Holiday Magic

by Tl Reeve

  “Hey, stranger.”

  Sasha. Shit.

  She sauntered over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Amity and his sister staring at him. His mate looked ready to scratch his eyes out while Lucy spoke rapidly to her, probably explaining the situation.

  “I thought I’d never get a chance to talk to you after what happened with Casper.” She pouted. “Of course, it was all a misunderstanding. Lost in translation, if you will.”

  No, it hadn’t been. Untangling her arms from around his neck, Lance curled his lip and let loose with a growl. The scent of Sasha’s fear only irritated the wolf. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me. Nor did I give you permission to make your way through the ranks of my pack.” He kept his voice low, deadly. “What was the end game, Sasha? Start a fight. Watch them kill each other for you?”

  She gasped. “I’d never.”

  “Bullshit. You’ve done it before. You’re doing it now. Get the hell out of my town and don’t fucking come back.”

  Sasha gaped at him. Her mouth worked like a fish as she tried to speak. “I…I…I…”

  Lance leaned in. “I found my mate. You have two hours.”

  She jerked away from him as if he’d slapped her. “You’ll pay for this, Lance. I promise you’ll pay!” She stormed passed Amity and Lucy, snapping at them, “Stupid human bitch, and your cunt for a wolf bitch, sister!”

  Amity pulled a face. “I’d be insulted if I understood what you said. Instead I’ll say a prayer for you and hope you get the help you desperately need.”

  Lance bit the inside of his cheek. As pissed as he’d been, he couldn’t have been prouder of his mate than he currently was. He turned to Amity. “We need to talk darlin’.”

  She eyed him in return. “I have one question. It’ll determine whether or not I go with you.”

  After the little stunt Sasha pulled, he deserved her reluctance. “Anything.”

  “Did you fuck her?”

  Lance wanted to laugh, but feared her wrath at the same time. “No, darlin’. I never got anywhere near her.”

  “Stupid cow.” She huffed out a breath. “Doesn’t she get that you don’t shit where you eat?”

  He barked out a laugh. “Too true.” He glanced at his sister. “Do you mind if I talk to Amity? There’s been a…development.”

  The girls exchanged looks. “Did you find Javier?”

  Yes. And no. “He came to the station.”

  Lucy scooted out of the booth. “That’s my cue to get the heck out of here.”

  He squeezed her arm as a silent thanks as she left.

  “So, what did you find?”

  “It’s not what we found. He came to us.” He reached for Amity’s hand only to have her jerk away. “Darlin’, nothing will happen to you. You have my word.”

  “What did he want?” She folded her arms, taking up a defensive pose.

  “To file a missing persons report. But he also went to Thorne’s place.”

  She screwed her face up. “Why’d he go to him?”

  “I believe he’s been tracking you without you even knowing it.” If he had to guess, Javier thought the tracker would lead him directly to her, not the car.

  “Damn it.” She sighed. “How? What did you find?”

  “We had an inkling he wouldn’t leave. We have a working theory on how he keeps finding you.” He debated whether or not he should tell her. “A tracker behind a false wall in your car glovebox.”

  “Damn it.” She sighed. “How? I check everything all the time. The car, my phone. My clothes. He’s a sneaky asshole, but I figured it out after him finding me became more than coincidental.” She scrubbed her forehead. “I never thought to look in the glovebox.”

  “I wish I had an easy answer for you. Unfortunately, we can’t ask the what-if questions anymore. We have to deal with what we know, and with the evidence we’ve collected so far, I am confident we’ve got this covered. My deputies are following him. Beck is going to keep him wrapped up answering questions.”

  “Then what?” She gazed out the bay window with Lucy’s written in big bold script.

  “We lay a trap.” He reached out to her. “We need to talk though. About us.”

  “Oh God. You have a girlfriend, don’t you?” The stench of rejection and anguish rolled off her, infuriating his wolf.

  “No. None of that.” He held out his hand, trying once more for her to allow his touch. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”

  “Where we going?”

  “Storage room. It’s private in there and we won’t be bothered.” Lance slid out of the booth and waited for Amity to join him.

