He didn’t need a weapon. I was only here to talk. I’d make that clear sooner rather than later, assure him there was no need for violence.
“Mr…?” He further narrowed his eyes, squinting so far that his green irises practically disappeared.
“Greyson.” I offered my card.
The guard took and looked it over before shoving it in his pocket. “Come with me, please.”
“Of course.” I followed him into the elevator.
When the doors clicked shut, he put a key in.
“Spread ’em.”
I did as he said, and accepted the pat-down as standard.
“Are you in charge?” I asked.
“New head of security. What do you want, lawyer?”
This would go one of two ways. I could answer or not. Either way, I risked never reaching the Greenville pack alpha. Better to put forth a good faith effort and hope that intention was reciprocated.
“We need to discuss what happened with the Silent Butchers. I’m here for peaceful discussion.”
The guard looked me over, then nodded. Seemingly appeased, he pushed a series of buttons. The elevator went down instead of up. My best guess—pack business was done in the basement, hidden from those working in the offices above.
The doors opened, revealing a long hall. The guard gestured for me to exit first.
I took a step forward, and as I did, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. A sense of dread rushed through me, and I turned...just in time for a needle to stab me in the neck.
Everything was black.
My limbs felt like stone, stiff and heavy. I tried to force my eyes open, but I couldn’t tell if they were working. Every thought, every motion was delayed. What had that asshole injected me with?
The ground beneath me jostled...no, it wasn’t the ground. I was on a hard surface, hard and moving—the trunk of a car.
When we arrived wherever we were going, my life would be forfeit unless I put up a fight. I needed this chemical shit out of my system. Now. My best chance to quicken that process was to shift.
I focused on the wolf inside of me, called him to the surface.
My bones cracked and fur sprouted all over my body. Transformation was my salvation, and it was fucking working. The fog cleared, replaced by rabid, raging fury.
There wasn’t space to rise to my feet, but I sure as hell was going to do what I could to be ready when that trunk opened. I tore at my suit shirt with my fangs, fighting to free myself from the constraints of my clothing.
The car turned, and I slid to the side, crashing into the wall of the trunk. And with another abrupt jostle, the car stopped. The rumble of the engine remained, so it was unclear whether this was a temporary stop or our final destination.
The floor shifted slightly and metal slammed against metal. Heavy footsteps approached.
I poised myself to lunge. This was it—fight or die.
There was a pop, and a thread of light peeked through the seal. The trunk opened, and I dove.
Tearing through flesh, I sank my teeth into the shoulder of the nearest body. Hot metallic fluid filled my mouth and tinged my tongue. I flexed my claws into his skin, assuring my hold.
A pained wail vibrated through the man’s chest.
He grabbed the back of my neck, digging his fingers into me until the pain faded to numbness. He stumbled and flailed, trying to tear me from my hold, fueling me to clamp down harder.
A jolt stabbed into my back, piercing electric prods. It was enough of a shock to allow the man to pull me off, enough for him to throw me to the ground. My side hit stone and dirt, and I struggled to rise to my feet.
The shock came again, and again—a cow prod. How had I not realized there were two men? Neither shifted. They didn’t have to. Between shocks, they kicked me. The constant assault made it hard to move.
“Fuck, Tiny. You’re bleeding bad.”
Tiny, the one from the elevator, grunted in response.
The assault stopped, a short reprieve. I could hardly breathe because of the agonizing pain stabbing in my chest. My ribs were broken, no question, and who the hell knew what else.
My best chance was to run. I had to run.
The two men faced each other, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying beyond the pounding of my pulse in my ears.
I had to move or I would die.
So I ran—I ran like hell.
Chapter Nine
Paige
“Aunt Paaaaaaige, I’m bored.” Evie rolled over on the sticky vinyl cushion and looked up at me.
It was understandable. We’d been at the library for a few hours, and I was getting tired of sitting, too.
“Which book was your favorite?”
She lifted her head and knocked over the pile of hardcovers beside her. “This one.” She held up a book with a cartoonish unicorn on it and beamed at me, her hair wild and unruly.
“What’s it called?”
“Surfing on a Rainbow.”
“Sounds fun. What did you like about it?”
“It’s funny. It has rainbow farts.”
I just looked at her, thinking I had to have heard her wrong.
“And sparkles.”
“Did you finish all of it?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded. “But I want to take it home. Can I? Can I, please?”
She had the adorable pouty face down pat. She’d upped her game since our last visit back home.
“Sure.” The next thing I knew, I was getting a library card in a town I didn’t live in, one I’d expected to hate. Ashwood wasn’t so bad. And if I was being honest with myself, nothing had gone like I’d imagined it would.
We headed out, hand-in-hand. Main Street was paved with bricks, and the sidewalk was, too. The buildings were smashed together, the library next to the post office, and a little bakery beside that. Okay, Ashwood wasn’t only not so bad, it was charming. And I found myself daydreaming about walking Evie to the library after school, and picking up cookies for a treat to go with dinner. It was the craziest thing, because at the center of the fantasy was a man I’d thought I hated—Jett Greyson.
