Fated, Books 1 & 2

by Becky Flade

  “Everybody figured they were stoned and just scared themselves stupid, but when they described the woman, everybody thought of you, Maggie. And then they pulled out their camera phone—the picture is too dark to see anything and it’s real shaky; those boys were scared—and when they weren’t whispering to each other, you can hear the fighting in the background. Frightening to listen to, I heard it twice already this morning.” She stopped, staring at them both wide-eyed with curiosity.

  “Aidan and I had an argument last night and I went off on my own into the woods to sulk but got lost. A pack of wild wolves found me and probably would’ve had quite the meal if another alpha hadn’t jumped in and challenged the leader. I fought one off and ran like hell toward the Blacks’ cabin.” Maggie adjusted their cover story, inserting Gealach instead. Aidan, the smoother liar, took up the thread from there.

  “I was already out there searching for Maggie. When I heard her screaming, I just started running. And ran right into the battle between the two alpha males; I got bit up pretty good. I must have just missed those boys. I followed the blood trail and found Maggie at the cabin. We hid out there ’til daybreak. I’d like to know why those two saw fit to record Maggie getting attacked by wolves rather than try to help her.”

  Betty Barnes smiled. “Not everyone is as heroic as you are, Aidan Gael. Or as prone to attract trouble as Maggie is. Well, I’ll let you guys go get checked out by the doctor; you both look pretty torn up. Call if you need anything.” Maggie shook her head as the little old woman scurried away to scoop her friends.

  “The whole town will have our version over breakfast before you’re patched up, baby.” She opened the door for him and Aidan smiled at her, hesitantly. Maggie saw the uncertainty in his eyes, wrapped her arms around him, burrowed her face into his chest, and told him, “We’re going to be okay.”

  He held her tightly with his uninjured arm and though his heart beating under her cheek was a comfort, Aiden’s silence ate at her. A matronly woman Maggie didn’t recognize coughed delicately, and they separated so she could pass. As soon as they entered the doctor’s office, the severity of his injuries got Aidan moved to the head of the line. If Maggie weren’t so torn up over the events of the last twenty-four hours, she’d have been amused by his obvious discomfort at the fuss the nurses were making.

  As the doctor sewed up Aidan’s arm and leg, the nurse checked Maggie for lingering signs of shock and bandaged her ravaged hands.

  “I know how the gossip mill in this town works—how good are you and the staff at protecting patient privacy?” Before the nurse could respond and lie, Maggie added, “Understanding, of course, that since I’m from the East Coast and a city girl at heart, my gut reaction to a breach of patient/doctor confidentiality is a medical malpractice lawsuit.”

  “We always respect the privacy of our patients, Ms. O’Connell, the doctor wouldn’t have it any other way.” The glint of fear she saw in the nurse’s eye assured her that her privacy might actually get respected.

  “I’ll need to see the doctor when Aidan is finished, make up a reason if needs be.” The nurse nodded and ran off. As Aidan was escorted back to the waiting room, Maggie passed him on her way back.

  “What’s the matter? Are you hurt? I thought you were okay,” he asked. The nurse responded quickly, making it unnecessary for Maggie to lie.

  “The doctor just wants to get a look at her hands, make sure there isn’t any sign of infection or foreign matter. She’ll be right out, Mr. Gael.”

  “Thank you,” Maggie whispered as they continued back to the examination room. Later, at home, a prescription for prenatal vitamins and a referral to an obstetrician hiding in her underwear drawer with the positive pregnancy test, Maggie fixed breakfast for them both. Her mind was full of the fight, the baby, the distance between her and Aidan despite the hug they’d shared at the doctor’s door, and she burned the eggs twice. She was just starting a third batch when the doorbell sounded.

  Maggie shut everything off and hurried through the house; she could hear Aidan talking to someone having obviously gotten to the door first. She saw Aidan as she turned the corner, then Sheriff Teague came into view and Maggie’s step faltered. Distance or not, she crossed directly to Aidan’s side, taking his hand in hers.

