Wolf’s Mate: Paranormal Menage Protector Romance

by Lilly Wilder

  Sometimes, you got more luck than brains, and this is exactly one of those situations. The back of the chair separates and my hands are loosened. I manage to wiggle them free of the rope, and I do the same with my legs.

  As I’m about to step over the body which lies prostrate on the floor, I feel the guy’s hand grab at my ankle. With one swift kick in the chin, I solve that problem. His head jerks to the other side, and I stay there another moment, to see if he’s getting up again. Once I’m sure that he’s knocked out for good, I step over him and walk to the door.

  I expect it to be locked. But, again - more luck than brains. I smile at the silver lining in this whole shit storm, and push the door open. A dark hallway opens up before me. I can’t see shit in there. I hear nothing but silence. Fynn’s nose would come in mighty handy now, but who knows where he is.

  I wonder if he and Maddie are alright. If she’s with him, she should be. He’d die first before letting anything happen to her. I know it. So, maybe I shouldn’t worry about them. I should worry about myself.

  With positivity in mind, I take a step down the dark hallway, hoping that whatever monster is lurking in its depths would be one I can take on.

  Chapter 21

  “You can’t come and that’s final!” Fynn growls at me, as he shoves his gun in the back of his pants, then adjusts his shirt over it.

  “But, you said you needed me,” I snort. “Why would you give me a gun then?”

  “Because I thought they’d come after us here,” he explains. “Then, we would have been able to set up traps, and stay inside. We might have been able to take them on, just the two of us, because they’d come to us, on our terrain. Instead, they turned the tables on us.”

  He sighs heavily as he speaks, his forehead all wrinkled and brows furrowed. This is the Fynn that I’ve known from day one. Serious Fynn. Fynn who always solves problems. Fynn who doesn’t sugar coat things.

  “I know you’re scared that something will happen to me,” I start. “I’m scared of that, too.”

  “That’s why I need to take you somewhere, where you can hide,” he interrupts me.

  “But, you’ve said it yourself. There is nowhere else to hide.”

  “That’s why it doesn’t matter where you go. Any place will do. They won’t know where you are, because we don’t know where to go, where to take you.”

  “Stop talking in riddles!” I feel myself getting angry at him, and that’s the last thing I want. He’s on my side. We’re on the same team, and we need to work together to survive, to find Anderson.

  “Just let me come with you,” I plead.

  “I can’t do that,” he shakes his head.

  “I can help you.”

  “You’ll be a distraction,” he snorts, not caring the least bit that he might hurt my feelings. He just tells it like it is, and you need to deal with it, if you want to go along for the ride. “I can’t focus on finding Anderson and trying to keep you alive.”

  “I can do that just fine on my own,” I sneer. Of course I know that’s not true, but the heat of the moment is high, and I’ll say anything to have him take me along. “And, besides, I need to find out what happened to my father, Fynn. This isn’t just about you and Anderson, you know.”

  He doesn’t immediately reply to that. He gives it some thought, and I want to open his brain to see what’s going on inside.

  “They only added that to the message to make sure you’ll come, so they can end it all easily, and not go hunting you down after they’re done with me and Anderson.”

  The thought of us all dying makes my blood turn cold. But, it’s a real possibility. A tangible reality. I know why he doesn’t want me to go along. He wants me away, as safe as I can be under the circumstances. What he doesn’t realize is that without my father, without the two of them, I have nothing. I’m all alone in this world.

  “Never underestimate someone who has nothing to lose,” I tell him. “I know they want me to come. And, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

  Fynn sighs. “There is no talking you out of it, is there?”

  “No,” I shake my head.

  The breeze blows through my hair, ruffling it a little. It reminds me how cold and heartless life can get. I thought I lived through the worst tragedy of my life when I lost my mother. Now, it turns out I might have to go through all of it again, and even worse. Face being left completely alone in the world.

  “This is a horrible idea,” he rolls his eyes. “Let’s just be clear on that.”

  “We are.”

