Escaping Darkness (S.P.P Book One), page 6
“I’m fine, bunny. Just thinking. Why don’t you get dressed so we can head to school? You know I don’t like being late.”
Lily
“ You all are a hard group to find,” a male voice states from behind where we sit in the library eating lunch.
“Grey, what are you doing here?” Sylvin growls out.
Turning my head, I take in the blond male approaching us. His deep brown eyes shift to mine, stilling me where I sit. There’s something about those eyes that looks so familiar.
“Don’t look at her,” Sylvin bites out, earning a quirk of the lips from Grey.
Shifting his gaze back to the twins, “We need to talk. Privately,” he demands.
“We can’t leave her, Grey. You know this,” Maddox responds as he places an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.
“I risked coming here for a reason. We need to talk, and it needs to be now. I don’t have much time,” Grey whispers pleadingly.
Maddox tenses against me, letting out a deep sigh. Running his nose along my jaw, he points to the small alcove near the couches we are currently occupying. “We will be right over there. My eyes will be on you the whole time. Don’t move from this spot.”
Sylvin’s eyes narrow at Maddox, a growl rumbling from his chest as he bends down and kisses my forehead softly. “Don’t move, bunny. Unless you want me to chase you,” he rumbles with a wink.
Licking my bottom lip, flustered by his wink, I offer a nod in agreement.
“Hurry up, I don’t want to be away from her long,” Sylvin growls, walking toward the alcove, leaving the other two to rush after him.
Pulling the sleeves of my sweater over my hands, I pick at the thread on the ends. I’ve grown used to being around the guys' energy. Being left without it makes me and my bunny feel out of sorts. It’s concerning that I’ve already grown so attached to their presence, but how else am I supposed to feel when their souls call to mine?
Thorn is right. As I come to terms with this connection, I’m starting to realize what it might be, and I’m both terrified and exhilarated. I think I’ve always known, inherently, what they are to me, but I’ve refused to label it.
Mates. A fairytale type of love all shifters grow up hearing about.
Even thinking that word sends a shiver down my spine. I need to keep this realization to myself right now, at least until I’ve figured out my life a little more. I just hope I’m strong enough to resist this pull a little longer. These wolves have the power to consume me, and my bunny is ready to serve herself up on a silver platter.
Maddox
Standing with my back to the wall next to my twin, I can’t resist peering over Grey’s shoulder to stare at Lily. Her small form is curled tight as she plays with her sweater. A nervous tick I’m starting to recognize when she feels anxious. Looking back at Grey is like looking into the past. We grew up together but once my parents were killed, he practically disappeared. His dad, Gabriel, pulled him from school and we never saw him again. Not even at S.P.P. As much as I would normally celebrate a reunion we are getting too many that connect to Lily and it has me on high alert. First Julia and now Grey. I don’t like it.
“What do you want, Grey? We need to get back to Lily,” I ask. I’m not usually impatient. That role belongs to my brothers, but my wolf is pacing inside me at the distance between Lily and us.
He wants us to take her home, wrap her in blankets, and hand-feed her in bed. Shaking my head, I try to dispel the thoughts and focus back on Grey.
Hands crossed over his chest, he quirks an eyebrow at me, “She’s your mate.”
It’s not a question. Grey has always been perceptive, but it’s not like we’ve done an excellent job hiding what she is to us.
“What she is to us is none of your business, Grey. What do you want?” Sylvin bites out, his annoyed gaze softening as he mimics my line of sight to watch Lily.
Sighing, Grey drops his arms to his side and approaches closer. “Julia is missing, and my gut is telling me it has something to do with you guys.”
Snapping my eyes to his, “What are you talking about? We’d never hurt Julia. When did she go missing?”
Raking his fingers through his hair, he looks off to the side, gathering himself before looking back at me, “Julia requested you guys be given Lily’s case. Why do you think that is?”
“She saw the similarities, too,” Sylvin whispers.
