Taylor frowned in thought. Maybe…
She waved at them. “Hey! Grant! I need to talk to you for a minute!” she yelled.
Grant and Mandy walked across the street. Grant almost tripped because he was still checking out the redhead’s butt.
“Grant,” she said. “I understand you’re the legal eagle here. An expert in the covenant and the pack rules.”
“True.” Grant nodded with a grin. “I’m amazing like that. Much better than Cliff. In fact, there’s a lot of areas where I—”
“I thought I was clear about the fact that we’re not doing this again,” Taylor cut him off, and Mandy stifled a laugh. “Anyway. As I was saying. We need to figure out a way to get Leota away from Jerrold until the Alpha Trials are over. If anyone can find a loophole, it’s you.”
“Hmm. If I do this, will you convince Cliff to drop out of the trials?”
“No.”
“Will you at least have sex with me?”
“No, but if you make a pass at me in front of your girlfriend one more time, I’m going to beat the snot out of you.” She said it with a pleasant smile on her face. Mandy threw back her head and laughed. Anita and Denise joined in. “That may not sound like much of a threat since it’s coming from little old me, but I dealt with a lot of bullying and abuse when I was younger. I learned how to defend myself. I still carry a lot of pent-up anger and frustration, and I would love an excuse to let it out.”
Grant cocked his head, looking at her questioningly. “Okay, so you’re asking me to help you out and offering me nothing in return, and also threatening me.”
“That about sums it up, yes.”
“Here’s a little newsflash. I’m a selfish, self-centered asshole. Ask Mandy if you don’t believe me.”
Mandy nodded. “He does not lie.”
“So why in hell would I do anything to help you when there’s nothing in it for me?”
She marched right up to him until she was almost pressing up against him, and boldly met his gaze. “Because there’s a woman who’s living in terror every minute of every day because she’s married to an abusive sociopath who delights in causing her pain. She might not survive past the trials; who knows what Jerrold will do to her at the end of the day if he’s lost a trial and needs a punching bag? And you may be the only person in the pack who can figure out a way to save her. So you’re going to do it because that’s what a decent person would do, and somewhere underneath that slick, fake exterior, I know there’s a decent human being lurking.”
She knew it because of the picture. Whoever he’d been in love with once, she was likely the only woman Grant had ever loved. Once upon a time, Grant had opened himself up enough to be hurt. He had a heart; he just guarded it really, really well these days.
“Well, that’s just terrible. You actually called me decent? I don’t think anyone’s ever insulted me like that before.” Grant tried to look offended.
“Don’t worry. You hide it really, really well. And Mandy, you’re coming with us.”
“What? Me? You want me to go with you?” Mandy looked utterly shocked.
“Yep. We’re going shopping. We’re going to enjoy some girl time. You need to be in a dickhead-free zone for a while.”
Mandy laughed and walked over to join them.
Grant shook his head. “Seriously. Okay, you offer me nothing, you threaten to beat my ass, you insult me by calling me – excuse me while I puke – decent, when in fact I am nothing but a platinum-plated asshole, and now you’re stealing my date? And you actually think I’m going to help you out with Leota?”
“I know you are,” Taylor said with satisfaction.
Grant shook his head and stalked off without so much as a backward glance.
Taylor’s smile faded and she felt worry twist deep inside. He’ll do it. He has to. He will do it. Won’t he?
Chapter Seventeen
“Omigod, so, like, we’re going shopping?” Mandy said.
“Mandy. You don’t have to act like a ditz around us, because I know you aren’t,” Taylor said.
“Oh, thank God. It’s been giving me such a headache.” Mandy massaged her temples with her index fingers.
They headed over to a sandwich shop and ate lunch, while Anita and Denise filled Taylor in on local pack gossip and pack life. Then they went to a clothing store, which, to Taylor’s surprise, had the latest fashions and plenty of brand names.
As Taylor browsed through the racks, Mandy came over to her, holding a pretty red dress that was perfect for Taylor. She handed it to her. “I just bought it for you,” she said.
“For me? Why?”
