Unleashed (25 page)

Sam felt Malcolm's body quiver with fury as every fiber of his being tensed. His anger flashed over her with violent intensity, and she steeled herself against the onslaught of the energy. She gritted her teeth and dug her fingers deeper into his arm, hoping to draw strength from him. The last thing she wanted to do was faint like some helpless female in a bad movie. She focused on her breathing the way Malcolm taught her and concentrated on filtering out the hostile energy.

“You are strong and a good fighter. We could use you in our cause. Don't you see? Breeding with humans will weaken our race.” He shifted his gaze to Sam, and she could feel his hatred of her as it slammed into her mind. She felt the blood drain from her face. She swallowed back the bile that rose in her throat, but she didn't take her eyes off of his. There was no way she was going to let him get the best of her. “Look at her. She's pathetic. She can barely master simple things that we teach our children. See how easily she's affected by the emotions of others. Is that what you want for your offspring? She's never even shifted to her clan form. She probably can't even do it. Killing her will be a pleasure.” He sneered, training the crossbow on Sam.

In that instant, Malcolm's anger boiled over and filled the room. Kerry moaned softly from the corner, momentarily drawing Brendan's attention, which was all Malcolm needed. He shoved Samantha back. A wild scream of fury ripped from his throat and evolved into the earsplitting screech of his eagle. By the time Brendan looked back, Malcolm's massive wings had taken him through the air. His razor sharp talons were clawing at Brendan's face.

Brendan screamed in pain and rage, swatting frantically as Malcolm's talons tore through his flesh and slashed one of his eyes. Bleeding heavily, he clutched at his face and dropped the crossbow. To Sam's horror, he shifted into the most massive black bear she had ever seen. Malcolm flapped his wings and hovered, mercilessly clawing at Brendan's wounded and now furry face. Brendan bellowed a thunderous roar, which rumbled through the cavernous room and shook Sam to her core.

The dark fur on his face was wet with blood. One of his eyes was a sickening clump hanging from its socket. He roared with frustration and continued to swat at Malcolm's unyielding, shrieking attack. Brendan stumbled by the edge of the pool and swatted blindly at Malcolm. Sam's eyes widened with horror as an immense clawed paw connected heavily with Malcolm. A cloud of feathers and blood filled the air. The blow sent Malcolm crashing into the wall. He fell and shifted abruptly back to his human form, landing with an audible thud. Brendan stood triumphant on his hind legs and let out a roar of victory over Malcolm's wounded body. When Samantha saw Malcolm lying unconscious and bleeding, something primal inside of her snapped.

Red-hot fury flashed through her body, and every single nerve ending lit up brightly. Her eyes tingled and shifted fiercely. Brendan took her birthright, he murdered her parents, and now he was trying to take the only man she had ever loved. One image blazed in her mind as she looked at the one who took everything from her.

Wolf.

Flames licked up her spine, lightning flashed across her skin, and she erupted into her wolf form with a vicious snarl. It happened so fast she didn't even realize she had done it. She heard herself growl—at least she thought it came from her. It was a deadly sound that reverberated over her skin and deep into her bones.

Samantha bared her teeth, and with every ounce of energy she had, launched her body at Brendan. He turned toward the unexpected attack just in time for her large paws to land on his barrel chest. She could swear she saw a look of shock on his mutilated face as she sunk her razor-sharp teeth into his thick neck. Blood spurted over her tongue, but the warm coppery liquid didn't repulse her—it only steeled her resolve.

When her body slammed into him and her teeth tore into his flesh, he roared with surprise and stumbled backward. He swatted desperately at Sam, and his claws sliced her flank. She growled as the white searing pain shot through her. His blow knocked her to the side and released him from her grip. She landed next to Malcolm with a yelp.

Between the force of her attack and his wounds, Brendan lost his footing on the slippery cement floor. Sam watched as he bellowed with rage and fell thrashing into the shark tank behind him. He flailed wildly in the water as the sharks got yet another unplanned meal. His blood filled the tank, leaving the room awash in an even deeper crimson light.

Sam lay there, panting for a moment, shocked at what had just happened. Finally she stood, limping on her wounded leg, and let out a low whine. She felt Malcolm stir next to her. He was bleeding from large gashes on his arm and head. She nudged him softly with her wet nose, licking his face, and touched her mind to his.
Malcolm? Can you hear me? Please answer me.
Sam was relieved as his eyes fluttered open.

A slow smile spread across his face as he saw Sam in her animal form for the first time.

Mia lupa piccola,
he whispered back, his smile quickly faded as he remembered Brendan. He sat up, wincing at the pain as he looked around the room.
Where is he?

