Lycan Heat

Chapter Twelve

Sherry felt much better after she showered and changed her clothes. She sat in the cabin at Sanctuary that had marked the beginning of her journey with Piers. Janine sat across from her. Both had a steaming cup of cocoa nestled between their hands.

“I want to see him.” Sherry didn’t like the way her sister didn’t meet her gaze. That always meant she was hiding something from her.

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“He left.”

“What?” Her heart sank. Piers wouldn’t leave her. He loved her. But you never told him you loved him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Is he coming back?”

“I don’t think so. He told Raze he was sorry for all the trouble he caused.

He said to tell you goodbye.”

“No. I don’t believe you.”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Janine’s eyes snapped up to her face.

“Never. Until now.” She gritted her teeth, but knew without a doubt that it was the truth.

“He’s no good for you.” Janine sighed and sipped at her cocoa.

“You can’t make that decision for me. It’s my choice whether he’s right for me or not.”

“You can’t stand the woods or nature. He’s all about everything you despise.”

“After what you and Raze went through, you are seriously trying to convince me that Piers and I can’t compromise and be happy?”

“It’s different with Raze and me.”

“How?”

“I like nature. He didn’t kidnap me. He didn’t take me from my family.”

“Neither did Piers. Well, he did at first, but he brought me back.”

“No. He didn’t.”

“We had a flat and got caught in a snowstorm. It was beyond our control, Janine.” Sherry was becoming angry. Her sister had never acted like this with her. She wasn’t ten years old. She was a grown woman and didn’t need Janine to act like her mother. “I’ve had enough. This isn’t your, or Raze’s, or anyone else’s decision. It’s mine, and whatever I decide, I expect you to stand by my side.”

“But—”

“Don’t drive a wedge between us where there is no need for one. I love you more than anything. You know that.” She reached and took her sister’s hand in hers. “But I love Piers too. I want to be with him, and no one will stand in my way.”

“You really do love him, don’t you?”

Sherry nodded.

“I’m sorry. The men told him you didn’t want to have anything to do with him. He left.”

“He’s okay though?” Sherry breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes.”

“Why would they do that?”

“He’s too rough around the edges for you.”

“He loves me, and somehow, I doubt that Raze is a kitten.”

“No, he isn’t, but it’s different. I’m not as delicate as you are.” Janine sighed.

“Why, because of my anxiety? Do you know, I didn’t have one anxiety attack the whole time I was with him? That should tell you something.”

“Yes. It does.”

“I’m his mate.”

“Raze thought so too the first day he took you.”

“So now that he thinks I don’t want him any more, how do I get him back?” Sherry’s heart ached. She couldn’t believe that he’d actually think she didn’t want to see him again after what they’d shared in the Jeep.

“I think I can help you, if you really love him, and you are really sure this is what you want.” Janine squeezed Sherry’s hand. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you getting hurt.”

“I’ll forget all of it if you help me.” Sherry grinned.

“Deal.” Janine stood. “I’ve got everything ready. Let’s start for home.”

“But Piers doesn’t know where we live.” Sherry was confused.

“He doesn’t need to. Trust me.”

“Raze, if you ever lie to me again, I swear I’ll kick your ass.”

“I did not lie to you, Janine.”

“Technically, no, I guess you didn’t. But you let me believe that Piers had left. You lied by omission. Sherry loves him, and while I too thought it best at first to keep them apart, she quickly made me see that it wasn’t my decision.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure what Anthony and Brent would choose to do with him, and I didn’t want you involved. I was feeling guilty. This all came about because of me.”

“Well, if it’s your fault, then it’s mine too because I was with you when you ran away from the pack.”

“How do you figure it was your fault? You were kidnapped, and I helped you escape. If I hadn’t run, they wouldn’t have tracked me to Sanctuary and Daniel would have never been killed.”

“I figure it was my fault too because you and I are a team now.

Remember? We have to be honest with one another, Raze. You can’t protect me from everything. I love you, and I love that you want to keep me sheltered and safe, but you can’t keep me in a glass cage.”

“I know. I just hate to see you upset about anything, and you were already so stressed about the whole ordeal with Sherry. I didn’t want to put any more on you to deal with.”

Janine sighed and walked into Raze’s arms when he held them out to her.

She knew he loved her and would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. He hadn’t really outright lied to her about what had happened with Piers, and he was obviously regretting the decision to keep it from her. She couldn’t find it in her heart be mad at him.

