I let out a low moan, laughing at myself. She had me wrapped around her little finger. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Darcy owned my heart—lock, stock, and barrel. I never thought I’d find myself so completely in love like this. Daniel had once joked about me being whipped, about me letting myself be controlled by a woman.
I’d told him that when he found the right one—the girl he couldn’t breathe without—that he would understand and become a fool over her. How could giving your heart ever be considered foolish? It was natural, something you didn’t have to think about. You loved; therefore you simply did everything in your power to keep a smile on her face.
Just being with her, hearing her laugh and the way your name flows off the tip of her tongue—these were the things that opened your soul and fused two hearts together.
It was how I felt about Darcy the second I’d seen her. It was why I fought to keep her safe, why I constantly craved her touch, and why, even though I had other things that I had to do, making sure she was okay was my top priority.
Hell, if that was what it meant to be whipped, I’d wear that badge with pride.
Sitting up in the bed, she was nowhere to be seen. I checked along our connection, more out of habit than anything, cursing under my breath when I remembered it still hadn’t reestablished. I missed having that private pathway between us. I’d gotten good at not listening in on some of her more personal thoughts, especially since mating. The look on her face when she realized how crystal clear it had become had been priceless.
I longed for it to return. Just as much as I wished she’d come back to bed, so I could convince her to never leave it, again.
There was a folded piece of paper propped on the dresser, my name boldly scribbled in her girlish handwriting. Seeing no point in lingering in bed, I snatched up the note and scanned the content.
She wasn’t in the house at all. She’d woken up to find me peacefully sleeping and decided not to disturb me. After calling Helena and being invited to join her for afternoon tea, Darcy had driven herself over there. Alone.
I tried not to be upset, but the idea of her leaving without saying goodbye or taking someone with her, bothered me. Not in a way that made me angry, more like it spiked my concern for her through the roof. A million thoughts slammed through my mind.
Did she drink before leaving?
Would she be okay by herself?
What if her hunger stirred and no one was there to help?
Crumpling the message in my hand, I struggled to quiet the raging fear that she’d get into trouble and I wouldn’t be there to keep her safe. I’d told her my nightmare hadn’t affected me, but that was a huge lie. The images plagued me—so much death and blood, all at the cruel hand of my wife. She’d been so cold, so brutal. And the terrifying look in her eyes as she killed me, it refused to fade away.
While making love last night helped, it would definitely take some time before I could truly let it go. It wasn’t just a series of impressions fueled by an overactive imagination. The more distance I put between myself and the dream, the more it resonated within me that it was some kind of forewarning. Try as I might, I couldn’t completely ignore it. Something told me if I did, there would simply be a repeat performance—for real.
One I wouldn’t wake up from.
Once had been enough. I’d received the message loud and clear. Darcy needed protecting at all costs.
But, as much as I wanted to keep her under my ever-watchful eye, under lock and key preferably, she was also someone who valued her independence. If I even attempted to smother her under the guise of her own good, she’d revolt. With the way her emotions were all over the place, maybe the easiest thing would be to just give her a little leeway. Not enough to drive me crazy, but enough to help her heal.
Snorting, I realized I was overreacting. She was with Helena, a close witch friend to Vivien. I trusted Vivien with my life, having gone through so many things with her. If she vouched for Helena, that would be sufficient for me.
I tried not to judge people too quickly. She’d done wonders in aiding Darcy. I just hoped that this visit would lead to my wife finally feeling comfortable enough to shift. The longer she went without Changing, the harder it could be. I didn’t want to think of the consequences.
Maybe it was a good thing she’d gone before getting distracted. Grabbing my phone, I moved back over to the bed, ready to text her. My cell rang before I could start typing out a message, the incoming call from Devlin.
My heart instantly sank.
There was no need for him to be calling, so, the fact that he was calling meant something had happened.
“What’s wrong?” I answered, skipping any greeting.
“Good afternoon to you, too,” Devlin replied, laughing.
“Yeah, yeah. What’s going on?”
“Maybe I should be asking you the same question? What’s got you so agitated?”
That wasn’t the response I’d expected. “You’re not calling about Darcy?”
“No,” he drawled out. “Isn’t she with you?” There was no mistaking his alarm.
Taking a deep breath, I chuckled. “Okay, let’s start this, again. Hey, what’s up?”
“I was calling to have you come to the Council’s offices—you, Darcy, and Daniel. Things are getting crazier around here and Zane was hoping with some extra eyes, we might be able to figure out a pattern or some kind of connection between the string of robberies and attacks that are happening.”
It was definitely not what I expected. “Daniel and I will head straight over.” My best friend and second-in-command hadn’t mentioned any plans that would take him away from Pack property, today. We could be there shortly.
“Is something wrong with Darcy?” Devlin asked, a little bit of hesitation in his question.
“She’s fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out. She’s actually with Helena right now, so let me call over there and I’ll have her meet us at the building. Sound good?”
“I’m about to call Vivien, so I’ll have her pass the message on, as well. We want all hands on deck for this. Something’s stirring and it’s troubling all the Enforcers. We’ve called in reinforcements.”