Sam whined and looked toward the still splashing red waters of the tank.
I'm so sorry, Malcolm.

He looked over at the bloody water and then knew that Brendan was gone.
No. I'm sorry. I won't let anyone harm you ever again,
mia piccola lupa
.
He ran his hand along her furred body.

My little wolf, huh? I'm not that little.
She sighed.

My little wolf,
he insisted with a proud smile.

Well, let's see if I can turn back into the less furry version of myself.
Sam closed her eyes and pictured herself as human again. In seconds, she shimmered and shifted back to her human form.

Malcolm's eyes widened in surprise and pride as he witnessed her newly mastered ability. She stood before him, her clothes torn, a bloody gash on her leg, and an ugly purple bruise marring her lovely face. Anger flared deep inside of him at the sight of her wound and the memory of Brendan's betrayal. He softened, however, as he watched her go to her friend. Kerry was still passed out on the other side of the room.

She stepped over the bloody mess by the edge of the pool. Sam knelt down next to Kerry and gently moved the hair from her face. She groaned and moved slightly as Sam looked her over. With a wave of her hand, Sam removed the tape from her wrists and feet. She felt pretty good about her newfound comfort level with her abilities. The moment she'd shifted into her wolf, it was as if every one of her abilities clicked into place and she was finally a puzzle with all of its pieces.

Kerry stirred briefly and let out a soft moan.

“Shhh. It's okay,” Sam whispered. “We're going to get you home.”

Sam brushed the last few strands from her friend's swollen black eye. Any regrets she had about killing Brendan were gone as she looked at Kerry and then around the room. She went down the laundry list of horrible, hateful things he'd done. Sam saw Malcolm watching her lovingly. She went to him immediately and knelt down to examine his injuries, paying no attention to her own wounds.

Malcolm forced himself to a sitting position and watched his mate with awe. She had shifted instinctively and without the ancient language. She truly was special and had more power than anyone expected. Malcolm interrupted her inspections and took her hands in his. He kissed both of her palms tenderly. Taking her face in his hands, he locked his eyes on hers as his thumb gently stroked her cheek.

Sam looked into his eyes and felt tears of relief prick the back of her eyes. It dawned on both of them how horribly close they'd come to losing each other. She tenderly captured his lips with hers. In her mind, she heard him whisper softly.
I love you, Samantha. Forever.

The next day had gone by in a blur for Samantha. It was filled with police reports and a trip to the hospital to visit Kerry. Richard, one of the only people they knew for certain they could trust, helped them get home. Sam and Malcolm were too injured to do it on their own. Once they got Kerry back to the house, Sam called the police and reported AJ's insane attack on both of them. As far as the police and Kerry were concerned, AJ had become obsessed with Sam and attempted to abduct her. Malcolm had heard her screams and come to her aid, fighting briefly with AJ before scaring him off into the night. No one knew about Dante's involvement, not even Kerry.

Their story of AJ's obsession was proven by the photos all around his room; her pictures plastered all over the walls were more than enough to support their tale. Although an all-points bulletin had been released for him, Sam suspected he'd never be found, unless they cut open a few sharks over at the aquarium. Kerry had been passed out through the entire event and luckily had very little memory of anything. She remembered struggling with AJ after he attacked her at the house. Forcing her to call Samantha was the last thing she said she remembered.

Malcolm had been reluctant to let Sam out of his sight again, but she promised to maintain their connection, and there was no way she wasn't going to visit Kerry in the hospital. She knew that the only way he could be sure she was safe was if she kept her mind open to him. So he made her promise she wouldn't sever that connection again. Considering the newly discovered group of Amoveo purists, they both knew her safety would always be in question.

Brendan was not the only one who wanted her dead. The most disturbing part was that these purists were hidden in plain sight among his people. They had proven to be even more deadly and devious than the Caedo. Brendan's betrayal would haunt Malcolm forever. A member of his own family had plotted to kill him and his mate.

Sam pulled her car into the driveway of Malcolm's house—of her house. Her lips curved into a small smile.

Their house.

She grabbed her purse off of the passenger seat and winced slightly at the residual soreness in her shoulder. Most of her injuries had healed quickly over the last couple of days, another perk of being Amoveo.

Sam let herself into the house but still struggled with the urge to knock. She stepped into the spacious foyer and stilled at the sound of voices coming from the living room. She breathed deeply and focused on the energy signatures in the house. There were four other Amoveo in there with Malcolm. She swallowed hard and willed herself to put one foot in front of the other and go in there to meet them, but her feet weren't cooperating.

Malcolm's soothing voice wafted gratefully into her head.
Are you coming in
mia piccola lupa
? They are eager to meet you.

