Billionaire Wolf (The Pack 17) (Nocturne)

by Karen Whiddon

  Along with Ryan, who clearly didn’t sense her presence, she watched until they were nothing but specks blending into the black velvet of the starry sky.

  For a breathless second, she fancied she could hear his thoughts. The others would use magic to search for her, while Colton and the Pack Protectors used whatever human law enforcement tools were at their disposal. Yet Ryan, despite all his money and vast resources, could do nothing. He’d been relegated to standing by helplessly, waiting for others. Not something he was used to. Even now, his worry over her safety mingled with his sense of urgency that there had to be something he could do.

  But what?

  Aching for his touch, she reached out toward him, unsurprised when her fingers went right through him instead of caressing his skin. She knew she had only come in spirit form while her physical body slumbered.

  Still, she’d take what she could get. Drinking in the sight of him, she noted new hollows in his face, though that might have only been a trick of the darkness.

  As he turned to go, she noticed he’d taken the others to Corps Woods to shape-shift. Holding her breath, she watched as Ryan, now alone, initiated the change into wolf. This was different than the whirlwind way the Drakkor changed, no puff and swirl of smoke, but rather a thousand twinkling lights like fireflies.

  When he’d finished and stood in front of her, a magnificent wolf with gray fur made silver by the moonlight, she felt a sense of awe.

  And then wolf-Ryan lifted his head and howled at the moon, the sound so full of pain and anguish tears stung her eyes.

  The agony woke her and her dream vanished. Raising her head, she blinked as she took in her surroundings. The chill from the cement floor had seeped up through her mat and into her bones. She began shivering, wondering how Tracey fared and how long it was until morning. She couldn’t help but dread it. Who knew what the next day would bring?

  Somehow, she must have fallen back asleep. The sound of a cheery whistle woke her. Stunned, she listened as Polacek whistled “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” as if this scenario was a horribly twisted episode of the old television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

  “Breakfast is ready, honey,” he said, smiling at her as if he hadn’t done anything to her and she wasn’t actually his captive.

  Struck dumb, she collected herself to realize she needed to smile back. “Sounds great,” she chirped, wincing as she climbed to her feet. Part of her body ached so badly she had to hobble instead of walk.

  Polacek didn’t appear to notice. He continued beaming, holding out of plate of some unidentifiable substance that might have been oatmeal or really old scrambled eggs. Her gut cramped at the thought of eating them.

  Still, afraid to anger him, she accepted the plate. “That looks good. What is it?” she asked. Her heart skipped a beat as his smile slipped.

  “Grits,” he told her. “I found a box of instant grits. I made you two packets and Tracey two packets.”

  “What about you? Aren’t you having any?”

  Now his smile had definitely vanished, replaced by a black scowl. “I went out for my meal. Once the two of you start being nicer to me, I might start bringing you back some of my leftovers.”

  On cue, her stomach growled. “I’m really hungry,” she began, eyeing the plate and trying not to gag. “But I’ve never been fond of grits.” And especially grits that looked like they were ten years old.

  “Suit yourself.” He shrugged, back to the easy-going man of earlier. His mercurial moods were alarming, since she had no idea what might set him off. “I’m going to go take a nice hot shower.”

  She would have just about killed for a shower. “I’d love—”

  “Not yet.” Interrupting her, he began circling around her like a dragon inspecting its prey. “All privileges must be earned.”

  Earned. Mind racing, she managed a nod. “I understand,” she said, ducking her head so he wouldn’t read the fury in her eyes.

  Once again, she tapped into that emotion, willing her magic to fill her. And once again, she was met only by emptiness.

  Lifting her chin, she saw he still waited, watching her. As soon as her gaze met his, he smiled. “Have a nice day,” he said. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Wait.” She nearly ran after him. “What about Tracey? Can I check on her?”

  “I’m taking care of that one myself. She’ll be fine.”

  Fine. Right.

  Horrified, she realized that while she’d been thinking he’d reached the door. “What about the book?” she asked, noting how he instantly stiffened. “May I study your notes while you’re gone?”

  If he truly wanted her to suffer, he’d deny her. As he considered her request, she could only hope his desire to gain knowledge was greater than the urge to hurt her.

  “I’ll bring it to you after my shower,” he finally said.

  “Thank you.” She stood still while he closed the door and listened to the sound of him locking it. It was only then she realized what he’d just said. Despite the utilitarian nature of this concrete place, if there was a shower nearby, it might be someone’s home. And if they were close to restaurants or fast-food establishments, they were in a town or city.

  Texas City? Houston? Or had they gone farther north?

  She thought of her father and the Drakkor mages, wondering if they’d be able to find her, hidden by not only concrete, but a cloaking spell. Once again, she realized her best hope lay within Polacek’s translation of that book. If she couldn’t get her magic back—and how could she if she needed true love’s kiss?—maybe she could find some sort of remedy to make Polacek’s magic invalid, too.

  * * *

  After changing to wolf, Ryan let out his pent-up emotion in one long howl. As he finished, he swore he saw movement in the corner of his eye and spun around, but nothing was there. Just to be certain, he sniffed the breeze, looking for any telltale scent. Nothing but sea and salt.

