Running In Fear: Coming Home Read online

  “You keep sticking that lip out and I'll give you something to put on it. We'll have plenty of time to court you, baby,” Remi growled, lowering her down and grabbing her lip between his teeth, sucking it into his mouth. Jaycee moaned into his mouth. His tongue tangled with hers.

  Jaycee pulled away, panting. “I have work to do and you're getting me all hot again. Now stop it.” Jaycee pulled herself out of Dane's lap and walked into the kitchen. But she didn't get too far because Mark pulled her into his arms, kissing her and grabbing her ass.

  “Morning, baby,” he whispered into her ear, nibbling on her neck.

  “Morning? It's already afternoon, and you guys didn't wake me up. I have so much to do,” she sighed, looking up into his eyes.

  “You needed the sleep, baby. We kept you pretty busy last night, plus, we have plans for you tonight.” Mark laughed, when she slipped out of his arms.

  She looked back at him over her shoulder. “Okay, what do you have planned for tonight? You know that part of our pack will be here and we're going to have to entertain them?” Jaycee asked, with her hands on her hips. She watched him smile and walk away.

  “Stupid!” Jaycee mumbled, opening the fridge. Crap, she needed more food. Jaycee looked at the clock. She still had time. Slamming the fridge door, she went into the living room and grabbed her winter coat and purse.

  “Where are you off to?” Remi asked, stopping her from zipping her coat.

  Jaycee growled. “Since you invited some of our pack, there isn't enough food. I'm going to the grocery store to stock up.” She pushed his hands out of the way, looking at Shelly who sat talking to Marsha.

  “Shelly, I need some help going to the grocery store. Do you want to go shopping with me?”

  She held her hand out. “Remi, I need the truck keys, please.”

  “One of us should go with you, Jaycee.” Remi glanced at Dane. Dane nodded his head at him as Remi pulled on his coat.

  “Remi, I can go to the store by myself,” Jaycee complained, glaring at him. She noticed Shelly was putting her coat on but Bo had grabbed her, hugging her.

  “We know you can Jaycee, but we would feel better if one of us was with you, that's all.” Remi pushed her towards the door.

  “Men!” she mumbled, stomping outside to the truck, pulling open the passenger side door and hopping in.

  Shelly pulled open the back door, hopping in. She snarled as a stranger got in the truck with them.

  “Okay, now I know how you feel, Jaycee. Meet one of my guards! Bo wanted me to take two, but I refused. I told him Remi was there. God, men are pains in the asses especially alphas!” Shelly's voice increased in volume until she nearly shrieked the last word. Her guard merely laughed at the same time Remi did.

  Jaycee slapped her mate in the arm, then said to Shelly, “Now you understand what it's like going from freedom to do what you want to having a babysitter with you at all times, and believe me, it gets worse.” Jaycee frowned looking up at Remi.

  He pulled on her arm to bring her closer to him. She slid across the seat to sit next to him as he put his arm around her and hugged her body to his as he drove.

  “Even we have guards, baby, but you have to think of our baby as well,” Remi said, smiling down at her.

  “Well, then where are your guards now? And don't I always think of the baby?” She smirked.

  “Don't get smart. You know what I mean,” he grumbled, looking down at her for a second,.

  That's when she saw the other truck “Remi, watch out …!” That was all she got out before the truck slammed into their pickup.

  Remi fought the wheel but their truck rolled after it hit the embankment. She didn't have her seat belt on since she had slipped next to Remi.

  * * * *

  Remi's heart was in his throat as he gripped Jaycee tight, but it wasn't enough. One minute she was next to him; the next thing he knew, she was flying out the front window. Her pain hit him like a brick wall. He growled, trying to undo his seat belt. He had to get to her.

  Remi couldn't believe it. Shelly and her guard helped him look for his mate. The other truck had taken off as soon as it had hit them. He would find whoever did this and kill them right after he found Jaycee and made sure she was okay.

  “Oh, my God! Remi, over here. Call an ambulance, or something, quick!” Shelly screamed from the side of the road in the wooded area.

  Remi ran, and then stopped dead in his tracks as he saw his mate. She wasn't moving and a big piece of metal stuck out of her belly. He dropped to his knees and felt his heart stop. His beast roared with anger and grief.

