Saving Grace (12 page)

“Roman!” Colin yelled. “I’m talking to you!”

“It’s Grace. I can hear her.” He held up his hand and tried to focus.

Colin froze and remained silent as an obvious sign of respect to allow Roman to concentrate.

Roman’s heart leapt into his throat.
Grace. Where are you?

“I don’t know. Listen, I don’t know how long I can hold this. Go see the doc. Find out how to counteract wolfsbane.”

What?

“Roman, please. They’re using silver and wolfsbane to keep me from shifting. Help. Find the doc.”

He searched his mind out for Doctor Jeffery and asked him about the wolfsbane and silver.

“Alcohol. Lots of alcohol.”
The doctor answered
.

He reached out for Grace.
Are you there, sweetie?

“Yes.”

“Alcohol. Can you get ahold of any alcohol?”

He waited for a response. Grace wasn’t answering. His heart felt as if it had stopped.

“I love you, Roman. I’m so sorry for how I acted. I’m sorry about the bite. Most of all, I’m sorry for sneaking out with Tiffany. Please forgive me.”

He grabbed the chair to steady himself.
Sweet, sweet, Grace. I love you. I will find you. Hold on. Please hold on.

“Roman, it’s that creep from the party. The one that wouldn’t let go of my hand, Jagger.”

He couldn’t feel her anymore. Their connection was broken. Tears stung his eyes and it felt like someone had a hand firmly wrapped around his heart, squeezing it. The connection that should not be, had been lost and his blood felt cold as ice running through his veins. Fear held on where rage should reside. He was scared for Grace…and her future.

“How is it possible for you and her to communicate through telepathy without the bond sealed?” Colin finally spoke.

Roman shook his head. “I have no idea. She hasn’t learned how to telepathically communicate with the pack yet.”

Colin smiled. “That’s our princess. She’s always full of surprises.”

Roman ran his fingers through his hair. “Colin, she said she was fine, but I felt pain in my ribs, my head and jaw, my legs and my stomach. She’s hurt. Bad.”

“What else did she say?” Colin asked.

“She asked how to counteract wolfsbane and silver.”

Colin leaned against the wall. “Whoever it is, is trying to keep his pack from shifting.”

Roman nodded. “He’s keeping them weak, numb, and ill. If they can’t shift, they can’t heal properly—which means Grace can’t heal from whatever they’ve done to her.” His voice shook. “Colin, we could lose her forever. And I know who has her. She said it was the Lycan she had an altercation with at the party. That’s Jagger, Alpha of the Scottsboro pack.”

Colin’s face turned red. His hands shook as rage boiled in his veins. “Fuck the Council. Who knows? They could be part of this, maybe just condoning it. We go now.”

“I thought you’d never say it!”

Colin called a pack meeting. They paced around the fire pit while they waited for everyone to arrive.

Xander ran up, looking panicked. “Council is here. They brought company.”

Colin and Roman gave each other knowing looks.

“Better late than never?” Roman asked shaking his head.

Thirty wolves surrounded them—wolves that were not in their pack.

“William,” Colin greeted one wolf who shifted into male form.

“Colin, the High Council was conflicted on this issue so we voted. By a margin of one vote, it has been decided not only to allow you to invade another pack’s territory, but we brought back up.”

“Thank the Gods!” Roman exhaled.

Xander pulled a map from his pocket. “This is where I think the Scottsboro pack has their place. Satellite images seem to get scrambled here.” He looked at Roman. “I think if we start canvassing on the East side, we’ll be able to catch a scent faster due to wind direction.”

Roman nodded. “Good work, Xander.”

“Have you heard from Katarina?” Roman asked.

Colin shook his head. “Gustav isn’t answering me either. I don’t know what happened. I’m sure our vampire friends are aware of the situation.”

“Switzerland,” Roman said with a huff.

“This is a Lycan matter.” He put his hand on Roman’s shoulder. “I know this is hard for you, brother. But we’ll save Grace.

Roman choked back tears. “They’ve had her for over a week. There’s no telling what they’ve done to her.”

Colin took a deep breath and let it out. The possibilities were endless and running through them all would only serve to drive him mad. He lost his own mate and knew very well what would happen to Roman if he couldn’t get Grace back in his arms.

