The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2)

by Kristen Painter

  “You lay a hand on me, and I’ll get my uncle involved.”

  Hank was about to respond when Ivy squeezed his hand, and he realized he was getting nowhere with Prescott, just wasting words.

  The door behind them opened, letting out a burst of noise. Titus and Griffin came out. Griffin stayed by the door, but Titus walked up to stand beside Hank. “Everything all right?”

  “It’s about to be,” Hank answered.

  “That’s right,” Prescott said. He tipped his head at Titus. “Why don’t you run back inside and bring Charlie out here?”

  Titus gave him the hairy eyeball. “And why would I do that?”

  Ivy made a disgusted nose. “Eric, you’re not going to win this one. Just go home. Leave us alone.”

  Titus leaned toward Hank. “Who is this guy?”

  Prescott answered. “I’m Charlie’s father.”

  “Biologically only,” Ivy corrected.

  Titus crossed his arms and stood shoulder to shoulder with Hank. “Yeah, you’re not getting my nephew. He’s a Merrow now.”

  Griffin nodded, silent but watching.

  Prescott took a step closer. “You Merrows sure have a big feeling about yourselves, don’t you?”

  Hank opened his mouth, but Titus beat him to the reply. “Well, we are Merrows. That alone makes us hard to beat.”

  Confrontation crackled in Prescott’s gaze. “Beating you sounds like a great idea.”

  Hank scowled. He was well and truly done with this interruption. “Go away, Prescott. Leave us alone.”

  “You want me to leave? Fight me.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Prescott stared at Hank. “I challenge you to decision by combat. Winner takes Charlie. Loser gives up all rights to him.”

  Ivy’s grip tightened on Hank’s hand like a vise, but she said nothing. Hank spoke to his brother while keeping his eyes on the shifter he wanted to put his fist through. “Titus, stay out here and watch our guest, will you? I need to talk to my wife inside for a moment.”

  “Sure thing,” Titus answered.

  “You do that, Merrow,” Prescott spat. “See what wifey has to say.”

  Hank escorted Ivy back toward Howler’s, speaking to his father as they went inside. “Watch him, Dad.”

  “I will.” Griffin’s eyes never left Prescott.

  They went into Bridget’s office where they could talk. Their guests knew something was going on, but he didn’t want to share more than necessary. He closed the door. “This needs to happen.”

  She twisted her hands together. “We could force it to a tribunal. You are technically Charlie’s dad.”

  “But Prescott still has a blood claim to him. I don’t know what the precedence is, but I don’t want to take that chance. Besides, it would take too long. I don’t want this guy interfering in Charlie’s life. The kid’s been through enough. I want this dealt with now.”

  “Okay. I agree, but…is there any chance you could lose?”

  Hank went quiet. “Anything’s possible, I guess, but it’s not likely. I certainly have a lot more to fight for than Prescott does.”

  She sat on the desk, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I cannot lose Charlie. It would kill me.”

  “I won’t let that happen.” No matter what he had to do. “What do you know about Eric? Does he have any kind of military background? Any sports? What sort of fighter do you think he is?”

  She shrugged. “As far as I know, he graduated and went into his father’s waste water engineering firm as the vice president of structural dynamics or something like that. No military service. He was a frat boy, I remember that much. I think his favorite sport was tailgating.”

  “Do you think he challenged me in the heat of the moment then? Or because he was planning on it?”

  She thought for a second. “Heat of the moment. Eric’s always been a bit of a hot head. I’m sure he came here figuring he’d walk in, threaten me and leave with Charlie no problem. And that you’d be happy to see him go. I don’t think he had any clue what kind of man I’d married. Which makes me wonder if my father is really behind this. Could be the Jenkins brothers again. Retaliating for being forced to face a tribunal for their attack on me.”

  Hank shook his head. “It’s not the Jenkins. They’re locked up. And listen, I take back what I said about there being a chance I could lose.”

  “You’re sure? He’s the nephew of an alpha. Wouldn’t he have been trained for the possibility of a challenge for pack leader? My brothers all were.”

