by Bryce Evans
She was glad the grizzly shifter liked her because meeting him when he was mad wasn’t an option.
“Move out of the way you big brute.” Kayden Lynn and Judd Walsh both hugged her, and London could hear Ryder’s growls and see the expression on his face as he tried his best not to lose control. He really was funny about other men hugging her. Must be an Alpha thing.
Jena Carnes walked into the kitchen as Judd Walsh moved away from her. She went straight to Ryder and hugged him. She couldn’t get congratulations out of her mouth fast enough before London jerked her away from her mate. “Don’t touch him.” London’s voice was hard as she pulled Ryder behind her.
Ryder jerked her toward him inhaling the back of her hair. Yep the tables just got turned on her and it had to be that bitch Jena Carnes. You think she would have learned her lesson, but no, she was testing the waters and a storm was about to start brewing if she didn’t watch her step. Ryder was hers now and she better get used to that and keep her distance.
London watched as Me-Len and Meryl walked into the kitchen smiling. She needed to hug her grandmother. She was her only family left and getting her congratulations was the only one that really mattered to her.
“Congratulations, London. I’m so happy for you. I know your parents would have been thrilled with Ryder.” Me-Len pulled London to the side and whispered in her ear. “Ryder told me the night you came to dinner that he loved you and had for a long time. Wolves don’t do divorce. They mate for life. He needed you to be sure before he did something about it. I need to know. Are you really happy?”
London couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. She loved Ryder Malone with all her heart and soul. “Yes Me-Len. Yes, I do love him.”
“Yeah. I knew that but needed to hear you say it. I could tell he loved you by the way he stared at you when you passed out on the bathroom floor. The look in his eyes said it all. I think you both just needed a push. Nolan provided that. He knew you were Ryder’s mate but he needed for Ryder to admit it. Ryder has a lot of responsibilities and he gives his life to the pack. He needed for you to understand that and how demanding your life would be as his Alpha female.”
“I love him and if that means that I assist him in his duties then I’m ready. I know you may think this is too fast or I will regret this, but this feels right. Look at our family, Me-Len. We finally have a big family.” Me-Len hugged her.
“I know baby girl. I’ve known for a long time that he was the right man for you, but you needed to know that.” Me-Len answered.
“Hey, do I get a hug too?” Ryder asked.
“Yes you do. We’re family now, just like it should be.” Me-Len hugged Ryder.
Meryl walked over and hugged London. “I hate to break this up but my phone alerted me saying the wards were tested again. Tonight is a full moon. They will use it to help them break through the wards. Their magic will be more powerful tonight.”
“Hey everyone, it’s time to get back to work. I have a meeting with the Council, and all the Enforcers need to be back at their posts. Jamie will get with you soon and update you on our plans. Thank you all for coming and I promise we will have the mating ceremony soon,” Ryder said loudly. London jerked her head toward Ryder. She had no clue what a mating ceremony was. Pack members waved good-bye and started moving out the front door.
London watched as everyone left. Jena Carnes was lingering and when she got to the door she looked back at London and sneered at her. The look said she was up to something but she didn’t have time to worry about her right now. She had a huge problem gunning for her. She needed to talk with Ryder too about what the hell a mating ceremony was.
Ryder pulled London to the side. “Me-Len and Meryl are here for you. They want to show you some protection spells. I have no clue exactly what that entails, but I’ve got to meet with the Alphas and inform them about what happened last night. Will you be okay while I’m gone?”
London sighed heavily, then grabbed Ryder and kissed him. She could feel the heat coming from her mate as he aggressively kissed her back. However, the snickers coming from their audience in the kitchen had her pulling away. She had forgotten that the Alpha’s and her grandmother were still in the room watching.
London pulled away first. His taste and smell was hypnotic and forever engrained in her mind. She could do this with him forever. He was like a drug she was addicted too and Ryder had become her heroin.