  “If you do something weird, I’m out of here.”

  He laughed again. “Depends on what you call weird.” He wiggled his brows.

  They made the short trek down the hall to the storage room. Lance turned on the light, then drew her into the space. Before she could ask any questions, he covered her mouth with his. The rush of adrenaline coursing through him sent his blood to his groin, leaving him lightheaded and a bit dizzy with lust. He pulled her to him, fusing their bodies as he continued to devour her.

  She whimpered his name and clung to him as he continued his sensual assault, reestablishing himself as her mate. The want to bite her, to begin the transition, pounded through his veins. It would make this all so much simpler. He placed a kiss to her nose before taking a step back. “I have no idea how to even attempt to explain this.”

  “The truth works well with me.”

  “Truth.” He grunted. “Truth is there are things in this world beyond what you and I sometimes see.”

  “Other things?” She cocked a brow. “Tell me you’re not one of those conspiracy wingnuts.”

  “If only. Have you ever seen the movie The Wolfman?”

  “Sure. It was a staple in my house during Halloween. Why?”

  “What if some of it were true?” Shit, he sucked at explaining this kind of thing. Maybe he should have had Lucy explain.

  “Are you saying werewolves exist?”

  “Yes.” He licked his lips. “I’m the alpha.”

  She laughed. “Good one.” She continued to laugh. “You really had me going there.”

  “I’ll show you.” He unbuttoned his shirt. “I figured telling you the truth would also require this.”

  “Sure. This is your claim to fame? Being a wolf.”

  He took a couple of steps back and finished undressing. “Please, don’t run.”

  Calling to the wolf, he allowed the shift to come over him. New wolves had a hard time shifting. Their bones popped, their spine pushed almost clearly through the skin before realigning. Him…the change was streamlined. Warmth in its purest form expanded outward from his chest, engulfing him in its welcoming blanket. He basked in it for a few scant seconds before dropping to his knees.

  The squeak of surprise from his mate didn’t shock him; he expected it. He stayed where he was and waited. She needed to come to him now. She had to acknowledge what she saw and reconcile humans weren’t alone in the world. Others walked amongst them. The scent of her apprehension burned his nose. The desire to coax her into accepting his true form overwhelmed him. Please say something, Amity. He knew she’d never hear his silent plea, but the longer she stood there in shocked silence, the longer he feared she’d never accept him.

  “You’re a wolf.”

  He took a step forward and she retreated.

  “How is this possible?” She shook her head. “Now I’m acting crazy talking to a wolf.”

  He inched forward again and sat down in front of her. Lance nuzzled her palm before giving it a lick. A small giggle erupted from her before she covered her mouth. “This is crazy, Lance. How do I even…I just can’t do this.”

  Amity began to pace the small space, and he decided enough was enough. He shifted back quicker this time, and reached out to still her nervous strides. “It’s a lot to take in. I understand.”
/>
  “Really? Because from where I’m standing, I’ve lost my mind.” She scrubbed her face. “What rabbit hole did I fall down? Am I in a coma from the accident, and these are my messed-up dreams?”

  “You’re very much awake, and what you saw is the truth.” He swallowed down the disappointment welling inside him. At this point, she’d never accept him. “I’d never hurt you.”

  “Javier said the same.”

  The stinging blow of her words left him mule kicked. “Amity.”

  She winced. “I’m sorry, this is too much for me. Just … too much. I should go. I have to get out of here.” She tore out of the storage room, allowing the door to slam behind her.

  Regret and a healthy dose of shame burned through him. His mate rejected him, and by running away, was putting her life at risk.

  8

  Run away. Instinct screamed that she couldn’t stay, so she convinced Ashley she was tired, and didn’t want to bother Lance, who thankfully left after their little conversation. The waitress offered her a ride to Lance’s house without question. From there, she’d grab her stuff, what little was left, then hightail it out of there.