Sure, I had hated him, but only because I hadn’t really known him. Now, I was starting to, and I liked everything I saw. Every single inch…
Evie pulled my hand and plastered herself to the bakery window. “Look!”
There were cakes in the window, giant towers of frosting, one with ombre pink to blue, and one with a shiny purple and black swirl finish that looked like the photographs that satellites took of space.
“It’s a unicorn cake! Do you see it? Do you see it?” Evie tapped on the glass, pointing at the ombre tower of sugar. I could see why she’d think it was unicorn-esque, with the colors and the sparkle on the white piped icing at the top.
“I see it.”
“I need that cake.”
“Need is a bit strong of a word for cake.”
“Please?”
Her arms were full already, with the book and the stuffed unicorn. I was torn. It was difficult to say no, especially knowing how hard it had to be for her having her whole life thrown upside down. I wanted to make her happy, but I also didn’t want her to think she could get whatever she wanted just by shoving out that pouty lip.
“You did do a good job on your lunch…” We’d eaten at a local diner. I’d had a veggie burger the size of my head, and she’d had a grilled cheese with a side of carrots. But she’d complained about the carrots with every bite—choking, gagging sounds, grabbing her throat and collapsing to the bench like it was killing her. In fact, she’d said a number of times that I was killing her. It earned us some odd looks, but I was vindicated when that last carrot left the plate. Into her stomach, not on the floor. I checked.
“I know. I ate all the carrots, even though they were gross.” She made a sour face at the memory. “And I’ve been really good. Pleeeeeease.”
Hands clasped, she gave me those big blue doe eyes, that perfectly-practiced pouty lip
.
“Maybe.”
“Yes!” She danced in victory.
“I didn’t say yes. I said maybe.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” She twirled in a circle, and then grabbed the door handle and pulled. The door didn’t budge. I put my hand above hers, and we pulled together.
The door opened, and the scent that greeted us...wow, what a scent. There was sugar, and spice, and yeast, and sugar. And more sugar. Did I mention sugar?
I took out my phone and snapped a few pics of some of the tasty treats, and one of Evie pushing her face on one of the glass cases. She was doing exactly what I wanted to do in this place, ogle and drool. After the pic, I reminded her not to touch the glass, but it was a great pic.
I wasn’t sure that these snaps would make for article content, but it was always better to get everything I could instead of regretting not having them later. The bakery wasn’t love, but chocolate definitely fit under the category of happiness. And if I couldn’t use them for work, that weird glass face was a keeper.
“Can I help you?” A short woman with a ball of white hair and a pleasant smile met us at the counter.
“We’re still—”
“That one.” Evie pointed to a tray of frosted cookies. No surprise, they were decorated with winking unicorns.
“We’ll take three of the unicorn cookies, please,” I said.
“Yes!” Evie squealed in delight.
The woman behind the counter laughed and looked at her the way people always did when an adorable child was being cute instead of throwing a tantrum. She packed three cookies into a box and I paid before we headed back out into the heat.
Outside, I checked my phone. It was already six-thirty, and still no word from Jett. He’d call soon. He’d said he’d be back before dinner.
“Can I have my cookie?”
“After dinner.”
Evie stuck out her lip. Again.
“Nope, not this time,” I said. “I’m not falling for it.”
Her eyes glossed over and her cheeks turned pink. Was she going to fake a cry?
I shook my head. “No way. After dinner.”
“Okay.” She dropped her shoulders. “Is it time for dinner now?”
“Not quite. We’re waiting on Jett.”
“Are you going to eat with us?”
Surprised by the question, I shook my head. “No, just you and him.”
“Oh.” Evie took my hand and gave me a small smile. Was she disappointed?
“It’s just going to be you and him,” I said. “But we’ll hang out again another time, I’m sure.”
“Okay.”
We started walking, heading back toward the bed and breakfast. Evie looked up at me, seeming to consider her words. “I thought you got three cookies so there’d be one for each of us.”
“I did.” I’d done it without thinking.
“You’re not going to eat yours before dinner and make me wait until after, are you?”
“Of course not.”
She nodded, seemingly appeased.
A block over, we were getting close to the playground where Evie had played in the morning. Her eyes were glued to the kids going down the slide.
“Hey, Aunt Paige?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think if there’s time before Jett gets back that maybe I can play some more?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you!” She handed me her book and plushie, and ran for the slide.
I took a seat on one of the empty benches and watched Evie play. It was the strangest thing. I felt like a phony, stepping into someone else’s perfect life, what was supposed to be Marla’s life. Maybe that wasn’t fair. Marla hadn’t been Jett’s mate. They’d shared a night together, and from that night, a wonderful little person was born. But he hadn’t loved her, and she hadn’t known him well enough to really love him. I should have seen the red flags when I’d met him, or even before that—Marla never even knew he was a shifter. I hadn’t told her about Evie, either. It was always something I figured we’d talk about later, sometime before Evie’s first shift.
