Chapter Four
Vander drove down the road he had driven a thousand times, the Pack compound was on the same road as his house. When Jewel told him to take the next road to the right he wanted to laugh. His new house was right behind the Pack’s land. He wondered if that was where Waverly had seen him.
Vander silently listened to the conversation between Jewel and Kane as he drove to meet the Alpha of the Atlanta Pack. Kane had taken what Vander told him pretty well, although the man was a little pissed that Vander hadn’t shared before. Not that he said anything, but he could tell by the way Kane’s jaw tensed and his lips tightened. And didn’t that just freak him out; Vander noticed Kane’s mouth, because the sudden urge to kiss away the aggravation had been intense. Yep, definitely looking like this shit could be true, 'cause if he noticed another man's mouth, crazy was where he was headed. Well, damn.
It took him a moment to realize that Jewel had asked him a question when he blinked a couple of times then stuttered, “Um… What did you say?” Vander looked quickly over at Jewel who was sitting next to him frowning.
“Maybe I should drive the rest of the way,” Jewel said with her eyes narrowing, trying to figure out if her partner was going crazy. Jewel was going to drive him crazy until they found Waverly. She had agreed to keep it under wraps as along as Vander came to her with each instance that Waverly made contact. The whole thing with his mother also in the mix and he was a little messed up. Maybe they should have settled things with his mother at least, talked about it and shit, but Vander had blown her off saying that he would deal with it when the time came. Now, she wasn’t so sure of that idea, maybe she should lock him in a room until he talked, they could have a hug in, just the two of them. Work out all of the issues that were preventing Vander from accepting the mating.
Vander sighed trying to reign his temper in, he hated that Jewel was questioning his abilities. Well, since everything was pissing him off lately, it wasn’t his abilities, more like just him. Jewel didn’t deserve his wraith, but damn it someone did. “I was thinking of the case. I can drive, Jewel.” From the way she looked at him, she must be worried about him. Jewel turned back and faced the road then pointed at the road ahead.
“Take the next road to the right and stop at the gate.” Jewel was good at not bringing stuff up in front of other people. She would wait until she got him alone to torture him, have their little touchy feely moment.
Vander slowed the car down as they pulled up to a beautiful gate that surrounded the property. The fence alone cost more than Vander had made in his life. Retten Wexford was rich he knew, but were all werewolves? Vander watched as the six foot three monster of a man walked up to his car. Vander knew the expression on his face must have been “Holy Shit” because the man was freaking huge. Jewel snickered and that's when he figured she heard the words come out of his mouth.
She leaned over so the guard could see who she was. “Well hey there, handsome.” The freaking giant smiled as he looked down into the window at Jewel.
“Hello, beautiful. Heard you got hitched and let me tell you that hearts are breaking all over the pack house.” Jewel smiled. “Hey, Butch. Yep, got hitched to two of them.”
“Well if I known you were looking, I would have definitely offered my services.” Jewel cackled as the giant squatted down so he could see Jewel in the window better. “For what it’s worth, Butch, I finally met my mates.” The giant named Butch smiled showing off his white teeth.
“That’s great, beautiful.” Straightening, the giant stood slowly then looked at Vander then at Kane in the backseat sizing them up. “Go on in. The Alpha is waiting for you. And, Jewel?” The giant leaned down again. “We need her found.” Vander didn’t have to wonder who ‘her’ was. He was talking about Waverly. Vander could see the love he had for the Omega of the pack.
Jewel nodded. “We are trying, Butch.” He nodded then waved at the other man inside at the guard post. The fence opened up allowing them to drive through.
Vander looked in the rearview window as the giant watched him pull off. The expression on his face was of a trained killer. Vander had seen a few of them in his time and knew the expression.
As he drove further up the driveway, Vander stared as the breathtaking landscape passed by. The grounds were perfectly manicured with lots of flowers surrounding the trees. Horses lounged in the sun as they munched on grass. Vander was looking at everything when he jerked the car back on the road. “Whoa there, hoss. You act like you have never seen horses before. Do I need to drive?”