Colin spent a year considering suicide. Part of him died with his wife and child that horrid day. He felt empty. Hollow. It was his duties as Alpha that kept him from going totally mad. His mind constantly searched for her, still.

“You leave at dusk,” Colin announced. “Everyone go home, fuel up and prepare for battle.” He made the tough decision to stay back with a few security members to guard their own pack, while the rest of the males and willing females prepared to head to Scottsboro.

The pack dissipated. Colin turned to the guests. “Wendy will have food for you inside if you’d like to follow me.”

Roman kept pushing to reconnect with Grace, but she was lost. Her voice quiet. The thought of another male forcing himself on her made him ill. He had no appetite for anything but the blood of the Alpha, Jagger. He would dismember him and enjoy doing so. The wolf would die for laying a hand on Grace.

“Roman, you need your strength.” Wendy patted his back. “Grace needs you strong. I know you don’t feel like eating but you must.”

He forced a smile at Wendy. “Thank you. You take excellent care of this pack, and of me. From the bottom of my heart.” His emotions ran wild.

She nodded.

Dirt. He could have eaten dirt and enjoyed it just as much. Life would have no meaning without Grace in it. He honestly didn’t know how he breathed before she came into his life.

After choking down his food, he went to his room to dress for the mission. Black clothes for when he was in human form. Black soft soled boots so as not to make noise.

He was ready and he cursed the sun for not setting sooner.

I’m coming Grace. I’m coming! Hold on just a bit longer.
He pushed but he didn’t feel her. He might just lose the dinner he’d forced himself to eat.

“Drink it, I said.” Nala stood over Grace with a cup.

Grace growled at her. “I’m not drinking anything that’s going to make me go into heat. You drink it.”

Michelle walked over to her and looked up at Jagger who wasn’t going to move until she swallowed every last drop.

“Please, just drink it. You must.” Her mother’s pleading eyes told her to trust whatever was going to happen.

Grace held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

Nala smiled. “See, it’s not that hard to play nice.”

Grace grabbed the cup, sniffed the contents. It smelled like buttershots. She gulped the liquid down. It burned like buttershots too.

“Give it a week, my love.” Nala stroked Jagger’s arm. “She’ll be ripe for the plucking, to give you the heir you deserve.”

Grace’s eyes widened.
What the actual fuck?
She tried to hold onto Nala’s words about subterfuge, but watching her with Jagger, it was a hard pill to swallow.

Jagger, satisfied Grace had her potion, left the room.

“Schnapps?” Grace asked.

“To cover the smell of Everclear,” Nala smiled. “There’s nothing in there that’s going to force you into heat.”

“And I’ve been dropping milk thistle in your tea. It boots testosterone. If anything, that’ll delay your heat.” Michelle smiled at her daughter. “No Lycan is forcing himself on my daughter. Not while I draw breath.”

Nala grabbed the bottle of Everclear from the freezer and took a large swig. Her eyes flashed gold. “I can feel my wolf getting stronger.”

Michelle grabbed the bottle from her. “Stronger, but what good will we be if we’re all drunk?” She took a sip then coughed. “Yuk.”

“Tonight, he dies.” She hugged Michelle, then Grace. “And we’ll get you home to your pack.”

“And the others?” Grace asked.

“They’re getting ready to charge. We’re going to lose some pack mates tonight. But my women are ready to die for their pack. No more children born of rape. Never again.”

“Mother?” Grace whispered.

“Don’t call me that! Not until we get out of here. Do you understand? No one can know.” Michelle hushed Grace.

“I don’t understand. Why isn’t Xander a prince if I’m a princess?”

“Because, your father had the gene too because we bonded. Our bloodline ends with you. Unless you take a mate. He needs to bond with you for the circle to be complete.” She cleared her throat. “Xander is Jagger’s son. Jagger doesn’t have the gene, hasn’t had a full bond with me. But he has no clue what it takes to be Lycan royalty.”

Neither did Grace. She was just born into it. She knew Roman would be her King once he took her blood and she’d upgrade from Princess to Queen. Other than that, the visions and memories had stopped coming in since she’d been kidnapped.