“I like when you get aggressive. Maybe later you can show me some more aggression.” Ryder whispered in her ear.
“I love you, but I think I will be okay without you for a few hours.” London whispered softly.
“You may, but I don’t know if I will. I love you too. Be careful and I will be back soon. Don’t go anywhere without a guard.” London stepped back and saluted. Ryder smiled but she could see how worried he was. Jim Sanders may have been a piece of cake to defeat, but Metilda Blackwood was a witch. She was coming for them and surrender wasn’t in her DNA.
* * * *
London fell down to the ground again. The spell she had been working on was draining her energy. She was starving and needed to refuel. Her body felt like she had jet lag and needed to lie down, but first, she needed to eat.
“Can we take a break? My body needs some fuel.” Zoey came out the door just as London and the others were breaking.
“You guys hungry yet?” Zoey yelled out the back door.
“Yes. Starving,” London answered before anyone else.
“I’ve ordered a couple of pizzas from Joe’s, but I have to go get them. Come in and relax, and I will be back in about ten minutes with the food. Donnie is working on the program with the spray. We found a company who can do that. We ordered but it won’t be here until tomorrow,” Zoey said over her shoulder. London and the others walked back into the house and sat down at the kitchen table.
She loved this house. If she were going to build a house then this is what she would want. There were some things she wanted to change to add her own personal touch, but she still loved it. Ryder said she could make any changes she wanted but that would have to wait. London could hear her cell phone ringing as they sat with Donnie eating some snacks.
She walked into Ryder’s bedroom and grabbed her phone off the dresser. Ryder must have plugged it in for her this morning.
She didn’t recognize the number but answered it anyway. “Hello.” London only heard silence, and then she heard Zoey yell in the background.
“Don’t say anything London, or your friend here will die and I plan to make it worse than that wolf. You just listen. Just say yes if you understand me.” London could feel her body shaking with rage as she listened to the woman on the phone. It was Metilda and now she had Zoey.
“Yes.” London’s tone was harsh as she answered.
“Good girl. I know you’re being watched, but you’re a smart girl, so find a way to lose the guards, and meet me at the top of Ranger Mountain. Take a left outside the main gate. Then drive for a mile and turn right on the dirt road that says Ranger Mountain. Drive for another half mile and you’ll see a black truck. Get out of the vehicle and walk north. You will find us there. Do you understand, London?” She could hear Zoey scream out in pain.
“Yes I understand. If you hurt her, I’m going to kill you,” London whispered so nobody could hear her conversation in case there were any wolves in the house.
“You aren’t in any position to be giving me orders. It would be best to hurry, before I start cutting.” The phone went dead. London wanted to scream out but she couldn’t risk the others hearing her. She would need Donnie’s help if she was going to make this happen.
She walked back into the kitchen, noting the strain in her grandmother’s eyes. “Why don’t you and Meryl go into the living room and rest for a while. I will come get you when Zoey arrives then we can eat and get back at it.”
“Oh dear, that would be great.” Me-Len and Meryl walk out of the kitchen.
“Donnie,” L
ondon whispered out. Donnie looked up smiling until he saw the expression on London’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Donnie’s voice was loud but not enough for Me-Len and Meryl to hear. He started to get up but London put her hand to her lips. Donnie sat back down and whispered again. “What’s wrong London?”
“Metilda Blackwood just called. She has Zoey. I’ve got to go and meet her or they are going to start cutting Zoey up.” Donnie’s face paled as he listened to her. “I need your help on getting out of here without the guards or Me-Len finding out.”
“You can’t go by yourself, London. They’re going to kill you!” Donnie started getting louder as his fear came forward.
“Shh. Calm down. Listen, I’m not going to be alone.” She reached up and grabbed the earpiece out of the black box. She slipped it in her ear. “Now get on Zoey’s computer and pull up the last program. Put the blue tooth in your ear and talk to me.”
