Running In Fear: Coming Home Read online

  Remi laughed when he heard her moan. “I can think of many reasons to moan, baby, but for coffee?”

  Jaycee grinned looking up at him, “Hey, I haven't had any caffeine in over a week. And you can make me moan later.” She giggled as he growled at her.

  Dane walked over to them smiling. “Okay, Ralph was happy to take Blair in. I've called Derek and he's going to make sure she gets on the plane to California tonight.” Dane kneeled down, looking into her face. “I'm sorry, baby. I should have thought of this before.” He cupped her cheek and she rubbed her face against his big calloused hand.

  “I'm sorry I seem like a bitch, but she has tried since day one to undermine everything I do. She still wants you. Now I know you have plenty to do. And where's Mark? He keeps disappearing? I haven't seen him since yesterday.” As soon as she asked the question, the front door opened and Mark came walking in. She smiled, getting up and going into his arms. He hugged her tight, just holding her, his head resting on hers.

  “I missed you. You keep running off.” Jaycee said, looking up at his face. He smiled down at her.

  “I knew you needed time with Remi, but I'm glad you missed me, because I missed you too.” He lowered his head, capturing her mouth kissing her softly, but taking control as they all did.

  Jaycee pulled back when she smelled smoke. Turning around she noticed the fire was fine in the fireplace, but the smell wasn't coming from there. Jaycee walked back towards the kitchen. Mark frowned as she walked away. What the hell is that smell? She walked towards the back family room that stored boxes of unpacked things she had sent. Jaycee touched the doorknob and yelped, “Fuck!” Her hand was burned. She looked at it and a blister had already formed.

  “Did someone burn something?” Remi came up behind her, looked at her hand and then at the door. He yanked her away from the door, shouting.

  Chapter Four

  Black smoke filled the small cabin as Remi held tight to Jaycee. “Everyone out now!” He ran for the front door. Dane and Mark pushed the women out with them and everyone ran outside.

  Jaycee turned her head just in time to see her cabin blow sky high whimpering. Remi dove to the ground taking her with him, covering her with his body. He didn't know who shook more, him or Jaycee. Everything was gone, including their baby.

  He slowly lifted his body off her, looking down at her. Tears fell onto her cheeks, and a sob broke through her lips.

  “Everything is gone … Our baby and now all my things …” She hiccupped as he pulled her into his arms, hugging her. Dane and Mark kneeled down next to them, touching her as everyone stood around watching her cabin burn to the ground. Bo's whole pack was there, stunned.

  Dane glared at Remi who nodded. No one would get within two feet of their mate again, even if it meant one of them would have to be with her twenty four hours a day. He turned to see Bo shift halfway, the cat's ears back, his whiskers twitched, and he roared. Only a few powerful shifters could do this, including the three of them.

  “Jack, go around to the back. Sniff around to see if you can find anything. This was set on purpose and I want that person caught now!” Bo growled, staring at what was left of the cabin.

  Jaycee's fingernails dug into Remi's chest. “We might as well go back home. There's nothing left.” Jaycee whimpered against his chest as her tears soaked his shirt.

  Dane whipped his phone out, calling the hotel as they walked towards the truck.

  Remi got inside the truck with her in his lap. Dane sat in the driver's side, his hand settled on her knee, as he pulled out of driveway. She looked behind her and saw Mark following in another truck.

  “Where are we going? To the plane?” Jaycee asked, looking over at Dane.

  “No. I just registered at the local hotel. We have the honeymoon suite.” He smiled at her quickly,. She smiled back, but her heart wasn't in it. She laid her head down on Remi's chest and just stared outside as they drove.

  He glanced up at Dane. I don't know how much more she can take. It's like she's given up.

  Dane frowned and squeezed her leg. I know. This has to stop, Remi. It seems every freak around is coming out of the woodwork to destroy her and she has done nothing.

  They pulled into the hotel, parking right in front of the doors so he and Jaycee could get out and go right inside. Her head hung low as she walked into the hotel with Remi. Mark and Dane stepped up to them as they waited at the counter by her side holding her hands. Her father and Kate stepped off the elevator into the lobby. Jaycee went into her father's arms.

