Last Chance Mate: Tate (Paranormal Shapeshifter Mystery Romance)

by Anya Nowlan

  “If we die because of your shitty fruitcake, I’m going to be pissed,” Tate commented, turning to Caleb.

  “Yeah? Well maybe if this dude didn’t point his gun at people’s heads, he’d get a better present than a goddamn fruitcake!” Caleb shot back, glaring at the old man.

  Roman just ignored him, turning his attention to Tate instead.

  “So, you’re Theo’s kid,” Roman clucked his tongue, leaning on the doorframe and giving him a once-over. “Last time I saw you, you were barely up to my knee.”

  “And I don’t remember you at all,” Tate replied.

  “Wouldn’t expect you to,” Roman chuckled, lowering his gun a hair. “You do look like Theo, though. Except you have your mother’s eyes.”

  Uneasiness settled in the pit of Tate’s stomach at the mention of his mom. Perhaps it was guilt, for missing her a lot more than he did his dad. Or maybe it was the fact he would never get to introduce Tessa to her.

  They would’ve gotten on like a house on fire, I just know it.

  Either way, Roman’s words touched a sore spot for him that he thought had healed. Turned out, not quite.

  “And who’s that sweet-smelling little thing hiding in the trees?” Roman frowned, pointing his chin somewhere behind Tate.

  He locked his jaw, keeping his gaze forward, hoping Tessa would stay hidden. But of course, she wasn’t going to stay on the sidelines.

  “I’m Tessa,” her voice echoed in his ears.

  He wanted to turn around and tell her to get back, but it was too late. Her steps on the soft dirt were already bringing her to his side, head held high, her clear blue eyes trained on Roman.

  “I’m…” she hesitated for a moment. “Tate’s mate,” she finished, throwing him a quick sideways glance.

  Pride swelled in Tate’s chest at hearing that. Tessa was his, and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. Just when he had thought he had scared her off, she surprised him once again with her ability to take everything thrown at her in stride.

  “Quite a number of you here this fine afternoon,” Roman remarked, narrowing his eyes at them. “And it’s not even Christmas.”

  “We’re here because we need your help,” Tate replied, shifting the pack on his shoulder slightly, as if the weight of the book was weighing on him all of a sudden.

  “With what?” Roman asked.

  “A demon,” Tate admitted, both Caleb and Tessa tensing at his side.

  Roman stared at him, eyes wide.

  “Goddamnit boy,” he finally spat out, voice rising. “What the hell kind of trouble have you brought onto my doorstep?”

  Clearly, Roman was not happy to hear why they were there. Now all that was left to do was hope he didn’t shoot them.

  Thirty-Two

  Tessa

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, after all, Tessa thought, staring down the barrel of a shotgun.

  “We’re not here to cause trouble,” Tate said, trying to defuse the situation. “All we want is a couple of minutes of your time, and then we’re gone. Unless you want there to be a portal between this world and hell.”

  Roman muttered something under his breath, as Tessa tried to quiet the hammering in her chest. Tate reached out and took her hand, all the while keeping his gaze glued to Roman, and the gun in the man’s hands.

  “This was a bad idea,” Caleb whispered, and Tate threw him a look that said Caleb would be better off keeping his mouth shut.

  Finally, Roman let out a long sigh and let his shotgun drop to his side.

  “Come on in, then,” he said, turning around and stomping inside.

  Caleb, Tate and Tessa looked at each other, uncertainty flowing between them before they all started walking to the house, climbing up the steps and then passing through the open door.

  Roman’s cabin was cluttered, with newspapers, books and different tools covering every available surface. There was dust on the shelves pushed up against one wall of the living room, and the couch was faded and worn, but the dishes were washed, in a neat pile next to the small sink, and the floors swept.

  Glancing around, Tessa noticed that the fridge next to the sink was covered in magnets and papers. Looking closer, she saw there were pictures on the papers, with colorful, squiggly lines indicating they had been drawn by a child.

  When she caught the name Michelle carefully written in block letters on the bottom of a page, Tessa couldn’t help but be surprised.