“I know, but don’t do it again.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He bent his head and captured her lips, and she surrendered to him.

After Piers woke up from being clubbed in the head, he had been furious. Anthony and Brent had him imprisoned in an iron cell. Iron was a lycan’s only weakness. When he’d been informed that Sherry never wanted to see him again, a murderous rage had built deep in his chest. He hadn’t believed it at first. He was the only man she’d ever let make love to her. If she didn’t care for him, she wouldn’t have given herself to him.

When he was told Raze would be taking her someplace he would never find her, Piers had laughed at that and informed them there wasn’t anyplace on earth that he couldn’t find her. He’d explained to them over and over that he’d made a mistake by trying to attack Anthony, tried to convince them that he’d realized only after the fact that the information he’d gotten about his brother’s murder wasn’t all the truth.

To make matters worse, Anthony and Brent relayed information they’d received from Raze about how depraved the pack was that Daniel belonged to. Daniel had participated in rapes, murders, tortures, and had also been present when Janine had been dragged into the den. His own brother had put his mate’s sister in danger. Piers would have killed him himself for doing that alone.

In the end, none of it had mattered. He’d been kept in the cell until the next morning before they’d finally let him out. By then, Sherry was gone and any chance of him tracking her scent had vanished. If she did want him, wouldn’t she have gotten word to him somehow? Left him some kind of clue? She was just gone, as if she’d never been there at all. Maybe she didn’t want him. Maybe they had been telling him the truth.

Maybe they had kept him in the cell because they knew he’d come after her, and when she refused him, he’d try to take her again, an act which would have probably led to his or someone else’s demise when they tried to stop him.

Two days later, he sat in a hotel room. He’d already sucked down half a bottle of Jack and was working on the other half. He wasn’t drunk—his high metabolism burned the alcohol out of his system about as quick as he downed it—but he was trying like hell to get sloshed out of his mind so he could forget about her if only for a moment.

He’d been searching for her since they’d let him out of the cell. He was exhausted, his chest ached at the emptiness left behind from her absence, and he wanted to beat the shit out of something. He hadn’t slept or eaten, and anger boiled inside him. Claws shot through his fingers, and he could feel the long slide of canines from his gums. Only ancients could partially change, and the complete helplessness and rage was calling to the predator in him.

He growled and let out a sound that was a mix between a cry and howl.

He needed her. He was lost without her. Despair settled in his soul. He didn’t want to be alone anymore. He wanted a family, someone to love, someone who would love him. He wanted to hold someone at night when he slept. That wasn’t the whole truth. He didn’t want to do all of those things with someone. He wanted to do them with Sherry.

Why would fate let him find his mate only to rip her from him?

Exhaustion sank deep into his bones and he sagged back on the bed. Within minutes, he’d drifted into a deep sleep.

“Piers.”

He groaned. No. She really wasn’t there. She was just a figment of his wishful imagination.

“Piers.” Her soft voice soothed him.

“Is that really you, Sherry?” He knew he shouldn’t believe she was here, for any moment, she’d disappear and he’d be left alone with only his dead heart to keep him company.

“Look at me, baby.” She knelt beside him on the bed and cupped his face.

His eyes fluttered open and his breath nearly stopped as his heart stuttered. He sat up on his elbows, a lump in his throat.

“Is it really you?”

“Yes. I’ve tried to come to you for the past couple days, but I couldn’t find you. Are you okay?” She frowned when she trailed a finger under his eye. The black tinge underneath no doubt betrayed his exhaustion.

He reached a shaky hand toward her, thinking she’d vanish when he tried to touch her, but when his fingers came into contact with the soft skin of her cheek, he sighed.

“It is really you.” He sat up and hugged her to him. She squeaked when he held her a bit too tight, and he immediately eased his hold. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” She kissed his face.

“Why did you leave me, Sherry?” He pulled back, a frown tugging at his mouth.

“I didn’t.” Tears glistened in her green eyes. “They only told you that. I could never walk away from you.”

“Why? I really have nothing to offer you.”

“You have everything to offer me. You are all I need. I never got to tell you, but I love you. I love you so much.” She framed his face with her hands and kissed him.

“Mmm. I missed you so much. I need you.” He slipped his tongue inside her mouth and groaned when her sweet taste hit him.

“I need you too, but not here. I want you for real. That’s why I’ve been trying to find you to tell you where I am.” She whispered in his ear. “Come to me, Piers.”

He sat up in the bed, wide awake now. She wanted him, and he wasn’t going to disappoint her.