back to heave the rock, I screamed with my mind, 'Stop!'
His hand froze midair, the rock tumbling to his feet.
'What the hell are you?' he asked, gasping. 'You...you don't just control shifts. You can control us, period.'
'Go for the jugular.' Liam's voice groaned from behind me.
I almost lost my concentration. My chest burned so much, I thought it might explode.
Liam! I wanted to cry, but my wolf form forbid it. I didn't dare look in his direction for fear of losing my hold on Thomas.
'The jugular,' Liam said with a cough. Everything in me wanted to run to him, but I couldn't. 'It's the only way to stop him. Otherwise, he'll heal.'
Dread shot through me as I realized what Liam was saying. I couldn't kill a man. But did I have a choice? He'd kill all of us. Shaking, my mental hold started to slip. I had to focus, but I couldn't. Fear returned.
'Is this the way you treat your father?' Thomas said, his body still frozen. 'I raised you.'
Something moved by my peripheral line of vision and if human, I would have gasped. Aaron, caked with dried blood and dirt, stopped just behind Thomas - the scowl on Aaron's face, painful. 'No,' Aaron said. 'You ruined me.'
Aaron reached up, and with a quick twist, snapped the man's neck. Thomas' body toppled to the ground.
My mind whirled and I felt the mental hold dissipate on the man as he died. The reality slammed down on me. A man was dead, and I was a werewolf. The pain from the blow to my skull returned, and the cavern darkened.
Liam?
Muffled voices swam through my semi-consciousness. Music played, and the sound of spitting tires across gravel filled my ears. Despite the heavy groggy feeling and disorientation, the awareness of my heightened senses startled me.
I knew I had to be in human form. The comforting feel of each of my fingers rested against the soft dossal leather of Liam's car. He was close. I could smell him in a way I never knew existed. It felt like home. I knew I would always be able to discern his rich scent from anything now. I loved it.
'Is she awake?'
The sound of Aaron's voice surprised me, raising me to full awareness. I hadn't expected him to be there. Now that I knew, I could pull his scent from the others around me as well. His, I also wouldn't forget.
'Charlotte, are you awake?' Liam asked. His palm brushed against me.
I curled myself around his arm. 'I think so,' I said with a smirk.
'Good.' He chuckled, refocusing on the road. 'We're almost to your house.'
I pushed myself up on the front passenger seat, my muscles stiff and sore. Liam seemed to notice. 'Your body gets more limber with time. The muscles and ligaments have to adjust. After a bit, you won't feel a thing.'
I winced as I refastened my seat belt. My shoulders didn't want to bend. 'Did all that really happen? Did I really change?'
Liam's smile lit my pulse. 'You were amazing.'
'You're not watching the road,' I said.
Liam bit his lip. 'Am I allowed to drive one handed?'
'Maybe,' I said.
He wrapped his arm around me and I snuggled up against his shoulder.
'Charlotte, what you did in there...' I stiffened hearing Aaron's voice again, the warmth from Liam almost made me forget he sat there. What was he doing there? I strained my poor aching body to turn from my little spot of heaven. Ty slept, curled up across the back seat, her head resting on Aaron's lap. His fingers played with her hair. 'I know you don't believe me, but I love her.'
I hardened, not knowing what to say.
'I'm sorry about what I did.' He looked back down at Ty. She made a small noise and nestled up closer to Aaron. 'All of it. You saved her life. I don't know what I'd do without her. She's the only person that's ever cared about me.' The blunt, honest statement caught me by surprise.
'I don't think that's true,' I said. Despite my hatred for what he had done, I motioned to the back of Liam's seat.
'I don't deserve this,' he said.
'No, you don't,' I replied. The corners of my mouth turned down as I watched my friend sleep.
'I'm sorry, Charlotte.'
I couldn't look at him anymore. I returned to my seat, and vacantly gazed out the front window. 'He's staying with you, isn't he?'
'He's my brother,' Liam said.
I nodded. 'I know.'
Liam's fingers entwined in mine, and he squeezed my hand. With a sigh, I rested against his shoulder. He pressed a small kiss to my forehead.
'It's going to be okay,' he said, and for the first time, I truly believed him.
About the Author
Rachel grew up in small town Massachusetts where she spent most of her time writing about strange paranormal creatures instead of paying attention in class. She has always been considered the 'dreamy' one with her head in the clouds. She now lives in Nevada with her two sons, a cat, and a rat named Sam. Visit her at http://moonlightprose.blogspot.com