  “But, if I don’t take you with me, you’ll follow me or something, and still end up there, right?”

  “Right.” I can’t help but smile. “See? You know me so well.”

  “I know that you really don’t like taking orders.”

  “When I agree with them, sure. I’ll listen.”

  “But sometimes, others know better. Why can’t you listen then?” he asks and I don’t know what to tell him.

  “I need to find out what happened to my father,” I keep on telling him the only thing that matters right now. “I need to see if he’s alive or dead. Maybe… maybe that bullet didn’t hit him. Maybe he’s just wounded. Maybe he’s waiting for me, for us, to come and rescue him. I can’t leave him. Not like our mother was left.”

  “Maddie…” He walks over to me. “I know you’re confused about your mother’s death. Anderson shouldn’t have been the one to tell you anything. Even though it seems that if he hadn’t, then Hugo wouldn’t have the chance up to this point. So, maybe it’s good Anderson took it upon himself. But, it’s not Hugo’s fault. Your father is a decent guy. Always has been. He just got caught up in some shady things, and unfortunately… your mother ended up paying the price for it.”

  I swallow heavily. My mother is the last thing I want to talk about right now, but I can’t say anything. I’m just focusing on not crying. I want my old photo album, so I can take just one look at her smiling face. But, I can’t. I don’t even know if I’ll ever be able to return to the house I once called my home. Will I even find all my stuff there or has Sven already stormed through the place?

  “Your father needs your forgiveness, more than anything,” Fynn says.

  “I don’t even know if he’s alive.”

  He sighs. “I don’t ever do this,” he clears his throat a little, “but, what is your heart telling you?”

  I look at him, puzzled.

  “Close your eyes,” he instructs me, putting his hands on my shoulder. His touch is electrifying. I notice that he’s done it much more easily this time. My body relaxes. “Picture your father with the eye of your mind. Can you see him?”

  “Mhm,” I nod, my eyes still closed.

  “What is he doing?”

  “He is… reading in his study,” I actually smile at this mental image. “I barged into the room, but he is never upset when I do this. Not once.”

  “Looking at him like that, what is your heart telling you?”

  I suddenly open my eyes. I can’t believe he, of all people, is asking me that question. But, I reply.

  “He’s still alive,” I whisper, my whole body trembling.

  “Then, we’ll find him,” he nods. “I promise you that.”

  He quickly takes his hands off of me, and I feel like he just electrocuted me. I’m still shaking, barely able to keep my balance. Fear washes over me. What if I can’t do this?

  “You still have that gun I gave you?”

  “Mhm.”

  “Good. You’ll take this one as well. And, here’s some ammo. I’ll show you how to load them.”

  He turns away and grabs a few small bags in his hand.

  “Fynn?” I lower my eyelids.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think we can do this?”

  “If you want some assurances that we will all get out unharmed from this, I’m afraid I can’t give you that. I’m not sure of anything right now. All I’
m sure of is that there is a sky over us and there is ground beneath us. Those are the only two things I know. The rest is all up for discussion.”

  I don’t say anything to that. There’s nothing to say really. But, his words fill me with a strange sense of awe. There are so many possibilities, and in one of them, maybe even many of them, we do get out of this whole ordeal unharmed and alive. That’s all I need to remember.

  “Now, let me show you how to use this gun,” he urges me to come over and I do so.

  A few hours later, we’re at the designated location. Fynn had explained to me that the Boon was an old tavern, which was torn down ages ago, and all that is left of it are just four big walls and a roof that’s about to collapse any minute now.

  Fynn parks the car a bit away, but I doubt anything we do would give us the surprise advantage. We already lost that.

  We get out of the car, and I look around. We’re on the outskirts of the city. It’s closed off, secluded. There is no traffic of any kind around. If you want to do anything illegal, this would be your place to do it.

  “You OK?” Fynn asks me, as he checks the guns on him.

  He bends down to one knee, and lifts his trouser leg. I see the glimmer of a small knife in a pocket around his ankle. He adjusts it, then gets back up.

