A huff of exasperation escaped Dean, as he lay back in his seat. Just as Raul thought, he couldn’t offer a backup plan.
“Damn it,” Dean groaned, running his hand through his hair. “It’s too risky.”
“I know, but it’s all we have,” Raul countered, dragging his gaze away from him, to look at the apartment building entry door. The crisp wind sent chills down his spine, as he rolled down his window. Two large shadows, on the road, to the left caught his eye. His inner beast snarled inside of him. The voice he had listened to on the night he had rescued Monica, repeated the exact same thing: protect. His family was in danger; his instinct would not listen to reason. But, the wolf had to be silenced. The slightest noise could warn the strangers as they made their way towards Julia’s apartment building. One of them pulled a bag from his shoulder, as he stopped, a few feet away from the entrance, while the other took a few glances around him.
Raul could hear both of their heartbeats. They were normal, as if those two were taking a walk in a park. No surprises there. He was well aware that he was dealing with professionals. The man with the bag was using tweezers and a screwdriver, in an attempt to pick the lock. The Alpha returned his gaze to Dean, willing to communicate one last request.
“No shifting,” he silently mouthed to him. His brother nodded his assent, setting Raul’s worry at ease. Dean was reasonable, but their recent troubles had upset him, just as they had done to Raul as well. The sound of the door clicking open was music to his ears. It was the signal they had been waiting for. Still, they had to stay in the truck, just long enough for the two strangers to enter the building. Raul wrapped his fingers around the door handle, as the second one left his line of sight. Gently, he opened his door, tossing a quick glance up at the dark apartment, as the voice of one of the two men filled his ears.
“We’re in.” He spoke through his intercom.
“Roger.” His accomplice responded, as Raul and Dean trotted off towards the building. The hallway might have been dark, but his super sense of vision allowed him to see everything, as clear as in broad daylight. The two thugs had been a little too quick to disappear. The Alpha could not hear any footsteps on the stairs, as he strode through the entrance. But, the sound of the elevator coming to a halt, gave him the information he needed. Without wasting any time, he and Dean began to tiptoe up the staircase. Raul rolled up his sleeve. It was 1:22am. The three minutes that they had were more than enough. All the same, commotion was guaranteed. He could only hope that no neighbors would wake up.
Out of the corner of his eye, as he turned left, and onto the last set of stairs, he caught a flashlight beam. One of the strangers was pointing his flashlight up at Julia’s door. That particular sight sent a sliver of fear slicing through him. Understanding that the moment of truth was very near indeed, Raul was drenched in cold sweat. He rolled his fingers into fists, as the noise of the glass breaking reverberated through his skull. The thug in front of him lifted his leg up, and kicked down the door, as Julia’s body fell to the floor with a thump. Gritting his teeth, the Alpha thrust his arms up, and grabbed him by the shoulders, as Dean gripped the other man by the collar. Raul spun him around to face him, as his brother jerked his rival back. Quickly taking his right hand off of him, he used it to cover the thug’s mouth, as his accomplice rolled down the staircase. His brother’s strategy stirred annoyance within him. They had to go undetected, and yet, Dean had selected a noisy approach. Pushing his own opponent back, they entered Julia’s apartment, as he stifled his cries.
“D; go get that prick in here, and put that door back up,” Raul commanded, speaking through gritted teeth, as he spotted Ray’s mate down on the floor, senseless, lying on her chest amongst hundreds of bigger and smaller shards of glass. Understanding that going there would create even more noise, he turned left and into the kitchen. A rapid sweep told him that there was a window, in the upper right corner. Pressing his hand against the thug’s mouth harder, he started off towards the window, at the same time hearing the stranger’s racing heartbeat. His inner wolf growled with satisfaction. He had accomplished his first goal: to put fear into people who don’t get scared easily. Raul used his left hand to pull the window up. He then yanked the man’s mask off, exposing the face of a young man, as the urge to dispense justice grew larger within him by the second.
“I’m going to take my hand off very slowly,” he whispered, as a yellow glow spread over his eyes. “If you call for help, you’re dead. Nod if you understand.”
Part of Raul desired to be disobeyed. He would have an excuse to end him, right there and then. But, the stranger’s response was a quick nod.
“Who sent you?” the Alpha asked, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
“I don’t know his real name,” the thug replied, his lips quivering, as a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead. “All I know is he’s some…” he paused, “…big shot advertiser.”
Never in his life had a single word shocked him to his core, as this one. He only knew one advertiser, one that hated him with every molecule of his being, with motive to hurt him and his family: Tom Riker, Monica’s ex-husband. What he didn’t know, was how he had managed to acquire this information about them. Still, he had a problem that needed to be dealt with, faster than Riker: the thug before him. He had the information he was searching for, and he had seen his face. He could not be allowed to live. In a swift move, he gripped him by the belt of his pants. Flexing his arm muscles, he pushed him up, squeezing his neck in his palm, as a choked out scream left his lips. The stranger’s cry resounded through the quiet neighborhood, as his body fell out the window. Raul flipped around, still struggling to come to grips with the shocking truth.
