Brothers 3

Chapter 24

James got to Isabel's house in record time and took the steps out the front two at a time. The front door was hanging from one hinge, groaning and swaying in the heavy wind. Rainwater dripped off the roof and leaked in the gaps at the edges. James gently pushed the door out of his way. It swayed and banged against the wall.

There was a single heartbeat inside the house and James heard it kick up a notch at the sudden sound. Isabel must be tense if a single bang made her so scared. James walked into the room. His boots crushed the shards of glass that were over the floor and he had to balance to pass the furniture that was in pieces everywhere. The walls were coated in mud, handprints visible in the mess. James's sensitive nose picked up more potent scents in the smudges and he cringed with disgust. Werewolves could be foul. The image of Mikey and Ella together on his bed popped into his head and he snarled. He needed to stop thinking about them. He had things to do.

James scanned the room for Isabel. All the windows were smashed through and there wasn't a single item in the room that wasn't broken. Even the paintings from the walls were torn down and slashed through the middle. There was so much chaos around that it was hard to take it all in so James focused on his hearing instead. There were cars humming past outside and a bird screeched an annoying tune nearby. Yet the loudest sound was the hammering of Isabel's heart. James could envision the organ spasming, almost at exploding point.

He rounded a corner and Isabel flew at him with a lamp raised like a club. He reacted without thinking and grabbed her makeshift weapon, tore it out of her hand and threw it away. She screamed when it smashed against the far wall. James cursed himself, he must have thrown it harder than he intended.

"Its me," he said, taking her hands down from where she had plastered them to her ears. Her pulse kicked furiously against her wrists and James's mouth watered. He hadn't had any blood for a few hours. He had been avoiding Ella and Mikey, so he hadn't gone through the house to get out for a hunt. As his fangs poked his lower lip he realised what a mistake that might have been. He would be fine. He would get some food after she was safe.

Her eyes were red and puffy as tears slipped out of them. "James. God I was so scared. When you said they would come back and the door! Did you see what they did to the door! How strong must they be?"

She had no idea. James plastered on his best comforting smile. He needed her to stop freaking out before she passed out from lack of oxygen.

"You are safe now. You don't have to worry. I will protect you."

"But they almost killed you before."

James grit his teeth against the comment bubbling up his throat. His ego begged him to explain that he had let that wolf have the upper hand and he could have taken them if he tried. Yet if he said that then she would know he wasn't really in danger. That would open a whole can of worms he couldn't handle right now. Although it physically hurt he swallowed his pride and smiled.

"There are others at my home that can help me."

Isabel took a shaky breath and chewed her lower lip. "You mean Ella? But she isn't safe. What if she hurts you for bringing me to the house?" She chewed hard enough to break the skin and James's mouth watered like a leaky hose.

Damn her blood was intoxicating. He could almost feel her skin against his lips as he would kiss his way to her pulse point and then his teeth would puncture her skin in a gentle way.... No, he needed to keep his head. The sooner he got out of here and went for a hunt the better.

"Do you have everything you need?"

She nodded. "But what about Ella?"

"Its my house. I will make her listen. But we have to go now before the wolves come back and find you here." He felt a little bad about how her eyes widened with fear when he said this, but he needed to get her moving. Besides, she was asking a lot of questions he had forgotten to prepare answers for. He hated that he had let himself become distracted. His father had always been in control and James was no less a man than him.

James carried her bag out to the car and drove the two of them to the house in the woods. He waited for her to comment on the size of the mansion as they came alongside it, but she was staring vacantly out the front window and said nothing. The gravel on the driveway rattled beneath their tyres and the wolves who were camped on the front lawn turned towards the sound. James would have preferred to get her into the house without an audience. He killed the engine and got out, collecting her bag from the boot. When he reached the passenger side door she was still seated inside the car, still as a statue.

James knocked on the window and she jumped like a started hare. God he was going to have a hard time pretending to be patient with her every fear. He reminded himself that she was a new witch and her home had just been robbed and her life threatened. He opened the door for her and offered her his hand that wasn't holding the bag.

She blinked and looked around, as if just waking from a dream. "Are we here already?"

James nodded. "It wasn't a long drive."

She took his hand and he helped her out of the car. She tipped her head back to get a good look at the house. "I can't believe this place is hidden out here. Its huge."

James rolled his eyes when he knew she wasn't looking. There was the tone of voice they all used when they saw his father's house. It was as if it was one of the wonders of the world. That would have pleased his father to no end.

"Let's go in and get you settled," he said. As he walked to the door he could feel the eyes of the pack on them. Their whispering was clear to his sensitive ears. They wondered if she was the witch and what he was doing bringing her here. They also seemed to think he was going to feed on her. Well, it's possible if I don't eat soon, he thought.

James held the door open for her. He had only just followed her in when he saw Mikey sitting on the sofa. Ella was on the armchair across from him. Her gaze was fixed to his face and he was leaning forward towards her. James made a point of not looking at them. Skylar was leaning in the corner of the room. Her dark skin and tumbling curls made James's mouth water. God she looked good.

Mikey studied Isabel for a long moment before smiling and standing. "I am Mikey." He offered his hand to her.

Of course, he was trying to charm her as well. Something in James's face must have given away his thoughts because before Isabel could catch his hand Mikey dropped it to his side and smiled sheepishly.

Isabel's eyebrows drew down with confusion and she glanced between the two men. "Nice to meet you. I am Isabel."

Ella hadn't said a word. She didn't look up when Isabel spoke and instead wrung her fingers together. James couldn't help being a little smug that now he had Isabel here Ella wasn't the only one with someone to move on to. He wouldn't be alone.

As if in response to his thoughts Skylar met his eyes. Her gaze was stern and knowing. He would have been willing to be bet that the assassin was thinking of how risky it was to his life to have the witch this close when they were lying to her. Yet James didn't believe he was in any danger from Isabel. Even if she found out the truth she would likely just cry for a while and curse his name.

"This is Skylar." James strode past Ella and motioned to Skylar.

Ella laughed dryly and before Isabel could say a word Mikey added. "And this is Ella."

Isabel nodded. "Nice to meet you both."

Ella and Mikey exchanged a warm look and James clenched his fists. While he didn't want to date Ella anymore he didn't need them making doe eyes at each other and ganging up on him in his own home.

He took Isabel by the hand and started to steer her towards the hall. "I will show you where you will be staying?"

She nodded. "With you."

James opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He didn't want to be too close to her and even he drew the line at having sex with her for the spell. Yet, if he didn't sleep in the same bed as her then it would seem strange. He would just have to contain himself.

"Yes, with me."