Page 31 of Dreams of Magic

Before Kenzie could reply, Sorcha spoke up, “I am not afraid of you Marshall.”

Sighing, she got up and walked toward them. As she did, he observed her closely. She was a little taller than Mackenzie, but thin, almost too thin. She had beautiful dark auburn hair that reached to her waist and was currently pulled into a loose braid, and light brown eyes that were a soft caramel color.

Her eyes had light purple circles under them, like she wasn’t sleeping, and he noticed several scars on her arms and one across her right cheek bone.

Thankfully she wasn’t looking at him because he knew his anger would show on his face and he didn’t want to scare her. Someone had mistreated her, and he wanted to destroy whoever it was. But he also knew that was not his place.

He glanced back at Marshall, who had a look on his face that he couldn’t quite decipher. But if she really was his mate as Aiden suspected, he could only imagine the thoughts going through his mind.

Kenzie stepped forward, extending her hand to shake Sorcha’s. Sorcha reached out slowly and took her hand, giving it a gentle shake, then dropped it just as fast. “Hi, I’m Kenzie. Marshall’s sister. It’s really nice to meet you.”

Sorcha gave her a shy smile, “I’m Sorcha. It’s very nice to meet you too.”

Aiden didn’t stand to greet her. The few times he’d seen her around he noticed she mostly stayed away from men, so he just nodded to her, “It’s nice to see you again Sorcha. I hope you’ve settled in, okay?”

“I have, thank you. The house you gave me is lovely.” She said this while looking at her feet and fidgeting like she was uncomfortable.

Then Marshall spoke, and he saw her flinch just the slightest bit, “Sorcha, we need to know whatever you can tell us about those wolves who attacked them. It’s important.” When she didn’t immediately reply, he lowered his voice and added, “Please?”

She took a breath, then glanced up through her lashes at Marshall, “The dark brown one is named Dimitri, the other two I don’t know.”

Marshall nodded, then asked, “And who is Dimitri?”

Sorcha looked away. She looked all around the room, like she was searching for an escape. Then she glanced at Kenzie, who gave her an encouraging smile.

Sorcha did not look away from Kenzie, talking to her instead as if it was easier, “He is a guard at Black Falls. He um… He likes to hurt us. The women I mean.” She started trembling, and Kenzie edged closer to her, taking her hand gently.

Aiden watched as Sorcha started to pull away, then instead gripped Kenzie’s hand tightly. She closed her eyes, as if she couldn’t look at them while she spoke, “Dimitri and some of the other guards and the Alpha would lock us in cages. They would beat us and.. and they um.. they did other things. Whatever they wanted. He is a cruel man who enjoys inflicting pain on others. I know most of the members of that pack are the same, at least the ones in power.”

She stopped talking. Kenzie looked horrified, and Marshall was gripping his desk so hard he was surprised it didn’t break. He asked, “How did you escape?”

“My sister’s mate is a guard. The only kind one, not like the rest. One night he snuck me out and gave me a pack with food, clothes, and some money.”

Tears were running down her face, but she kept going. “I had heard someone speak of this pack. I heard them say you were kind. So, the first time I came to a town, I found a gas station and bought a map. I don’t know how long it took, because I don’t know what day it was when I escaped, but I walked here in wolf form. A week, I think. I thought I was lost. Then I scented another wolf in the woods and figured I had reached pack territory. The wolf jumped out, and I shifted and begged him for sanctuary, hoping I had made it to the right place. And he brought me to you. You know the rest.”

Shit, this woman had been through hell. Jordan was the wolf who found her, just like he found Kenzie. “That was very brave of you Sorcha. I’m glad you made it to us.”

Aiden looked at Kenzie and saw she was crying. She noticed him looking, and with her free hand, she quickly wiped the tears away.

“Aiden, I can feel her pain.”

“I know sweetheart. If what I suspect is true, then she is in the right place to help her heal.”

She looked at him curiously, but it was not his secret to tell.

Marshall spun away from them and started running his hands through his hair, sending pieces flying. “Fuck. I will kill them all.”

He said it quietly, but the venom in his voice was obvious. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sorcha stiffen, then she straightened her shoulders, like she was going to battle and walked over to Marshall.

Very slowly, she placed her hand on his forearm. “Thank you, Marshall, but that is not necessary. They are not worth it. All I ask is that you let me stay here.”

Marshall gently placed his hand on top of hers, “You will always be welcome here Sorcha. You are my mate, even if you do not want me. I understand now. I will not push you. But no matter what, I will protect you. I give you my word, you will always be safe here.”

He heard Kenzie suck in a sharp breath. He gave her a little smile, then winked.

She smiled back. “You knew. I don’t know Marshall very well yet, but I know he is a good man. He will be able to help her, won’t he?”

“I really hope so Kenz. For both of them.”

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