* * * Lilianna * * *
Waking up on a cold Autumn morning I know this it. Now is the time to make my break. My one chance, and I don't hesitate to take it. I've planned this escape since the summer. Having given up on anyone coming to find me. I have to get out of here quickly. Having only a small window of opportunity to leave. I throw on the only real thing I have to wear, not even bothering to look for any shoes. I check to make sure the guards are still following their same routine. I open my window carefully and just enough to where I can slip out easily. Then, take off on my planed route along the edge of the bushes. Once I'm through the wall of bushes and trees I kick myself into overdrive and run.
Branches and thorn bushes tear at my arms and legs. My dress is ripped to shreds and frankly, I don't care. My legs and feet care cut and scraped from the underbrush causing them to bleed. I can feel the blood trickling down my legs. I try to run through streams to wash the blood and off sand get rid of my scent. Still, I know I can't stop. Have to keep going. If I stop, I will be killed no question asked. Let's be honest, I still had a bit more to live for. At this point, I just don't care what happens, as long as, I can get somewhere safe. I wasn't about to try and carry anything with me. The dress Eirik bought me, the fur, everything I had on the night, I was taken away, gone. My captor, my master as he called himself, always made me wear a dress like the one I'm wearing during his feedings. Always presented to him like a gift. I had no shoes to speak of, no real possessions to speak of, and I thank my lucky stars for that fact. I wouldn't have been able to run in heels. Not in these woods. I have no clue where I am, I just know I have to run. Staying at that prison would have been my signature on my own death warrant.
With the dark of night finally setting in, I know my 'Master's' guards have noticed me missing by now, still I keep going. The moon barely shining through the canopy. I have to keep pressing on. Pushing my body to its limits and beyond. Keeping my eye on the night sky. So I know which way I'm going. I know heading south will get me to water. Getting to large bodies of water means people, people who can help. Meaning I can finally get home. I never thought I would truly miss being home. Taking my comfort zones for granted all these years. However, I know when I get home I will be having a meeting with a few people. I see red thinking about the two main men in my life. My anger only spurring me on more. Moving faster than my previous pace.
No one came. Hell, how could they? My captors made damn sure that no one could find me by scent or other wise. There's no one to lay the blame on really. Maybe myself for leaving the party. But, how was I suppose to know I would be kidnapped by Eirik's ex. However, if I stayed by either Antony's side, Eirik's side, or even Henry's side that night. Maybe just maybe I wouldn't have ended up in this situation. Having tried a few times to escape and getting caught every time except this time. I'm hoping at least. Every time I was caught; I was beaten with a whip. Strung up by my wrists on a hook from the ceiling. Hands above my head and whipped. For days I was whipped and drank from. I give Nathanyel credit though. Only he was allowed to drink from me. He never let anyone else sink their fangs into me or touch me for that matter. It wasn't pleasant like books, and movies make it out to be. It was painful. After I healed from the torture I made a pact to study the stars and study everything around myself. So that when I escaped again I would make it out with no major issues. With the books available to me I made the most of my time. I read every second I possibly could. Becoming a vampire's pet was my only option. It was a sacrifice I had to make. I never let them break my spirit though. Anything that he wanted from me was forced. Never would I give that psychotic prick anything the easy way. No matter how bad he beat me.
Having no idea how long I'd been running. The moon was high in the sky and I'd been running since day light. Once night fell I knew I was golden. My adrenaline is starting to wear off. My lungs burning, my muscles aching. Still I have to keep going. I have to get somewhere safe. As that thought crossed my mind I heard the worst sound I could hear. A wolf's howl. It pierces the night air. I stop dead in my tracks. Two demons both wanting blood. How far away either are I don't know. Nor do I want to know. I have no idea if my captors are pursuing me or not. Using a wolf against me to either track me or an actual wild one wanting a meal. I can't think about that. I have no other choice. I run. Urging my feet forward. Urging my body to keep going.
