by Mary Abshire
"Touch her again and you and your girlfriend won't live to see the next day," Drake said in a menacing tone that gave me a chill.
Alan set me down and escorted me to the exit with his arm glued around my waist. Dani walked along my other side, quietly and with wide, curious eyes. She carried the bag I'd dropped. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Drake not far behind. He held a look of pure loathing on his face.
"Who was that?" Dani asked.
"His name is Gabe. He kidnapped me and tried to kill me in Phoenix," I replied. Sweat covered my forehead and my shirt felt damp. I scrubbed my arm across my brow.
"Why did he kidnap you?" Dani asked.
"He was my guard and knew about Jessie's gift. I suspect he kidnapped her to distract me from the challenge, or maybe he thought his friend would lose and he didn't want his friend's soul sent to Hell," Alan replied.
"Oh," Dani said.
"After the challenge, Gabe vanished," Alan added. "I alerted all packs within my company to inform me if they ever found him, but I never heard a word."
"How did Gabe find out you were in Alaska?" Dani asked, her eyes on me.
Alan lessened his grip on me, then tugged me to the side, out of the flow of traffic. Dani stopped next to us.
"I was at a bar with Gail and Donnie when Gabe spotted me," I said. "Running into him here in Alaska was a fluke. Obviously, he's been hiding here over the last several months."
Drake caught up with us. He slid his hand around my waist and pulled me close until I bumped into his solid body. "I swear, I will not allow him to touch you ever again."
I slipped my arms under his leather coat and embraced him in a hug. His powerful energy cooled my hot flesh and soothed my fast heart. If he could've gotten away with killing Gabe in public, I had no doubt he would've.
"You showed up at the right time," I said softly.
"I heard your heart speed up. Then I heard your words."
"He must have been in the store already. I watched the entrance the entire time I was sitting on the bench and never saw him walk in," Alan said.
"I am very much looking forward to the meeting tonight," Drake said.
"Are you going to the meeting?" Dani asked, her attention on me.
"Yes, and you can't come. It could be…violent," I said.
Her eyes turned to Alan. "Is this the same meeting I heard you talking about on the phone and with Ryan? Are you going to challenge Gabe?"
A smile crept across Alan's face. "I may, but I have survived many challenges since my youth. I assure you, I can handle him."
Dani gave a pressed-lip smile and a nod as if she were relieved, yet still concerned. I suspected her interest in Alan was more than sexual and that surprised me a bit. She typically didn't keep a boyfriend for long. But perhaps the two would make a good couple and could sustain a lasting relationship. Only time would tell.
"Ryan will keep company with you while we are gone," Alan said.
"Are we done shopping?" Drake asked.
"My arms are starting to hurt," Dani said before her gaze shifted to Alan. "Hey, where are the bags I gave you earlier?"
"I gave them to one of my guards to take to the car," he replied.
"You have guards here, following us?" she asked, then scanned the crowd passing by.
Alan chuckled. "Of course. I always have at least two guards with me. You won't notice them."
She wouldn't be able to pick out his guards anyway. She couldn't tell a werewolf from a human.
Alan reached for the bags in Dani's hands. "Let me help."
"Do you still want to browse a bit longer?" I asked.
"We can head back and browse along the way," she said as Alan collected some of items from her. "Then maybe we could find a place to eat."
"I could use something to eat," Alan said.
"What about you?" Drake asked.
"Yeah, I could use something small to eat." Shopping had actually stirred a hunger for food.
Drake smiled and gave a tilt of his head. "Shall we?"
Hand in hand, we walked together. Dani and Alan followed. For a change, people strolled around us with a quicker pace. As time for shopping dwindled, people rushed to make those last minute purchases.
We reached a gaming store and I peered inside. Spending so much time in a house or condo without a job often left me feeling bored. I recalled Dani and I had played games at Lester's apartment on occasion. We had great fun.
I looked into Drake's loving eyes. "Do you ever play games?"
He arched a brow. "Games?"
