Balance (15 page)

                “Consider
it done,” I told her.

                “So,
the pregnancy, was it planned?” she added, smiling.

                I
nodded. “It was. After seeing Avery, my biological clock kind of exploded.”

                Emma
laughed and wiped her eyes. “I needed a good laugh. Thank you.”

                I
squeezed her hand. “I’m here for you. Always. So you will stay?”

                She
nodded and hugged me. “I better get home. It’s near feeding time.” She pointed
down to her huge milk-filled chest. Wow, was I ready for being a mother? I
swallowed nervously and watched her leave. Thinking back to that day that Devon
was killed made a darkness slip over me. I couldn’t imagine Kai being killed,
feeling his essence ripped from the mate bond. Shaking off those dark thoughts,
I decided to take a long, hot bath, and then head off to bed. After my bath, I
was lying awake reading a book when my phone buzzed with a call. It wasn’t a
number I recognized. I had been meaning to call Kai and check in soon before I
went to sleep.

                “Hello?”

                “Aurora,
it’s Brett. I’m going crazy over Sadie. I need to talk.” He sounded on the
verge of madness, his voice shaky. I sat upright.

                “What’s
wrong?” I asked. Sadie’s mate was in the Seattle pack and it was unusual that
he would call me with problems. He should be talking to his Alpha.

                His
voice shook. “I can feel everything. They’re hurting her. She keeps fighting
back so they keep hurting her. I can’t take it, I need to find her. Can you
help me? Layla wants you, she will come out for you. Please.”

                My
heart was hammering in my chest. “Do you know where Sadie is? Has she been able
to tell you anything?”

                Brett
growled. “No! They blindfolded the girls before taking them. They keep them
inside. That witch keeps messing with the bonds, so I can’t talk to her all the
time.”

                “Shit.”

                “Aurora,
they are doing procedures on them, to make them pregnant. This is urgent. We
can’t wait. My Alpha doesn’t agree. He thinks going to Mexico and trying that
option is a good idea. But I fear that if we wait, then we will have ten female
werewolves with vampire babies inside of them.”

                The
gravity of the situation slammed into me. Even if I killed Layla, what the hell
would I do with vampire-induced pregnant werewolves? I rubbed my temples.

                “Where
are you?” I asked him.

                “I’m
driving your way. I have to find her. I just talked to Shamus. He said they
have already stirred trouble at the border with no sign of Layla. She isn’t
stupid, she won’t come out with hundreds of militia and wolves waiting for
her.”

                My
breathing stilled. “What are you asking of me, Brett?”

                There
was silence. “Go with me tonight, out in the open, away from the protection of
the pack. I will keep at a distance and follow. I’m the best tracker in my
pack. I won’t lose your scent.”

                Holy
shit. I let the idea roll around inside my brain and chewed the inside of my
lip. It could work. She was probably watching the mountain right now, somehow.
If I slipped away and exposed myself, she would snatch me up. Kai would kill
me. I was planning on doing this when he got back from Mexico anyway though.

                “Okay,”
I agreed quickly.

                He
sighed in relief. “There’s a coffee shop in Portland, in the Pearl District. Vinnie’s.”

                I
nodded. “Yes. I’ve been there.”

                “Meet
me there. She won’t kill you, she wants your blood. She will take you and I
will follow. When I reach the destination where they are keeping the girls, I
will call in everyone.”

                It
was actually a good plan. “Okay. Let’s do this. Bring the girls home.” The Devi
stirred within me.

                Hanging
up, I changed into black yoga pants and a t-shirt. I made sure that my special
protective necklace pouch was around my neck, the one that held Sylvia’s hair.
After slipping a silver stake, a gun, and my cell phone in my purse, I took a
deep breath.

                ‘You
okay?’
Kai checked in with me. It
was amazing that no matter the distance, his voice was like he was right next
to me. Our mate bond was strong and I panicked as fear shot through me. Did he
know? I forgot to hide my feelings when Brett called. It felt awful to lie to
him. I didn’t know what to say so I kept silent, trying to think of what to
reply.

                My
phone rang; it was Kai.

                Shit.
I evened out my breathing and answered.

                “Hey,
babe,” I said calmly.

                “What’s
wrong? Why didn’t you answer me?” Kai’s voice was pinched with tension.

                I
said the first thing I could think of. “Emma wants to leave the pack.”

                “What!
Why?” I felt his shock through the bond.

                It
was a perfect cover for my feelings and also true, I explained her sadness
about living in the house she once shared with Devon.

                He
sighed in relief. “She can have a new house. I’ll give her any damn house she
wants.”

                I
smiled. “That’s what I told her.”

                “So,
nothing else is wrong?” He questioned and I swallowed hard.

                “How’s
it going over there? Any sign of Layla?” I changed the subject.

