Revelations (Brighton Wolves #1)

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “The first change that you’re going to notice is anger. You’re gonna become enraged at everything—the world, the people you love, your fate—nothing will be safe from your temper.”

  “I was already angry,” Gabe muttered stubbornly.

  Geoffrey shook his head but there was a ghost of a smile on his face. “You’ll understand once the changes start to happen. But aside from your temper, you may get some kind of fever or sickness. When I was changing, I had such a terrible fever I was hallucinating. If you knew the things I’d seen, you would think I was high. Then the cramps started. They were the worst part, like my body was trying to revolt against the change. I puked and cried and begged it to all stop, and once it had finally passed…”

  “You were a werewolf.”

  “Yes. And you will be, too. You can hold out all you want, but it will happen. I know that look on your face. There’s no stopping it, Gabe. If there was a way to stop it, I would have done it without hesitation. It sucks, but you’re just going to have to suck it up and accept the way your life is going to turn out. Unfortunately, when you finally shift for the first time, you’ll be inducted into the pack of the alpha that bit you—Roman’s. You’ll be under his control and you’ll be forced to do whatever he orders you to. Even if it goes against your nature, even if you fight it with your heart and soul, you’ll still follow through with it.”

  Gabe shuddered. “No. I won’t let it happen.”

  “You don’t have a choice. At least, not for now. But I don’t want you to worry, Gabe. Your father and I are going to do whatever it takes to free you from Roman’s control.” Gabe snorted and Geoffrey sighed. “I know you’re probably not too happy with your father right now, and I definitely don’t blame you for being angry with him. But even though your father has numerous faults, his greatest strength is his love for you two. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  Gwen couldn’t think of anything to say to that, and it seemed Gabe was equally stumped. He got to his feet with a groan. “I think I need to go lay down for awhile.”

  “I understand,” Geoffrey said, getting to his feet. He put his hands on Gabe’s shoulders, turning him until they were eye to eye. “Gabe, I’m truly sorry for the secrets we’ve kept, and for the way things have turned out. I think deep down you know that. I’ll make things up to you by freeing you from Roman’s curse. I swear it.” He looked at her. “I’m glad you’re safe, Gwen. We’ll do our best to keep it that way. We won’t let anything hurt you. Your safety is our priority right now. At least Grant and I agree on something.”

  Despite everything going on and all that they’d just learned, Gwen felt a warmth in her heart at his words.

  She followed Gabe up the stairs. Together they stood at the top of the landing, and Gwen got the feeling there was something Gabe wanted to say. She waited patiently for him to speak his mind, not wanting to rush him after what he’d been through today. Surprisingly, he turned away from her without a word, heading for the safety of his own room. She tried to squash the feeling of rejection before it got to her, but she couldn’t help but feel like Gabe shouldn’t be alone right now. She wanted to comfort him any way she could, even if all they did was sit in silence together.

  When the door slammed closed much louder than necessary, Gwen sighed and retreated to the isolation of her own room. She laid in bed for hours, listening to the sounds of a peaceful house. The biggest trouble maker was gone, chasing after their mother in a desperate attempt to save their crumbling and broken marriage. With him gone, the house seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, settling until it was a decent place to relax and collect her thoughts. When Grant finally returned after midnight, she could practically hear the house groaning in protest.

  Their mother didn’t return until morning. Gwen was down in the kitchen snacking on a banana while she waited for Sandra to finish breakfast. Like always, she’d offered to help her aunt cook, and like always, Sandra’s answer had been a very firm yet polite no. The front door opened and shut very quietly, and Gwen turned to find her mother sneaking through the living room. She hadn’t so much as looked in their direction, simply pretending as if they didn’t exist to her anymore.

  “He’s not here,” Gwen said quietly, unsure if she should be approaching her mother at a time like this. “He went out for a morning run. Said it would relax him after last night.”

  Karen’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and she came to linger in the kitchen doorway, still refusing to pay attention to Sandra. Gwen’s gaze slid across the room to her aunt, wondering if she’d take offense to Karen’s treatment of her. If she noticed—and Gwen was sure she had—she didn’t seem ready to comment on it. What would she even say? Sorry I slept with your husband and ruined both of our families? Sorry your husband is a piece of garbage?

  Karen cleared her throat, and Gwen realized she must have been talking while she was lost in her own thoughts. “I’m sorry, Mom. What?”

  “Gwen, I want you and your brother to go upstairs and start packing. The three of us are leaving Brighton by noon.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” her mother interrupted. “I’m not staying in this hellhole a minute longer than I have to. We left for a reason years ago, and now that I know the real reason we’re not ever coming back. Say goodbye to your uncle and go get your stuff ready. Don’t make me do it for you.”

  “Mom, we can’t leave!” Gwen said.

  “Gwen, it’s not safe for you here. We belong back home, where I can protect you from this madness.”

