Feral Seduction (Feral Protectors 2) Page 6

  Ryker said, “Why don’t you come inside and join us. Akila was making one of her famous herbal tea concoctions.”

  “A secret recipe?” Stryde asked.

  Akila nodded. “One I learned from my mother. She learned it from her mother and so on.”

  Stryde turned to Diana. “You’re in good hands.”

  “I know. I’m so happy I get to have my baby naturally instead of in a hospital.”

  Akila held up a finger. “But I warned you, the second there’s even a hint of anything going wrong, we’re taking you to the hospital in Full Moon Bay. Years ago, I worked there. I’ve watched perfectly natural births turn into life-threatening emergencies, so we’re not taking any chances with this baby.”

  Diana nodded. “I know.”

  As Stryde followed Ryker deep into the den, he passed groups of wolves sleeping. Other wolves lounged in their human form, quietly talking amongst themselves. He nodded to those who looked his way. He got a few surprised looks, but no one said anything as he passed.

  Ryker held the sheet that closed off his and Diana’s room to one side so everyone could pass. Stryde was almost through the door when a timid voice whispered his name. He squinted into the dark passage and spotted Gwen poking her head around the bend.

  He turned to Ryker. “Give me a moment.”

  Gwen retreated further into the tunnel and waited for him at the entrance to her room.

  “Do you have a second?” she asked.

  “Anytime.”

  She turned to open the privacy sheet to her room and he sucked in a breath. He’d heard bits and pieces about what Zane had done to her, but he hadn’t seen the scars himself. A crisscrossed pattern of white lines burrowed into her skin—a map of torture so extreme, she’d barely survived.

  She turned and with a sad smile said, “No matter what Akila puts on them, the scars won’t fully heal.”

  As he brushed a lock of her golden hair to one side, she flinched. “You’re still beautiful. You know that, right?”

  She sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the floor. “You’re just being nice.”

  He leaned against the wall and waited, curious about why she’d called him back to her room. He’d known her for years but only as a member of the Silver Creek Pack. He hadn’t spent any time with her alone.

  “I heard you’re hiding out, that you’re not alpha of the Dark Moon Pack anymore.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “Some of the guys from Dark Moon Pack who attended the life-mate ceremony were talking. They didn’t know I was listening.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I can assure you, it’s not true.”

  She lowered her eyes. “Well, I just thought you should know that some of the men are claiming that you’ve abandoned them. They want to organize a choosing ceremony to pick a new alpha.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you heard?” His jaw clenched.

  “Positive.”

  He’d have to deal with that later. At this point, if they wanted to overthrow him in a coup, let them. Running a den of wolves wasn’t easy. If they thought they were up to the challenge, so be it.

  He crossed the room and sat by her feet. “I appreciate you letting me know about the rumors. Don’t worry, I’m still their alpha.”

  “I’m glad,” she said.

  “I’d love to have you visit Dark Moon Pack sometime. I know Nosh has been looking for a mate and I think you’d be great together.”

  She laughed. “He’s beta of your pack, second in command. He wouldn’t look at me twice.”

  “Not true. I think you’d enjoy getting to know each other.” He paused, unsure if he should bring up her terrible ordeal at the hands of Zane, the serial killer. He decided that he needed to tell her what was on his mind. “I know you went through hell with Zane.”

  Her head whipped up. “You don’t know anything about what happened.”

  He sat back on his heels. “You’re right, I’m sorry. If you need more time, take it. I don’t think anyone should be rushed when they’re still healing.”

  She folded her hands in her lap. “Thanks.”

  As he stood, Gwen put her small hand on his forearm. “Stryde, I hope you heal too. I don’t want you to end up like me.”

  He put his hand over hers. “We’ll both heal. I know we will. It just takes time.”

  He gave her a light hug and as he turned to leave, he heard her sniff. Poor girl. She’d been brutalized by that monster. He only hoped she’d recover soon. She had so many years ahead of her. He hated to see her living in so much pain.

