Protecting Honor

by Dena Christy

  “Yeah, I let her go because I was scared. Does it make you feel good to know you’re right?” Something inside Rafe snapped and he couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t hurting anymore. But where he thought he would see smugness on Alex’s face, all he saw was pity. “You don’t need to feel sorry for me.”

  “Actually, I don’t feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for Honor because she’s a good woman and she didn’t deserve to fall in love with such a bonehead.”

  Rafe snorted. “Honor’s not in love with me.”

  That was the whole point, was what scared him so much. Honor wasn’t in love with him, and she’d proven it when she’d walked away from him without a word of protest.

  “Like I said, you are incapable of seeing her.”

  “I see her just fine.” He’d seen her walk away from him, and that was something he would never forget. “If she was in love with me, why did she walk away without saying anything then? Why didn’t she tell me how she felt?”

  “Who did the breaking up? Was it her idea, or did you somehow let the fear inside you do the leaving before she could get the chance?”

  “I told her that she was free, that we didn’t need to be mated anymore and she said that she would pack her things and get out of my house tonight. There were no hysterics like there usually is when I’ve had breakups in the past. She was calm when she walked away from me and said goodbye.”

  Alex took a swig of his beer as he looked at him in disgust. “And you think that means she doesn’t love you? If I was in her place, I’d walk away too. Honor doesn’t strike me as the type of woman who would beg any man to stay with her. And you left her with no option but to walk away with her dignity intact.”

  Was Alex right? Was it possible that Honor loved him and because he’d been too afraid to see it, had he made the biggest mistake of his life?

  “How can you be so sure?” It was clear to him that his judgment was clouded where Honor was concerned.

  “Because I’ve been around her and have gotten to know her. I’ve seen the way she looks when she talks about you, seen the way she looks when you come into the bar. If I had a woman who looked at me like that, there is no way in hell I’d ever let her go. She loves you and if you beg her enough, she might be generous and take your sorry ass back.”

  Rafe closed his eyes for a second. Had he really been so stupid to let his woman go because he doubted that she loved him? A moment of clarity hit him, that it didn’t matter if she loved him back or not. He wasn’t going to ever be happy without her unless he told her how he felt about her. She needed to know that he loved her.

  “If you’re right about this then I’ve hurt her. How do I make up for that?”

  “Well, the first thing you do is stop being an idiot.” Alex slid Rafe’s phone over in front of him. “Call her and pray that she answers.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  “Then call her again. Tell her that you need to talk to her and find out where she is. Once you’re face to face with her, you do whatever it takes to get her to forgive you. Getting down on your knees and begging her to take you back might be a good way to start.”

  Rafe looked at his phone for a long time before reaching for it. He hoped that Alex was right about this and that Honor answered her phone.

  16

  “Do you want me to find him and beat him up like I did with Timmy Blake in third grade?”

  Honor gave Mercy a sad smile as she shook her head. They were in Honor’s bedroom, and it felt like old times, like when they’d been teenagers and had sleepovers. Only instead of talking about what boys they liked, Mercy was doing her best to cheer Honor up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working.

  The trip to Rafe’s house to get her things had been painful, but she’d gotten through it with Mercy’s help. Honor hadn’t wanted to talk about what had happened and she still didn’t. Mercy had insisted that what they needed was a bottle of wine, and Honor’s glass sat on her dresser, barely touched.

  “It will get better.” Mercy spoke quietly as she handed Honor the last of her clothes that were in her suitcase. Honor took them from her and put them in her dresser.

  “Will it? It doesn’t feel that way.”

  “Trust me, honey, with each break up it gets easier.”

  Honor looked over at Mercy, and in her eyes she could see that her friend was lying. She appreciated what Mercy was trying to do, but even she could see that her friend didn’t believe what she was saying.

  “I love him, and it hurts so much.”

  Mercy came toward her and put her arms around her. “I know, sweetie.”

