First Draft

Fiona's POV

"I want to see the photos, Rowan." He looked at me, and I hated the pity I saw in his eyes.

As he held the envelope against his chest, I felt dizzy, like I would faint. Rowan stood, still clutching the yellowish envelope that showed its age, but made no move to hand it over. I untangled myself from Kat, struggling on weakened legs, and advanced to the desk, placing my palms on the cool wood. "Hand them over!" Tears welled again in my eyes. "Don't make me physically take them from you!"

Instead, he moved around the desk and faced me. "Are you sure now is a good time to look at these, lass?" He raised his brows and grimaced.

"I want to see them right now!" I turned, facing Kat, who was standing beside Rian. "And you..." With narrowed, wet eyes, I shouted, "You knew all this, Katrina! I thought you were my best friend, the sister I never had-the sister of my heart! How could you keep this from me?"

Kat cried anew, and Rian placed his arm around her waist. "I wanted to tell you, Fi, I really did. I needed to unburden myself from carrying this... this torment all alone! How do you think I felt going through this by myself?" she screamed while Rian tried to console her. "Don't you get it? Think about it, Fiona. Why do you think I never told you, huh?" Kat wiped at her eyes, her chest heaving, and her nose running from the outburst.

"That bastard, Quinn, would be my guess," Rian announced, glancing at Kat and me.

"Yes..." Kat's face crumbled. "He threatened to kill Fiona if I ever told her!"

"Jesus!" Rowan shook his head. "I knew he was an evil bastard, but this... this is beyond evil."

"Fi..." Kat ventured. "Please believe me, Fi!"

I sat on the floor and cried, sobs wracking my body, and realized none of this was Kat's fault, but I was too stunned to think straight. Warm arms engulfed me, pulling me to my feet and into an embrace. "Don't cry, lass. Everything will be fine. Let's get away from here and forget about Sexflex. We need some time to figure out what happened and what he has done to all of you." Rowan's voice held tenderness as he pushed my hair out of my eyes and wiped away tears with his thumb.

As much as I loved the feel of his arms around me and his gentle touch, I shifted away from him. "No! I know how important this is to you and the safety of your pack. I'll be fine. We can continue searching for information and try looking at his computer." I nodded to the laptop on the desk.

"He'll have a password on it, love," Rian said. "Rowan is right. We need to get you both back to the house. You and Kat should have a proper talk about everything."

Wiping my nose with the sleeve of my shirt, I nodded. "I'm sorry, Kat, but I felt overwhelmed.

"I know, and it's okay. That was an enormous blow, and I would have reacted the same."

"So here's what we are going to do," Rowan said, taking charge like an alpha. "Leave your father a note and tell him after your wild experience that you and Kat are taking a brief holiday somewhere..."

"Will he believe that?" Rian asked.

"He won't like it..." Kat replied.

"No, but he will believe it. I've been telling him I want to go to New York," I said, as the plan took root in my head. "He knows I'm sore with him, and he'll think I'm trying to punish him."

"How often does Quinn go out of town? When can we sneak back in?" Rowan asked.

"Check his planner on the desk." Kat pointed to a brown leather-bound book.

Rowan leafed through the pages. "Bingo. He is leaving again on Wednesday, and I'm not sure where he's going, but he has three days marked off." Rowan studied the planner, his forehead marred in concentration. "I don't know if it means anything, but he's leaving during the full moon." He looked up at us.

"It means he's going hunting," Rian stated.

Rowan smacked his forehead. "Of course he is. What was I thinking? The bastard can't resist a full moon."

As I listened, my father's wickedness sickened me. But was he my father? I wasn't sure about anything anymore. I just wanted out of this house, especially this room. "Rowan..." I crossed my arms and glared at him. "I still want to see those photos."

"You have my word that when we get back to the house, I will give you the envelope. Now, let's get out of here. Do you girls have some essentials gathered?"

"Yes. I told you we would be prepared. Come on, let's get out of here." As I looked around the vile room, I shivered.