  Maybe not so crotchety after all, she mused, studying Roman as he sank down into his couch.

  “Talk fast. I don’t like having visitors,” Roman said, earning a small eye-roll from Caleb.

  “We ran into a demon. His name is Loch, and he wants an amulet that’s in Tessa’s possession. We think he means to use it to create a permanent pathway between our realm and wherever he is most of the time,” Tate rattled off.

  The more Tessa heard that rendition of the tale, the more she was coming to think it wasn’t that crazy. Familiarity breeds… well, familiarity, in this case.

  “Hell,” Roman stated matter-of-factly, his gun still by his side on the couch.

  “Right. Hell,” Caleb commented, and by the look Roman threw his way, Tessa was sure the man was contemplating whether to shoot Caleb right where he stood or not.

  “We have a book that talks about demons,” Tessa blurted out, pointing her chin at Tate’s backpack, hoping to distract Roman from Caleb’s remarks. “Would you like to see it?”

  Tate was already shrugging the bag off his shoulders, pulling out a bottle of Johnnie Walker first, followed by the book.

  “Holy…” Roman muttered, leaning forward on the couch. “Caleb, go get some chairs and glasses from the kitchen,” he added, not bothering to even look at him.

  Caleb pursed his lips and shook his head, but did as he was told anyway. While he was rummaging around in the cabinets, Tate handed Roman the book. Running his fingers over the leather cover, Roman just stared at it for a long moment before cracking it open, eyes darting over the pages.

  “This is the real deal,” he said quietly, as Caleb returned with glasses in hand, dragging three chairs behind him.

  They all sat down opposite Roman, with Caleb pouring everyone two fingers of whiskey. Tessa set her glass down next to her chair, in no mood for drinks. Not when it was beginning to look like Roman might actually know something.

  “Have you seen something like it before?” she asked, just as Caleb was handing the man his glass.

  Roman downed it in a single gulp, handing the empty glass back to Caleb and never taking his eyes off the book. Turning the pages, he trailed his fingers beneath the lines of ink, moving his lips along with the words on the paper.

  “I knew a man once with a library of this stuff. Never got to read much of it, though. Wasn’t for my eyes, he said,” Roman replied, and Tessa and Tate exchanged a loaded look.

  Caleb was quiet as he craned his neck to get a look at the book, as well. Tessa was grateful for his silence, as it didn’t look like Roman liked Caleb much. Every time Caleb spoke, it was more of a distraction than anything, and since Roman wasn’t very keen on having them there in the first place, every second counted.

  “We found the book in Whitefish, in the house of a man named David Thompson,” Tessa said, looking for Roman’s reaction.

  “Don’t know him,” Roman shrugged. “But I do know there are people out there whose job it is to keep demons in their own realm. It’s a responsibility passed down from generation to generation.”

  “And you’ve met someone like that?” Tate asked.

  “A long time ago,” Roman replied, slamming the book closed and handing it back to Tate. “I’ve washed my hands of it.”

  “Mr. Thompson is dead,” Tessa stated. “And I never knew him to have kids. So now, whether we like it or not, it’s on us to keep Loch in his own realm, and to stop him from bringing others here. Anything you could tell us, we would greatly appreciate.”

  “I’m not sure I know anyth
ing that could help you,” Roman shrugged. “The last time I saw a demon was over thirty years ago, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “How did you meet one, if you don’t mind me asking?” Tate spoke up, his untouched drink still in his hands.

  Curiosity was burning a hole right through his stomach, by the looks of it. Tessa knew the feeling all too well.

  “I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Roman sighed. “If it hadn’t been for Eddie, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

  “Eddie?” Tessa interjected. “Was he a member of one of those demon-hunting families?”

  “Yup,” Roman nodded. “Eddie was one bad-ass dude, let me tell ya. He stuck some sort of fancy blade in that demon’s gut, and that’s when I saw its face. The real one, not the human mask it was wearing. I’ll never forget it,” he said, eyes glossing over as he must have been getting sucked into the memory.