That, alone, told me everything I needed to know. Woodside Hollow and the surrounding areas had a pretty low crime rate. The Pack created a certain level of security and there was added security provided with the vortex being so close, the magical power source required its own set of guards. If Devlin felt more Enforcers were needed, then it had to be serious.
“We’ll be right there. Oh, and Devlin?”
“Yeah?”
“Do me a favor and bring something for Darcy.” At this rate I was turning into a worrywart.
“Something? Oh, I get it. We always have a supply of blood on hand. She’ll be taken care of.”
I was grateful he understood. “Thanks. Okay, see you soon.”
Hanging up, I was dressed and out the door with Daniel in tow in less than two minutes.
It was definitely not how I’d wanted to spend the rest of my day, but who was I to ignore duty?
****
The room was already crowded when Daniel and I entered. Immediately I scanned for Darcy, exhaling a sigh of relief when I found her sitting toward the back, beside Helena. I’d been in this room before, the round conference table made it ideal for holding meetings. A quick glance told me all the major players were here—Zane, Vivien, Devlin, Councilman Zachariah, and two guys who looked familiar, but whose names escaped me. Judging from the hardware they were packing, they had to be Enforcers.
“Good, you’re here,” Devlin said, looking up from the papers he had arranged in front of him. Zane observed, flashing me a brief smile, and I could see the weariness in his eyes. Being a leader, regardless of the size of the group you ruled, could be exhausting. Add in the extra weight of sitting on the supernatural Council, and it was enough reason for me to turn down their offer to join them. Sooner or later, I knew I’d accep
t; but for right now, my Pack needed me. There would be plenty of time for more politics later on.
I was fine dealing with one crisis at a time and judging by the concerned expression each person wore, this one had everyone on alert.
Daniel took a seat next to one of the Enforcers, a quick handshake hello before nodding to the others. I didn’t waste any time, either. I took the chair next to Darcy that she’d saved for me. “We got here as fast as we could.”
“Meaning, he drove like a freaking old woman taking a Sunday drive,” Daniel chimed in and was rewarded with a round of light chuckles.
I rolled my eyes at him. He was a great person to have in a situation like this. He had a razor sharp mind that was good when it came to strategizing. Unfortunately, it also came with a smart mouth. “Anyway,” I continued. “Tell us what’s going on.”
Zane gestured for Devlin to answer, deferring the meeting to his head guard and close friend.
“First, everyone knows one another, right?” Devlin looked around the table, watching as each person waved hello. When he got to the two enforcers, he added. “I asked Asher and Carlos to join us. They’ll be taking over the bulk of the investigation once we’re finished here, to make sure everything’s organized. Zane called them in from New York because they have a little more experience when dealing with this type of situation.”
“That bad, huh?” Daniel asked.
“I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this fast of an outbreak since moving here. We get the occasional vandalism, exposure threat, and death, but this is something else.” Without further discussion, Devlin began laying out enlarged photographs of scenes. At first I wasn’t sure what I was looking at, but as each one was shown, it became clearer and clearer. The last few displayed bloodied bodies and magical paraphernalia.
I grabbed hold of Darcy’s hand under the table. It was as instinctual as breathing. “Tell me that’s not evidence of sacrifices.”
It was Vivien who spoke up. “I was called to come in and inspect that scene this morning. I have no doubt that whoever was responsible was doing just that.”
“And those are humans?” I asked. I didn’t recognize them, but that didn’t mean anything. The faces were distorted and bodies crumpled on the ground.
“We found one human and two wolves.”
Daniel’s growl erupted seconds before mine. I glanced at him and he shook his head. We hadn’t heard anything, no news or reports from our members. “Who?” My voice came out strong. If they were mine, they would be swiftly avenged. It was Darcy’s turn to squeeze my fingers supportively.
“Not yours. Trust me, I would’ve told you as soon as I knew. The Alpha has been told and arrangements are being prepared for the funerals,” Devlin replied.
A folded piece of paper was passed along from Zane with what I assumed was the information. Thanking him, I pocketed the note. “Any suspects?” While all life was valued and cherished, the fact someone had hurt one of our own pissed me off, fueling an anger that wouldn’t ease until the culprit was behind bars. Even then, I doubted prison would protect them from the demand for justice.
“We have people scouring the scene for evidence, anything that will lead us to whoever’s responsible.” Adjusting the photos, Devlin sat back in his chair. “What I want to know is… is everyone else in agreement that these aren’t just isolated events?”
“What do you think is connecting them?” Asher spoke up. “At first glance, I don’t see a pattern.”
“Me, neither,” Carlos added. “Was anything stolen at the break-ins?”
“In earlier ones, no. We also had an attempted robbery here; but because nothing was damaged, we blamed it on simple vandalism. In light of this new evidence, I’d venture a guess and say that they were trying to get into the vaults, but were unsuccessful.”
“You said earlier ones.” It was Darcy who now addressed Devlin.
“Last night we had two reports of community members coming home and finding their houses ransacked. One later shared that a family heirloom had been stolen.”
“How valuable was it?” I asked.
