by Lia Bevans
She was right, but Blaez wasn’t happy about it. “I’ll do my time. You have nothing to worry about.”
“There’s... one more thing.”
“What?”
She speared him with her dark eyes. “My sister’s heart isn’t a plaything. I want you nowhere near it.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Hazel plucked the napkin beneath his cup and waved it around. The waitress’s phone number had smudged beyond recognition. “You can treat other girls like this, but keep your boundaries with Chantal. Don’t smile at her. Don’t look at her. Don’t play around with her. If you do, I’ll kill you.”
Blaez swallowed. There was no doubt in his mind that Hazel meant it.
CHAPTER TEN
CHANTAL KICKED HER legs up on her sister’s coffee table and caught her reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall across the room. She looked haggard—drooping eyes, dark bags, and skin too pale to be healthy. The past few nights had been especially tiring. She hadn’t gotten a drop of sleep.
“What are you still doing here?” Terry poked her head out from the hallway. Her hair was in a slightly higher bun, a casual look for her sister. “I told you I was going somewhere. We can’t hang out today.”
“Come on, sis.” Chantal whined. “Where are you going? Can’t I come with you?”
“No!” Terry withdrew and slammed her bedroom door. Chantal stuck her tongue at the empty hallway and closed her eyes. She’d spent the past three days burying her head in work at the center so she didn’t have to think about disturbing things. Or one disturbing thing. Blaez.
Chantal almost wished she’d never discovered the root of her wolf’s strange behavior. It was almost impossible to be around Blaez now. Her wolf-half wanted to mate with him and her human-half wanted to die from absolute mortification.
She’d handed his responsibilities at Wildlife For Humanity over to Terry in an effort to avoid him and it had worked, but Chantal knew she wouldn’t be able to hide from Blaez forever. That wouldn’t stop her from dragging it out for as long as possible.
“You’re being clingy, Chan,” Terry said, walking into the living room. The tiny apartment was clean, tidy and decorated in shades of grey, black, and white. It reminded her of a bachelor’s pad, but it suited Terry just fine.
“I sleep better when I’m with you.” Chantal slouched and spread her arms along the back of the sofa.
“That’s not true and you know it. What happened to the shrink? If you’ve run out of your prescription, you should get a refill. How much is left?”
Chantal rasped her fingers along the leather sofa. “I... haven’t been taking it.” She rushed to explain before her sister scolded her. “I have nightmares. Do you know what it’s like to be trapped inside a bad dream? I have to find another way.” She brightened. “What do you think about me moving in?”
“Please. Like you’d ever leave your friends.”
She sat up, the humor drained from her expression. “You say the word and I’ll pack my bags right this minute. I know it took a lot for you to let us use Mom’s house. I’m really grateful that you allowed me to do that. They all are too. They’ll understand.”
“No.” Terry shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying. You love being near them. Taking care of them. Besides, we see each other all day at work. I enjoy having somewhere to come and decompress.”
Chantal smirked. “Are you saying I stress you out?”
Terry responded by stomping over and nudging her shoulder. “I’ll be late. Go bother Hazel if you’re so starved for attention.”
“I can’t.” She threw her weight back and didn’t budge. “I’ve decided not to tell Hazel about Conner until I have to and I can’t have her dragging the truth out of me before then. It’ll ruin her position as alpha if her pack finds out what I did.”
“Ah, yes. I’m sure your concern is all about Hazel and has nothing to do with the punishment you’d receive for turning a human into a supernatural creature.”
She sent her sister a dark look. “Don’t judge me.”
“So when do you plan on telling her then? You aren’t going to wait until he’s fifteen and his wolf emerges, are you?”
“Anything sounds bad if you say it like that.”
“Chantal!”
“I thought you had an appointment?” Chantal glanced at her watch. “I really should be on my way. See yah!” She threw a wave behind her shoulder and galloped out of the apartment. Taking the steps two at a time, she made it outside.
