Guardian of Darkness

by Katie Reus

  Just like that, the residual strain dissipated. If this was normal worried-parent stuff, she could deal with a little overprotectiveness.

  “And as overprotective parents, I want to know if this was a male you were meeting?” The hint of Alpha command tinged his words.

  But she just snorted and headed for the fridge, suddenly starving. “Female, for the record. Not that it matters, as I’m a grown female. I thought I scented Gabriel outside. I didn’t realize he’d come with you guys.” Her parents had just arrived that morning to spend a couple days with her before they headed back to Biloxi. And her dad wanted to meet with one of the pack’s attorneys or something. She was proud of herself for keeping her tone neutral when she asked about Gabriel.

  “Who’s this female you were meeting with?” her dad asked, completely changing the subject.

  She looked up from the fridge to find both her parents side by side now, watching her with the strangest expression. Shit, did they know?

  “A friend you’ve never met.” A truth so they wouldn’t scent a lie off her. “Seriously guys, what’s going on? You’re grilling me like I’m some pup.” She shut the door, all thoughts of food gone.

  Her mom opened her mouth then just as quickly snapped it shut and let out a nervous half-laugh. “Nothing’s going on and we didn’t mean to grill you. We’re just excited you’ll be moving back to the compound.”

  Okay, something was definitely going on with them, but it couldn’t be related to Vega’s new job. If it was, they’d have said something. Or she assumed they would have. Well, now was as good a time as any to let them know she wouldn’t be coming home with them in the next couple days. “About that… I won’t be coming home for Christmas. I should have said something earlier, but I wasn’t sure of our exact plans. My friend asked me to head out tomorrow with her for the next few weeks.” Though it could be even longer. It was sometimes a tough balancing act to find the right words so the scent of a lie wouldn’t roll off her. And she hated that she couldn’t be completely honest with her parents. But if she wanted to pursue her chosen vocation, she had no choice. “I’m not ready to jump back into pack life yet.” Also the truth.

  The sight of her mom’s crestfallen face was a punch to the gut. “Oh…well, of course. Where will you be going?”

  Instead of answering, she crossed the large kitchen, her feet silent on the tile. “I’ll give you guys details later, but are you really sure this is okay?” There was something in her mom’s expression that made her the slightest bit nervous. Her mom was one of the strongest, bravest, women she’d ever known. And this look…it was unsettling.

  “Of course,” her dad said. “You’re young. Spend the holiday with your friends. You deserve a break after how hard you worked to graduate early.” Her dad pulled her and her mom into a tight hug. “You have all the time in the world to get settled back in with the pack. There’s no rush. The pack has moved most of your stuff back to the mansion anyway.”

  She wrapped her arms around both her parents, gripping them tight even as she shoved down that sick feeling in her gut. Sure, she wasn’t technically lying, but she didn’t like keeping things from the two people she loved more than anything.

  Even if it was better for everyone right now. And she did think it was a little odd that neither of her parents were pushing her harder for details—but she wasn’t going to complain. They both had a lot on their minds with pack business. Another reason she didn’t want to burden them with the knowledge of her new job. They’d just worry even more than they already did.

  At least that was what she tried to tell herself to assuage the guilt burning through her veins.

  Chapter 2

  Gabriel watched as Vega jumped over the gate to her townhome, unable to temper the hunger that surged through him at the sight of her. Once she was inside, he dropped down from the oak tree whisper quiet, but remained in the shadows, pulling them around him so he was all but invisible.

  It didn’t matter that she was inside, the image of her was seared into his brain. Long, lithe, sexy as fuck. As always.

  Her long, jet-black hair had been in a tight braid against her head and hanging midway down her back. She’d let it grow out longer in college. And damn, had she grown up in the last few years. Enough that not just he had noticed. Her violet eyes in her human or vampire form were electric, captivating. So much so that she often wore contacts to soften the color. He’d memorized everything about her. Because if he was around her, he was watching. Covertly, of course, and not because his Alpha had ordered him to.