  “Karen, I’m sorry for what’s happening right now, but Gwen and Gabe are not going to be safe no matter where they go. If Roman wants them, he’s going to get them, and even though I know you mean well, you’re just not equipped to protect them in this situation. Their best chance of surviving is to stay here in this house with Grant and I to protect them. What would you do if a wolf burst in your front door and there was nobody there to help you?”

  Karen shook her head. “No, absolutely not. This is crazy. They’re my children and they’re coming home with me. I won’t hear another word on the subject.” She turned her steely gaze on Gwen. “I told you to go pack. This instant! You’re coming home with me and that’s final.”

  “What about dad?” Gwen dared to ask.

  “Honestly, I don’t care what your father does. I’m sure he’s got somewhere he can stay. Somewhere he won’t be lonely or miserable,” she muttered under her breath.

  Gwen winced at what her mother was saying, but it was Gabe that called her out on it. “Mom, I know that you and dad are going through some things right now, but we don’t need to hear about it. There are a lot more important things going on right now, like trying to keep Gwen and I from ending up like Ginny. And I know you don’t wanna hear it, but Uncle Geoffrey is right; this is the safest place for us right now. He’s gonna be able to protect us. Dad, too. You’re just a human, as weird as that sounds.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” Gabe said, a hint of a smile on his lips. “I know dad’s a miserable bastard—believe me, we all do—but that doesn’t change the fact that he loves us. And he’s more capable of protecting us than you. Don’t think of this as us choosing sides, Mom. We would never do that to you. But right now, being with you isn’t good for us, or for you. It’ll be safer for you if you go home and wait for all of this to blow over.”

  She looked ready to object, like she wanted to scream at them to think clearly and do what she said. But one look at their faces and she sighed, all of the fight going out of her in one heartbreaking instant. “You’re right,” she said softly, trying to sound strong. “I know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She stepped closer, extending her arms out to Gabe. Shockingly, he stepped into her welcome arms, embracing her like they had when they were children. “When did my little boy turn into such a brave man?”

  Gabe didn’t look as embarrassed as Gwen thought he might. Instead, h
e looked proud at their mother’s praise, as if he craved it, like a flower leaning towards the warmth of the sun. He gave her a sad smile. “I don’t know about brave. I don’t feel very brave.”

  “Oh, you are,” she said, caressing Gabe’s cheek. “I’m gonna miss you. Both of you,” she said, turning towards Gwen. “Come here and give me a hug before I go.”

  Gwen got to her feet and practically ran into her mother’s waiting arms, planting her face in Karen’s chest. She hadn’t even realized she was crying until her mother was stroking her hair and whispering soothing things in her ears, just like she’d done Gwen’s entire life. “I’m g-gonna miss you, Mom,” she said, stumbling through the words as she fought to keep from choking on her tears.

  “I’m gonna miss you, too. Now, while I’m gone, I want you both to promise me you’ll look after one another. Don’t let anything come between you.” She pulled them close and lowered her voice. “Don’t ever turn out like your dad and your uncle.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Geoffrey twitch just a bit and she knew that he must have heard what Karen said. Of course he did, she thought. Werewolves would have really amazing hearing. I wonder what else he’s overheard since we’ve been here…

  Karen left the kitchen to go pack, and when she was done, she said another quick round of goodbyes before she took her stuff out to the family car. Gwen and Gabe watched from the front porch as their mother drove away, much faster than she ever had before. Their mother rarely got angry, and she never drove when she did. Gwen could only imagine what her emotional state was like right now, and she wondered if they should have taken her keys and given her a chance to cool down and collect herself before leaving.

  As their mother disappeared out of sight, she saw Grant emerge from the woods. He was sweaty and dirty and his eyes were wild, as if he’d been awake for three straight days and on the most incredible high ever. She could tell the instant he saw the family car driving away, because he froze on the spot, quickly coming down from the natural high he was riding. He looked from the empty road to the porch and back to the empty road, finally putting the pieces together when he saw that Gwen and Gabe both had tears in their eyes. He raced to the porch, completely bounding past the steps and skidding to a stop beside them.

  “Where did your mother go?” he asked, his voice too loud and anxious, almost paranoid sounding.

  “She left,” Gabe said, his voice much more flat than their father’s. His eyes betrayed his feelings though, and they gave the truth away easily enough. “She’s not coming back, and it’s your fault.”

  “Gabe!” Geoffrey said, his voice harsh and stern. “Now is not the time for placing blame. Right now, we have to focus on keeping Gwen safe and freeing you from Roman. Nothing else matters right now.” He looked to Grant, who was glaring at Gabe as if he was an enemy that deserved to be throttled. “I suggest we go inside and talk things out like civilized people.”