When he had followed her instructions, she held her thumb up. “Got it. Now here is what we are going to do. I’m going to get in the trunk of your car and you are going to tell Me-Len that I went to take a shower but you need to go back to the office to get another computer. You will be right back. You are going to turn left at the main gate and drive for a mile until you see a dirt road that says Ranger Mountain. You drive on to the road and stop. Let me out and you will turn around and run back to the house, so that you can pull me up on the computer. You won’t be able to see me, but you will be able to hear me. Call Ryder, and tell him what is going on. Tell him she will be watching to see if they follow me. I will keep her busy until the cavalry arrives.”
“How do we know this will work?”
London bowed her head before she spoke. “We don’t, but it’s the only plan we have. It will be dark soon so tell them to hurry. She may have wards up and people probably watching, so make sure you are recording Donnie. If we need more proof than this should be enough.”
London grabbed her cell phone and quietly walked to the back door where Donnie’s vehicle was parked. She looked around to see if anyone was watching, before she looked back at Donnie and smiled. Then she opened the door and walked outside.
Chapter 32
Donnie was nervous when he walked into the living room. “Hey I’m going to the office to get another computer. One of the guards is going with me, and London is in the shower. Be back in a few minutes, and save me some pizza.”
“We will sweetheart.” Me-Len answered softly as she laid her head back in Meryl’s lap.
He hated lying to them but he didn’t know any other way. Walking outside, he started his car, and drove down the long road that was Ryder’s driveway until he made it to the front gate. The men gave him and odd look, but pushed the button to make the gate go up. Donnie sighed heavily, relieved as he pushed the gas, and turned right onto the road. He drove a mile until he came to the dirt road with the sign London told him about. He got out of the car and opened his trunk. He helped her out of the trunk, but refused to release her hand.
“Please London, let me call Ryder. He will know what to do,” Donnie pleaded, but she only shook her head.
“She will kill Zoey, Donnie. I can’t take that chance,” London said. “Now run back to the house and call him then. I will hold them off until he can get here with the other Alpha’s.”
A tear fell on Donnie’s face, but he wiped it away quickly. “Okay, but don’t do anything stupid.” Donnie picked London’s necklace up and spoke directly to it.
“And you-you better protect her and help her, or you will have me to deal with.” Donnie looked up into London’s smiling face.
“Hurry now, and get going,” London ordered.
Donnie took off running toward Ryder’s house.
* * * *
Me-Len felt her heart start beating faster. She rose up and looked around. Meryl still had his eyes closed but opened them and stared at her.
“You okay?” he asked her. He got up from the couch looking around.
“Something’s wrong. I don’t know what it is but something is wrong.” Me-Len got up and walked back into the kitchen. She walked around then walked to the back of the house to find London. She could feel her heartbeat pick up as she walked into London’s bedroom, and then into her bathroom, but found nothing. She opened the shower door but nobody had been in the shower for hours. Where is she?
Me-Len ran out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. “She’s gone!” she shouted at Meryl.
“Who’s gone? London?” Meryl asked confused.
“Yes! Something is wrong. She left for some reason.” Me-Len pulled out her phone and called London’s number. The phone rang but nobody answered and it went to voice mail. Me-Len heard voices coming from the front porch, so she and Meryl ran into the living room and opened the front door. Ryder and the other Alpha’s were getting out of vehicles.
“She’s gone!” Me-Len yelled out. Ryder and the others looked up at her, and she could see the rage forming in Ryder’s eyes.
“What happened?” he demanded. Before Me-Len could explain what she knew, a SUV came screaming up the driveway, and Donnie jumped out of the passenger side. He ran towards them trembling with fear and adrenaline, and before Ryder could ask why his guards were doing playing chauffer instead of protecting his mate, Donnie was yelling.
“Ryder! She took Zoey!” he gasped, his explanation cut off when Kayden Lynn roared.
“Who has Zoey?” They all watched as Kayden’s eyes turned bright green.