Before Sam could answer him, Davis shuffled in from the kitchen with a small package tucked under his arm. “Malcolm and the others are waiting for you in the living room Ms. Samantha.” He winked and gave her a gentle pat on the arm. “You'll be fine, miss,” he whispered.

Sam gave him a weak smile. “Where are you headed? Aren't you going to come in and say hello?” She hoped so. She dreaded the idea of walking into that room alone.

He held up the small bag and opened the front door. “I'm taking some special tea over to my girl.”

Smiling, Sam watched him disappear through the large doorway and tossed her purse on the small side table. As odd as it was to see Nonie with another man, it made her happy to know that she was happy. No one should have to be lonely. She remembered that feeling all too well.

A familiar voice purred against her ear. “I'm the one who's lonely.” Sam smiled as Malcolm's strong arms slipped around her waist. Warm, steely strength enveloped her the moment he pressed that rock hard body against hers.

She clasped her hands over his and hugged them against her belly. Sam leaned back and craned her neck to look up at him. She opened her mouth to respond, but his lips were on hers before she could utter a word. She moaned softly and relished the taste of him. His lips were firm and inviting, and his tongue slid deliciously along hers, sending tiny shivers up her spine.

He suckled her bottom lip and pulled back from her slowly, placing a tiny kiss on the tip of her upturned nose. “That's much better,” he murmured. “I know you were only gone for a few hours, but it felt like a good deal longer.”

Sam opened her eyes and turned her body in his embrace. She placed her hands on the solid muscles in his chest and adored the way his body felt against hers. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt and gave him a mischievous look from under her lashes. His hands slid down and rested on her jean-clad bottom.

“Well, we could skip the introductions, and I could take you upstairs and ravage you.” Sam stood on her tiptoes, placed a soft kiss at the base of his throat, and flicked her tongue along his pulse that thrummed strong and steady.

He groaned and squeezed her ass. “You have no idea how much I want to take you up on that.” He ran his hands up her back, over her shoulders, and took her face gently in his hands. His brown eyes stared down at her compassionately. “But we cannot put this off any longer,” he said softly. “It's time for you to meet them, face-to-face.”

Sam let out a sigh of surrender, and Malcolm linked his fingers with hers as he led her into the living room. Sam wasn't sure what to expect. The only other Amoveo she had actually met—who was supposed to be helping her—had murdered her parents and tried to kill her. Great.

Malcolm, sensing her unease, wrapped his arm around her protectively, and pulled her into the shelter of his body as they walked into the room. She draped her arm around his waist and hugged him
. Don't even think about leaving me alone for one second.
He said nothing, but chuckled and squeezed her back.

The men stood up to greet Samantha. Her eye was immediately drawn to the one with long raven hair who had been seated in the armchair by the fireplace. She recognized him immediately as the man who had vanished from the deck. Was that only a few days ago?
It seems like years,
she mused. Thick, pin-straight ebony hair hung well past his broad shoulders and framed an incredibly handsome face. His sharp features spoke of strength, but his most striking feature were his enormous eyes. His energy signature radiated power and authority, and she could only assume he was Richard, the Prince.

He bowed to her slightly as she and Malcolm crossed the room and closed the distance between them.

Sam steeled herself and extended her hand to him. She swallowed hard. “It's very nice to meet you,” she said in a surprisingly stable voice.

He took her hand and kissed it with all the regality one would expect from a prince. “It is a pleasure to meet
you
, Samantha.” He released her hand and stood back up to his full height. Sam couldn't help but notice that he was even taller than Malcolm.

Sam turned to the two men who had stood up from the sofa. Both of them were well over six feet tall and looked to be nothing but muscle and bone.

“Jeez, they don't make you guys small, do they?” she mumbled under her breath.

One man remained seated on the couch, his arm in a sling. Sam instantly recognized him. It was Dante. His warm amber eyes smiled at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.

“You'll have to forgive me for not standing up, but I'm still not feeling quite myself yet.”

“Please,” Sam began quickly, “don't apologize. You wouldn't even be in this mess if it weren't for me. I should be thanking you. Who knows how much worse it may have been for Kerry. If you hadn't shown up, I shudder to think of what else he might've done to her.”

Dante's brow furrowed. “I was careless. Believe me, it won't happen again.”

The one with shaggy blond hair reached over the coffee table and shook Sam's hand. “I'm Steven,” he said with a big smile. “I patched up the tough guy over here.” He gave Dante a pat on his uninjured shoulder and flopped himself back down on the couch “Good to meet you, Mrs. Malcolm,” he said teasingly.

Sam narrowed her eyes playfully. “Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?”

Steven threw his head back and laughed.

