The usual applies. Many thanks to Evilsnoman and Nulli for the proofing eye, Mikothebaby, for her super-duper edit skills and The Guild for their continuous support.
In this chapter also the concluding part to "Broken Bones", nothing "bad" happening so no disclaimer needed for it this time. Cedar you rocked with this short tale, no words can describe how grateful I am for providing something so dark and utterly gut-wrenching, but also so very fitting to this story and her past.
A second thanks goes to Evilsnoman for crafting such an emotional poem, only praise about that one sweetie!
Enough with the thank-you's now and I'll let you get on with reading this, so far still, weekly update!
Mokkelke
Chapter Three : Soul Searching and Planning.
Adam was running at full speed, low branches hitting his sides, his snout. He didn't care, he just needed to get rid of this anger. This helplessness he felt after reading each paragraph of Bron's story. He had seen a lot of things in his lifetime, but he couldn't understand that a human being could do this to another and gloat about it.
He growled at his phantom enemy, wanting revenge, wanting to get even. At the same time, a lot of his own phantoms came back to the surface. Things Adam hoped he would have learned to put behind him. Sadly that was not the case. Reading her story had opened up his Pandora's Box of feelings he would have rather kept buried, preferably even forgotten.
Faces flashed before his eyes, men he lost, most due to the enemy, and one that he was to blame for.
Sitting at the lake he howled his grief and pain for those he lost, he howled for those he couldn't help. Slowly he was changing back into the person he used to be. His wolf stopped him, for once being the saner one.
We need our mate, then all will be well,
his wolf kept telling him over and over again until he started to calm down.
Shifting to human form he sat down and stared into the distance, taking in his surroundings. He counted himself very lucky knowing the Whelan brothers and he sure appreciated them allowing him to run on their lands. Not many packs would allow that. Two out of the three are mated now; one already had a little one on the way.
Thinking about them had momentarily shifted his attention away from his anger. Bron sprung forward in his mind. Closing his eyes he took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to stay calm. He counted to ten, once, twice. Only after the fifth time, did he trust himself enough to bring forth what he had read in her second chapter.
The pain, the abuse, the humiliation ... it was hard for him to give this a place but he had to, for Bron's sake as well as his own. Little by little he went over her story and picked out details he was sure would be of use. No matter what she had to tell in her third and last chapter, no way that he was going to let things be as they were or had been.
No way was he going to be able to let that scum get away with what they did to his Bron. He had to admire her for her strength, it was no easy feat working through the ordeal she was forced through and doing it on her own. Maybe she didn't realize it but she was strong, stronger then she gave herself credit for.
Thinking back to what Mia had told him, strengthened his beliefs. Finally getting a grip on his emotions he knew he had to read the rest. He needed to know what happened. Shifting back to wolf, he then let out one long howl, calling out for his mate; letting her now he was here.
He quickly turned and raced back to his bike, glad to find his clothes still next to it. Haphazardly he put them on and made a quick bike ride home. When he entered his flat, he smiled when he saw his computer was still turned on.
Adam sat down, opened her story page and sat there. His wolf was still pacing, he hadn't settled down completely. He contemplated waiting to read this last part, but he knew that would only be stalling the inevitable. Better to get this over with so he knew everything. Not really everything, but what she wanted to share.
As he opened the third chapter, he noticed it wasn't as long as the other two. He felt a bit relieved. Adam was sure if he was forced to read another chapter like the other two, he would completely loose it.
After reading the first paragraph he let out his breath he didn't knew he was holding back. Focused he read the ending of "Broken Bones".
* * * *
* * * *
Broken Bones Chapter Three By RedB
Amelia woke to a very bright light and a pounding headache. For a moment she feared this was another torture device that Rubin had thought up until a soft, warm hand touched her face.
"Shhh, you're safe now sweetie. It's all right. You're safe."
Amelia couldn't open her eyes, and when her shaking hand raised up to explore why, she felt that both of them were swollen shut and so was her trembling lip that her fingers traced on its way back to the bed.
