by Fawn Atondo
“I think we should head back to Portland. I have other cases.”
Her voice was still off but he decided not to pry.
“So that’s it then? We just go our separate ways?” Alex asked her, not trying to hide the fact that he was annoyed.
“I don’t want to talk about it, I just want to go… All right?” She never quit meeting his gaze.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Alex shrugged, getting into the car.
They stopped at the hotel to pack. She didn’t talk to him. She didn’t smile or flirt. Nothing of the bubbly girl showed in her now.
Alex had intended to leave it alone, but as they pulled up in front of her house, he needed to know that she was going to be okay.
“Falyn, please talk to me.” He was pleading with her now.
“Sorry, Alex. It’s not you. After I do my thing with finding people, my head hurts. It makes my moods go all over.” Falyn gave him a short smile.
It made sense, he guessed. After all, using magic was hard enough on an immortal, let alone on a normal human. However, he had to wonder if she was more sensitive to losing her virginity than she let on.
“Falyn, I don’t know what I should say after the night we had, but I don’t regret it.”
He took her face in his hands. He brought her lips to his in a soft kiss, wanting so badly to hold on to this moment awhile longer, but knowing they could not have anything more. He was not the long-term type.
“Neither do I,” she whispered, before she slipped out of his car.
Chapter Five: Change
Falyn felt her body shaking. She closed then locked her front door. The ride back home had been the hardest thing she had done in a long time, holding back the fear and anger as she tried to figure out what had brought Alex to her doorstep.
She had known the moment they turned off the main road that the broken leather anklet was part of her past. She was the girl Alex was hired to find. Once this hit her, Falyn’s mind went back to what Alex had told her. He’d had to use her skill to find the missing girl quickly because it would have been dangerous for her if other people found her first. Why? Presumably they wanted something from her.
Falyn didn’t have any answers but she sensed something was wrong. She didn’t know who she could trust, not even Alex. She’d had to come up with something on the spot. If those people thought her dead, then surely no one else would come looking. She should be safe, but Falyn wondered about the man who’d sent Alex. Her alleged father. Why search now, after all these years? If he had only just learned about her existence, why had she been hidden from him until now?
Her mind worked overtime. Having relived the last moments of her birth mother’s life, there at the river’s edge earlier today, she was not about to trust a soul with the truth of who she was.
Her mind was so full of flashbacks. They were so much stronger than usual since the case was connected to her personally. She’d had a flash of her mother talking to an older man. Perhaps the man was good since it seemed her mother had confided in him. But then again, those last moments had been a jumble of frightening sights mixed with strong emotions to Falyn.
Falyn had something about her others seemed to want. And her mother had been special too. It was why Falyn’s father had chosen her to be his mate. And yet Falyn’s mother had hidden her from her own father. Those were the only facts she had picked up clearly.
Falyn made herself some chamomile tea, hoping to soothe herself. She checked her emails. She’d had two responses back from those people who were seeking a missing child.
She read them, her mouth dropping open as she did.
“Thank you, but we no longer need your help. It seems the child died as an infant.”
The next email was very similar.
“The lead was a dead end, thank you for your time.”
Falyn felt her skin prickle.
Had she just managed to keep herself hidden? Falyn could not help but think Alex would not have harmed her. However, she was not so naïve to think that just because she’d slept with him she knew everything about him.
She closed the email program. She was getting up to go take a shower when a knock sounded at her door. Falyn eased toward her door. Looking out the peephole, she saw a face she had never thought to see again.
“Flint?” Falyn exclaimed in amazement before she opened the door.
“Falyn… wow!” Flint said, his eyes taking her in.
“What brings you to my door?” Falyn asked, putting her hands on her hips.
“It’s important,” Flint replied, his hands going to her waist.
Before Falyn could smack his hands away, he pulled her out into the hall and threw her over his shoulder.
“PUT ME DOWN!” Falyn yelled.
“I would love to explain but I don’t have time. Plus I can see you’re not going to listen to me!” Flint told her calmly as he carried her down the stairs.
They had just made it out onto the street when Falyn heard the distinct howl of a werewolf. Her heart stopped. Before she could ask what was going on, Flint had tossed her into his Camaro and hit the gas.
The speed sent her back into her seat. The town was a blur as he sped toward the house she had walked away from years before.
“I can’t go back there!” Falyn said in near panic.
“Come on Falyn, you didn’t have to leave to start with!” Flint told her.
“Tell that to someone who cares. I left. I am not a bitten wolf, I was born one!” she growled.
“Are you saying you’re better than me?” Flint asked in a harsh tone.
“You’re the one who came and kidnapped me, so don’t act like I came seeking you to rub it in!” Falyn snarled back between clenched teeth.
“I’m saving your life!” Flint said with a dark laugh.
“From what?” Falyn wanted to know.
“Seems you’re a lot more special than even I first thought!” Flint’s eyes had gone soft as he told her this.
“Flint please, that’s a dead-end road.”
“I know, but I still think about you,” he murmured.
“Well, stop,” she told him.
