Jenna recoiled. “What? Why?”
Was that what Aidan planned to tell her tonight? Had he decided sleeping with her was a mistake? It hurt to breathe, but Jenna shoved the pain aside. It didn’t matter.
She was a big girl. She had entered that clearing with her eyes wide open. No expectations. No demands. They were both consenting adults.
Jenna had known going in what Aidan wanted, because she’d wanted the same thing. If Aidan had misgivings about last night, then so be it. None of that changed what she needed to do.
“Please Robert.”
“I saw you in town with your friends,” he said. “You couldn’t keep your hands off each other. It was disgusting. If you cared at all about Mr. Fortier, you wouldn’t have humiliated him in such a public manner.”
Jenna’s stomach churned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” How could he think that Ethan and Carl were her friends?
“Don’t I?” he asked. “Your true colors are showing. Not a surprise, considering you got everything you wanted.”
All Jenna wanted was to end this. “Robert, please. I’m begging you. This is an emergency. I need to warn Aidan. It won’t take long. I promise.”
He snorted. “Your assurances are worthless. I’ll relay your concerns to Mr. Fortier. Please do not phone again.” Robert disconnected the call.
Jenna stared at the handset in disbelief. She could only imagine what Robert had told Aidan. What he would tell him once he saw him again. Would he even bother to let him know that she’d phoned?
This could not be happening. Jenna put the phone down and walked out of the room.
The elderly man had been quietly waiting outside the door to give her some privacy. “Is everything okay?” Concern softened his aged brown eyes and mellowed his tone.
Jenna shook her head. Nothing was okay. Nothing would ever be okay again. She’d lost Aidan before she’d ever really had him.
Once again, Ethan had cost her what she held dear. And thanks to Robert LaBeouf, she couldn’t even warn him that trouble was coming.
“Thank you for allowing me to use your phone.”
“Anytime,” he said.
Jenna walked back to the motel room and opened the door.
Ethan glanced at his watch. “Cutting it close.” He held out his hand.
Jenna placed the sodas on the table, then walked into the bathroom and shut the door. The mark on her neck throbbed. She put her hand over the spot and held it there, as if covering it would somehow keep the memory of Aidan’s lips burned into her skin.
The tears she’d been holding back welled in Jenna’s eyes. She turned on the water, so Ethan wouldn’t hear her cry.
* * * * *
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Aidan lay in his bed surrounded by Jenna’s scent. He hadn’t allowed the cleaners to change the sheets. Partly as penance for stupidly marking a human and partly because he couldn’t stand the thought of losing any part of her.
He’d declined Robert’s offer to send a Werewoman to his room. The idea of touching another female was repulsive to him. Aidan knew he couldn’t continue to hide. Eventually, he’d have to tell the pack the truth.
Tomorrow the moon run would begin. He’d planned to formally introduce Jenna to the pack once he’d revealed his secret. Thank Freki he’d intended to tell her in person. It would’ve been disastrous had he put it in writing, since Jenna had taken the note with her.
Should he have worded the message differently? What could he have said or done to get her to stay? Aidan had been asking himself those questions and many others for the past few hours.
He wasn’t one for pretty words. Aidan didn’t know how to be anything but direct with people. That included members of the female persuasion.
Perhaps he should’ve told Jenna how he felt? But how could he, when Aidan had only recently discovered what she meant to him?
The emotions were too fresh, too raw. He was still trying to come to grips with the fact that a human female had turned his life upside down in less than a week.
Aidan had assumed that Jenna had been equally affected by their sudden joining, but her actions said otherwise.
No matter how many ways he examined the situation, Aidan couldn’t understand what made Jenna leave suddenly without saying goodbye. When she’d told him that she planned to betray him, Aidan thought she’d been referring to the interview.
What if she hadn’t? What if there’d been more to her story? What if Jenna had been trying to tell him about the men and he’d been too caught up in her scent to listen?