When we left the house, I let out a sigh of relief. I was so afraid my father, or whoever the monster was, would show up. As I sat in silence, thinking over everything I'd learned, I was more confused. Was I a part fairy? Did I belong to Cormac Quinn? And did he kill my mother? Was she my mother or just another lie on his growing list? Did she help my father with his devious deeds? And if she was my mother... why did she leave me with that beast?

"Somebody say something," Kat said. "This silence is deafening."

"I think we are all in shock," Rian announced.

That was a colossal understatement. "I am beyond shocked and have so many questions! How will I ever get the answers?" I held my face in my hands, fighting back tears when a thought occurred to me. "Wait... Are you taking us back to your house?"

"Aye," Rowan announced with his eyes focused on the road.

"But you said we shouldn't stay at your house, remember? You said we would put your family and pack in danger..."

"I know what I said, lass, but plans change." He glanced at me with a smile and back at the road. "Your letter should suffice, and I doubt he will think you came back to hang out with some mangy werewolves."

Rian and Kat giggled, but I was too upset to find any humor in his words. "Well, if you're sure," I told him. "My father or whoever he is has caused your pack enough grief, and I don't want to add any more."

"Relax, lass, we are almost home." The word home felt nice, and I daydreamed of him and his house being my home, but it could never be. Cormac Quinn, regardless if he was my paternal father or not, ruined my chances, and being human and part fairy didn't help. My musings made me feel like I was on the verge of a meltdown. How much more could one person take?

Deep breaths, Fiona. In through your nose and out through your mouth, I chanted to myself and tried to focus on the scenery. I felt the familiar knot in my tummy, and a flash of heat consumed me, and I knew nausea would come next if I didn't calm down. While I was prone to anxiety attacks, I hadn't had one in a while, and I didn't want it to happen in front of Rowan. When breathing through it didn't work, the urge to pull off my sweatshirt was all-consuming as beads of sweat popped along my forehead. "I'm sorry," I said through ragged breaths and tore off the offending garment, pulling it over my head, and leaving me in a black tank top. "I'm hot, and I might get sick."

Rowan glanced at me with concern, and Kat yelled, "Roll down the windows! She's having a panic attack!"

"Christ! Are you okay, lass? Should I pull over? What should I do?"

"Pull over, bro," Rian said. "Does she need a doctor, Kat?"

"No," I whispered as Rowan pulled onto a side street. "Just need air." Kat got out and helped me out of the SUV. She pulled my hair back just in time before I spewed my stomach contents onto the grass, gravel, and weeds.

"That's it, love," she whispered near my ear. "I need a cloth or a napkin or something real quick." She held her hand out, waiting.

Rowan grabbed the fast food napkins from the center console and leaned over, handing them to Kat. "What else can I do?"

"Fi, do you have your medication with you? Did you remember to bring it?" Kat asked me.

I wiped my mouth and gulped air as tears from vomiting ran down my cheeks. "Yes. They are in my Fendi bag." Embarrassed and spent, I backed up to the seat and perched on the edge. I couldn't bear to face Rowan yet. Kat dug through my bag, and found the small green prescription bottle, and placed a little blue pill in my hand.

"Take it, now," she said and narrowed her eyes at me. She knew I hated taking them, but needs must. They made me groggy and downright loopy, but they were a sure fix for an anxiety attack.

"I don't have any water," I moaned like a petulant child.

"Just let it melt under your tongue, you big baby," Kat scolded me and watched as I placed the nerve pill in my mouth. "Are you going to be okay now?"

"I hope so." I pushed up on my palms and situated myself in the seat, holding onto the napkins and staring straight ahead. Kat closed the door, and I let my head fall back on the headrest.

When Kat was back in the vehicle, Rowan asked, "Are you sure you're okay, lass? Should I get you a drink or water?"

"I'm fine. Just take me home, Rowan, please."

***

Sometime later, I awoke confused and thirsty, but it didn't take long to remember where I was and why. I reached over to feel for Kat, but her side of the bed was cold. It was pitch black, and I wondered where she could be. I couldn't remember much after taking that blasted pill, just a hazy memory of Rowan carrying me inside the house back to his mother's bedroom and Kat getting me settled. Kat should be here with me again, but perhaps she slept elsewhere.