“You want to know why I’m here?” Flint asked her.
“Saving my life apparently,” Falyn barked irritably.
“Yeah, from a pack of Shadow wolves and a few other lowlifes,” Flint answered as he turned onto his street.
“How do you even know it’s me they’re after?”
Falyn herself had barely put it together less than twenty-four hours ago.
“And since when do Shadow wolves travel in packs? I thought having no pack was part of being a Shadow wolf?” Falyn wondered aloud.
“It is, which is why it was strange to learn a pack of them was hunting you,” Flint said.
“How did you find all this out?” Falyn inquired.
“The pack works with a mystic. She warned us.”
“Great, now every person in touch with magic is going to be able to seek me out?” Falyn felt sick at the idea.
“Sadly this is likely true, though I guess a tall tale about your death slowed some of them down,” Flint grinned.
“Awesome,” she muttered.
“Hey, at least the Shadow wolves didn’t make it to you first!” Flint had a point.
“Thanks for your help, but I need to get out of town,” Falyn grumbled.
“You have the pack watching over you, Falyn. Nothing is going to get to you,” Flint promised.
“I am not a member of your kind of pack!” Falyn reminded him.
“I am the Alpha and you mean something to me, no matter your blood ties.”
“I don’t want to start a war!”
If all the mystics were picking her up, so would the Lycan court.
“You can stay till we find out who is after you and why, and then you can chose what is best for you,” Flint said.
“Fine,” Falyn agreed.
Falyn felt all kinds of emotions as she made her way up to the house where she’d spent so much time in the past. The pack was all there, and no one seemed shocked to see her. One of the women on the steps looked her over before she walked back inside. Falyn felt her pulse pick up, knowing without anyone telling her the woman was Flint’s mate.
“Don’t mind Ella, she just has a jealous bone,” Flint joked.
“Wonderful!” Falyn said.
Her mind could not help but go over how Ella had stopped Flint from mating with her all those years ago. Seemed the fact of Falyn’s bloodlines was not the only reason.
The house was now clearly Ella’s and Flint’s, and no longer a group house, not now since the Alpha had a mate.
“We’re not married,” Flint whispered in her ear as he guided her into the living room.
Her heartbeat was so fast she could not slow it down. She was now sitting there on the same sofa where she had wanted so much to be Flint’s mate!
“Falyn.” Flint’s voice was a warning.
Falyn could feel her teeth growing and see with her wolf sight, which meant her eyes were glowing yellow.
“This is too much,” Falyn whispered as she got up from the sofa, making a move for the front door.
“No stop! Please listen!” Flint grabbed her arm.
Flint turned her toward him. Placing her hands on his chest, Falyn felt the blood leaving her face.
“I loved you – and I still love you! If Ella had not stopped me all those years ago, I would have chosen you, Falyn, I would have made you mine. Bloodline be damned!”
He took her mouth in a kiss which any other day would have made her knees weak. Not today… Today it made her angry. She wanted to punch him in the face for bringing her back here and trying to claim her.
The sound of her hand cracking across his face echoed through the house. Call it ironic or a higher power, but the clap of thunder that broke immediately afterwards, shaking the room, was to Falyn a sign.
“How dare you even think you can have me now? What do you think will come of me being here? I am not a little lovesick girl anymore, Flint. Plus you have a mate!” Falyn backed away now, making it to the door this time.
“Falyn… I…”
She did not let him finish.
“Don’t say anything more, Flint! In fact, why I am here, keep the hell away from me!”
Before she turned around, she saw Ella standing on the stairs, her eyes blazing.
Good, she thought. Hopefully Ella got the point she no longer wanted Flint.
Once outside, the smell of the storm was strong. The sky cracked with lightning bolts, the thunder echoed around her. Falyn did not think twice. She heard the rip of her clothes as she turned, her body breaking before coming together as a massive beast.
She was now a huge silver-white wolf with pale green eyes. She was too large to be a normal wolf – she was closer to the size of large bear. Making it important for her to stick to places no one would see her.
Here it was safe, fenced. Free of roaming humans, she could run till the anger built up in her was spent and she could once more think clearly.
Back at the house the pack was on the front steps, waiting for her. Even Flint and Ella were there. Falyn stopped a few feet away, letting out a low growl, hoping the males would get the point she would not change with them watching.
Flint ordered the males back inside. In fact, everyone went, all except Ella who held out new clothes for her. With a soft whimper, Falyn changed. She felt very exposed as she walked naked towards Ella.
Ella stood there without saying a word, waiting for Falyn to get dressed before she said anything.
“Falyn, I’m sorry for what happened all those years ago, but I love Flint. I wanted to say thank you for how you dealt with him today.” Ella turned going back inside.
Falyn wasn’t sure how to take Ella’s apology. After all, if she had not been so ruthless back then she would have had a home, a mate, and maybe kids by now. On the other hand, if the law was still something taken to heart by the Lycan Court, they could all be dead.
If she was honest, what she was most glad for was, she had gotten to be with Alex! It was more complex than dealing with Flint, to her, Alex was worth the trouble though. But oh, how she wished she didn’t!