  Honor couldn’t hold back the pain that was slicing through her and she started to cry. Why did he have to let her go? Why couldn’t he love her like she loved him?

  She cried on her friend’s shoulder for a long time as those questions circled in her head and she was no closer to an answer. Mercy stiffened and pulled away. Honor swiped a hand over her cheeks as her friend stood in the middle of the room with her head cocked to the side.

  “What is it?”

  “I thought I heard something.”

  Honor paused but heard nothing. Maybe it was Rafe, coming to tell her that he’d made a terrible mistake. Hope soared inside Honor, and it was dashed when the sound of her front door being bashed came to her. Her eyes flew to Mercy’s in alarm and her friend’s face pale. It wasn’t Rafe, because there was no reason for him to break her door down.

  The bashing of wood paused for a second.

  “Honor, you little bitch. Let me in.” Barrett Todd’s bellowing voice came to them from outside, and fear stole over Honor. He was supposed to be out of the territory, but when had Barrett ever obeyed the rules? She was fairly certain that once Bobby Swan had escorted him out of Eden Creek’s territory he must have waited until he was sure that Bobby was gone. Then he must have doubled back through the woods and waited for his opportunity. “I know you’re here, your car is in the driveway. I just want to talk.”

  “Just wants to talk, my ass.” Mercy muttered beside Honor as they stood inside her bedroom. “Are there any weapons we can get to from up here?”

  Honor shook her head. They might be able to make it to Quinn’s room, but if he had any weapons there, it would take time to find them. Time enough for Barrett to break down the door and discover them upstairs, time for him to do whatever he intended to do. She wasn’t fooled into thinking that all he wanted to do was talk. He was like a cornered animal now that he’d lost everything, and with nothing left there would be no stopping him from acting on his baser instincts.

  “We have to do something.”

  Honor’s phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out when Mercy went to the bedroom door, closed it quietly and locked it. She looked at the screen and saw it was Rafe calling. She swiped her finger across the screen and put the phone to her ear. As painful as it would be to talk to him, she had bigger concerns at the moment than their break up.

  “Rafe, I don’t have much time to talk, so just listen. I’m at my house and Barrett is outside trying to break the door down. Mercy is with me and we need help.”

  There was a short pause as if this wasn’t what Rafe was expecting to hear.

  “Where in the house are you?” Rafe’s voice was a dark growl when it came on over the phone.

  “We’re upstairs, locked in my bedroom.”

  The bashing continued and Honor knew that they didn’t have long to wait before Barrett was in the house.

  “Okay, I’m on my way. If he gets in the house, find a way to get out and run. Hide in the woods if you have too. I’ll find you, but whatever you do, don’t let yourself get trapped in the house with him.”

  He disconnected the call and Honor looked at Mercy. “Rafe is on his way. If Barrett gets in the house, he wants us to find a way out and hide in the woods. He says he’ll find us but we have to get out if Barrett gets in.”

  The sound of wood smashing drifted up to them, and they knew that Barrett wa
s in the house. There was no way they would be able to go out the back door, but Honor knew they were going to have to get out of the house somehow.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are, Honor.” Barrett’s voice taunted them from downstairs.

  “Okay, we’re going out the window like we did when we were girls. Is that old trellis still outside the window?” Mercy came over to Honor and gripped her by the arms. Honor nodded and paused when she heard a car pulling up in the driveway.

  “Someone else is here.” It couldn’t be Rafe, because there was no way he could get here that fast from Cold Bay. But maybe someone had seen Barrett and had come to help.

  Honor went to the bedroom door and turned the lock. She silently eased the door open so she could hear what was happening. Mercy came to stand beside her, and together they stood at the door and listened.

  “What the fuck are you doing here? Have you come to help me deal with that little bitch?” Barrett’s angry voice came up to them.

  “I think I’ve helped you enough, don’t you?”

  Honor didn’t recognize the voice that spoke to Barrett, and she glanced at Mercy. Recognition was clear on her face.

  “What the fuck? That’s Nathan.”