  The people in Rosewood were so nice, but Lance’s truth had been a mighty pill to swallow. A wolf? He was a wolf. In what reality did this make sense? It doesn’t. You’re in a coma in a hospital somewhere and when you wake up, you’ll realize it’s all a dream. Except when she pinched her arm or her side, even her face, it hurt. Didn’t they say in order to wake up from a dream, you’re supposed to pinch yourself? Well, with as many sore spots as she had, she should have woken up long before now.

  So, this must be her new reality. Wolfmen existed. What about wolf-women? What about Lucy? Amity recalled the blonde ho’s parting shot calling Lucy a bitch. So … werewolves? Wolf shifters existed. How many others and where they hid, she didn’t know.

  She glanced around the living room she’d shared with Lance and a pang of longing filled her. She liked this place. She felt safe here. Secure. Wanted. The anxiety she’d dealt with on a daily basis since Javier’s first attack didn’t manifest here. She could relax. This little town, off a state route she normally wouldn’t have taken, embraced her.

  In the week she’d been there, she’d felt right at home and accepted. Her whole life, however, had been one rejection after another, only to be thrust into a loveless, hateful relationship. Maybe her fear came from that? Could she really trust what was happening now?

  Now, she had a chance to make a real start for herself here. A chance to fall in love with a guy who obviously trusted her with his secret. And you’ve gone and run off like a complete idiot. She thought about calling him and explaining, but she hurt him, badly. She heard it in his tone of voice when he whispered her name. The anguish there. Hadn’t she said Javier’s name the same way after he beat her?

  God. What the fuck was wrong with her? How did she redeem herself after such a rebuke? Could she? She didn’t know a damn thing about wolf politics, aside from what she saw in the diner with the svelte blonde. The girl had her hands all over Lance and jealousy reared its ugly head.

  Yet, he turned the other woman down. Sent her away. What did it say about herself? No. She couldn’t think about it. Even though she liked being with Lance and she enjoyed Lucy’s company, the fear of what Javier would do when he found her overrode her desire to stay.

  She hurried through the living room and took the stairs two at a time to her room so she could pack. The quicker she got started, the quicker she could find another place to call home. Lance, Lucy, and Ashley didn’t deserve her shit. They most certainly didn’t deserve to have their lives interrupted. She grabbed her bag from the closet and began to fill it. She didn’t have much, even less since the accident.

  The crash of shattering glass startled her. Heavy footsteps came closer. She dropped her bag and turned in a small circle, searching for a place to hide.

  “Amity…come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  Javier.

  She glanced out the window. Too high. The closets were too obvious. Under the bed, the same. She had to go somewhere. The footsteps were at the door.

  Amity had officially run out of time.

  “Hello, Amity. Did you miss me?” Javier entered the bedroom.

  “What are you doing here?” She took a step back. “How did you get here?”

  He shrugged and continued his advancement. “Easy. Followed you home with a little help.”

  “A little help?”

  “Tell a bitch she’s beautiful and fuck her just right and she’ll tell you anything you need to know.” His mouth curled into a cruel smirk. “I think I might keep her. You on the other hand…you’ve outstayed your usefulness and attracted too much attention to me.”

  Say what? She’d done what? Amity couldn’t believe what she heard. “I think you’ve got that all wrong.”

  “Are you sassing me?” he snarled, backhanding her.

  “No.” Amity gasped out, pain spreading across her face. Her back came up against the corner of the room.

  “You were always a mouthy bitch.” He grabbed her by the arm and gave her a good shake. “Never did know when to shut up and accept you weren’t worthy of the good life I allowed you to have. I fucking gave you everything.”

  He tightened his hold and she cried out. “You’re hurting me.”

  “You’ve always liked it a little rough. Let’s see how much you really enjoy it.” He threw her across the room into the dresser. Pain flared in her back and ribs. She winced, falling to the floor in a heap.

  “Nope. You don’t get to give up so easily.” He pulled her up by her hair and stormed through the door, dragging her. She slammed into the banister, her back and hip taking the brunt of it.

  “Stop.” She gasped. “I’ll go with you.”

  “You can’t be trusted, Amity. The only way you’re going now is in a body bag.”

