Once there, Rose slipped back into bed and rested among the sheets and pillows as if she had never left them. Jason sat there and watched her for the longest time.
She stepped out from the cabin just then, with a clean shirt and jeans on, her own leather jacket wrapped around her body. She locked the door behind her and made her way down the steps. She looked tired.
Without a word, he climbed on the bike. The key turned and the vehicle roared to life. Rose climbed on behind him and slipped her arms around his waist. She held herself close to him.
No, she couldn’t be a killer. He tried so hard to get that nagging doubt out of his mind. No, Rose couldn’t even get out of the house when she was sleepwalking…so was she even capable of hurting someone in that state?
As he moved the bike out of park and drove it down the long driveway away from the cabin, he told himself no. How possible was it for Rose to get out of the house, into her car, drive to the park, shift into wolf form and attack two innocent passersby, and be back before morning? It didn’t seem logical. It made no sense.
Jason put the thought to rest in his mind finally and instead focused on the long road ahead. The sun wouldn’t rise for a long while yet, and they had a lot of ground to cover before it did. Once on the highway, he let the bike go, and the world flew past them in a flurry of shadows.
Rose tightened her grip around her mate’s waist and buried her face in his back. It was then that she cried for the second time that night. Her sobs were silent. Her fingertips curled onto the front of Jason’s shirt and gripped tightly.
Uncertainty now loomed over them just like the half moon that was partially hidden behind the clouds. What was going to happen to them now? Would it be smooth waters from here on out, or were there worst things waiting for them?
Rose didn’t want to think about it, and she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket and tried to put the thoughts out of her head. The cold wind bit at her wet cheeks and eyes, and once more she buried her face against Jason’s back.
Exhaustion threatened her awareness, and Rose was only too welcome to the idea of falling asleep and letting it all fade into just a bad dream.
Chapter Five
The autumn air was already cold and biting with a wintertime chill. Rose could barely feel her fingers. It took some prying to remove them from the folds of Jason’s shirt. Even then the chill wouldn’t let her move them without momentary pain.
The sky was quickly turning pink in the east and she inclined her head toward the rising sun. Her frozen hands found warmth inside her jacket and beneath her arms. Her face was numb.
The drive had been too long and Rose’s legs were stiff. Stretching was welcome and doing a world of good. Slowly, she walked around the nearly empty parking lot of the hotel. Every once in a while her gaze would shift to the office.
Jason was busy in the office. They would have a room soon. Rose turned her head toward the horizon. Warm colors brightened the sky.
A yawn overtook her, and Rose gave in. She covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes watered with sleep tears. A warm bed did sound good though, she had to admit that. There would be plenty of time to sleep and rest soon enough, she hoped.
She made her way back to the motorcycle and leaned against it as she waited. Jason hadn’t told her where they were going, or even where they were now. Rose was upset by it. She would at least like to know where this mystery place of his was.
But, all in good time, she thought bitterly.
A door creaked open and she turned her attention toward that direction. Jason exited the office and walked toward her. A grin played on his face, and Rose knew him well enough to know it was a forced one. In one hand, he held up the key card.
“Well…I got everything set. Room 102.” He gave her the card. Halfheartedly, Rose took the card from him and lingered a moment while he began to remove the bag from its compartment.
She thought about saying something, about asking the question that lingered in her mind, but she thought better of it. Instead, she nodded.
“Yeah…okay.”
Jason didn’t look at her the entire time and concentrated on the jammed bag as his excuse. Rose thought about waiting for him, but with the negative emanations from him being so strong, she decided against it.
Instead, Rose walked toward room 102. She glanced over her shoulder at Jason briefly when she reached the door. She hated when he was distant like this. With a sigh, she turned back, fitted the key card in the lock and turned the handle when the light flashed green.
The inside of the hotel room was dark. She could see just fine, but she felt along the inside wall for a light switch just the same. She was tired of darkness.
She soon found it and the room was flooded with brilliant light. She left the door open as she stood there. She looked around at the meager furnishings of the room.
She had been in worse places, but at least this one was clean. She looked around the room, and she had just peeled off her jacket when Jason walked in. A normal man might’ve strained under the weight of the backpack, but Jason heaved it without as much as a thought. It found a place in the chair next to Rose.
She draped her jacket across the chair and, without saying a word, made her way to the bathroom. The door shut with a click and left her in the tightly enclosed and brightly lit room.
Her reflection in the mirror above the sink looked discolored and her face had splotchy places on it. Rose’s eyes were bloodshot and tired. With a shake of her head, she turned on the water. She didn’t bother letting it warm up before she splashed some on her face.
Using one of the towels, she dried her face off and returned to the other room. Jason was seated in another chair next to the window. The curtains were tightly shut, and the door was locked.
“Jason…” Rose started to say, but he flashed a look that clearly said he wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Rose withdrew, defeated once more. She felt too tired to argue with him now. She allowed him his moment of anger. He needed to cool down.
And she needed sleep.
