Right now however, she was prattling in her wading pool, wearing a floppy pink hat dotted with white and yellow flowers that matched her miniscule bikini top and swim diaper. He kicked off his sandals and rested his feet in the pool, absorbing some of the coolness while watching her play. Wiggling his toes, he created waves and she kicked her chubby legs.
“Da-da-da-da.”
He’d never believed those simple syllables could melt his heart the way they did. Leaning forward he picked her up and held her over his head before blowing raspberries against her belly. She giggled and squealed, patting his head until he set her back in the water again. Two white teeth showed as she smiled up at him before resuming playing with her water toys.
Those teeth were part of the reason he was so tired. She was teething and keeping both him and Melody up most of the night. Hell, half the pack was probably up too given the volume of her wails. The girl certainly had a set of lungs on her. In between pacing the floor, joggling her and fetching cold teething rings, he and Melody had argued about who she took after in that respect.
His phone rang and he picked it up, not bothering to glance at the number as he reached forward and shooed a bug away from his little girl. She might keep him awake at night, but he’d do anything for his pup.
“Hello?”
No one answered. There was only heavy breathing. Great, just what he needed, a breather. Well, maybe Melody could turn it into a story. Crank caller harasses locals or something like that.
“Hello? Who is this?” He tried once again, preparing to hang up when the caller finally spoke.
“Hi Ryne. It’s me.”
He stiffened, the sound of the woman’s voice immediately triggering a slew of memories both good and bad. His fingers tightened on the phone as he answered cautiously. “Hey there. Fancy hearing from you.”
“Can you talk? Is anyone around?”
A quick glance revealed the rest of the pack was nowhere about. “Yep, the coast is clear.”
“Good.”
His mind started to race when she didn’t immediately speak again. What was going on? When they’d parted she’d been adamant it was the end, that she’d never contact him again. He’d done his best, pulling some strings, getting Lycan Link to help arrange things for her. A new identity, a plausible background. It had been highly irregular, but he’d pushed, calling in a few favours and promising a few more. She’d never questioned how he’d done it, which was a good thing as he wouldn’t have been able to tell her. All she knew was that her past was officially dead, and she could move on.
“I…I was mugged.”
“What? Where are you?” He sat up straighter.
“In my apartment. It was maybe an hour ago, on my way home from work.” She paused and then spoke again. “I’m fine. My ID was stolen and then I heard a noise in the hall… I might have been mistaken. I don’t know...”
He heard her take a deep breath. She was rambling and obviously shook up.
“I just saw a black limo going down the street and it made me think…” Her voice trailed off.
He knew what she was thinking. Almost dying stuck with you. It had been a series of dark days, the lives of all those he loved hanging in the balance. An evil twist of fate had turned one simple act into a sequence of events that had snowballed out of control. His gaze grew distant as he relived that day…
He approached the apartment, only to come to a sudden halt, all his senses on high alert as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. The smell of fresh blood filled the air, overpowering everything else.
Slowly, carefully, he traversed the remaining distance to the door, then cocked his head and listened. Breathing, the sound barely perceptible, reached his ears and he nudged open the door while testing the air for subtle clues that existed under the metallic scent of blood. The acridness of fear lingered in the air as did the unmistakeable odour of another male.
“Hello?” He called out the greeting in a casual tone as if unaware of any problem. The only response was the squeaking of the door on partially broken hinges then a soft thud as it hit something and began to swing back towards him.
Muscles tensed and ready to respond, he stepped inside the apartment, glancing downward to see what was blocking the movement of the door. For a moment, shock had kept him silent and then a growl had erupted from his throat at the sight before him.
She was lying in a crumpled heap surrounded by a pool of blood. He checked her pulse as he called 911. She was alive…barely. Lips pressed tightly together he tried to decide what to do. As an Alpha, his job was to protect, to nurture and defend, yet despite his desperate wish to do something, he was helpless.
His heart thumped heavily as he stared at her pale face and blood-soaked blond hair. With trembling fingers, he brushed her cheek, leaning forward and softly calling her name. There was no response and he swore, thinking it wasn’t right that she was hurt and possibly dying. She’d stumbled into something that wasn’t of her making and was paying the price for a mistake that had been his.
He wished he could stay with her but the lives of so many were hanging in the balance and he couldn’t risk being caught at a crime scene. Feeling like cold-blooded bastard, he rose to his feet…
“Ryne? Are you there?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Just thinking about what happened.” He exhaled slowly while watching Grace push a plastic boat through the water, her face a study of concentration. So sweet and innocent. He hoped she’d never be exposed to the evil he’d seen in his life. “The limo…it’s not him. We managed to take care of him about a year ago.”
“You did? Oh. Good.”
He could hear the relief in her voice and cursed himself for not telling her. “Maybe I should have called, let you know, only you said no contact.”
“Right. That’s what I wanted.” He heard a rustling sound as if she were moving about. “It’s just been a bad day, that’s all. I saw the limo and, after what happened earlier, I panicked.”