  Tessa could relate. There wasn’t a day that went by that Loch’s true face didn’t pop up in her mind, bringing a cold sweat with it.

  “He had a blade that could kill a demon?” Tate asked.

  “Nah,” Roman waved a hand. “Just injured it enough for us to get away. Eddie tended to my wounds, answered some of my questions as vaguely as humanly possible, and sent me on my way. I knew that thing would be after me. I saw too much. So I went off the grid. It’s worked so far,” he shrugged. “Unless you showing up here fucks it all up,” he added, arching a brow at Tate.

  “I’m sorry, but there’s too much at stake for us not to come.” Tate’s response was short, but Roman nodded quietly.

  “We need to make sure Loch doesn’t get the amulet, or we’re all fucked,” Tessa added.

  Good manners be damned. Faced with demons, she could curse a little.

  “Don’t tell me you have that thing in your bag, too,” Roman said, leaning back and eyeing Tate’s backpack with a healthy dose of concern.

  “No,” Tessa shook her head. “But when Loch came to take it from me… I saw his real face,” she said. “Bloody and peeling, skin slipping off muscle, rotting teeth… The works.”

  “The amulet allowed you to see him?” Roman’s eyes widened. “And it creates pathways?” he asked, springing to his feet a lot faster than she would have anticipated. “Don’t tell me he’s connected to you?”

  He shook his head, staring at her with frightened eyes.

  “He can’t track us,” Tate assured him, standing up as well, coming between her and Roman. “He can only contact her in her dreams.”

  “You idiots,” Roman growled, making Tessa shrink back in her seat. “What do you think that demon’s doing while he’s chatting her up in her dreams? Mining her subconscious for information, that’s what,” the man almost yelled, making Caleb leap to his feet, as well.

  Tessa’s limbs, however, seemed to be made of Jell-O, as she gripped on to the edge of her chair, her head starting to swim. Loch hadn’t shown up in her dreams since she ran over him on the way out of Whitefish, but she knew he would make another appearance sooner or later.

  And there was nothing she could do about it.

  Thirty-Three

  Tate

  “What?” Tessa stuttered, as Tate put himself between her and Roman.

  “Calm down,” Tate said, but Roman cut him off.

  “You need to leave, right now,” he demanded, reaching for his shotgun.

  “We’re going, chill out,” Caleb interjected, flanking Tate as they stood, shoulder to shoulder.

  Tate’s wolf was starting to growl, not taking a threat to their mate lightly. Even Caleb had his fists curled, a rumble in his chest. Whatever his relationship with June’s uncle, it didn’t outweigh their friendship.

  Tessa’s chair dragged across the floor and Tate glanced back, seeing her get to her feet and back out of the room. Tate and Caleb followed suit, keeping an eye on Roman’s every move. The man wasn’t aiming his weapon at them quite yet, but Tate knew it was only a matter of time.

  “What did you mean about her subconscious?” Tate asked as they all walked out of the house, descending the porch steps backwards, the sound of Tessa’s heart pounding loud in his ears.

  “That’s what dreams are,” Roman replied, coming to stand on the edge of his porch, looking down at them.

  Tessa was fortunately still tucked away between Tate and Caleb as they slowly made their way to the tree line.

  “When the demon appears in her dreams, he can rummage around in other things tucked away in her unconscious mind. Like images from what went on during the day, or memories and emotions that her brain is trying to work through. All that creature needs is to happen upon a memory of her looking at a roadside sign or a landmark, and it will know exactly where you are,” Roman added, his gun dangling from his hand. “Now get the hell off my property and never come back. I can’t help you.”

  With one last, almost pitying look at them, Roman turned around and slammed the door shut after him. Tate and Caleb stood in the clearing for a moment, staring at each other.

  “I think we better go before he decides to shoot us and get it over with,” Caleb finally remarked.

  Tessa was pale and quiet, standing near the trees, and Tate quickly walked over, putting an arm over her shoulders.

