“I’m not truly your mate,” she said, her voice quivering. “I’ve pretended to be something I’m not my whole life. Sometimes to give Niki a break, we’d switch places and I would hide in her basement apartment and she would be Niki, the alpha.”
For a moment, silence draped between them. Aiden dragged a hand over his face then he gave her a level look. She began to quiver at the hardness of that look.
“You lied to me.”
“I did it for my twin.”
“You still lied to me. We’re supposed to be mates for life. Partners. And you couldn’t trust me with the truth?”
Nia fisted her hands. “Damnit Mitchell, I’ve spent my whole life living a lie. You forced me into hosting the Mating Challenge by waving the mortgage on my ranch over my head. You think a few vows and great sex are going to change that? My twin is in danger.”
“And if you leveled with me, I could help protect her. Instead, you deceived me. You think I wouldn’t find out? Your twin gets physically ill around me. She threw up after I kissed her.”
Jaw unhinging, she stared. “You kissed my sister?”
Nia didn’t know whether to be outraged, jealous or shocked. Or all three.
“Nothing like kissing you, sweetheart,” he drawled. “I knew right there it wasn’t you.”
“I thought we’d have a little more time. I only wanted to buy a little time,” she said, hating herself right now. “Niki has been so focused on finding a cure for the disease, and she’s so close. She’s spent the last five years dedicated to research.”
He seemed a little calmer. “She seems frailer than you. Quieter.”
“When…” Nia bit her lip, then continued. “When did you kiss her?”
“While you were still down at the graveyard. I thought you’d beaten me back to your cottage. She asked if I was happy with the mating. Seemed concerned.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “I was happy, until now.”
Nia blinked hard. “Technically, she should be your true mate, the one whose hand you won in the Mating Challenge. You fought for the true alpha leader.”
He grabbed her chin in a tight grip, forced her to meet his burning gaze. “You’re my mate. Wolves mate for life. I mate for life. I’m not giving you up. As pissed off as you make me, I’m not giving you up.”
Emotion closed her throat at his fierce devotion. “You got the bad end of the deal, Aiden. I lied to you.”
“You’d better tell the truth now. Tell me about the chest.”
“Dad took it about 10 years ago, when Niki fell ill. She was deathly sick, because of these berries she’d found in the forest. Dad didn’t know what to do. He summoned the finest Lupine physician, but she was dying. And then he heard there was a nearby wizard looking for subjects for a breeding program. A couple volunteered to exchange themselves for the chest to save the alpha’s beloved daughter.”
Nia sighed. “They didn’t realize what they were getting into. Dad got the chest and opened it, wishing for his eldest daughter to be returned to full health.”
“It worked.”
“Not only did it work, but suddenly everything on the ranch was prosperous. Our horse breeding program became wildly successful, and the couples who were newly mated became pregnant. And then, about five years ago, everything fell apart.”
“Your father ignored the consequences. For all the good Pandora’s Chest releases, it releases evil as well, a balance of good and bad. How could he be so fucking stupid?”
“He was desperate!” she burst out.
Aiden rubbed his cheek with one hand. “Was this when the disease started striking the males?”
Steeling her spine, she looked him straight in the eye. “It’s worse than you can imagine. It affects only the male Lupines who have come of age and shifted. It’s a magick bacteria, a plague, and there’s no cure. My people have tried everything. It’s airborne, in the trees, the dust, and the damn houses. We tried quarantining the males inside and filtering the air. But that didn’t work.
“We call the disease parvolupus. It’s a horrid, horrid way to die.” Nia struggled to speak in a normal tone as horror clogged her throat. “First the victim feels only slightly feverish and his skin itches. That’s where the scaly patches show up. That can last about a week. And then it progresses to the victim passing out. In the final stages, the victim can’t breathe, they run such a high fever it feels like their body is on fire, and they’re thirsty but nothing will quench their thirst.”
She dragged in a deep breath. “My father was so dehydrated before he died. We had to shoot a syringe down his throat filled with water and he fought us. He was delirious, called us names and said he hated us. It was h-horrible.”
And then the anger in him seemed to fade. He sighed. “It hurts like hell to lose someone you love. I can’t imagine losing someone like that.”
She blinked hard, focusing on the clinical, as her twin did. If she focused on how their father had died, she’d lose it. “Eventually the victim dies. The period from point of contact to death used to be five months to a year, but then it began to shorten.”
This was insane. They should be celebrating a mating, instead of untangling the complicated knots of disease that had held her pack in its grip for five long years.
“It starts as a black patch on the body. Symptoms include a pounding headache, neck ache, and weakness.” She hugged herself, remembering the jerky movements her father made as he died. “It’s a horrid, painful death.”
He narrowed his gaze and withdrew his hand. “You knew of the curse, and you knew what consequences it has for all males. And yet you deliberately held this competition to draw a mate, and males, to your pack? To kill us all? Was that your fucking mating gift to me?”
“No! I knew I couldn’t infect you because women are immune and we can’t spread it. And the parvolupus only infects males who live here longer than two weeks. At least, it didn’t, until now. That’s why I’ve been trying to get all your men to leave. I didn’t want anything to happen to them, or to you.”