  Jaycee was alive. She moved her hand, trying to place it onto her stomach. She groaned, clearly in shock.

  Remi brushed her hair out of her face. “Don't move, baby. The doctor is on his way along with Marsha. You're going to be okay.” Tears streamed down his face. His chest had a few cuts, but nothing major. His main concern was his mate. He was sure that the baby was dead. That piece of metal had to have killed it. His heart grieved for the loss of their first child, but he had his mate, and they could have more babies.

  “How bad is she, Remi? We'll meet you at the hospital.” Dane growled

  “It's bad. She's lost the baby and keeps passing out. The pain is too much for her. Shelly has a few scratches, but everyone else is fine.

  Jaycee curled her hand into his. “Our baby, oh God, Remi, I'm so sorry!” Jaycee cried, trying to move, but she passed out again.

  Ambulances and police sirens blared in the distance as Remi held onto his mate. It was his fault. He should have never let her scoot over to him. If she had been wearing her seatbelt, this wouldn't have happened.

  Shelly's hand touched his lightly. Remi looked up into her face. “You can't blame yourself, Remi. This was the other truck's fault. She's going to need you guys more than anything right now. Jaycee will blame herself as she always does.” Tears fell down her face and she shook her head. “She has been through so much, Remi. Can't they just leave her alone?”

  Remi heard people running to them as he stood and watched the paramedics work on his mate. Soon he would hunt and nothing would stop him. These people were like bed bugs, always coming back, never stopping till they got what they wanted.

  He smiled and glanced in the direction that truck had come from. “Well, they have declared war now, and I'm just the man to stop it.” He snarled and released the powers inside him. Others around him gasped, but said nothing as he searched the woods using his sight.

  “Remi, let's go. They have Jaycee in the ambulance and Bo is here. He'll take us to the hospital.” Shelly touched his arm, but jumped back, gazing up at him in awe.

  He sighed and then harnessed his powers. “Let's go then.” He turned and nodded to Bo as he slipped into the backseat of the Blazer.

  * * * *

  Jaycee heard a machine beeping and her mates growling in the background. Why did she feel so sore? Her stomach hurt and so did her head. She reached up with her hand and opened her eyes. First, she noticed a bandage on her arm and knew she wasn't at home. Bright lights hung above her. She closed her eyes, and then blinked to adjust to the light. She looked down at her body in a cotton gown, and she knew she was in the hospital.

  That's when it hit her.

  “Oh, please tell me the baby's okay. Remi, our baby. It's okay, right?” Jaycee asked, her hands going to her midriff, but her hand touched only bandages. There was a pad between her legs. “No! God, haven't I been through enough?” She screamed as Remi and Dane came to her, holding onto her. Great sobs racked her body. She couldn't catch her breath.

  “Breathe, Jaycee. Come on, breathe,” Remi said, tears flowing down his face as he cupped hers. “I'm so sorry, baby. They couldn't save him.” Remi wiped the tears from her face.

  “Who did this, Remi? Who hit us? Is Shelly okay?” Jaycee hugged him tight.

  “Shelly's at the cabin, Marsha is out in the hallway. We don't know who did this, baby. It was a rental truck. We're tryin
g to track it now.”

  “How long have I been out of it?” Jaycee asked, pulling back, looking at Mark behind Remi,. She held out her hand to him and he took it, kissing her fingers. Dane sat in the chair on her other side as Remi sat next to her right side.

  “You have been out for two days. Your body was healing itself. I'm telling you right now, you will have guards at all times, and I won't hear a word about it. You took ten years off my life, baby. When I saw you lying there in the snow, I wanted to die.” Remi laid his head down on her stomach, and tears flowed down his face as he stared up at her. She wiped the tears away, cupping his cheek.

  “I love you guys so much. I feel I let you down, Remi. I should have been able to protect our child with my powers, but I failed.” Jaycee wiped her tears away looking at all the flowers that filled the room.

  “Baby, you didn't fail us, and there was no way for you to protect our child. It happened too fast. I'll find the person responsible for this. They'll pay for this.” Remi growled, kissing her stomach.

