Free Lured (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 4) by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn Page A

swallowed hard as I remembered the humiliation of having the mark on display, “It’s alright.  I’m sure everyone saw it,” I said, trying to fight back tears.  Ion gave me a sad smile and patted my shoulder.
                  “I don’t know if I can help you much.  Unfortunately, I left before that girl arrived,” he said, frowning, “Garridan would probably be a better person to ask.”
                  My shoulders slumped forward, “Thank you for your honesty.”
                  “That’s what you’ll always get from me,” he said, glancing toward the bedroom, “Even when it hurts.”
                  “Can I ask why you left?”  I said, studying his face, “I mean if it’s okay.”
                  Ion nodded as he motioned to a chair.  I sat down as he took the chair across from me.  Tamas stood near me, “I left because of Fiona,” he said, swallowing, “She was fifteen when Emilian raped her. I was there that night. I was searching for him and found him standing over her.  She was terrified and there was nothing I could do.  He’d already done the deed,” he said as a muscle twitched below his eye, “My father was so proud of him.  I found out that my mother had been raped also but because she was werewolf, my mother had been forced to marry him.  She killed herself when I was three.  My father died shortly after the rape of Lilly’s mother.  I was to be alpha but I realized that I couldn’t be like him.  I didn’t want to be like him.  So, I left.  Emilian took over and I came here.  Sophia and Gavriel accepted me with open arms.”
                  “Sophia and Gavriel took you in?” I asked with a raised brow.
                  “My mother was Sophia’s childhood friend,” Ion said with a sigh, “She was proud of me for turning away from them.  I tried to pay penance to Fiona.  She became my friend and for a while something else but that fell through and I married Tanya to protect my niece from her.”
                  “You still love Fiona,” I said, softly.
                  He nodded, “But she will never love me because of Emilian,” he said, “She is blood bonded to him and now, she’s losing her life.  It makes me angry.  He’d already taken so much from her and now this.”
                  My heart clenched as I stood, “I’m so sorry, Ion,” I whispered, “I am going to still hope that she’ll be cured.”
                  He gave me a sad smile, “If I hope, it will kill the rest of my faith if she isn’t,” he said and then, shook his head as he stood to face me, “Talk to Garridan about the girl you saw.  He has a past with the Grey wolves that is more recent than I do.  He was part of their inner circle.  I’m sure he saw the girl and knows something about her.”
                  I nodded as Tamas pulled me to the door.  I glanced back at Ion’s hopeless expression and swallowed over the tears of his despair.  If he couldn’t hope, I would have to for the both of them.
     
     
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    I was surprised to learn that my bridal shower would include the men.  I had always assumed that they didn’t but Tamas walked with me to the bonfire pit where the rest of the family waited.  He whispered that the rules changed after Mary Jane had received her parent’s wedding bands as gifts…Wedding bands they had worn during their deaths.  
                  “How awful,” I whispered sadly as I glanced toward where Mary Jane stood close to Luc.   I couldn’t imagine how it had felt to receive such an awful gift during her bridal shower.  Worse, I was sure that the memory of that gift was fresh in her mind as she stood waiting for me to open my gifts. 
                  Tamas turned to me and caressed my cheek interrupting my ability to see Mary Jane, “Don’t worry,” he