Running and running, my legs burning more. I run for what seems like hours in my fatigued state. The howling becomes more frequent and louder. Telling me they are getting closer. Great they are closing on me. It can't be Nathanyel and his little fangs. Being lost in my own thought I'm not paying attention and I stumble. Tripping over some unseen obstacles. I hear their paws hitting the undergrowth. Pounding away at the earth around us. Have to keep going, have to keep pushing forward. Tripping over something else. I fall again and hit the ground hard. I try to get back up multiple times. Though, every time I do I fall back down again and again. My muscles having finally given out. My body betraying me; my mind trying to shut down from lack of sleep and exhaustion. Or maybe it was from hitting my head when I fell. I can feel blood pouring down my face. Scrambling to a tree I prop myself up. I start seeing stars pop off in front of eyes. "Great instead of vampires I'm going to eaten by wolves." I roll my eyes almost laughing at my fate.
One wolf comes up to me. His fur is a dirty blond color with black stippling. Once he is about half way to me two more appear behind him. I know I'm dead for sure. At this point I don't even care. As long as my captors aren't the ones who get the pleasure of killing me. "I'm sorry Antony. I'm sorry Eirik." I mutter softly. It's all I say with the last little bit of energy I can muster before I finally succumb to the darkness pulling at my mind.
* * * Marcus* * *
The three of us found her. We actually fucking found her. The missing bartender from Enigma. I'm the first one to pick up her scent. She's hundreds of miles outside Antony's territory but none the less we found her. Jack, Sean, and myself promised Mary and Antony that we would keep looking for her until we found her or her body. Thankfully she is still alive. At first she was running from us. Once we caught up to her we were running with her. I knew she wouldn't recognize us in our wolf forms. Still we followed her. Howling to let someone else know we needed them, but no one returned our calls. After she was up against a tree I made my appearance. She's resigned. No fear, no begging. She just sits there against a large oak looking at me. Padding up to her I can't smell any fear on her. Cuts covered her body and face. A wound on her head was pouring blood. Still I know she's in no real danger. The clothing she's wearing has been all but completely torn from her.
The others come into view behind me. I know because I watch her features change ever so slightly, then they are back to being neutral. When she spoke Antony's name we all knew it was her. Not that we had any doubts before but those words solicited it for us. We all looked at each other. Jack and myself stayed with her while I sent Sean off to get a vehicle so we could bring her home finally. Jack and I both shifted back into our human forms.
"Jesus dude look at her. Are you sure she's even still alive?" Jack asks stretching out his muscles.
"Yea watch her chest. It rises and falls. Shallower than I would like but she's alive." I say walking over to her and check her pulse just to make sure she's not in dire need of medical attention. It's pumping strong. "Poor girl." I say shaking my head. "Come on man we need to find something to cover up with.
"Yea right. What you want fig leaves?" he says sitting down on a log. "She's passed out brother. It's not like she going to come to and see two devilishly handsome, naked, men standing in front of her and freak out."
"She might. God knows what she's been through in the past year. Where could she have come from?" I ask wiping a few stands of her blond hair out of her face. Dried blood causing it to stick. Her skin is soft. Even with all the dirt, grime, and blood on her. She still looks as stunning as the night we meet her in the bar.
"Why didn't we think to pack a bag with some food." He whines.
"Shut up and quit bitching. If you wanted something you should have caught that rabbit earlier." I say looking over my shoulder at him laughing. He was always whining about something. "Go ahead change back and go grab yourself a deer or something. I'm gonna stay with her." Turning back to Lilianna. I see her eyes flutter slightly but they close back just as quickly. "You're safe now Lili. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." I whisper. I stand up and step back a few steps. It's going to be a little while before Sean gets back with the jeep. I shifted back into my wolf form and curled up next to her. I lay my head in her lap.
