by Alisa Woods
Jak dipped his head to hers and said softly, “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”
Circe smirked just before they reached the frosted-glass doors of the office. “Whipping Hecca into a froth is one of life’s small, sublime pleasures.”
Jak chuckled they stepped across the threshold into the reception area. Soon he would meet Arianna’s family… and, if all went according to plan, his fate as well.
Arianna paced the small confines of Sarra’s living room, from the weathered leather couch spilling out stuffing to the shelves filled with art books at the end near the studio. She’d had three cups of tea already, and she and Sarra had lapsed into a heavy silence. They were waiting for Jak to return from whatever “errand” he had to run, but Arianna couldn’t help feeling something had gone wrong. Every moment he wasn’t calling inched up her back like a glacier of dread.
While Arianna paced, Sarra calmly read the newspaper.
Arianna glanced at Sarra’s phone. It had been an hour since Jak called. “Something has happened,” she said without slowing in her pacing.
Sarra didn’t look up from her paper. “Nothing has happened.”
Arianna didn’t have a phone—Jak had given her one, but Mace had taken it—or she would have called Jak already. What errand could he possibly have to do that was more important than getting out of Seattle? Or reuniting with her family, now that she knew they were looking for her? At least, she thought they were looking for her—Jak hadn’t been sure. Maybe that was the errand? Was he finding out if it was true? And even if it was, he said it wasn’t safe to go there… that it was the first place Mace would look for her. Which was no doubt true. Something about the phone call Jak had to make sent him off on this mysterious errand… was he going after her family to keep them safe?
Her nerves were stretched so tight, she was about ready to snatch up Sarra’s phone and call Jak herself. It called to her from the spot where it sat on the rickety kitchenette table next to Sarra’s tea mug.
“What did Jak say about this errand he’s running?” Arianna asked for the third time.
Sarra sighed but still didn’t look up from her paper. “Just that it would take an hour and he would call when he was done.”
“It’s been an hour.”
“It’s been thirty-four minutes.” Her voice was tight. Arianna couldn’t tell if she knew more than she was saying or if she was just getting annoyed with Arianna. Which she could understand: Jak was Sarra’s ex, and here she was, having to babysit his new lover. Arianna bit her lip as she paced. She hated to make it worse for Sarra, but worry about Jak and what he was up to was making her wolf stomp and snort. She was about to crawl out of her skin with it.
Arianna clenched her fists as she paced. “He’s gone and done something stupid, Sarra.”
Sarra turned the page of her paper. “Most of the things Jak does are stupid.”
Arianna grabbed a chair at the table, turned it around, and sat backwards in it. “He’s gone after Mace. I just know it.”
“Who’s Mace?”
“My alpha.” Arianna gripped the back of her chair to keep from popping back up and pacing again.
Sarra finally looked up from her paper with an inscrutable expression. “That would be stupid, even for Jak.” But then the corners of Sarra’s mouth turned down. She had to be thinking it was possible, too.
“Maybe he’s going to slip back into the estate and attack Mace while he’s still recovering.” Arianna choked up. “Oh God, Sarra, what if he gets himself killed? I almost lost him once already…” Then she had to stop because tears were about to spill, and she had no time for that.
Sarra put the paper down and reached out to lay a hand on Arianna’s white-knuckled ones. “Whatever he’s doing, Jak’s planning on coming back to you. He said he would call: he’ll call.”
Arianna glanced at the phone on the table. “Let me call him. Please.”
Sarra sighed and pulled her hand back. She seemed to wrestle with the idea for a moment, then slid the phone toward Arianna. “Go ahead. Tell him I’ve got better things to do than wait around for him.”
Arianna gave her a grateful smile then snatched up the phone. Sarra was quickly becoming one of her favorite people. Jak’s number was the most recent incoming call, so she didn’t have to troll through Sarra’s phone book. Arianna was glad at least for that—she felt bad for all the imposition they had already made on Sarra’s life.