  “I’m fine,” I nod.

  I’m everything but fine, but is there a point in reporting that? I need to convince myself that I’m fine, that I can do this. Whatever this is. First I was running away from my kidnapper, and now, I’m walking straight towards him.

  “Just stay close,” he whispers, then heads on first.

  He is walking slowly, his body is slumping forward. I can barely hear his footsteps. I try to be as stealthy as he is, but it’s difficult. I step on a dry branch, or on some rubble which grinds underneath the soles of my shoes. Fynn doesn’t say anything. He just keeps on going, his hand constantly pressed to his side, where his gun is. Mine is already in my trembling hand, as I wonder whether I’ll have the guts to pull the trigger.

  Something rustles in the bushes nearby, and we both jump. He sniffs the air, then shakes his head.

  “A squirrel.”

  I’m so nervous I’m about to burst out into loud laughter, but I manage to calm myself down. We finally reach what looks like a door, hanging off its hinges. Fynn looks around, but apart from a few flickering lights in the distance, it looks like we’re the only ones here.

  “Please, relinquish your weapons.”

  We suddenly hear a voice from behind us, and a cocking of a gun, which sounded much bigger than either of ours.

  “I always wanted to say it so dramatically.”

  I don’t need to turn around to recognize that voice.

  “Throw your gun to the ground,” Fynn instructs me and I do it.

  “You can turn around now,” Sven tells us.

  He is standing there with a bodyguard to the left and right of him.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Miss Holloway,” he tells me. “And, of course, Fynn. Not such a pleasure, right?” He laughs at his own joke, and the two guys next to him chuckle silently. “If you would be so kind as to follow me inside.”

  The guards rush over to get our weapons from us, and they search both of us.

  “Hey!” I shout, trying to push him away, as he presses his hands on my breasts.

  “Bear, don’t be so hard with the girl,” Sven shakes his head. “On second thought, maybe I should do it. You know I’ve got the softer touch.”

  He walks over to me, while Bear stands next to Fynn.

  “This is just a precaution, my dear,” Sven starts.

  His fingers grab me by the neck, but they don’t squeeze. He rakes them through my hair, probably to see if I’m hiding anything there. Then, the tips of his fingers trace lines down my back, and he is so close to me that our faces are almost touching. I turn my face away, to the side, and he grins.

  “We don’t want you pulling a little handgun or something in the most awkward moment, now do we?”

  His hands then cup my breasts, but I don’t say anything.

  “Get your fucking hands off her!” I hear Fynn thunder.

  He tries to lunge at Sven, but the two guards hold him back. Sven turns to him.

  “Oh, I apologize. Does she belong to you?” he asks. “Has she been claimed already?”

  “Claimed?” I repeat, wanting to spit right in his face, but I resist the urge. It would only make him angry, and that’s not what I want.

  “Every shifter needs a mate,” Sven explains. “Someone to prolong the special race, you see. And, she has to be very…” he pauses to get so close to me that he inhales deeply the scent of my hair and neck, “special.”

  He exhales loudly, and the grip he had on my breasts loosens. He goes over my waist, inner and outer thighs and then stops.

  “I must say, Fynn, she is a fine choice. A fine choice indeed. But, is daddy dearest in agreement with this?”

  “Fuck you,” Fynn growls.

  “All in due time,” Sven grins. “I also might include your trophy here in that endeavor.”

  He cups my chin with his fingers, and I jerk away from him.

  “She’s got spunk. You gotta love that in a woman,” Sven looks over at his guards, and they all start laughing.

  I look over at Fynn, helpless. I see the rage in his eyes. But, I also see that he has a plan. I can’t be sure of it, but it’s a gut feeling, and if anything, I’ve learned to trust my gut feeling over the years.

  “Alright, now that the fun is over, we can continue with the matter at hand,” Sven informs us. “Take them inside.”

  We are then led inside the old, forgotten tavern, and the darkness that opens up before me is frightening. But, not as much as what I fear I might find inside of it.

