Chapter 14 Tia's Pain

Angela POV

I help Tia to a bedroom. She is so weak she can barely stand or walk. I point out the bathroom to her. "The bathroom is behind that door. I can help you into the bathroom if you need me to," I say to her.

"I think I can do it, but thanks," Tia says.

Tia struggles into the bathroom to shower. She is broken and afraid, yet somehow relieved now that she knows we will help her. I cannot believe things like this are happening. How can the vampires and wolves get away with such horrible acts against other people? Money. Plain and simple, they have money. A rich wolf or rich vampire can do whatever the hell they want to whoever they want. If you have enough money to pay off the right people.

I select Tia pants and a shirt from the closet and then some underclothing from the drawer. I stand outside the bathroom listening to her cry. I know she is in pain. “Tia, I picked you out some clothes. I can lay the clothes on the sink if you would like,” I say to her.

“Please, thank you for being so kind. No one has been kind to me since we were taken,” she says. She continues to sob in the shower. Let it out, Tia, and I know how it feels to be overwhelmed with fear.

I step into the bathroom and lay the clothing on the sink. Her sobs make my heart ache for her. “Did you find everything you needed? If there is something you need, I can get it for you,” I ask her.

“Yes, you all thought of everything. I have not had a shower except for the day he took our picture for the auction. He would hose us down inside the boxes,” she says. The memory of that makes her cry.

“Not me. Draco did all of this. I only came here yesterday,” I say.

She opens the shower and peeks out at me. “You were in the auction?” Tia asks.

“Yes, I was trying to find my friend, Deanne, and the Alpha took me to the wolf work camp. I ran away with Aspen's help, but he still put me in the auction. I have known Draco my entire life. I came here for help, and then I found out he is helping people escape the auction,” I say.

She closes the curtain and returns to her shower. “I cannot get the smell of Craig and his gross wife off of me. I keep scrubbing, but I can smell him and her. I want to smell like me, not that vile bastard, or that fucking box,” Tia says.

“I am sorry you went through so much. I saw what he did when you got out of the van. He is a real bastard,” I say.

“My sister went through more than I did. Craig liked her a lot, and his disgusting wife wanted to have sex with Fia. She would touch her and fondle her. I think the fact Craig was so infatuated with her made the wife angry. She would beat her with anything that she could get her hands on, I hate them,” Tia says.

“I heard Draco come up the stairs. I am going to check on your sister, and then I will be right back to help you settle in and get you something to eat,” I say.

"Please hurry back. I do not want to be alone. I am afraid," Tia says.

"I will hurry," I say.

I leave Tia in the bathroom. I open the bedroom door. I see Aspen standing in the hall. “Aspen, is she okay?” I ask.

He nods his head no. “What should I tell her sister?” I ask.

“Nothing, yet. Draco is working on her. Whatever it is, let Draco tell her, okay,” Aspen says softly.

Aspen looks worried. I step out into the hall. He pulls me into his arms. “Draco will do everything he can for her. Craig really did a number on her. Poor girl,” Aspen says.

“I better get back to her sister. She is afraid to be alone. Aspen, she told me that Craig and his wife were awful to Fia,” I say. Aspen leans down and kisses me.

“You are doing great with her. Let her talk if she wants; if not, just sit with her. She has been through a lot. It will mean a lot just to have you there for her,” Aspen says.

I walk back to the bedroom to check on Tia. I turn the gold knob on the door and go back into the bedroom. Tia is out of the shower and dressed. “How is she? Can I see her?” Tia asks.

I walk toward her slowly, waving my hand at her to stop. “She is in bad shape. Draco is working on her. Let him help her, and then I will take you to see her,” I say.

Tia falls to the floor in anguish. I know that feeling of defeat all too well. “This is all my fault,” Tia says.

“No, this is not your fault. It is that damn vampire devil Craig's fault. Do not blame yourself for what they have done to your sister,” I say. I go to Tia and sit down on the floor beside her. I take her into my arms and hold her. She is shivering and sobbing for her sister.

“Draco will let you see her soon. We have to let him help her,” I say.

I rub her back and try to soothe Tia. Aspen steps into the room to check on us. I know he is worried. I can see it in his face. He steps back out as quickly as he stepped into the room. I can handle Tia. He needs to help Draco with Fia.

“No, it is my fault. Fia was with me when I answered an ad for a job. I took her with me. When the man realized we were hybrids, he called Craig. He sold us to Craig,” Tia says.

“You had no way of knowing that man was going to sell you. This situation is not your fault. You have to give Draco the information about the man that sold you. He will make him pay for what he did to you,” I say.

I hold Tia for over an hour on the floor when Aspen comes into the room. “You can see your sister now,” Aspen says to Tia.

Tia leaps to her feet and runs across the hall to see her sister. I try to follow her, but Aspen stops me. “You do not want to go in there right now. She is very sick. She needs her sister, and we need to give them space,” Aspen says.

I lean into Aspen. He is right. I should back down. “You know, you were really good with her. You should help Draco with all of this. You are a natural caregiver,” Aspen says.

“Maybe, I was in med school, remember, you know, before I was kidnapped. Before we go any further, I want to know how you got involved in the auction and why didn't you tell me you knew Draco?” I ask.

“Not now, but I will tell you everything. It is a long story,” Aspen says.

“Yeah, well, I have time,” I say.

“How about the short version?” Aspen asks me.

“Sounds good, wolf. Let's hear it,” I say.

We leave Tia’s room and go to my room. Aspen sits down on the bed. I sit next to him. “I left my pack years ago. My parents were killed, and I did not see the point of staying there any longer. I made my way to a city close to here. I always wanted to live in a big city, and I figured since there was nowhere else for me to be, I would come here. That is when I met Draco. Draco asked me to help with Alpha, and so I made my way into his pack, and the rest is history,” Aspen says.

This story puzzles me. There is more to this than Aspen is telling me. “Okay, I want the long version later,” I say.

I pull Aspen to me and kiss him. A sudden squeal from Tia breaks the mood. “Stay here,” Aspen says. He leaves me waiting. What the hell just happened? I cannot wait.

I walk down the hall and wait outside the room. Tia is screaming and crying. I push the door open. Fia is lying in bed motionless. She is gone. Tia is draped over her sister’s body. Draco and Aspen stand behind her as she sobs for her dead sister.

Draco says something to Aspen. Aspen motions for me to come into the room to help Tia. I pause for a moment. I have to be strong and brave. I can do this for her. I can help her.