A little voice in my head told me he probably didn't know anything about video games. I smiled as I pictured my vampire warrior in front of a television with a controller in his hand. "Come on." I tugged him into the store.
We strolled to the back and stopped near one of the gaming consoles. A young middle-school-aged boy stood in front of one, holding a remote. As he swung his arm, the screen showed a little figure with a tennis racket hitting a ball. Drake's gaze shifted from the boy to the screen.
"It's a game," I said. "He's using the remote to control what the little person is doing on the screen."
Drake's arm slipped from behind me as he watched in fascination.
Dani stood next to me. "Jessie, maybe we should—"
"I'm already thinking it."
Her eyes lit up. "We could have some fun. You still owe me a rematch in bowling."
I chuckled, finding humor in the fact she remembered when I beat her six out of ten games. We were a little inebriated and, yeah, we had a great time.
Alan's phone rang. He withdrew it from his pocket, then glanced at the screen before answering. "Hello, Troy."
I took in a deep breath and hoped Alan wasn't about to get an earful from Troy. But I suspected Gabe had called his Alpha and informed him what had happened.
Drake focused his attention on Alan and moved closer to him.
"You want to meet sooner," Alan said, and lifted his eyes to Drake.
Drake gave a nod.
Dani and I exchanged glances. In one sentence, we realized our plans for dinner were changing. Frowning, she showed her discontent. I shook my head, not pleased either.
"We can meet you there in two hours," Alan said, then he lowered the phone.
"I'm guessing he wasn't happy," I said.
Alan looked at Drake.
"I'm ready to get this over with," Drake said.
I couldn't have agreed more. Gabe had caused enough trouble in my life. The sooner he was dead and gone, or at least gone, the better.
"Do we need to leave now?" I asked.
"We do if we're going to make it to the state park in time." Alan slid his finger over the phone before lifting it to his ear again.
I turned to Dani. "You want to pick out some games and meet me at the cashier?"
She nodded before she passed by.
Drake slid his hand down the center of my back. He kissed the side of my head. "Once we resolve the matter of Gabe, we can go home and enjoy the holiday."
His words sounded good to my ears and should've eased my worries, but in reality, anxiety had control over me. I feared for Drake and Alan. I didn't want either man to get hurt. Drake's plan to handle Gabe remained a mystery to me, yet I knew with certainty he wanted the werewolf dead. We all did.
Overlooking my angst, I planted a quick kiss on Drake's lips. "I want Christmas to be extra special. Can you promise me it will be?"
“Promise me you won't get hurt and neither will Alan.”
I knew my request was a difficult one, but nothing meant more to me than Drake and my friends’ lives. I needed his word that Alan would come out of the meeting alive and breathing, and my lover would return to me in one piece, unscathed.
Drake pressed his forehead to mine and gazed deep into my eyes. “I promise to give you a Christmas to cherish always.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Fatigue overtook me as I stared at the dark two-lane road. I sat with my legs str
etched out and let my eyelids droop while I leaned against the side of the door. Drake held the bottom part of the steering wheel while he focused driving. Warm air blew in from the vents. I'd lowered my window an inch, granting cool air to sneak inside so I could keep comfortable. The scent of leather mixed with fresh air. Feeling cozy, I wanted to drift off, even if only for a short catnap.
After I hugged Dani goodbye at the mall, she left with one of Alan's guards to return to the house. Her concern for me showed when she made Drake promise to bring me back safely, which he did without hesitation. I sensed she also had angst for Alan. She embraced the Alpha in a tight squeeze before saying farewell to him. To my surprise and happiness, he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Since both were good friends of mine, I hoped they could develop a relationship that would last.
I inhaled a deep breath and fluttered my eyes, trying to keep them open. The last hour had been quiet for the most part. We'd left the glowing holiday lights of the city and entered a world of total darkness. Drake stayed three car lengths behind Alan's SUV. Two more large vehicles followed at a distance—more of Alan's men. Drake had said the meeting would consist of the three of us, plus Gabe and Troy. My gut warned me more werewolves would probably be there. Else, why meet at a state park? Alan and Drake had the same instincts, thus the extra guards behind us.