Offering my twin a puzzled look, “What do you mean? What similarities? We barely have any info on what happened to her at all.”
“That’s my point. What is the chance that our parents and her family were both killed by a pack of wolf shifters only for them to suddenly disappear with no leads or evidence to be found? I don’t believe in coincidence, Maddox.”
“Sylvin’s right. I don’t think it’s a coincidence either, and I have a feeling it all points back to S.P.P.,” Grey says, pulling my attention back to him.
“Why do you think that?”
Shaking his head, Grey lets out a frustrated noise. “It’s too early to say, but don’t trust anyone outside of your group. I feel Julia’s disappearance is tied to a meeting she had with my father, and I think that meeting was a discussion about you all.”
“You think Gabriel is a part of this? He’s the director of the whole institution,” I hiss out.
“I don't know!” Grey growls. “I don’t want to think that he is, but there are a lot of shady things that have happened within the ranks at S.P.P. and they all point in his direction. Until I know more, though, keep quiet and trust no one! That’s all I came to say. I’ll find a way to contact you when I have more information.”
Before I can respond, Grey is already striding out of the library.
Fuck. If Grey is right we have a bigger issue on our hands than what we originally thought.
“Don’t say anything to Lily. Not yet. We need to talk to Rowe and Thorn first,” I whisper.
“For once, my dear brother, it seems we agree. Text Thorn. Tell him family meeting tonight once Lily is asleep. I’m not leaving her until I have to.”
Fuck. I don’t think any of us are ready for this.
Lily
I feel restless. Something about the twins' conversation with Grey yesterday left them feeling uneasy. After storming out of the library, we returned to my place and binge-watched The Big Bang Theory until I was close to passing out on the couch. The guys remained tight-lipped the whole time, offering me soft touches and concerned looks whenever I tried to bring it up. Well, Maddox offered me that. Sylvin just glared and pulled me into him with so much force it felt like he was trying to fuse us together.
Needing to get out the anxious energy I was left with last night, I pull up the training schedule for Conquer Defense. This morning they have a beginner's boxing class scheduled for women only. Deciding that attempting boxing is exactly what I need, I run up to my room to get dressed in a pair of cropped leggings and a long-sleeved shirt with holes for my thumbs that I’m obsessed with before throwing a large puffy white coat over the whole outfit.
Heading outdoors, I stop short when I see Rowe leaning against my car.
“Going somewhere, little muse?”
Rolling my eyes, I walk up to him and put my hands on my hips, earning a smirk from the unhinged artist.
“I was going to go to a boxing class actually. Why are you leaning on my car?”
“Were you planning on telling one of us?” he asks as he sweeps a piece of my long silver hair behind my ear.
“I was going to send a text once I got there.”
The chuckle he gives me sends shivers up my spine. “Now, now, my sweet girl, you know that’s not how this works. We need to know when you’re leaving the house, not just when you get somewhere. Unless you want me to hunt you? Why else would you run off without telling me where you’re going?”
Before I can respond, Rowe grabs my shoulders and spins us around, so I’m leaning against the car. His hands on each side of my head.
Bending to whisper in my ear, “You should know, before you run off without telling me, I like the chase, little muse. But do you know what’s better than the chase? Getting to play with my prey when I catch it.”
Shivering with lust at his words, a soft whimper leaves my lips. I’m a bunny shifter. The literal definition of prey to a wolf, but instead of fearing what he said, I find myself picturing it. Thinking about him pinning me to the ground, his teeth nibbling at the skin of my neck has me holding back a whimper of need.
Fuck. I want him to break the skin and mark me. We really are mates. I’m so screwed.
Looking into his dilated eyes, I whisper, “Maybe I want you to chase me.”
“Fuck,” he growls before nibbling on the lobe of my ear.
“Run as fast as you can, little muse, before I do something I know you’re not ready for.”
Pushing off me, he walks across the lawn to his house, “Come over for dinner tonight,” he calls.
