Tempted (Book 5) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Nine/Revelations

Trigger Warning: SA 

Luca did not wake up for the rest of the day and I did not sleep. I spent my time waiting for his chest to rise and fall before sinking in relief each time it did. When I was not doing that, I stared at the angry gash on his chest willing it to heal as I sat by the bed becoming frustrated when the skin did not knit together. As night fell and darkness shadowed everything, Mirella arrived. Garridan had walked with her to my home so that she could help me tend to Luca.

When she entered the room, she surveyed the area before her eyes landed on her brother. She took a shaky breath and straightened before turning her gaze to me. Garridan said his good-byes and exited but Mirella's gaze did not move from me even after the front door closed.

She gave a heavy sigh and moved toward me before she took my hand and pulled me away from the chair I had moved by the bed to watch over Luca and led me to the bunk beds in the little room before ours.

She motioned to them. "You need to rest," she said, giving me a sad smile. "That's why I'm here."

I opened my mouth to argue but she shook her head. "I promise I'm more stubborn than you right now," she said raising her brow. "You look like hell. Besides, what are you going to do for him that hasn't already been done."

"What if he starts bleeding again?" I asked, frowning as I glanced toward the bedroom.

She raised her brow. "I'm more than capable of stitching him up or stopping his bleeding," she said as if insulted and then, let out another heavy sigh. "Go to sleep Claire. You are exhausted. You will do him no good as you are."

I pressed my lips together tempted to argue and then, nodded as I sat on the bottom bunk. Exhaustion pulled my shoulders forward. "You'll wake me if anything happens?" I asked, peering up at her.

Her brows drew together. "I will," she said and then, shook her head. "But nothing will happen," she said, giving me a gentle push so I fell against the pillow and then, she pulled a blanket over me at the foot of the bed and tucked me in.

"Thank you," I whispered as my heavy eyes drooped closed and I fell asleep.

***********

I opened my eyes to find that I stood on a dark street walking beside him. Though he had walked me home many times, there was something different about him tonight. When he turned to me and smiled I was afraid. I backed away but he grabbed my forearm and pulled me forward. My heart jumped as his hand covered my mouth. He pulled me to a place where no one would hear me scream and lifted my skirt. His hand slipped from my mouth and I screamed and screamed though that didn't stop him. A hand wrapped around my upper arm and shook me. I squeezed my eyes tighter and screamed again.

"Claire!" Mirella's voice broke through the dream and I opened my eyes wide. The dream dissipated leaving only the shame and fear behind.

Tears rolled down my reddened face as I jerked away from her not wanting to be touched. She stared down at her hands as if they had done something wrong before gazing into my face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as her eyes widened. "I wouldn't have touched you but it was the only way to wake you."

I blinked as I took in her face. The guilt there darkened her eyes. "Don't be sorry," I said, choking out the words. "Thank you for waking me."

"It's okay," she said as her eyes shined with tears in the darkness. She took a shaky breath. "I've been there."

I shook my head, wanting to deny it but something in her expression stopped me as she raised her chin. "Yes, I have," she said as she took another shuddering breath. "The Grey Wolves kidnapped Nadia, Garridan and myself a few months ago."

"You don't have to tell me," I said, panicked she would reveal something she would regret.

She scrutinized my face and then, nodded before straightening her spine. "I think I do," she whispered. "For you and for me. I haven't told anyone else. Only Garridan was witness to what happened and we don't speak of it. I wanted to tell my mother and father but I couldn't. I needed someone who understood."

My chest was heavy as I nodded my head. "I do understand," I whispered. "I don't want to but I do."

Her lips lifted in a sad smile as she nodded. "I know you do," she said and swallowed as she continued. "I sensed it as soon as I looked in your eyes. You carry the same darkness I do. I'm surprised Luca hasn't noticed it yet."

"Why did they do that to you and not Nadia?" I asked as my brows drew together.

"I angered Eva when she showed up at the engagement party for Nadia and Tamas. I insulted her. Garridan angered her further by protecting me. When they kidnapped us, they took Nadia to another room. Eva ordered one of her pack members, Sean to take me to a room and do what he wanted to me. She made them force Garridan to watch. Five members of the Gray wolves had their way with me."

"My God," I whispered as bile rose in my throat. I spoke to keep the sickness at bay. "That's why you and Garridan are close. I assumed he was your betrothed."

"No," she whispered as her face fell. "I am betrothed to someone else...And as I told you before, Garridan deserves someone better than me...Someone who isn't broken."

"You aren't broken," I said, raising my chin. "They are."

"So is the one who hurt you," she said, pursing her lips.

I shifted. "Maybe...He was a friend...Or I thought he was," I said, frowning. His name is John. He would talk to me at the diner where my mom worked and would walk me home so I wouldn't be by myself. Even my mother and father trusted him. That night...The night it happened, he was walking me home as usual. I didn't realize what he was going to do. He dragged me to an alley and raped me. He left me there. My mother found me. My father tried to find him but he was already gone."

Mirella's gaze darkened. "I'm sorry that happened to you," she whispered, taking my hand.

"And I'm sorry it happened to you," I whispered.

She patted my hand. "One day it will be made right," she said and released a sigh. "Until then, we will help each other walk through the darkness."

I stared into her face feeling as if we had helped each other take a step closer to the light.