  “Oh, my poor baby, we'll find them. Are you okay?” He pulled back, looking down at her face. She nodded, smiling at Kate, and then she turned to see Blair standing in the corner of the room a big smirk on her face.

  Remi frowned and turned to follow Jaycee's gaze as she growled.

  * * * *

  Jaycee scanned down Blair's body, black soot covered the bottom of her pants,. She sniffed the air and the smell of gas came from her direction. Blair looked over her shoulder and smiled as three men came up behind her.

  “Jaycee what is it?” Remi crowded next to her.

  Jaycee looked over her shoulder, and then nodded at Blair. “Look at her pants, Remi, and I smell gas from that direction,” Jaycee snarled.

  Remi glanced where she nodded. He released her, stalking toward Blair and the three men. Jaycee started to go with him, but Mark held her back as Dane followed Remi.

  “Let them handle this. They know what they're doing? Plus, Dane needs to tell her where she's going,” Mark whispered into her ear, nipping it. “Come on, let's go up to the room. You need to eat.” Mark pushed her towards the elevator, her father and Kate followed.

  A quick elevator ride later, Jaycee walked into a huge suite. It was beautiful. A super king size bed sat in the middle of the room, pillows all around. There was an open bar on one side, a fireplace on the other side, and a huge bathroom with a garden tub that would easily fit six people.

  Jaycee smiled as she noticed the bag from the play club sitting in the closet. Later she would peek inside, but now her nose carried her to the breakfast buffet by the far wall. She licked her lips, grabbing a plate and piling on the food. She always ate when she was upset.

  Shelly ran in, complaining to her guards. “For Pete's sake, my brother's here and one of the National Council. I'll be fine!” She yelled into her cell phone, walking over to Jaycee and rolling her eyes.

  Jaycee could hear Bo yelling back on the phone as Shelly held the phone away from her ear. Shelly grinned, stuffing a strawberry into her mouth. Jaycee sat down in a chair near the fireplace. She waved her hand and the fire roared to life. Shelly stomped over to the other chair, plopping down on it.

  “I swear, I'm going to kill him,” Shelly growled, smiling at her. “Baby, I'm so sorry about your cabin. Bo said everything burned.” She reached over and touched Jaycee's leg. Jaycee looked out the window at the woods. They called to her. Her wolf wanted to run.

  “I've lost everything, Shelly. All my things are gone, and my baby.” She looked back at Shelly. “I thought food would help, but it doesn't. I need to run. My wolf is calling me, but they won't let me.” She sighed, looking into the fire.

  “You know we could slip out the bathroom window. I would love to run. I haven't run in so long, and maybe I can work out my frustrations too.” Shelly whispered to her as Kate came over.

  “I'm game, if you two are. Your father hasn't let me run for a week and I've had it.” Kate looked over her shoulder, knowing the men were busy talking. Jaycee glanced over at Mark, but he was busy talking to her father.

  She really needed it. “I'll go in first, then you two come in the other door. They won't know. I'll leave the window open. It will be a long jump, but I think I can do it.” Jaycee headed towards the bathroom. She shut the door, opening the window and smiled. This would be the second time she slipped out a bathroom window.

  Shifting to her wolf, she jumped out the window and landed with a yelp, but she
was okay. Her stomach muscles were just sore. Kate and Shelly followed. All three of them took off towards the woods, playing in the snow. The fresh snow crunched beneath their paws. She felt so free for once, running and playing, that she didn't realize how much time had passed. Jaycee noticed her mates charging towards her with Bo and her father.

  She whimpered to Shelly and Kate. The three females turned as the males surrounded them. Remi growled at her as he drew closer. Jaycee lowered herself, whimpering.

  I'm sorry. I just needed to be free and run. Please don't be mad! She laid her head on her paws as Remi stood over her in his wolf form.

  You have people wanting to hurt you and you take off again. Jaycee this has to stop! Remi growled. She crawled to his feet, licking his leg. Dane came up behind her, nipping her ass. She yelped and looked behind her.

  Go back to the room now! He yelled in her mind, and she ran for the hotel.