Arianna pressed the phone to her ear, drumming her fingertips rapidly on the table top as it rang.
And rang.
And rang.
Finally it went to message. She hung up without leaving one.
“No answer,” she said, her voice tight.
“He’s probably busy doing whatever he’s doing.” Sarra went back to reading the paper.
Arianna jumped out of the chair and paced again, the phone clutched in her hand. “He’s in trouble. I know it.”
“If he was in trouble, he would have picked up the phone.” Sarra gave an elaborate sigh, setting the paper down again. “Jak’s a smart man. He knows you’re here, waiting. He’s not going to leave you stranded. He just has something to do that he doesn’t want you mixed up in.”
Arianna stopped her pacing. “That only means it’s dangerous.”
“Or that he can take care of it better on his own. He said he would tell you all about it when it was done.” Sarra’s eyes narrowed. “Do you trust him?”
Arianna took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I do. I swear, I trust him with my life, Sarra. I’m just not sure I trust him with his.”
Sarra frowned. “Yeah. I know what you mean.” She shook her head and studied the pitted tabletop for a moment. “We’ll just have to wait until he calls. Then we can stitch him back up or pick up the pieces or whatever he needs.”
But that sparked an idea in Arianna’s head. She shook the phone at Sarra. “My family is looking for me.” At least, she hoped that was true. Even if it wasn’t, she should alert them that she had broken free… and that Mace might be coming there next.
Sarra cocked an eyebrow. “You have a pack?”
“It’s just my brothers and my mom. We’re hardly a pack. That’s why Mace was able to capture me so easily. We were outnumbered.”
Sarra scowled, but Arianna was already pulling up the phone’s numberpad to dial. It had been a long time, but she had Marco’s number memorized.
“If they’re looking for me,” Arianna said, “they might be nearby. If not, they need to know I’m out. And that Mace might be looking for me at home. At the very least, I can tell them where I am. They can clear out, maybe stash my mom somewhere safe, and come get me. By the time Jak calls, they’ll be on their way. Whatever his plan is, they can help.”
Sarra was back to frowning again. “Are you sure that’s what Jak wants? Maybe involving your family in this isn’t the way to go.”
Arianna looked up as the phone started to ring. “They’re involved whether they want to be or not. And I’m not leaving Jak alone in this.”
Sarra nodded in approval. “It would be better to have a few more fangs around, in case this gets ugly. Besides, I don’t like where this is heading.” She held up a hand. “But I do not want them coming here! The last thing I need is a parade of wolves through my door. I don’t want people to think I’m back in the business again. Got it?”
“I promise,” Arianna said quickly as the phone rang again. “We’ll take it somewhere else. I’ll arrange a meet.” Her heart started to pound at the mere thought of seeing her family again.
The phone picked up. “Hello?” It was tentative—of course, her brother wouldn’t recognize Sarra’s caller ID—but it was definitely Marco’s voice. It felt so good to hear it again.
“Marco! It’s me, Arianna.” Her voice was breathy with excitement.
“Arianna?” He was still tentative. “Why are you calling on this phone?”
“It’s a long story.” Arianna glanced at Sarra. “I’m
in Seattle. But I’m not at the Red wolf estate. I ran away and—”
“Holy shit, it’s really you!” Marco’s voice took a swing up, enthusiasm kicking in. “Are you okay? How did you get out? What the… Arianna, oh my god… Mom is going to be so happy.”
“I know!” She could hardly get the words out, she was grinning so hard. “I can hardly believe it myself.”
“What happened?” he asked, the hope in his voice warring with concern. “Are you free of him, sis? I mean… is he…”
“No, he’s not dead.” Arianna blew out a breath. “And that’s why I’m calling, actually. You and Kalis and Mom need to go somewhere safe. Mace is going to come looking for me, sooner or later. And I need your help, Marco.”