The sunshine battered the top of her head. Chantal sighed in disappointment. She really had been looking forward to doing something fun with Terry. Where was her sister so anxious to go? Since their parent’s death, Terry withdrew into herself. She didn’t have many friends and didn’t care to.
What if she’s going on a date?
Chantal froze in the middle of the sidewalk. She’d caught the subtle scent of perfume on Terry’s clothes earlier. Could it be? Chantal placed a hand to her mouth and spun just in time to see Terry flying out of her apartment and jumping into a taxi.
Curiosity burning her chest, she gave in to her impulse and flagged a cab down. Pushing her face between the headrests, Chantal yelled, “Follow that taxi!”
They took off, winding through the weekend traffic and finally stopping in front of a quaint café downtown. Chantal paid the driver and hopped out, keeping a healthy distance from Terry. Her sister glanced over her shoulder and she ducked behind a street lamp, waiting until Terry stepped inside.
Excitement stirred in her chest. If her sister was interested in a guy, Chantal wanted to meet him. And thank him. Anybody who could get through Terry’s armor to her heart was someone well deserving of the privilege.
She waited a few minutes and then strolled into the café, following her sister’s scent to a table in the middle of the room. Terry’s back was to her and her date’s face was in plain view. Chantal craned her neck to make out his features, but froze when she recognized his square jaw, strong nose, and head of black hair.
Blaez?
Mine... her wolf growled.
Her eyes widened and Chantal took a shaky step back. Her wolf arched forward. Demanded she stake her claim, protect her own. And it wasn’t talking about Terry. Chantal panicked. Her chest heaved. Her body trembled.
Terry was in danger. She had to get out of here before her wolf overpowered her and came after her sister. If she couldn’t control herself, Terry would die.
BLAEZ TAPPED HIS FINGERS on the table and stared at Terry, trying his best to piece together her scattered family history. He still found it hard to believe that Chantal was the one who’d been adopted. With her light brown hair and small build, she resembled the mother in the family portrait far more than Terry did.
“I heard the kid is still alive.” Terry leaned forward. Her slender arms snaked across the checkered table. “What are you waiting for?”
“My burger. I lost my appetite this morning, but now I’m starving. Do you want anything? Plotting a child’s murder must take a lot of energy.” He perused the menu. “I heard this place serves killer onion rings.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh? You’re not an onion rings kind of girl? Here.” He slid the plastic menu toward her. “Choose what you want. I’m paying.”
Terry frowned so hard three deep grooves appeared between her eyebrows. Frustration sparked in her eyes as she hissed, “Don’t make fun of me. I’m struggling enough as it is. You were supposed to deal with the problem a long time ago.”
“I told you I’d handle it.”
She dragged her fingers through the grooves of the table and in a quiet voice admitted, “I know what you must think of me, but I don’t enjoy this. I’m not a criminal like...”
“Like me?” He arched both eyebrows. “Terry—”
“You don’t call me Terry,” she snapped.
“Fine, Theresa...” Before he could continue, Blaez caught the scent of a shi
fter. He looked up in surprise and spotted Chantal glaring over at their table. He leaned into his wolf, using his advanced hearing to pick up her heartbeat.
Someone’s pissed.
“What is it?” Terry glanced over her shoulder. He knew the moment both sisters locked eyes. Terry stiffened and Chantal’s heartbeat ratcheted to a dangerous speed. Tension split the air, riding a line of lightning straight to their table.
Blaez’s wolf bristled. He took Terry’s hand to get her attention. Urgency pounded through his head. He ignored the look the secretary slanted him and said, “Get out of here.”
Terry shook her hand free and pushed herself out of the chair. She took a step toward her sister, mumbling, “How did she find out?”
“Terry!” He spoke with enough authority to draw the eyes of customers nearby. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he turned her completely around so that she was looking at him. Allowing his eyes to flash for a moment, he growled, “Go!”