“Because you were nice enough to include me. You should see how everyone else here looks at me.” Mandy smiled ruefully.
Taylor sighed. “Mandy, here’s the problem. When people see you letting a guy treat you as if you’re worthless, some of them will believe that you actually are. It’s unfortunate, but true. You deserve better. You should ditch him and find a quality guy.”
Mandy shrugged. “Okay.”
“No, seriously.”
“Yes, seriously. It had to end sometime. Might as well be today.” Mandy pulled her cell phone out of her purse and started texting.
Taylor looked after Mandy. Something was off there. Grant, she understood. He’d had his heart ripped in two by someone, and now he was drowning his sorrows in women who were her complete opposite – women who would never remind him of her. Women he considered disposable. But what did Mandy get out of the deal? Why had she worked so hard to pretend to be what Grant wanted? Could it really just be for the money and sex?
* * * * *
Taylor spent the afternoon in the woods with Cliff, doing meditation exercises and visualizing herself as a wolf. It was hard to concentrate, though, because she was worried about the trials. The next morning, bright and early, Cliff would be headed out, and he’d be gone all day. He and the other contestants would be working their way through an enormous obstacle course that had just been completed by the pack. There would be climbing, leaping, running, crawling…and they had to finish within a certain time or be disqualified. They would go one after the other, with the order picked at random.
They headed in for an early dinner. The table was crowded, as always, but Grant wasn’t there; Mandy sat next to Taylor. She seemed to be in a great mood.
“How’s Grant taking the breakup?” Taylor asked Mandy.
“Awesome,” Mandy said cheerfully, digging into a rare steak. “He’s taking his new girl out to dinner.”
Austin let out a low growl of disgust.
“Since yesterday?” Taylor looked at her in shock.
“Yep. I’ll probably be headed back to my pack soon. They’re in Northern California. I might as well stick around for the Alpha Trials, though.”
The door to the dining room opened, and Richard rushed in, out of breath.
“What?” Cliff said abruptly, setting down his fork.
“Jerrold captured a human prisoner,” Richard said. “A female. She was sneaking onto the grounds, and he and his pack pounced on her, but she started yelling for Taylor. He’s trying to drag her back to his house, but a bunch of our men are blocking him. For now. He’s called for the Elders.”
“Chantelle!” Taylor cried out, leaping to her feet.
“How would she find you here?” Cliff demanded as Richard led them out of the house. “We’re not on any map. For a reason. A very obvious reason. And I’ve listened to every call you’ve made to her.”
Oops. “I texted her a copy of the map Truman gave me before I came here.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” Cliff growled.
“In my defense, I didn’t think I’d show up here and find out that you were all werewolves,” Taylor said irritably. “And it was pretty freaking weird that you took all my stuff and demanded that I deliver myself to your house. I was just looking for a little insurance.”
They hopped into Cliff’s BMW so they could
get there quickly. When they arrived near the guesthouse where Jerrold was staying, one of Jerrold’s men was holding a struggling, cursing Chantelle, his hand clamped tightly on her arm. Twenty of Cliff’s men were blocking him from taking her to the house. There was a large group of Jerrold’s pack shouting threats, and the Elders were yelling and trying to calm everyone down.
Grant roared up on the back of a motorcycle.
Several other cars pulled up just then. Anita and James scrambled out of one, and Mandy leaped out of another.
Cliff and Taylor and Richard piled out of their car and ran over to Jerrold and the Elders. Mandy hurried after them.
“This is your fault!” Jerrold snapped at Cliff. “Her human friend followed her here. Now we all risk exposure.”
“It is not Cliff’s fault,” Maurice said coldly. “Cliff could hardly have anticipated this. It is the fault of whoever turned her without her knowledge or consent.”
“Of course you’d say that. We’ll see what the real story is. I caught her, and therefore she’s my prisoner.” Jerrold cast a gloating glance at Taylor. “I’m going to enjoy interrogating your friend. Don’t worry, I’ll really take my time with this one. She’ll be begging to tell me everything by the time I finish with her.”
