by Cynthia Eden
“Isabella…”
She grabbed a towel that she found on the floor and wrapped it around her body. “The man in the alley—he wanted to hurt me. So I picked him as a donor.” Donor is the wrong word. He didn’t volunteer. No one ever volunteers. I take and I take, and…
I kill.
Her hand lifted and pressed to her mouth. She covered her fangs.
Griffin sat up in bed. “You go after bastards.”
Her hand fell back to her side. She couldn’t hide what she was. Not from him. “I go after predators. The ones who think they are so big and bad, hunting in the night. I hunt them.” Her shoulders straightened. “But I don’t kill them. I stop myself. And I leave them with a compulsion. To not hurt another innocent. To change.”
He rose and walked toward her. His steps were slow and certain.
“I never asked to be what I am,” Isabella said.
His hand lifted and the back of his knuckles stroked over her cheek. “I rather like what you are.”
She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. “You wouldn’t have liked me, if you knew me before.” A century ago, he would have hated her.
“Don’t be too sure of that.”
“My very name—Abandonato—it means forsaken. That’s what I am. What my family is.” Isabella’s lips parted. “Griffin, I—”
A knock sounded at the door. Griffin whirled to face the door, putting his body in front of hers. “Who is it?”
The door cracked open. Isabella peered around Griffin’s side and saw Carter poke his head inside the room. “Three are dead.”
Her heart lurched.
“Three werewolves.” Carter wasn’t looking at her. His attention was on Griffin. “The first was killed in New York three weeks ago.”
A knot formed in Isabella’s stomach. Three weeks ago, she’d been in New York.
“One was killed in Washington, D.C., the next week.”
She rocked back on her heels. D.C. was my next stop.
“Then a wolf was found dead in Aspen six days ago.”
Her eyes squeezed shut. This can’t be happening.
“How did they die?” Griffin’s voice was cold. Flat.
“They were found with puncture wounds on their necks…and silver bullets in their hearts.”
“No!” The sharp denial broke from Isabella even as her eyes flew open. Carter was looking at her then, and so was Griffin. Griffin had turned so that his intense green gaze fell on her.
“I didn’t do this!” Isabella needed Griffin to believe her. “I was in those places.” Why not go ahead and admit that? He’d find out. It seemed as if the guy had a whole werewolf network at his fingertips now that he was alpha. “But I did not kill them, I swear it. I didn’t even meet them! I told you that before!”
Silence.
“You…believe me, don’t you?” He had to believe her.
His gaze glinted. “We need to find fucking Felix.”
Griffin’s words had been a growl. They hadn’t been the hard, fast vow of I absolutely believe you, yes! But…they were better than nothing.
Then Griffin reached for her hand. His fingers curled around her wrist, going right to the spot where he’d bit her—twice. The spot that still felt like a brand to her. “Felix wanted me to hunt you. He sent me on a path to collide with you. He knew I was a werewolf. And if a werewolf found a vamp hunting, if a werewolf saw a vamp drinking from a human, the wolf’s first instinct would be to kill.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s why you came at me with your stake.”
Carter cleared his throat. “Uh, you tried to stake her? You didn’t mention that part to me.”
Griffin didn’t look away from her. “The bond was between us. I couldn’t hurt you.”
“When you first put the stake to my heart, the bite hadn’t occurred.”
His voice lowered as he said, “Maybe part of me already knew…”
Her heart was racing too fast, and she’d put the puzzle pieces together. “You were number four.”
Griffin nodded. “I think I was.”
“Felix set me up over and over, didn’t he?” And that thought was terrifying.
“Uh, who the hell is Felix?” Carter demanded.
Isabella kept talking. “The other three werewolves…”
“I think he sent them after you, too.” Griffin’s expression could have been carved from stone. “Only they weren’t showing any signs of bonding with you. There was no connection. They were going to kill you—”
“But I never even saw them! Wouldn’t we have needed the bite, at least? I mean, how else would we even know if the bonding was going to work?”
“The first three werewolves didn’t make it to that step. I felt something inside of me reacting to you. From the first moment I saw you in that alley, I was pulled to you. Even as I held that stake, I knew I couldn’t hurt you. The connection was there before the bite. Taking your blood, giving you mine—that just sealed the deal.”
The drumming of her heartbeat seemed to echo in her ears. “The others didn’t feel any connection.” That was what he was saying. “They saw me…p-probably feeding.” Because she’d had to feed to survive. “And they were going to attack me.”
Carter sauntered toward them. “Only they were the ones to die.” He grimaced. “Sorry, just following along with what you two are saying. If the other werewolves were part of some damn test, then if they weren’t passing the test, they’d be eliminated. I mean…hell, we all know there are more werewolves than vamps in the world. You guys don’t exactly reproduce a lot.”
No, they didn’t. Because despite the Hollywood hype, it wasn’t easy to transform a human into a vampire. Usually, the transformation just resulted in a permanent death and not in an undead life.
Griffin’s fingers slid over her wrist in a light caress. “Isabella is even more precious than you realize. She was born as a vamp.”
“Seriously? Shit, that’s a new one.”