Her nose flared, but she jutted her chin down and headed for the exits. Blaez tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the table and started walking. Chantal stood in the middle of the hallway, blocking traffic. Customers shot her dirty looks and wiggled past her in order to get inside.
She didn’t seem to register anything. Her eyes were staring in Terry’s direction as her sister scurried out of sight. Unblinking. Uncaring. Blaez sensed that Chantal was not fully in control. Something had set her wolf off and if he didn’t get her away, there was no telling how much damage she’d do.
“Ma’am?” An unsuspecting waiter approached Chantal. He was young, no older than twenty-years-old, and wore a white shirt and black pants. “Is there a problem? If you’d like a table I can show you there.”
Blaez sprinted toward them, getting to Chantal’s side before the waiter reached out to touch her. He slipped his hand around her shoulder and let out a booming laugh. “Honey, I was waiting for you. Let’s go.” Softly, he whispered in her ear, “Chantal, snap out of it.”
Her brown eyes flickered when he called her ‘honey’ and again when he whispered her name. Good. He’d been banking on her annoyance to knock her back to reality. Even the simplest display of her abilities would spell trouble.
Come on, Chantal.
She brushed him off, her strength catching him by surprise. She was still in human form, but she had channeled the power of her wolf. Blaez stumbled back, staring at her in awe while she trekked deeper into the café. Her head swiveled to and fro. Was she looking for her sister?
Realizing that words would not get through to her, Blaez darted ahead and scooped her up. The clink of forks and hum of conversation halted as the diners turned to stare at him. Chantal squirmed, growling low in her throat. Blaez ignored the looks and scurried outside.
The moment they stepped into the sunshine, Chantal started fighting him in earnest. Her fingernails dug into his skin through the fabric of his T-shirt. His own annoyance mounted. Blaez hadn’t signed up for this. The sisters were banding together to drive him crazy. He was sure of it.
“Chantal, would you... hey... stop it!” Tired of her struggling, Blaez tossed her up and caught her again, slinging her over his shoulder this time. She was strong, but she was also petite and he took advantage of that.
Blaez didn’t set her down until they were sequestered in an abandoned back alley. She stood facing the wall, her shoulders heaving with every breath. Blaez fisted his hands and glanced at his shirt. Her fingers had pierced the material at his shoulder. Great. I loved this shirt.
Suddenly, Chantal faced him. Her eyes had softened. Instead of fierceness, concern spurted from their chocolaty depths. “Blaez...”
“What was that about?” He brushed his arms and ran a hand through his hair to smooth it back. “You could have torn that diner to shreds.”
“I know. I know.” Tears cropped in her eyes and she shook her head. “There’s... something going on.”
“Chantal!” Terry’s voice echoed through the alleyway. She darted toward them. Blaez noticed Chantal’s reaction to her sister. Was Terry right? Had she discovered their deal to take out Connor? What else would put that dark look on Chantal’s face?
“Stay back.” Chantal held out one hand to Terry and used the other to cup her head. “Please...”
Blaez eyed her, his fingers twitching to touch her, to sate her pain. Moving on instinct, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. He was surprised to find... Chantal fit perfectly.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SHE LISTENED TO THE steady thrum of Blaez’s heartbeat. Melted into him. Allowed him to engulf the crazed emotions that invaded her body a moment ago. He smelled like winter, crisp and clean. Her wolf whimpered, snapping from incessant rage to total submission.
What am I doing?
Mine... her wolf said.
Her eyes popped open and she pushed him back. She used her own strength this time and Blaez barely shifted. Using her words instead of her nonexistent muscle, Chantal cleared her throat and commanded, “Let me go. I’m fine now.”
“You sure?” He slid back, keeping his hands on her shoulders.
She slipped under his arm and faced Terry. Her sister looked deathly pale and very guilty. Chantal tried not to think about what her wolf would have done to Terry—and anyone else who got in her way—if Blaez hadn’t stepped in.
“I can explain,” Terry said.
