Tempted (Book 5) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Eleven/Werewolf Bonds

A month passed with no visits from Mary, Eva or the Grey Wolves giving all but me and perhaps, Mirella a false sense of security. Most assumed that the Grey Wolves had gotten what they wanted with Sophia and Gavriel's deaths but I didn't believe they were done with us.

When Fiona and Ion's wedding took place without an attack, it was hard not to believe that the Grey Wolves had forgotten us. Other things pointed to peace. There were no dreams of John or even Mirella when I slept. There were no howls....No vandals...No sightings....No attacks. Sophia and Gavriel's deaths still loomed over the motor home park and the souls of the Brazil family, causing the place where we all lived to be forever changed but the day continued without them. We each fell into a steady routine.

I was content as I spent my days visiting Luca on his lunch break in a shack like building that served as an office. New comers came to pay for their stay. Most were human though I did sense a few werewolves over the month but all seemed to know what we were. With the peace, I did breathe a little easier even if I was sure it wouldn't last.

The first storm since my arrival appeared. Rain showered the area as we talked. The petrichor drifted into my senses, relaxing me as Luca tried to make me laugh. We sat behind the makeshift desk in the office eating sandwiches and potato salad in our own little world.

"Excuse me," A voice too familiar to ignore said from the small desk making me lose my smile.

My breath caught in my throat as a tremble shook through me. Luca frowned as he studied my face. I stiffened afraid to turn...Afraid to see the man of my nightmares standing on the other side of the room.

Luca glanced from me to the man and his eyes narrowed as he realized I viewed this man as a threat. He stood with a slowness that reminded me of a predator before turning to face him. I took a deep breath and turned finding the man who raped me standing on the other side of the room. His eyes widened in recognition as they swept over my face.

"Hello, Claire," he said as his lips stretched into a grin. I rose and moved back against the wall furthest from him.

Luca studied my face as his eyes widened. Anger covered his features as he turned narrowed eyes at John.

"You need to leave," he said staring into John's blue eyes. John reached up and moved his blond bangs from his forehead. The action caused his scent to reach me and I gasped, inhaling again.

Though still evil, something had changed about him since I had last been in his presence. He was no longer human. He had changed. He had become a werewolf.

"Because of her?" he asked and then, scoffed as if I was nothing. Worse, I felt like nothing in his presence. I couldn't push it away.

"Yes," Luca said putting his body between me and John and making the feeling fade with his next words. "Because of my wife."

John laughed. "Your wife?" He asked, raising his brows as he inhaled. "And yet she's only been marked by one...Me."

A tremble slid through me as Luca growled. His temper had reached its limits and his beast was close. I pressed my body against the wall sliding toward the corner as Luca stalked around the desk toward John. John grinned as he put up his hands.

"No need to get bent out of shape especially over her," he said with a crooked grin. He glanced around Luca at me. "I'll see you soon, Claire."

Then, he was gone and I fell to the floor sobbing as every moment of John's attack replayed through my mind.

***********

My head was in my hands as my sobs continued. I was afraid to look up...Afraid to find that I was alone or worse, Luca was staring at me with that awful hate returning to his eyes. My whole body shook as the sobs poured from me pulling my emotions out through my heart and leaving a raw pain in my stomach.