She hung her head in misery. “I wanted to tell you. But I made a blood oath to my dad on his deathbed. I’ve already lost so much.” A vulnerability she hadn’t felt in years seized her. “I don’t want to lose you or anyone else.”
“You’re not losing me.”
“You have to leave here.” She stared into his dark eyes. “It’s for your own good, Aiden.”
“No.” He leaned forward, his body tense. “You said the disease strikes after males live here for at least two weeks.”
“I believe the incubation time is shortening, and it could be as little as a day or two. Look what happened to the male from Richard’s pack.”
Nia shuddered, thinking of how quickly the male had been stricken.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the disease? When you knew every single male in my pack was at risk?”
A steeliness shone in those dark eyes. Aiden would not compromise easily. Neither would she.
“I made a deathbed promise to my dad never to tell outsiders. A sacred vow. And as alpha of my pack, it’s my duty to safeguard my people.”
Aiden nodded. “And now as your mate, it’s my duty to safeguard you and everything important to you. That includes this ranch and your people.”
He tipped up her chin with one calloused finger. “I’m still really pissed off at you, Nia. But at least you finally told me the truth.”
She nodded. “And now that you know, you have to leave, Aiden. I’ll deal with Carl, and this mess. Take your pack and mine and get out of here. The parvolupus is mutating. I don’t know much longer you’ll have.”
He looked at her grimly. “I’m not leaving. I’ll send the others away, but I’m staying until we find the chest and return it to Tristan.”
“You can’t risk it.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Aiden unbuttoned his shirt sleeve and rolled it up in silence. He held out his right arm.
Acid churned i
n her stomach as Nia stared.
On the underside of his strong forearm was a patch of black, scaly tissue about the size of a quarter. The disease.
“It’s too late. I can’t leave here because I have the disease, too.”
CHAPTER 14
Aiden flexed his shoulders, feeling his muscles tense.
Congratulations. You’ve managed to win the woman of your deepest desires, get mated and contract a disease that will kill you, all in less than less than a month. The woman who didn’t tell you that you risked your life by walking onto this ranch.
Fuck.
He touched his shirt sleeve over the black fungal mark, feeling it itch. He hadn’t developed any of the symptoms she’d mentioned. Not yet.
But it was obvious he was ill.
And he didn’t know how long he had until he started exhibiting other symptoms, and became like the others. And died. Or collapsed like Carl had.
“Oh gods, oh gods.” Nia stuffed a fist into her mouth. “I can’t believe this. You’re infected. How long?”
Her panic threatened his already rattled composure. Aiden struggled to keep his voice even and not yell at her. “Noticed it this morning as I shaved.”
“Any other symptoms?”
He thought hard. Nia fisted her hands. “Symptoms, Mitchell! Tell me.”
“No.” He gave her a level look. “Other than complete and total disbelief that you’ve lied to me all this time. Any other lies you care to own up to?”
His mind whirled with all the information Nia had told him. Nia. The younger twin. His mate.
Her lower lip wobbled. “I’m sorry, Mitchell. So sorry. I should have told you.”
“Damn straight you should have!”
Aiden drew in a deep breath. Yelling at her wouldn’t solve anything. Priorities. He scrubbed a hand over the bristles spiking on his chin and cheeks. “Have you tried to find a cure, other than looking for Pandora’s Chest?”
Blood had drained from Nia’s face. Moisture shimmered in her deep blue eyes and she stared at him with a woebegone look.
“I’m so sorry, gods, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault, Mitchell.” She went and knelt before him. “I should have told you earlier, should have made you leave here. I never wanted this to happen. Never.”
His chest tightened. He wanted to forgive her, wanted all this to go away, but he had to face the grim reality. He’d been too lax, too forgiving. His father was right. Never fall in love, because love is a bitch.
Or it will kill you.
“Is there a cure?”
“My sister has been working on one, while my aunt Mandy, Roxanne, and I search the ranch for the chest. Niki studied biology through online college courses. She’s really smart, smarter than I am.” Nia returned to her chair. “She’s very good with research, and she’s poured over the ancient Lupine texts to find clues. It’s the reason why we went into foreclosure. Costs a lot to set up a private lab.”
Nia sighed. “The ranch was falling apart, but the cure came first. We kept losing so many males. Niki sacrificed all her time to try to find a cure. I love my sister. I’d do anything for her. I’d protect her to the last drop of my blood. She’s family.”
Deep inside, he understood her pain, and her fierce devotion to protecting her sister. Hell, he’d done the same himself for his sister, taking Kara away from their mad father to live with him when he’d started the Mitchell Ranch. But he couldn’t soften on her now. He had to remain strong, and find a way to eradicate this disease before it took down his whole pack. Aiden felt a chill race down his spine as he thought about young Rickie, and the fear in the boy’s eyes.
“First, we’re settling everyone down and checking every single adult and pre-pubescent male on this property. Are you certain the females aren’t carriers?” he asked Nia.
Nia nodded. “Niki’s research proved that.”
“Good. We’ll start with the children.”