“Jewel! Lay off me okay. I was just looking around.” Jewel didn’t smile, and for a moment, she looked like she felt sorry for him. Vander continued down the road as the house came into view. House was a freaking understatement. Fucking mansion for how many people lived here.
“Dear God, how many people live here?” Vander muttered.
“Well the Alpha, Beta, Waverly, and three of his Protectors live in this home. But the grounds also have the pack house and there are a lot that live there,” Jewel explained. The closer Vander got to the house the wider his mouth opened.
Fuck me, Vander thought to himself. How could I be a mate to someone who lives here? She probably makes more money in a year then I will in a fucking lifetime.
Vander pulled up to a circular driveway in front of the mansion and put the car in park. Vander could tell Jewel and Kane were staring at him since he was so quiet. “Hey, buddy, if you don’t mind let me do most of the talking. Okay?” Jewel said slowly.
Vander never answered Jewel but opened the car door and got out. Jewel looked back at Kane and mouthed, “Shit.” Kane shook his head in acknowledgement but didn't reply back to Jewel, his eyes followed Vander. He'd hardly spoke at all on the way.
Jewel and Kane got out and waited for Vander to come up beside them. Jewel rang the doorbell as Vander continued to look around at the grounds. The door came open and an older man looked at Jewel. “Hello, Detective Campbell. Welcome back to Grant House. The Alpha and Flynn are waiting for you in the study.”
“Thank you, Martin.” Jewel smiled as Martin Grain directed Jewel and the others down a long hallway. Vander looked around at the staircase that could only be described as art. The grand staircase was made out of mahogany wood. The color was a deep rich brown and the woodwork had detailed carvings of wolves on it. Vander thought the staircase was luxurious, but something about it made it feel like home. The room had a homey feel to him. Vander shrugged it off as they came to a closed door at the end of the hallway. Martin knocked on the door but waited until the door opened.
Vander watched as the six foot four man smiled when he saw Jewel. He grabbed Jewel and hugged her in a big bear hug. He could have sworn the man was an actual bear as well. He was freaking huge with a freakishly good-looking face. He had long dark hair and could have been a fucking model, Van thought sourly.
“Let me down you beast.” Jewel giggled as she hugged the man back.
“I have missed you, little one. I hear the good news and I approve. I like the Alpha and Lex. You have picked two fine mates.” Flynn Mitchell looked over at Kane and Vander, slowly putting Jewel back on her feet. “So, Jewel, who do you have with you?”
Jewel swung her hand back at Vander and Kane. “Flynn Mitchell, this is my partner, Vander Collins, and before you say anything, Vander is my best friend and knows so don’t worry about him and this is his mat—” before Jewel finished her statement Vander interrupted thrusting his hand out to the Beta.
“I’m Detective Vander Collins. Nice to meet you.” Jewel smirked knowing Vander didn’t want introduced as Kane’s mate yet. He wanted to tell the Alpha everything that was going on first. Flynn Mitchell hesitated then looked over at Jewel who smiled. Flynn shook Vander’s hand then looked over at Kane.
“Hello, Beta, I’m Kane Foster.” Flynn could smell that Kane was a wolf but his handshake would have gave it away anyway. All wolves with authority have a certain handshake, a more confident and secure on
e.
“Mr. Foster, are you on protection detail for the Alpha?”
Kane looked at Jewel then made eye contact with Flynn before answering the large man. Normally, he would have stood back and waited for his Alpha without introducing himself. However, this wasn’t the same thing, yes, he was guarding his Alpha female, but he was also here to find out about his mate. No one, not even the stubborn ass who refused to admit they were mates, was going to stop him.
“Yes, sir. Where she goes I go,” Kane said and then looked at the wolf and added, “but there is another reason I am here as well.” Kane knew he was more powerful than the other wolf. He was the mate to Vander and the Omega of the Pack, and even though he was the Beta to Ret and Lex, Kane could have been the Alpha of his own Pack; he had chosen to stay with the two men he respected more than any others.