Rose removed her jeans and pulled back the blankets and sheets on the bed, and slipped between them. She lay on her side and watched Jason as he stared out the window. The sun’s light streamed in through the break in the curtains and shone across his face. Rose could see sleep was threatening him as well, and she bit on her lower lip as she tried to persuade him.
“Love, why don’t you come to bed and rest for a few hours?” Rose moved two of the pillows and positioned them under her head. She watched Jason as she tried to ignore the heaviness of her eyelids.
Jason shook his head. He didn’t look her way. Instead, his eyes were scrunched up to dim some of the incoming light. “I’m fine.”
Rose pushed the issue just a bit further. “You're tired. I can tell. Just go to sleep for a little. You’ll need your strength.”
“I’m fine, Rose.” The answer was inevitable and harsh. “You sleep for a while. You need it more than I do.”
Finally, he turned his eyes in her direction. They were bright and sad as he regarded her. Rose was ready to protest, but he spoke again.
“I’ll keep a look out while you rest…just in case,” he added, and then turned his eyes away. He blinked a few times. “Just sleep, love.”
Rose felt the sudden urge to cry, yet again. Her eyes watered but no tears fell to her cheeks. Still, she turned her face to the pillow. She never liked him to see her cry.
She waited until the threat of tears subsided, then raised her head. For all she knew, he had not removed himself from his position near the window or even moved in the slightest. After a moment, he exhaled and glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
With her head resting on the pillow and inclined in Jason’s direction, her resistance to sleep became no more. Soon, she was conked out and snored lightly as she often did when totally exhausted.
Jason watched her for a few moments. She looked so peaceful lying there like that, with
one hand curled beside her face, and her mouth partly open. He suddenly hated himself for making her feel bad.
But Rose knew just as well as he did he was unreachable when he was as moody as he had been lately. He just didn’t like hurting her.
Jason rubbed his eyes. Sleep was trying its best to get him. He stifled a yawn and glanced once more outside. The parking lot was blissfully clear. Jason was thankful for that. It was also leery. How long would it stay that way?
How long before they get here?
Jason didn’t have time to think on it any more. His cell phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. Quickly, yet silently, he jumped from his seat and grabbed the key card to the room. He found the phone and answered.
“Hello?” He maintained his soft voice for the purpose of not waking Rose.
“Hey, man.” The familiar voice on the other end was a welcome sound. It was Glen Cole, Rose’s cousin and fellow werewolf. The young man was associated with the PRDI, the institute where Rose had spent most of her childhood. Jason wasn’t accredited with the place but Glen was reliable enough. As well as being Rose’s cousin and a trustworthy friend, he knew a lot about werewolves and was a good source for tactical information.
And weapons.
“Hang on, man,” Jason replied and busied himself with the locks on the door. He glanced at the sleeping Rose. She didn’t stir when he opened the door and slipped out. He made sure to close it softly.
“We are in deep shit, Glen.”
“What’s going on?” Glen’s deep voice confirmed the obvious and expected concern. “I tried to call Rose.”
“Her phone’s dead,” Jason explained. He began to pace the sidewalk, as he often did when he talked on the phone. He was sure to keep his voice in an even and soft tone. He kept a constant look out.
“What’s going on?” Glen asked again. “What’s happened?”
“The worst possible thing.” Jason sighed. “To make a long story short, we’re on the run, and we’re headed your way.”
“Whoa, whoa…headed this way? What the hell—I think I want the long story, Jason.”
“I can’t.” Jason interrupted before Glen could continue. He paused outside the door to their room. He now spoke in a hushed whisper. No one was around, but he wasn’t taking chances. “We’re held up at some backwater hotel, and I don’t know who may be listening.”
“Okay. I can understand that…” Glen’s voice trailed off as he waited for Jason to continue.
“I’m taking Rose to that safe place she’s always talking about. Get everything ready for us, okay? We were attacked and I don’t know if we’re being followed. I plan on taking a less direct route, just in case.”
All that was heard from Glen’s end was a long sigh. Jason tried again.
“Just help us out, man. Rose has been hurt. Badly.”
There was silence on the phone this time.
“Please, Glen? I don’t ask much of you. Just help us out with this…”
Glen still didn’t respond, and Jason had a sinking feeling he would refuse. Jason refrained from voicing so. His grip on his cell phone was already near crushing. He loosened his hold on it somewhat.
“This is some serious shit, Jason. Once we get involved, there is no turning back…” He trailed off once more. He seemed to be contemplating.
“You’re already involved, Glen.” Jason took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice from rising. “Your cousin was shot and almost killed. You owe it to help her. You’re the only family she has—are you going to help us or not? If not, then I’ll hang up, and I’ll take care of this myself.”
Jason wasn’t one for ultimatums, but he didn’t feel he had a choice.
“Well?” His voice was a low growl now.
Glen let out a breath, evidently trying to keep his own cool.
“I’ll see what I can do.” His attitude seemed to change. “I’ll get the place ready and try to get some others in on this, for support and back up. When are you going to get there?”
Jason was unbelievably glad to hear Glen was willing to help. He thought for a moment.
“Given there are no further…complications, probably early tomorrow morning.”