Ten minutes later Jack walks over to us and ruffle the fur between my ears. I growl back at him. "Whoa boy easy up. I'm taking your advice and heading to get food. You don't me to bring you back anything?" He asks. I look up at him and lay my head back on Lili's lap. "You know if I didn't know any better I'd say you liked her. Just remember brother Antony has laid claim to this girl." He says and shifts back in his own wolf form. He trots away from us quickly. I snort at his comment about Antony and laying claim to Lili. I don't care what Antony says. We aren't part of his pack. We are our own pack. So his rules don't apply to us.
I know Antony has laid claim to this girl. I'm not stupid. He got lucky that we were still in town when she went missing. Poor guy's obsessed with her. He loved her, but that slightly diminished when she left him. When she went missing his love turned into an obsession. Only a few of us knew what happened between her and him. Still I could see why he loved her. After looking for her for so long she invaded my own mind. I kept thoughts of her at bay day and night. I made a promise and I was going to fulfill it if it killed me.
After an hour or two both boys show up almost at the same time. I lift my head up to see Sean is wearing clothes. Obviously someone had fore thought to pack.
"Hey you two no worries I brought clothes for y'all too." He says grabbing two bags from the jeep and bringing them to both of us.
Jack and I turn back and each take our respective bags. I pull out my jeans and a sweat shirt. Jack does the same and we both get dressed. Lilianna stay propped up on the tree. She seems to just sleep. I felt her pet me a few times while I lay there with her. "So where are we going to put her?" I ask. "Jack you can ride up front with Sean. Sean you drive. I'll keep her in the back with me." I say staring at her still form. They both exchange looks but neither gives me any lip about it. I walk over to Lilianna and pick her up careful not to disturb her. I walk with her cradled to my chest. She wraps her arms around my neck. I'm guessing out of habit. She mumbles something incoherent but I can't catch it. I lay her down in the back seat then climb inside. I lay her head in my lap. Still she slumbers peacefully. Her body relax and her breathing normal. I cradle her body close to my body. I grab a blanket wrapping it around her. Doing all I can to try and keep her as warm as possible.
The boys jump in the front seats and we make our way back to the cabins where the pack is usually at. Most of the pack had no clue what we were doing, and no one will be there. So we would have some privacy. At least until Antony shows up. Only Antony, John, Mary, and Jenny know what's going on. The three of us knew that Antony would want to know we found her, but I couldn't bring myself to call him just yet. I'd call him once we got back to the cabins. I want to be selfish for once in my life. This brave girl laying asleep on me had become my obsession just like she did with Antony. I'd never let it show though. Until now that is. Antony has Jenny, and from the rumors running around he plans to marry her. Which meant, he really couldn't put a claim on Lilianna anymore. I knew she had been with the blood sucker, but I want her. I would never do to her what they did. Still, for the time being, I had to keep myself in line. I had to play the good soldier. Do what was asked of me and when the moment presented itself. Then I would tell her how I feel about her.
The drive back seemed too short. The sun had come up and it made me sick. Seeing Lilianna beat up, bloodied, and bruised made me see red. I can't stand it. I had to keep it in. Once I know she's ok I'll go for a run...alone. Clear my head so I can focus.
"Come on brother it's time to get her inside. We can get a doc to take a look at her. After we call Antony." Sean says. I hated hearing him say those words, but I knew he was right. We had to call Antony.
Lifting her up slightly, I move to get out. Gently laying her down on the back seat. I stare at her then turn back to my friends, my brothers. "Come on then, I'll make the call. Get her out and take her into the main cabin. Make sure one of you call the doc." I say and turn around to look at her one last time. She seems to be at peace. She was turning back to the girl we'd meet at the bar in front of our eyes. I walk off from the others and go to the lake.
Sitting at the shore I just listen to the sounds of the water and the sounds of the woods around me. Shaking my head I take the cell phone out of my pocket and stare at it. I know what I need to do. I dial the number and wait for Antony to answer.
"This had better be important." He answers a bit moody.
I just shake my head and bite my tongue. "We found her." It's all I have to say. I can hear the physical change of Antony's voice. I can hear his mind changing over from whatever he was doing back to his hunt for Lilianna.