A rather peculiar sight greeted him, as he left the kitchen behind him. Dean was sitting down on his knees beside Julia. He had rolled her on her back, and was gently slapping her. Just as he had requested, the door was back up, out of its hinges, blocking the entrance, but his brother had failed to obey his other command.
“Where’s the other guy?” Raul inquired, as he closed in on them.
“He took a nasty bump on the head on his way down.” Dean informed him, as his gaze shot up to meet his. “He didn’t make it. The blood trail will lead right into Julia’s place if I move him.”
“Then don’t,” the Alpha groaned, putting his hands on his waist, as he averted his gaze from him. “Damn you, Riker; damn you, you son of a bitch,” he added, cocking his head in frustration.
“Riker sent these morons?” Dean squinted up at him, as his face contorted in confusion.
“The other guy mentioned an advertiser, before he fell out the window,” Raul affirmed, settling his gaze on Julia. “He couldn’t tell me his name, but who else can it be?”
“Riker and Helena’s niece are in bed together,” Dean concluded, shaking his head in skepticism. “Feels like a bad dream.”
“Wake her up,” Raul urged, his voice coming out thoughtfully. “We need to get back to Paxton, ASAP.”
The Alpha’s heart sank, as he realized what he had to do. Tom had made a major mistake, one that he had to pay for with his very life. Nobody could mess with the well-being of his family, and Riker was trying to pick them apart. He absolutely had to be punished. No longer could Raul respect Monica’s request about staying away from her former husband. Now, he was faced with the issue of having to break this terrible news to her, and he dreaded her reaction more than he feared facing a witch and a human in battle.
Chapter Twenty
A few minutes afterwards, Julia regained consciousness. The drug Riker’s henchmen had used to sedate her had not yet worn off. As a matter of fact, she was still drowsy, and she could barely speak. Raul could not wait for her to recover, however. He actually preferred her this way. Dealing with her constant questions was much more than he could handle at the moment. In any case, staying there any further could spell disaster for them all. So, they left Julia’s apartment building like thieves in the night.
The first rays of light had shattered the darkness, as his truck rolled down the road that led to his birthplace. Massive, dark clouds were looming over Paxton, just like the threat that loomed over his family. Naturally, Raul desired to see the faces of his two, most favorite people on this Earth once he finally stepped into his own home, after delivering Dean and Julia to theirs. Still, it was too early for them to be up. More importantly, however, he wasn’t ready to have a conversation about Riker with Monica yet. Therefore, he decided to head for his roof. Yes, it would be extremely cold, but it was the only place where he could find solace, without having to worry about waking his mate and his daughter. Stirring logs in the fireplace was guaranteed to make noise, and he meant to avoid that if at all possible.
The skin on his face welcomed the crispness of the dawn as he stepped onto the terrace. It awakened his senses, like it always did, when his body was wearied. Laying his eyes on the Lockhart forest before him, he exhaled hard, the vapors from his breath clouding his vision. If only the revelation had been as unclear as the trees had been at that moment. If only he had any doubts over his decision. All the same, he had none whatsoever. Raul was not concerned about losing the love of his life. He and Monica loved one another ferociously, and now they had a child together. His doctor was not going to destroy everything, just because he was forced to disrespect her will. Still, this decision was bound to have an impact, one that he could not possibly predict.
Gazing out at the vastness of the forest, he felt moisture on his right index finger. A snowflake had crossed paths with him; its frosty edge spreading up to the bottom of his nail. Raul brought his hand closer to his body, to wipe the freezing cold water off of him. But, just as he did, a flowery scent that didn’t belong in this winter landscape engulfed him, once again making his heart flutter in his chest: roses. Monica…
“You’re up way too early,” he muttered, a hint of complaint in his baritone. “Go back to sleep.”
“I heard your footsteps on the stairs,” she said, her voice a little hoarser than usual, as she sauntered towards him. “It sounded as if you had a huge burden weighing down on your shoulders. What seems to be the problem?”
“It can wait,” Raul responded with a stiffer tone, his eyes still locked on the forest. “Get back inside. Our girl needs her mother.”
“That’s what this is for,” Monica pointed out, taking a white, baby monitor out of the pocket of her coat, as a small smile formed on her face. “How did it go in New York?”
“Julia’s safe and sound in Ray’s cabin,” he announced, casting a sideways glance down at her, as she stopped beside him. “We killed the two goons that tried to kidnap her. One of them told me who’s behind all this.”
“That’s great news!” She commented, her gorgeous eyes glinting with excitement. “Who is it?”
“Your ex,” Raul grumbled, turning his body to the right to face her. “It looks like he and Donna are working together.”
“Tom?” Monica exclaimed, as her face twisted into an expression of shock and fear. “He orchestrated this?”