  “I want to go back to the cabin, Remi, I don't like it here. I want my own bed and my mates curled up next to me, holding me. I feel so empty,” Jaycee whispered, laying her head back against the pillows.

  Mark left the room. Then Jaycee's father and Kate, her stepmother, came in. He came to her side, and kissed her cheek.

  “You scared the shit out of us, young lady. Don't do that again,” he whispered. His hand shook as he traced her face.

  “Mark went to get your papers ready so they can take you home,” Kate said, pushing her father out of the way so she could kiss her stepdaughter.

  “Back to the cabin right?” She looked at Remi. He smiled and nodded, and she relaxed.

  “Yes, we made a promise, and we'll keep that promise,” Dane said, still holding her other hand. She squeezed it, and looked at his handsome face. Worry lines formed around his eyes.

  Jaycee pushed the covers back,. She hated hospital gowns. She closed her eyes and used her powers to clothe herself with a dress that wouldn't bother her stomach. She pulled the IVs out of her arm, and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  “What do you think you're doing?” Remi asked, looking down at her as she tried to stand up. Her legs wobbled, but she grabbed onto Remi, who steadied her.

  “I want to go home, Remi. I need to. Please,” Jaycee whispered.

  He wrapped his arms around her, carefully picking her up. Remi didn't say a word. He just carried her out of the room and down the hallway. Dane followed close behind. Her father, Kate, Marsha, and Ben, Marsha's husband would gather her flowers and things as Mark talked to the doctor and filled out paperwork for her. She rested her head on Remi's chest, and pulled lightly on his t-shirt.

  Jaycee curled up on Remi as Dane drove towards the cabin. When she looked up they were already in front of the cabin. She could see the bulldozer pushing away the snow and dirt, making room for her addition. There had to be at least one hundred people there working. She watched them as Remi carried her into the cabin.

  Inside, Shelly, Belinda, and the other women were in the kitchen organizing the food. They all stopped when she entered the cabin as Remi carried her past them.

  “Should you be here?” Shelly asked, walking up to her and kissing her cheek. There was sadness in her sister's eyes.

  “I needed to come home. I want to thank all of you for the work that you've already done already outside. I'm sorry I won't be able to help today. I just want to rest in my own bed.” Jaycee laid her head back down on Remi's chest.

  He strolled by the women and took the steps upstairs two at a time. He placed her in the middle of the big bed. She said a few words and her nightgown appeared on her. Remi pulled up the covers, tucking her in.

  “Would you lay with me till I fall asleep?” Jaycee asked, staring up at him. He lay down on the bed, pulling her body to his, holding her gently. “I'm so sorry, Remi. I wanted this child so badly. Why can't they leave me alone?” Tears slipped down to his chest as she rested her head on his chest. He rubbed her back.

  “This isn't your fault, Jaycee. I'll find the people who did this. There are always others who want what we have. They can't handle it and want to take away what we've worked so hard for. But I won't let them hurt you again, baby, I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “Sleep, Jaycee. Your body needs to heal. We'll have other babies,” Remi whispered.

  That was the last thing she heard before drifting off to sleep.

  When she woke, she was alone in her bed. She looked at the clock, it read eleven thirty, and knew it was the next day. She shed the blanket and looked down at her stomach, it was healed.

  She got out of the bed slowly, wobbling a little, and made her way to the bathroom. She stepped into the shower. Her body was still sore, but the hot water felt like heaven. Her heart hurt, though. She touched her stomach where her child had been, and she felt her tears stream down her face again. Would she ever stop hurting?

  She turned off the shower and stepped out. She dried off and pulled on jeans and a sweater. She walked into the bedroom and grabbed her socks and boots and then headed downstairs. She took her time walking down the stairs because her stomach muscles were sore. When she reached the lower level, she found Shelly and Marsha setting up the long buffet table.

  “Can I help?” Jaycee asked, sitting down on the bottom step and pulling on her socks and boots. Both women turned, surprised to see her.

  “What are you doing out of bed, young lady?” Marsha asked, standing there with her hands on her hips. Jaycee rolled her eyes.