  Mercy’s boyfriend was here? What was he talking about, saying that he’d helped Barrett enough? How the hell did Mercy’s boyfriend, who was from Ridgeport, know Barrett who lived in Eden Creek.

  “It’s all her fault that everything has gone to shit. If only she’d mated with me, I would have been able to keep control of the pack. You should have helped me with her.”

  Nathan gave a bark of laughter and Honor and Mercy looked at each other. This whole thing was bizarre but they couldn’t seem to stop themselves from listening.

  “She was never supposed to be part of the deal you made. That was a delusion in your head. You were supposed to run the pack in a way that was favorable to our friends on the council. That’s why I arranged for your former alpha to have an accident.”

  Honor’s hand flew up to her mouth as she stifled a gasp. Mercy turned horrified eyes toward her as the blood drained from her face. It was apparent that Honor wasn’t going to have time to absorb the fact that her brother’s death was no accident.

  “You stupidly let Eden Creek’s territory slip through your fingers and now it’s part of Cold Bay.”

  “I’ll make it up to our friends somehow. Please don’t do this.”

  Don’t do what? Mercy and Honor exchanged looks. What was he talking about?

  “I’m afraid I have to. Orders are orders.” And as soon as the words came out of Nathan’s mouth a shot rang out downstairs.

  Honor bit down on her hand to keep a scream from ripping out of her.

  “Honor, I know you’re in the house and listening. Come on downstairs now and let’s talk about this. I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  Horror washed over Honor as she heard Nathan’s footsteps coming slowly toward the stairs. She closed the bedroom door and locked it. It wouldn’t be enough to stop him, but hopefully, it would buy her and Mercy enough time to get out of here. She grabbed a shocked-looking Mercy by the arm and dragged her over to the window.

  “We’re getting the fuck out of here.” Closer and closer the sound of footsteps came and Honor threw open the window. Mercy still looked shell shocked and Honor reached out the slap her across the face. “Unless you want him to kill us both, get your ass out that window.”

  Mercy seemed to come back to reality, and she threw her leg over the windowsill and disappeared outside. Honor followed her and as she was climbing down she heard her bedroom door being smashed open. Mercy was on the ground and she dropped down beside her when Nathan’s head popped out of the window.

  A look of rage crossed his face as he pointed his gun out the open window.

  She grabbed Mercy by the arm and together they raced across the lawn toward the woods as a shot rang out behind them. Pain seared through her arm but it didn’t stop her forward momentum. They made it to the woods and kept running.

  “He shot you. That asshole fucking shot you.” There was disbelief in Mercy’s voice, and that same disbelief went through Honor. She looked down at her arm and slowed.

  “The bullet just grazed my arm. I’ll be fine but we can’t let him catch us.”

  Which was easier said than done, because Nathan was a werewolf and he would be able to track their scents. Their only hope was that Rafe found them before Nathan did.

  “Fuck,” Rafe shouted as he pulled his phone away from his ear and put it in his pocket. Why had he let her go? She would be with him and safe if he hadn’t given into his fear. Now she was in danger and he was so far away from her. “Fuck.”

  “What’s going on?” Alex’s brows were drawn together and any trace of Sawyer’s Place’s amiable bartender was gone. Rafe sometimes forgot that there was a fighter underneath Alex’s calm exterior. Which was a good thing, because he was going to be Rafe’s backup. Barrett Todd was going to be dealt with once and for all.

  “Barrett’s trying to break into Honor’s house. She and Mercy are there alone.” Rafe pulled on his jacket and headed toward the door. Alex was right behind him, and as they left, Alex pulled keys out of his coat pocket, shut the lights off and locked the front door of the bar.

  They raced to Rafe’s truck, and Rafe knew that no matter how fast they drove, they were not going to get there before Barrett got in the house. He only hoped that they would get there before Barrett hurt her. Hopefully, Honor had heeded his advice and headed to the woods. It wasn’t ideal, and there was no guarantee that she would stay safe, but it would take Barrett time to catch her. Time enough for Rafe to get there, or so he hoped.