  “Morning, sheriff.”

  “Good morning, Miz O’Connell. Heard you two had some excitement out in the woods again last night and thought I’d come see how you were doing.”

  “We’re good, a little banged up, but nothing serious. You want some coffee?” Aidan’s easy manner went a long way to calming Maggie. She wasn’t nearly as cool or as experienced a liar, something she’d have to get over and fast.

  “No, I’m good, just ate a little bit ago myself. Before I ask you both about the events of last night, I’ll tell you I’ve heard what Betty’s telling folks and I’ve seen, or heard really, the video those two nitwits filmed on their phone. And I already had a conversation with Doc about your wounds, Aidan. I just need to confirm how things went down. The town’s planning on convening a meeting to decide if something needs to be done, and I’ll need to have the facts.”

  “I’m sorry, sheriff, I’m not sure I understand. Done about what?” Maggie asked.

  “Miz O’Connell, we’ve had two wolf attacks in the area lately. People are getting concerned. We’re considering putting together a couple hunting parties, see if we can’t either dwindle down the local wolf population or at least drive some of them further into the woods where there’s less likely to be hikers and the like.” Maggie wondered how much fear a body could take before it just gave up as a fresh wave of panic coursed through her.

  “There’s no need for that, sheriff. It seems if I just stay out of the forest, problem solved.” Teague chuckled and Aidan squeezed her hand, whether to reassure or to caution her, she didn’t know.

  “As for last night, I hear you guys had yourselves a little spat and Miz O’Connell took a walk to calm down but got lost. Is that right?”

  “Yes. Sheriff, we told Betty Barnes all of this; I’m sure what you’ve heard is accurate.”

  “I’m sure it is, Miz O’Connell, but I’ll need your statements anyway.”

  “Okay. But please, call me Maggie.” She gripped Aidan’s hand tighter. “I realized I was getting close to Alice Black’s lands and sat down on a felled tree to rest for a minute, get my bearings, you know, decide whether I would be better off heading to their farm, the road, or back home. I heard something in the woods, I assumed it was Aidan coming to find me, but it was a small pack of wolves. I stood, the leader advanced on me, and I screamed for help. A lone wolf appeared and began fighting the larger of the two; I took a tree branch to the third. I . . . I killed it. Then I threw the branch at the wolves that were still fighting.

  “I must have hit the leader, because he gave up the battle and turned on me. The latecomer attacked him mid-pounce. The final member of the pack was dead on the ground and with nothing standing between me and the path to the cabin, I bolted. I got down the hill and fell alongside the stream. That’s where Aidan found me.” She was visibly shaking.

  “The big gray? It was protecting you?” Maggie stared at him, her expression intentionally blank until Teague explained, “Those boys said it looked like the big gray was trying to protect you. In fact, they said you screamed something weird and the animal came out of nowhere to stand between you and the pack.”

  “Sheriff, I was screaming for help. And the gray was not protecting me. I thought they were fighting over,” she paused and shifted her gaze to the floor before she lied, “meat.” She shuddered and Teague looked at Aidan pointedly, obviously wanting to give Maggie a break.

  “After Maggie had been gone for awhile, I started to worry and headed out to look for her. I’d gotten pretty far in and was considering turning around when I heard her scream. God, Ed, you’ve no idea how terrifying that was. All I could think was those men had come back. I started running as fast as I could toward the so
und of her screams.” Aidan released her hand, wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her close. “Like an idiot, I ran straight into the fray between the two alphas. I got bit a couple times, but they were more interested in tearing into one another. I found a blood path, followed it past the wreckage and down the hill, where I found Maggie, blessedly unhurt but in shock.”

  “I cleaned up Aidan’s wounds in the stream, and then I broke into Jake Black’s cabin where we holed up until daybreak. I’ll pay to have the window fixed.”

  “Don’t worry about that now, Maggie. That tracks with what Betty told me and what those two knuckleheads saw. You must have just missed them, Aidan.”

