Whole-Hearted: A Malsum Pass Novel Read online

  Connie shook her head. “No other captives that I saw.” Then she told him about Maria and Graydon and how she had tied them up in their rooms. She dug into the pocket of her sweatpants and pulled out Maria’s cell phone. “I was going to use that to call for help, but now maybe you can see if there’s anything useful on it.”

  Alek, back in skin and clothed, nodded and took the phone. “We’ll take care of it. You need to get your injuries checked and then get some rest.”

  Her father, also dressed once more, stepped up and wrapped an arm around her waist. “We need to call your mother as well. I know she won’t believe it until she actually hears your voice.”

  Now that the rush of adrenaline and fear had passed, Connie felt the throb from the bite on her shoulder and the sting of scratches on her belly. The blood scent was also making her a little nauseous, but she really needed to be away from here. “Let’s go to the hotel first.”

  It was during the drive, pressed close to Jacob’s side, their fingers still entwined as he held her hand, she realized she was smelling much more blood than her injuries warranted. Glancing sharply at Jacob, she could see even in the dim interior of the van that his face had gone pale and his eyes looked glassy. “You’re injured. How bad is it?”

  When Jacob didn’t answer right away, his head bobbing slightly as if he might pass out, Connie freaked. “Pull over! Jacob’s hurt.”

  Within seconds, Tarvahl had the van on the side of the road, the interior of the vehicle lit and Jacob laid out on the bench seat with his shirt up. Blood had run down his side, soaking his pants from five deep puncture wounds. “This is more than can be patched up with a first aid kit. We need to get him to a hospital.” Tarvahl said with a grimace, his face lined with worry.

  It was Daisy who suggested that Tarvahl go in with Jacob while the rest of them waited outside, but Connie wasn’t having anything to do with that plan. “I’m going with them.”

  Daisy looked at her squarely. “If you go in there, they’ll see your injuries and you’ll have to explain how you got them. Jacob’s will be hard enough to explain.”

  It made sense, but Connie wasn’t budging. She needed to go with him. She needed to make sure he was safe. Holding a hand out, she said, “Someone give me a shirt without blood on it. They won’t ask about what they can’t see.”

  Daisy let out a sigh, but complied, handing over one of Alek’s extra-large T-shirts. Once in the hospital’s emergency room, Tarvahl was handling the cover story for the triage nurse, but Connie was barely paying attention. She was observing all of the staff as well as the patients, in particular, whether they had any tell-tale tattoos behind their ears. She received more than a few odd looks, but she didn’t care. No way in hell was she going to go back into the hands of the fur traders or allow Jacob to be taken while he was vulnerable.

  Just over three hours later, Jacob was once again clearheaded, his injuries cleaned, stitched and bandaged, and they were back in the van headed to a hotel. The team had called, wondering at the delay, but they were good with waiting. Then Tarvahl had handed the phone to Connie. With a frown, she had taken it only to hear Alek tell her that they had found where she had tied up Graydon Brooks, but the male hadn’t been there. At some point, during all of the chaos, he had escaped. The panic that hit had nearly dropped her to the floor. Connie was exhausted. Mentally, physically, down to the bone, tired, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Would she ever feel safe enough to sleep again?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The ride home was, thankfully, uneventful. Connie was actually able to fall asleep which was a relief considering she hadn’t gotten any rest at the motel they’d finally stopped at. Every noise had her jumping, conversations outside the door had her ears perking up and waiting for someone to bust through and grab her, while flashes of headlights from traffic had her continually peeking through the slim gap in the curtains. She was itchy and agitated, her skin prickling with nerves.

  Daisy and Rin, who were also staying in the room, hadn’t seemed to have the same problem though Rin had woken up at one point and asked Connie if she was okay. Connie had nodded and smiled and told the Kitsune to go back to sleep, but she hadn’t been okay. Not by a long shot. She was so tired and scared and she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from leaking hot tears. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be surrounded by familiar sights, and sounds, and smells. She’d feel better once she was home, she was sure.