  Chapter 22

  Fynn

  We’re brought into a small room. It’s dusty and dirty. There is no furniture apart from some old, broken down piano with a layer of cobwebs on it. Two chairs are brought in, and we’re tied to them. I curse silently at myself, for not telling her about this. I take a deep breath as the big thug wraps a thick rope around me, and tries to tighten it as much as he can. I’ve been tied up more times than I can count, so this isn’t new to me.

  I watch as she does exactly the opposite. Maddie cowers. She makes herself as small as possible. Her body comes into itself, and it’s easy to entangle her so hard that I doubt she’d ever get out of those ropes without some help. As for me, I might. But, I need to bide my time.

  When the rope welcome is over, the thugs move to the side, giving Sven the spotlight.

  He takes one of his cigarettes and lights it up.

  “You know those’ll kill you?” I frown at him.

  “They’ve been trying for decades,” Sven replies. “Still no luck.”

  He walks over to me and brings it to my lips. It’s one of those expensive, Cuban cigarettes. The ones you have to kill for to get a box. I remember those. I turn away.

  “I’m trying to quit.”

  “Too bad,” he shakes his head. “It might be your last one.”

  “So, are you finally going to reveal the big pinnacle of this fucking Shakespearean drama you’ve got going?” I snort, having had enough of this already.

  Also, Sven prides himself on being calm. That’s when he’s most cruel. But, you get him angry, and you get him careless. That’s my plan here.

  “The twist is to die for, you’ll see,” Sven is cracking up at this point.

  I look over at Maddie. She’s scared. She’s so scared that I see tears glistening in her eyes. The thought of her being tied up there, and even more, Sven touching her the way he did, brings me to the edge. I just need one little thing to push me over it.

  “But, of course, I’ll start explaining,” Sven says. “I believe we all know why we targeted little Miss Sunshine over here.”

  He walks over to Maddie an
d gives a big kiss on the forehead.

  “Fuck you!” she growls at him.

  Good girl.

  “Real feisty,” Sven pinches her cheek. “I can think of a few scenarios where that might come in handy, but I stray. We all know her father, Hugo Holloway. We also know who he owes his vast fortune to.”

  I’m listening to Sven talk, and I see the confusion on Maddie’s face. She knows something, but probably not all. But, from the looks of it, we’re both in the dark.

  “Do you remember, Fynn?” he asks me.

  “Kayne,” I reply.

  “Exactly!” Sven gives me a mocking applause.

  “But, Kayne is dead,” I remind him. “He’s been dead for 15 years. What the fuck does he have to do with anything now?”

  Sven gives me one of those oh-oh looks.

  “It seems that someone here hasn’t been brought in on the news yet.”

  “What news?” I snort.

  “Kayne is alive.”

  “The fuck he is,” I hiss at him. “I saw him burn in that house with my own eyes.”

  “Correction,” Sven shakes his index finger at me, as the other one is still busy holding his half-finished cigarette. “You saw a house on fire. You saw someone was inside at the start of the fire. But, have you seen his body?”

  “He burned.”

  “He did burn, somewhat, yes. But, you know the wonders of modern medicine. They take a little bit of skin from one part of your body, or from someone else’s body, that also works apparently, and they just replace the burned area with new, rejuvenated skin. And, they can also change your profile a little, so you don’t look like yourself so much. And, when someone who once knew you sees the new you, they can’t even recognize you.”

  “What the Hell are you jabbering about?” I’m fuming at this point.

  If what he’s saying is true, than it all makes sense. If Kayne is back, there will be Hell to pay. He’ll be out for revenge. For blood. My blood. Anderson’s blood. Hugo’s blood.

  “I still find it funny, you know,” Sven chuckles, takes one last satisfying puff of his cigarette, and then throws it onto the cement floor. He doesn’t even bother to extinguish it, and it just remains there, flickering powerlessly, until it dies out on its own, without any help. “You couldn’t recognize him.”