Read Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance Online
Authors: Lorraine Kennedy
that stupid? There are no boats here. We have to radio the
mainland for it."
For the past couple of days, a seamstress had come to her
room and Laura had been forced to endure fittings for a
wedding gown. Flabbergasted, she had raved at
Brody.
"You can't be serious. We do not have to go through the
farce of a wedding, do we? It's pointless."
"It's what your fiance has requested. The ceremony will
take place at the small church on the island, and the
reception here."
"Then Jessup will know the truth if that little tidbit leaks
out."
Brody shrugged his shoulders. "Jessup was called away to
Colorado on business. When he returns, he will be told that
you came back from New Mexico, and as luck would have it
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... you and a friend of mine had a whirlwind romance and
decided to get married right away."
"Do you really think he's that gullible?"
"It makes no difference. If he returns in time for the
wedding, he will be invited and if you value his and your
grandfather's life, you will be the ideal picture of the blushing
bride."
Laura turned away furious at herself for her inability to find
a way out of the trap they had set for her. Not only would she
have to endure Dark Claw, but she would have to go through
the charade of a wedding and reception, pretending to be
happy. It was Dark Claw's way of humiliating her and showing
her that he would have the ultimate power over her.
The sheer curtains danced with a hot evening breeze, but
it did little to cool the room where Laura had been kept a
prisoner. In its special spot, hung the wedding gown she
would wear tomorrow morning. Laura gazed upon the
beautiful dress, but instead of seeing the white satin and lace,
she saw an ugly black execution robe. Would she not be going
to her death when she put that gown on the next morning?
She would be signing over her life and that of her son.
How could she speak the words that would bind her to that
monster, when her heart belonged only to one man? Her child
moved within her and her tears came once again as she
remembered the man who had held her so close and touched
her as gently as a feather, in the process, he had placed
within her the tiny baby who would one day grow up to be a
great man to his people.
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She and Justin's love had been destined to be, but the
same fate that had brought her to him—had taken him away.
Laura's bitter tears fell relentlessly. The sadness and
heartbreak of the past few months descended on her in that
moment and tore her heart to shreds.
No matter what else happened, she knew she could never
go through with this marriage. She would kill Dark Claw
herself if need be, but as long as she lived ... she would never
allow him to control her son.
In her hand Laura held a knife that had been carelessly
brought to her during dinner, and Mattie had just as
carelessly failed to see that it was not returned with her
dinner tray. The silver blade glistened in the dim light of the
room. Turning it over and over in her hand, Laura
contemplated how she would plunge it into Dark Claw's heart
at just the right moment.
She would have to be swift and precise, for they would
surely kill her as soon as they saw the knife. Laura's heart
was heavy as she thought of the baby within her that she
would never hold and who would never have a chance at life.
They would turn her child into a monster if he were to be
born, and to live and witness that was more than Laura could
bear.
Returning the knife to its hiding place beneath her pillow,
Laura drifted into a troubled sleep, but even in slumber—she
would find no peace. She was haunted by the wail of an
abandoned baby and by Rosa's sorrowful eyes.
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The morning dawned bright and full of birdsong, but to
Laura it was merely a painful reminder of the life she would
soon be giving up.
Surprising even herself, Laura ate a hearty breakfast and
appeared docile while Mattie prepared her for the ceremony.
Though her heart beat fiercely within, on the outside she
appeared to be as calm as if she was drugged. A small ray of
hope beamed within her, maybe ... just maybe she could
escape before they killed her. And with Dark Claw dead, they
might not have any further need of her child and would
pursue her no longer. But ... that was only if she could kill
him and escape.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she was sure she would
come off as a radiant bride in the white gown and orange
blossom headpiece. Mattie left the room to find some lip-gloss
and Laura took advantage of the few moments to slip the
knife in the garter they had given her to wear. It secured the
knife perfectly. Laura smiled as she thought of the look on
Dark Claw's face when his bride produced a knife and cut him
to ribbons.
At last the time had come and Laura was led down the
stairs and to a waiting car that would take her to the small
church on the other side of the island. It was here that her
unsuspecting bridegroom awaited her arrival. A smile played
on Laura's lips. In his arrogance, Dark Claw would never think
that his unwilling bride would be the one to rid the earth of
his evil.
Laura's spirits rose when they arrived and she saw that the
crowd was very small. That made sense. They wouldn't want
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a scene if she were to refuse. Laura suspected that most of
the Jaguar People would be fooled into thinking that this
match was one of her own choosing. They were not all as evil
as Dark Claw. Blanca was proof of that and she seriously
doubted that if they knew the truth—that Dark Claw would
have their backing.
At the door of the church, Brody waited to lead her down
the aisle. When her eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the
church, Laura could make out Dark Claw near the altar, his
smile malicious and victorious.
Laura held his gaze, never letting her eyes leave his and
she saw a flicker of uncertainty as he became aware of the
hatred and fury that burned within her.
