Second Chance (Enduring Kiss)

by Black, C. E.

  I could see the hope in his eyes and knew this meant a lot to him. Having someone, even if it was only half of what it could have been, was better than having nothing at all. I couldn't deny either of us this time together.

  "Sure, anytime you want."

  He grinned, his golden eyes glowing. He gave me one last long kiss before leaving. When the door shut behind him, I wondered what I had just gotten myself into.

  Chapter 4

  I could not believe after all that time I had finally found her. I wasn't even looking for her this time and she plopped right onto my lap, and she had only been a few hours away. I didn't know whether to laugh or scream.

  She was everything to me, my other half and I was beside myself with happiness at the prospect of having her by my side again, but she had left me. She left me to live a strange new life alone, after everything I did for her.

  After everything I gave up and after what I agreed to become just to save her, how could I forgive her? I did not know. What I did know was that I had to get her back. I needed to know why she betrayed me.

  When I dreamed of her, she was so beautiful, more beautiful than I remembered. Her blonde hair was longer, but just as soft. Her hazel eyes had always struck a chord with me. They had so much color and it seemed everyday they would look different.

  I had tried many times in the past to dream walk with her and it had never worked. It must have been because of the distance that was between us. I wanted to spend the dream lying beside her with her wrapped in my arms. Better yet, making love to her, but all I could think of was her leaving me.

  What was even more confusing was her reaction. She seemed shocked by my questions. She even shook her head no. It didn't make sense and I was determined to get the truth. Finally, I would know how my mate could do the unthinkable. Never had a mate left another on purpose. Mates were made for each other and there had never been an imperfect match. What happened to cause her to act in such a way? I asked myself again.

  "Master Evans, are you ready to go?"

  I turned toward Stephen, my best friend and head guard. He was dressed in a black suit with a green tie that matched his eyes. His brown hair was styled short and neat.

  I was dressed similarly, but my suit was dark gray and my tie was light blue. I hated wearing black. I always felt like I was going to a funeral when wearing the color.

  "Stop calling me that Stephen," I groaned.

  He smiled. He loved to tease me about being a Master. I hated it, all of it.

  My meeting with Master Christensen was tonight. I would be getting answers soon and I was starting with him.

  "Yes, I'm ready. Do you know if she'll be there?"

  "I doubt it. Our wolves found that she rarely goes to Master Christensen's mansion. She goes to school and spends the rest of her time at the Pack's house. She lives there."

  Disappointment washed over me. I had hoped to surprise her, although she might have been expecting me after our dream. I would have to come up with another way to see her.

  "Well, shall we go then?" I asked and we headed out of the hotel room.

  Walking out of the hotel, I kept vigilant. I knew my guards had already checked the area and were continuing to keep watch, but old habits die-hard. Even after five years, I still wasn't used to having my own guards. I was so accustomed to guarding others that I continued to look out for everyone in my clan even as they were ready to take a bullet for me, so to speak.

  The night was clear and warm, the moon was full and the air smelled fresh. I breathed in deeply, preparing myself for what was to come.

  Stephen and I climbed in the limo. We had a driver and one guard up front and a few others following us in a separate car. I leaned my head back on the seat and looked out at the passing city lights of Savannah.

  The meeting with Christensen was going to be stressful. I knew him and his people thought I was coming to take over, but I did not intend to do so. I just wanted answers about Gretchen. She was the one and only vampire I had ever made and I wanted to know what happened to her.

  I knew she had an affair with Christensen, but I couldn't figure out why he refused to turn her himself. If he cared for her at all, he would have. I could not imagine having a lover dying of cancer and ignoring her pleas for more time. Finding out she died added to the mystery. I needed to know there was no foul play involved and maybe I could find out more about Rebecca.

  Rebecca, I sighed. I just couldn't keep her far from my thoughts. The woman stayed in my head and heart at all times. What was she doing right then? Did she ever think of me? I had to talk to her. I had to find out what was going on in her head.

  Man, maybe I was going crazy, or everyone around me was. My whole world had felt shaken for the past five years. There had been nothing but heartache, confusion, and the whole thing with Gretchen had just added more stress to my already out of control life.

  As we moved along through nightlife traffic of downtown, heading toward the countryside, I thought back to that time five years ago. What could have made Rebecca leave? I remembered being held in a small cell for a couple of days before some of the pack was forced to beat and torture me. I never held it against them. I could tell they felt guilty and were reluctant, trying to hold back, but Master Logan stayed to watch many of the times.

  He would come into the cell and say, ‘Drake, you will take this punishment in silence or I will take it out on your Rebecca.’ Of course, I would do whatever he asked to keep her safe.

  Nothing was ever that bad. I could handle getting my ass kicked and a few stab wounds. The feedings were the worse though. I had heard it was pleasant to feed a vamp, but Logan made sure to practically rip my throat out every time. He also made sure to wait until I healed to do it again.

  I closed my eyes thinking about the last time I saw Logan. He came into the tiny dirty cell and announced that unless I gave consent to be turned into a vampire by him, he would take Rebecca as his personal feeder. He made many nasty remarks that I cared not to think about again.