"Wh-appened to ee," she mumbled through her swollen lips.
"You don't remember?" the nurse asked.
"Wh-am I?"
"Mt. Cloud Hospital. Three days ago a van pulled up and dumped you on the door steps of the emergency room. You had no ID and no clothes. Not to mention you were near death from whatever it was they did to you. Thankfully, you'd been drugged so you probably didn't feel much of the pain."
Amelia stifled a cry as the memories flooded back through her mind, causing her to want to curl into a ball, but the pain from every inch of her body was enough to keep her motionless. The woman pressed a button and the IV unit by the bed beeped as the morphine drip kicked in.
"There you go, darling. That should help. Let me get the police officer whose been waiting for you to wake up. Maybe you can describe the men who did this to you."
"Nah, nah nah," she moaned, "No more," she tried to say but the nurse was already gone. Moments later a man arrived in a crisp blue police uniform and as he approached, his eyes said it all. She was a mess and he pitied her.
"Miss? I'm Officer Moore. Can you tell me your name?"
"Amelia Rice."
"Do know what happened to you?" he asked as he assumed a chair near the bed and kept his voice low because he could see her wincing from the sound of his voice.
"Yes," she moaned and prayed he'd go away. Being around a man, any man for that matter at the moment was near panic inducing.
"Do you know who did this to you?"
"Don't 'member" she mumbled.
"Miss, we can't help you unless you help us. What is his name?"
Amelia looked away and cringed. Luckily, she'd never told Rubin where she lived and always met him in public locations, but she was terrified he'd find her if she talked. So Amelia kept her silence.
The cop sighed seeing her hesitation, "Listen, I know this is not the best time to be asking you, so I will leave my card with the nurses. If you change your mind and wish to press charges, you call me, all right?"
Amelia kept her eyes trained on the opposite wall and began counting the dots in the wall paper to keep from answering his question.
"I'll wait for your call, Miss Rice. No one should get away with this treatment. I'll be there when you're ready to talk."
She waited until the door clicked shut before she let her tears fall. She should have told him. She should have screamed Rubin's name so loud it rattled the walls. But she knew that would only bring him back. So she kept her own council and waited while her body healed enough for her to go home.
Co-workers from work had finally heard about her situation and flowers started arriving and a few female work friends stopped by see how she was doing. It was shallow really, because they weren't really there for her, only doing what was polite. She didn't talk much and endured their visits, but she did learn one thing -- Rubin had quit. He up and walked out the day after her disappearance and no one had seen him since. That should have given her peace, but all it did was make her watch over her shoulder that he could show up at any time.
A week flew by and she finally was released home. There was no one to pick her up and so she ended up calling that cop that left his card with the nurses and he gladly came to give her a ride.
"Ready to talk yet Miss Rice?"
She dipped her head to hide her eyes, "No, Officer Moore. I'm not."
"Just tell me this," he challenged at a stop light. His torso turned partially to her and he smiled, "Was it the 3 Checker Gang?"
"3 Checker?" She'd never heard that name before.
He studied her for a moment and surveyed her reaction for any false sincerity, finding nothing. "You'd know them if it were them. They party hard, have zero respect for women and enjoy all acts of torture. You'd be the first woman to get away from them alive, and if you are, I'd dearly love to get the fucking bastards. But I'd need your help."
The only woman to get out alive.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember much," she said meekly and looked away.
Officer Moore snorted, "I could protect you, you know. Place you in protective services. Make it so they could never touch you, Miss Rice."
"No, you couldn't. I'm sorry. I don't remember anything to help you."
He'd finally arrived at her place and helped her inside where he lingered for too long before he got the hint and left her alone. He pinned his card and his personal number to her wall and left with a worried glance. She was curled up on the couch and didn't even acknowledge him when he shut the door behind him.
+ + + +
An insistent tapping lulled her out of her memories. It was urgent and forceful and really, really annoying. When she rolled her head to the side of her bed towards the window, she saw that crow sitting on a branch watching her.