“Understandable. Are you alone? Is there someone you can depend on?”
“My roommate, Roxi, and there’s Jimmy.”
“Jimmy? Is he your man?”
“No. Just someone who lives in my building. I…I shouldn’t have called. I can figure this out on my own. Maybe I’m homesick for the cooler weather. It’s so hot.”
“Nothing cool here, sorry. The heat wave has hit Stump River, too.”
“Oh.” There was something about her voice, a certain nuance, that had him frowning.
“Are you happy? How’s your new life?”
“The new life is fine.”
He noticed she didn’t say she was happy, but she spoke again before he could pursue the point.
“What about you?”
“I’m good.” At that moment, Grace decided to stand up, pulling herself up his leg as she babbled his name.
“Ryne, is that a baby I hear?”
“Yeah, my little girl, Gracie.” He smiled as he looked down at her.
“Ryne Taylor’s a daddy. Imagine that!” The delight in her voice was obvious. “Who’s her mama?”
“Melody. Melody Green.”
“You got back together? I’m so glad. How’s Ruth? And what about Ar…” She stopped and then cleared her throat. “Never mind. I should let you go. Your daughter needs you.”
He lifted Grace with his free arm, cuddling her wet body to his. “Do you want me to come to Chicago and check things out? Help you get your ID replaced and—”
“No. You have a family that needs you.”
“Have you contacted the police about the mugging?”
“I didn’t dare. What if they try to check into my background and find out?”
“They won’t. Your new identity is rock solid. Even the FBI wouldn’t realize it was fake. But…” He hesitated. Lycan Link had decades of practice fabricating identities, but those were for Lycans who had been trained since birth on how to handle awkward questions. She was a human. What if she slipped
up? And what if the mugger really had come by her apartment? The bastard had her ID, knew everything about her...
“I’ll send someone then. I know a few people in the area.”
“Ryne, I’ll be fine. I was just having an attack of the worries.”
He heard a sound like a door opening.
“There, I’m out of my bedroom. See? No more hiding. It was a panic attack, that’s all. I get them sometimes. This one was just worse than most.”
He pressed his lips together, considering his options. “Listen, I’ll take care of your ID from this end. New documents should arrive in a few days. You only have to cancel any credit cards or bank cards you had.”
“Really? Thanks, Ryne. I’m so sorry I bothered you.”
“You’re not a bother. You know if you ever need something, you can call me, right?”
“Yes, but you’ve already done so much. Getting me a new life, lending me money and fixing things so no one asked questions.”
“Everyone accepted the story. We buried your casket. They even ran a front-page article on you in the newspaper.”
“Oh, that was sweet of them.” She sighed softly. “Well, thanks again. I promise the next time I get mugged, I won’t fall apart all over you.”
“The next time?” He felt his eye-brows shoot upward. “What kind of a hellhole
neighbourhood are you living in?”
“I was joking, Ryne.”
“Well it’s not funny. You call me if you have a problem. Understand?”
“Sure, Ryne. Thanks again.”
“I mean it. Call me anytime you want, Lucy.”
He talked nonsense to Grace while he wrapped her in her towel and then carried her inside.
Lucy’s call had left him feeling uneasy. Not only because it raised bad memories but because he was wondering why she was targeted. Was it really a random mugging or had she been chosen for a reason? Or maybe he’d been watching too many conspiracy theory movies; that genre could really mess with your head if you weren’t careful.
No. It had to have been a random attack. The real question was whether Lucy was all right. What if that mugger started to stalk her? Maybe he should send someone to check regardless of her insistence it wasn’t necessary.
And what should he tell Melody? She’d know something was up. He’d never told his mate Lucy was still alive. When she found out he’d kept the news from her all this time, the shit would hit the fan.
Would she understand his reasoning?
In the week they’d stayed in Chicago after the incident, he’d visited the hospital several times. His main purpose had been to try to gain access to Aldrich and finish the man off; however, he’d also taken time to check on Lucy, to see if there was anything he could do for her. Those first few days she’d barely clung to life. Bruised and bandaged, connected to tubes and monitors, he’d done the only thing he could think of; he’d snuck into her room at night and given her some of his blood. Whether it would help or not, he wasn’t sure, a vague memory of something he’d once read spurring him to try it anyways. She wouldn’t turn into a shifter as she lacked the correct genes, but he’d hoped it would give her immune system the boost it needed to pull her through.
Not wanting to raise Melody’s hopes, he hadn’t mentioned what he’d done. After all, Melody had been pretty shaky herself at that point, her latent Lycan half having emerged seemingly out of nowhere. And so he’d kept silent.
To his relief, Lucy had rallied, regaining consciousness—much to the surprise of the medical team—and declaring she wasn’t returning home. He’d tried to assure her the scar on her face would fade but she’d insisted it was a sign. She’d been planning on making a new start sometime anyway. Her tears had finally convinced him—he’d always been a sucker that way—and he’d sworn silence on the matter before making the needed arrangements. After all she’d done for him, it was the least he could do.