  Gravel sprayed out from under the truck’s tires as Rafe gunned the engine and pointed the truck at the road leading to Eden Creek. Once they were on the road, he put the peddle down, and the truck flew down the road.

  “I’m calling Logan. He has to know what is going on.” Alex pulled his phone out of his pocket and Rafe concentrated on the road ahead of him. He drove as fast as he could and still keep control of the truck. He was hyperaware of how Quinn had died, and the last thing he wanted to do was share his friend’s fate and leave Honor alone and at Barrett’s mercy. The truck felt like it was going through molasses, but a glance at the speedometer told him that they were flying.

  Alex put his phone away as soon as he was finished his phone call and Rafe glanced at him for a second.

  “What did Logan have to say?”

  “Only that Barrett’s dead meat. He and Mason are going to head out to Eden Creek.”

  It was going to be too late for Barrett by the time Logan and Mason got there because Rafe had every intention of dealing with him. And it wouldn’t be pretty. Eden Creek’s former alpha had been told that he would be killed on sight if he was found in any of Logan’s territories and Rafe had every intention of carrying out the sentence. The only question was how slow or quick it would be and that depended on if Barrett had done anything to Honor. If he hurt her, a quick death would be too good for him.

  His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel and every bad thing he could think of that could happen to her went through his head. If he thought he’d been afraid when he’d realized he was in love with Honor, it was nothing compared to the feelings coursing through him now. Terror and rage mingled into a potent cocktail that rushed through his bloodstream. If anything happened to her, he was certain the rage would consume him and there would be nothing left of him after that. Already his inner wolf was clawing at his insides. It knew that his mate was in danger, and it was howling inside him. The wolf had known for a long time that the mating between him and Honor was real, it was too bad that the man had taken so long to figure it out.

  “She will be okay, they’ll both be okay.” Alex’s voice was reassuring but the grim look on his face told a story of its own. Rafe knew that if Barrett somehow slipped out of his grasp, Alex would be right there to make sure that
he was punished for terrorizing Honor and Mercy.

  Rafe drove in silence until he came to Honor’s house, and his spine stiffened when he pulled into the driveway. Honor’s car was parked there, but so was another one, one he didn’t recognize. Barrett could have stolen it but Rafe didn’t think so. And as he got out of the truck, it didn’t matter once he saw the front door. It was smashed in, and the house was eerily silent.

  “Honor.” Please let her have gotten to the woods. Rafe ran toward the house with Alex at his heels. He barreled up the front porch and through the splintered front door, which was hanging half off the hinges. He skidded to a stop when he got inside the house and saw Barrett Todd’s dead body sprawled on the floor. He was in a pool of blood, and his sightless eyes stared at Rafe. Rafe couldn’t bring himself to feel anything as he looked at Eden Creek’s former alpha. Whatever had happened to Barrett he’d brought it on himself. Rafe’s only concern was for the two women who were conspicuously absent.

  “Oh, Jesus.” Alex’s voice came from behind him and Rafe turned to look at him.

  “Call Luke and let him know that there is a dead body here. I’m going out to look for the women.”

  Rafe didn’t wait for Alex to respond as he went to the back door of the house. Neither Honor nor Mercy would have shot Barrett because they would still be at the house if they had. And if whoever had killed him had done it to save them, they would not be gone now.

  Once Rafe got outside he scented the air until he found the direction the scent trail had gone. He could smell Honor and Mercy, and one other wolf, one whose scent he’d only gotten once before. It was Nathan, Mercy’s boyfriend, and the hackles raised on the back of his neck as he headed into the woods. He’d known as soon as he met him that Nathan was trouble. He didn’t relish being proven right. There was no way that Nathan had swooped in to save the two women, because if he had, where the hell were they. Nathan had his own reasons for killing Barrett and it was in his best interest to get rid of any witness. Which meant that Honor and Mercy were in mortal danger.