Lured (Book 4) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter Nine-Familiar Faces

Hello, Lovelies, 

Welcome to the third chapter of the triple update!  I hope you'll join me tomorrow for the next three chapters.  You all mean so much to me.  Thank you so much for your patience.  I truly hope you are enjoying this book. 

-XXXX Amanda 

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"Get up!" Mirella whispered too close to my ear. I winced as I forced open one eye and groaned.

"Why are you here?" I asked, yawning widely as I tried to snuggle deeper into my blankets by covering my face.

She pulled the blanket away and grinned, "It's shopping time," she said, nudging me again, "We're getting your dress today. You want a beautiful dress to wear to your wedding, don't you?"

I yawned again, "I'm too tired," I said as I opened both of my eyes to peer at my future sister-in-law with annoyance.

"So was Aurora but she went and she doesn't even like shopping," Mirella said, laughing at my reaction before standing straight and crossing her arms over her chest. She raised one eyebrow, "I won't leave you alone until you get up."

I sighed and sat up realizing that she wasn't lying. Whether I wanted to or not, I was getting out of bed, "Fine," I said, wrinkling my nose in disgust.

Mirella clapped. I rolled my eyes. She was too happy first thing in the morning, "We get to go shopping," she said, laughing as my mother yawned in the kitchen.

"What time is it?" I asked, frowning as I glanced out of the window. The sky was still a shade of dark gray that screamed that it was early.

"Seven," she said as a knock sounded at the door. I stared at it, surprised. I suppose Mirella wasn't the only one who woke early in the Brazil family.

My mother answered the door and Lilly stepped in with a big grin. She raised her brows, "She's not up yet?" She asked and laughed, "You're losing your touch, Mirella."

"What do you mean?" I asked frowning as I glanced between them.

"Don't expect to sleep in when there is a shopping trip or a wedding," Lilly said with a snicker, "Mirella will wake you up and she won't leave you alone until you get out of bed. Usually, she has the bride-to-be up long before I arrive."

"I haven't lost my touch. I had to wake up Aurora," Mirella said, narrowing her eyes, "She wasn't nice. I thought she was a lady but you should hear the things she said to me."

"She's never nice in the morning," Lilly said and then, glanced at me, "You should get a shower. Aurora will take a while."

I nodded as I rose and walked to the bathroom. Only a knock at the front door made me pause before getting into the shower. Tamas' voice came to me causing my stomach to flip.

"Don't leave her alone for a moment while at the shops," he said, sternly, "I do not put it past Eli to kidnap her. He tried it with Lilly and Garridan tried it with Aurora. Keep her safe."

"You already like her, don't you?" Mirella said with a teasing lilt to her voice.

I held my breath as I waited for his answer, "I do," he said quietly, "I really do."

I smiled to myself as he continued, "Keep her safe," he said before giving a pregnant pause before he spoke again, "If something happens to her, you will have to answer to me."

"I'm not afraid of you," Mirella said, laughing, "But she'll be safe."

"She better be," He said in a voice that threatened danger.

Then, the door closed and Mirella, Lilly and my mother broke out into giggles. I smiled as I got into the shower, suddenly wide awake and ready for my day of shopping.

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It turned out that Tamas had no reason to worry. No one attacked me or tried to kidnap me while we shopped. We never saw a Grey wolf or even sensed them near. Still, I was not left alone even to change. Perhaps that had something to do with it. There was no opportunity to take me especially with Mirella as my constant companion. By the time we finished, I was exhausted but happy and still safe.

The dress I chose was ivory with a lace covered bodice. Bands of lace were the only sleeves and they fell off of my shoulders. The top layer of fabric draped over the belled skirt and was also made of lace but opened in the front to display the satin beneath. It was beautiful and made me feel beautiful. As a bonus, it also covered the scar that Eva had given me. I wanted no memory of her on my wedding day.

I was still daydreaming of the dress on the way home when Mirella tensed beside me. An audible gasp escaped Aurora's lips as Sophia stopped the car so quick I jolted forward and was only saved from hitting my face on the seat in front of me by the seatbelt. I glanced out of the windshield as my eyes widened. A girl stood in front of the car supporting a woman who didn't weigh more than a hundred pounds. Her blonde hair was thin and stringy and her eyes were a dull blue.

"Momma," Aurora said as she reached to open the door. Sophia stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"It could be a trap," Sophia said, frowning as she glanced out of the windshield at the woman who was her friend.

Tears flowed down Aurora's cheeks, "I don't care."

Sophia frowned, "It's not just you in this car, Aurora," she said, in a stern voice, "It's your sister and Mary Jane who are both pregnant as well as Mirella, Nadia and myself. We're your family too."

Aurora's hand moved from the handle as she stared at Sophia with tears streaming down her face, "But my mother," she said and glanced at her again.

Sophia pulled out her cellphone and dialed a number, "I'm calling Ion," she said, "He'll make sure she's safe."

I turned back to the girl and the woman I now understood to be Fiona. My focus trained on the girl and I frowned as familiarity swamped me. The girl appeared to be about thirteen with long, flowing black hair that curled at the ends. Her eyes met mine and her bowed mouth pursed. Her silver eyes widened and that's when it hit me...The memory of Jaelle being ripped from my arms. Her silver eyes widened in fear.

"Oh my God," I said as I continued to stare at the girl unable to speak. I swallowed as tears filled my eyes.

Sophia turned to me, alarmed, "What is it?"

"That girl," I said in awe, "She's Jaelle."

Sophia turned back to her, "But she died," she whispered.

"We never found her body," I said, blinking, "We just assumed because of the blood."

A moment later, Ion and Garridan ran through the entrance. My eyes widened as I met the girl's gaze pleading that she stay where she was but she ran as soon as Tamas opened the van door. I stumbled out, tripping over my own feet desperate to get to the girl. I ran toward her and screamed as loud as I could.

"Jaelle!" She turned with wide eyes. She pursed her lips as if confused. For a moment, it seemed as if she would come back to speak to me but then, she shook her head and turned to disappear into the woods, leaving Fiona behind. Aurora ran to her mother, cradling her against her chest as I stared at the woods. My heart hammered in my chest as I studied the dark green foliage of the forest sure that Jaelle hadn't died. Instead, she had lived as a Grey wolf. I turned searching for answers as my eyes landed on the two men who could give them to me...Garridan and Ion. They had been members of the Grey Wolves before they had come to the Brazils and had lived among them. One of them had to know about the girl and whether or not she was my sister.