Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(17)

No one spoke, but then again, no one needed to.

“I can’t blame her, you know,” Noah said.

Cailin straightened. “She rejected you and you’re not blaming her?”

Was it a rejection? Or a choice not to feel the pain anymore?

“If she’s feeling a fraction of what I am at the thought of not having her in my life, I can’t really blame her. She lost someone precious to her, and I can’t make that pain go away. I just don’t know what to do.”

Cailin opened her mouth to speak then looked at Logan. Noah saw the love in both of their eyes and swallowed. The two of them loved each other in every way possible. He was even holding the evidence of that mating. With that, they understood what he was talking about, he was sure. She sighed once more, then sat with him in silence.

He just needed them for support, and then he’d figure out what to do.

The door crashed open, and Maddox ran in, his eyes gold. “Don’t you answer your phones?”

Logan stood, his hands ready to turn to claws at the sign of a fight.

Cailin had Edward in her arms and behind Logan to protect their son in a blink of an eye. Noah stood as well, ready to help Maddox in any way possible.

“We put them on silent to help Noah,” Cailin answered. “What is it?”

Maddox growled. “Something’s wrong. I don’t know what.” He met Noah’s gaze. “I don’t have as strong as a connection to Emeline because she’s an elder and, therefore, has a kind of barrier around her when it comes to my Omega powers. However, I felt her emotional pain and then a snap. Like something hurt her.”

Noah growled. He knew what the first part was, but the second?

That he had no idea.

But he’d find out.

And when he found out who, other than him, had hurt her?

He’d end them.

****

Emeline opened her eyes then shut them tightly as the world went hazy around her. What the hell had hit her upside the head? She tried to touch her temple to relieve some of the ache, only to find herself immobile.

What the heck?

She blinked then looked up at her hands that were chained to the wall.

Oh goddess, what was happening?

She remembered the pain of watching Noah walk away—that sharp pang sliced at her again—then she’d followed him…only to have everything go black. Someone had hit her on the head and taken her here—wherever here was. They’d chained her to the wall with shifter chains, meaning it would take more strength than she possessed to break free. With normal chains, she would have been able to pull them apart relatively easily. However, shifter chains were magically infused and could expand and tighten depending on the form of the shifter.

She’d just have to find another way out.

Her gaze moved over her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. Best she could figure, whoever had taken her had locked her inside a cave in the rockface in the east of the den. The Redwood den sat between two mountain peaks and one of the main cliffs had numerous small caves.

Between the head injury and whatever spell the chains were laying over her, Emeline couldn’t scent who had taken her. It had to be someone within the Pack because they’d been inside the wards, but other than that, she had no clue.

Who had she angered enough that they’d hit her then kidnapped her?

“You’re awake. Good.”

Emeline’s head shot up at the voice, and then she cursed inwardly that she hadn’t thought of the danger that had lurked around her for so long.

“Meryl.”

“I told you to leave him, and what do you do? You run after him.” Meryl sat on a rock in front of where Emeline sat chained. The other woman’s eyes were bright with madness, the gold glow that came from her wolf lighting then dimming, as if her wolf was in and out of control.

Not good.

There was a reason that not all wolves lived to Meryl’s age. Between wars, battles, and dominance fights, the strength that came from surviving centuries put a strain on one’s sanity. It took a mating bond—or in Emeline’s case, a true connection to the moon goddess—not to lose control completely. Emeline had thought she’d follow the path so many others had and fade away. That was before she’d met Noah. Meryl had always straddled the edge of sanity, and it seemed that she’d taken the leap into batshit crazy.

“Meryl. How do you think this is a good idea?”

Meryl lifted a lip in a snarl then smacked Emeline across the face. Hard.

Emeline squeezed her eyes shut to keep the dizziness at bay then opened them again to watch what Meryl would do next.

“I don’t understand how the moon goddess and fate can bless you with two mates when I’ve met none.” Meryl stood in a jerky movement then paced in front of Emeline.

Emeline tried to wiggle her wrists free from the manacles, but it was no use. She was well and truly chained. She only prayed that Noah or another wolf would know she was in trouble. Not that she wanted to be the damsel in distress, but right then, she couldn’t exactly move to save herself. At least not yet.

“I’m sorry you haven’t found your mate yet. There’s still time, Meryl.” Not likely since the older wolf had gone off the deep end, but Emeline needed time to formulate a plan other than wait around to be saved.

“There’s no time,” Meryl spat. “There’s never been any time. And it doesn’t matter anyway. Fate took the only man I loved and gave him to you.”