  Bo had cornered Shelly, growling at her, but she'd growled back and took off with Jaycee, running next to her. Kate came up beside her, also running. They all ran towards the hotel. When they got closer, they shifted to their human forms, and Jaycee clothed them as they walked into the hotel through the back way.

  Jaycee's father, Guy pulled Kate away and headed in a different direction. Bo took Shelly out the front door towards his truck, yelling at her. Shelly pulled away from him, stomping towards the truck.

  Jaycee walked into the elevator with her mates following behind her. They didn't say a word to her as they stepped into their room.

  Jaycee noticed some bags of clothes on the bed. She peeked in the bags. The clothes were for her. She sat on the bed looking at the bags. “You know for the past two weeks, I've had to buy all new clothes three times. I think I need to open my own store.” She said smiling up at her mates, who stood there.

  “It's late. There's a dress in there. Get dressed and we'll take you downstairs to eat supper,” Remi snapped.

  She watched Remi walk towards the window and looked out, and could see his muscles ripple under his t-shirt. Jaycee got up and slowly walked towards him, she knelt down at his side, and put her head on his thigh.

  “I'm sorry, Remi. It seems I'm always saying I'm sorry to you. I have no excuse. I just couldn't take it. I felt so trapped again.” Jaycee lowered her head, waiting. Tears dropped down. She'd hurt them. Could she ever do anything right?

  He raised her chin up to look at him. “When I heard you were missing, everything in me froze. I thought whoever is doing this had gotten you and that they'd finally managed to take you from me.” He stroked her cheek, staring down at her for a minute. He turned and sat down on one of the chairs near the fire. “Come here, Jaycee. Take off your clothes and lay across my lap.”

  Jaycee stared at him for a moment, then did as he asked. She lay across his lap waiting as his hands gently stroked her ass. When the hand came down hard on her bottom, she didn't make a sound as he spanked her.

  Tears slid down her face as she silently prayed he'd forgive her. He stopped after five slaps to each cheek. He ran his fingers over her ass gently. “Get up and get dressed, Jaycee, but know this: The next time you take off, it will be worse,” he stated, staring at her as she got up.

  Her ass was burning she slipped her dress on,. She didn't bother with underwear. It would only aggravate her butt. When she was dressed, she walked back into the bedroom. Her mates were dressed in dress slacks and shirts. They escorted her downstairs to the fancy hotel restaurant where they met with Kate, her father, Shelly, and Bo. They had reserved a table.

  Remi pulled out a wooden chair for her to sit on and she cringed looking at it, but she sat down slowly. Her ass flamed as it hit the seat. He pushed her chair in, jarring her more. She noticed both Shelly and Kate had the same problem.

  The waitress came, and Remi ordered her a glass of wine and a whiskey straight up for him. Dane and Mark ordered the same. When the waitress left, Remi looked at her father and nodded.

  Guy glanced at all three women. “We're having dinner here for one purpose. You three are alpha bitches and it's about time you start acting like it. You can't take off like that again. Jaycee, look at all the people who have tried to kill you. They have killed your baby, but yet you take off not thinking what it would do to your mates. This has to stop!” He growled. Then his attention turned to Shelly.

  “You have been an alpha for a short time, but it is your example others will follow. You need to stop being so stubborn. Your mate is just trying to protect you.” His head turned to his mate. “And you of all people should know better. I'm furious at you right now. You not only you risk your life, but those of others.”

  Jaycee looked at her friends. They didn't say a word, but she knew they wanted to protest.. Their drinks came and Jaycee gulped hers down in a second, even before the waitress could leave. She looked at the waitress, handing her the empty glass.

  “Could you get me a shot of tequila and a bottle of Budweiser please?” Jaycee said, ignoring everyone.

  “Could I get the same thing, please?” Kate asked, handing the glass of wine to the waitress. Shelly did the same thing. She heard the men groan, but didn't say anything until the waitress was gone.

  “You haven't eaten anything. You need to eat, not to drink,” Remi snapped.

