The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2)

by Kristen Painter

  “Hello?” She dried her hands on the apron tied at her waist. “Oh. Ivy. I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “Where’s Charlie?” Ivy asked. The time for pleasantries was long gone.

  Patsy’s eyes went blank with fear. “He’s-he’s on restriction.”

  “Where is he?” Ivy repeated. She was past being gentle with her mother. Ivy loved her, pitied her, really, but if Patsy wasn’t going to protect her grandchild, then she was as bad as Clemens.

  Patsy glanced inside the house.

  Ivy was done waiting. “If that man did anything to hurt him—”

  Hank stepped forward. “Mrs. Kincaid, where is Charlie?”

  She dropped the apron. “You must be the Merrow boy.” Her gaze flickered from Hank to Ivy and back to Hank. “Never thought we’d see you.”

  “Well, here I am. And I want to see Charlie. Now.”

  Patsy leaned back into the house. “Clem, you better come here.”

  He answered with another shout. “Why the hell for?”

  “Ivy’s here,” Patsy yelled back.

  Ivy shook her head, disgust coating her tongue with a sour, familiar taste. “Nice way to stick up for your daughter, Mom.”

  “Ivy, hush now before your father—”

  Clemens stormed up to the door, nudging Patsy out of the way. He had a can of beer in one hand. “What are you here for? I see you brought your new boyfriend with you.”

  “Charlie,” Ivy repeated.

  Clemens’ broad grin revealed his yellowed teeth. He shoved his free hand through his too-long salt and pepper hair and ignored Ivy to talk to Hank. “Come to meet your new kid, huh, Merrow?”

  Hank nodded. “Where is he?”

  Clemens stared at Hank for a second, maybe hoping to intimidate him. When Hank didn’t respond, Clemens’ smile faded. “He’s out back in the shed. I locked him in there for lying to me. Rotten little mutt.”

  Hank turned to Ivy, rage simmering gold in his eyes. “Shed. Now.”

  She shot a curse at her father, then ran for the backyard, Hank on her heels. Clem’s laughter echoed through the trees as they looped around the pool. She pointed at her father’s storage shed at the edge of the tree line. “There.”

  Hank barreled past and ripped the door off.

  Charlie screamed. He was curled in a ball near the back, his skinny arms over his head, clothes grimy from the dirty floor.

  Ivy rushed into the dark, damp space and cradled him in her arms. “It’s okay, baby, Mama’s here. It’s all right now. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  He wept against her, clinging to her and mumbling Mama over and over. She picked him up and took him out of the shed, her hand covering his little head. “Shh,” she murmured in his ear. “I’ve got you, baby.”

  Hank looked like he could chew nails. “Is he all right?”

  “Charlie, are you hurt?”

  He lifted his head, eyes wet, nose red, and sniffled. There was a bruise on his cheek.

  Ivy wanted to vomit. Memories of her own childhood came boiling up. She asked a question she already knew the answer to. “Did Granddad hit you?”

  Charlie nodded, his wary gaze landing on Hank. “Who’s that man?”

  Hank lifted his hand. “I’m Hank. You and your mom are going to come live with me now.”

  Charlie clung to her. She kissed his temple. “We’re going to a great place, kiddo. You’re going to love it.”

  Clemens lumbered out of the back of the old brick house. The beer was gone. He stood on the edge of the pool deck and called out to them. “You better be taking that kid with you.”

  “I am,” Ivy shouted back. “You’re never going to lay a hand on him again.”

  Clemens laughed and walked into the yard to stand face to face with Hank. “You two still getting married?”

  “As soon as we get back,” Hank answered.

  Clemens shot a look at Charlie. “Good luck with that.”

  Hank stood his ground. “You think you’re pulling one over on me. That I don’t know the truth about Charlie. But I do.”

  Confusion clouded Clemens’ ugly mug. “And you’re still going to marry her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Damn, you Merrows are dumber than I thought. Suit yourself. You want that worthless kid, you can have—”

  Hank’s fist closed Clemens’ mouth and knocked him to the ground. “He’s a child. He’s not worthless.”

