Tearing his gaze away from her, he looked back down at the floor. By then, the only evidence of the vampire’s presence in Kate’s dressing room was a six-foot long stain on the carpet. Dean picked up Helena’s dagger, wondering about his next move. Whatever that would be though, it was obvious to him that the passionate night he had been planning with his mate would have to wait. She was still in shock, and he was much too upset to think about anything romantic.
“We’re going back to Paxton,” He announced, rising up to his imposing 6’3” stature. “We can’t go to your apartment; more of those pricks could be waiting for us there. Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Three
“Who was that?”
This simple question swirled in Dean’s mind long after he and Kate left “Tommy’s Pit.” What was the identity of her mystery assailant? He didn’t know. Nevertheless, his nature provided a clue. Whoever he was, whoever had sent him there, the fact that he was a vampire proved to Dean that their war against Redfield’s clan was just the beginning of strife between the shifters’ and their natural enemies. If – by some unforeseen event – the pack had not eradicated that particular clan, there existed at least one more that posed a threat to their well-being; that seemed ready and willing to go after them. It was simply a matter of “when” and “where.”
Frustration hit the Alpha’s brother with a vengeance as he realized that, once again, the peace in Paxton had been shattered. Although there was an air of confidence in the pack, a sense of pride for defeating the vampires in March, they were still mourning the loss of their three, fallen brothers in arms. Most likely, they were not ready for one more battle. He could imagine their reactions to the news of Kate’s attack. They would curse their luck: be mad at fate for sending them off to yet another war; but mainly, this new test to their resolve could possibly break their spirit. Yes, they were all prepared to risk their own lives in order to protect their birthplace – all of them were strong, courageous warriors – but, inevitably, their psyches would be wearied by the constant fighting. In their hearts, shifters desired peace; and yet, with these continuing occurrences, they couldn’t have this most fundamental quality.
Minutes before their arrival in Paxton, Kate called Raul and Helena, and broke the news of her attack to them. The Alpha and the witch agreed to wait for them in his cabin. Dean’s frustration grew by the second, as he planned his narrative. Just as he did so however, a rather basic error he had made that night occurred to him: he had failed to catch the vampire’s scent. Of course, there were more than two hundred people in Kate’s bar, all of them with their own, distinctive scents and most of them wearing perfumes or colognes, but that could not serve as an excuse. A vampire’s smell is much more pungent than that of a human. Also, according to Kate, he had been waiting for her, which meant that he was there for a while. Dean should have smelled him.
Furious at himself for his failure, he slammed his car door shut, as he struggled to find an explanation for the mistake that he could have avoided. Raul was standing just a few paces behind his doorstep, with his hands shoved into his pockets, and a look of admiration written all over his face.
“You did beautiful tonight, brother,” the Alpha declared, as Dean’s hurried footsteps closed the distance between them.
“I screwed up. I screwed up big,” he groaned, as he strode through the door.
“Why would you say that?” Helena squinted up at him, as he brushed past his brother. “Kate said you killed him.”
“Damn!” Dean cried, his eyes lighting with rage, as he banged his fist onto the kitchen table.
“Hey!” Raul shouted, as he spun around to face him. “Keep it down! My girls are sleeping upstairs.”
“Oh, crap…” Dean said on an exhale, raising his hand to run it through his hair, as Kate eased the door closed behind her.
“Calm down, second son…” Helena advised in her usual, cool tone, as she stepped closer to him. “Why are you this upset? What happened back there?”
“I couldn’t smell him,” Dean confessed, putting his hands on his waist, as he shook his head sideways in disappointment. “I killed him, but I only smelled him when I stepped into the hallway, like ten yards away from the dressing room.”
“There were more than two hundred and fifty people at the club tonight,” Kate interjected her opinion, her voice picking up volume, as she rushed towards him. “That place reeked of cheap perfume.”
“I wish I could give you my nose for just a few minutes,” Dean muttered, shifting his gaze to her. “You’d see what I’m talking about.”
