gas from that direction,” Jaycee snarled.

Remi glanced where she nodded. He released her, stalking toward Blair and the three men. Jaycee started to go with him, but Mark held her back as Dane followed Remi.

“Let them handle this. They know what they're doing? Plus, Dane needs to tell her where she's going,” Mark whispered into her ear, nipping it. “Come on, let's go up to the room. You need to eat.” Mark pushed her towards the elevator, her father and Kate followed.

A quick elevator ride later, Jaycee walked into a huge suite. It was beautiful. A super king size bed sat in the middle of the room, pillows all around. There was an open bar on one side, a fireplace on the other side, and a huge bathroom with a garden tub that would easily fit six people.

Jaycee smiled as she noticed the bag from the play club sitting in the closet. Later she would peek inside, but now her nose carried her to the breakfast buffet by the far wall. She licked her lips, grabbing a plate and piling on the food. She always ate when she was upset.

Shelly ran in, complaining to her guards. “For Pete's sake, my brother's here and one of the National Council. I'll be fine!” She yelled into her cell phone, walking over to Jaycee and rolling her eyes.

Jaycee could hear Bo yelling back on the phone as Shelly held the phone away from her ear. Shelly grinned, stuffing a strawberry into her mouth. Jaycee sat down in a chair near the fireplace. She waved her hand and the fire roared to life. Shelly stomped over to the other chair, plopping down on it.

“I swear, I'm going to kill him,” Shelly growled, smiling at her. “Baby, I'm so sorry about your cabin. Bo said everything burned.” She reached over and touched Jaycee's leg. Jaycee looked out the window at the woods. They called to her. Her wolf wanted to run.

“I've lost everything, Shelly. All my things are gone, and my baby.” She looked back at Shelly. “I thought food would help, but it doesn't. I need to run. My wolf is calling me, but they won't let me.” She sighed, looking into the fire.

“You know we could slip out the bathroom window. I would love to run. I haven't run in so long, and maybe I can work out my frustrations too.” Shelly whispered to her as Kate came over.

“I'm game, if you two are. Your father hasn't let me run for a week and I've had it.” Kate looked over her shoulder, knowing the men were busy talking. Jaycee glanced over at Mark, but he was busy talking to her father.

She really needed it. “I'll go in first, then you two come in the other door. They won't know. I'll leave the window open. It will be a long jump, but I think I can do it.” Jaycee headed towards the bathroom. She shut the door, opening the window and smiled. This would be the second time she slipped out a bathroom window.

Shifting to her wolf, she jumped out the window and landed with a yelp, but she was okay. Her stomach muscles were just sore. Kate and Shelly followed. All three of them took off towards the woods, playing in the snow. The fresh snow crunched beneath their paws. She felt so free for once, running and playing, that she didn't realize how much time had passed. Jaycee noticed her mates charging towards her with Bo and her father.

She whimpered to Shelly and Kate. The three females turned as the males surrounded them. Remi growled at her as he drew closer. Jaycee lowered herself, whimpering.

I'm sorry. I just needed to be free and run. Please don't be mad!
She laid her head on her paws as Remi stood over her in his wolf form.

You have people wanting to hurt you and you take off again. Jaycee this has to stop!
Remi growled. She crawled to his feet, licking his leg. Dane came up behind her, nipping her ass. She yelped and looked behind her.

Go back to the room now!
He yelled in her mind, and she ran for the hotel.

Bo had cornered Shelly, growling at her, but she'd growled back and took off with Jaycee, running next to her. Kate came up beside her, also running. They all ran towards the hotel. When they got closer, they shifted to their human forms, and Jaycee clothed them as they walked into the hotel through the back way.

Jaycee's father, Guy pulled Kate away and headed in a different direction. Bo took Shelly out the front door towards his truck, yelling at her. Shelly pulled away from him, stomping towards the truck.

Jaycee walked into the elevator with her mates following behind her. They didn't say a word to her as they stepped into their room.

Jaycee noticed some bags of clothes on the bed. She peeked in the bags. The clothes were for her. She sat on the bed looking at the bags. “You know for the past two weeks, I've had to buy all new clothes three times. I think I need to open my own store.” She said smiling up at her mates, who stood there.

“It's late. There's a dress in there. Get dressed and we'll take you downstairs to eat supper,” Remi snapped.

She watched Remi walk towards the window and looked out, and could see his muscles ripple under his t-shirt. Jaycee got up and slowly walked towards him, she knelt down at his side, and put her head on his thigh.

“I'm sorry, Remi. It seems I'm always saying I'm sorry to you. I have no excuse. I just couldn't take it. I felt so trapped again.” Jaycee lowered her head, waiting. Tears dropped down. She'd hurt them. Could she ever do anything right?