  “I was coming from home and I imagine they were headed toward the road. We were running in different directions from different locations. But I wouldn’t mind running into them now; cowards sat and videotaped Maggie getting attacked when they could have stopped it.”

  “Aidan,” Maggie cautioned.

  “No, Mags, don’t ‘Aidan’ me. It was probably their camp that drew the pack in the first place. And what would they have done had the leader torn your throat out and the three began feasting on you? Would they have taped that, too?” Maggie felt her gore rise and she ran from the room, her hand clamped over her mouth. She only barely made it into the bathroom and as she vomited, she silently thanked Sheriff Teague for interrupting breakfast. But for the grace of an official visit she would’ve been bringing up a full meal. She cleaned herself up, brushed her teeth, and rejoined them just in time to hear a tinny version of her voice scream, “Gealach!”

  Maggie heard the choking sound but didn’t realize it had come from her until both men’s heads whipped her way. Teague quickly flipped his phone shut, essentially ending the video replay. Aidan leapt up, moving quickly to take her in his arms. He rubbed her back and whispered, “Okay, baby. It’s okay.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m real sorry about that. I’ve got all I need and if I think of anything else, I’ll call. You both get some rest, you hear.” He walked over to Maggie and laid his meaty hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing. “You were very brave.”

  When the door closed behind him, Maggie’s eyes tripped to Aidan’s.

  “Shhh, Maggie. We’ve got plenty of time to worry; right now we need to sleep.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed before stripping her naked. Shedding his own clothes just as quickly, Aidan lay down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and tugged a light blanket over them both. Maggie trembled in his arms, and he murmured sweet, soothing nonsense as he ran his hands over her body, comforting her. She turned her face up toward him, resting her lips against his gently. She turned fully, so they lay face to face, their bodies lightly grazing, and she ran her hands down him, her touch sensual.

  “Love me, Aidan,” she whispered, her hand cupping his cheek, her eyes scanning his face. He took her mouth with a quiet passion that made her long. Maggie slid her foot up the length of his leg before hooking it over his hip, inviting him closer. Aidan ran his hand down her body.

  Maggie rolled onto her back, bringing Aidan with her. He braced his weight on his arms, his mouth still on hers, and with slow, practiced strokes they made love, each moaning the other’s name as they crested.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Details of the attack made the Salt Lake papers and the local eleven o’clock broadcast. Though the picture was too dark to see, the audio was shockingly perfect, and it quickly flooded the internet and email boxes everywhere. With the added attention the internet was bringing, a few national papers picked up the story from the Associated Press.

  Noah sat in his office and listened, for the hundredth time, to the footage of Maggie being attacked. He knew he should be horrified at something happening to someone he was supposed to have cared for deeply, but instead he was excited by it. He didn’t want her dead—she’d be of no use to him then but he enjoyed hearing the fear in her voice as she screamed. She had always been so goddamn good at everything.

  Noah had a dark side to his sexuality. He was careful to hide it from his mistresses and his wife, but the prostitutes he’d purchased over the years would’ve been able to attest to his cruelty. Lately he’d taken to picking up prostitutes that held a resemblance to Maggie. He’d also taken to beating them, trying to make them scream, beg and whimper like Maggie does on the audio file to which he’d become addicted.

  He knew from the different accounts he’d read that she’d killed one—that must have torn her up—barely escaped another and that her lover was bitten multiple times in his attempt to rescue her. There was talk of a gray wolf that may or may not have protected Maggie on more than one occasion from animal and human predators, though Maggie and her lover denied it. He had researched the man; he knew which family he descended from and about the hushed up scandal surrounding his birth. But otherwise the man and his life were unremarkable, except for his link to Maggie.

  Noah’s career had flopped after the initial glow faded from the article he’d “borrowed” from Maggie. He wanted to blame her rather than admit she was the better reporter; but his driving instinct was to capitalize on her talent. There was more to this story, he could feel it. She wouldn’t be wasting her time in Minnesota unless there was something big going on out there.