  Clemens propped himself up on one elbow and swiped at the blood trickling off his lip. Gold edged his pupils. “You think that’s a good idea? Coming on my property and laying hands on me? Son, you got no idea the world of hurt you just put yourself in.”

  “Hank, don’t,” Ivy pleaded. “He’s not worth the trouble.”

  Hank snarled. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you. Cross me again and I might yet.”

  Clemens pushed to his feet. “You dumb son of a—”

  Hank punched him again.

  “Hank!” Ivy’s sharp cry echoed through the surrounding woods.

  Clemens rocked back on his heels and fell hard. He moaned and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, the gold was gone.

  Hank pointed at him. “Stay down.” Then he snagged the chain attached to Clemens’ wallet and gave it a tug. A black leather billfold popped free of her father’s front pocket. Hank opened it, lifted a fat wad of cash out and handed it to Ivy. She took it, unsure what to do with it. Hank let the wallet fall onto the ground near Clemens. “That’s for the stipend you owe your daughter.”

  Then Hank put his hand on Ivy’s back. “Let’s go.”

  She tucked the money in her front pocket, walked around her father’s sprawled form and headed for the car, hugging Charlie tight.

  Hank went ahead of them and opened the door to the back seat. “You two sit here until we get to the airport.”

  “Thanks.” She couldn’t manage more and not break down. She put Charlie in the car and told him to scoot over, then climbed in beside him. Hank shut the door and went around the driver’s side just as Patsy came running out of the front of the house with a brown paper grocery sack.

  Ivy opened the back door to see what she wanted, but kept one arm firmly wrapped around Charlie.

  Patsy held out the bag. “I put some of his clothes in there for him.”

  Ivy took the bag but said nothing. Patsy looked like she was on the verge of tears. Good. Let her cry. Ivy was tired of being the only one.

  “I hope it helps,” Patsy mumbled. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me, too.” Ivy shut the door.

  Clemens bellowed for Patsy again, and she went running to him.

  Hank got in, started up the car and took off for the airport with the kind of speed Ivy appreciated. When they were clear of her parents’ property, he glanced at her and Charlie through the rearview mirror. “You okay? You want to stop for anything?”

  “Nope.” She hugged Charlie tight and smiled at Hank. “I have everything I need.”

  Despite Ivy’s answer, Hank stopped at a drive-through burger joint near the airport and placed a large order, making sure to get milkshakes. Charlie deserved one. And Hank wasn’t above using ice cream to get the kid to like him.

  It was a good plan.

  Charlie spent his first fifteen minutes on the plane devouring two cheeseburgers and a large order of fries with more ketchup than was probably healthy. After takeoff, he carried what was left of his milkshake around with him as he explored every inch of the plane, including the cockpit, which the pilot and co-pilot were nice enough to give him a tour of.

  Ivy glowed with joy. She’d spent the first fifteen minutes in the car with Charlie checking him for other injuries and asking him a thousand times if he was okay. She leaned forward in her seat. “Charlie, don’t touch anything.”

  “I’m not, Mom.”

  The co-pilot gave them a wave. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”

  “Thanks.” Ivy sat back as she turned to Hank and slipped her hand into hi
s. “You shouldn’t have hit my father. I’m glad you did, but I worry what the repercussions will be.”

  “There won’t be any. Not unless he wants to open this whole business up to pack scrutiny.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Her mouth turned up in a half-smile. “I owe you more than I can repay you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And later, when Charlie’s asleep, I’m going to do my best to show you just how much I appreciate everything.”

  “I’d say you don’t owe me anything and that repayment wasn’t necessary, but I’m not about to turn down an offer like that.” He definitely owed Hugh Ellingham, though. Without the plane, they’d still be on the road and Charlie would still be locked in the damn shed. Fresh anger welled up in him.

  Then she leaned in and kissed him, and he forgot all about Clemens Kincaid. “I love you, Hank Merrow.”