Chapter Six: Soul Mate
“Alex, where are you?” The voice of his current client and longtime acquaintance echoed through his cell.
“Just outside Portland,” he told him.
“Good. I need you to go back and collect my daughter.” Malcom sounded overly happy.
“Her bones, you mean?” Alex asked.
“No, Mr. Bounty Hunter, it seems your little gifted human was either terrible at her job or very good at misleading you!” His voice was edged with anger now.
“You must be mistaken, Malcom,” Alex told him.
This had been five days ago. At first Alex thought Malcom Shepard had to be out of his mind, now he knew the truth. The girl had not been bad at her job – she had been the bounty all along. Malcom had sent an old, faded picture to him. Even though the girl in the photo was only about twelve, Alex knew without doubt that it was Falyn.
It had also been five days since he had learned the girl had marked him. The girl was a werewolf, and not just any werewolf but a royal one! A shock in itself.
He had been at the home of his close friend, West. Alex had gone to get a stiff drink for himself. Hell he needed it after finding out about Falyn!
Turning, he saw his friend looking at him with a horrified expression.
“What?” Alex demanded.
“Um, I am not quite sure how to tell you this, man, but it seems you’ve got a life mate!” West was grinning at him.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Alex wondered if his friend had already had too much to drink.
“Whatever little wolf girl or shifter you’ve been bedding has marked you as her life mate.”
West pulled him to the mirror in the hallway, turning him around to see. And see it, he did. There on his left shoulder blade were three black half circles, like a tattoo! His mind raced immediately to Falyn, the only girl he had slept with in months. His train of thought ended there.
“A life mate?” he mumbled to West.
“Yeah, buddy. Life mate, it means… well, it means her heart is tied to you. If you die, she dies. If you break her heart… well, you get the idea,” West explained with a smack to his shoulder.
“The hell I do! How long does it take for these things to come up?” Lord, if it wasn’t Falyn who had done this, he hardly recalled the girl before her! That was worse to him, wasn’t it?
West rolled his eyes, implying he thought Alex was making too big a deal out of this.
“It happens the very night you bed the girl, old chap,” West said with a chuckle and in a bad British accent. “And your life mate has the same mark too.”
“God,” Alex moaned.
Less than an hour later Malcom had called to tell him his daughter was indeed alive. After Alex swore the girl was dead, Malcom sent him a picture of the girl his mystic had given him, not as a baby but a pretty little twelve year old, smiling with the same lips, the same eyes of the girl he had dropped off at her apartment days earlier. Meaning not only had he slept with a werewolf, but he had slept with the werewolf everyone wanted!
Falyn’s father, Malcom, was a pure blood Lycan, and from what Alex could gather from Malcom, her mother was a shape shifter from a Native tribe. Lycan did not like their kind bedding anyone outside their own bloodline. Even blending genetics among the different bloodlines was not allowed. Death seemed like a harsh sentence for a little fun between the sheets.
He wanted to be mad at himself for being so stupid but the truth was that he had no idea she was the girl they were looking for, that she was anything more than a normal human with a gift. Now his rage built up at this girl, this woman-child
who had made him think she was nothing more.
She was being hunted by Shadow wolves, the Lycan Court and God knows who or what else, but the only one she truly had to fear was Alex because he was going to be the one to catch her.
He sat in his hidden spot on the Bitten pack’s land, watching the large home and waiting to catch a glimpse of Falyn. He saw many of the pack members come and go, even seeing a few change before roaming the hills behind the house, yet there was still no sign of the girl he came here to collect. Thanks to the fact a vampire is odorless, the wolves did not pick up on him.
They came in as the light of dusk washed away – a shadow growing from one to forty right before his eyes. The Bitten pack smelled them, but it was too late. They were already closing in, huge dark wolves with fire-glowing eyes. The damned of the werewolf line.
The fight was brought outside, Alex was quick to pick up on Falyn, catching her scent the minute she rushed out the back door. Framed by two large pack members, they made a mad dash for the sports car.
Impressed with their escape, Alex waited for the car to make it down the driveway right to the spot where he lay in waiting. He landed on the hood of the car with enough force to smash the engine into the ground. The car lunched forward then landed with a thud back on all its wheels.
Alex had no wish to kill any of the wolves but, if they fought, he would defend himself. The driver came through the window at him, teeth bared, in the middle of his change. Alex slammed his fist into his face, then tossed him like a rag doll across the meadow.
The other wolf, now fully changed, flung himself out of the car. His eyes glowed with the deep red of an Alpha. He circled Alex in a slow, predator-like walk.
Alex waited for him to make the first move. When the Alpha lunged for him, he moved to the side quicker than the wolf could correct for. Grabbing the wolf by his scruff, he flung him into a tree. But unlike the other wolf, the Alpha was stronger, more powerful, he quickly got to his feet.
This time the Alpha knew how fast Alex could be so he moved in slowly until he was inches from Alex. He let out a growl, his teeth bared.