Taylor glanced at Chantelle, who’d stopped struggling.
“Don’t,” Mandy whispered to her. “Pack politics. Leave it.”
She ignored Mandy, and hurried forward before Cliff could stop her. She got right in Jerrold’s face. “How could you?” she wailed. “You’re a monster! Chantelle is the sweetest, most innocent person I’ve ever met! She’s as soft as a kitten! She would never hurt anyone!”
“Oh, I like them soft.” Jerrold’s eyes shone with malice.
Taylor looked over at Phineas. “You can’t do this!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. “You can’t let them torture an innocent woman!”
Phineas’ lip curled in disgust. “She climbed over our fence and broke onto our property. She’s hardly innocent.”
“What about the fact that he’s interrogating her because he’s a pervert who gets turned on by torturing females? Is that okay with you?” she shouted.
“We wish we could help you,” said the Elder Juliette, sounding sincerely regretful.
“No, we don’t,” Minnie snarled at her. “Since when are we concerned with the welfare of humans?”
Jerrold was grinning hugely and enjoying the show.
“Taylor. Back off and let me handle it. Now,” Cliff said furiously.
She ignored him. “You let her go! Let her go right now!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, and Jerrold’s men threw back their heads and laughed at her distress.
Phineas smirked. “We’re neutral parties in this. There’s nothing we can do.”
Chantelle took advantage of the distraction to pull a cattle prod out of her purse and shock the man who was holding her – just as Taylor had known she would. Chantelle had been mugged once, and she’d carried the cattle prod with her ever since.
The man let out a scream of pain and fell to his knees. The horrible smell of seared flesh filled the air.
Chantelle ran over to Cliff’s men, who quickly surrounded her and moved her towards Cliff and Taylor.
Jerrold ran towards Cliff’s men, but they formed a solid wall of snarling, growling aggression, and he was forced to take several steps back.
“Make them give her back to me right now!” Jerrold shouted at Phineas, his face red with rage. “She’s my prisoner, not theirs!”
“Oh, but they’re neutral,” Cliff taunted him. “They can’t interfere in this matter.”
Phineas looked as if he were about to have a stroke, he was so angry, but he’d just quoted the rule – he could hardly go against it now.
“You will not allow this,” Jerrold spat at him. “You will do as I say. Now.”
Phineas gave him a narrow-eyed look as if, for the first time, he didn’t like what he’d seen. Then the Elder turned his attention back to Cliff. “She must be held under guard until after the trials. Then we’ll determine what to do with her,” he said.
“Very well. She will be confined to my property,” Cliff said. “I will assign Truman to guard her full-time.”
“You’re allowing this?” Jerrold looked at Phineas in astonishment. “Then I demand to have one of my guards assigned to her as well. She’s a friend of Cliff’s mate, and therefore not to be trusted. I’m sending Rusty.”
Phineas nodded.
Cliff shrugged. “She’s under the protection of my pack. I expect your man to behave with respect at all times when he’s on my property.”
Jerrold sent one of his men into his house to fetch Rusty. Rusty, the big redheaded werewolf who’d been with Jerrold during the Celia confrontation, came hurrying out. Jerrold muttered some orders to him, and Rusty nodded, his expression grim.
“Werewolves,” Chantelle said to Taylor. Her face was as pale as a ghost’s.
“Brilliant job,” Mandy said approvingly to Taylor. “You had me fooled.”
“You’re living with werewolves, and you have a new best friend?” Chantelle complained.
“Chantelle. We’re not five. I can have more than one friend. And I’m very happy to see you, but I told you I was fine. Why did you come out here?”
“Because I’m your best friend,” Chantelle said, shooting Mandy a jealous look. Then, at Taylor’s reproving expression, she sighed and rubbed her temples. “Sorry. Sorry. I have a headache, I’m tired, and I just got hunted down and surrounded by a bunch of men who turned into wolves. I’m not at my best right now.”
“Anyway! Taylor, you were incredible,” Cliff said. “I should have realized what you were doing. That’s the last time I underestimate— What the hell?” He turned his attention to the guest house.