"Where?"
"In the woods about 300 plus miles northeast of us. We are at the cabins right now. I have Sean and Jack calling the Doc to come check her out." I pause and look out over the water. "She was pretty beat up when we ran into her. She was out running. Looked like she'd been running for a long time. She was beat up and scratched up."
"What do you mean ran into her?" he asked. Anger seeping through the phone. I knew he was pissed. He should have been thankful that we found at all. Let alone alive.
"Jack, Sean, and myself were running trying to cover more ground, new ground. I was the one who found her. I think we scared her a little but nothing serious. She tripped and I guess knocked herself out. She pulled herself up on a tree. I stayed with her and watched out for her while the Jack went and got food, Sean went and got the jeep." I paused again remembering her petting my head. It sounded strange to me but I didn't care. I heard him sigh.
"I'll be there this evening. I have work to finish up. I want you to stay in charge of her. Get her whatever she wants. Don't let her know I am on my way. I'll inform Mary and John. I'm sure Mary will lose her mind and want to take care of her. Let her do what she wants. Mary is the only one Lili will trust."
"Will do." I say sighing inwardly. I knew that once Mary got up here. I was going to distance myself. Get away from her. My task was complete. It was time to move on and go back home.
* * * Lilianna * * *
Pictures danced in my head. I couldn't tell what was real or a dream. I remembered wolves, beautiful timber wolves. Being put in a vehicle and someone soothing me. Male voices talking around me. A dog or something nuzzling my hand and staying with me. I remember petting something and feeling safe. I try to open my eyes and sit up but someone stops me.
"No miss you need to stay in bed. You have a few injuries and you need to stay in bed to heal properly." A male voice said.
"Wh...where am I?" I ask still trying to open my eyes. Finally my eyes flutter open. I look around myself and see the same wolf from the woods. The first one that I saw anyway. Blond with black stippling. He was just as beautiful now as he was when I saw him in the woods. "Come here boy." I call to him reaching my hand out to him. He looks over to the man that I assume spoke earlier. He nods his head and the wolf comes over to me. I ruffle his fur and scratch behind his ears.
"Miss Rose. You are in a cabin owned by Antony Wintain. You were brought in by Jack, Sean, and Marcus. They found you in the woods. You are dehydrated, malnourished, and have a few bruises. Along with a large laceration on your head" He says standing next me on my opposite side. I just nod my head as I look at the wolf that has now laid its head on the bed.
"Wait a minute. You said Antony." I say looking over to the man.
"Yes ma'am. Antony Wintain."
"Oh for fuck's sake. Please please tell me he doesn't know that I am here." I say rolling my eyes. I knew if he knew I was here that he would either be here or be on his way.
"Yes ma'am he knows you are here. Marcus..." He pauses and nods his head toward the wolf sitting next to me. "Marcus called him once you were brought here. I'm assuming you didn't know that everyone has been on high alert. There have been a lot of people that have been looking for you Miss Rose. I'm a physician that Mr. Wintain has had on call in case we found you." He says. All matter of fact like.
I look at the wolf next to me. "You're a were aren't you?" I ask looking at the wolf. He just lays there. "I swear you better answer me some how." He lifts his head puts his front paws on the bed and sets his head on my stomach. "I'm gonna take that as a yes for now. But when you turn back you better tell me who the hell you are." I ruffle the thick, soft fur on his head.
At that moment the door flies open and I look out at the bedroom door and see a tall, dark haired man enter. He looks in my direction and I see amber eyes staring at me. Antony. I roll my eyes again and just lay there. I seriously didn't feel like dealing him just yet.
He makes his way over to the bedroom and stands in the doorway. "Marcus get down, and get out." He says rudely.
"No! He can stay. You can leave. I seriously don't want to deal with you or anyone else at the moment. I just want to rest." I say turning away from him. "We can hash out whatever it is you want later." I finish. It was almost a whisper, but I knew he heard me. Marcus came padding over to the other side of bed and laid his head on bed next to me. "You can get up here if you want. But you have to keep me safe. Deal?" I ask looking at him. He nods his head to me. I smile and pat his head.
