N. Walters - Finding Chrissten

“You’ll see,” Meredith teased. “You’ll see.”

Two hours later, Chrissten studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror and contemplated the woman staring back at her. It was like looking at a complete stranger. Her hair was still long and fell straight down her back to her waist, her eyes were still light blue, but there was a guardedness, a knowledge in them that hadn’t been there before. She was thinner than she’d been. Much thinner. Not surprising considering everything she’d been through.

A feeling of dread sat on her shoulders, weighing her down. In her heart, she knew Brian would come for her. It was only a matter of time.

“Shake it off,” she muttered. She was free, her belly was full of good food and she’d just spent an uninterrupted half hour soaking in a hot tub of water, a luxury she’d been afraid she’d never experience again. For the moment, at least, her life was her own.

Her job was to get strong so she’d be ready to fight. She had to be ready to protect herself, her brothers and the people who’d taken her into their home.

A light knock on the door jerked her out of her thoughts. She spun around. Her back hit the wall and her heart began to pound. A second later disgust filled her. Brian wouldn’t bother to knock. She had to get a grip on herself.

The knock came again, “Chris, you okay in there?”

Quinn. She should have known her twin wouldn’t leave her alone for long. “Just a second.” Chrissten grabbed the long, white terry robe Meredith had loaned her and wrapped it around herself, making sure to tighten the belt. She really needed to get some clothing of her own.

She took one final moment to straighten her bath towel over the rod, using the normal, everyday chore to give her time to compose herself. Her brother was no fool. He’d noticed immediately if he thought she was upset about anything.

She took a fortifying breath, opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. Quinn and Craig were both waiting for her. Quinn was standing in front of the window, staring out at the city, while Craig was perched on the chair Meredith had inhabited earlier. He was leaning forward, his left leg jostling up and down.

Both of their heads swung in her direction as she exited the bathroom. “Hey.” It was ridiculous to feel self-conscious around her brothers, but she did. So much had changed in the months she’d been away. She’d changed. They’d changed. None of them were the same people they’d been before this had happened.

“How are you feeling?” Craig popped up out of the chair and came to her. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. She was an inch taller than him, but he’d filled out a lot in the time she was away. He felt more like a man and less like the little brother she’d left behind.

She’d missed so much of his life. A lump caught in her throat and she struggled to swallow it back. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. It was weak and changed nothing. She needed to be strong. For all of their sakes.

“I’m okay.” What else was there to say? She couldn’t tell them she felt like a stranger to herself, how odd and almost frightening it was to be able to move around and do whatever she wanted after a year and a half of having her every move dictated by others. How she didn’t feel safe even now.

She moved out of Craig’s embrace and sat on the edge of the bed. She still tired easily and would rather sit than stand.

Quinn’s eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed. She knew he’d caught the slight trembling in her legs but said nothing. She glanced away from his all too perceptive gaze and focused on Craig who settled on the bed beside her. “How are you doing? Any news?” She knew both of them had been working with the rest of the pack and a vampire, no less, to try to find Brian and the rest of his pack.

It hadn’t surprised her to discover Brian was part of a larger group of males who wanted mates. She’d scented another werewolf on several occasions during her captivity, but he’d been kept away from the lab where she was held.

What had surprised her was how willing Meredith and her pack were to help her. She was a stranger to them, yet they’d opened their home and offered her their protection. They’d helped to rescue her, they’d fed and watched over her, and now they were trying to help her brothers find the rest of the males responsible for her captivity. Their generosity was overwhelming.

Craig shook his head. “Nothing new. I’m still looking. And so is Damek.”

Quinn growled low in his chest. Craig simply smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know why you dislike Damek so. I find him fascinating.”

“He’s dangerous.” Quinn paced away from the window and flung himself down in the chair, extending his long legs in front of him.

“Of course he’s dangerous,” Craig agreed. “But so are you and I like you.”

Chrissten smiled in spite of herself. She’d missed this. Missed the banter between her brothers. At least this hadn’t changed.

“Yes, but I don’t want to have you for a snack,” Quinn pointed out.

Chrissten’s palms went damp and she grabbed Craig’s hand. “Is he that dangerous?” She’d never met Damek, but she’d heard the others talking about him in hushed tones.

Craig shrugged, looking totally unconcerned. God, he should be in college somewhere worrying about classes and girls, not trying to discover where to find dangerous werewolves and putting himself at risk by working with a vampire.

“He’s very powerful, no doubt about that.” Craig pushed his glasses higher up on the bridge of his nose. “You can sense it the moment he walks into a room. None of the others have any idea exactly how old he is, but he’s been around a long, long time. He wouldn’t hurt me. I trust him.”

Her brother was obviously fascinated with Damek. Chrissten could hear it in his voice. And when Craig set his mind on something there was no way to dissuade him. He could teach stubborn to a mule. She glanced at Quinn and they shared a look, a moment, a pledge to protect their younger brother at all costs.

A warm feeling flooded through her. Oh, she’d missed this sense of connection, of belonging that she had with her brother, her twin.

“Enough about Damek. You’ll meet him soon.” Craig slung his arm over her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. “We’ve brought you something.”

“Really? What?” Craig’s obvious excitement was contagious.

Quinn walked over by the door and she noticed the two boxes sitting there. They were plain brown packing boxes with no markings on the outside. Her twin grabbed one and brought it over, setting it on the floor in front of her.

“Thought you might like some of your own things.” His voice was gruff with emotion and his eyes were moist with unshed tears. She couldn’t speak. She was afraid if she tried to say anything she’d burst into tears.

Chrissten nodded and tugged open the flaps of the box. The scent of vanilla, her favorite lotion, wafted up at her. She bit on her bottom lip to keep from crying as she folded back the cardboard to reveal the clothing neatly folded inside. Her clothes. They’d brought her belongings to her.

She reached in and pulled out a cotton sweater. It was the same color blue as her eyes. It was soft and long, hitting the tops of her thighs. She loved this sweater. She buried her face against the material and sobbed in spite of her resolve not to break down.

The mattress sank on her right side. Quinn wrapped his arm around her. On her left, Craig did the same. She was surrounded by their love, their caring.

“Everything is going to be all right.” Quinn whispered his promise in her ear. She shook her head, not truly believing him. How could it be? She was mated to a monster. One that wouldn’t stop until one of them was dead.