Loup Garou

by Mandy M. Roth

  “I came to ask Lindsay to take the position of artistic advisor for my tour and videos for our new album.” He looked at me and I could tell that he was more than worried I’d say no again.

  “Oh, Lindsay, tell me you said yes. I hate knowing you’re wasting your talents away at that center of yours.” After a very elaborate sigh, my mother laughed softly. “You’re almost twenty-eight, darling. You’re throwing away the best years of your life there.”

  My father took hold of her shoulders and gave me an apologetic look. “Olivia, she will come out and face the world when she is ready to. Do not push.”

  “Please, Tiennot, she has no intention of leaving the security of that place. Myra and Gina even gave up everything, allowing her to continue staying tucked away. They feed into her need to hide. I wish they would push her to move on. Heaven knows I have. Exavier was my last hope. See how she greets him? She slaps him! I’m out of things to try. That worthless thing she shacked up with dies and she cuts herself off from the world.”

  “Olivia, enough.”

  “No, Tiennot. It’s not enough. Someone needs to tell her. Someone needs to stop letting her hide away. She needs to get over it and move on. It’s clear it was meant to be.”

  Meant to be?

  My father gasped and threw his napkin down on the table. “Olivia, you know not what you speak of. To say such things to your own flesh and blood is unacceptable.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, and you do know about it? She keeps secrets from us, Tiennot. You have to hire people to spy on our own daughter just to know what she’s doing with her life.”

  I locked gazes with my father. “Daddy, say it. Tell her what I’m sure you know by now.”

  “Non, Exavier is here now.” He glanced around the restaurant. “It is not the time nor the place, Lindsay.”

  I glared at Exavier. “I don’t really give a rat’s ass what he thinks of me, Father.”

  “Ladies do not speak like that, Lindsay,” my mother said. “This is ridiculous. Really, had I known losing that vagabond would leave you this way I would have—”

  My father put his hand up and let his power ride out and over the table. “Silence! You will not speak of this matter any further, Olivia. The man you speak of gave his life in an attempt to save my granddaughter’s. I believe you misjudge their relationship as well.”

  He knew I’d been pregnant at the time of the attack? Myra, Gina and Eion were the only ones who knew, or so I thought.

  It felt as if someone had kicked me in the gut. I gasped and did my best to draw in air. My mother shook her head. “Tiennot, watch the slip of the tongue. You mean your daughter, right? It will be a cold day in hell before we get any grandchildren out of Lindsay.”

  My hands shook as tears filled my eyes. The second my father reached for me, I jerked my hands back and shook my head. “How long have you known?”

  I had to hear. I had to know.

  “Tiennot?”

  He ignored my mother and gave me a supportive look. “Did you honestly think you could hide something of that nature from me, Lindsay? You are my child. My baby girl. There is nothing I would not do to assure your happiness. There is also no way I would allow you to travel about the world alone—in that condition..”

  I clutched onto the tablecloth. “Daddy, I didn’t know how to tell you. He wanted to tell you. He wanted to come to you so you could know him. I didn’t let him. I thought you’d kill him. You never liked the idea of me being around any man, except for Exavier and I honestly thought you’d hurt him.” A choked sob tore free from me. “After it happened, I was scared you’d blame him.”

  I still feared my father would kill Eion. I would always love him and just because I’d cut him out of my life didn’t mean I wanted harm to come to him. We’d almost had a life together. We’d almost had a family.

  “Shh, he did come to me, Lindsay. I got to know him and I know it was not his choice to be separated from you—but yours. I know his feelings for you were far greater than a father could hope for his daughter. His love was real.”

  My eyes widened as I grabbed for my handbag. My mother arched a brow. “What are you doing?”

  “Finding my phone. Daddy, tell me you didn’t…oh gods.” I couldn’t think straight. Thoughts of Eion being harmed flooded my head. I didn’t want to think my father would do it but I couldn’t help but be concerned.

  My mother snorted. “Even your father does not have the power to kill a dead man. Tim is gone, Lindsay.”