"Are you feeling all right?" Drake asked, slipping a glance away from the road.
"Yeah," I replied. "The long drive is making me a little sleepy."
"Do you still have that unsatisfied feeling?"
I straightened. "No. Maybe eating that wrap earlier helped." Before we'd gotten on the highway, we stopped at a fast food joint. I finished a wrap and chicken nuggets, more food than I'd eaten in a while. My stomach seemed fine—no unusual rumblings to report. The craving for something more didn't surface either.
"If the feeling returns, I thought of a way we could test if your thirst is for human blood," Drake said.
I mentally cringed when he said human blood. "How can we test it?"
"We can go back to the hospital. Since I know where they keep their blood supply, I can take a bag and feed it into you through an intravenous line."
Relief flowed through me, grateful I wouldn't have to drink human blood. "I like your plan."
His pink lips curled into a smile. "You can't very well bite through flesh if you don't have sharp teeth. And I doubt you would want to drink the warm blood."
The man knew me too well. "You're right. And as far as biting someone, you're the only one I want to nibble on. I would enjoy it immensely and I know I could make my love bites pleasurable for you."
Drake stiffened his spine and fidgeted in his seat. He unbuttoned his coat below his waist.
"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering if something was wrong with him.
He chuckled. "You just made me hard."
A burst of laughter escaped me. "Sorry about that. Bad timing, huh?"
Drake grinned as he unzipped his pants. "Jessie, sometimes I get hard just looking at you and thinking about you."
"Really?" I'd read a statistic once that men thought about sex every seven minutes. I never believed it. Who would admit to it anyway?
He met my gaze. "When have I lied to you?"
“Never.”
“And I never will. I love you with all my heart.” He slipped the words into my head.
I reached over and slipped my hand in the gap of his coat. Beneath his pants, he sported a large erection. I found the zipper and carefully slid it down. Drake stared ahead as I claimed hold of his solid cock. The feel of him made my own desire blossom. "Think we could pull over for a few minutes?"
"No, and as much as I enjoy you touching me, I don't think I can handle the distraction."
I gave him one good stroke before I glided my thumb over the tip of his rigid cock. His grip tightened on the wheel.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I can't stop the car and I don't want to do this if I can't touch you."
I slid my hand free, zipped his pants, then sank back in my seat. "Perhaps later." I really wanted to make him happy, but I didn't want to risk causing a car accident.
"Definitely later. But for now, help me get my mind off the subject."
I stared out the window, trying to come up with something to talk about. I recalled Drake's anger at the mall. If he had the chance, he would've killed Gabe. "Have you ever fought a werewolf before?"
He nodded. "Werewolves are weak. I have fought much fiercer creatures."
My mind raced to think of more vicious creatures. When I blinked my eyes, I realized I was looking at one. "Someone like Alexander?"
"Yes. Older vampires are very strong."
"If one of the VETOV found us, would you destroy them?"
He hesitated to respond. "It would depend on the situation. If the person tried to harm you, yes, I would destroy them."
"Even Nassar?" As I recalled, Nassar was the oldest vampire I'd met. He'd founded the organization. I imagined the vamp had to be the strongest and most difficult one to destroy.
"Everyone has a weakness," Drake replied.
The vagueness of his answer bothered me. Maybe he thought he couldn't destroy Nassar and didn't want to admit it. I decided not to press him for more information about the ancient vamp.
"What's your weakness?" I asked.
He briefly took his eyes from the road. "You."
The one-word answer said enough. If someone wanted to attack Drake, to hurt him, all they had to do was mess with me. I hoped the VETOV members wouldn't consider using such tactics.
Silence lingered during the rest of the drive, increasing my lethargy. Upon hearing the clicking sound of the turn signal, I took a deep breath and stiffened. Ahead of us, Alan's red lights glowed brightly as his vehicle turned off the road. Drake slowed the SUV.