  Fear knotted her gut. “L-look, you still have a chance to get away. I won’t tell anyone you were here. I’ll….” She licked her lips. “I’ll tell them I had a dizzy spell and fell down the stairs.”

  He laughed. “You still don’t get it. I decide when it’s over. No matter what happens, you’re going to die.”

  * * *

  Lance sped down the road to his place. Wain had called him only minutes ago. Javier was there and had broken in. His wolves were already circling the place. His pack wouldn’t allow Javier to leave.

  Two minutes out, his heart raced, the hair on the back of his neck rose. He couldn’t let anything happen to her, even if she wouldn’t stay. Even if she wouldn’t accept his bite and become one of them. He came to a skidding halt in his driveway and exited the truck, not caring he left it running. Amity’s screams echoed from the house along with the thumps and thuds of bodies hitting the walls.

  Lance didn’t even bother opening the door, he ran straight for it, shifting as he went. The plate-glass exploded inward, sending shards of glass across the entryway. He landed in the foyer and snarled up the stairs at Javier who was using Amity as a shield. A quick look showed him this bastard had ruined all the healing she’d done in the last week. He growled and took a step forward. Behind him, he heard the pounding of his pack’s footsteps as they joined him, giving him the strength he needed to save Amity.

  “What the fuck is this? Wolves?” Javier laughed. “You into bestiality, baby? Like fucking wolves?”

  Lance growled, the fur on the back of his neck standing on end.

  “Javier…let me go. I’ll go with you. You don’t have to do this.” Her incoherent babble and the scent of her pain overwhelmed Lance.

  He took another step forward while his wolves fanned out around him. Javier wouldn’t be leaving the house with his mate or anyone else.

  “You’re damn right, you are.” He continued down the stairs and pushed for the door. “Get out of my way.” Javier kicked at Lance and it was all the wolf needed.

  Grabbing onto the bastard’s leg, Lance shook
until Amity could get away. Once she was free, Lance pounced. He took blow after blow to his body, absorbing the hits. No way in hell he’d allow the man to get away.

  Lance lunged at Javier’s neck, trying to bite down several times but was beaten back. Javier and Lance struggled. He balled up his fist and hit Lance in the snout, dazing him momentarily, before Javier threw the wolf across the room. But Lance didn’t stay down. Charging Javier, Lance leapt into the air and tackled the man, pushing the man onto ground, onto the glass. The man screamed and the metallic tinge of blood immediately filled Lance’s snout. Lance inched over to the wounded man, ready for an attack if one came.

  He didn’t see the glint of the gun until it was too late. The crack of a shot rent the air the same time he felt the impact of Amity’s body against his side, pushing him clear. Amity, no. He attacked Javier, not caring if he, too, were shot. A red haze coated his vision as he went back to work, snapping and growling as he and Javier tussled.

  He slammed the man onto his back and blood poured from the wound in Javier’s gut. The urge to eviscerate him rode hard. He’d only have to dig into the wound and start pulling. Curling his lip, he snapped at Javier who finally showed some fright. The abject fear of death staring back at him only served to piss Lance off more.

  “Okay…okay. Stop.”

  How often had Amity pleaded for this little bastard to stop? How many times had he not? Rage burned through him. Javier shot his mate. Javier hurt his mate. Lance craved the man’s blood. Needed it. Wanted to taste it on his tongue as he ripped Javier’s throat out.

  Lance growled, exposing his teeth as he crept up the man’s torso as his face paled and his body began to shake from the loss of strength and blood. Javier put his hands up in a defensive posture and again Lance wondered how many times had Amity done the same.

  Without a second thought or remorse, Lance sprang forward, wrapping his jaw around Javier’s throat. Biting down, the man’s blood filled Lance’s mouth seconds before Lance ripped out the man’s throat. The asshole choked and gurgled as his blood covered the wooden floor. His eyes were wide with fear as he continued to gasp and gag on his own blood. Lance didn’t stick around to watch the light fade from Javier’s eyes, instead he trotted over to Amity who lay unconscious on the floor. The bullet had hit her in the shoulder, cleanly passing through, but it bled heavily.