“He’s right, Kate,” Raul assumed a bass-deep voice, tossing a quick glance down at her. “A vampire stinks like a carcass that’s been rotting for months. But, I’m not worried about that. Dean could have been distracted, it can happen to anyone. However, getting news of another vampire? I thought we were through with them.”
“We are through with one clan,” Helena pointed out, raising her index finger up to her chest. “Maybe more of them have had Redfield’s idea to invade Shandaken, although it doesn’t sound so probable, I must say.”
“Care to elaborate on that?” Dean requested, his tone coming out slowly.
“Well…” Helena sucked in a deep breath. “Our war with Redfield started when Raul killed my brother. We all thought he wanted to avenge Darryl’s death, at least that’s what the vampire told Martin and Jimmy, but it was just an excuse to invade Shandaken. The one Dean killed tonight didn’t attack any random wolf in the woods. He went straight for Kate; he knew who she was in relation to the pack. Whoever orchestrated this, they’re out for your heart. This is personal.”
“The whole city of New York knows who Kate is, Helena,” Dean emphasized, pursing his lips. “There’s a billboard outside, with her picture on it, and her scheduled performances. I’d agree with you about the whole ‘personal’ thing, but I can’t think of any bloodsucker that mad at us who wants to go up against us.”
“Raul, have your scouts noticed anything out of the ordinary lately?” Helena asked, putting some force in her voice, as she turned to him.
“Nothing;” the Alpha’s response was sharp. “Why?”
“I was just checking to see if there had been any signs of vampire activity. Who knows? Maybe we didn’t kill them all. Anyway, why don’t you go get some sleep everybody?” She suggested, lowering her tone. “I’ll do some research in the morning, and I’ll get back to you. Goodnight.”
“Thanks, Helena,” Raul gave her an appraising nod. “Goodnight.”
Dean’s initial thought was to continue his conversation with his brother. Still, it was already 3 a.m.; he was exhausted. Moreover, discussing possibilities with him would lead to speculation, and guessing would frustrate him even further. So, he took Kate by the hand, and mumbled a “goodnight” to his Alpha, eager to rest his weary bones as well as his troubled mind. The anger within him had not settled: sleep would not come easily; yet, he owed it to himself to try. Another war was on Paxton’s doorstep. He had to keep up his strength. Soon enough, he would need it.
Chapter Four
A tender sensation, followed by a small amount of pressure, on his body disrupted Dean’s sleep. The feel of soft fabric on his chest was no stranger to him. It was satin: Kate’s blue, satin nightgown. A tentative kiss on his lips compelled him to open his eyes. There she was, lying on top of him, a few strands of her golden hair flowing down the sides of her glorious face.
“Wake up, Wolfy…” she whispered, her breath on his beard stubble sending sweet tingles across his skin.
“What have I done to deserve something so sweet?” he wondered, his voice drowsy as he opened his eyes to slits.
“Let’s see; other than save my life for the hundredth time? Nothing,” Kate responded, brushing the tip of her nose on his. “I was hoping we could talk. You were too upset last night to have any kind of conversation.”
“Are you sure you just want to talk?” Dean asked, raising an eye
brow, as he slid his hands down the sheets.
“If I didn’t, I’d be naked,” Kate stated, her lips curling into a sexy smile as he felt the silky skin of her thighs on his fingertips. “My head would also be a few inches south of here.”
“You’re a bad girl,” he whispered, returning the smile. “What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she murmured, her voice going up an octave, as she peered towards the ceiling. “Something about a song last night; what was it called again?”
“Love of my life,” Dean said with a chuckle. “You were amazing, Siren. You blew my mind. Right after your little speech, I wanted to get up, and kiss you in front of everybody.”
“I meant every word,” Kate assured him in an emphatic tone as her gaze shot down to meet his. “You’re everything I’ve been looking for, Dean Bradford. You’re the man I want to grow old with. But, the love of my life has got to learn to be a little more lenient: on others as well as on himself; plus he needs to not let life get the best of him.”