  Gabe snorted. “What about this is civilized? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re fucking monsters! I’m cursed to be a freak for the rest of my life, and it’s all because of him,” he said, jerking his head towards their father. “He’s a liar, a monster, and not to mention a cheating pig!”

  Like a gunshot going off, Grant snapped, lunging at Gabe. He grabbed a fistful of Gabe’s shirt and hauled him closer until they were face to face, sneering at each other through narrowed eyes and curled lips. Gwen was torn; part of her wanted to back far enough away to avoid what she knew was coming next, and part of her wanted to get right in between them and do her best to break it up. Her mind was torn but her body wasn’t. It remained firmly rooted to the spot, refusing to budge an inch either way.

  “What did you just say to me?”

  Gabe brought his hand down on Grant’s forearm, breaking his hold and forcing him back a step. “You heard me. Are you gonna deny it? You’ve lied to all of us our entire lives—especially mom! Do you have any idea how badly you hurt her? She’s in so much pain she had to flee this place just to keep her sanity. And it’s all because of you and your selfishness.”

  Grant looked like a bomb about to explode. His face was rapidly turning red and his teeth were clenched so hard Gwen could hear them grinding together. He was shaking and it looked like he was ready to swing at Gabe and knock him to the ground. But like Gwen, he seemed torn about what to do. He was facing an enemy, but that enemy was his own son.

  He was clearly at war with himself, and in the end, it was easier to take his frustrations out on someone else completely. As he turned, his fist lashed out and he struck Geoffrey across the face, knocking him into the side of the house. He bounced off the house and lunged at Grant, not even registering Grant’s attack. He charged, hitting Grant in a football tackle around the waist, and the two went flying off the porch. They hit the ground with a thud, rolling around as they both tried to get a firm grasp on the other.

  Geoffrey had Grant’s arms pinned at his sides, but he brought his foot up, planting it firmly against Geoffrey’s stomach. He launched his brother across the yard, and he rolled to a stop when he slammed into the porch hard enough to crack the wood and split it nearly to the door. He was on his feet in an instant though, as if he hadn’t even felt Grant’s attack and was ready for round two. Grant must have thought his brother wouldn’t be much of a challenge, because he wasn’t ready for Geoffrey’s counter attack.

  Their movements were so fast Gwen could hardly follow them, but she caught a glimpse of Geoffrey driving his knee into Grant’s stomach. As he doubled over in pain, wheezing for air, Geoffrey brought his cupped hands down on Grant’s back, dropping him to the ground. He stepped back—whether to admire his handy work or end the fight Gwen wasn’t sure—and Grant rolled over, gasping as he struggled to regain his composure.

  Gwen silently begged her father to stay down so the fight could end. If it went on any longer, there was no telling who might get hurt. The two of them had been at each other’s throats for years, and they were finally together again and able to take out their frustrations on one another. It had been pent up inside for so long, Gwen was afraid things might even turn deadly.

  Dad would never do that. They might fight all the time, but they’re still family, and deep down…they love each other. Don’t they? Seeing the look of unyielding rage on her father’s face, Gwen wasn’t so sure. Was it possible that her father hated his own brother so much that he might actually considering killing him? God I hope nothing ever makes Gabe and I see each other that way.

  Grant didn’t even get to his feet. He struggled to bring himself to his knees and lunged for Geoffrey. He was able to snag Geoffrey’s ankles, bringing him down hard to the ground. Geoffrey’s jaws clamped together, biting down through his lip. She could see bloody saliva dribble from his mouth as he braced himself on his hands and knees, his breathing as ragged as Grant’s. The two stared each other down, neither of them ready to get back on their feet but both unwilling to back down.

  Gwen was unsure of what to do. All she could do was watch in horror as they both half crawled half lunged at one another, locking their arms together. She thought they might be trying to strangle each other, but she couldn’t be sure. Finally, she had the courage to move, and she darted in, wrapping her arms around Grant’s neck, trying to haul him away from Geoffrey. But she was just a girl and he was a mythical enraged monster. She wasn’t going to be any help in separating the two.

  Suddenly, Gabe was by her side, adding his hands to the fray. With his help, they were able to force their father away from their uncle, but he fought and cursed them the entire time. Flailing around as he tried to free himself from their grasp, his elbow came back, clipping Gabe in the face. She stared at her brother in horror as the change came over him in an instant.

  His eyes narrowed and his lips curled back. The vein in his forehead began to bulge, along with the ones on his arms and neck. She saw his shoulders go back and his chest puff out, making him look dramatically bigger and insanely threa
tening. She felt herself taking a step back, terrified of the stranger standing before her, even though she was sure he would never hurt her under any circumstances. Before she could even shout a warning to her father, Gabe was on him like a demon straight out of hell.