  He hunted that night, letting smaller prey go in his search for something that would relieve at least some of the pain. Of course, he found nothing, and he finally left the rabbits and toads and squirrels to their own devices and shape-shifted back to human.

  In his mercurial rise to wealth, Ryan Howard had few regrets. He believed in treating others the way he expected them to treat him. He didn’t cheat or lie or steal, or step on other’s backs in the climb to the top. Talent and hard work had gotten him far. And even though people who didn’t know him might find fault with the way he conducted his love life, he’d been up front and honest with every woman he’d dated.

  Except Maria.

  Sure, he’d believed that the same old stock recitation of his desire for no strings had been true. At the time, it had been. Until his desire had somehow morphed into something deeper. Something...more.

  Driving his Jeep too fast, he found himself on her street, heading toward her tidy little house. Of course the place sat dark and unoccupied, but even so, he pulled up in front and parked.

  Maria had made that house into a home. All the money in the world hadn’t been able to do that with any of the numerous houses he owned.

  It had begun to rain, a light mist, just enough to make the roads slick. Ryan drove carefully, glad he’d left the top up on his Jeep. Interesting how his first thought had been that the sea had begun to shed tears. He wasn’t poetic by nature, so he figured this new insightfulness had to be because he’d begun to see the world through Maria’s eyes.

  He couldn’t believe how much he missed her. Hoping and praying she was safe wasn’t enough. There had to be something he could do, somehow. If only he knew what.

  Finally, he pulled back onto the street and headed toward his beach house.

  There, he found Colton and Javier Miranda in the kitchen, strategizing over bourbon on the rocks.

  Ryan poured himself a glass and took a seat at the table. “When did you get back?” he asked Maria’s father. “You just left.”

  “I know.” The
older man winced. “I’d barely gotten a mile out into the gulf when an old wing injury had me turning around and heading here. I’d only hamper them. As much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to sit this one out. My Maria is far too important.”

  “She is,” Ryan agreed. Missing her so strongly he ached, he tried to figure out some other way he could help. “Surely there’s something I can do,” he said, looking from one to the other.

  “Sorry.” Colton clapped him on the back. “But I have to tell you, the Pack Protectors expressly forbid you hiring your own private investigative firm, which quite honestly is what I’d want to do in your shoes.”

  Ryan swore, hating that the other man had guessed his plans.

  Even Maria’s father vetoed the idea. “This is a Drakkor matter,” he said sternly. “We’re working with the Pack Protectors, but there is no need to involve any others.”

  Hands once again tied, Ryan nodded. “How’s the search going, then?”

  Colton shook his head. “On the ground, we’ve found nothing. The three Drakkor disappeared—I assume to keep searching.”

  “They have more power and stamina than I do,” Javier admitted. “I had to return here while they continued on.”

  Colton tossed off the rest of his drink and stifled a yawn with his hand. “Well, I’m off to bed, gentlemen. I’ve got to be up early in the morning to meet with the head of the Protectors and give him a report to take to the Drakkor Council. Good night, all.”

  Ryan murmured something suitable and continued sipping his bourbon. Any second now, he figured Maria’s father would make his excuses and leave, too. Ryan wondered if the older man blamed him for his daughter’s capture. Certainly it seemed as though some of the others did.

  “Why are you still here, son?” Javier asked softly. “I mean, it’s nice of you to offer us the use of your place and all, but a busy man like you? Why stick around?”

  “Ouch.” The word slipped out before Ryan had time to consider what he’d say. “That really hurts.”

  “Does it?” Curiosity shone in Javier’s gaze. “Again, I ask why?”

  Truth. He realized he didn’t care if anyone believed him or liked him or even cared how he felt. And though he’d planned to tell Maria first, keeping everything inside made him feel as if he could burst.

  “Because I love your daughter,” he said quietly. “It feels good to finally say the words out loud. I’d actually planned to tell her first, before I spoke to you or anyone.”

  Chapter 16

  “You love her?” Javier repeated slowly.

  Bracing himself for derision or anger, Ryan glanced at the older man, stunned to see a broad smile creasing his face.

  “You truly love her?” Javier asked again.

  “Yes.”

  “And she doesn’t know?”

  A bit puzzled, Ryan nodded. “That’s right.”

  After a long drink of his bourbon, Javier wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Any idea how she feels about you?”

  Ryan inhaled, deciding he might as well take a leap of faith. “I believe she feels the same way.”

  Javier whooped, throwing up his hands and then jumping from his seat to embrace Ryan. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

  Feeling warm inside for the first time in days, Ryan nodded. “So, I guess that means I have your permission to...”

  “Yes! Yes, of course.”

  Ryan wondered why Javier was dancing around the room, acting as if he’d just won the lottery. Sure, Ryan might be rich, but there was no guarantee Maria would even want to enter a committed relationship with him.

  Suddenly suspicious, Ryan eyed the man. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” he asked.

  “No! Yes. Oh, I don’t know. All I can tell you is that you and my daughter have a lot of talking to do.”

  “Once she’s found.” Ryan’s quiet statement had the effect of instantly calming her father. “We need to find her, or none of this matters.”

