Ember
I woke up in Damien and Jordans’ bed with them both missing. It was still nighttime. Carter came in as I woke up and planted a kiss on my head.
“Hey red”, he commented. I was still naked. He handed me his shirt, knowing I preferred to be in it rather than naked all the time.
“Seth?” I asked.
“In the dungeons with Franklin, speaking to Ruby”, he replied. My eyes narrowed. I didn’t want him anywhere near Ruby.
“I will be with you soon, Babygirl”, Seth’s voice came into my mind.
“Damien, Jordan”, I asked Carter.
“Woke up before you. There were some things they needed to attend to”, he said.
“More important than me?” I asked him. I was not sure why I was feeling so helpless for them both, but I craved their presence more than anything right now.
“Actually, it has everything to do with you. They went to the Black Diamond. Just like Seth and I changed, there were changes in them both as well. Their need for blood had increased and they went to the club to feed. I am sure they will be back soon.”, he said to me, wrapping me in his warm embrace. I sighed. I was startled when I heard Jordan’s voice in my mind for the first time.
“We are on the way back, Angel. Didn’t want to wake you”, he said, and I smiled.
” How are you feeling?” Damien’s voice popped in my head as well.
” Weak. You both took a lot out of me”, I replied to them.
“Blood exchange with Carter”, Jordan told me. I looked up into Carter’s eyes and realized he was listening in to the conversation. Having all four of my mates linked to me at once was going to be something I would have to get used to. Carter bit his wrist and his blood started dripping out. Eager to feel better, I put it into my mouth. As I took his, he kissed my neck, and then sank his teeth into his mark on me. As my blood flowed into him, he flowed into mine, and I felt myself becoming stronger. The sting of his bite had come and gone, and I was certain I was getting used to the feeling of it. Arousal filled me at once. The cost of exchanging blood with my mates, and it was not long before we stopped feeding each other. He took me to his room and made love to me as I was still a bit sore from the rough escapades of Jordan and Damien the night before.
” Has anything changed since we have been sleeping?” I asked him, after we had both finished with each other. He looked sad for a moment as he stroked my hair.
“Nothing we need to discuss at the moment”, he said, but I could feel his pain through the bond. I reached out to touch his face, and answered my own question. Two nights ago, a delivery had been made. He opened the box and the severed head of Rosalee had been wrapped in cling paper with a note attached saying, “Heads will roll ”. I jumped out of the vision, looking into Carter’s eyes. I had almost forgotten the gift I possessed, and we both realized I knew now. Not knowing what to say, the tears formed in my eyes, and Carter just held me while I cried. Today, I would cry. Tomorrow I will begin the plan to take vengeance, once and for all. My tears soon dried up and I was just numb. I had no more family left. I was now alone. I blamed myself. I should have gotten her to come with me and knew War would punish me for escaping. I had left her alone while I focused on my mating bonds. I didn’t deserve to be the earth’s goddess if I could not protect my own family.
Seth, Damien, and Jordan all went upstairs, going into the house one after the other. They felt my stress, and Carter linked to Jordan and Damien what happened. The anger of everyone in the room was evident, but what surprised me for a moment was the eye color of Damien and Jordan. Both of their eyes, which were usually black and red when triggered, were now almost in a ying-yang position, with one part being blue and the other being black. Similar to Carter and Seths. I wondered just how much the mating had changed them. With all of them in my presence, it was not hard for me to fall asleep. I woke up the next morning, hearing Agatha’s voice in my head. All four of my mates sat up too, hearing her too.
“We have an issue. Ruby is missing”, she said, alerting us. Seth and Damien were the first to hop out of bed and run to the dungeons while Carter and Jordan checked the cameras. Pulling a shirt with some shorts on, I went to the dungeons as well. Touching the cell door Ruby was being held in, I saw Franklin take her out of here after knocking out all the guards in the prison. It was the first time I had a vision of someone I was not touching, but that was the last thing I was worried about.
“Franklin let her go”, I told Seth and Damien”, who was waking up the knocked-out guards to ask what happened.
“How do you know this?”, Seth asked me. Not knowing how to explain, my body responded to me. He stood really still as his eyes turned pure gold for a moment.
“Fucking, Franklin”, he growled, as his eyes resumed their normal hazel.
“Wait, you saw it too? “I asked him, and he nodded.
“You shared your vision with me”, he told me. Another power I had not known I had.
“He isn’t answering the link.” Damien said, annoyed. I heard Seth growl out into the pack link.
“Ruby and Franklin are both considered traitors to the pack. I want them both found and brought to me. IMMEDIATELY”, Seth growled through the link. The link buzzed with a “Yes Alpha”.
“Come on, let’s get you inside”, Seth said, taking my hand and leading me back to the mansion.
“I can help.”, I told him. He nodded, still walking. I was thankful he was not going to fight me about it. Damien, on the other hand, looked at Seth in annoyance, clearly wanting to keep me hidden away, but I was not one to stay behind and let others do all the work. I gave him a look saying this as we walked back to the mansion. We saw Carter and Jordan looking as if they were about to take off.
” Ivy has been taken by Ruby and Franklin”, Carter said to us.
“What would Ruby want with Ivy?”I asked, but he shook his head. Ivy was a baby taken in by our pack years ago. Ruby always wanted to kick her out, but mom raised her instead and took her under her wing. We don’t know much about her past”, Jordan explained.
” I’m checking Moonlight to see what I can find ”, I told them before phasing into the restaurant. It was closed today. Jax was here though, sniffing the air, as if trying to find a scent. He looked like he had gone almost feral.
“Jax”, I said, reaching out to him. He looked at me and growled before realizing who I was. His eyes turned back from black to his normal silver eyes.
“They took her. They took my mate”, Jax almost whimpered. His fist struck the wall as his cell phone rang. He picked it up just as Damien phased in touching Carter, Jordan, and Seth, and took note of Jax’s state. They all put themselves in front of me.
“Yea…. Spotted where? .. How many?… FUCK!” he growled out. He then looked at me as the person on the phone kept speaking. My mates, listening in, also growled.
” Absolutely fucking not. Find me another way inside. NOW!”, he growled at the person on the phone before hanging up.
“Where is she?” I asked him. I was assuming he found her.
” Tallahassee. 432 Westview Lane. ” he said, and I froze in a panic.
“Are…. are you certain?” I asked him. Damien looked at me.
“What is wrong?” Seth asked me.
“That…… That is my home address.” I told them all. Why would Ruby bring Ivy to my house?