The afternoon sky faded to evening, the sun setting in the distance. The other kids went home, and the only people that remained at the park were me and Evie.
I pulled out my phone and dialed. It wasn’t too much to expect that Jett would at least call by now, say he’s running late. Or something.
It rang, and rang, and went to voicemail.
I hung up, and waited a little longer before calling for Evie.
Reluctantly, she walked back with me to the bed and breakfast, with minimal grumbling about how there was still a little light left and she could see just fine. Once we made it to my room, I grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed the dirt off of her face. That, too, came with some grumbling.
Faced with the mop of straw on her head, I was really tempted to pull out my brush, but after the washcloth, I decided not to push my luck. I didn’t need Alethea—kudos to myself on remembering her name—from the front desk to call the police when Evie started screaming about how I was killing her. Like with the carrots.
Evie settled in on the bed and opened her book before giving me a pained look.
“I’m starving.” Her stomach howled, agreeing with her.
I checked the time. It was already almost eight. “Let’s order in.”
“Pizza?”
I’d hoped to get something healthy into her, but at this point we were pushing bedtime and I didn’t know if we could actually get something healthy delivered.
“I’ll see what’s around.”
I checked my phone for local restaurants, and the only thing that delivered was a pizza place. Lucky kid. “All right, we’ll get pizza.”
“Yes!”
“But we’re getting veggies on it.”
“Noooooo.” Evie melted onto the bed. “What’s the point of pizza if you ruin it with carrots?”
“Not carrots this time,” I said. “Spinach and peppers, maybe some mushrooms.”
“Gross.”
“You have to eat your pizza or you can’t have your cookie.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how bad it sounded. It was just one night. Jett would be here soon, and I could tell him how pissed I was that he didn’t call. One night of pizza, and the next time we’d eat something actually healthy. And I’d brush her hair.
While we waited for the food to arrive, Evie read her book, and I paced.
Had Jett decided he didn’t have what it took to be a father? Was he as terrible of a person as I’d originally thought? Ditching his daughter because it was easy? No. More likely he got caught in his meeting longer than expected, and he was just terrible at being considerate.
I called again, this time from the bathroom so Evie wouldn’t hear. Again, Jett didn’t answer.
“Hey, asshole. It’s really messed up for you to not call. This is not how parenting works. Get it together...Call me.”
I hung up and realized I hadn’t even said who I was. He’d figure it out.
I paced some more, until the doorbell rang. I realized my fists were balled, and I didn’t want Evie to feel stuck in the middle of this, so I plastered on a fake smile and went out to pay for the pizza.
I settled in next to Evie on the bed, the big box between us.
“Hey, Aunt Paige.”
“Yeah?” I handed her a piece.
“Do you think it would be okay if I called him ‘Dad?’” She searched my face, and I had to work harder to keep that smile plastered on. She deserved better than an asshole who didn’t show up.
“Of course,” I said. “If it makes you happy, you should.”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I think I’d like that.” She smiled at me then took a bite of her pizza. Her face contorted, but she didn’t spit it out. “It’s not as bad as I thought.”
I laughed, and the smile I gave her was genuine.
Chapter Ten
Jett
Breath held, I lay
still. Tall grass swished above me, with any luck, hiding my position. Darkness had fallen some time ago, and I’d lost track of which direction I was heading. Away. That was all that mattered.
Every so often, I’d hear voices, but never the words spoken. I tried to focus, but the pain in my chest and the drumming pulse in my ears dominated my senses. The more time that passed, the more my body mended, but I needed a place to rest to heal enough to make the trek home, and I was still too close to the Greenville wolves to breathe easy.
I stretched my paw and cringed at the stab in my side. Just a little farther and I could pause again. But for now, I had to keep moving.
I crept, keeping my belly to the dirt, and I checked the air for the scent of wolves. There was nothing. Blood, sure, but that was mine.
A few more feet and my legs gave out. I couldn’t move another inch.
I fell to my side, my head spinning, and I looked up to the stars above. They were a blurred mess of dancing shapes. My eyes burned, the lids impossibly heavy, until everything I had was gone and I couldn’t fight anymore.
My face was warm, my body sore. I tried to roll over, and found it wasn’t so easy. I peeked through still tired eyes only to realize I wasn’t a man, but a wolf. How had I forgotten?
I stretched slowly, testing my limbs and my torso for injury. It wasn’t agonizing. I wasn’t one hundred percent, but I could make it home...once I figured out which way that was.
I rose to my feet and found myself in an unfamiliar field. That didn’t tell me anything. But the recently risen sun would. I used its position to estimate which direction was which, and guessed that I was somewhere south and/or west of Greenville City, based on the position of the mountains in the distance.
Heading northeast, I found my feet much steadier than they’d been the night before. Too much time had passed. I had to get home. I had to warn Hawke.
I ran and I ran, until the scenery became familiar. After a few adjustments to my heading, I found myself in Butchers’ territory. Careful not to be seen by any humans who happened to be out, I circled town and snuck over to the clubhouse lot.
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