“To humans? It was a pretty trinket. But, in the wrong hands—of someone who understood its significance, it could be dangerous.” Devlin pulled out a smaller photograph and passed it around the table. “It’s a rare medallion that grants the owner the ability to harness power greater than their own.”
“And you didn’t have it under lock and key here?” Daniel inquired. He looked as surprised as I did. I knew there were a lot of magical artifacts out there, just not so easily accessible. A trinket like that in the hands of someone like Morgan, who didn’t show loyalty to anyone but herself, could definitely create the kind of trouble we were facing.
“Only a select few even knew of its existence. The family was under blood oath to keep it safe and protected.” Devlin looked at me, already guessing my next question. “And no, I don’t think Morgan knew about it.”
“What else?” Carlos asked, studying the medallion briefly before passing it to Asher.
“There was also an attempt on Zachariah’s home.” Everyone’s head turned to the council member, and my stomach lurched. “After a thorough search, we’ve determined nothing was stolen. The criminals did, however, attempt to break into his underground vault.”
“So, it’s safe?” I fired, leaning forward.
“It is,” Zachariah nodded. “And it has since been moved to assure that it remains that way.”
I could see Darcy’s confused expression as she nudged me, hoping that I’d fill her in why most of the room had suddenly sat up straighter, the tension in the air increasing. “There’s something he safeguards that would deactivate the vortex, leaving it exposed and open for manipulation.”
“And they keep it here? So close to the vortex itself?” she whispered, amazed.
Darting a quick glance at Zachariah, I nodded. “It emits a powerful pulse of magic that can be difficult to conceal. It’s layered with spells, but having it nearby, the vortex’s own force field helps shield it. Most people would believe it was that source.”
“So, you all hide it beneath everyone’s noses. Smart.”
We both turned our attention back to Devlin.
“I think while there isn’t an overwhelming amount of evidence, I think it’s not a stretch to assume these events are connected . . . whether as a distraction or actual attempts. What concerns me though, are the deaths. That’s some dangerous magic being used. Anything that requires that kind of sacrificial ritual means things are escalating.” Asher looked to his partner, who showed his agreement.
“Exactly,” I said, drumming my fingers thoughtfully on the tabletop. I hadn’t once let go of Darcy’s hand, so my other one was channeling the agitation filling me. “I know you already know this, but the Mystic Wolves are at your disposal. We want to help in any way we can. You have Daniel and me, and I can gather some of the others.” That was the beauty of being the Alpha. If I asked, I knew the Pack would volunteer and I could speak on behalf of all.
“We appreciate that. For right now, I want those of us here to go out and see what we can find out. Mason, come with me to hunt down Morgan, again. She may not know anything more, but it won’t hurt. Carlos and Asher, assign some more Enforcers and divide into groups. Keep scouring each scene and see if you can round up any witnesses. Someone has to have seen something. Vivien, Zachariah, and Daniel, I need you to ensure the new resting place for the relic is secure. Do whatever necessary to make sure it remains undetectable. Once you’re done, report back to Zane, so he can wipe your memories.”
Daniel didn’t ask why, accepting his task in silence. There was no need to question Devlin’s request. The location needed to be kept a secret and the fewer who knew, the better.
“What about me?” Darcy asked. “And Helena?” Everyone turned to look at my wife.
“It’s okay,” Helena whispered, tapping lightly on Darcy’s arm. “It looks like they don’t need anything else.”
“Sweetheart, it’s guarded pretty well,” I answered. As far as I was concerned, I was happy with her going home and waiting it out.
“True, but are those Enforcers equipped to see if magic has been used? If there are any kind of breaches, other than physical?” She didn’t even wait for someone to respond. “I mean no disrespect, but most of the Enforcers here aren’t. You usually call Vivien in to check. If everything’s been happening as fast as you’ve said, has she gone out there?”
I hated it when she made sense. “I’m sure Vivien can go by after she’s completed her task.”
“And waste precious time?” She faced me now, shooting me a firm look. “Why can’t Helena and I drive out there? Vivien, would you say Helena is powerful enough to detect if something’s wrong?”
She didn’t need to answer, everyone knew. Helena was just as magically gifted and adept as Vivian. “She is.” It was Vivien who now spoke to Devlin. “I think Darcy has a point. If you send them out there, we can know. The site was fine the last time I inspected it, but a lot could’ve changed. It would be wise to revisit the vortex.”
Darcy’s look of triumph made my stomach hurt. I didn’t want her out there. I didn’t want her anywhere near possible threats and danger. “Then send Helena. Maybe Asher could escort her.”
“I’m sitting right here, Mason. Right here.” There was hurt in her voice.
“I know, sweetheart. I just . . .”
“I don’t want to hear it. You either accept the fact that I’m capable or you don’t. I’m not as fragile as you think. You heard Devlin tell you how much stronger I am since becoming part vampire. I can defend myself, and Helena, should anything happen. I know you want to keep me out of harm’s reach, but I’m a valuable tool.”
I couldn’t argue with her logic. Leaning in, I placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m sorry. I’m being stupid again, aren’t I?”
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