She pushed her thoughts toward Roman, still nothing. Why was their connection so spotty? It was like having horrid cell service. She could get glimpses of his thoughts and feelings but other than the one time for a brief few sentences…the connection sucked.

The alcohol was working. Her wolf roared to life inside her. She pulled hard on the collar and it snapped. She pulled on the braces around her wrists and ankles snapping them off.

Nala did the same.

“Let’s get yours off,” she said to her mother.

She shook her head. “Someone has to keep Jagger’s attention until you’re ready to strike. I’ll keep an eye on him while you get her out. Go. Go now.”

Nala guided Grace through the rear of the cabin and out into the woods. It was dark. The smell of dirt and decomposing foliage made her feel strong…alive… connected to Mother Earth. Grace and Nala shifted, letting their wolves finally free.

Grace’s heart raced. She shook her body, feeling every muscle. She crept through the woods, following Nala. Her paws rising and falling gracefully as if the forest were lifting and guiding her.

I’m free

“It feels good.”
Her wolf agreed.

When they reached a cave, Nala led her inside. There were two dozen women, armed with knives, swords, spears and anything else they could find. There were a few small males as well.

“Sister!” One of them gasped.

Nala and Grace shifted back to their human forms.

Grace’s eyes glowed as bright as they had the night of the vampire party. She was enraged and ready to kill.

Roman. Roman, I’m free!

“Grace!”
She felt love, relief, and a large sense of urgency come over her. Roman was close. She sniffed the air.

“My pack is close.” She looked at Nala.

She nodded. “They’d better be in. If they’re not, then leave.”

Grace cracked her neck. “I’m not leaving until this is finished. No one will ever harm you again. Not while I draw breath.”

“Does she even know how to fight?” A woman from the back of the cave spoke.

“Let’s just say, I have special talents.” Grace gave the woman a firm nod.

“Okay, I have to get back,” Nala turned to exit the cave.

“Back?” Grace gasped and grabbed Nala’s arm. “Are you crazy?”

Nala smiled. “Part of the plan, Princess. Stay with my girls until they charge. Then, whatever you do, don’t kill any of the men with collars on. They’re slaves too.”

Grace nodded and released her.

“Do you have it?” She shot an inquiring look to one of the women. They produced another collar and snapped it around her throat.

“You’re putting it back on? Are you fucking joking?”

Nala smiled. “Stainless steel, not silver.”

Grace let out her breath.

She sat in the cave and waited, keeping her mental connection with Roman as best as she could.

How close are you?
She asked him.

“Half an hour at most. We have fifty Lycans ready to do whatever we have to do.”

Do not attack anyone with a collar on. Make sure everyone knows. Some of the males here are slaves. Anyone not wearing a collar, rip their fucking throats out.

“That’s my girl.”

She smiled at his claiming of her.

I love you, Roman. With all of my heart and soul, I love you. I’ve felt your pain, your worry, your dread. I’m okay. I haven’t been forced to mate.

There was a brief silence. She held her breath while she waited for him to respond.

“Grace. I would have loved you still, no matter what.”

Roman, Xander’s mother is alive. Tell him, please.

After a brief pause, which Grace did not breathe again, she finally heard him.
“He is elated and even more eager to get there.”

Grace found a more comfortable spot in the cave and took a seat. She tried to calm herself so her eyes would quit glowing.

“Nala said you are a princess.” A little girl sat next to Grace looking up at her.

“Yep. Not really what you expected?”

The little girl grinned. “When this is all over, will you be a queen?”

Grace smiled. “What’s your name?”

“Mina. What’s yours?”

“Grace.”

“Oh, that’s pretty.” The little girl leaned her head on Grace’s shoulder. “I’m scared Grace.”

She kissed the top of the little girl’s head. “Don’t be. My friends are coming.”
And this will never happen again.

“Nala sent the signal. It’s time.” Thomas stood at the mouth of the cave.

Mina’s mother grabbed her by the hand. “You stay in the cave with the others. I’m trusting you to do as I say. You stay here and stay quiet until someone comes back for you. If we don’t come back, you know what to do.”

The little girl nodded. “I love you, Mommy.”

The mother choked back her tears. “I love you.”