“It’s fine.” She swallowed. “We’ll talk about this later.” There was no guarantee her wolf wouldn’t be set off again the moment Terry confessed her feelings for Blaez. She wanted to cheer her sister on, and she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do that.
Blaez had soothed her wolf for now, but his embrace had only strengthened the bond it felt for him. It wouldn’t be so easily distracted if something like this happened again. Even now, her wolf longed for more of Blaez’s touch.
“No.” Terry stepped up to her, eyes glistening. “I know you’re disappointed in me. It doesn’t matter how you found out. I don’t have any excuse except that I would do anything to protect you. You’re my only family, Chantal.”
Her eyebrow quirked. What was Terry talking about?
Blaez pointed to the mouth of the alley. “Should I give you two a minute?”
“Please,” Terry said. She glanced at him. “You don’t have to worry. This is my fault. I won’t blame anything on you.”
“Good to know.” Blaez tipped his finger in goodbye and took off.
Chantal let out a breath of relief and turned to Terry, now fully in control. “Tell me everything.”
“I hired Blaez to kill Connor.”
Her jaw dropped. Of all the words she’d expected her sister to say, those six were not it. “You what?”
Terry scrunched her nose. “Wait... didn’t you know? Isn’t that why you followed me and came storming into the café looking like you wanted to bite my head off?”
“Terry, how could you?”
Confusion giving way to regret, her sister sighed. “You plan to keep it from Hazel and the Council, but I know enough about secrets to say that they don’t stay hidden for long. Especially with the way Hazel can sniff them out. It was dangerous for you. I had to do something.”
“It doesn’t matter what happens to me!” She threw her arms up. “Connor is an innocent little boy.”
“He may be innocent, but he’s also supposed to be dead.” The muscles in Terry’s jaw worked. “I know it sounds heartless, but if I have to make a choice between some kid and you, I’ll choose you every time.”
“You don’t mean that.” She stepped forward and grabbed Terry. Shaking her, Chantal hissed, “I know you felt like you lost a piece of yourself when Mom and Dad died. I know it still hurts and you think closing yourself off to emotions will help, but the moment you take someone’s life, it changes you.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Willing? Aren’t you listening to me?” Chantal found it hard to breathe. She let her sister
go to place a hand to her chest. “I put everything on the line—my freedom, my wolf, my relationship with Hazel—to save Connor. You thought waltzing in and killing him would help me? No. It would make my decision a waste.”
“What do you want me to say?” Terry shrieked. “I can’t lose anybody else, Chantal. I won’t.”
“You’re not losing me.” She wanted to hug her sister, but she was shaking too much. Besides, Terry wasn’t a fan of physical contact anyway. Chantal chose to back down instead. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Terry responded to her gentler tone and dipped her gaze to the ground. “I guess I have to promise I won’t send anyone to hurt Connor now?”
She slanted her sister a look. “You’ve got that right. And the only reason I’m not insisting you go and apologize to Connor and his family is because it would upset them to know we were even considering taking their little boy away when they just got him back.”
Terry nodded. “I really am sorry.”
“No harm done. Thank God.”
“And about Blaez...”
Her heart dipped. “What about Blaez?”
“Don’t be too hard on him. It’s not his fault that I got him involved in this mess.”
She clenched her fists. “I don’t care what carrot you dangled in front of him. What kind of man would sign up to murder an eight-year-old? It’s bad enough that he agreed, but for something as paltry as community service hours?” Chantal could hardly believe that was the sort of person her wolf wanted.
Talk about horrible taste.
Her wolf growled and she backed off. “When did you even set this up?”
“Three days ago,” Terry admitted.
“You mean... when he came to the hospital he was there to...” She couldn’t even finish the sentence.
Unbelievable. There she was, going insane over a man her wolf desperately desired and Blaez had been there to kill someone. Kill a child. He’d even asked her where Connor was. If Connor’s parents hadn’t taken him out of the hospital, they may have never seen him again.