  “They’re all sons of an alpha, like me. A nephew…I don’t know.”

  “Hank, this is Charlie’s life we’re talking about. I’m not saying I don’t trust you—I do. I just want to know you’re confident you can defeat Eric.”

  He took her face in his hands and kissed her firmly on her sweet mouth. “Darling wife, I realize we still have a lot to learn about each other, so I’m going to give you a quick lesson in Hank Merrow. I was an Army Ranger. I served two tours. Led more raids than I can count. I once pulled an insurgent out of his cot and had his wrists secured behind his back before he woke up.”

  She was finally smiling again. “Are you telling me you don’t think Eric’s going to be that much of a challenge?”

  He nodded. “Office Space out there isn’t going to know what hit him.”

  She wrapped her arms around Hank and pulled him in for a kiss full of heat and promise and gratitude. Then she grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the parking lot. “Let’s go tell Eric the good news.”

  She paused. “You know I only mean that you’re going to accept his challenge, right? Because I think we should keep all that Army Ranger stuff under wraps. Element of surprise and all that, right?”

  Hank saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Hank waited until Titus, Bridget and Sam were seated, then shut the door to the station conference room and took the chair beside Ivy.

  She glanced at him. “Is your father not coming?”

  He shook his head. “They went home. Having the alpha of the Georgia Pack at the challenge creates too many chances for Prescott to say things weren’t handled fairly. Griffin thought it would be best. Besides, he’s calling his council together to prepare for the tribunal to deal with the Jenkins brothers.”

  Ivy nodded. “Okay. Makes sense.”

  Hank looked at the others. “The challenge is tonight, as you know. Midnight, out in that clearing where the old farm house used to be.”

  “That’s up behind Sebastian Ellingham’s estate. His land, too, I think. He know about this?” Titus asked.

  Hank nodded. “I’ve informed him and his brother Hugh. Hugh Ellingham already knew something was up since he was at the reception. They’ve both agreed to act as adjudicators.”

  Bridget snorted. “You think Prescott is going to agree to the referees being in your pocket?”

  Sam shook his head. “He doesn’t have a choice. The challenger can’t choose the adjudicators.”

  “Right,” Hank said. “And Sebastian and Hugh aren’t in my pocket.”

  “Then how do we get them on our side?” Ivy asked.

  He patted her hand. “We don’t need them to be, because I’m going to win. What we need is for this to be a fair fight so that Prescott has no recourse when it’s over. Having the man who owns the land be one of the judges makes perfect sense. And the fact that the Ellinghams are vampires and not shifters also makes them seem more likely to be impartial. Prescott doesn’t need to know that we’re also friendly.”

  Titus frowned. “He might assume that.”

  “It’s a small town and I’m the sheriff. He has to know that there are very few people here I’m not acquainted with. It won’t be an issue.”

  Sam flatted his hand on the table. “Prescott won’t even find out.”

  “I hope not.” Ivy rubbed her temple. She’d been fitful all night, tossing and turning beside him when she wasn’t getting up to check on Charlie. />
  “You want me to stay at the house and watch Charlie?” Bridget asked.

  “I could help,” Sam said.

  “No, Charlie has to be there. He’s the subject of the challenge. Rules state he must be present. And I want you both there. I’ll ask Birdie to watch him.”

  As if on cue, Birdie opened the door and stuck her head in. “You have a minute?”

  “Only if it’s important.” Hank had told her not to interrupt unless something was on fire, which technically would be Titus’s department.

  Taking that as an invitation to join them, she shut the door and sat next to Bridget. She rested the file she’d been carrying on the table, straightened it, then folded her hands on top of it.

  Hank frowned. “You’re supposed to be watching Charlie.”

  “Deputy Blythe is entertaining him.”

  “While you’re in here to tell me what?”

  She lifted her chin a little. “I ran Eric Prescott’s financials.”

  Hank stared at his aunt. “You did what?”

  “Don’t look at me that way. I know how to use the computer.”