  Once her injuries had been disinfected and bandaged, thanks to Daisy, her father had tried to get her to call her mother. Connie hadn’t been able to do it, had told her father to make the call for her because she didn’t think she’d be able to speak much less reassure her mother. She also hadn’t been able to call Tanya or Vic. She knew they were worried, knew she should offer them relief, but she couldn’t talk to them. Not right now, and especially not Victoria. Maybe she was being selfish, but how did you tell your happily engaged friend that her fiancé was involved in an organization like the fur traders? And she would have to tell her; Vic was one of her best friends and she deserved to know. Later. Once Connie was calm and stable and able to put her thoughts together, able to speak without sobbing; that’s when she’d tell her.

  Seeing the hand painted wooden sign on the side of the road that said Malsum Pass started her tears flowing once more and she wiped them away in irritation. Jacob, who had once again ridden beside her, squeezed her hand. She couldn’t look at him right now. She needed to keep her eyes on the familiar scenery. Feeling suddenly claustrophobic, Connie pushed the button to roll down her window. The rush of cold air was refreshing and she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Home. She was home.

  It was a mini convoy pulling up to the front of the bed and breakfast. Tarvahl, David Tully, Jacob, and Connie were first to arrive in Tarvahl’s SUV. Just behind them was Alek, Daisy, and Rin. Rin hadn’t felt safe returning to her apartment in New York so Tarvahl had invited her to stay in Malsum Pass until she figured out where she wanted to go. The last vehicle was Connie’s own SUV, driven by Dev and Sam who had flown into New York from their last op. With no vehicle of their own, they were happy to drive hers.

  The sight that greeted Connie had her eyes again overflowing and a sob breaking free. The entire town had turned out to welcome them home, her mother in front, ringing her hands in anticipation of seeing her daughter and husband again.

  Connie wanted to get out and run to her mother. She wanted to hug her. She wanted to feel those arms around her, and to take comfort in the familiar scent of Margaret Tully, but it seemed like her body had different ideas. She couldn’t move. She just sat there in the back seat of the vehicle, hearing each ragged breath pulled into her lungs and then expelled. Jacob squeezed her hand again and she was at least able to turn her head to look at him. Her brain registered that he looked concerned with a hint of sympathy, so parts of her were definitely working, just not her limbs. Well, that wasn’t entirely true since the hand not held by Jacob was repeatedly sliding up and down the top of her thigh, the heel digging into the muscle.

  “You don’t have to do this. If you don’t want to see anyone, I’ll send them away. Just say the word.” Jacob said with another squeeze to her hand. “I’m right here with you.”

  Connie closed her eyes, took another deep breath of the familiar scents of Malsum Pass and her hand moved to the door handle. She could do this. This was her home, these people were her pack. With a hard grip on Jacob’s hand, she got out of the vehicle.

  The swarm of bodies, hugs, tears, well-wishes, it was all too much. She had thought she would find comfort, but instead, she felt suffocated. The combination of voices was like a roaring in her ears; she heard it all and yet none of the words actually penetrated the fog in her brain. She had never suffered from claustrophobia, but surely this was what it must feel like. She was going to be sick, or pass out, or something. She needed to get away. She needed to run.

  Breaking free with a strangled cry, Connie took off like
a shot. She needed to release her wolf, it had been too long contained and she could feel it pushing against her skin, demanding freedom now that the drugs had left her system. She frantically ripped off her clothing and tossed them, not caring where they landed. As soon as she reached the trees, she shifted and continued to run. This was what she had needed. This moment, this feeling. At last, she was free.

  Jacob wasn’t sure what to do. His instincts were screaming to go after Connie; make sure she was all right. He reined it in. If she had wanted him with her, she would have kept hold of his hand and dragged him along behind her. Instead, after one bone breaking squeeze, she had broken the connection and taken off at a run.

  “Where is she going? Go get her, David. Everyone came out to see her! She can’t just run off!” Margaret Tully screeched and at least half of the people in attendance winced at the high-pitched sound. Obviously he wasn’t the only one concerned, though Margaret’s brand of concern rubbed him the wrong way.

