Tempted (Book 5) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Sixteen/Blood Debt

Luca stared at me with wide eyes. His face was ashen. "Your rape was my fault," he whispered as his eyes darkened turning black. "She ordered your rape because of me."

I shook my head, denying it with everything in me. "It wasn't your fault," I said as I took a shaky breath. I didn't want him to blame himself.

"If I had never been with her," He said, swallowing hard as his eyes filled with tears. "She wouldn't have done this. She wouldn't have gotten him to come after you and...and—"

I cupped his cheeks and stared into his eyes, hoping that I could get through to him. "She's evil," I said and then, shook my head. "You didn't know that. She hid it well until she didn't get what she wanted. Her actions are not your fault. They never were and no matter what she does in the future the fault does not lie with you."

"I'll kill them," he whispered nodding his head. "I didn't lie about that. I promise you that I will kill them. They won't hurt you again."

"Their deaths won't change what happened, Luca," I said, raising my chin.

He narrowed his eyes as he glanced past me at the place where Mary had disappeared. "No," He said through clenched teeth. "But it will keep them from hurting anyone that I love again.

He winced as he moved and I glanced at his shoulder hoping to redirect his anger. "Let's go home," I said as more blood bloomed across his shirt. "You need stitches."

He nodded. "I do," he said but his face hardened. "But I won't forget, Claire. Their breaths are numbered."

I pressed my lips together because through the guilt and pain, I was forced to admit that I wanted their deaths too.

***********

Mirella was with Andre when we arrived at Garridan's. Andre stitched his brother's injuries. The wolves had disappeared soon after we arrived probably due to the message Mary had given and the injury to their alpha. I walked with Luca home afterward assessing the damage as we went.

Besides the picnic table that had been struck by lightning and a few injuries nothing else had been touched.

We entered our home, relieved to be there. "What happened to the window?" Luca asked as soon as we walked into the living room.

I winced. Somehow, I had forgotten Eva's attack on us with Mary's revelation and my fear for Luca. He knelt down and studied a drop of blood on the chair below it before finding a larger drop on the carpet.

"Eva attacked us," I said, frowning as the memory played in my mind.

"Whose blood is this?" He asked turning to me as his gaze swept over me searching for injuries. When he didn't find any, his brow furrowed. "Is it Mirella's?"

"No," I said and then, glanced down at the gun I had used during the attack before laying it on the table. "It's Eva's. I shot her."

He blinked and his eyes widened. "Did you kill her?" He asked as hope bled into his voice.

"No," I said and shrugged. "She was injured just enough to leave but not before she threatened me. According to Mirella I am probably her new favorite target. Mirella is now a mere second."

He groaned as he swiped his hand over his face. "Great," he said standing. He stepped toward me but a frown crossed his brow. His spine stiffened.

"What's wrong?" I asked, stepping toward him as his eyes darkened and his beast came to the surface.

"Someone else is here," he said moving toward me. "We need to leave right now."

"That's not going to happen," John's voice reached me and my eyes widened as he grabbed me from behind.

**********

I closed my eyes, hoping this was a nightmare but his arms around my waist was evidence that this was no dream. He lowered his nose to my hair and inhaled causing me to jerk my head away.

"Get your hands off of her," Luca said with his teeth gritted. His eyes narrowed. The blood on his shirt spread as he flexed his muscles.

"Or what?" Derek laughed. "You can't turn without hurting yourself worse than you already have. Even if you did I'm stronger right now."

He sniffed my hair again and my stomach rolled. "I see my scent is no longer on you," he snarled against my ear. His breath touched my lobe and I jerked again but he pulled me closer to him. "I'm going to fix that.'

My eyes widened as his arm moved tighter around my waist. I glanced at Luca and he closed his eyes. My mind brought up the night Eva summoned me and he attacked her. He had told me to sleep then but this time was different. It was stronger.

Fight, Claire, His voice whispered through my mind. Pictures followed. I closed my eyes and raised my foot, stomping on his as hard as I could. I ground my heel into the top of his foot before I elbowed him in the stomach. He bent forward and I lifted my knee to hit him in the face. Luca pulled me away from him but John growled. I fell backwards as he attacked Luca.

I rose realizing that John was transitioning. Luca's arm was against his neck. His elongating teeth were snapping at Luca, pushing more and more on his arm. I scrambled to my feet, searching the room for a weapon. My eyes landed on the gun and I moved toward it before grabbing it. I turned toward John afraid that I would hit Luca by accident. I had to get them a part.

"John!" I screamed out, hiding the gun behind me. "I thought I was the one you wanted."

John's eyes narrowed as he rose and took a step toward me. Fur was sprouting, tearing his clothes. I took a step back causing him to step forward.

"You'll never catch me," I said, raising my chin as I ran toward the bedroom. I heard him behind me as I reached the room and closed the door. I backed toward the bed and raised the gun as the door burst open. My finger flinched before I pulled the trigger and blood and gun oil scented the air for the third time that day.