“Of course. Whatever you need. We’re practically in Seattle anyway...” She could hear Marco whisper something, covering the phone with his hand. After a moment, he was back. “Kalis is calling Mom. I’ll have her go to Robertson’s ranch for a while. He’ll keep her somewhere safe until this is handled.”
“Oh good.” The tension in her body stepped down a notch. She always knew Marco would make a fine alpha someday… and in the six months since she’d been gone, he seemed to have grown into it even more. She could hear it in his voice. “Wait… did you say you’re almost to Seattle?”
“Yeah.” He seemed to hesitate a moment. “We’re on our way to visit some witches.”
“What?” Wolves and witches didn’t mix. Not that she’d ever met one, but it was like a sixth sense… not to mention all the horror stories she’d heard growing up.
“We were desperate, Ari.” That was what her father had always called her.
It made her choke up even more. “You were trying to get me back, weren’t you?”
“Every day since the moment that bastard took you.” He growled out each word.
Now she really was going to cry. She turned away from Sarra’s curious gaze and said softly, “Oh, Marco. I’ve missed you guys so much.”
“I know, sis. But it’s going to be over soon. We’re coming for you. Just tell me where you are.” His voice was full alpha-mode now, and it made her heart sing.
Arianna wiped her face, pushing away tears she didn’t have time for. “I’m in a safe place, but you can’t come here. Let me meet you somewhere. These witches… they were helping you, right?”
“Yeah,” Marco said, hesitation back in his voice. “There’s one that’s… well, she’s different. Decent. For a witch, I mean.”
“Maybe I can meet you there,” Arianna said.
“I don’t know, Ari—”
“She’s on our side, right? And besides… the last thing Mace would do is look for me in a coven of witches.”
“That’s probably true.” He still sounded undecided.
“And it’ll give me a chance to thank her for her help.” Her heart was leaping with the fact that she would get to see her family again. Walking into a coven of witches wasn’t exactly how she had dreamed of it happening, but that didn’t matter.
“Right.” There was still something off in his voice.
“What is it, Marco?”
“Mace isn’t dead.” The growl was back in his voice.
“Yeah.” She already told him that.
“So you’re still mated.” Growl and anger, too.
“Right. But that can’t be helped. And that’s why we need to make a plan to get away. And there’s something else you need to know. There’s someone who’s been helping me.” She glanced at Sarra again. “A couple of people, actually. But the one who helped me escape… well, you need to meet him.”
“Okay.” But Marco seemed preoccupied. “Now that I think about it, meeting at the witch’s place is the way to go. We’re almost there. We can figure out our plan once we meet up. These people who are helping you: do they have transportation? Can you get here on your own?”
Arianna glanced at Sarra. “Yeah. I should be able to. I’ll bring one of them with me. Hopefully the other one can meet us later. He’s tied up at the moment.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have Kalis text you the address when I hang up. And Arianna?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, sis.” His voice was choked. “There’s not a day I haven’t been trying to find a way to get you free.”
She was tearing up again. “We’ll have time to talk later.”
Marco cleared his throat. “Later. Right. See you soon, Ari.”
He hung up the phone.
“What is this business about a coven of witches?” Sarra was standing now, looking tense and staring Arianna down from her spot by the table.
Arianna winced. “I guess they’re helping us.”
Sarra looked askance at her. “Look, country girl, I don’t know about where you’re from, but here in the city, witches don’t generally help wolves. Unless they’re helping themselves to our body parts. Especially female wolves. Especially, especially mated female wolves.”
“I know.” Arianna handed back her phone. “But I trust my brother. If you just want to drop me off, I’d totally understand.”
Sarra let out a dry laugh. “Jak would skin me alive, and rightly so, if I dropped you off at a coven of witches. Um, no. I’ll be going with you.”
Arianna wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m sorry about dragging you into all this.” It seemed like everyone she loved, and even strangers she had just met, were risking themselves, all to help her get free of Mace. She felt bad about that, but she couldn’t help it either. It was either that or stay with him. And she’d already made that choice. Now she had to see it through.