Vander turned around as the Alpha walked into the room. He was the biggest son of a bitch he had ever seen. Ret was big, but this man was freaking huge. He had to be six foot five and all muscles, his long black hair was the exact shade of Waverly’s, but Vander could see no other resemblance. The man was built like a lumberjack, and Vander could feel the power pulsing out of the Alpha, but Ret and Lex had just as much power, and if he wasn’t mistaken, so did Kane. He may look like a homegrown country boy, but this was a dangerous man. The frown he wore matched his attitude until he saw Jewel. Then the huge man smiled as she walked toward him. He grabbed her up into a big bear hug then stuck his nose into her neck. “You mated well, little one.” Jewel nodded and hugged the Alpha back.
“Thank you, Alpha.” Marcus Grant’s knowledgeable eyes looked over at Vander and Kane. Vander watched as the Alpha’s nose tilted up and then back down. It told him everything he needed to know. Vander was a human and Kane was a wolf, and that should have been the end of it.
“Alpha this is…” Before Jewel could tell the Alpha who Vander and Kane were, Marcus Grant spoke as he walked over to his desk and sat down. Jewel and Vander had decided they would tell Marcus what was going on only after the man shared his information. He figured the big wolf would be a little pissed about the whole mating thing and he wanted to avoid that conversation until Kane and he had a few moments alone.
“What can you do to help me find my daughter, Detective Collins?” he demanded, Vander never flinched as the Alpha watched him closely.
“Tell me everything about your daughter, even the Omega stuff,” Vander replied quickly, challenging the demanding tone, Marcus’s eyes narrowed as Vander spoke. Vander knew he had touched a nerve but he didn’t care, Waverly had come to him not her father in her dreams. This whole pomp and circumstance was driving him nuts. If the Alpha wanted Vander’s help, then he needed to get over his arrogant self and tell Vander what he needed to know. Vander stared at the Alpha waiting for him to answer. He watched as the Alpha looked over at Flynn then nodded.
Flynn reached behind him and grabbed the file folder lying on a table. He brought it over to Vander and Jewel then opened it for them, handing them the paperwork from inside. “Waverly was last seen four days ago. She was taking a cruise to get away. She needed it; the pack has been draining her. She tries to be a hardass and take on more than she should, but it was getting to her. We could all see it. We could hear her when the nightmares continued to come at night until she finally stopped sleeping at all. The Alpha wanted her far away from the pack so she could heal. He told her she didn’t have a choice whether or not she went on the cruise because she didn’t want to go and be away from the pack.” Vander could see the Alpha’s expression as he looked down at his desk. He could tell the man was torn up about his missing daughter as Flynn continued.
“She left here around four in the morning leaving for the airport. She went alone and that was the only way she would go. Damn woman. She was always trying to be independent. We waited to file a report thinking that she was having such a great time that she forgot to call but when she didn’t call the next day, we knew something was wrong. I called the company that sold the package deal to us, they checked with the cruise line, and she never checked in before the ship left the port. That isn’t Waverly. She would never make her father worry like this.” Vander flipped through the pictures of Waverly Grant. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even in his dreams he had thought that, but looking at pictures of her happy and smiling, Vander felt a tug inside him, like something had awakened.
“Alpha, tell us what type of problems Waverly was having?” Marcus looked up at Vander as he stared at him when he asked that question. For a minute Vander thought he wasn’t going to answer. He was being an asshole and he knew it. If Vander could have taken it back, he would have. Looking at the anger in the larger man’s eyes, Vander also knew he was going to be yelled at by Jewel when all this was done. They just didn’t talk to victim’s families like this. Vander was struggling, the Alpha finally spoke, and Vander was grateful he had not completely fucked this up.
“Waverly is one of the strongest wolves and being the Omega makes her stronger, but lately she has taken on too much. The pain she takes in has increased and it’s killing her. She wouldn't rest and when I tell her to slow down, she takes on more. I thought the vacation would do her good but now…” Marcus Grant didn’t get to finish that statement when he slammed his fist down onto his desk. Vander could hear the cracking sound as the man cursed himself for sending her away.
Jewel slowly approached the desk as Marcus Grant looked up at her. His eyes narrowed then blinked shaking the rage off. “Alpha, we will try to find her, but information has to be given to us. Nothing can be held back if it means saving her. I think she is still alive.”