  Gabriel couldn’t help it. Couldn’t take his gaze off her. He had an addiction and her name was Vega.

  As he continued to watch from the shadows, he frowned as he took in her concise movements. It was strange to have the thought, but she moved like an operator. Like she’d been training. He’d noticed the difference in her over the last year. Because yeah, he’d kept tabs on her even if he hadn’t been her bodyguard the last two years. Chloe, the pack female who’d been her roommate the last couple years, hadn’t said that Vega had requested extra training.

  But something about her was different. He was certain of it. Her posture and even her gait were confident as hell. She walked into a room like she owned it. Maybe she was just coming into her own, but… No, he’d noticed it again tonight as she’d strode down the quiet sidewalk to her home. She’d been aware of him even if she hadn’t called him out.

  He wasn’t surprised she hadn’t acknowledged him, not with the constant tension between them, but he was surprised she’d known he was there. Considering his ability to blend in, to use the shadows as he pleased—hell, he wasn’t sure what to make of this.

  Nothing. That was what he’d make of it. Absolutely nothing. He needed to get her out of his head. To stop finding excuses to come to New Orleans to see her.

  Vega was off-limits. For a multitude of reasons. She was too damn young, for one. But mainly, he’d seen her death in a vision forced on him by a seer years ago. Long before he’d met Vega. He knew enough details about what could happen to her, where she could die, that he tried to keep his distance to protect her.

  His wolf was having none of it, however, and the truth was, nothing was written in stone. Not his future, not hers. Still… Nope.

  Turning away from her place, he stalked down the sidewalk. Time to get the hell out of here. Finn and Lyra were inside with her. They’d been worried when she hadn’t answered her phone.

  When his buzzed in his pocket, he drew it out. Seeing Finn’s name, he immediately answered. “Everything okay? I saw her head into the house.”

  “I don’t know. She was being cagey but it was subtle. She’s not coming home for Christmas.” Finn’s voice was neutral.

  But Gabriel knew the male would be upset. Because the news was a punch to his senses. Sure, he avoided her when he could, but he still liked knowing she was home, with her pack, especially around the holidays. Maybe that made him a masochist. He could look but never touch. “She’s leaving even though Lyra is pregnant?”

  “We didn’t tell her. And I didn’t want to dump this on her. This will be her last Christmas as an only child.” Finn sighed and Gabriel could practically see the male rubbing the back of his neck in agitation.

  “You can’t actually think she’ll care about that?” Vega was a giving and sweet female and would be excited at the prospect of a sibling. She’d probably spoil her brother or sister to the point of obnoxiousness. Of that he had no doubt.

  “I don’t know what to think,” Finn growled. “She came into my life as a teenager. What the hell do I know about having a baby or how this will change everything?” For the first time since Gabriel had met him, the Alpha sounded panicked.

  It gave him a moment’s pause as he came to a four-way stop. He waited as a vintage truck pulled through the stop sign before crossing. “I can guarantee she’s going to be happy for you guys. You need to tell her before someone else in the pack does.” Not that many people kne
w, regardless, but something like this wouldn’t remain a secret long. Wolves loved to gossip.

  “Yeah I know. Listen, I need a favor…”

  Gabriel knew what that favor was even before his Alpha asked. “You want me to follow her?”

  “Just tail her and see where she’s headed.” He cleared his throat. “Use her phone to track her. It was clear she didn’t want to tell us much about her plans, and I didn’t want to push. She’s a grown woman but she’s still my daughter—and she could still be a target because of her bloodline.”

  That was unfortunately true. A powerful hybrid, Vega could be targeted by the wrong people because of her uniqueness. And there were those in the world who would destroy what she was because of it. A cold sweat broke out along his spine. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “Where’s she going for Christmas?” He hadn’t heard that Vega had been dating anyone. If he had, he’d have lost his shit. She might not be his in the technical sense—or any sense—but his wolf didn’t know that. For all he knew she’d been seeing someone and had kept it on the down-low.