“Looks like we’re going on a road trip,” Sarra said. “You might need a few things, just in case we’re not coming back any time soon.”
Arianna unfolded her arms and held her hands out. “Oh, no. No, no, no. I can’t take anything from you. You’ve already given me too much help.”
Sarra motioned her toward the bedroom. “Shut up and help me pack.”
Arianna had no choice but to follow her and help in any way she could. And she couldn’t help wondering what she did to deserve all this—Jak working to free her, Marco taking the risk to team up with witches to get her back, and now Sarra, giving her safe shelter, tea, and packing her up with things to go on the road. Which was probably where she was going to be—on the road, on the run—for a good long time. Possibly forever.
Arianna didn’t know what she could ever do to repay any of them. But she would do everything in her power to live a life worthy of all the risks these people were taking to give her a chance to live one.
Jak and Circe spent five tense minutes waiting in the reception area of Morgan Media, subjected to the ogling and whispers of the two receptionists. Circe eventually banished them to the main office area of Morgan Media. A few minutes later, the elevator dinged and two men stepped out. They were both tall, well-built males, clearly in possession of the shifter gene—the younger one was no more than sixteen, while the older one seemed closer to twenty. But what froze the breath in Jak’s chest was the brilliant blue eyes, the dark brown hair, and the fresh-faced innocence of both.
There was no question in his mind: they were Arianna’s brothers.
Circe quickly addressed the older one. “Marco, nice to see you again.” There was a purr in her voice that Jak recognized instantly as Circe-lusting-after-wolves. He wondered just what Marco had traded to earn Circe’s help in finding his sister. Then again, maybe he had just paid her in money—the kid looked as innocent as Arianna, although he had that same world-weariness that didn’t seem to belong on her face either.
Marco frowned, coolly taking in Jak’s presence. “When you said you wanted to meet, Circe, I didn’t realize you meant with other shifters. Who is this character?”
The younger one stood at attention, like he was ready to brawl at a moment’s notice, but he was just a pup. Jak could take him with one hand tied behind his back. The older one would take a bite out of him before going down, but Ja
k was fairly certain it wouldn’t be much of a fight, either. He was seriously hoping it wouldn’t come to that.
Circe arched her perfect eyebrows. “Marco and Kalis Stefan meet Jak Roberts. Jak is the wolf responsible for freeing your sister, at least in a physical sense, from Mace’s hold.”
Jak extended his hand, but Marco just scowled and ignored it. “You freed my sister?”
He clearly wasn’t buying this, and Jak couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t like he had brought Arianna along as proof.
“Yes,” Jak said evenly. He needed to win these boys over and, at the same time, take their measure. They were Arianna’s family, but as Jak well knew, that didn’t always mean much. He had to be sure they were capable of looking out for her. And even if they wanted to, he was starting to wonder if they would be savvy enough.
“Look,” Jak said, “I know you don’t know me—”
“No. I don’t know you.” Marco’s voice was clipped, and the younger one was still on high alert. “How about you clear out? I have a few things to discuss with Circe—”
He was cut off by the younger one batting his arm. Marco leaned over, and Kalis whispered in his ear. They both shot daggered looks at Jak. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Marco straightened and growled out his words. But they weren’t directed at Jak. “Circe, what kind of witch trickery is this?”
She narrowed her eyes, and her voice went cold. “What are you talking about, wolf?”
Marco flung his hand out at Jak. “He’s Red pack. Did you expect us not to notice?” He snarled and tipped up his chin. “He was there when Arianna was captured, and now you’ve brought us here to meet with him? What is this, some kind of double cross? Are there more of them in the lobby? I thought you wanted Arianna free. Or was that just talk?”
Kalis had hauled out his phone and was yanking on Marco’s sleeve. Marco stilled his brother with a harsh look.
The tension evaporated from Circe’s slender frame. “No, you idiot.” She sighed. “I swear, if you wolves weren’t so sexy, I’d find the lack of a brain seriously unattractive.”