“I almost lost you because I wasn’t vigilant enough,” He put a little force in his voice, as he gazed up into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Kate, but I’m getting tired of all this. I mean, can’t we have a moment’s peace around here? Do we always have to be at war with someone?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt. You got there right when I needed you,” she murmured to him in a sweet voice, unaffected by the tension in his. “And those wars you’re referring to? They’re not your choice. You and your brothers have evolved over the past year, Dean. Okay, you feel a little frustrated about last night. Honestly? I’m pretty mad, too; but, this is your life now. Everyone will want to bring you down. Everybody would love to destroy the legacy you, Raul and Ray have been building. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you’re not the bunch of mechanics Monica told me about, when she left Raul. You’ve become this town’s heroes. You’d better get used to that role. If you don’t accept it, you’re always going to feel like you did last night.”
Kate’s rants were no surprise to him. He loved them; they were proof that his mate would always speak her mind, without holding anything back. Still, this was more than just a typical rant. In a few sentences, she had managed to sum up their reality, since the day his brother took over the pack. And Kate had described it well, maybe better than he’d expected. They really were folk heroes: the wolves that had protected their hometown and their family, over and over again. She did have a point. With Helena’s help, Raul had done so well that most evil forces in this world wanted to wreak havoc upon Paxton, and ruin what they had built.
“I’ll try,” Dean spoke in a calm voice, savoring the deep brown in her eyes. “It won’t be easy, but I’ll try. I promise. I can’t help but wonder what Helena’s going to tell us tonight, though.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” Kate uttered, smiling down at him. “Now, get up, Wolfy. It’s time to go to work.”
“I still have a few minutes left, if you want to, um...” he faltered, tossing a glance down at the clock on his nightstand. “Well, you know.”
“Minutes?” she retorted, scoffing at him, playfully slapping her cheek. “We both know we need more than just a few minutes, not to mention it’s seven-thirty in the morning. The last time we did it so early, Julia overheard us. She kept mocking me for weeks. Whenever we ran into each other, she made sex noises.”
At that, Dean burst into loud, roaring laughter, arching his body up, as he reached both of his hands up to her face. Pulling her close, he rolled over onto his side, as his happy sounds filled his bedroom.
“She wouldn’t let up,” Kate went on, her grin bringing him all the peace that he so much needed.
“Oh, baby…” he chuckled, his body rocking, as he swept his thumbs across her cheekbones.
“Ok, stop,” she urged, as her smile disappeared all of a sudden.
“Why?” Dean asked with a snort.
“Because you will be late for work if you don’t,” Kate said, her voice a deep, raspy whisper that sent waves of desire coursing through him. Still, lust is a skin-deep feeling, one that she could easily give him by simply parading around him. That morning, Dean’s mate had offered him much more than just a temporary sensation. She had made this world clearer to him, by helping him realize what was expected of him. Tipping his head down, he brushed his lips onto hers, as he mapped out the smooth skin of her face. His Siren wrapped her left arm around his shoulder, as her intoxicating kiss served as an escape from reality. Sweetness rushed into his senses, like a raging river spilling out into the ocean, as he lost himself in that piece of magic she so freely offered him. Kate splayed her fingers over his shoulder, as the fine hairs of his beard scratched her chin. Sadly though, their kiss was not meant to last. Puffing her breath along his lips, she slightly tilted her head back.
“Now, I have to stop,” she gave a short chuckle, as she ran her hand up his back. “Sorry.”
“For kissing me?” he teased, trapping her upper lip between his own. “Are you serious?”
“For starting something we can’t finish right now,” Kate explained, her voice losing volume, as he pushed her hair back from her face.
“It’s ok,” Dean whispered, staring down at the gorgeous globes of her eyes. “Trust me; you gave me something a lot more important than pleasure today.”
He expected a comeback to his confession; yet, she didn’t open her mouth. His mate responded with a big smile, and a gentle caress on the side of his neck. Dean held her close, letting out a deep sigh, as he recalled her short speech.