  “No idea. Somewhere with a female we apparently don’t know.”

  Gabriel ignored the surge of relief that slammed through him at the knowledge that she wasn’t going away with a male. That relief quickly died as Finn continued.

  “Or I assume, because that’s who she met up with earlier. But I guess it could be one of her human friends we do know. She said she’d give us the details later. I’ll give them to you as soon as I have them.”

  “All right. I’ll pack a bag and tail her tomorrow.” His wolf wanted to do fucking cartwheels that he’d get to be near Vega for a little while, but hell, it would just be more of the same. More torture because he couldn’t have her. At one point she’d wanted him. But he’d crushed her feelings by cutting her out of his life. It had been intentional and had sliced him just as deep to lose her friendship—but it had been necessary. The future as he’d seen it could not play out. He wouldn’t let it.

  “I figure you’d have told me, but did you see anyone with her when she got back home?”

  “No. You want me to follow her scent trail, see where she was?”

  “No.”

  Thank fuck. He followed her because he wanted to protect her and because his Alpha asked him to, but he didn’t like checking up on her, invading her privacy. Even if that was exactly what he’d be doing starting tomorrow. “Unless you need me tonight, I’m gonna grab a few hours of sleep.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll text or call with the details I have in the morning.”

  After disconnecting, he shoved his phone back in his pocket and resisted the very real urge to turn right back around and stake out Vega’s place. Not because of a job or because his Alpha wanted him to.

  Because he couldn’t get her out of his system. But that was a line he never intended to cross.

  Two Years Ago

  Gabriel,

  I’m sitting in class and not paying attention to my statistics professor. Instead I’m writing a letter to you…that I’ll never send. But that’s okay, it feels good to write (ha, type) all this stuff up. Yesterday when we were sparring I thought things seemed different between us. You seemed tense and almost agitated with me. Then…I kinda thought you might be turned on at the end of the session.

  Instead of asking you about it, I chickened out and I’m now kicking myself for it. I mean, I still won’t ask you about it because I’m not even sure how that conversation would go. What would I even say: “Hey, did you have a hard on for me yesterday because I’m pretty sure I felt something pressed against my stomach?” I imagine your reaction to be a) you stare at me in horror because you didn’t, because no way in Hades could you be attracted to me, or b) you were turned on but you’re still not going to do anything about it because…reasons. Whatever reasons you could come up with. I’m sure there are many. Like…I’m the pack princess so I’m off-limits. As excuses go, it’s lame but it sounds like something you’d say.

  And, now I sound like a rambling mess of insanity but that’s okay. You’ll never read this. Which is why I can also say you looked fine as fuck wearing nothing but those gym shorts. And p.s. they didn’t do much to hide what’s underneath so thank you for that. And NOW I feel like a giant perv.

  Vega

  Chapter 3

  From the bench on the sideline of the secret training facility in North Carolina—which was basically a warehouse turned into a gym in the middle of nowhere—Vega watched as Neema and Eli sparred with each other. Where Neema was petite, dark-skinned and lithe in the way only felines were, Eli was tan from being out in the sun often. Tall and lean, he was ridiculously muscular and just as fast as Neema despite their different sizes. It was always fascinating to watch the two of them since they were so evenly matched in skills.

  Vega had already gone toe-to-toe with both of them this morning and while she’d held her own, eventually they’d knocked her on her ass with faux killing blows. She loved every second of it.

  Because when she was training with them, no one gave her any slack because she was Finn and Lyra’s daughter. They came at her like animals, like this was a fight to the death.

  Because one day, it would be for her. Her survival would depend on her training. Of course, they’d never shifted during fights. It was all in human form. And though she’d never say it and was sometimes afraid to think it…she was almost certain she could destroy them both if she shifted to either her wolf or vamp form.

