Wolf Bound

14 - Showing them the truth

Damian

After both men agree, I check with River if she’s okay to go ahead. I never want to do anything to cause my mate distress. River nods once, so I hover my hand over her brother’s and clasp the back of River’s head.

Instantly, River’s mind opens up, and Hunter and Racer are assaulted with the horrors my mate suffered. I keep my eyes closed and the connection open, making sure River’s brothers don’t miss a damn thing.

I wanted them to know everything so that River doesn’t have to backtrack if anything is missed. This is the only time I’ll be doing this or putting River through it, so Hunter and Racer will have to be the ones to tell their parents.

I hear both men gasping at the visions before them, both shocked by the terror running through River’s veins. All of the torture, starvation, humiliation, begging and wishing her parents would turn up and save her, even the rape, and the fact that River is going to be a mother is forced into their heads.

I don’t like doing this. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, let alone River’s brothers. But they need to understand why River can never return to that facility.

By the time it’s over, and I’ve broken the connection, both men are in deep shock. They trusted a man’s lies because they believed he would help their sister. I don’t know what it would do to me if that happened to one of my sisters, but I know I’d be just as shocked as Hunter and Racer. I would also be murderous!

It’s okay for people to say, Why didn’t they read the doctor’s mind? The thing is that regular Werewolves can’t read minds. I can because I’m part Vampire. A man like Dever can easily trick others into trusting him.

What reason would River’s family have to doubt a man who said he wanted to help their daughter?

River’s breathing suddenly becomes harsh as she jumps from her seat and begins backing away. Her eyes are wide, amber, and scared.

“s**t!” One of the twins hisses, but I don’t know which because my eyes are on my mate.

I get out of my seat and slowly make my way towards River.

“What the fuc.k are you doing?”

“Get away from her! Saltan is taking over. Don’t you know what could happen?”

Again, I ignore the twins, keeping my eyes on my mate.

‘Be careful, Damian.’ My Wolf tells me.

‘Don’t worry about me, Dixon. Try talking to Saltan. See if you can get him to calm down.’

‘On it.’

River’s back hits the wall, and she slides down it, panting as she tries to fight the change. There is so much fear coming from River that it pushes against me. Her body is shaking, sweating, and I can see her muscles quivering.

“River?” I get to my knees in front of her as she groans. “River, can you hear me?”

River doesn’t answer me, but I know she’s still in there. Even though her eyes are glowing, Saltan hasn’t taken over just yet, and I know both River and her Wolf are fighting it as hard as they can.

I lean forward and lay my hands on River’s face. “Listen to my voice, River, let me lead you home. Don’t let the change take you, not when you’re not in control. You are the mistress, River, you and you alone. You can do this, beautiful. I believe in you.

“Follow my voice and come home, River. I am right here with you, and I will never leave you, my love. Nothing could ever make me leave you, so don’t you leave me. Take strength from me, let go of the fear, and come back to me.” I press my forehead to River’s. “I love you so much. Come back to me, baby, I need you.”

River sucks in a deep, shuddering breath. “Damian.”

I close my eyes for a second and smile.

I pull away and look at my mate, looking at me in wonder.

“Holy s**t,” One of the twins hisses. “He did it. He f*****g did it, Racer!” Hunter then.

“I can’t believe it,” Racer whispers.

I pull River into my arms and kiss her head when she lays it on my shoulder.

“You did it, baby. You did it.”

River nods while letting go of a sob. “You saved me. You saved me just as she said you would.”

Selene, that’s who River is talking about. In our dream, she once told us that I would be the one to save River from her Wolf Bound status. We wouldn’t know when or where, and there would be tough times ahead, but I would just know when the time had arrived.

I don’t think River is cured of her Wolf Bound status. It wouldn’t be this easy. But knowing now that I can help means everything. I have no doubt that River is strong enough to come through this in one piece.

I don’t believe that I am the one who saved River this time. I helped, yes, but it was River’s determination to be with me that saved her.

“No,” I chuckle. “You saved yourself, River. I’m just your guide.”

River clutches at my shirt, pulling herself closer.

“Your guidance is what saved me, Damian. Your faith in me and my Wolf, your love, it all brought me back from the brink of change. Saltan is dancing for joy inside my head.” Both River and I laugh at that.

I stroke the back of River’s head, sliding my fingers through her long hair. “Everything will be okay, baby. I love you. I will always love you.”

“I love you. I love you.” River chants before going limp in my arms.

I look down at her and smile because she’s asleep. I’m not surprised. She’s been through a lot today, and she’s exhausted.

I get to my feet with River in my arms. “Take a seat, I’m just going to lay her down. My grandfather should be here any moment, and I think we have much to talk about.” With that, I leave the room.

After laying River down on our bed and covering her with a blanket, I make my way back to the living room.

“Is she okay?”

I nod at Hunter. “She will be. River just needs to rest.” I sit on the couch, then remember my manners. “Can I get either of you something to drink?”

“Water, please,” The twins answer in unison.

I head to the kitchen and grab three bottles of water from the fridge. I hand one to each twin before downing half my own bottle, then I sit down again.

“We’ve mind-linked our parents. They’ll be here soon.”

My eyes widen, and I’m fighting both my Wolf and Vampire at bay. I am so fuckin.g angry! They could have waited five minutes and spoken to me about things first. Or better yet, waited until River woke up so they could talk to her!

“Whoa, your eyes are red.”

I bite back a growl. “That would be Gray, my Vampire.”

Both men stare at me, wide-eyed. They know what I am, what my family is. I don’t understand why they’re acting so surprised.

‘Probably because they never thought they’d meet a Dalgaard in person outside of the Supreme Alpha and Luna. I doubt they’ve ever seen a Dalgaard Vampire.’

‘True,’ I answer my Wolf.

“You had no right to contact anyone without consulting River first.”

“What?” Racer narrows his eyes. “You think we should have kept from our worried parents that we found their daughter?”

I pull back a growl. Of course, they would inform their parents of River’s whereabouts. I just hope they haven’t told anyone else. I can’t risk those sick fuckin.g doctors coming for my mate.

“Have you told anyone else?”

Hunter shakes his head. “We made sure our parents said nothing to anyone either. We gave them a short rundown, and Dad’s fuckin.g pissed.”

Why the hell wouldn’t he be?

“They just want to make sure River is okay,” Racer continues. “We also told Mom and Dad that River had found you. Look, we didn’t think before we spoke. Hunter and I just wanted to put our parents’ minds at ease.”

I inwardly roll my eyes and scrub my hands over my face.

“Look, I get it, but no one else can know River is here. There are things I need to sort, and things I need to protect River from.”

“You think because River is effeminate, he’s weak?”

I have Hunter pinned to the wall by his throat faster than anyone could blink. My Vampire fangs drop, and I hiss.

“You will do well to remember who you’re talking about. Don’t ever refer to River as He again, or I’ll kill you in ways you never knew were possible!”

“I’m sorry,” Hunter gasps. “I was just testing you.”

“He’s sorry!” Racer yells. “You have no clue how many times people have lied to us, pretending they’re okay with River being the way she is. Yes, you are River’s mate, and no, Hunter shouldn’t have been testing you. But it comes naturally to us after all these years.”

“I don’t give a damn!” I yell while squeezing Hunter’s neck tighter, making his eyes bulge.

“Damian!”

Shit!