“Um, okay,” I respond, still disoriented from the feelings coursing through me.
Arriving at Conquer Defense, I make sure to text Rowe before heading inside.
Entering the lobby I take off my coat, the warmth of the heated air beginning to make me sweat. As I take in the gym, I’m surprised by what I see. To the left is another set of doors reading “Shooting Range” that looks to open into another lobby, but outside of that, the inside of the training gym is completely open. The only furniture is the front desk, two boxing rings, and several mats laid out across the floor that are being used by a group of women sparring with each other.
What surprises me the most is Thorn standing behind the desk with a Cheshire grin. Wearing gym shorts, a muscle tank top showing his tattooed arms and sides with a wolf decal, and the top of his hair in a bun, he looks amazing.
Narrowing my eyes in a glare, I approach him, poking him in the chest. “What are you doing here? Did Rowe tell you I was coming here? It’s women only, Thorn!”
Chuckling, he grabs my hand, kissing the finger I was using to poke his wide chest. “Careful, sweets. Yes, Rowe did text me you were on your way here, but only because he didn’t have faith a naughty little bunny like yourself would do as she is supposed to. I thought I made myself clear the first day that if you’re going somewhere without one of us, you need to text us before leaving.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I was rushing out the door, and it just slipped my mind.”
“Lily, your safety means everything to us. I get it may seem overkill, but I need you to please work with us on this, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling properly chastised.
“Now, as to why I’m here. I own it,” Thorn states with a big grin.
“Did you know I signed up for classes here?” I ask, glaring at the giant shifter. He chases his bottom lip with his tongue and gives me a sharp nod.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Thorn? I’m starting to wonder if I’m making a mistake trusting you guys. Rowe is always popping up, proving he’s basically stalking me, the twins are hiding conversations from me, and you knew I signed up here and hid it from me! I’m beginning to think you guys are the pack of wolves I should be running from!”
Without responding, Thorn grabs my hand, dragging me through the shooting range doors across from us, spinning me around to press me against them.
“Don’t you ever compare us to the wolves that hurt you and your family! Have we ever actually made you uncomfortable, Lily? Truthfully?” he seethes.
“I—”
“Everything we do is because we’re obsessed with you, Lily! You’re our fucking mate, and we are going out of our minds trying to give you space. You should know it’s difficult for a shifter to deny a mating pull! We crave to be near you, and when we aren’t, it feels like our hearts are being ripped out of our chests. You are the sun that we revolve around. You’re everything to us. Everything else fell away when I first saw you, leaving you the center of my universe. We’re trying to rein it in, but the longer we’re around you, the harder it gets. Please tell me you feel something that or that you’ve finally noticed. I wanted to make sure you were ready to handle this, but I can’t deny it when you are worried we have some ulterior motive,” he interrupts.
Leaning on the tips of my toes, I grab his face and brush a soft kiss against his rough lips. Pulling back, I stare into his shocked blue eyes. “I know we’re mates, Thorn,” I whisper.
“I realized it the other day and held back bringing it up because I didn’t want to be ready for this. There is so much going on, and I’m scared. I’m scared that if I accept this that I’ll lose you just like I lost them,” I choke on a sob.
“Fate was cruel to me once, and I’m scared I’ll relive that again, but I won’t survive it this time. I wouldn’t be able to survive losing you all. It would be like losing the last little bits of my soul.”
“We aren’t going anywhere, Lily. We have a lot of things to figure out, but no one is taking us from you, and no one would dare take you from us. We would burn the world down around us if that’s what it took to keep you, Lily,” he whispers against my lips before kissing them gently.
“Now, why don’t I show you how to throw a mean left hook on some pads out there that you can use on Rowe the next time he shows up out of nowhere?” Thorn asks while wiping the tears from my eyes.
Laughing, I grab his hand and pull him back into the main area. Something tells me Rowe would like it if I punched him.