  “I'm healed and I can't lay upstairs in bed all day. People are here to help build and addition onto my cabin. I should be helping.” Jaycee looked down at her boots. “I don't want to think any more. It hurts too much.” She whispered the last part. Jaycee felt Marsha's arms surround her, hugging her.

  “If you ever want to talk, I'm here. I also lost a child, so I know how much it hurts.” She stepped back. “Now, you can help, but no lifting. I know you're still sore.” Marsha handed her plastic silverware and napkins. “Go sit in the living room and wrap the silverware in the napkins like you did before.” Marsha turned around and started moving the tables around.

  Jaycee sighed, taking the items into the living room where she saw Remi talking to two of her pack members at the door. They stopped talking when she came in, lowering their heads in respect to her. She smiled at them, sitting down on the sofa. Placing the silverware on the floor and the napkins in her lap, she started to roll the silverware. Jaycee looked up when she noticed someone blocking the sun from the window.

  Remi stood there, frowning down at her. “You should be in bed.”

  Jaycee shook her head. “I can't sit in bed and do nothing, Remi. I need to keep busy. Thinking about it all hurts too much. Plus, I'm healed. I'm just a little sore.” Jaycee smiled up at him. “Marsha wouldn't let me do anything else, so I'm resting in a way.”

  “Well, don't do too much, baby. Do you want something to eat or drink?” He asked, kissing her head.

  “I would kill for some caffeine. Coffee. No decaf, please!” She smiled up at him. He grinned at her, shaking his head, but went and got her some coffee. She looked up when Dane's old love, Blair walked in the cabin. He was all smiles until she saw Jaycee.

  Jaycee growled and slowly put her stuff aside that she was working on. “What the hell are you doing here?” She snapped, getting up into her face. Shelly and Marsha ran up to her, but she didn't back down.

  “I came to help. I have apologized to Dane and Remi, and they gave me another chance.” Blair lowered her head. But Jaycee could see her grin, knowing Blair was pleased that she was upset.

  “Get out of my house and stay away from me. You're not welcome here!” She snarled, when Dane stepped in the cabin behind Blair. He gently walked around Blair and tried to pull Jaycee back, but she wasn't having it.

  “Let me go now! You did this!” She growled, as her clothes started to rip and she shifted to her
beast. Blair stepped back, looking over at Dane and that was it. Jaycee let the beast loose and would have torn into the woman, but Remi was there in a flash, picking her up.

  “Get her out of this house now! She isn't to be anywhere near here!” Remi ordered trying to hold Jaycee. He sat down on the sofa with her in his lap.

  “Calm down, Jaycee, she's going. I didn't know she would be here. I was going to tell you she apologized, but you were hurt.” He whispered in her ear, petting her. “Come on, baby, shift back. You need to settle down,” he pleaded with her. She watched Dane growl at Blair and push her out the door, slamming it shut.

  Dane approached her slowly. “I honestly didn't know she would be stupid enough to come in here, baby, I'm sorry. I've sent her back to the hotel and told her to stay there. She can go back to the pack tonight.” Dane reached towards her to kiss her, but she pulled back, growling. She shifted, clothing herself, and frowning at him.

  “Do you honestly believe she's sorry? She's not sorry. She stood there smirking about being here. I want her gone. You banished her and then you took that back. Do you know what that's going to look like to the pack?”

  Dane stood staring at her. He shook his head. “Jaycee, she has nowhere to go, I knew her parents. All her family is dead.” Dane ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Remi held her still, not saying anything.

  “Then let her go to another pack,. Send her to Ralph's pack in California. She would still be in a pack, but I won't have her near ours. She would undermine everything I do!” Jaycee yelled, staring at Dane.

  Dane turned and looked at Remi. “What do you think Remi? Do you think your brother Ralph would be okay with it?” Dane stared at them. Remi shrugged.

  “I don't think he'd mind. He needs females in his pack anyway. Call him and if it's okay, we can send her tonight.” Remi kissed Jaycee's neck.

  Jaycee watched Dane place the phone call. She walked over to the table and grabbed the cup of coffee. She watched Dane shut the phone and then flip it back open, making another call. She took a sip from her cup, suddenly realizing what she was drinking, and moaning at how good it tasted.