  “It’s all right. Let’s go,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

  She just nodded as they got back on the path out of the forest, Caleb trailing behind them. They were all quiet the way back, twigs snapping beneath their feet and branches being pushed aside the only noise.

  Tate wanted to know what was going on in Tessa’s head, wanted to reassure her, but with Caleb there, it wasn’t really the right time for a heart to heart, and he doubted Tessa wanted to feel vulnerable around Caleb.

  The man might treat her with more respect now that he knew Tessa was Tate’s mate, but that still didn’t make up for how cold and rude Caleb had been. It would take some time before either of them would consider the other a friend, and Tate didn’t want to put either of them in an awkward situation.

  Tessa had a little more color in her face when they finally arrived back at the truck. They all climbed back in, but Caleb reached out from the backseat, placing a hand on Tate’s shoulder when he stuck the key in the ignition.

  “Wait,” Caleb said. “If Roman’s right, then her even having her eyes open right now puts us all in danger. We’re going to be passing mile markers, road signs…” he trailed off. “Any number of things that can get stuck somewhere in her mind, for Loch to find.”

  “Oh, so now you’re a believer?” Tate couldn’t help but snap at him.

  “Look, you have no reason to lie, and clearly your stories match up with Roman’s, who you were crazy enough to come and visit, so you must be serious about this shit,” Caleb replied. “And if this demon is as powerful as you say he is, then we should err on the side of caution, don’t you think?”

  “He’s right,” Tessa said quietly, turning in her seat to look at both of them. “I’m a liability to all of you, and I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me. I think it would be best if I left Pinedale altogether.”

  “I think that’s reasonable,” Caleb nodded, looking at Tessa with something akin to admiration, all of a sudden.

  “Stop, everyone just stop,” Tate interrupted with a growl, feeling the situation spiraling out of control. “Loch hasn’t even shown up once since Tessa ran him over. We don’t even know if the connection is still there. The book said it fades over time. Besides, we can’t even be sure what Roman told us is true.”

  “But if it is…” Caleb trailed off.

  “Even if it is,” Tate glared at him. “What’s your plan? We send Tessa off on her own, defenseless? Sooner or later, Loch will find her, and take the amulet, and do I need to tell you again how bad that is for all of us?”

  “So what if she doesn’t take the amulet with her?” Caleb suggested, and Tate was about ready to punch him again.

  “So? If she doesn’t
have it, Loch will just torture her for its last location and that will lead him right back to Pinedale. This amulet is absolutely imperative to Loch, and let me tell you, there is nothing he won’t do to get his hands on it.

  “Thompson must have spent a lifetime making sure that didn’t happen, and whether we like it or not, that burden has now fallen to us,” Tate replied.

  “No, it didn’t fall to us,” Caleb argued. “You brought it here.”

  “Yes, I did,” Tate admitted. “Because ours is a strong pack, made up of good people, men and women who will want to do the right thing if given the chance. I’m sorry I brought this fight to our lands, but I believe we can beat him. Think about it, a whole pack of wolves, fighting together? Loch wouldn’t stand a chance.”

  “You don’t know that,” Caleb shook his head.

  “I’ve fought him before, I know he can be hurt,” Tate said. “We got him with his tail between his legs and that was just me and Tessa, caught off guard. He only got me on the ropes because of that smoke he used, but he can’t take on all of us with that trick.”

  “All right, maybe sending Tessa away isn’t the right call, but I still don’t agree that we should get involved,” Caleb insisted. “I’m the council leader, so I speak for all of the council when I say our pack should stay as far away from this business as we still can.”

  The growl in Tate’s chest grew louder, every muscle tensing. Caleb was challenging him, trying to pull rank to get his way, and neither the animal nor human side of Tate was having it.

  Caleb wasn’t the Alpha, and he was letting his stubbornness get in the way of making the right call. It was at that moment Tate knew exactly what he had to do. There was no use in fighting against the path meant for him, not when there was so much at stake.

  Squaring his shoulders, Tate stared Caleb down, feeling the words he needed to say coming from deep within, echoing through his body.