  “We will.” Javier looked more confident than he sounded. “Micah and the other two mages from Eyrie are among the oldest and wisest of my people. Their magic is unrivaled. They’re so revered that rarely are they called on to help. But when needed, they spring into action. In addition to helping us find Doug Polacek, they trained Maria and the other women.”

  He sounded so proud that Ryan almost didn’t tell him what Micah and his crew had done to Maria. But then he figured her father had the right to know.

  “Did Maria speak much to you about her time at Eyrie?” Ryan asked. “You know I took her to Boulder and waited while she learned how to harness her abilities.”

  Javier’s eyes widened. “She didn’t give me many details, and certainly not that.”

  Ryan shrugged and polished off the last of his drink. “Well then, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I’d feel funny discussing this without her knowing. In fact, I think I’m going to turn in. There’s no telling what tomorrow might bring.”

  Frown changing to a yawn, Javier did the same and pushed to his feet. “I’ll see you in the morning. If we’re up at the same time, I make a mean scrambled egg breakfast burrito.”

  Ryan smiled and headed toward his room.

  The rain picked up during the night, occasionally accompanied by booming thunder and flashes of lightning. Ryan couldn’t sleep, and he tossed and turned all night. Finally, just before dawn, he gave up and jumped in the shower. Thinking of Javier’s breakfast, he got dressed and headed down toward the kitchen. The sun had risen, but barely made a dent in the gray and rainy sky.

  Javier was already there, looking freshly showered, too, and sipping on a mug of hot coffee. “There you are,” he said, smiling. “Let me get some caffeine in me and then I’ll get cracking on those burritos.”

  “Sounds good.” Ryan poured himself a cup. “What all do you put in them?”

  Before Javier could elaborate, a crash from outside had both men jumping from their seats. Ryan rushed to the French door and yanked it open. Brandon, the youngest of the three Drakkor from Eyrie, lay sprawled in an exhausted heap in the misting rain, his body rapidly changing back from dragon to man.

  He raised his head as soon as he saw Ryan. “Micah needs your help. He’s located the rouge Drakkor, though we’ve yet to make ourselves known. Micah has made some sort of plan, and it involves you.”

  That had been faster than Ryan dared hope. Joy flooded him that he could finally assist. “Of course. Tell me where I need to go and I’ll find a way to get there.”

  Pushing himself up off the wet deck, Brandon shook his head. Javier tossed him a towel, so he could not only dry off, but cover his nakedness.

  “You’ll have to come with me. I’ll fly you.”

  On the back of a dragon. In the books he’d read, there’d been a few references to this ancient custom, which had died out centuries ago.

  The idea thrilled him. But eyeing Brandon, he doubted the young Drakkor had enough strength to fly anywhere himself, never mind with a passenger.

  “You need to rest,” he said. “Get a good night’s sleep and we’ll head out first thing in the morning.”

  “No time.” Brandon took a deep breath. “Though my beast needs to eat. Do you have any steak around? Preferably raw?”

  Ryan laughed. “I’m Pack. Of course. How many do you need?”

  “Three or four, preferably four.”

  “Coming right up.” But before he went inside, he hesitated. “Should I wake Colton? Do the Pack Protectors need to get involved?”

  “Not at this time,” Brandon said. “Micah was very specific about that.”

  After fetching the meat, Ryan watched as Brandon effortlessly changed shape again. The swirling smoke that enveloped him when he started his change was different than the flickering, multicolored lights that appeared when Ryan or anyone he knew shifted into wolf.

  Brandon’s scales contained a multitude of orange and rust-colored hues. Ryan had come to appreciate tha
t every dragon had different colors, and he found all of them beautiful.

  Brandon beckoned with one huge claw. Ryan glanced at Javier, uncharacteristically uncertain.

  “Just walk around to his back and climb up his tail,” the older man advised. “There are ridges there that you can use as steps. You take a seat right behind his head. There’s a slight indentation there where you can sit.”

  Ryan nodded, doing exactly that. When he grabbed hold of one of the spines that protruded, the soft texture of the supple hide surprised him.

  “Go on,” Javier urged. “From what Brandon said, it sounds like Micah needs you there as quickly as possible.”

  “What about you?” Ryan asked.

  “I’m still not feeling well. Since I doubt my wing will let me make the trip, I’ll stay here and keep the Council informed. Now go.”

  Hoping like hell he wasn’t hurting Brandon, Ryan climbed quickly, taking a seat in the spot Javier had indicated. “I’m ready,” he said quietly.

  Immediately, Brandon rose, spreading his massive wings and launching himself into the air. Glad it was still early, Ryan clutched a flap of hide and held on.

  * * *

  Either the author of Polacek’s book enjoyed rambling and repeating himself, or the translation was off. Maria frowned, wondering if she’d miss something if she began skimming. The repetition had become boring, but she was terrified, too.

  Upstairs, she could hear a lot of clanging, which meant Polacek was up to something. Again she thought about Tracey and wondered if the other woman would survive.

  She had to figure out a way to get her magic back. The possibility that the answer might be in this book told her she needed to pay attention. So she forced herself to keep reading.