Aidan knew she’d enjoyed their time together. You couldn’t fake that kind of passion. He would’ve known. His wolf would’ve known.
He rolled over and stared at the wall. There were no answers written on it. No advice for what he should do next. His gaze dropped to the wastebasket near his bedside table.
There was a crumpled piece of paper in it. Aidan instantly recognized his personal stationary. Maybe Jenna hadn’t taken his note with her after all.
If that were the case, then Aidan would finally have the answer he sought.
With trepidation, he climbed out of bed and picked up the wad of paper. Aidan slowly unfolded the sheet and straightened it. His heart tripped in his chest, when he saw his name written at the top of the page. He flipped the paper over, but there was nothing written on the back. It wasn’t the note he’d left for her. This was a new one.
So how did the note end up in the trash? Had Jenna changed her mind after she’d written it?
Aidan brought the note to his nose and sniffed. Fur rippled down his arm and his vision blurred, as a familiar odor greeted him. He crumpled the note in his fist and rushed out of the room.
He grabbed the first wolf he saw by the scruff of the neck and slammed him into the nearest wall. “Where is Robert LaBeouf?” Aidan shook Nic hard enough to rattle his teeth.
“N-not sure, Alpha. I think he’s running with the pack tonight.”
Robert only attended formal pack gatherings. He never ran with the pack for the sheer joy of it. He considered that kind of thing beneath him. Why the sudden change? “Are you sure?”
“Bernie said that Robert was in a good mood. So good that he felt like going for a run,” Nic said. “He only mentioned it to me because it was so unusual and thought I’d get a laugh out of it.”
Aidan shoved Nic away. “I want you to find Robert and bring him to me.”
Nic hesitated.
“Did I stutter?” Aidan bellowed.
“No, Alpha.” Nic stiffened.
“Then go! Now!”
* * * * *
Robert yipped excitedly as he ran through the woods. The pack shouldered past him, but tonight he didn’t care. He’d saved his fellow Moonlight Kin from what would surely have been a disaster.
The pack raced on, chasing a small herd of deer. The old and the weak had fallen behind. Soon the wolves would catch them and they’d feast. He leapt over a fallen tree trunk and plowed on.
Robert had no idea why Jenna thought she needed to warn Aidan, but he had no doubt that the Alpha could take care of himself.
The lead wolf caught sight of the deer. It barked once and the pack split in half, circling around the side of the herd to cut the older and weaker deer off before they could escape. Once a couple of deer were separated from the others, the pack formed a loose circle around them and closed in.
The lead wolf lunged for the deer’s back leg and got kicked for his efforts. The wolf whimpered, but dove right back in. This time his firm grip on the deer’s shank couldn’t be broken. Another wolf leapt, latching onto the animal’s neck, ripping its throat out.
The first deer fell, then the other was quickly taken down. Blood flowed, filling the air with its sweet coppery aroma. The wolves moved in to feast. Robert threw his head back and howled. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy.
The pack added their voices, then the wolves each took turns tearing off chu
nks of flesh. Robert stepped forward after the others finished, his mouth watering in anticipation. He could almost taste the prey’s sweet blood. He opened his jaw to take a bite.
Something hard hit him from the side, knocking him away from the carcass. Robert rolled snout over tail, then stumbled to his feet. He growled at his attacker.
Nic snarled back, then bones cracked and reshaped as he shifted to his human form.
Robert watched in confusion, then slowly followed suit. “I waited the appropriate amount of time. It was my turn to eat,” he barked.
Nic glanced at the two deer like he’d just noticed them. “This has nothing to do with the hunt. Alpha has sent me to get you. He wants you at the house now.”
Robert staggered back. “Why? What’s happened?”
Nic shook his head. “It wasn’t my place to ask.”
Stupid wolf, Robert thought. He would’ve asked.
“You can go.” Robert dismissed the wolf, not bothering to hide his disdain.