He raised her chin up to look at him. “When I heard you were missing, everything in me froze. I thought whoever is doing this had gotten you and that they'd finally managed to take you from me.” He stroked her cheek, staring down at her for a minute. He turned and sat down on one of the chairs near the fire. “Come here, Jaycee. Take off your clothes and lay across my lap.”

Jaycee stared at him for a moment, then did as he asked. She lay across his lap waiting as his hands gently stroked her ass. When the hand came down hard on her bottom, she didn't make a sound as he spanked her.

Tears slid down her face as she silently prayed he'd forgive her. He stopped after five slaps to each cheek. He ran his fingers over her ass gently. “Get up and get dressed, Jaycee, but know this: The next time you take off, it will be worse,” he stated, staring at her as she got up.

Her ass was burning she slipped her dress on,. She didn't bother with underwear. It would only aggravate her butt. When she was dressed, she walked back into the bedroom. Her mates were dressed in dress slacks and shirts. They escorted her downstairs to the fancy hotel restaurant where they met with Kate, her father, Shelly, and Bo. They had reserved a table.

Remi pulled out a wooden chair for her to sit on and she cringed looking at it, but she sat down slowly. Her ass flamed as it hit the seat. He pushed her chair in, jarring her more. She noticed both Shelly and Kate had the same problem.

The waitress came, and Remi ordered her a glass of wine and a whiskey straight up for him. Dane and Mark ordered the same. When the waitress left, Remi looked at her father and nodded.

Guy glanced at all three women. “We're having dinner here for one purpose. You three are alpha bitches and it's about time you start acting like it. You can't take off like that again. Jaycee, look at all the people who have tried to kill you. They have killed your baby, but yet you take off not thinking what it would do to your mates. This has to stop!” He growled. Then his attention turned to Shelly.

“You have been an alpha for a short time, but it is your example others will follow. You need to stop being so stubborn. Your mate is just trying to protect you.” His head turned to his mate. “And you of all people should know better. I'm furious at you right now. You not only you risk your life, but those of others.”

Jaycee looked at her friends. They didn't say a word, but she knew they wanted to protest.. Their drinks came and Jaycee gulped hers down in a second, even before the waitress could leave. She looked at the waitress, handing her the empty glass.

“Could you get me a shot of tequila and a bottle of Budweiser please?” Jaycee said, ignoring everyone.

“Could I get the same thing, please?” Kate asked, handing the glass of wine to the waitress. Shelly did the same thing. She heard the men groan, but didn't say anything until the waitress was gone.

“You haven't eaten anything. You need to eat, not to drink,” Remi snapped.

Jaycee looked up at him. “I haven't said a word. I have taken your punishment. I have listened to my father degrade me in front of all of you. I admit what I did was wrong. I wanted a drink so I ordered it. I love you, Remi, but don't tell me what to order or not to!” She gritted her teeth as the waitress came back with their drinks.

Jaycee gulped down her tequila, taking a sip of her beer afterwards. She noticed some cheese muffins on the table. She grabbed one and buttered it. Stuffing a piece in her mouth, she turned to Remi as she swallowed. “Maybe we should just go back to the packs. I have nothing here anymore, and it's obvious you want to. Every five minutes Dane is on the phone with the pack and so are you,” Jaycee sighed, stuffing another piece of muffin into her mouth, chewing it, and then swallowing again. “I mean, you're all mad at me anyway.” Jaycee noticed Mark get up and come to her, pulling her seat out.

“Come dance with me?” Mark pulled her out onto the dance floor, a jazz band played in the background. “You know what you did was wrong, but do you really understand how bad you hurt Remi? Dane and I have never seen him go crazy like this.” Mark danced with her, but his movements were stiff. He held her, but yet he didn't. “Have you even asked him how he felt about losing the baby?” Mark asked her, staring down at her. The tears rolled down her face. No she hadn't, she was so hurt that she didn't think she could talk about it.

Jaycee pulled away from him, heading towards the bathroom. Mark followed close behind her. Before she could open the door, he pushed inside looking for windows. When he saw that the window was too small for her to fit through, he waited outside the door for her.

Jaycee looked at her face in the mirror. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She turned on the faucet and threw some cold water on her face. She dried her hands and face, and then walked back outside. Mark stood there waiting for her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her back to her seat.

Her supper was waiting for her when she got back. Jaycee ate, but it settled heavily in her stomach. She asked the waitress to bring her a diet Pepsi, pushing her beer aside. The men talked, but she didn't say anything. Shelly and Kate also sat quietly. When everyone was finished eating, Remi got up, pulling Jaycee's chair back for her. He wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her towards the elevator.

“Could we go for a walk outside, if it's not too cold out?” she asked. Remi stopped and looked down at her. He stared at her for a minute, then headed in the direction of the door to the outside. She watched as Dane and Mark got on the elevator, leaving her alone with Remi.