                He
sighed. “No. We questioned one of the vampires under duress. He said she isn’t
here.”

                Duress.
That was Kai’s code word for torture. Great, and Layla wasn’t even there.

                “Yet.”
Kai added. “We took out a huge shipment. We will keep at it until she shows up
to retaliate.”

                “She’s
not going to show, Kai. She isn’t stupid. She will send lackeys to retaliate.
We need to go forward with the plan to use me as bait. I’m the only thing she
wants, the only thing she will risk exposure for.”

                Kai
sighed. “Aurora, there is another way–”

                “Kai!
I love you but you’re being selfish! There are ten females scared and locked up
and possibly tortured right this second because you won’t man up and do what’s
best for the collective whole.”

                My
skin tingled as the Devi stirred inside of me.

                “Man
up? What kind of man sends his pregnant mate into a vampire trap!” he roared.

                This
was awful. I felt sad that we were fighting, I didn’t want this. This wasn’t
how Kai and I were. He felt my feelings.

                “I’m
sorry. I only do what I do because I love you. I want to keep you safe.”

                I
nodded as tears fell down my cheek. “I know, but I don’t think you can keep me
safe.”

                “Don’t
say that,” he told me.

                “I
love you, Kai. We can talk about this tomorrow.”

                His
panic run through the mate bond. “Okay. I love you, too. Goodnight.”

                I
hung up and wiped my tears. Enough was enough. I pushed my love for Kai deep
down inside of me. I had hopes and dreams for this baby, for Kai and I, and
every single one of them involved a world free of Layla. I pushed everything
down that made me weak and then I brought my wolf and the Devi to the surface.
It was time to end this. I would not bring a child into the world knowing it
would live a life of being hunted! If I died because of it, then so be it. I
couldn’t sleep one more goddamn night knowing that Layla was alive and
experimenting with my blood! My wolves! She was as good as dead. A growl ripped
from my throat.

                I
was ready. My entire journey had led me here to this moment.

                Grabbing
my car keys, I crossed the living room quickly and went into the garage. After
sliding into the car, I pressed the button to open the garage door.

                “Going
somewhere?” a voice from the backseat asked.

                I
jumped up screeching. “Jesus Christ! Max, you scared the shit out of me.” My
heart was in my throat. Bastard.

                Max
wore a grin from the backseat. I inhaled. I couldn’t smell him. Shit, I forgot.
He smiled.

                “The
witches took my scent, remember? Helpful when I need to spy on you.” His eyes
narrowed.

                Think.
Think. Think. I started the car. “Why are you spying on me? Get out. I need to
go get a few things from my mom’s house.” I tried to keep my face calm to cover
the lie.

                Was
I really doing this? It was a smart plan. If Kai made some big plan with tons
of wolves, the vampires might not come. But with just Brett … we had a chance.
I needed Max to leave.

                “Hmm,
you know, normally I would,” Max said but sat there. I turned around and stared
at him.

                “Max!
Get out of my car. That’s an order.” I glared, pulling dominance into my voice.

                He
stared back with suspicion. “I would, but my Alpha just texted me and told me
to keep an eye on you.
He
also made it an order. Why are you going to
your mom’s at ten at night?”

                I
sighed and threw the car in reverse. “Fine come with me. She needs her night
clothes and things.”

                I
pulled out of the driveway. I needed to come up with a plan. Either I go to my mom’s,
get Max inside the house and try to ditch him or…  I looked into the rearview
mirror and met his eyes. He knew something was up. Frick. I pulled over, put
the car in park and turned around to face him.

                “Do
you love Tara?” I asked him seriously, giving him the stare down.

                He
looked caught off-guard and chewed his lip nervously. “Yes, but I never got to
tell her.”

                I
nodded. “What if I could give you the chance?”

                “Aurora,
what are you saying?”

                I
put my hands out. “Don’t tell Kai. Just hear me out.”

                Max
could send Kai a mental message and have the whole pack on my ass in minutes.

                He
nodded.

                “Okay,
Kai called from Arizona. Layla isn’t there and she isn’t going to show. She
isn’t stupid. She wants me. Brett contacted me and they’re hurting Sadie.”

                Fear
flashed across Max’s face. “Did he say anything about Tara?”

                I
shook my head. “No, but Brett is a good tracker. He wants me to meet him right
now. We can lure Layla out and she will take me. You guys follow and when you
get the location, you call for backup.”

                I
could see him considering it.

                “Kai’s
my best friend,” he declared.

                I
nodded. “And he’s the love of my life but if we do it his way, then Tara and
all of the females will be implanted with vampire spawn and I will be safe and
cozy on my mountain. I need to end this. I’m the only one who can.”

                Max
met my eyes and was silent for a long time. Finally he exhaled deeply. “Okay,
God help me when Kai finds out, but okay.”