  Tim? It was clear my father had never told my mother Eion and I were a couple or that we’d gotten pregnant. She’d always assumed Tim and I had a relationship that extended into the bedroom. We didn’t. It was easier to let her believe it than to confess the truth.

  I dropped my bag and Exavier caught it. He placed it in my hand and wrapped his around mine. I couldn’t help but stare at him with tear-filled eyes. “Xavs?”

  “Yes,” he said, using one hand to cup my cheek. “I’m right here. I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to you, Linds. I thought you were married with children.”

  “That is absurd,” my mother said.

  Exavier ignored her and kept his gaze trained on me. “Lindsay, I had no idea they were looking for you. I didn’t know.”

  My father’s breath hitched. “Exavier, is it true? Is my daughter your true…?”

  Nodding, Exavier kissed the top of my nose. “Lindsay, if you cry, I’m fairly sure I’ll cry too and that would be bad for all involved. Locusts would pour forth from the skies. Tidal waves would occur. It’s best we try to keep my emotions as in check as possible especially now of all times.”

  “Why now?” I asked. It was a stupid question but all I had at the moment.

  It was my father who answered. “Because if he is who I have always believed him to be, then from the very moment he laid eyes on you again, he has had to fight to keep from doing what seems so natural.”

  “Tiennot?” My mother touched his arm. “What are you talking about? Please tell me you aren’t going to discuss our daughter’s sex life with her oldest friend?”

  “Do you not recall how linked Exavier seemed to be with Lindsay’s feelings when they were just children? I, for one, lost count as to the number of times he would show up on our doorstep at the very moment our Lindsay’s mood would darken. The second I opened the door for him, she lit up. Happy again. Did you think it a coincidence?”

  Mom laughed. “Really, Tiennot. Do not make more of it than what it was. Two children, extremely close. The best of friends.”

  Exavier kept his gaze locked on me but spoke to my mother, “Olivia, no disrespect but you are wrong. Lindsay is so much more to me than just a friend.”

  “Yet she slaps you.”

  He pressed his lips to mine and fire shot throughout my body. Dropping my bag, I put my hands on either side of his face and returned his kiss with all I had. Our tongues danced around one another. My entire body tightened beneath his tender touch. He was so soothing, so what I needed to regain my composure, so much the little boy who leapt away from me when I informed him I was going to marry him.

  I broke the kiss and stared at him with wide eyes. “You lied to me!”

  A soft laugh came from him. “Well, at least you don’t look like you’re about to cry anymore. You do look like—”

  I slapped him across the face again.

  My mother gasped.

  Exavier nodded. “You’re about to slap me. Yep. I saw that one coming.” He put his hand up. “It’s fine, Olivia. Don’t start with her again. Lindsay is welcome to spend forever knocking me on my ass if she wants. It would mean she’s with me so I’m fine with that.”

  My father clasped his hands together and drew in another sharp breath. “Exavier, your word my child shall suffer no more. That regardless what has transpired in her past you will accept and love her for her and hold nothing against her? She too, had been told you were wed and starting a family, Exavier. I believe her choices wou
ld have differed greatly had she known the truth, but I refuse to allow her to regret certain aspects, regardless.”

  Hearing my father say he wouldn’t let me regret having been with Eion and pregnant meant the world to me. I’d always valued his opinion. His strength, love and support of me was never ending.

  “You have my word, Tiennot. I will handle the reason for the misconceptions. You have my word on that as well.”

  I glanced at my father. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

  He shook his head, sending waves of black hair spilling about. “My only regret is you did not trust in my ability to both accept and protect you, regardless of what decisions you made. I do not have to lecture you on what one will do to protect their children, do I?”

  No. He didn’t. I knew the extremes. I’d gone to them but still failed.