Nic didn’t move. “He told me to bring you to him.”
Robert frowned. “I know where the house is. I don’t need an escort.”
Nic glared at him. “Let’s go.” He nodded toward a path in the woods.
Robert’s gaze strayed to the wolves around them. They’d all stopped feeding and were now staring at him. “Is this really necessary?” he hissed.
“You’ll have to ask the, Alpha,” Nic said. “I’m just the messenger.”
Robert chewed his nails as they walked back to the estate. What in the world could have Aidan so wound up that it couldn’t wait until he got back?
Had Jenna phoned again, while he was out? Fear settled in Robert’s gut, loosening his bowels. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He was only protecting the pack from a bad influence. Surely Aidan knew that and would understand his reasoning.
Dread set in when he saw the lights blazing in the windows and a shadowy figure pacing on the patio. “Alpha,” Robert said. “You wanted to see me?”
Aidan growled.
A drop of urine slid down Robert’s leg.
“Get in the house,” he said, then turned to Nic. “You may go.”
* * * * *
Once Robert was safely ensconced in his office, Aidan rounded on him.
“I would’ve told you that she called,” Robert blurted, before Aidan said a single word.
“What?” he asked. Jenna had phoned? When? And where was he?
“That’s why you summoned me. Wasn’t it?” Robert asked, sounding as confused as Aidan felt.
“No,” Aidan said. “I had Nic fetch you for another reason.” He walked over to his desk and picked up the crumpled piece of paper he’d found in his room. Aidan held it out for Robert to see. “Explain,” he said through clenched teeth. “Then we’ll get to Jenna’s phone call.”
Robert stared at the wad of paper, showing no sign of recognition.
Aidan tossed it at him. The paper bounced off Robert’s chest and landed at his feet. He picked it up and opened it. His color drained as he read the note.
“Can you tell me how that note ended up in my wastepaper basket?” Aidan asked. “I know I didn’t put it there.”
Robert smoothed the crumpled paper in his hands. “I-I have no idea, Alpha.”
“Lie!” Aidan roared. “Your scent was all over it. The only other scents on the sheet were mine and Jenna’s.”
Robert gulped. “I knew the human was going to betray you. I thought it best to lessen the blow.”
Aidan’s hands curled into fists. “You had no right to interfere.”
Robert trembled under Aidan’s fierce gaze. “You slept with her. I smelled her on your sheets.” His voice cracked. “She spent the night in your room. That privilege was reserved for your bondmate.”
Aidan approached him and slowly circled Robert. “I am aware of the social mores.”
Robert looked up, his wolf showing in his eyes. “Then why? Why would you dishonor your future mate?”
Aidan stopped directly in front of him. “I haven’t. My future mate was right where she needed to be. In my bed, beside me.”
Robert stumbled back, a look of horror upon his face. “You didn’t. You couldn’t. You’re...you’re an Elder. She’s...”
“My bondmate,” Aidan supplied.
“But I saw her in the arms of another,” Robert said. “If she were truly bonded to you, she wouldn’t have been able to stand the contact.”
Aidan’s vision faded to red. Claws slipped from his fingertips and his teeth sharpened into vicious points. “This note and the call you failed to mention, tells me there’s more to this story. Where’s Jenna now?”
“I don’t know.” He cowered.
“Where is she?” Aidan stormed. His clawed hand rose, preparing to strike a fatal blow.
Urine flowed down Robert’s leg, then spread across the floor, forming a puddle. “I swear. I don’t know where she is.” Robert’s hands trembled as he held them up to ward off an attack. He slowly backed away, splashing urine with each step he took.
Aidan looked down in disgust, then back at his ‘former’ assistant.
Robert stopped. “The last time I saw her, she was leaving town with the men. They could be anywhere by now.”
Aidan growled. “You didn’t note the number she was calling from?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t think it was important.”
Aidan barked out a laugh. “You didn’t think it was important.”