  He smiled and kissed her back. “I’m happy you’re happy. Charlie’s a great kid.” His smile flattened. There was only so long he could stop thinking about what Clemens had done. “Your father ought to be brought to tribunal for the way he’s abused Charlie.”

  She frowned. “Good luck with that. He’s been alpha for almost fifty years. He’s too powerful.”

  “He’s not above the law, pack or human. What he did to Charlie is inexcusable. I’m not going to let it slide.”

  “No one ever cared how he treated me when I was kid.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Ivy, I truly am. Did anyone ever try to do something about it?”

  She shook her head sadly. “No.”

  “So maybe this time it could be different.”

  Charlie came racing back. “Mom, Mom, you can see the whole earth from the front windows.”

  “That sounds pretty neat, baby.”

  “It is.” The excitement left his face when he saw her and Hank cozied up. He studied them for a moment, his gaze lingering on Hank before turning curious. “Are you going to be my new dad? Grandpa says you won’t want to because I’m not a wolf. Are you a wolf?”

  Hank tried not to let his amusement at Charlie’s questions show. He nodded seriously. “Yes, I am a wolf. And I would love to be your new dad, if that’s okay with you.”

  Charlie’s little mouth bunched up like he was thinking it over. “Why did you punch my grandpa?”

  “I was mad at him for what he did to you. But I would never hurt you or your mother. And just because you can’t turn into a wolf doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. It just means you’re different. And that’s okay. You were born exactly the way you were supposed to be.”

  Charlie frowned, hurt clear in his eyes. “Grandpa says it’s not okay. Grandpa says I’m no good.”

  “Grandpa’s the one who’s no good.” Ivy put one hand on Hank’s arm and reached out to Charlie with the other. “And, baby, no one’s going to say mean things to you anymore. Your grandfather was wrong. He’s not a nice man and I’m so sorry you had to stay with him. So sorry. From the bottom of my heart. That’s never going to happen again. I promise, okay?”

  Charlie nodded and climbed into her lap, turning so he could lean against her and see Hank at the same time.

  Hank shifted in his seat. “You know, Charlie, the town where you’re going to live is pretty cool. We celebrate Halloween all year round. You can trick or treat every Friday night if you want to.”

  Charlie’s body went taut with excitement, and he looked up at Ivy. “Really?”

  She laughed and shot Hank a look before returning her attention to her son. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can eat candy all day long.”

  “I know,” he replied with the kind of world-weary exasperation only a seven-year-old could manage.

  Her head lifted, and she gazed at Hank. “I know we’ve got the wedding tomorrow night, but I have to get him to a doctor first thing. I need to know he’s all right.”

  “There’s a walk-in clinic in town. You should be able to get in there. Then afterwards, Birdie can watch him if you need time to get ready for the wedding.”

  “I don’t know.” She hated the thought of being away from Charlie again, but Birdie was a far cry from Clemens Kincard.

  “Just warning you,” Hank said. “That woman will spoil him rotten. Charlie will be her first grandnephew.”

  Ivy smiled. “That might be a nice change of pace for him. You sure you don’t need her at the station?”

  Hank snorted. “I’ve never needed her at the station, trust me.” His gaze drifted down to Charlie. Hank smiled. “He’s asleep.”

  She glanced down. Charlie’s eyes were closed, and his breathing had gone soft and even. “Poor thing. He’s exhausted.”

  “He had a rough time.”

  “A horrible time. He needs a shower and clean clothes and soft bed.” She bit her lip, fighting tears. “I feel like the world’s worst mother.”

  “You did what you had to do in a situation where your choices were taken away, but it’s over. Put it behind you. There’s no point wasting time and energy on the past.”

  “I know.”

  But he also understood that was easier said than done. “Are you still worried about your father?”

  She nodded. “There’s no way he won’t retaliate for you hitting him.”

  “We’ll deal with him when and if he does something. Until then, we have bigger things to deal with.”

  “You’re right.” She rested her chin on the top of Charlie’s head, closed her eyes and soon joined her son in sleep.