"I take it we're here," I said.
Drake followed Alan's vehicle. "Can you honor a request from me?"
"It depends on the request."
"If I sense danger, will you wait in the car if I ask?"
"You know I don't want to leave you. That's not fair to ask me," I said, my voice glum.
"Alan and I can handle them, but if one of them attacked you…"
I clenched my jaw, not liking his scenario. Did I want a werewolf to scratch or maul me with his sharp teeth and claws? No. And I didn't fancy the thought of one of them harming Drake. But, I was his weakness. If sitting in the car helped him fight, then his request was worth considering.
"I will honor your wish, but every ounce of me will hate leaving you," I said.
Drake stopped the car next to Alan's, then shifted the gear. After cutting the engine, he handed the keys to me. "Thank you. I know it will be difficult for you."
"I just want the meeting over with already and Gabe to disappear. Then, I want to go home and have wild sex with you."
Drake smiled wide enough to show his teeth. "I like your thinking. I'll try to hurry so we can get home."
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I thought the kiss would be quick, but I was wrong. He slid his hand around my neck and held me close. Parting my lips, he slipped his tongue inside my mouth. Gentle strokes aroused me. My nipples became hard and the need between my legs awakened. When he pried his lips away, I mourned internally for him.
"I shouldn't have done that," he said.
"You started it, and now you got me all hot and bothered."
Alan appeared at Drake's window. He tapped on the glass with his knuckles.
"Perfect timing," Drake said before he twisted around.
I slid the keys into the pocket of my jeans before exiting the car. The three of us met at the rear of the vehicle. I scanned the lot and noticed two other SUVs parked near a small ranch building. Gabe's and Troy's cars, I presumed.
"Ready?" Alan asked.
Drake lowered the hat on his head as he started walking. "We need to speed along the meeting. I have something important I need to take car
e of at home."
A laugh wanted to escape me, but I pressed my lips shut.
Ice pellets crunched under our feet as we strode down the driveway. Though trees and darkness surrounded us, security lights directed at the brick building lit up the area. My heartbeat increased with each step. I was anxious to get the meeting over with and go home. At the same time, a touch of fear thrived within me from not knowing what to expect. As we drew near the building, hairs on my neck tickled my flesh. The signal warned me of werewolves nearby.
“I hear three heartbeats inside.” Drake said silently. “But I hear more in the woods.”
“How many?” I asked.
A few steps later, he replied, “At least five in wolf form.”
"How can you tell?" I slapped my hand over my mouth. Damn it, I shouldn't have spoken, but too late.
We stopped in front of the door.
"How can you tell what?" Alan asked, his eyes jumping from me to Drake.
"The heart pumps faster," Drake replied, then faced Alan. Drake held up five fingers, then pointed his other thumb toward the woods.
Alan gave a nod. His gaze narrowed on me while he tilted his head as if he were inspecting me.
I glanced at Drake, wondering if I should tell Alan about the new me. Then a lock snapped, claiming our attention.
The door opened and the man I loathed appeared. Saying nothing and glaring at us, he turned sideways and extended his arm.
Drake entered the house first. I followed and Alan trailed behind me. In a large room to the right, six folding chairs sat near a fireplace. Troy finished exchanging words with a large man who looked like John Travolta on steroids. The beefy Travolta lookalike gave Troy a nod, then left.
Troy approached us. "I apologize. Brian had some information he needed to share. A pack leader's day is never boring." Troy grinned, then shifted his attention to Drake. "I don't believe we have met." He extended his arm.
Drake shook the Alpha's hand. "My name is Drake."
"We don't see many, if any, vampires in the area," Troy said. "What brings you to Alaska?"
Drake removed his gloves and hat. "I came here for business, not to chat. Shall we begin?"
Troy shifted his gaze to me and offered his hand. "You must be Jessie, the soul keeper."