“Metilda has her. And now she has London too! She called and said if London didn’t come alone she would cut Zoey up just like the wolf. I had to drive London down the road a mile, and let her out so that I could come back to the house and call you. She has the earpiece in her ear. She told me where they were going, and she said to tell you to send the cavalry and she would hold them off as long as she could. Oh and she said Metilda would probably have some wards set up and people watching to see if anyone else came—”
“She has the earpiece in her ear?” Jamie interrupted.
“Yes, we checked it before she left.” Donnie ran into the house with Ryder and Jamie on his heels.
“Turn it on, but turn the blue tooth off and turn the speakers up on the laptop.” Jamie instructed Donnie.
At first, they could only hear breathing, but after a moment a woman’s voice came over the line. “You came. I really didn’t think you would be here so fast, and I thought for sure you would bring your mate. No guts and all.”
“Ok they must be watching the property to see if we leave so we need to go on foot. We can cut through the north gate and travel up the creek bed. There is a lot of water running so it should help us get in there without being seen or heard,” Ryder said. He was in Alpha mode as everyone started taking their shoes off. “Donnie you stay here and listen to the computer, then relay what is going on to me.”
Ryder looked, but there was only one ear device and London had it. Jamie came into the kitchen carrying a big box. He put the box on the table and opened it up. Everyone gasped as they gazed upon the gadgets and weapons.
“Here.” Jamie reached in and pulled out another box. He opened it and inside was ten earpieces. He gave Ryder an earpiece, and passed out earpieces to the other Alphas. Getting out another box he started turning dials and buttons on it, and then put it next to Zoey’s computer. “Let me know if you can hear London talking.” Everyone listened then gave thumbs up.
Me-Len had never seen so much high tech stuff in all her life but she was thankful he had it. “What do we need to do?” she asked Ryder.
“You will need to ride on Brody’s back when he shifts into a bear. Think you can handle that?” Ryder asked her.
“I can handle anything when it comes to saving my granddaughter,” Me-Len replied.
“Good girl. Meryl, can you ride on Nolan’s back. We’re going to need you too, so we can get past the wards,” Ryder asked.
“Sure can,” Meryl answered. Me-Len watched,
as everyone sported determined looks. They had to be if they were going to save London and Zoey, and there was no alternative to saving them.
Chapter 33
London started walking down the silent path. She couldn’t hear any birds or insects and it made her more nervous. Stopping, she looked down at her necklace, picking it up and putting it to her lips. She knew it was probably stupid, but she whispered to the Tree of Life anyway.
“I’m scared, but I believe you can help me. I have to believe that. She wants you, but I won’t let her have you. Please hear me, and understand my plan. I will get you back. Trust me.” London kissed the pendant then placed it back inside her shirt and continued walking down the path.
She walked for a while until she came to a meadow, where she found Metilda seated beside Zoey. Zoey’s was taped and her hands were tied behind her back. Slowly, she entered the meadow as Penny Sanders and Roxie Falcon walked out of the woods smiling. Fucking bitches. Her rage for the two women roared to the surface. She would have to kill both of them now. They had chosen their fate.
“Bet you thought you would never see me again huh?” Roxie snickered as she walked toward her. London looked on as more wolves came out of the woods. The wolves looked like Jim Sanders wolf had, with fur that was matted in places and dirt caked on their bodies. She knew why now. They were sick with dark magic.
“When I came to town to find you, I was lucky to meet someone who hated you just as much as I did. I met Penny here first, and then Metilda-who by the way really hates you-so I’m looking forward to this. It’s going to be fun to see you get what you deserve. I lost my job because of you, and I can’t get a job anywhere now. So now I’m getting my pay back.” Roxie continued to walk around London.
“You have no idea Roxie what you just stepped in.” London’s head flew back as Roxie slapped her hard in the face. She could taste blood when she licked her bottom lip.