Her head whipped toward Carter. He was eyeing her as if she were some kind of lab rat.
“Never seen a born before,” he added as the guy practically gawked at her.
Her shoulders straightened. “And I’d never seen a werewolf, not until Griffin.”
Carter laughed. “And your first turned out to be your mate. What are the odds?”
But Griffin wasn’t laughing. “I was number four, not number one. Three other werewolves died before me.” Then he let go of Isabella. “Fucking hell. He was watching.”
Isabella didn’t move.
“The bastard had to have eyes on us in that alley. He was watching to see what I’d do when I got near you.”
Carter cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah, alpha, nice idea, but that’s total bullshit. You have enhanced senses—don’t you think you would have noticed if someone was hanging around and spying on you?”
“I was so lost in her that I probably wouldn’t have noticed a damn thing.” The admission was gruff. “And maybe that’s the difference between me and the others. Maybe they weren’t so tuned to her, and those werewolves realized they were being tailed by Felix and his men. Those werewolves confronted Felix—and they died.”
Yes, that sounded like one option, but he was overlooking one important fact. “Puncture wounds.”
Griffin frowned.
“The bodies had puncture wounds on their throats.” She gave a sad shake of her head. “Only a vamp would do that.”
Griffin seemed to consider what she’d said. “Then maybe Felix has a vamp on his side.”
Before she could respond, there was another hard knock on the door. Carter had shut it when he entered the room, and now someone else was out there, pounding so fiercely that Isabella knew their little group was about to get more bad news.
Griffin strode forward and yanked open the door.
A young werewolf was there—and he was sweating. “Alpha…we just…we just got news about your PI office…”
“What? What the hell news d
id you get?”
The guy’s Adam’s apple bobbed and sweat trickled down the side of his face. He truly looked as if he wished he were anywhere else. “It’s burning, alpha. The place is burning to the ground.”
Chapter Nine
“You cannot be serious.” Isabella glared at Griffin.
Did the woman have any idea just how sexy she was when she glared? Probably not. And Griffin didn’t think this was the best time to clue her in to that fact.
“You are going to leave me in a den of werewolves?”
“It’s the safest place for you.”
Her jaw dropped. “In a den of werewolves? How is that possibly safe?”
His fingers curled under her chin. “I’m alpha. You’re my mate. No one here would dare hurt you. They’d give their very lives to protect you.”
“That’s bullshit. They won’t save a vampire.”
“That’s werewolf law. Their job is to protect the alpha’s mate. Always.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. A mistake because when he tasted her, he wanted more. “Why do you think I became alpha?” he rasped against her soft mouth. “To protect you.” Griffin made himself step away from her. He had a job to do—and a bastard to hunt down. “Dawn will come soon. I can’t risk having you out in the open when you do your vamp thing.”
Her eyes glittered. “My vamp thing?”
“Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.” They were alone in the bedroom. “When daylight hits, you’ll be dead to the world.”
“I will not be dead! Vampires aren’t dead! We’re undead.”
He stared at her. “My bad. You’ll be sleeping very heavily.”
She blew out a hard breath. “I’ll be weak. That’s what you mean.”
“And as your mate, it’s my job to protect you when you’re weak. I’ll leave werewolf guards here. No one will get to you. You rest and by the time you open your eyes, I’ll have Felix.” That was a grim promise. “No one hunts better than a werewolf. The bastard will pay for his crimes.”
She turned from him and paced away from the bed. The windows had already been covered with heavy draperies, by Griffin’s request. She paused in front of one of those windows, her shoulders stiff. “What if he has a vampire working with him? What if we’re right about that part?”
“All the more reason for me to hunt during the day.”
“The vamp’s weakest point,” she said, not glancing back at him.
“Yes.”
“I hate having this weakness.” And he could hear the frustration in her voice. “I want to help you.”
You have, sweetheart, and you don’t even realize how much. You’ve changed my world.
She spun to face him, her hands going to her hips. “You’d better come back without so much as a scratch on you, do you understand? Because if you get hurt, I will be pissed.”
He laughed, the sound erupting and catching him off guard.
“I am serious.”
His laughter faded. “Careful, Isabella, or you’ll make me think you care.”
Her chin notched up the smallest bit. “That’s the problem, wolf. I think I do. I don’t understand how things happened this fast, but… I do. And I don’t want anything happening to you, so bring that furry butt of yours back to me, got it? You also need to promise to let me have a run at Felix. He’s been playing with my life, and I want to know why.”
Griffin couldn’t promise to keep the bastard alive, not when Felix had been targeting Isabella, so he just gave her one last smile and turned for the door.
“Your real smile shows your dimple.”
He stilled.
“It flashes every now and then. I saw it when you laughed.”
Griffin glanced over his shoulder.
“I like the real smile.” She gave him a small smile of her own. “I like the real you.”
Could you ever love the real me?
Lust comes first…then love?
“Come back to me—without a scratch.”
“I will.” And he hoped like hell that he wouldn’t have to break that promise.
***
She didn’t like staying behind. An hour had passed since Griffin had left her. Isabella could feel the power of the rising sun. Lethargy had swept over her. Her body felt sluggish and heavy, and she hated that feeling. She wanted to be with Griffin. Hunting.