I reached for the bedside table in search of my phone, to no avail. "Shit," I whispered, climbing out of bed with care. I still felt light-headed and weak, but combining a panic attack and a little blue pill would do that. My feet hit the floor, and I stepped into my bag. Good, I thought, while digging around inside, and found my cell phone. It was two a.m. Sunday morning, I wondered where was Kat. It was unsettling not knowing where she was, and I didn't enjoy being alone in a strange place after everything I'd been through today.

Now that I had my bearings, I needed the bathroom, something to drink, and I was going to find Kat. After relieving my bladder, I stepped out into the darkened hallway. Although not familiar with the house, I knew where the kitchen was and tiptoed, quiet as a mouse, using my phone to guide me. The light switch was inside the archway, and I flipped it on as I entered.

"Fiona!" Rowan whispered, startling me. "Are you all right, lass? Can I get you something?" He was sitting on a bar stool at the island with his hands wrapped around a mug.

"Gosh!" I exclaimed with my hand over my chest. "You frightened me." The effect of the medication still had me drowsy, and I grabbed the counter to steady myself.

"I'm sorry, but I wasn't expecting anyone at this time of night. How do you feel?" He jumped off the bar stool and strode over to me, his intense penetrating eyes peering into mine. The concern seemed etched on his face, and it made me blush.

I couldn't meet Rowan's stare anymore. I saw too much in his expressive red-rimmed eyes and glanced at my phone. "Much better, thanks, but I woke up thirsty.

With a gentle touch, he took my elbow, leading me to the table by the windows, and held out a chair for me. Sometimes he could be kind, causing me to fall for him again. "Now, lass... you relax, and I'll grab you some water. Are you hungry? You missed supper."

"No, I don't think my stomach could handle food yet, but water would be grand," I said over my shoulder and glanced at the inky sky, noticing the twinkling stars and the moon so bright and beautiful, casting a peaceful glow.

Rowan placed the bottled water in front of me and sat across the table. "Thank you," I said before taking a large gulp of the cold liquid. "Ahh, much better." I took a few more sips, feeling self-conscious as he stared at me. "Where's Kat?"

"Kat..." he ventured, his brows knitting together in confusion. "In bed, I would presume."

"Did you put her in a guest room instead of with me?" I asked with a pout.

"No, Rian put her belongings in the room while we got you settled, and she went to bed after we had Chinese takeout."

My heart sped up at the implication, and dozens of dangerous scenarios entered my mind. "Well, she's gone! Oh, what could have happened to her, Rowan?" I jumped up from the chair, glaring at him. "Don't just sit there! We have to find her. What if my father-"

"Take it easy, lass," Rowan interrupted. "Nobody has breached our security. She's somewhere in this house or the guards would have alerted me."

My breathing and heartbeat slowed down, and I realized I trusted him. "But where in the house?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Do you want to come or go back to bed?"

"I'm coming," I told him and took a long drink from my water before following him.

"Let's wake Rian so he can help us search. It'll be quicker that way, and you can get more rest. I can tell you need it."

Bloody brilliant! I must look a right mess. At the top of the staircase, he stopped at the first door on the right and grabbed the handle.

I pulled on the back of his t-shirt and whispered, "Are you not gonna knock?"

"No, lass. I'm waking him up so we can find your wayward friend."

I shrugged. Well, that's rude.

Rowan opened the door and flicked on the light. "Oh, for fuck's sake, Rian!" he yelled.

I gasped, placing my hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. I didn't react as shocked as Rowan because I knew Kat...

"Jesus, Rowan! Some privacy, man!" Rian growled and tried to cover himself and Kat, but it was too late. We had seen it all... every dirty detail.

***

My, my, my! There's a lot to take in, hu? And Kat and Rian... together in bed and busted! Vote and comment if you enjoyed this crazy chapter.

xxxooo Lisa