"Fine!" He says. I can hear him turn but before he leaves I hear him call back. "I tried to find you. If I had any idea where you were or who took you. I would have come for you and killed everyone to get you back safe and sound." He paused and I saw Marcus lift his head up. I knew Antony had reentered. "I will say this. Eirik knew who took you. And all he cared about was running that stupid bar." With that he turned and left.
I listened to make sure he was gone before I turned back over on my back. All I wanted was peace. I remember who the three that rescued me were. They were the three that had come into the bar when I was still dating Antony. They were the three southern boys from Tennessee. I smiled to myself and looked over at the beautiful wolf dutifully standing watch. "Come here Marcus." I say and whistle. He looks over at me and pads over to me. "I remember you. I know who you are. Thank you." I say and reach my hand out. He comes up to me and nuzzles my hand before sitting down in front of me. "Where are the other two?" I ask and he just cocks his head to one side and looks at me. "You look adorable when you cock your head to one side. I just want to say thank you. That's all I promise." He snorts at my comment and looks at me. "Please." I say sweetly. He stands up and walks over to the door. Looking back at me he heads out, I assume to go get the others.
"She wants to talk to you." I hear a deep southern voice say muffled. I smile at the sound of his voice. It had to be Marcus.
"Ok."
"Alright. You want us to help you?" I hear another say. He had a bit more of a southern draw than Marcus and the other.
"Yea, but you won't like what she wants." Marcus says
"What's up?"
"She wants Antony kept out until she's ready. She's asked me to stay with her. Though, I'm going to stay in my wolf form until she's ready. Can one of you bring me in a change of jeans, and a shirt." Marcus says.
After a few more moments two men walk in. A Native American which was Sean, and the red head with green eyes was Jack. I smiled as the boys walked in. Then right behind them was Marcus. "Seriously Marcus you can come in here in your human form. Though, I do ask if you sleep in here be in this form." He snorts at me. "Fine be that way." I say and stick my tongue out at him.
"Hey girly. How are you feeling?" Sean asks as he sets down some clothes in a chair.
"I'm pretty good. Sore and hungry but other wise I'm pretty good." I answer.
"Nice to see you awake. Still scared of us?" Jack asks smiling at me. He comes over and kneels down next to the bed.
I couldn't help it. I laughed at him. "What did you expect. I was running for my life and I run into three wolves. What was I suppose to do? Hey are y'all human by any chance? Yea dude not gonna happen."
Jack and Sean both laughed. It feels good to be able to joke with people. I feel at home with these three. They make me smile and make me feel at home. "Thank you. All of you. Thank you so much for bringing me home. I don't think I would have made it without y'all."
"No problem miss. We wouldn't have left you there." Sean says.
Jack just smiles and pats my hand. I hear Marcus growl. Jack raises his hands up and backs off. "Easy brother." He says smiling.
"Ok gentlemen she needs to sleep. The two of you can come back later. Marcus don't cause her any unnecessary stress please." The doc says and I just smile.
Jack stands and gives me a big hug as best he can. "Get better soon girl. I wanna take you out and show you what you're missing."
I slap Jack on the arm and Marcus growls again. "Calm down Marcus. I'm not going anywhere it seams for a while. So relax."
Sean comes over and looks to Marcus. "Clothes, toiletries, and all that are in the chair. If you're missing anything let me know." He pauses and looks at me. Sitting on the edge of the bed and takes my hand. "If you need anything clothes, food, liquor. Just let me know. I'll make sure you get what ever you need." He continues squeezing my hand.
"I will I promise. For now I just want to sleep." I say and they two men leave. The doc smiles and shuts the door behind him. I pet Marcus on the head. "Don't ever leave me. Please." I ask sleepily. I feel Marcus jump on the bed and lay down at the foot. I smile as I let sleep take over. Finally safe, happy, and healing.