“Laura, I know I am not your mommy,” Pearl said, her voice soft. “I know you miss her, and you may feel like I am trying to take her place. I know how you feel because I lost my mommy too.”
The little girl continued to cry but she seemed to finally be listening to Pearl.
“I was actually just as old as you when I lost my mother in an accident,” Pearl whispered. “Someone killed her because of some grudge they had with my father. I lived in a broken-down house, all alone with no one there to support me. I know you miss your mommy, and I miss my mommy too. Even though it has been so many years, I miss my mommy every day.”
“Did your mommy sing you to sleep every night?” Laura whispered, looking at her with wide, tear-filled eyes.
“Yes, and she made me my favorite cookies every single weekend,” Pearl said, softly stroking her hair. “She would read me a bedtime story and then sing me a lullaby until I fell asleep. No one did it for me after she passed away.
“Laura, listen to me,” Pearl said, looking into her eyes. “I am not here to take your mommy’s place. I am just here to look after you and keep you safe and happy, that’s all.”
Laura remained silent, staring down at the picture of her mother before finally putting it down and giving Pearl a tight hug. It surprised her but she immediately pulled the little girl closer and held her until Laura finally moved away.
“Now, how about some food, and then we get you to bed?” Pearl whispered.
Laura nodded and Pearl picked her up and walked over to open the room of the door. She almost gasped in surprise when she saw Rio standing there, gazing at her intently.
“I am sorry. I didn’t realize that you were home,” Pearl said.
“Uncle Rio!” Laura shouted, jumping off Pearl’s lap and into the arms of Rio. Pearl swallowed as he continued to stare at her intently as if trying to read her very soul.
*
Pearl walked down the street, wrapping her arms around her as the cold breeze blew through the air. She needed to get herself a jacket before winter arrived, otherwise she was going to be a shivering mess. She had finally gotten an advance on her salary from the agency and now, she could find a better place for her father to live. She was still rather far from home, having just left the penthouse.
She heard faint footsteps behind her, and she slowly picked up her pace. Her mind turned to the conversation she had with Mrs. Hayes, and she shivered once again, only this time, it wasn’t because of the cold. If he had already traced her all the way to Mrs. Hayes’s house, it wouldn’t be long before he found out where Pearl was hiding. She shuddered as she remembered the bloodshot eyes and the horrible scar that marred his face.
“I finally got you, you bitch!” She heard a voice say behind her and she screamed as she turned around. She saw a pair of yellow eyes and even yellower teeth, as the sleazy man grinned at her. She screamed and her voice echoed in the empty alleyway. His hands closed around her throat as she screamed for help again and again, but there was no one around to hear her.
Chapter 8
Rio closed his eyes as he lay in bed, trying to get himself to sleep. He kept thinking of Pearl as she softly told Laura about her mother. Something stirred in his cold heart and he felt a wave of sympathy for the young girl, who clearly had suffered a lot in her life. He turned over, starting to feel restless as his mind continued to work in overdrive.
He had a lot to worry about already, what with his recent problems with the Rain clan after he had stopped their unjust attack on the humans. Someone was attacking his squads, and he was starting to worry because he couldn’t find out who was behind it. His mind drifted off to Pearl and Laura, and the way both of them seemed to share the same pain. His sister’s memory flashed in front of him and he clenched his jaw. Her beautiful smiling face as she stood in her white wedding dress, beaming brightly at everyone around her. And then her tired, but happy-looking face as she held a tiny, little baby in her arms. And then he remembered her face, with her eyes wide as blood pooled around her.
He sat up, panting as the sweat rolled over his body. He would never be able to get over the death of his beloved sister, and it still haunted him to this day.
Suddenly, the bear in him gave a heart-wrenching howl and started to twist in pure agony and pain. He gasped, grabbing his heart as the agony burned throughout his body. His mind started over-working as he tried to figure out why he was feeling such a way. An image flashed before his eyes and he suddenly had an idea what was wrong. Pearl was in trouble; he just knew it. He didn’t have time to wonder how he knew it or why his bear was howling in agony at something that was happening to her. He had to find her and get to her, otherwise he would be too late.
“Greg!” he shouted, opening the door. One of his bodyguards instantly ran over, alert and ready to handle any situation. “I need you to stay behind and protect Laura at all costs. I want Bane and Larry to come with me, right this instant!”
He ran out of the mansion, trying to figure out where she could have gone. He had her address in the company records and he gave a quick order to Larry to find out. He ran out of the building, feeling grateful that everyone else was asleep by then.
He ran out onto the streets, trying to use his superhuman sense of smell to see if he could find any trace of Pearl’s familiar scent. He found a faint trace rather quickly, and followed it, with his guards closely following him.
He turned into a dark alleyway, the scent getting stronger every step he took. He heard a breathless scream and then a choking sound and he accelerated. His eyes spotted her in the dark, struggling against a tall, sleazy looking man. Rio started to run faster, reaching the injured girl just before she fell down and grabbing her in his arms. He could hear his guards attacking the man behind him as he quickly tried to assess her injuries.
“He tried-” she stammered, choking and trying to breathe. “-tried to kidnap- wanted to take-”
“It’s alright,” he said, trying to calm her down. “Don’t worry about it. Calm down. You are safe now, okay?” he said, slowly stroking her hair.
She continued to look at him with wide eyes as he tried to sum up her injuries. A loud roar alerted him, and he turned around to find both his guards on the floor. The man, who he had mistaken for a human, had shifted into a bear. Rio should have sensed it and alerted his bodyguards beforehand, but he had been so distracted by Pearl that he hadn’t realized. The man had clearly taken advantage of their surprise and managed to attack them.
He carefully placed Pearl on the floor and turned around to face his enemy.
“You guys alright?” Rio said, looking at his guards. “Any serious injuries?”
“I am fine,” Larry said. “This bastard just caught me by surprise, that’s all.”
“I think I fractured my arm,” Bane said, standing up.
“Right. Bane, I want you to protect Pearl,” Rio ordered. “Let’s take him down, Larry.”
With that, he started to shift, slowly turning into his bear form. He felt his body contort as his muscles and bones started to change into that of a bear.
“You are about to be very sorry!” Rio growled, landing on all four feet before running to attack his enemy. Pearl's life was in danger, and he was going to protect her at all costs. The fight was swift, and despite being a shifter, the man offered no challenge to Rio. He was the alpha of the clan for a reason. It wasn’t long before the man was held down by Larry.