  I agreed, but I was devastated. I loved being a wolf and l wasn't sure if losing that meant losing Rebecca as my mate, but I knew having her alive and well was much more important.

  I remembered not long after that, some of the pack came and released me saying Logan was dead. I immediately asked for Rebecca, but everyone was being vague until I lost it and grabbed the nearest wolf and held him by his throat until someone told me. When they said she had left the night before and no one knew where she went, I dropped the wolf and crumpled to the floor with him. Those few days after were a blur of rest and learning to feed. Soon after that I was made Master because they all trusted me.

  Wait, I thought, sitting up straight in my seat. She left around the same time as Logan's death; in fact, the night before. That was it. That was how I was going to get her back.

  "Stephen," I said.

  Stephen was sitting across from me silently reading a newspaper. He knew when I was in my head and would leave me to myself. He was such a good friend and I was in need of advice. He looked up questioning.

  "Rebecca left around the same time as Logan's murder right?"

  Stephen folded his paper and set it down next to him on the seat. "Yes that's right. She left the night before is what I recall some of the guards saying. Why?"

  "Do you think she could be suspected of being a part of killing Logan?" I asked him.

  He looked shocked and I couldn’t blame him. Rebecca could never do such a thing. She was too shy and innocent to come up with a plan of murder, but I could use the time line to my advantage.

  "Drake, you know she wasn't involved and she left the night before."

  I waved my hand to dismiss his comment. "Of course I know that."

  Stephen looked visibly relieved, which was odd. What did he care what I thought about Logan's death? I really didn't care who killed him at all.

  "It could be a way to get to her though. I could tell Christensen and her Pack Master that she is wan
ted for questioning."

  It was brilliant, I thought. She would have to come back with me and then I could get all the answers I needed.

  I smiled at the thought of having her next to me, talking with me. To see her and touch her again would be unbelievable. My mind automatically took me to the times she would run her fingers down my neck as we kissed. Her lips were so soft, and that sexy voice of hers would tell me she wanted me again.

  "Um, Drake, don't you think that's a little overboard?" Stephen said bringing me out of my sinful thoughts.

  I shifted in my seat trying to hide the erection such thoughts produced. It was no use; nothing was going to hide this monster. Only Rebecca could do this to me, make me so hard it was painful. Stephen probably already saw it anyway.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, if you want to talk to her so badly, why not just call her or go see her? Why make up such an excuse?"

  Stephen had a point to a certain extent. I could do those things, but I doubted it would work. She might not want to see me. She left me after all.

  "Do you honestly think they're going to let me waltz right in there and have myself a visit with one of their wolves? They think I'm here to take over and by the way whoever told them that is getting their ass kicked."

  Stephen shrugged. "We thought it was good PR. They needed to know you were serious. We never said you were taking over, just that it was in there best interest to talk with you."

  "Right, PR, whatever. So, what do you think? Will it work?"

  He shrugged again. "I don't know, maybe. I guess we'll have to see."

  We pulled up to Mater Christensen's mansion. It was a large white plantation home that they had most likely added a large basement to for the Master. So many lights were on it almost looked daylight outside and a ton of guards surrounded the house, some even in wolf form. They must have been nervous. I glared at Stephen. Stupid PR, I thought.

  I was led into the mansion, only Stephen and two other guards accompanied me, which was what we agreed. That was fine with me; I was not here to start any trouble. As I had said earlier, I only wanted answers.

  After passing through the foyer, which I didn't see much of because of how many guards surrounded me, we went into a sitting room. I looked around the spacious room. There was a large brick fireplace straight ahead. The red brick looked nice with the light yellow walls. The pine floors gleamed and the furniture looked comfortable. Very homey, I thought.

  I looked at the people present and realized with surprise that two women were joining us. One was a redhead dressed in a bright green summer dress. She was scowling at me and I could tell right away that she was a werewolf. If I had not smelled her scent, the growl waiting to come out of that gorgeous throat would have clued me in.

  I glanced at the other women; she was much calmer. She sat looking at me with curiosity instead of hatred. I liked her much more. Her brown hair was loose and long, flowing over one shoulder almost reaching her lap. She was wearing a much more subdued dress. It was more of a skirt suit in an off white.

  I turned to the men in the room. A few guards lined the walls but four men were actually standing in the center near the women. I knew Christensen was the dark headed man in the black suit so I made my introductions to him.

  "Good evening. I'm Master Evans," I said bowing slightly. "And this is my friend and head guard Stephen. And this is Bruce and Derek." I gestured to my guards.

  Christensen nodded then stepped forward and bowed. "I am Master Christensen and this is my lovely wife Jessica." He gestured to the woman in white. I nodded to her in acknowledgment.

  "And this is my head guard, Sean." I looked at the guard and nodded. I sniffed lightly as was habit from when I was a wolf. I was glad that sense wasn't taken away with the change.

  There was something familiar about this guard Sean's scent. Before I could think on it any more, Christensen nodded to one of the other men who actually had a close resemblance to the guard Sean I had just met.