“I know she is too. I can feel it here.” The Alpha placed his hand over his heart. Vander’s eyes narrowed and he couldn’t help asking.
“Has she contacted you in any way through your link?” Vander asked.
Marcus looked at him with a frown and shook his head. “The Omega feels all the wolves, including me; however, because of her strength and emotions she can’t open links flowing back in the other direction with anyone. They would be overwhelmed with what she deals with. That is why Omegas are so powerful, they have to be to take on that much emotion.”
Vander nodded and looked at Kane. Vander felt the acceptance of Waverly’s bond with him, that he was more in tune with Kane as well. It was freaky, but he was certain the man was going to be having dreams as he had been. Waverly had finally felt Kane. He knew it, as if he could feel the strings of a bond between them. There was so much to mating he didn't understand, but he vowed then to learn.
“Why are you asking?” Marcus said, obviously feeling like he was missing something.
Jewel smiled. “I need to get into her bedroom and look around.” Jewel watched as the emotions crossed over the Alpha’s face.
Vander could see he wanted to argue but he nodded instead.
“Okay. Let’s go now.” Marcus got up and took them to his daughter’s bedroom. The entire way Vander wanted to blurt out that Waverly belonged to him and Kane, they were already bonding, but a brief glance at Kane told him that right now was not a good time to speak up. Kane looked as if he was ready to kill someone; he was barely hanging on. Vander wondered if because he was a wolf, the feelings Waverly was experiencing affected him more.
“This is Waverly’s bedroom.” Marcus was going to go into her bedroom but quickly Vander placed his hand so the Alpha couldn’t enter the bedroom. He was going to get himself killed, he thought as he felt the power grow around him. Pissing off the in-law was not a good idea. Shit, where had that come from?
Marcus looked back at Vander who had his arm still blocking his entrance. Vander didn’t even flinch when he heard the growl coming from the Alpha. “Nothing personal, Alpha, but Jewel can’t do her thing if anyone is in the room with her.” He hoped the Alpha could at least understand that, or Vander was going to end up lunch for a very pissed off wolf.
Immediately the growling stopped as Jewel and th
e others waited for the Alpha to either beat the shit out of Vander or back off. Instinctively, Jewel exhaled as the Alpha backed up but continued to hold Vander’s stare. She knew Vander well enough that he was letting the Alpha know he couldn’t intimidate him, and although it made her proud, she still thought it was stupid. Vander may not have known it but he was showing the Alpha that he could handle his own, and in turn was worthy of mating his daughter. The Alpha would be impressed that the human wasn’t frightened by the Alpha, or he would kill him, it could have gone either way.
Vander could feel Kane walk up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder. The show of unity must have shocked the older Alpha because he paused and then looked closer at the two men. He slowly nodded his head and Vander let out the breath that he had been holding. Shit, that was scary.
Then a feeling of lust rippled through Vander so fast his legs trembled, what the fuck was that? He stiffened but knew Kane could feel it too, and Vander could sense Waverly as well, shit this was getting freakier by the minute. Kane’s hand squeezed his shoulder and the detective nodded to the Alpha and then walked over to the side of the hallway leaving Kane. He needed to get away from the overwhelming feelings. Vander closed his eyes. He could feel both Kane’s and Waverly’s strength. Shit, it was like drinking a can of Amp one after another. But it was the sexual tension that made him take pause.
What the hell was that? I’m not gay, he thought, glancing around. Vander needed some air. He had to get away from Kane now before he embarrassed himself. Jewel was in the room using her power, he could surely take a few moments to gather himself. Walking to the doorway, he made an excuse to his partner about needing to touch base with the department. When she nodded absently, Vander breathed a sigh of relief, nodded to the men, and walked back the way they had come. Just a few moments to gather his thoughts was all he needed.
The Alpha and Beta both inhaled Vander’s scent as he passed them going outside, even though the human was not paying attention. Kane watched as Vander rushed from the hallway as well and rolled his eyes before looking back at the Alpha.
Jana Leigh & Bryce Evans Page 3