Now he wondered if his prolonged silence had really been in her best interest. Only one other person—or at least that person’s inner animal—might suspect her secret.
He put Grace in a dry diaper and then laid her down in her bed. She promptly got back up.
“It’s time for you to go to bed.” He gave her a serious look. “And you’re going to sleep through the whole night, right? Mommy and I need time to rest or…do other things.”
She grinned and patted his face. “Da-da-da-da.”
He sighed. What was it about the women in his life that they could all wrap him around their little fingers?
Chapter 3
The moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating irregular bright patches on the otherwise dark forest floor. For a human, it would have been difficult to manoeuvre over the rocks and logs that lay scattered on the ground. To the bear making its way along the narrow path, the amount of light was of little importance. It knew the land well and had traversed the miles of wilderness for years.
As it lumbered along, it sniffed the sultry air, searching for the scent of another of its kind but there was none like it in the territory. At one time, the beast would have rejoiced in the fact, rising up to its fullest height and marking the trees with its claws. The scarred bark would warn others of its size and strength, making them think twice about intruding.
But now the animal did no such thing. It had been alone for years and the time had long since passed for it to find a mate. The problem was, the one it had wanted was no longer here.
The bear shook its head, then looked around peering into the shadows, hoping against hope the one it desired would miraculously appear. Its human half had spent long hours explaining their love was gone, that it was time to move on.
Was it? Perhaps.
With a heavy sigh, the bear turned and began to make its way back towards town. It would have been content to spend the night in the relative coolness of the forest, however the man said they were needed, that it wasn’t fair to leave their duties to others.
This much was true.
Bears had a great sense of responsibility to go along with their patience and careful planning. Unlike the wolves in the area, the bear thought through each action, considering the consequences, weighing the pros and cons. Sometimes too much.
That was what had happened last time.
And it is why we are now alone. It grumbled in discontent and sent accusing looks at the man.
The town came into view and the bear stopped near a large pine. They’d been gone a week this time, too long and yet not long enough to ease the restlessness that plagued them. The bear gave one last glance around and then relinquished control. With a shake of its fur, the air shimmered and the bear faded away leaving a dishevelled man in its place.
Armand blinked and stretched then ran his hands through his long unruly hair, pushing it from his eyes before heading towards the back door of his bar, the Broken Antler.
He’d felt the need to get away, or more to the fact, his inner animal had. It was restless, wanting a mate when there was none to be had. No female bear shifters had crossed their path in years despite the fact they had widened their search, leaving the territory for longer and longer excursions. Yet seven days away had changed nothing. They were still unmated.
Frowning, he considered the fact it might be time to move on or at least start placing discreet inquiries with his relatives. The idea didn’t sit well. He could only imagine the ribbing he’d get, yet what other choice did he have?
His train of thought was interrupted by raucous laughter as a group of customers staggered across the parking lot. He veered to intercept them before they reached their vehicle.
“Is one of you a designated driver?” He planted himself in front of them, arms crossed over his expansive chest creating a solid wall between the men and their destination. As the owner of the bar, there were certain activities he turned a blind eye to, however drunk driving wasn’t one of them.
“Me.” One of the men piped up, pushing his way to the front of the group.
<
br /> Armand gave him a quick survey, noting the clarity of his speech and eyes, the way he stood without weaving about like his friends. The man passed inspection so he stepped aside. “Drive safely.”
He watched as they got in a car, the DD climbing behind the wheel and bossing the others around until they put on their seatbelts. Good. Being buckled in could make the difference between life and death in a collision.
He resumed his path towards the back door, the sound of music and conversation spilling out to meet him along with the usual smell of alcohol, food and humanity. It filled his nostrils, not entirely pleasant but familiar and oddly comforting. This was home and had been for more than a decade. Over that time, he’d slowly rebuilt the business, from the rundown hovel it had been, adding more modern features like big screen TVs and even a band. It wasn’t a fancy place but then again, neither was Stump River. Change happened slowly here and that suited him.
Pausing in the doorway, he considered his course of action. To the left was the kitchen where he could get something to eat. Or he could duck up the stairs on the right and head to his room for a shower and change of clothes. Both options were appealing… Instead, he moved forward into the main part of the bar.
“Hey Armand! You’re back.”
“We missed you, buddy.”
Locals greeted him as they noticed his presence. If they wondered at his increasingly long vacations, they didn’t ask. The fact that he towered over them and had an imposing stare might have been a factor or maybe it was the knife strapped to his waist. Or perhaps they just accepted his odd behaviour. As long as the bar was open, and the beer was flowing, they were happy.
Over the heads of the throng, he made eye contact with the man working behind the bar. Bryan Cooper gave him a salute acknowledging his return. It was fortunate to have friends who were willing and able to take over when he needed to get away. Bryan was a member of the local Lycan pack and more than capable of handling things even if an argument were to break out. As Beta, he was not only a skilled bodyguard but was also good at defusing situations that could turn dangerous.
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