  My mother made a disgusted sound. “Look, she actually responded to Exavier. How the man could stand being around her after she has continued to assault him is a mystery. I never thought I’d say this but I am glad it happened. Had the accident not occurred—”

  My father growled. “Had it not occurred, Olivia, we would be sitting here celebrating our granddaughter’s second—”

  I put my hand up. “No! I can’t do this. It doesn’t matter what Mom or anyone thinks of me, Daddy. It doesn’t. Let her believe what she wants. I can’t do this anymore.” I stood quickly and stared down at my mother. “You are never to interfere in my life again. You will never speak of the ‘accident’ again. Understand me? Never!”

  My father tried to come to me. I gave him a firm look. “No. I’ll be okay. I need to go clear my head.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Exavier said, rising and sliding his arm around my waist. “Just give me a minute with your parents, okay? Wait for me in the main entrance. I’ll be right there.”

  I nodded.

  He hugged me to him. “Do not leave without me. There is something your parents,” he glanced down at my mother, “and I need to discuss.”

  Again, I nodded, knowing I wasn’t going to wait for him. I wanted to be alone. Nothing I had to think about concerned Exavier. I could almost feel the center calling to me. It was the place I poured myself into in an attempt to forget my past. It’s where I wanted to be.

  Chapter Ten

  I rushed towards the recreation center doors, not caring that my feet were getting dirty with my heels off. The feel of evil was all around me. That was no surprise. This area of the city was well-known in the underground supernatural community as a hot bed for paranormal activity. That’s why I had the center built there. The kids needed a safe place to play and be kids. And the adults needed the safety of that as well.

  A stone rolled past my foot and I knew then that the evil was with me, following me. I tried to reach out and sense how many and what exactly was there. A powerful magik pummeled me, knocking me down.. Crying out, I tried to scramble to my feet, only to feel another wave of magic hit me.

  “You dared to think you could take on someone my age, Lindsay. Your foolishness has earned you a long, painful death. I have brought many, many more than three shifters with me this time.”

  The vampire slammed another hefty load of power into me, making me scream. I thrust out hard with my power, knocking his magik free of me long enough to run toward the center doors with keys in hand. Something slammed into me, taking me down face first. White-hot pain shot through my leg as fangs sank deep into it. Kicking out, I drove my foot into my attacker's head. It let go and hissed. Chancing a peek at it, I found a second vampire there, blood dripping freely from his chin while his eyes swirled with red and black.

  “Ah, your fear is intoxicating, Lindsay. Are you willing to turn your prince over to us yet?”

  The vampire near my legs slashed his dagger-like fingernails out and caught hold of my dress. He slit it from my waist down and went to slice my leg wide open. I threw power out in the form of fire. It hit his eyes. Hissing, he lurched backwards.

  I pushed to my feet and ran full force at the center’s front doors. I hit them hard and tried to find the right key. Giving up, I thrashed power out and shattered the glass. Pushing through the opening, I cried out as the glass sliced my arms, sides, legs, feet. I didn’t stop to examine how bad my injuries were. No. I needed to get to my office and call for help.

  “Give us the prince!”

  I ignored the vampire and ran into the lobby.. I heard the shifter coming a half-second before it actually arrived. Dropping down, I narrowly missed taking a direct hit from the were-wolf. It flew over my head and crashed into the cinderblock wall.

  I used my power and retrieved the cordless phone from its base. I hit the button for Gina’s cell phone. It ran twice before it beeped. Her voice mail picked up. “Gina! Center, I’m at the center. Lots of baddies! Help!”

  Power slammed into my hand, sending the phone crashing into the wall. It shattered and I ran. Almost instantly, I found my body being lifted high into the air.

  “I want the prince now, Lindsay. I am tired of playing your games.”

  I stared down at him and laughed. “Then kill me because you can’t have him. He’s mine.”

  Mine? Why the hell am I claiming a man who doesn’t exist?

  “You cannot win this, Lindsay. There are too many of us. You are bleeding so we can follow your scent anywhere you try to hide and you aren’t powerful enough to stop us all. Give me the prince and I will kill you quickly.”

  “Fuck you.”

  With a flick of his wrist, he sent me hurdling towards the cement wall. I tossed my magik out to cushion the blow. Laughing hysterically, I slid down the wall. “For the love of a vampire with balls, would you just kill me already? I’m tired of fighting. I’m sick of it all. Do it!”