“Less than twenty-four hours, huh?” Glen noted. There was a pause and Jason could imagine the other man scratching the goatee on his chin as he thought. “Lose the cell phone. They may not be smart enough or have the technology to trace you down with that, but take no chances. We’ll wait for you at the safe place, but if you guys don’t show up before tomorrow night, we’ll assume the worst.”
Jason nodded his head in agreement, even though Glen couldn’t see him. “It sounds like a plan,” he answered.
“All right then. See you soon.”
“Yeah… Later, man.”
There was another pause. Neither man seemed to want to hang up right away. It could very well be the last time they ever spoke. It was Glen who finally broke the silence.
“Give Rose my love. Take care of her. You’re right…I’m the only family she has, and she’s the only family I have.”
The words brought a faint smile to Jason’s face. “Yeah, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye, Glen.”
Jason hit the “end call” button and slumped against the door. He wasn’t sure just how he felt. He didn’t want to drag others into this mess.
Jason had his own opinions of the PRDI and wanted nothing to do with the institute. He had qualms about places that kept tabs on every major and minor milestone in the lives of “supernatural creatures” everywhere. No, that was not for him. He enjoyed being nameless, faceless and anonymous.
But the place had done so much for Rose and had helped her through many hard times, and for that he was grateful. He only hoped he would be grateful for any other help that would be offered. He wasn’t ready to just openly trust anyone. He learned his lesson about that a long time ago.
Jason gave a shake of his head, pocketed the cell phone and turned to face the door. The keycard slipped into its slot easily and allowed admittance. Silently, he shut and locked the door, then sat on the empty side of the bed. He glanced at Rose.
She was still asleep, now on her back. Her chest rose and fell with her deep breaths. A small smile slide across Jason’s face, and he lay on his side so he could face her. His hand gently and softly ran across her cheek.
“I promise you, Rose,” he said as he laid his head on the pillows. He blinked a few times and forced his heavy eyelids open. “I promise that everything will be fine. We’ll make it through.” His words barely came out in a whisper.
Jason’s eyes closed. He wasn’t going to fall asleep, just rest his eyes. They were tired. Before he knew it, Jason had fallen into a deep sleep beside her. His hand was curled up next to hers, their fingers interlocked.
* * *
Jason rolled over on his back. Sleep tried desperately to end its hold on him. His body and senses were still half asleep and groggy. He kept his eyes closed. Erratic thoughts plagued him, and he wondered just how long he had been asleep. It couldn’t have been for very long.
One eye opened lazily. His mind gradually woke up. He was aware enough to know that it was no longer light outside. Darkness had fallen, and a chill air swept through the room from the open hotel door.
Both eyes flew open, and he was instantly awake. The hotel door was wide open. Cold autumn air seeped through the room. He shivered and turned his gaze to the empty spot in the bed beside him.
Rose was gone. Her perfume and were-scent were still faint in the room, but there was no sign of her.
Jason threw back the blankets of the bed without another thought. A second later he was out the open door. His eyes moved back and forth along the lighted sidewalk. She wasn’t there.
Only one thought coursed through his mind, and it was far from being pleasant.
“Damn it, Rose.” he whispered, “You better have just gone to the vending machines for a snack…” Jason had
one last glimmer of hope. Blood soaked images dominated his mind, and he pushed them away.
He wouldn’t believe it. There was no way in hell Rose could be sleepwalking. There was no way in hell she would do that to him.
Jason continued to reassure himself as he stepped past the main office and glanced inside. Rose was not there. In fact, the only person there was the short bald man who had been there earlier in the day. No one else was in sight.
He turned away from the window. He was ready to begin the trek through the parking lot and around the back of the place for her. Something suddenly caught his attention. There was a spot on the pavement. It was blood.
Jason's breath caught in his throat and his heart skipped a beat. His heightened sense of smell caught the scent of the fresh blood, and his eyes followed the track of bright red splatters as it trailed away.
His breath picked up, and without another hesitating thought, he ran across the pavement. His boots smacked audibly against the asphalt. His eyes never left the grim trail. It led around the establishment and into the grass, and even further it led into a wooded area just behind the hotel.
He didn’t stop. There was no time to waste. The scent of blood became even stronger as he ran closer to the forested area. He willed himself not to panic, but it wasn’t working.
The scent of Rose’s perfume and undeniable werekin scent now mingled with the scent of blood, and Jason felt as if he would be sick. Other colognes and perfumes and the acrid stench of smoke permeated the air as well. A growl rose in Jason’s throat.
The blood trail became lost in the moist dark earth and the underbrush of the forest floor. Jason relied on the scent of it alone to track her down. Branches of the trees clawed at him menacingly, but he just shoved them out of his way.
There was a clearing up ahead, and Jason stopped in his path. He dared to even breathe. It was worse than anything he had imagined.
She lay upon the cold ground. Her blue eyes stared up at him through the darkness, cold, motionless and empty. The blood pooled around her and soaked into the soil. Her necklace glittered in the faint light of the half moon above. The engagement ring he had given to her not long ago rested at the base of her throat.
Sweet Moon Dreams Page 5