  But for right now, she was enjoying the short break and watching them beat the crap out of each other. Her cell phone dinged with an incoming message from one of her best friends, Victoria. A response to the text Vega had just sent to the female who lived with her dragon mate in Montana. Victoria had been one of the very first supernatural friends Vega had made when she’d moved in with the Stavros pack.

  Things are crazy. Drake has decided he wants me carried everywhere until this baby is born. And I wish I was kidding. Literally carried. As in, he thinks walking is too much of an effort. I’m only five weeks along!

  Vega snorted at the text. Of all the dragons Vega knew, Drake was the sweetest. Okay, he was the sweetest male she’d ever met, regardless of species. Completely devoted to Victoria. Seriously? she texted back.

  Yes. I don’t think it’s what he wants though. I think the sneaky male is trying to come up with ridiculous demands so that when he tries to ask for other things, they seem tame in comparison.

  Oh, that sounded about right. What did you tell him?

  Nothing. I ignored him and I’m doing what I always do. It’s not like being pregnant has affected my ability as a healer. I swear that male has lost his mind.

  Vega snorted again. She couldn’t imagine a male so head over heels for her that he went all caveman crazy. Deep down, she was pretty sure she’d like it. If it was the right male anyway. She swiped her finger across the screen, typing in a new message. Drake has always respected you, always made it clear you come first. This is probably just a big deal for him, especially since what happened to him as a kid. Maybe he’s just going overboard because he’s scared that soon he’s going to have a little person to protect.

  What the heck? When did you get all logical on me? Gah, you’re right. I know you are. I mean, he is being insane, but he’s still his same sweet self.

  How’s his mom reacting to news of your pregnancy? Drake’s mother was ancient, eccentric and terrifying. And Vega absolutely adored the female.

  I can’t even get started. She’s a nightmare. She wants to build me a bunker in the side of a mountain that can withstand…everything. So, I hear you’re not coming home for Christmas? Where are you anyway? Gabriel was sketchy on the details.

  Vega stared at her phone for a long moment. Gabriel was like a big brother to Victoria and Vega knew they talked every other day, despite living thousands of miles from each other. Still, it was weird to know they’d talked about her. He was the one subject she’d always avoided with Vict
oria. Hanging out with friends.

  That’s not vague or anything. Come on, is it a new guy?

  Instead of an actual response, she just texted back a bunch of cat emojis.

  Does this mean your new guy is feline? Victoria asked.

  Vega laughed out loud. No, weirdo. It means I’m keeping some stuff to myself. A girl’s gotta have her secrets.

  Gah. Don’t throw my words back in my face! All right, fine, have your secrets. I’ll get it out of you eventually.

  She texted back more silly emojis, then, Gotta run. Xoxo.

  When she looked up both Neema and Eli were done sparring and were now stretching on the mats.

  “What’s so funny, slacker?” Neema asked as she laid her head against one of her knees, one arm stretched above her head.

  “Slacker? You want to go again?” Smiling, she set her phone on the bench and stood, spreading her arms wide. “I’m ready, Grandma.”

  Neema shook her head. “Hell no. I’m—”

  They all paused as one of the only doors opened and August walked in. This was what they’d been waiting for. Or she assumed it was. They’d flown in earlier today straight from New Orleans on a private jet and August had basically dropped them off at this gym and said he’d be back later. Apparently it was later.

  “Neema, Eli, hit the showers. Vega, with me.” August turned and was out the door before she’d even pushed to her feet.

  She jumped up and raced after the male. The scent of bear shifter tickled her nose as she yanked the door open into the freezing cold weather—to find August leaning against the outer wall, waiting. Her yoga pants and pullover sweater would do for now against the weather thanks to her genes.

  August had auburn hair, amber eyes, broad shoulders and was built like a, well, a bear. She scented something else on him, but she’d never had the courage to ask what type of hybrid he was. And she didn’t plan to.