  If she had thought their fight was bad, it was nothing compared to the destruction Gabe was doling out. He was like a force of nature, raining blows over Grant’s face so fast there was no chance for their father to even defend himself. He was utterly helpless beneath the towering hulk that Gabe had transformed into. She screamed his name, but it was clear he didn’t hear her—or he didn’t care if he did. As the carnage continued, Gwen realized she wasn’t the only one in shock. Geoffrey was staring, transfixed in a mixture of amazement and horror that mirrored her own.

  Finally, he sprang into action, tackling Gabe away from Grant. The two of them rolled through the grass, where Geoffrey was able to pin Gabe to the ground on his stomach with his arms at his sides. He thrashed beneath Geoffrey, squirming to try and break free, but it was no use. Even though he was enraged, Geoffrey was still bigger, had far more experience fighting, and had the upper hand. As she watched, Gabe’s anger began to fade and his features returned to normal. Once again, she was staring into the face of someone she knew, not a complete stranger.

  She knelt down in the grass beside her father, never taking her eyes off of Gabe as he laid there in the grass, crying over what had just happened. The grass was wet on her knees, and she tried not to think about why. It’s just from the last rain. That’s all it is, she lied to herself. But one look at her father, and that lie faded away, replaced by a harsh truth.

  If she hadn’t just witnessed the fight, she would never have been able to tell that it was her father lying on his back in front of her. His face had been bruised and battered and it was broken beyond recognition. His nose was sideways and blood gushed from it, staining his face and chest a horrifying red color. His eyes had already swollen shut, blocking him from seeing anything but the backs of his own eyelids. He coughed up a thick lump of blood and god knew what else. He spat into the grass, and Gwen was startled to see two white teeth in the mix.

  One of his eyes managed to open into a thin slit, and Gwen hovered closer. His mouth opened, but he made no sound other than a deathly moan. “Dad? Do you need to go to a hospital or something? Is there anything I can do for you? Please?” She was scared that even his werewolf special powers might not be enough to fully heal him from what was probably the most brutal fight of his life. The thought of him dying right in front of her eyes—as much as she hated him right now—would have scarred her for life.

  “Gabe, stop!” Grant turned his head at the sound of his brother’s voice. “Gabriel!” Gwen whipped her head around at the urgency in her uncle’s voice. All she saw was Gabe’s back as he disappeared into the woods, fleeing from the nightmarish scene that he had helped create. She wanted to call after him, even chase him down to comfort him as he’d done for her so many times before, but she remained rooted firmly to the spot.

  Instead, it was Grant that moved. He managed to get into a sitting position, groaning with the effort. From there, Gwen helped him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed in her arms. Before she could tell him to take it easy, he was running in the same direction Gabe had just gone. She and Geoffrey stared after them in shock, neither of them sure of what to do next. She felt herself take a hesitant step forward, but Geoffrey put a hand on her shoulder, halting her.

  “Gwen, I want you to go back inside where it’s safe,” he said, his voice soft and somehow stern. “The woods are no place for you at a time like this. I know it’s hard to let Gabe go, but this is something he has to figure out on his own. Grant will find him, and when he does, they’ll come home and we’ll put all of this past us.”

  She glanced up at her uncle. “How do you manage to put something like this past you? Clearly you and Dad have held a grudge for years against each other, over more than one thing. This is one of those things, Uncle Geoffrey. No one is putting today behind them.”

  He sighed. “You’d be surprised, Gwen. People can put all sorts of things behind them after talking things out.”

  “So…does that mean you and Dad never talked things out? About Ginny?” She wasn’t sure if she should ask, but after what just happened, she didn’t care for formalities or proper etiquette when it came to conversations.

  “No, we didn’t,” he admitted. She thought she heard a hint of sadness in his voice, but dismissed it. “He and I were both furious at each other, and we both thought we were in the right. Neither of us was ready to talk about it until the other apologized, and he certainly wasn’t going to get an apology from me—though he felt he deserved one.” He looked down at her, a sad smile on his face. “Gabe will be alright in the end. You two are very lucky to have each other, and you’ll help guide one another through whatever obstacles life throws at you.”

  She smiled, happy at that thought despite what had just gone on. She knew he was right. She and Gabe would always be there for one another, no matter what happened in life, no matter where their paths took each other. That thought gave her a warm, glowing feeling in the pit of her stomach. Before all of this had happened, she had never truly realized how blessed she was to have Gabe as her big brother. If only one positive thing came from the nightmare they currently found themselves in, it was that knowledge.

  She left Geoffrey standing on the front porch, his eyes cast towards the woods as he waited for Gabe’s return. It was still light out, but the day so far had left Gwen feeling drained—emotionally and physically. She couldn’t bring herself to stay up in the living room and wait for Gabe. Instead, she dragged her feet up the stairs and shut herself in Ginny’s room, hoping that Gabe would let her know as soon as he came home, just so she could stop worrying.

  Not that that was going to happen anytime soon. Her life was nothing but worry, and it looked like things were only going to get worse.