Not sleeping.
Clothes had been brought to her. Jeans that fit like a glove, a loose t-shirt. Shoes. Even a bra and a pair of silk panties. They’d all come courtesy of Griffin.
The guy was looking out for her, and he was getting beneath her skin. And into my heart?
The door to her bedroom swung open. Isabella turned to find a young, red-haired woman just…walking right into her room.
The woman drew up short when she saw Isabella. “Oh! Sorry! I thought you’d already be asleep.”
“What?”
The redhead glanced over her shoulder, seemingly nervous. “I’m not supposed to be here.”
“Right…it’s probably a bad idea to waltz into someone’s bedroom unannounced.”
The woman edged closer. “I’m Shelly.”
“And I’m—”
“The vampire,” Shelly said dramatically as her gaze swept over Isabella.
Isabella lifted a brow. She was freaking exhausted. Standing up was an effort, and now the redhead in front of her was staring at Isabella as if she were a freak. So much for that promised werewolf protection.
“I had to see you for myself,” Shelly added as her eyes flared wide. “What’s it like?” She crept even closer to Isabella. “I mean, I couldn’t believe it when I heard that you were the new alpha’s mate. A vampire. I thought the wolves hated anyone who wasn’t a perfect predator like they were.” There was a strange mix of pain and disgust in her voice as she said those words.
Isabella tried to focus on the small werewolf. Well, she’d assumed the woman was a werewolf. Now that she knew Griffin, Carter, and a few of the others, Isabella had realized that werewolves tended to carry a wild, woodsy scent. That scent was missing from the woman before her. “What are you?”
Shelly flinched. “Million dollar question.”
One that the woman hadn’t answered.
Shelly clenched her hands into fists. “Can you turn me?”
What? Shelly was about five foot four inches tall, and built along small, delicate lines. Her face had a pale, almost otherworldly beauty. And she just looked fragile. Hardly fierce werewolf material.
And the chick just asked to be turned.
“Werewolves can’t be turned.” The words slipped from Isabella. “That’s what I’ve always heard, and Griffin told me the same thing recently.”
Anger flashed on Shelly’s face. “Just because you’ve always heard something…doesn’t make it true.”
Isabella’s knees wanted to buckle. The sun is rising. “I—”
“Shelly!”
Carter was in the doorway, glowering. He marched into the bedroom. “What in the hell are you doing in here? How’d you get past the guards?”
Shelly just laughed, but it was a sad sound. “I don’t think they even noticed me. No one in the pack ever does.”
Carter’s face hardened. “Shelly, you need to leave, now.”
“Story of my life. I just wanted to see the vampire for myself.”
Carter curled his hand around her arm and led her to the door. “Alpha’s orders. Isabella isn’t to be disturbed today.”
“Because she matters.” Shelly glanced back at her. “The mate.”
“Shelly…” A warning edge cut in his voice.
“I’m gone. Don’t worry, it will be like I was never even here.” Shelly laughed. “Isn’t it always?” She walked slowly from the room.
Isabella grabbed the edge of the bed. She was weak, and she did not want to show the extent of her weakness in front of Carter.
But he still noticed it. “You okay?” he asked her, frowning. “I’m sorry about Shelly. She’s harm
less, like, literally. I’ll make sure that the guards know never to let her back in again.”
She didn’t exactly have a whole lot of faith in the guards. “I’m fine.” Total and complete lie.
“Get some sleep,” Carter said gruffly. “When you wake up, Griffin will be back.”
He’d better be.
She didn’t move, not until Carter had left the room. He shut the door after he exited, but that wasn’t good enough for Isabella. Not when she kept having unexpected—and unwanted—company. She lurched across the room, then she grabbed the edge of a table that was near the door. Isabella shoved and shoved, and she got that table positioned right under the doorknob. Not much protection, but it would slow down any other visitors who might try to come her way while she slept.
Then, utterly spent, she turned back toward the bed. Every step was like trudging through quick sand. She was almost there. Almost…
She fell to the floor. Then Isabella decided—screw it. Sleeping on the floor would work for her.
***
His office had been torched. Griffin glared at the scene. Firefighters were still there, surveying the charred remains of the building. Cops were close by as they made notes and did their show of investigating.
And his office was gone. A blackened shell was all that remained.
Griffin inhaled, pulling in the scents of ash, water, sweat. Fear.
Humans were all around, gaping at the scene. On his way to the building, Griffin had wondered if Felix could be in the crowd, watching, waiting.
But the bastard wasn’t there. Griffin paced closer to the building. The fire and ash were so strong they obliterated most scents. He had no doubt that Felix had been there—but the guy was gone now. He stayed long enough to destroy my business.
“What’s next, alpha?” The question came from one of the werewolves Griffin had picked for his hunting team.
Griffin smiled at the wolf. “Now I make a call.” Easy enough. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number that Felix had given him the first time that bastard had sauntered into his office.
Don’t look into her eyes. If you do, she’ll take your soul.
The phone was answered on the third ring. “Griffin?”