***
Two hours later, after everyone in both packs had checked for symptoms of the disease, most of their combined packs left for his ranch, including his beta. Darius began shuttling them in all available vehicles.
Only Roxanne and the devoted Garth remained, and Nia’s aunt Mandy, who was nursing Carl.
And Rickie. Aiden’s throat tightened. The boy had also shown signs of the disease.
Fortunately, everyone else seemed to be okay. He couldn’t risk anyone else falling ill, not after what he’d learned.
Aiden watched the last truck filled with Nia’s people depart for the ranch. He turned to Nia.
“We’re going to visit your twin. Right now.”
He did not take her hand as they walked down to the basement below Nia’s cabin. Aiden felt like he had ground glass in his stomach. He’d trusted his mate, and she’d deceived him all this time. Needed to blow off steam.
“I’m not ready yet. I need a minute,” he muttered.
He jogged over the wood pile near the basement. Nia followed.
“We have enough firewood,” Nia said, sounding bewildered.
“Not for my purposes.” Aiden took a log and the nearby ax and began splitting it. He chopped, wood chips flying, concentrating his anger on the wood. He cut and chopped until nothing remained of the log but kindling.
He slammed the ax into the log pile. “Now I’m ready.”
She looked at the shards of wood with huge eyes. “Whoa.”
Whoa is right. But he needed that physical release.
Nia knocked on the door, three brisk raps. When the door opened, Aiden stepped back, stunned.
Seeing was believing.
Her twin was a reflection of his mate; the same long, dark blond hair, and stunning blue eyes. But while his mate’s eyes shone with passion, fire and tenderness, there was only fear in Nikita’s.
The real Nikita, he amended. How could he have been fooled all this time?
And then he glanced from one sister to another, and knew they had spent their whole lives perfecting the deception.
They walked inside and Aiden closed the door, leaning against it.
“You told him,” Nikita said to her twin, backing away from Aiden.
“I had to.” Nia explained about Carl, and then pointed to Aiden’s arm. “Show her.”
He unrolled his shirt sleeve and Nikita’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Not you!”
“I’ll say,” he said dryly, rolling back his sleeve. “In all these years this disease has plagued you, have you found a damn thing to stop it?”
Niki gave him a woebegone look. “I’m close, so close. I’m sorry, this is my fault. I should have known you’d be more susceptible than other males. You’re a blooded alpha male, like our dad was. Your magick is stronger and that makes you more vulnerable to infection.”
“It’s not your fault, Niki. It’s mine,” Nia started.
His gaze whipped back and forth between the twins. It was like watching a tennis match. He held up a hand. “Enough,” he roared.
Both sisters quieted.
“Focus on the immediate. What can I do to delay my symptoms while we search for the chest?”
Niki’s gaze flicked to the side. Odd. As if she knew something… Aiden stepped forward. “Level with me. What do you know?”
“You have to shapeshift into a wolf and stay in your wolf form. It’s the only way to delay the advancement of the disease.”
Nia’s twin kept her distance, as if she were afraid of him. He almost laughed. How the hell could he ever have thought this sister was his Nia? They were as different as the sun and the moon.
“If he shifts into wolf, then how can we communicate?” Nia went to take his hand, but he sidestepped her.
He saw the hurt in her eyes before her expression shuttered.
“You’ll have to learn,” Niki said. “I need a little more time. I need to test it out my new formula. It works, but I have to be certain.”
Aiden didn’t dare hope. Nia’s expression brightened. “You didn’t tell m
e the vaccine worked!”
Niki smiled sadly. “I didn’t have a chance. You’ve been too busy holding everything together, little sis.”
“What are you testing it out on?” Aiden asked.
“I found two sick rabbits in the woods.” Nikita looked defiant. “I didn’t infect them, they were already sick. All my subjects in the past were Lupines already infected.”
“And nothing worked on them.” Nia sighed. “Come on. Let’s leave her alone to work.”
They went upstairs. Inside her cabin, Aiden paced. “I have to get back to my ranch and check over my men. I don’t want this damn thing spreading to my people.”
“And if you return there infected, you’ll risk all of them.” Nia shook her head. “You have to shift and delay the disease. It’s the only way.”
“I’m not staying as wolf when my pack, and yours, is endangered. I’m the alpha!”
“And right now you’re a sick alpha,” she snapped. “Do it.”
Frustrated, he fisted his hands. “I wouldn’t be in this predicament if it weren’t for you, Nia.”
Her face fell. “I know. I would apologize a thousand times if I thought it would help, but it won’t. I’d take the disease into my own body to cure you, but I can’t. I wish I could, Mitchell. Every time I was forced to watch another male I cherished, cared about, perish from this disease, I wanted to die myself.”
Nia’s mouth trembled. “And it kills me to know you’re infected because of me. If you had never set foot on this property, you’d be healthy. I thought you had more time. And now look what I’ve done to you. I can’t bear to watch you suffer and get ill like they did, Mitchell. Please, shift into wolf.”
Aiden’s stomach tightened. “Fine. But first, a few signals. If I give one warning growl, it means stay back. If I point to something, pay attention. And you’re not leaving my side. I don’t want you wandering around where I can’t keep an eye on you.”
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set Page 141