  Another shocker. “Then why haven’t you done it before?”

  “Because you have deputies for that. And this is personal. This is for Charlie.” She flipped open the file and put her reading glasses on. “Do you want to hear what I found or not?”

  He sat back. “I’d love to.”

  “We all would,” Ivy added.

  Birdie gave him a self-satisfied look over the tops of her frames, then aimed her gaze at the paperwork. “At 5:27 yesterday evening, a transfer of ten thousand dollars was wired into Prescott’s account. The transferring account belongs to Kincaid Industries.”

  Ivy swore softly. “How could he?”

  Hank’s anger simmered on low. “Because we let him know that his grandson could shift with the best of them, so Clemens decided to get him back using the most annoying tool in his arsenal. Eric Prescott.”

  Sam looked sick. “I’m so sorry, Ivy.”

  Birdie held up a hand. “I have more.”

  Hank’s brows shot up. “What else?”

  “Being that I’m the curious type—”

  “Don’t you mean nosy?” Bridget asked.

  Birdie’s gaze narrowed. “Don’t start with the sass-mouthing now, Bridget Irene.”

  Bridget rolled her lips in and smirked. “Yes, Auntie.”

  “As I was saying,” Birdie continued, “I started wondering why this man would come after our Charlie out of the blue like that. Ten thousand dollars isn’t that much money. Not to the nephew of an alpha. Then I thought, maybe he’s willing to do this for Clemens because it’s not the first time he and Clemens have done business.”

  Hank could only stare. He’d never imagine such thoughts took place in Birdie’s head. To hear her talk like this was…astonishing.

  “So I dug deeper. And found more wire transfers between Kincaid Industries and Eric Prescott. Some dating as far back as nearly eight years ago.”

  Hank’s stomach soured at the thought of what that meant.

  Ivy seemed to have a pretty good handle on it, too. Hers mouth hung open, her face pale. She held her hand out. “Let me see that.”

  Birdie slid the paperwork down the table.

  Ivy snatched it and ran her finger over the lines of information. A soft, choking sound slipped from her throat. “This can’t be right. That SOB.” She looked up at Sam. “Did you know about this?”

  He shook his head. “I swear I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Hank put his arm on the back of her chair. The numbers and notations she pointed at meant nothing to him. “What is it?”

  She tapped one of the lines. “This shows a deposit seven years ago to Eric’s account in late August. I met him at the beginning of the semester. In September of that year.”

  Her finger skipped down a line. “The next deposit is November. Right before I got pregnant.” Down another line. “And here’s a third in January. A big one. Right before I had to drop out of school and Eric disappeared.”

  She shook her head, mouth bent in a grimace. “It looks like my father paid Eric to date me. Maybe even get me pregnant.”

  Bridget sucked in a breath. “That can’t be right. What kind of a father would do that?”

  “Mine,” Ivy answered. “He never wanted me to go to college. He told me it would only lead to no good. Honestly, I think he only let me go to get me out of the house.” She tapped the last line. “Then it appears he paid Eric to go away. Just like he’s paying Eric now to try to get his grandson back.”

  Bridget’s brow crinkled. “Would he really do that?”

  Ivy nodded. “My father is an awful man.”

  “Why wouldn’t he try to get Eric to marry you? An alpha’s nephew isn’t so bad.”

  Sam answered Bridget. “Not good enough. Not for my father. And this wasn’t about getting Ivy married off, it was about our father making a point. Our father is more than awful. He’s…he’s—”

  Hank put his hand on Ivy’s back. “When we went up to get Charlie, Clemens had him locked in the shed in the back yard.”

  Birdie’s eyes beamed gold. “I’d kill that man myself if I had the chance. Anyone who could hurt that sweet child…” Emotion strangled off the last of her words.

  Bridget took Birdie’s hand as Titus sat back and stared at the paperwork Ivy was holding. “Why would Eric do this?”

  “He’s got a gambling habit,” Birdie volunteered. “Turn to the next page. You’ll see the payouts to the casinos and a man I’m guessing is a bookie. The man can’t keep hold of a dollar longer than a fish can breathe air.”