Leota came staggering out the front door. Taylor gasped in horror. Her lip was split and blood was streaming from her nose and dripping off her chin.
“I need a healer,” Leota moaned.
Anita started jogging towards her, with Grant by her side.
Jerrold spun around to glare at his mate. “What are you trying to pull? Get back in the house right now, you bitch.” His eyes glowed with rage.
“Wait! Actually, under pack charter, any pack member or guest has the right to see a healer,” Grant barked at him.
“It’s true,” Juliette said loudly. The other Elders nodded, some with relief, some reluctantly.
“Then I will accompany her.” Jerrold angrily moved towards Leota, and she flinched.
“Sorry.” Grant grinned fiercely. “Under pack charter, the healer–patient bond is sacred, and the patient has the right to consult with the healer in privacy.”
Taylor stifled a laugh behind her hand. He’d done it. She had no idea how he’d coordinated this with Anita and Leota, but he’d done it.
Leota hurried over to Anita, who put her arm around her protectively. They ran for Anita’s car.
Jerrold shouted with rage as Anita and Leota drove off with a screech of tires. His men had to hold him back, and he thrashed wildly in their grip.
“Phineas! My mate!” Jerrold’s face was bright red with fury.
“There’s nothing that I can do to help you,” Phineas said unhappily. “It is very clearly spelled out in the pack charter. When you are Alpha—”
“When I’m Alpha, I’ll have your head for this!” Jerrold shouted furiously.
Cliff smiled.
Jerrold quickly realized his error. He couldn’t afford to alienate any of the Elders who were on his side. Yes, he’d gained Oswald, but if he lost Phineas he’d lose his majority. “Forgive me,” he said stiffly. “I spoke out of turn. I have nothing but the deepest respect for you, Phineas.”
Phineas fixed him with an icy glare for a long moment, then turned and walked away without a word.
Jerrold spun around and fixed a murderous glare on Cliff. “I never hit her in the face. You set me up. I know you’re behind th
is, and when I win, every last one of you will be sobbing for death after I have my way with you.”
But nothing could wipe the grin of triumph off Taylor’s face.
Chapter Eighteen
That night Cliff, Chantelle and Taylor sat around a picnic table in the garden, with Rusty and Truman sitting on separate benches and watching Chantelle. The hedges of rose bushes were in full bloom and perfumed the night breeze. There were fairy lights strung up in the trees, and their faint glow lent the garden a magical air. So did the fact that Cliff had repeatedly changed from wolf to human for the past half hour, for Chantelle’s benefit.
Serafina and her brothers were there, hanging back and watching, fascinated by the new visitor.
“So. Werewolf.” Chantelle stared at Cliff as if she expected him to grow a second head. “Werewolves are real, Taylor is going to turn into a werewolf, and she’s been working for a werewolf company for the last year. People turn into animals.”
“Would you like to me show you again?” Cliff asked helpfully, reaching to unbutton his shirt.
“Nah. It feels kind of inappropriate to be staring at Taylor’s naked boyfriend. Eight times was enough. I get it.”
“You still look kind of pale,” Taylor said, worried. “Did you take the Platinum pill?”
“Yes, I took the pill. I’ll be fine. If you’d been grabbed by that creep Jerrold, you’d be pale too.” Chantelle managed a smile. “You realize it’s going to be very hard to convince my parents not to freak out and call the cops when I tell them that I’m staying here for the next week and a half at least? They’re already worried about Taylor vanishing. They look on her as a second daughter.” She gave Taylor a slightly reproachful look. “Sometimes I think you’re the favorite child, in fact.”
“I’m sweeter than you – of course I’m the favorite. And I didn’t vanish. I called. I spoke to you on the phone. I texted you,” Taylor protested.
“Yeah, but it was still kind of abrupt and weird.”
“You can tell them that Taylor is getting married,” Cliff said. “And you’re here planning the wedding. Hint that she has to get married in a hurry – they’ll think she’s pregnant.”
The Billion-were Needs A Mate (The Alpha Billion-weres Book 1) Page 12