“I’m going to try as hard as I can, my Siren,” He thought to himself. “I’m going to give it my best to not let life affect me so much, for you, and all of our loved ones.”
Chapter Five
The long, hard day at work tired Dean’s body out, as well as his brothers’. For more than nine hours, they assembled a brand-new, Harley Davidson, trying out different engine parts, pistons and exhausts. However, the calmness in his heart and soul was not at all disturbed. The danger that loomed over them was not enough to scare him, or discourage him. They had faced it before, and they had emerged victorious. He had no reason to believe that the Paxton pack would not do the same again. They might have lost three of their own, but they were twice as strong as they had been when they faced Marianne McIntyre, their most formidable adversary to date. In spite of his tranquility though, there was one thing that still lingered in his mind, something that he had failed to mention to Raul and Helena alike. The vampire’s last words:
“My brothers will avenge me. And you won’t even see them coming.”
The mere notion of a vampire calling the rest of his clan “his brothers” was ridiculous to say the least. According to Helena, no bond existed among them, other than the fear of their own Alpha. They had to obey his orders, or he would end them. More than that, they are not invisible, and, more importantly, shifters could smell them from a mile away. Was that the delirium of someone who was about to meet his maker? Was it the false promise of a creature infamous for his insincerity? Dean couldn’t tell. His only hope laid in his belief that Helena’s research would assist him in solving that mystery, as it had done in the past.
A cool, spring breeze hit him in the face, as it rustled through the trees, on that brisk, early-May night. Raul and Ray were already outside in their yard, but, strangely enough, there was still no sign of Helena.
“Evening, fellas,” Dean said, tipping his head down in a polite gesture, as he strolled towards them. “Where’s our witch?”
“Cliff came back from work fifteen minutes ago,” Raul replied in a firm tone of voice. “They’re having dinner. They’ll join us later on.”
“They?” exclaimed Dean, surprised by the information. “What does the cop know about vampires?”
“The cop saved Helena’s skin, back in March,” Raul groaned, narrowing his eyes at him. “Even if he doesn’t know squat about bloodsuckers, he’s
earned his right to be here.”
“Right,” Dean nodded, pressing his lips together. “What about Julia and Melissa? Where are they?”
“I sent them to ‘Joe’s’ diner, to notify the pack,” Raul responded. “They need to keep an eye out for vampires: again.”
“I don’t think anyone’s dropped their guard, since the battle,” Ray interjected his opinion, stepping between his brothers. “We came out of it wiser,” he added, settling his gaze on Raul.
“Some of us came out of it dead,” the Alpha said with a hint of discomfort in his tone. “That’s why we need to stay vigilant.”
“Indeed,” Helena’s feathery voice tore through the air, forcing Dean’s gaze away from his older brother. Accompanied by Cliff, she strode out of her cabin, with a small pack of paper in her hands. Dean felt his adrenaline surge, as the two of them came closer. He wouldn’t part his lips, yet; he was waiting for more information with bated breath.
“Good evening, boys,” Cliff addressed them in a calm tone. “Before you hear what Helena’s got to say, I’d like to tell you something. I was patrolling on the outskirts of Shandaken this morning. I was just east of that old windmill, about a hundred feet from the forest, when I saw this…” he paused; “…figure under the trees. At first, it looked like a man, but it wasn’t. He blurred closer. I’ve seen those things in action. I’m one-hundred percent sure it was a vampire. That son of a bitch smiled at me, and then went back into the woods.”
“In broad daylight?” his shock sent Raul’s voice two octaves up, his face stricken, his mouth falling open in disbelief, as his brows popped up. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s true,” Cliff insisted, maintaining a stiff tone of voice, as he intensified his stare. “One second he was behind a tree, then, he was ducking under a bush, blurring right and left. It was like watching a pinball in fast forward.”
“That’s exactly how they move,” Dean sighed, clenching his jaw. “Is that even possible?” He asked, shifting his gaze down to Helena.
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