  But Hank couldn’t get that relaxed. He knew Ivy was right. Clemens wasn’t about to let a physical confrontation go, not when Hank had made him look like a fool in front of his family. But if Clemens started something, he had to know Hank would bring to light his awful treatment of Charlie.

  A tribunal wouldn’t care if Charlie could shift or not once they heard what Clemens had done to him.

  But that would mean putting Charlie in front of the tribunal. He’d have to relive everything that had happened to him and tell his story. All while standing in the presence of the very man who’d tormented him. Hank couldn’t see putting Charlie through that.

  Maybe some kind of special circumstance could be allowed for. Or maybe Ivy’s sworn testimony of her childhood would be enough to spare Charlie from having to testify.

  Or maybe if Clemens attempted any kind of revenge, Hank would just deal with it off book. It wasn’t his preferred way, but then he’d never thought he’d have a kid to protect.

  Ivy stared down at her son, now asleep in the guest room. She hadn’t had the heart to force him into a bath. Instead she’d stripped him down to his underwear and tucked him in. He’d been half asleep the whole time.

  Hard to believe she’d gotten her wish. A new start for her and Charlie. Freedom from Clemens. A life with Hank, a man who wanted her and her son, despite the baggage they came with. She didn’t know how she’d gotten so fortunate, but she’d take it.

  She just couldn’t help but pray there wasn’t another shoe waiting to drop.

  She kissed Charlie on the head and pulled the cover over his narrow shoulders, then quietly picked her wedding dress off the floor and hung it up before tiptoeing out of the bedroom.

  Hank waited in the hallway. “Is he still asleep?”

  She closed the door, turning the knob slowly until it clicked. “He woke up when I was taking his jeans off, but went right back to sleep.”

  Hank nodded. “He’s a great kid. I like him.”

  “He likes you, too.” She draped her arms around Hank’s neck. “I think you’re pretty amazing myself.”

  He settled his hands on her hips, sending a thrill through her. “Tomorrow’s your last day to change your mind about marrying me. Not even a full day. We’ll be in front of the justice of the peace by five.”

  She leaned into him, a sudden surge of desire making her knees go weak. “Same goes for you.”

  He walked her back against the wall and held her there with the length of his hard body. “I�
�m not changing my mind.” His mouth went to her neck.

  She sighed and arched against him, welcoming the friction between them as he trailed kisses down her throat. The full moon was one night away and it sang in her blood like a siren’s song, its pull intensifying every feeling until her body was one giant needy ache.

  A soft groan left her throat, and his hands slipped under her shirt, hot and insistent. They traveled up her rib cage until his thumbs brushed the undersides of her lace bra.

  Her nails dug into his shoulders. “It’s too bad we can’t go for a run.”

  “Mm-hmm,” he murmured without taking his mouth off her skin. “We’ll have to think of another way to use up all this energy.”

  The vibration of his words sent a shiver through her skin, and all she could manage in response was a mewl of pleasure.

  He slid his hands down under her thighs and lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Lucky for you, I just had an idea.”

  She hung on to him as he walked them into his bedroom, tangling her hands in his hair and kissing him. “I bet I know what it is.”

  “I bet you do, too.” He laughed and nudged the door shut with his foot, then he dropped her on the bed and yanked his shirt off over his head, the gold gleam in his eyes pure lust.

  Holy nakedness, the man was unbelievably hot. She grinned.

  “What’s that look for?”

  “How crazy sexy you are.” She pulled her T-shirt off, too, leaving herself in just a black lace bra and jeans.

  “I think crazy sexy is your department.” He nodded as she tossed her T-shirt onto the floor. “Keep going. All of it. The only thing I want you wearing is that smile and that ring.”

  She laughed out of sheer happiness.

  Tomorrow she would be Mrs. Hank Merrow.

  Tonight she would be anything he wanted.

  It was a rare day that Hank slept in. He chalked it up to extreme contentment. He rolled over to find the sun in his eyes and his bed empty, but the sounds that carried up from downstairs were happy ones. Ivy and Charlie, fixing breakfast no doubt by the aromas of coffee and bacon that were wafting up. He threw his arm over his head and grinned up at the ceiling.