                “Okay.”
I nodded. Holy shit, this was happening.

                Putting
the car into drive, I went to meet Brett. It was either the smartest or
stupidest decision of my life. But it was better this way. Without Kai, I could
focus on my life’s purpose, bring balance to the supernatural species and try
not to die in the process. I could make a better world for Avery and this baby
inside my belly to live in.

                It
was a silent drive downtown, both Max and I were lost in our thoughts. I pulled
my car up to a meter in front of the coffee shop that I had been to dozens of
times while studying for exams in college. Downtown was pretty dead; it was a
weeknight. A few bars had their lights on but otherwise we were alone. Brett
stepped out of the shadows of the coffee shop’s side building. When he saw Max,
he recoiled.

                “It’s
okay, he’s in on the plan,” I told him quickly, trying to whisper. I wasn’t
sure if we were being tracked by vampires or what.

                Brett
nodded. “Let’s split up. She will have had her trackers smell you by now. We
shouldn’t be seen together. I won’t let you out of my sight. I promise,” he said.

                Max
nodded to him. “If Kai finds out we helped, you and I are dead men.”

                Brett
shrugged. “Better than our women being dead.”

                Ouch.
The man had a point. Brett walked fully out of the shadows and right past me as
if he didn’t know me.

                Looking
up at the surrounding high tower buildings, I sighed. Okay. Here we go.

                Max
caught my arm. “I care about Tara and I want her back but I care about you,
too. Don’t do anything stupid.”

                I
smiled. “Who me?” I said innocently and he grinned.

                “I
got your back,” he told me. I nodded and walked off, heading down towards the
Willamette River. Downtown Portland kissed the Willamette, on the other side
was Northeast Portland and the Columbia River, so close to Washington State you
could cross a bridge and be there in five minutes. It was a beautiful city. I
inhaled. The warm summer air was my favorite part of this time of year. I
passed a few hippies playing hacky sack in the park and blasting reggae music.
They threw me a peace sign when I met their gaze and went back to what they
were doing. I had lost sight of Brett, but I assumed he could see me, so I took
a left and walked up to Water Front Park trail, right on the river. Suddenly, I
had the feeling I was being watched, and not by Brett or Max. It’s that icky
feeling women get. We just know. Movement at my back caused me to turn quickly,
just in time to see a vampire approach me lightning fast.

                He
was tall and lanky with a sinister look and dark ringed eyes.

                “You
can’t be this stupid,” he hissed.  I gripped the stake in my purse.

                “Where’s
Layla?” I ignored his jive and wasted no time getting to the point.

                He
smiled. “The queen isn’t close, but has requested your presence. Come with me.”
He reached out and gripped my underarm.

                “I
want to make sure the female wolves are alive or I’m not going anywhere.” I
stood firm.

                He
glared at me and pulled out a cell phone. After tapping it a few times, he then
turned it to me, showing me a video. Tara was in some type of cage, lying on
the ground. There were silver needle spikes one inch away from her skin. Anger
flared inside of me. Tara was weeping.

                The
video then panned to a large room with the rest of the girls. A scientist was
pinning down Sadie. Every time Sadie resisted, the needles poked Tara. They
were using Tara as a pincushion to keep the girls from fighting back. Rage
flooded my system and I pulled out the stake and rammed it into the chest of
the vampire quicker than I had ever been.

                He
poofed to ash as the phone fell to the ground. “You bastards!” I screamed and
kicked the cell phone out of the way as three vampires came out of a boat on
the dock.

                They
zoomed into my vision, incredibly fast. “That was stupid,” one of them told me
as they came up behind me and took both of my arms.

                “Take
me to my friends.” Oh, yes. I would go willingly and kill every bloodsucker
involved in hurting Tara and the rest of them.

                He
slipped a black pillow case over my head. “Happily.”

                Then
I was being pushed super-fast onto the dock. My body was lifted up into a boat
and I felt it sway. I had to flex my leg muscles to stay upright.

                Shit.
Brett and Max couldn’t follow a speed boat and I couldn’t see. As the boat took
off, I was jerked back into my seat. I had to be taken though, the image of
Tara screaming was burned into my head. I had to do something even if it meant
no one was following to save me.

                ‘Kai,
I’m sorry. I had to,’
I told him
hoping he would forgive me.

                I
felt his energy wash over me.
‘What? Where are you?’

                ‘Downtown
Portland. I think I’m heading east on the Willamette. The vampires have me. I
went willingly. I’m going to end this.’

                I
had never felt so much rage from Kai in my entire life.
‘God dammit, Aurora!
You will be the death of me. Keep talking to me. Who else is with you? I’m
coming.’

                He
was hours away, there was nothing he could do.
‘Call Max. I need to pay
attention. I still have Sylvia’s necklace on.’