  David Tully raked a hand through his hair, leaving hunks standing straight up, and shot his wife a glare. “Leave the girl be, Margaret. She’s been through enough.”

  “I doubt she was able to shift.” Jacob’s father chimed in. “She probably needs this. She’ll be back once her wolf is calm.”

  “But it’s so rude.” Margaret said, shaking her head, her lips twisted in a frown. Jacob frowned as well, just barely resisting the urge to snarl. If anyone deserved some leeway in manners it was Connie. Christ, the woman had been abducted, held against her will, had had to face down armed guards, and who the hell knew what else in order to escape. Jacob opened his mouth to show Margaret Tully the true meaning of rude, but the words didn’t make it past his lips.

  “She was drugged.”

  Jacob turned to find the source of that little tidbit of information. The small Asian woman, Rin, stepped forward, glanced nervously around now that she had everyone’s attention, and grimaced. “To suppress our ability to shift. They drug the food. If it’s wearing off, the need to change will be almost unbearable for her. I went through the same once I stopped eating the food; I’d shift in my cell at night.”

  Jacob’s mom stepped up to the Rin and sniffed, her eyes narrowing. “You’re new. I don’t recognize your scent.”

  Tarvahl stepped up beside his wife and put an arm around her. “She’s Kitsune. She’ll be staying here with us until she figures out where she wants to go. Her apartment isn’t safe since the fur traders know about it.”

  Sherry looked surprised. “I’ve never met a Kitsune.” Then her lips twisted and Jacob prepared for the sarcasm. In the driest of tones, Sherry Pierce muttered, “Wolves, bears, felines – why not add a fox to the mix?”

  Jacob shook his head and turned away. He needed to find Connie; needed to at least keep her in his sights. His wolf demanded it. He wouldn’t intrude on her space; God knew that her escape had proved she was fully capable of taking care of herself, but there was no reason why he couldn’t shift as well and go for a run.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Connie felt so much better. Her run over familiar terrain had done wonders to relieve her stress. Her muscles felt loose and fluid and for the moment, she was happy. She ran, she leapt over fallen trees, she sniffed piles of damp leaves, chased a few squirrels and snorted at their chattered warnings.

  She didn’t know how long she had been playing before she scented Jacob. He hadn’t approached her, but as he was staying upwind of her, he wasn’t trying to hide his presence either. He was giving her a choice and she appreciated it, but right now, she wanted to share the joy of this moment. Tipping back her head, she let out a little howl of greeting and headed in his direction.

  Jacob was a beautiful male, no matter what form he chose. His wolf was large, strong, with amber eyes and plenty of red in his dark fur. As soon as she reached him, she nuzzled her face into that fur and slid her body along his in welcome. He returned the gesture, burying his nose in her fur as well and his eyes closed in appreciation. They popped open as she let out an excited yip and took off running. Jacob howled and set off after her, joining her in the chase.

  It didn’t take long for Connie’s exhaustion to finally catch up with her considering her lack of sleep the night before. The nap in the car hadn’t been enough to fully energize her, but she had no desire to return to her room at the bed and breakfast. She wanted to stay in this form where she felt strong. She had never appreciated her wolf as much as when she had lost the ability to shift.

  Finding a pile of leaves beneath an old oak, Connie yawned, stretched, and curled into a ball on the ground. When Jacob curled his big body around hers, she felt warm, and safe. This was home; here with Jacob. Her wolf sensed it, and she was finally able to get some sleep.

  Jacob hadn’t meant to doze off. He had intended to watch over Connie as she slept, but laying here with her had felt so comfortable that he had lost the battle to stay awake, and now it was well past sunset. He gazed at her for a few minutes, drinking in the sight of her. Connie was the most easily recognizable wolf in the pack with her light tan, almost white, coat. Her build was small, graceful, and closer to his sister in size than his mother, who was more muscular. God, she was breathtaking, and he so wanted to stay here with her in this secluded spot, just the two of them. But her family would be worried, especially since she had just been returned to them. With a little sigh, Jacob nudged her with his nose and taking advantage of the opportunity to breathe deeply of her scent.