Giving no resistance, Laura let Dark Claw take her arm and
lead her in front of the altar. Searching for just the right
opportunity, Laura paid no mind to the words the preacher
spoke, and when it came her turn to say her "I do", she did
so automatically.
Feeling the blade beneath the satin, with stealth
movements, she slipped her hand beneath the dress.
"Should any man object to this union, speak now or
forever hold your peace." The preacher's voice echoed loudly
through the church.
They were still kneeling at the altar and Laura had
managed to get her hand on the knife without being seen, but
the next voice she heard startled her to the point that she lost
her grip on the knife, and it clanked to the floor beneath her
billowing skirts.
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No one paid any mind to it though, only to the owner of
the intrusive voice.
"I object!" Justin's imposing figure blocked the entrance of
the church, and when he lifted his mirrored sunglasses, the
anger that burned in his eyes spoke louder than the words he
had just shouted. His long dark hair hung loosely around his
shoulders and down his back. He wore his black leather jacket
open—revealing his hard, broad chest. To gaze upon him was
to look upon the essence of wild fury.
Knowing that his life could very well depend on this
marriage, the preacher finished as quickly as possible. "By
the power given me by God and the State of Louisiana, I now
pronounce you husband and wife."
Dark Claw jumped up and painfully yanked Laura around
with him. "She belongs to me now, and so does the child
within her."
Justin took a step back as if he had just received a physical
blow. "Is this true, is it his baby?" His eyes searched Laura's
face.
Laura shook her head, and her tears came unbidden. "This
baby is yours Justin, but he wants to steal him because he
believes he will rule both cities."
Dark Claw shrugged and smiled. "It makes no difference.
She and the child are mine now, by mortal law and by the law
of our own people."
Justin threw his head back and let out a vicious growl,
sending shivers of fear—even through Laura. His eyes took on
that eerie yellow gleam and fangs seemed to sprout out
instantly.
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Dark Claw shoved Laura out of the way and sprang to his
hands and knees, already in transformation.
Dark Claw swiped at Justine, but with his stealth animal
grace he easily avoided his claws. Horrified, Laura watched as
Justin continued his transformation, his clothes tearing away
from his body.
He lunged at Dark Claw, sinking his teeth into the cat's
flesh. The church was filled with the sound of roars and snarls
as the adversaries moved in a flurry of violent rage.
No one in the church seemed to be startled by this odd
display, so Laura could only assume they were all of the cat
people, but to her surprise no one made any move to
interfere. That is except for the slight figure that moved
within the shadows of the altar.
Blanca raised the gun with both hands and fired four
rounds straight at Dark Claw. His reverse transformation was
swift, and the half man, half cat figure fell to the ground
before he knew what hit him. Blanca continued to hold the
gun on him as tears streamed down her old and weathered
face.
"I'm so sorry baby boy," she whispered.
Laura was near to fainting from a mixture of relief and
horror. She began to gasp for air, feeling as if she couldn't
breathe. She was barely aware of Jessup leading her out of
the church and offering her words of comfort.
Justin was there, holding her close and whispering in her
ear. "I love you Laura! How could you ever have doubted
that?"
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The people within the building made no move to stop their
departure. Laura's heart went out to Blanca, who had to take
the life of her own grandchild to save so many others. She
wondered what would become of the old woman.
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Once again—the nearly unbearable pain ripped through her
groin, but Laura suffered through it with something akin to
ecstasy. Each wave of pain brought her baby boy that much
closer to her arms and Laura's heart ached to hold him.
"You be close now girl, jus hold in there ... and push when
I says push," Bellea told her.
Again the searing pain overtook her and Laura pushed,
rewarded this time when she felt the tiny body slip from her
womb and cry out into the night. Several lights burned within
the confines of Justin's small cabin, and it surely wasn't the
grandest place for her child to enter the world, but it was
perfect in her eyes.
She wanted little Justin to come into the world in the
simplistic surroundings where she and Justin's love had
blossomed.
Bellea placed the squirming infant in her arms and tears
rolled down Laura's cheeks. Never in her life had she felt such
joy as she felt at that moment.
Justin knelt beside her and ran his fingers through her hair
as he proudly gazed down at his son.
"I love you, Laura, and I never want to go through another
day of my life without you."
Laura stared into his eyes and felt, more than saw the
truth of his words. She was too overcome with emotion to
speak so she just took his hand in hers and squeezed it as
tightly as she could.
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"How's my great-grandson doing?" Laura heard her
grandpa's voice from across the room. Grandpa Busby,
Kenny, and his new wife Yvette, stood in the doorway of the
cabin. Laura motioned for them all to come over. A moment
later Jessup followed them.
Laura's whole world was inside this rundown little cabin.
Her husband and son, along with the people she loved most
in the world.
Thinking back on the events leading to this moment, Laura
could not help but think that fate would have her way ... no
matter what one did to stop her.
As it turned out, Dark Claw had never had Grandpa Busby