  Titus nodded. “That would do it. He was probably thrilled when Clemens called. Would explain how he got here so fast.”

  Ivy looked at Hank. “Can you use this against my father?”

  He shook his head. “Not without more substantial proof. Right now it’s just your father giving Prescott money. And while despicable, paying someone to date your daughter and maybe get her pregnant isn’t a crime.”

  She looked at Sam. “Tell me the truth. Did you know about any of this?”

  He shook his head. “No, I swear on my life.”

  “Thank you. I believe you.” Ivy turned back to Hank. “He can’t get away with this.”

  He didn’t know if she meant Clemens or Prescott. “Neither of them is going to get away with anything. Starting with Prescott tonight.”

  Bridget spoke quietly. “Does Charlie know about Prescott?

  “He knows his biological father isn’t in the picture, but he doesn’t know it’s Eric or that Eric is here.” Ivy cleared her throat. “And I’d like it to stay that way, except I know Charlie has to be there tonight since he’s the subject of the challenge. I’m hoping he’ll fall asleep in the car and miss the actual fight.”

  They all nodded in agreement.

  Hank reached over and patted Birdie’s arm. “Thank you for finding us this new information.”

  “You’re welcome.” She stood, her posture rigid. She clearly was not over what had been done to Charlie. Hank knew Birdie well enough to know she’d carry that grudge against Clemens until the day he died. As they all would. “I’ll be with Charlie if anyone needs me.”

  “Would you be willing to sit with him in the car tonight?” Hank asked. “Keep an eye on him while we’re dealing with the challenge.”

  “I’d be happy to.” With a little nod, she left.

  “She’s going to stuff that boy full of sweets to make herself feel better,” Titus said, looking at Bridget and Hank. “Remember after Uncle John died?”

  Bridget’s gaze was distant but her smile was warm with the memory of their late uncle’s passing. “She baked non-stop. Cakes, pies, cookies, you name it. The Shop & Save ran out of sugar.”

  Ivy was still staring at the paperwork. Hank gently took the file out of her hands and closed it. “This is all going to be over very soon.”

&nb
sp; Ivy nodded, silent and pensive. He hurt for her. To find out that her father had paid someone to sabotage her life…he couldn’t imagine what that felt like.

  He leaned in. “Why don’t you go see Charlie? We’re almost done.”

  “I think I will.” She stood, her fingertips still touching the table as she looked at Titus and Bridget. “Thank you for helping us with this.”

  Titus smiled. “We’re family now. That’s what we do.”

  Ivy returned his smile, then glanced at Sam, but said nothing more as she left.

  Hank looked at Sam. “You should go check on your sister.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “I take it you have more to talk about but you don’t want me here.”

  Hank gave him points for being perceptive. “I don’t trust you yet.”

  “I’m on your side in this. A hundred percent. Give me a chance. Let me earn that trust.”

  “This is Charlie’s life. And your sister’s sense of well-being.”

  Sam nodded. “Those are my priorities too.”

  Hank checked with his siblings. Both of them gave him a little nod. Hank proceeded. “We need to find a way to remove Clemens from power.”

  “Good luck with that,” Sam said.

  Titus snorted softly. “We could call Van. See if he’d like to do a drive-by scorching.”

  Ivan Tsvetkov was a dragon shifter, and technically still a resident of Nocturne Falls, although he lived here only part time since he’d joined the MMA fight circuit.

  Hank barked out a laugh. “If only it was that easy. No, we’ll figure something out. I’ll discuss it with Dad, see if he has any ideas.”

  Bridget blew her hair out of her eyes. “In the meantime, what are we going to do about the challenge tonight? Are you sure you can take this guy?”

  Hank nodded. “Yes. But on the slim chance things don’t go my way…” He glanced at the door. “Prescott doesn’t leave here with Charlie under any circumstances.”

  Sam nodded. “That’s for damn sure.”

  Bridget and Titus both leaned in. Titus spoke first. “What do you want us to do?”