  “Oh, I will, but you will give me his name before I give you the death you so desperately seek.” The vampire appeared next to me. He yanked me off the ground and stared at me with his pale grey eyes. He licked my cheek and I shivered. “Do you like that? I can do so much more that will make you scream.”

  Slamming my forehead into his, my vision blurred as pain radiated throughout my head. He tightened his grip on my hair and slammed the side of my head against the cement wall. “I want the prince.”

  “No.”

  He did it again and my vision blurred. “Give me the prince.”

  “I don’t have him on me. He didn’t fit in my pocket.”

  The vampire snarled madly and threw me across the floor. I slid into the gymnasium and tried to get to my feet. Looking up, I found a large, half-shifted wolf coming at me. He hit me hard, knocking the wind from me as he pressed the length of his body to mine.

  The vampire laughed. “That a boy, you can smell her fear, can’t you? You want to be in her, fucking her as she screams out in terror beneath, don’t you?”

  I lashed power out, burning the were-wolf. He rolled off me, yelping, and I kicked out hard, slamming my foot into his stomach. I felt his ribs break beneath my foot. Rolling over, I went to climb to my feet. Something wrapped itself around my waist and pressed its body to mine.

  Looking over my shoulder, I found a man with a panther’s head behind me, pulling my tattered dress up, staring at my ass with pure need on its face. I tried to break free but he was too strong. Putting my hand up, I conjured the hunting knife I’d taken from Stan that had been locked in the closet of my office. Twisting, I thrust it into the were-panther and pulled it out quickly. It gave me the second I needed to break free of his hold. Crawling forward, I slipped in my own blood.

  Power seized hold of me, jerked my body out wide and slammed me face first to the bloody gym floor. I lay there, spread-eagle on my stomach, desperately trying to fight the magik that held me.

  “Give me the prince or I will give you to every male in attendance. They love the bloody, scared ones.” He laughed. “Give me the prince.”

  “No!”

  I heard a loud crashing sound and some of them shouting, but all I concentrated on was
freeing myself from the magik that held me. I jabbed out, striking the source, the vampire, with my own power. His hold on me broke. Twisting, I watched as a very naked, half-shifted were-panther crawled towards me. Muscles rippled all over his back. He licked his over-sized mouth and stared at me with hungry eyes.

  He pinned me. I screamed and tried to buck him off, with no luck. He bit down hard on my shoulder. Pain gripped me. For a moment, I couldn’t draw in air.

  The vampire appeared above me and laughed wildly. “Give me the prince and I will call him off.”

  I didn’t answer. I just lay there with the beast’s jaws locked tight on my shoulder.

  “It hurts, doesn’t it, Lindsay?” he asked, smiling at me. “I see no prince here defending his mate, assuring her safety—your safety. Why do you protect that which has never protected you?”

  He stared at me for a bit more and ran his fingers over my neck. “You are so very beautiful even in the face of death. Offer me your prince and we can rule all of it. I can turn you into a creature of the night. Give you a chance at everlasting life. Allow you the privilege of having me in you.” He ran his hand down my side and stopped just shy of my sex. “Give the prince to me and I can make this existence you’ve begged me to end, easier.”

  The colder I grew, the worse shape I knew I was in. I was losing too much blood, too fast. “Let’s make…a…deal.”

  The vampire tossed his hand in the air. The were-panther let go of me. “I knew you would see things my way, Lindsay. What arrangement do you wish to make?”

  My head was too heavy to hold up. Letting it rest on the floor, I stared up at him. “I want you…to kill me. And then, I want…you and your friends to…go fuck yourselves. I told you…once. You can’t…have him. He’s mine.”

  “Kill her.”

  A dark shadow appeared above me. The panther was ripped away. Then the vampire was thrust in the other direction. Deep blue eyes stared down at me. It took me a second to understand who was there. Even then, I wasn’t sure if it was real or a result of blood loss. “Xavs?”