The only other man she hadn't met interrupted sharply. “I don't think there's anything to be laughing about right now, Steven.”

Everyone in the room fell silent, and the energy around them rippled. Sam's body stiffened, and the smile faded from her lips as her gaze landed on his deadly serious face. His snow white hair was streaked with brown and pulled back in tight ponytail. He was dressed impeccably in a black suit, which was finished off perfectly with a cobalt blue tie and matching hanky in the pocket. He possessed an icy reserve that set Sam's teeth on edge.

Malcolm held her closer, and his voice slipped into her mind.
That's just William. He's a bit…uptight. You'll get used to it
.

William nodded slightly, but his dark brown, almost black eyes, remained serious. “I apologize for being so abrupt. It's a pleasure to meet you,” he said tightly. “But I do wish that the circumstances were different.” He sat stiffly on the couch and smoothed the lapels of his jacket.

“No, you're right,” Sam said quietly and looked at each of the faces around the room. “There isn't much that's funny about this situation. Funny-strange, yes. Funny ha-ha, not so much.” She looked at Dante because he seemed to be the most accepting and welcoming. Hell, he did almost die to help her. “I do want to thank you. It's nice to know that we have at least a few allies among the Amoveo.”

Malcolm kissed the top of her head. “I'm sure there are more of our people who are open to mating with special humans like your mother.” He led her to the other chair opposite the couch and motioned for her and everyone else to sit down. He sat next to her on the arm of the chair, and his gaze landed on Richard. “My concern is that there are more than a few Amoveo who share Brendan's prejudice.”

“I was horrified by Brendan's actions. I am truly baffled by the violent levels he'd gone to.” Richard sat back in his chair, crossed his long legs, and folded his hands in his lap. “There had never been a Caedo assassin captured. That whole thing had been a ruse to leave you both exposed and vulnerable.”

“Yes, and unfortunately it worked,” seethed Dante. His father's betrayal was still raw, and the pain of it was etched clearly in his features. Sam's heart broke for him. The only person more shaken by the plot than Malcolm was Dante. His father had lied to everyone, including him.

“Samantha, I promise you that we will find the other traitors to our race and protect you at all costs,” Richard said earnestly. “Several humans had been identified as potential mates, and Brendan had been in charge of finding them. The next step is to find the list he had developed and be sure they are protected until they find their mates.”

“Or their mates find them,” Dante said quietly.

They all nodded in agreement.

“Malcolm and I have decided to keep the conspiracy revelation to a select few. I have not even informed the Council. I will tell them the same story you told the humans.” His eyes softened, and a look of sorrow passed briefly over his features. “I don't know who can be trusted except for those who are already involved. If word gets out about the purist plot, it will be much harder to ferret out the traitors.”

“What about my mother?” Dante asked quietly. “We have to tell her something. She'll be deeply affected by this on many levels.”

Richard nodded solemnly. Now that her mate was dead, her own life would be coming to an end as well. “I have been giving that a good deal of thought. As far as anyone else is concerned, your father was killed in an effort to help protect Samantha and Malcolm. No one will know that he was a traitor.”

“At least not now,” William added quickly.

Dante shot him a look that could've cut through stone. “What does that mean?”

William shrugged casually. “It means that once the purist conspiracy is brought to light, people will have to know the truth.” Dante growled, but William remained unfazed by his anger. “The truth always comes out, Dante,” he said evenly.

Sam shivered at the harsh reality of that statement. Boy, did it ever.

She listened intently as they discussed the various possibilities. By the end of the conversation her mind was spinning. The bottom line? They didn't know much. The only confirmed purist was dead, and they didn't have any leads on the others.

The men left just as the sun was setting. Sam wanted to spend the evening with Malcolm, but knew she needed to speak with her grandmother. She had been shocked when Malcolm told her that Nonie had known about the Amoveo and her unique heritage. Sam and Nonie talked through the night. It felt so good for Sam to finally tell her everything and share all she'd experienced. She listened with rapt attention to Nonie. She was fascinated that both Nonie and Sam's mother had the same ability. Nonie had always been open with Jane about the gifts that the women in their family possessed. The mothers in their family had passed this gift to their daughters from generation to generation. However, when Jane was killed, Nonie blamed their unique ability. She swore that Sam would remain oblivious to that world. She had hoped it would protect her and save her from the same fate.

Nonie also admitted that she was the seagull from her dreams with Malcolm. She wanted Sam to be with Malcolm willingly. She didn't want her manipulated into it by some archaic tradition like she felt her daughter had been. They cried and even laughed through some tears until the orange glow of sunrise bathed the cozy kitchen. By the time morning arrived, they were mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. They hugged for what seemed like an eternity. It was one that wrapped her in pure love.