  He returned to Ryder and Diana’s room. “Thanks for giving me a minute.”

  Akila gave him a questioning look but didn’t ask about his conversation with Gwen. Diana and Ryker sat near Akila. All three faced him, which instantly made him suspicious.

  “What?” he asked.

  Ryker said, “It’s time you returned to Dark Moon Pack. I’m concerned about the rumors of a growing faction intent on overthrowing your reign.”

  “He needs more time. I thought we agreed not to lay into him,” Diana said.

  “I’m not laying into him. I just worry about a war within the den. You know how dangerous that can be.”

  Stryde let Ryker’s statement hang in the air. Years ago they’d struggled for power over the Silver Creek Pack. Stryde had eventually splintered off to form the Dark Moon Pack. They’d patched up their friendship, but they’d spent years at each other’s throats.

  Ryker had a point. Stryde couldn’t wait too much longer if he wanted to return to his pack. But did he want to return? He wasn’t sure yet. He needed more time.

  Diana said, “We just want you to think about it. That’s all.”

  Stryde nodded. “I understand.”

  “Good.” Akila set a pot of water over a smoldering fire. She added two logs and pushed a stick around in the embers to stoke the flames.

  Stryde turned to Diana. Hoping to break the palatable tension in the room, he said, “Tell me about the life-mate ceremony.”

  Diana perked up. “I wish we’d had a camera for the ceremony. Akila and Gwen tied garlands of flowers around the meadow. They gave me a crown of violet wildflowers and I carried a bouquet of irises. I didn’t wear anything, of course. I really didn’t care about being naked all the time until I started showing.”

  Ryker said, “She makes a fat joke at least twice a day. I don’t know how many times I have to tell her that she looks like a goddess.”

  Stryde smiled. Diana was pretty, but Brandy, she was a goddess. As Diana continued telling him about the life-mate ceremony, his thoughts drifted to Brandy. He wondered how she’d fared. Had her uncle helped her stop her stalker?

  He hoped she was okay. Part of him was tempted to scout her uncle’s house just to see how she was doing. But then he had to remind himself that her welfare wasn’t his concern.

  “…and the party didn’t end until sunrise,” Diana finished.

  Stryde smiled. “I bet you were a stunning bride. Ryker’s a very lucky man.”

  “You better believe it. I’m just glad she finally sold her house. We had decided to wait until things were settled with the house before committing to the life-mate ceremony. She needed to wrap up her old life,” Ryker said.

  Diana said, “I wanted the transition to be complete. I didn’t want to have one foot in the old world and one foot in new one.”

  Stryde knew exactly what she was saying. He was stuck in a transitional state, not ready to let go of the past, and therefore unable to move on. He knew it; he just didn’t know how to change it, and he wasn’t sure that it would ever change.

  As he watched Ryker embrace his mate, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Ryker deserved Diana. He was a strong protector and he’d shown that he could keep her safe.

  Stryde didn’t deserve a mate. In another life, maybe he’d try to find Brandy. But in this one, he deserved to be alone.

  Hours
later, as the moon hung low on the horizon, he hugged Diana and Akila. He slapped Ryker on the back. “It’s been too long.”

  “You can show your face here more than once a year,” Ryker admonished.

  “I know. I will. I just need—”

  “More time. I know, just don’t wait too long.”

  Stryde chuckled. “I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.”

  Ryker grinned. “Maybe. Have a good trip home.”

  “I will.”

  Stryde gave them one last wave before he started into the woods. One he was out of their line of sight, he turned toward the cave on Howling Mountain. A few more days, then he’d go home.

  ***

  Brandy jumped out of bed. She pulled on her clothes while running to the bathroom. She slammed and locked the bathroom door. Her shoes still lay on the tile where she’d left them earlier. She didn’t have time to put them on, so she grabbed them and slung them over one shoulder.