  This man looked close to being a beach bum if it wasn't for the nice gray slacks and white cable knit shirt. His tan skin and shoulder length shaggy blonde hair made him look like he was ready to go surfing. I actually looked down to see if he had shoes on. He did; a very nice pair of black dress shoes actually.

  "Hello, I'm Pack Master Dane and this is my head guard, Paul," he said. I nodded to both men. "And this is Paul's mate, Susan." He gestured to the red head who was still scowling at me.

  I smile at her and her growl actually slipped out. I almost laughed, but I was ready to get down to business.

  "Please have a seat," Christensen said.

  I sat down in one of the blue chairs. Dane took the chair across from me, Christensen and Paul sat by their women on the beige couches so that we all sat in a circle around a glass coffee table.

  "I hope you do not mind the ladies joining us tonight, Master Evans. They were quite insistent," Christensen said.

  The red head, Susan, sneered at him. I couldn't help but smile at that.

  "No, of course not," I said looking to my left at him. "I want to start off by saying thank you for meeting with me." The red head snorted. I ignored her this time."What I have come to talk to you about is Gretchen. I want to know how she died."

  I noticed the woman in white, Jessica, shift uncomfortably in her seat and I immediately wondered of her involvement in the situation. She was tied to Christensen with the Enduring Kiss so maybe she killed Gretchen to get to him. I narrowed my eyes slightly. That didn't seem right though. She looked too innocent.

  I looked back at Christensen when he spoke. "May we ask first why you decided to turn her?"

  I was surprised by his question. He should have known this answer. "Well to be honest I'm surprised you didn't. Her illness was enough to consider the option, but being your lover should have swayed you."

  Jessica gasped and I turned towards her, but she was looking away so I could not see her face

  "Is that what she told you? She had an incurable illness and that she was my lover?" Christensen asked, anger tightening his features.

  "Yes," I replied. "Was she not?"

  "No," he said simply.

  Great, I thought. I could tell he was being truthful. I could sense no deceit coming from him. "Tell me what's going on," I demanded.

  "Gretchen was one of my feeders. When she noticed my attachment to Jessica, she became obsessed with winning me for herself. She tricked Jessica into believing Gretchen and I were going to perform the Enduring Kiss, which was not true. When I finally fired her and had her move out of the house, she recruited a new wolf of Dane's pack to help kidnap Jessica. When we caught up to them, Jessica was nearly dead. In fact, I had to perform the Enduring Kiss to save her. What we couldn't figure out was who turned her and why." Christensen explained.

  I was shocked. Gretchen did all of that and was able to hurt this women because I was tricked into turning her. I felt disgusted with myself. I looked over at Jessica. She was looking down trying not to make eye contact.

  "Jessica." When I spoke her name, she looked up and I could see her eyes were wet with unshed tears. "I am so sorry," I said. She nodded and gave me smile that made me feel a little better.

  I glanced at them all. "I'm sorry to you all for the mess I've put you in. Not only with what happen with Gretchen, but with this meeting as well. I was informed you thought I was gunning for a takeover, but that was never my intention. Some of my staff decided to get a little carried away," I said giving Stephen a sideways glare. He just shrugged it off.

  "Apology accepted," Christensen replied. "And if I might be blunt?" I nodded. "I was surprise she was able to convince a Master to turn her. We normally do not turn someone so quickly. I understand more now that I know she made you believe she was dying, but still...," he paused a moment. "Were you a new Master?"

  There was his bluntness. However, I was not offended.

  "Yes, I became a Master right after I was turned, only five years ago." There
was silence in the room.

  "That does explain it, although your compassion for others shows in your actions and that is commendable. I have another question though." Christensen continued. I raised my eyebrow in acknowledgment. "You smell and act like a wolf. Were you a werewolf before?"

  "Yes."

  "Then were you turned against your will?" The red head asked suddenly.

  I noticed concern had replaced her scowl. I guessed the situation had turned away from being hostile.

  "No, I wasn't. It was complicated, but essentially I was threatened into it."

  I could feel the shock of what I said go through the room. Well, through everyone except my party. They already knew the details. I decided it was time to move on to my other plan.

  "This brings me to something else that has come to my attention." I turned to the Pack Master. "I was recently informed that a past member of ours is now a part of your Pack."

  I notice Stephen trying to get my attention, but I ignored him. I had to get Rebecca.

  "We need to speak with her immediately, please, Pack Master Dane."

  "Sure, who is she and if you don't mind my asking, why does this sound so serious? And please, call me Nathaniel," he added.

  "Thank you Nathaniel. We need to question her about the murder of the Master before me. Her name is Rebecca Olson. Oh, and you all may call me Drake."

  I could feel the tension in the air along with the hostility. The red head was ready to leap to her feet, but her mate Paul had his hand on her arm. I glanced backed toward Christensen and his wife and saw their concern, but what really surprised me was the guard, Sean's, reaction.

  To say he was pissed was putting it mildly. He had a shocked look on his face that quickly became hatred. His fists were clinching at his sides, his muscles bunching, readying for action.

  The room definitely wasn't peaceful anymore.

  "No!" Sean suddenly yelled.

  Nathaniel stood and went to him touching his arm. Sean pulled away from him.