“That’s right,” he said with a nod. “He doesn’t leave me much choice, doc. That bastard has put all of us through hell lately.”
“Oh, my God…” she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut, as she put her hands on her temples. “It cannot be.”
“The guy’s obsessed with finding me, doc.” Raul raised his tone, narrowing his eyes at her. “You shouldn’t be surprised. When you told me to leave him alone, I said to myself: ‘Sure, let him try to lure my wolf all he likes, why should I care? I might as well have a laugh, watching him give it a go.’ But, now he’s taken it to a whole different level. I can’t just ignore him.”
“I see,” she said on an exhale, dropping her arms. “Well, if it comes to that…” Monica drew in a sharp breath, and then responded. “Do what you have to do.”
“You’re ok with it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t condone violence, you know that,” She stated, her voice picking up volume, as she intensified her stare. “But, I am a mother now, and I will not let anything nor anybody threaten my family. Tom must be stopped.”
For a second, Raul could not believe what he was hearing. His benevolent doctor wouldn’t hurt a fly. There was no way that she would approve of this, prior to the birth of their child. Still, it appeared that maternity had changed her. Monica had turned into a sleepless guard of their happiness, a fierce protector of their child. The maternal instinct had literally transformed her. Of course, that change thrilled him. He no longer had to worry about her reaction to anything that involved violence. His decision would not have any impact on their relationship. A glorious smile lit up his face, as he curled his arms around her. Sliding his right one up her back, he watched, as a tiny snowflake landed on her right eyelash. Raul held Monica close, as he trailed his fingers around her neck.
“I love you, doc,” he breathed, looking deep into her eyes, as yet another snowflake graced her hair. “Don’t worry; I’ll keep us safe.”
“I love you, too, Raul,” she whispered, as his hand traveled up, towards her cheek. “I know you will.”
The wind rustled through the trees, as he tilted his head down, feeling her tender, warm skin in his hand. Monica wrapped her arms around his waist, just before their lips locked in a soft kiss, as her hair became entangled with more and more snowflakes. The thought of the impending battle flew out of his mind, as he surrendered to her. His mate’s embrace was acting like a tranquilizer. Her sweet kiss had ever been the ideal way to take his mind off his troubles. This time, however, it was more than just the perfect way to help him relax. It was the touch of a woman who would not hesitate to do anything in order to protect her family: the touch of the Alpha female; his Alpha female.
Chapter Twenty One
Appeased by his mate, Raul was at last able to get some much needed rest. However, as soon as he woke up, early that night, he had to seek Helena’s help. To do that, he had to go to Clover Lake, and he couldn’t go alone. He knew Dean would be more than willing to tag along. As soon as he closed his front door behind him however, he discovered that he was in for a surprise. Amazingly, Kate, Julia, Dean, Melissa and Joe were all gathered outside in his yard, staring at him. Needless to say, he appreciated it. Five brains were preferable to two, and their gesture would save him the trouble of having to explain anything to them later on. At the same time though, he realized that, despite their nobleness, he had to let down at least two of them. Raul would not leave his mate and child unprotected.
“Evening, boys and girls,” he called out as he tipped his head down in a polite gesture. “I wasn’t expecting to find you all here, especially Joe.”
“You saved my skin from a demon.” Joe emphasized, as Raul padded towards them. “Why wouldn’t I want to be here?”
&nb
sp; “Because you just got off work,” The Alpha replied, staring down at the tons of dust on Joe’s blue shirt. “Anyway, Kate, Julia, you guys stay here. Your friend could use the company. The rest of you follow me.”
“I talked to Kate about New York,” Dean declared, as they trotted off towards Lockhart forest. “She got so mad that she threw our kitchen table up against the wall. She wants to – and I quote – ‘knock his freaking head off.’”
“Yeah, that son of a bitch is nobody’s sweetheart,” Raul said, pursing his lips, as he walked alongside his brother. “I get it that he wants to harm me, but why would Donna partner with him? We don’t even know each other.”
“Helena and her brother were estranged. Maybe she’s trying to get back at her for pushing her father away,” Dean speculated, his voice coming out hesitant.
“Helena didn’t push anybody away,” Raul rejected that notion, his tone firm. “Not according to her, anyway. Even if she did, Donna has no right to mess with our lives.”
“She means to hurt her through us,” Dean insisted, his face hardening, as he looked up at him. “I can’t think of anything else.”
“Dean…” Raul heaved a long, deep sigh, focusing on the snowy trees up ahead. “I don’t want another Marianne, man; or another Azazel. It’s not the fighting that scares me. It’s what follows. You saw it yourself. Helena took off, because she couldn’t handle the pain. We lost her for almost six months. Who knows what will happen the next time?”
“I don’t know,” Dean shrugged his shoulders, as a bitter smile burst upon his lips. “Maybe we should all accept the fact that holding on to the life we have here is going to take a lot of hard work. That’s what I did.”
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