  Connie blinked, yawned, stretched her paws out in front of her, and then looked at the sky. She hung her head for a moment as if she too wished to stay here with him rather than rejoin daily life. She shook her head and stood up. Another stretch followed by a full body shake, then she burrowed her face into Jacob’s neck, the equivalent of a hug of thanks before she took off in the direction of the bed and breakfast.

  Jacob stayed close, pacing her to make sure she arrived safely. He watched her scratch at the door and only left once she was safely inside.

  Dinner was an uncomfortable affair. No one wanted to talk about the abduction, but Connie’s mother had never been good with long silences. The conversation started out simple enough; Margaret spoke about a few minor incidences that had popped up at the bed and breakfast during Connie’s absence as well as the visiting pack females. “I will say one good thing about what happened,” Margaret began. “Jacob wasn’t here to be enticed by those… females.” She finished, her lip curling slightly with distaste. “So the field is wide open with him still.”

  Connie grit her teeth. This was so typical, she should be used to it, but her mother’s attitude rankled just the same.

  “Halloween’s coming up, princess. Why don’t you and I drag the decorations out of the attic tomorrow?” Her father cut in, trying to change the subject.

  “Oh, perfect.” Margaret said clapping her hands together. “Connie, you should ask Jacob to come over and help. He’ll stay for dinner, of course.”

  Connie’s silverware clattered loudly on her plate, the legs of the chair squawking in protest as she shoved back from the table and glared at her mother. “Enough.”

  Her mother looked up at her, eyes round like an owl as she blinked. “Enough what, Constance? Really, do sit down. Finish your dinner.” Margaret waved to Connie’s half-full plate.

  Connie tried to count to ten but she only made it to three before gritting out through clenched teeth, “You will not push me at Jacob like you did with Conner.”

  Her mother let out a little offended sniff. “Well, obviously I have to do something. You’re not exactly getting any younger. When I was your age, your father and I had been mated for five years and had already had you.”

  “Margaret.” Her father cut in, but Connie had finally had enough. After years of listening to this garbage, holding her tongue, and doing her best to please her mother, she was done. D-O-N-E, done. She may not have enjoyed her forced stay in that house, may have been scared out of her mind the entire time
, but one thing good had come of it: she’d found her courage and she wasn’t about to let it go.

  “Who I eventually choose as a mate is my business mother. Mine. Whether that person is Jacob Pierce or Joe Schmoe the potato farmer, it’s not up to you.”

  “Potato farmer?” Her mother looked sick, her hand going to her throat, but Connie kept right on talking. All of the words she had wanted to say for twenty years spilling out.

  “It’ll be my decision and it’ll have nothing to do with rank or status or bank accounts.” Connie ticked off each point by stabbing her index finger into the wooden table. “It will be about love, and it will be someone who listens to me and respects me. Someone who cares about my opinions, and wants to be with me; someone who actually likes me – not because I’m pretty, but because I’m me – and it’ll be someone who I feel the same about. And you know what? If it takes another twenty years for me to be sure, so be it.”

  Connie took a deep breath and looked into her mother’s shocked eyes. “I love you, mama,” she breathed, sincerity shining in her eyes, “but this is my life so keep your opinions to yourself.”

  Feeling like an enormous weight had just been lifted from her shoulders, Connie gave a sharp nod, turned to leave the dining room and headed toward the stairs. She could hear her mother sputtering in disbelief, but a few soft, yet firm words from her father kept Margaret Tully from following her daughter. Thank you, Dad.

  She had no desire to continue this argument and rehash the same points. All Connie wanted right now was a hot shower with her favorite toiletries. She wanted to shave all the hair growth that had been neglected during her stay in casa de hell, do a deep condition on her hair, and then slather on a ton of lotion all over her body. Maybe then, she’d start to feel like herself again.