  She eyed the narrow window above the sink. It would be a gamble, but she had to fit through it. If she didn’t, she was as good as dead.

  She climbed onto the sink and pushed the window up. It didn’t budge. In her panicked state, she’d forgotten to unhinge the lock. She tore the lock open, ripping a nail in the process. She’d only fit if she went head first.

  She’d just shoved her head through the opening when a loud bang sounded on the door. She screamed and struggled to pull herself through the window.

  Behind her, the sound of cracking wood sent a new wave of terror through her. She had to get out before he broke the bathroom door down.

  She clutched the window frame and tugged her hips through the opening. Just as her ankles were about to clear the ledge, a large hand reached out to clamp down on her ankle. She shrieked and released her grip. Gravity forced her feet through the window and ripped her ankle out of her attacker’s grasp.

  She hit the ground with a thud. Air whooshed out of her lungs and for a second she couldn’t breathe. She watched in horror as a masked man tried to force himself through the small opening. He cursed and disappeared.

  With only seconds to spare, she scrambled to her feet, grabbed her shoes and raced down the foggy promenade toward her uncle’s house.

  Pain radiated up from her unprotected feet. She’d give anything to stop and put her shoes on, but she couldn’t risk it.

  She glanced over her shoulder. A man dressed in all black raced toward her. She sprinted faster than she thought possible. Her uncle’s house was less than a hundred yards away.

  She trampled the flowers on the way to the front door. Without bothering to knock, she tried the doorknob. Locked, of course.

  She pounded on the door. “Help! He’s after me. He’s here.”

  Upstairs, a light clicked on.

  She pressed her back against the front door and stared into the misty night. Across the street, the shadowy figure hid behind a veil of thickening fog. As he stood, staring, a wave of pure malice rode the hazy night. It was as if the evil could touch her from where he lurked. She trembled and prayed her uncle would hurry.

  A second later, the front door cracked open. She pushed her uncle aside as she rushed into the house, dropping her shoes on the porch in the process.

  She screamed. “He’s here. He’s outside. You have to stop him!”

  Her uncle pushed her behind him. A flash of silver extended from his hand. He’d brought his gun down. She wanted to cry with relief.

  “Where is he? I don’t see anyone.”

  “Across the street. In the marina. He’s hiding behind one of the big posts on the right.” She pulled back the curtain on the front window and peered into the darkness. The visibility worsened by the second.

  “Did he have a gun?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t see one, but I don’t know.”

  “Wait here. I’m going outside.”

  “Be careful.”

  He sidestepped down the front steps quickly and ran to a large azalea bush. After hiding behind it, he poked his head above the flowers.

  She scanned the area where she’d last seen the man. He’d vanished.

  Her uncle crouched and moved toward the marina. The fog swallowed him up. She couldn’t breathe. Had she just sent him into a trap?

  Minutes passed. Her heart skittered in her chest.

  Please let him be okay, she prayed.

  Footsteps sounded on the second floor of the house. Luna appeared at the top of the staircase. She’d belted a pink robe around her body. “What’s going on?”

  “The man who’s been chasing me tried to attack me at the motel. I ran here to get help.”

  “Where’s Ben?”

  “Out there.” Brandy pointed past the partially open curtain.

  “How long has he been gone?”

  Brandy didn’t want to scare Luna, so she underestimated the amount of time he’d been gone. “A few minutes.”

  Luna scowled. “How could you send him outside, alone?”

  “What did you expect me to do?”

  “He should have waited and called for backup.”

  Brandy opened her mouth to speak just as Ben emerged from the fog. Weak with relief, she leaned her head against the window frame. She searched him for any sign of a wound, but couldn’t detect any injuries.

  When he entered the house, his entire demeanor had changed. “There’s no one out there. I checked the entire area.”

  His tone put her on the defense. “He was right behind me. He broke into my hotel room and chased me through the bathroom window.”

  Luna flung herself into Ben’s arms. “Thank God you’re alright.”