  He picked up the phone and asked a junior assistant to find someone over at The Inquisitor who would appreciate making friends with a senior editor at The Hurley Group.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Immediately following the wolf attack, the town and the woods had been flooded with sightseers and hunters alike. Since Gealach was recovering from his injuries and staying close to home, there were no additional sightings or attacks. The hunting parties dwindled and then died out altogether after a few weeks. Life had returned to normal in Trappers’ Cove.

  Aidan was working in the stable, enjoying Sly’s familiar tirade. Winter had come, they were harsh in Minnesota, and brought with it more chores. Sometimes, in seasons past, Aidan would hire on a day laborer to help out; sometimes he would pitch in himself. There was a certain comfort to be found in manual labor and good company. It was one of the few pleasures Aidan occasionally allowed himself. Of late it had become a convenient excuse to hide from the tension growing between him and Maggie. As though thinking about her had called her to him, she appeared in the doorway.

  “Hey, Sly. Aidan, I’m going into Brandwyne. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Aidan passed his shovel to Sly and hurried after her.

  “Hold on, beautiful, I’ll go with you. I can’t remember the last time I went to Brandwyne. Are we hitting the mall? I bet there’s a Victoria’s Secret in there.” Aidan waggled an eyebrow suggestively and was pleased to see a hint of her smile.

  “Next time, baby. We’ll make a day of it.”

  “Maggie?” He grabbed her arm lightly. “What’s going on?”

  “I have a doctor’s appointment, Aidan, okay?”

  “What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?” He asked. Now that he thought about it she hadn’t been eating much lately. He worried and wished he didn’t.

  “I’m feeling pregnant, Aidan. I have an appointment with an obstetrician, my first appointment, and unless you’re willing to discuss this rationally or accept the reality of the situation, I suggest you head back to your stable and the manure.”

  He watched her stride away; watched as she climbed into his truck and drove away. He stood there staring until the truck disappeared. More than five weeks had passed since Maggie had told him she thought she might be pregnant and she hadn’t mentioned it since. He’d convinced himself she’d been mistaken. He hadn’t asked. He hadn’t wanted to know.

  Maggie’s pregnant, he thought, his mind spinning. Didn’t she realize his child may be cursed too? The baby may not be human at all. The baby might be like him. It might hurt her. What if it turned while still in the womb? It could kill her before it was even born. He was so lost. Aidan turned and slowly walked back into the s
table.

  “Boss, one of the reasons I think you and I get along so well is I mind my own business. But I’m going to step over the line here and if you feel the need to fire me over it, so be it.” Sly set his pitchfork against the wall. “I wasn’t trying to but I heard that conversation you and Maggie just had.”

  “You’re right, Sly. This isn’t any of your business.” Aidan turned to leave.

  “And again, if you feel the need to fire me, go right ahead, but I’m going to say my piece and you’re going to listen.” The older man pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands. “I don’t know much about your life before you came here. I don’t want to. What I need to know about you I got right here. You didn’t come in to town and ruin the Cherry Farm with some big ugly house. Your stables and horses are beautifully kept. So is your land. You don’t play at being a rancher. And you’re a fair boss. Until now I’d have said you were a good man. But a good man stands tall when his lover tells him she’s having his baby.”

  “Maggie is one hell of a woman. Only a fool would let a woman like that get away. I never thought you a fool before either.”

  Aidan looked back at Sly. “I should go after her shouldn’t I?”

  “Oh for the love of . . . yes, go after her.” Sly tossed him his keys, “Take my truck.”

  Aidan didn’t know what he’d say when he caught up to her but he knew that Sly was right, he should have done more than just stand there staring at her. Several miles outside of town he saw his truck parked on the shoulder of the road. Fear for Maggie’s wellbeing clutched at his insides and he pushed the accelerator, willing the ancient truck to go faster. He braked hard behind the pick-up, spraying industrial salt and grey slush across the blacktop. Aidan ran to the driver side door, wrenching it open, his heart in his throat.