  Jaycee looked up at him. “I haven't said a word. I have taken your punishment. I have listened to my father degrade me in front of all of you. I admit what I did was wrong. I wanted a drink so I ordered it. I love you, Remi, but don't tell me what to order or not to!” She gritted her teeth as the waitress came back with their drinks.

  Jaycee gulped down her tequila, taking a sip of her beer afterwards. She noticed some cheese muffins on the table. She grabbed one and buttered it. Stuffing a piece in her mouth, she turned to Remi as she swallowed. “Maybe we should just go back to the packs. I have nothing here anymore, and it's obvious you want to. Every five minutes Dane is on the phone with the pack and so are you,” Jaycee sighed, stuffing another piece of muffin into her mouth, chewing it, and then swallowing again. “I mean, you're all mad at me anyway.” Jaycee noticed Mark get up and come to her, pulling her seat out.

  “Come dance with me?” Mark pulled her out onto the dance floor, a jazz band played in the background. “You know what you did was wrong, but do you really understand how bad you hurt Remi? Dane and I have never seen him go crazy like this.” Mark danced with her, but his movements were stiff. He held her, but yet he didn't. “Have you even asked him how he felt about losing the baby?” Mark asked her, staring down at her. The tears rolled down her face. No she hadn't, she was so hurt that she didn't think she could talk about it.

  Jaycee pulled away from him, heading towards the bathroom. Mark followed close behind her. Before she could open the door, he pushed inside looking for windows. When he saw that the window was too small for her to fit through, he waited outside the door for her.

  Jaycee looked at her face in the mirror. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She turned on the faucet and threw some cold water on her face. She dried her hands and face, and then walked back outside. Mark stood there waiting for her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her back to her seat.

  Her supper was waiting for her when she got back. Jaycee ate, but it settled heavily in her stomach. She asked the waitress to bring her a diet Pepsi, pushing her beer aside. The men talked, but she didn't say anything. Shelly and Kate also sat quietly. When everyone was finished eating, Remi got up, pulling Jaycee's chair back for her. He wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her towards the elevator.

  “Could we go for a walk outside, if it's not too cold out?” she asked. Remi stopped and looked down at her. He stared at her for a minute, then headed in the direction of the door to the outside. She watched as Dane and Mark got on the elevator, leaving her alone with Remi.

  They strolled outside, the stars were bright as they shined down at them, the moon nearly full. Remi's arm was still wrapped around her.

&nb
sp; “Talk to me Remi? You're all closed up. Tell me how you're dealing with the loss of our child, because I feel like I'm going crazy. I feel empty, like part of me is gone.” Jaycee felt him tense up, then relax a little. He stopped by a bench and sat down on it, pulling her onto his lap.

  “I had a name picked out already if it was a boy. I wanted to name him Pierre. I thought it would bring a part of him back for me and you.” He played with her short hair as he talked.

  Jaycee could see the tears in his big black eyes. He looked up at the stars and pushed his blond hair out of his face. “When I thought I had lost you on that road, I didn't care about the baby. I just wanted you back. I knew we can have more babies, but I could never replace you.” He looked back down at her.

  “When I found you in the woods my heart stopped, seeing you there playing with Shelly and Kate, but then the anger and hurt took over. I'm still furious, but I love you Jaycee.”

  Jaycee laid her head on his chest. “Sometimes I feel as though your brother, Pierre is here with us. When I was out there in the woods with Shelly and Kate I could smell him. Like he was following me, watching over me, and trying to protect me. He's talked to me a few times.” She looked up into his eyes. “I dreamed of him when I was at the hospital. He was telling me it was okay. That we would have children, and that he missed us. He told me to tell you something and I couldn't make sense of it.” She lowered her head. “He said to remember when you got grounded for something he did. He told you that the same thing was happening now.” She looked up into his eyes and tears slip down his face. “Do you know what that means?”

  He pulled her tighter against his chest, resting his head on her head. “Yes, I know what he means. I had an idea who is doing all this to us, but now I'm certain who it is.” Remi slipped his hands under her legs, stood up, and carried her towards the hotel door. “I need to make some calls and I want you safe.” Remi murmured in her hair. They stepped into the elevator to their suite.