“I was only doing what I thought was best--”
“Don’t!” Aidan warned. He was sick of hearing Robert’s excuses. “You should’ve followed her and found out who those men were before you passed judgment on her.”
What if Jenna was forced to leave? What if she were in trouble? The thought nearly brought Aidan to his knees. He’d promised to protect her, even if that meant protecting her from herself.
Why didn’t you come to me?
Robert whimpered, his gaze bobbing from the floor to Aidan and back down again. “She had her hands all over that male, rubbing him. She was betraying you. It was only a matter of time before she betrayed the pack,” he said.
“The only person who has betrayed me at every turn is you.” Aidan snarled. “Now get out of my sight! I want you off the property by the end of the moon run.”
His wolf struggled to break his hold. It wanted to tear Robert to pieces and gnaw on his bones. He should just kill him and get it over with, then he wouldn’t have to worry about Robert trying to slip a knife into his back.
“For your sake, you’d better hope that nothing happens to her,” Aidan said.
Robert rushed for the door. He hesitated when he reached it and looked back at Aidan. “Alpha, I swear--”
“Leave now, while you still can,” Aidan said. His control was hanging by a pin. One tug and his beast would be unleashed. “I’ve made my decision.” Now he had to find Jenna.
* * * * *
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jenna spent a fitful night crammed into the small bathtub. Ethan and Carl had taken the beds. Her only options had been to sleep on the floor or in the tub.
After staring at the cigarette burns and mystery spots, she’d decided the tub gave her the best chance of avoiding a future tetanus shot.
The men had checked on her periodically throughout the night to make sure she hadn’t escaped. Unlike Ethan, when Jenna gave her word, she meant it. As long as he left Aidan alone, she’d go with him.
That didn’t mean that Jenna wasn’t planning on sneaking out and trying to phone him again. She was determined to get a message to Aidan, even if she had to send it via pigeon.
Once the men had showered, Ethan had Carl check the area to make sure no one had raised any alarms. The private investigator returned to the motel in late afternoon to let him know everything was fine. No one was looking for Jenna and her Bug was still parked where she’d left it the day before.
Carl had barely settled into the chair,
when Ethan sent him out again. This time for food. Carl grumbled something about ‘delivery’ under his breath, but did as he was told. Jenna would’ve found the situation amusing, if it weren’t so depressingly serious.
Ethan’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the number and smiled. “Manning,” he said in lieu of hello.
Jenna wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the room wasn’t big enough to avoid doing so.
“Yes,” Ethan said. “She’s here with me now.” He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, then brought it back. “Can you hang on a minute?”
She sat on the bed, watching and waiting.
Ethan pressed a button. “Dad?” He paced toward the door and back. “That’s fantastic! What time will it arrive? Seven?” He nodded. “We’ll be there.”
Jenna’s heart sank. The plane was going to arrive sooner than anticipated. She was running out of time. She had to make a move now because she might not get another chance later.
Ethan clicked over to his other call. “Good news,” he said. “Our flight will land around nine-thirty tonight. No sense in waiting. Meet me at my office at ten-thirty and we’ll get everything signed and notarized.” He hung up and smiled at her.
“I take it we’re leaving early?” she asked.
“Yep, we’re getting out of this dump,” Ethan said.
“What about Carl?” she asked.
Ethan shrugged. “He has a car. He can drive back.”
“I’m going to catch a shower before he returns with the food,” she said.
With any luck, she could shimmy out of the bathroom window and go use the elderly man’s phone again. Jenna would be back before anyone knew she was gone.
Ethan’s eyes hardened. “I thought you showered earlier.”
Jenna shook her head. “No hot water. You guys used it all.”
“Well hurry up,” he said. “Carl will be back any minute.”
She walked into the bathroom and locked the door. Jenna was about to turn the water on, when she heard Ethan talking. Had Carl returned already? Jenna leaned her head against the door and listened.
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