Thorn
I thought I messed up admitting to the mating pull. I tried to keep it at bay, but seeing her worried and possibly scared of us brought me to my breaking point.
She’s wrong, though. She wouldn’t be empty without us. Lily has a vibrancy that shines through her that she just hasn’t realized yet. I wasn’t lying when I said she’s like the sun. Without her, my brothers and I would cease to exist. What would be the point of living a life shrouded in darkness when we’ve already felt what it’s like to bask in the warmth of her light?
My little guiding light, without you, I’d be lost. I just hope we don’t extinguish her flame when we talk to her tonight.
Lily
Walking into the guys’ house, I can feel the shift in energy as they all turn to face me with somber expressions.
“What?” I ask as my heart starts beating rapidly in my chest. Running a hand against my sternum, I try to soothe the pain and stay calm.
Stalking toward me, Sylvin grabs me and sits on the couch, placing me on his lap. His cedar, bergamot, and amber scent surrounding me like a second set of arms. Rowe sits down next to him, fusing their thighs so that he can pull one of my legs and place it on top of his while running a hand placatingly down my thigh.
Maddox takes Sylvin's other side, grasping my hand while Thorn sits on the coffee table in front of me, staring into my eyes.
“What's going on? You guys are starting to freak me out,” I whisper as breathing becomes more challenging.
“We need to talk about what happened to your family that night,” Thorn states.
“Why? Didn’t Julia tell you? I don’t understand.”
Sighing, Thorn runs a hand through the longer pieces of his hair.
“The file she gave us was bare. There’s almost nothing there, and we are starting to think that was on purpose.”
I rip my hand from Maddox as I begin to scratch at my left arm through my long sleeves. It feels like fire ants are biting my skin.
“Wh-why do you think that?”
“Grey brought it to our attention, but it was already something I was considering,” Sylvin growls in my ear.
“Why does it matter what Grey said? I don’t even know who he is besides him pulling you away at school.”
Thorn runs a hand down his beard. “We grew up with Grey, well, the twins did since he is their age, but we have known him for a very long time. He, like Julia, used to be considered family until they both basically disappeared from our lives. To come back in and to have done so with your case, it has us concerned about what we could be missing. There are obvious details we are unaware of and we are trying to figure them out. Without them, I don’t think we can fully protect you and that’s something I’m not okay with.”
I can feel my nails digging through my sleeve into my skin as I try to stave off the panic.
“Okay, um, well what did Grey say?” I gulp out.
“We didn’t want to worry you, but you deserve to know. Grey thinks S.P.P. knows more about what happened with your family than they’re letting on,” Maddox says.
My mouth feels so dry. I can’t breathe.
I can feel Rowe's hand tightening on my thigh, trying to ground me, but it’s not working. My chest starts heaving up and down, faster and faster. I can’t breathe. I slide my right hand under my sleeve and dig it into my left arm, my nails dragging against the bumpy scars.
“Breathe, baby. You need to breathe!” Maddox’s concerned voice says as he tries to break through my panic.
“You’re hurting yourself!” Rowe growls as he yanks my left arm out of my grip. Pulling up my jacket sleeve to check for any wounds, he bares my scars to the room.
Thorn lets out a heartbreaking noise as Sylvin clutches me tighter.
“Lily,” Maddox breathes out. His voice sounds haunted.
I can’t breathe. It’s the last thought I have as blackness overtakes me.
I’m losing my mind. I swore I saw her today standing across the cafeteria from me, surrounded by S.P.P. agents. She looked exactly like I remembered. She had long blonde hair braided down her back and bright hazel eyes like Mom.
“Melody!”
I tried shouting for her, but it was so loud. When I tried running toward her, the agents blocked me. They wouldn’t let me past them. They wouldn’t let me get to my sister. I kept shouting at them to move, but they wouldn’t listen. One of them grabs me and drags me to my room. He’s yelling at me to calm down, saying that I will upset the other residents by how I’m acting. Why won’t he listen to me?