  Over her shoulder, Ben said, “I don’t think I was in any danger.”

  Brandy shrunk back. “You don’t believe me?”

  “There wasn’t anyone out there. I’ll call patrol and find out if they saw anything.” He grabbed his cell phone off the entryway table and walked into the kitchen.

  “He was out there,” she repeated to Luna.

  The other woman scowled. “You’ve heard the story about the boy who cried wolf, haven’t you?”

  “I’m not lying. He was right behind me.”

  Luna crossed her arms over her chest. “So you’ve said.”

  “Why don’t you believe me?”

  “We saw your father lying his ass off on the stand in court. I think the apple might not fall too far from the tree in this case,” Luna said in a haughty voice.

  What a bitch. Just because her father was a consummate liar didn’t mean she lied too. This was why she couldn’t go to the police in Joshua Village.

  Ben returned from the other room. “The officer I had patrolling the area said he didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary. I suggest you go back to the motel and get some sleep. Like I said earlier, there’s nothing I can do about this until tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to get some sleep tonight.”

  Brandy’s shoulders fell. He didn’t believe her and he was throwing her out, again. Coming here was a mistake. There wasn’t anyone in the world she could trust.

  “Fine. Forget it. I’ll stop bothering you.”

  Brandy wanted to wipe the smug smile off Luna’s face. She didn’t even know the woman, but she already disliked her.

  Ben opened the front door. “Do you want me to drive you to the motel?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  Outside, she bent to grab her shoes off the floor. Her uncle closed the door, leaving her on the porch alone. She’d never felt more vulnerable in her life, not even during the trial, when everyone in town had seemed to band together to ostracize her.

  She sat on the front step and put on her shoes. Where would she go now? For all she knew, the stalker waited in the mist, ready to pounce.

  She eyed the edge of the forest. Maybe she should forget about trying to get her uncle’s help. Maybe she should go home and try talking to the sheriff in Joshua Village. What other choice did she have?

/>   She contemplated leaving immediately, but decided she’d be more vulnerable if she tried to travel at night. It would be safer to sit on her uncle’s porch until sunrise. If she stayed within screaming distance of his house, he could at least come out and scare the stalker away.

  She decided that the porch was her best option. She sat with her back to the wall. She scanned the fog, ready to yell at the first sign of movement.

  Hours passed before the sky began to incrementally lighten. As the first rays of light crested the forest, the relentless mist finally thinned. The veil of fog pulled back toward the sea.

  She stood and stretched the kinks out of her muscles. She scrutinized the marina as the hazy morning broke. A handful of fishermen appeared, tackle boxes in hand, but there was no sign of her attacker.

  The front door opened. Her uncle stepped onto the porch. “You’re still here?”

  “I had nowhere else to go.”

  “I told you to go back to the hotel.”

  She didn’t want to argue about something that didn’t matter anymore. “Did you call Hugo?”

  He leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms across his chest. “I did. He denied making any calls to your house.”

  “He’s lying.”

  Her uncle shook his head. “Go home. Or better yet, go see your father. Lying has consequences. He’s proof positive of that.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Fine.”

  She stomped down the steps.

  She’d give anything to have an ally. She flashed back to her conversations with Stryde. He’d believed her right away, even though she’d lied to him when she’d first met him. Why was it so hard for anyone else to believe her?

  Maybe Stryde would help her. She’d have to travel through the forest to get home anyway, so she might as well stop and ask him. He seemed like the type of man who would not only believe her, but might actually be willing to do anything he could to protect her.

  Convinced that Stryde would help her, she followed a trail into the forest and headed in the direction of the river. It didn’t take her long to hear the rushing water. She didn’t know how far upriver she’d have to go to find his cave, but she knew it wasn’t too much further.

  She stayed hidden in the tree line, unless she needed to step out to look for the ledge outside his cave. It had to be somewhere near here. She recognized the huge fallen tree stump on the beach.