                The
vampires ripped my purse away from me and I heard a splash as they tossed it into
the river. They didn’t bother tying me up so I assumed they knew I wanted to be
taken, that I would help my friends.

                I
reminded myself that I wasn’t alone, the Devi was inside of me. We would end
this together, I
was
strong enough.

                ‘Max
is in a kayak. He has you in his line of sight. Jump out of the boat and swim
to him,’
Kai told me frantically.

                I
swallowed hard.
‘No. This is my chance and I’m taking it.’

                ‘Aurora,
you jump out of that boat right now!’
His
scream inside my head made me flinch.

                ‘No,
Kai! Then what? We continue to wait around and hope Layla will show up?’

                Kai
was numb, his energy frantic. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
‘Sometimes
I wish I never met you.’

                The
declaration put a sob in my throat.

                ‘I’ve
never loved anything more than I love you. I need you but you don’t need me,’
Kai said in a deadpan voice. Oh my God. No!

                ‘That’s
not true, I need you. But I can’t be free of this until my purpose is done. I
wish you would understand and support me. I have another freaking soul
occupying my body! A vampire queen making babies with my blood and shooting
human teens with heroin. I have to do something!’
I told him.

                The
boat was slowing.

                ‘You
think I give a shit about your purpose if it takes you from me? No! I won’t
support that. Please, Aurora, jump out of the boat.’
He was blinded by love, could I blame him? I
was doing this for us, so we could get past this and be together, raise a
family.

                I
sighed. No one really understood what it was like to live your life except you.
‘You made Devon a promise. That Avery would grow up in a better world. I’m
giving him that promise. I love you, I do need you, and I’m sorry.’

                I
went into my mind’s eye and buried our mate bond. I felt him try to saturate my
body with Alpha power but I was ready. I pushed it off as mist leaked from my
skin. I could feel him trying to control me like he did in the car on the way
to my mother’s. God damn he was powerful, but with the mate bond buried and me
ready, he didn’t stand a chance.

                The
boat lurched as it was docked and I heard the whirl of helicopter blades in the
distance. This was it, no going back from this decision. The vampires lifted me
up by the arm pits and walked me closer to the helicopter sound. If they put me
in that helicopter, Kai might never find me. Pushing down my nerves, I let them
drag me. The vision of Tara screaming, hundreds of silver needles sticking into
her skin, urged me to go with them.

                I
still had the protective necklace, so Sylvia would be able to find me. If I ran
now and jumped in the river, I could swim to Max; my hands weren’t tied. If I
went with the vampires, I risked myself but I could save ten female werewolves,
kill Layla and get Prudence. I quickly weighed the options and made up my mind.
I didn’t resist as the vampires hauled me up into the helicopter.

                As
the helicopter took off, I could feel Kai raging through the mate bond. All of a
sudden, the mate bond was unearthed inside of me; I felt it pulse and go
strong.

                ‘Don’t
EVER do that again,’
Kai roared. How
the hell did he do that? Maybe Alphas were more powerful than I had originally
thought. My small time as an Alpha had seemed more of a burden but now I saw
that I may not have given it a fair chance.

                “Hello,
dear,” Prudence screamed over the whirling blades.

                ‘I
need to concentrate. I’m in a helicopter with Prudence. Don’t talk to me. I
have to focus,’
I told him.

                ‘Fine,
but when I get you back get home, I’m locking you in the basement forever,’
Kai declared.

                I
wanted to say
‘
If I get home,
this will all be over.’

                “Hello,
Prudence,” I said sweetly. I didn’t want to play my final hand just yet. I had
her full name; she was as good as dead. I needed to allow them to take me to
the girls, to Layla. Someone zip-tied my hands together behind my back.

                We
flew in silence for about twenty-five minutes and then Prudence leaned close to
me. My head was still covered but I sensed her. She inhaled deeply, then all of
a sudden, she reached into my shirt and ripped off my protective necklace.

                “No!”
I screamed, thrashing.

                “Stop!”
she shouted, pinning me down. The door opened and I could feel the cold air hit
my face. I could only guess she threw my necklace out the window. Shit. Game
over. I was on my own.

                ‘Kai,
we’ve been flying twenty-five minutes and Prudence found my shaman pouch and
tossed it out. Have Sylvia find it.’

                ‘I’m
going crazy right now, Aurora! How could you do this to me?’
he said in agony.

                That’s
when it hit me. Maybe I was the one being selfish. I didn’t think of how Kai
would feel. How much was the Devi controlling me?

                ‘I’m
sorry,’
was all I could say.

                ‘I’m
going to find you. I told you we would end this together and I meant it.
Together,’
he reminded me.

                “You’re
not talking to your mate, are you?” Prudence asked and all of a sudden a sharp
object cracked the back of my skull and everything went black.