Beta (Vanguards Book 3)

by Annie Nicholas

  “Fuck you, Robert.”

  He grinned, he couldn’t help it. “I like it better when you call me Rob.” She had followed him. Been watching the brownstone. Had ample opportunity to attack if that had been her goal yet she hadn’t. Taking a step from the wall, he pushed the gun aside. “Maybe I should take you up on your offer, Esther. Considering you’re armed and dangerous, tying you up might be in my best interest.” Keeping her close and under supervision would be in his best interest as well.

  Esther retreated across the alley, fumbling with her weapon as Rob’s shifter strength almost knocked it out of her hand. Firm hold returned, she re-aimed at him, finger on the trigger. “Stay where you are.”

  He held his arms out at his side. “You seem to like pointing that gun at me.”

  She had to pull the trigger.

  “Does it make you feel safer?” Rob stalked her path, self-confidence oozed from him, the unsure geek of last night absent. His eyes burned with an internal light from the beast within. Then suddenly, he was right in her face, the gun was in his hand. He clicked the safety on and slid it back in her holster.

  Just like that.

  “You might shoot a pedestrian if you’re not more careful.”

  She licked her dry lips. “You’re not a normal werewolf.” Hunting monsters made her money and she wasn’t poor. Her skills were that well-honed. She’d put down her share of crazed werewolves.

  The brick wall stopped her progress and she gasped.

  He leaned his hand casually against the wall by her head, blocking her path to the street. “Define normal.”

  “You could pass for human.” She hadn’t sensed his shifter nature at all when they met. Maybe it was the glasses. No. He had solid control. That’s what made him different and he was a trained fighter. The werewolves she had met hadn’t that kind of discipline.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Robert was the most dangerous creature she’d ever met. Without another thought, she took off away from the street.

  A surprised growl rumbled from the werewolf. The sound dumped adrenaline in her veins and the soles of her boots barely touched the uneven surface of the alley. Please don’t be a dead end.

  Human versus shifter in a race, the shifter always won. Her only chance was to lose him quickly and cover her scent trail. She wouldn’t repeat last night’s mistake.

  The pounding of his running shoes followed her.

  Damn it, he was smart. He hadn’t shifted to beast form, which most would since they ran faster in that shape. A woman being chased by a hairy monster tended to draw attention fast and someone would call the police quickly. Staying in his human form, Robert would still be faster than her and not cause a public panic.

  This only confirmed her suspicions. He was the vampire’s attack dog. Maybe his daytime guardian. Daedalus must be powerful to tame and train a werewolf.

  Racing around the corner, her boots hit a patch of loose gravel. Her feet slid in the wrong direction and she went down on her knees, scraping her palms on the dirty surface.

  Rob caught her by the shoulders, kneeling in front of her. “Are you all right?”

  She met his gaze and found real concern. She gave him a slow blink. Nobody cared about her. Ever. She shrugged off his hands and wiped the fresh blood on her palms on her jeans. “I’m fine.”

  He grabbed her wrists and examined the wounds. “Superficial. You don’t need stitches.”

  Her flesh didn’t but her ego sure did. She just fell on her ass while being chased by ninja wolf. The slayer organization would demand her license to be a badass returned.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He gave her that innocent smile she’d fallen for last night. Not again, mister. Fuck, he was good.

  “I wasn’t scared. I had the gun.”

  Robert helped her onto her feet, his smile turning into a smirk. “You were the one running.”

  Again. Touché. She looked down at her blood smeared jeans and frowned at the tear in her knee. “Nice.”

  “Nice,” he repeated, but his tone was softer and didn’t hold an ounce of her sarcasm.

  She glanced up and caught his appreciative assessment of her legs. “You have girlfriends.” Plural. “Dog.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. The sound rang true. “You have no idea how funny you thinking that is.” He wiped the corners of his eyes. “I’m single. Too single. My supposed girlfriends would tear me apart if they heard you say that, if their mates didn’t get to me first.”

  Would she really fall for the roommate line?

  Yeah, she’d fall for the line.

  She hooked her hand around the back of his neck and pressed her lips to his. This weird thing between them had to end. She needed him out of her system so she could concentrate on her real quarry. Slam, bam, thank you Wolfie.

  He startled at her kiss and jerked away as if she’d bit him instead. Maybe she should have. He’d liked it last night. Then he cupped her face in rough hands and tenderly brushed his lips over hers.

  A shiver ran down her spine.

  Slow and gentle, he explored her mouth, pulling back when she tried to deepen the kiss, only to return and take control.

  Her knees were melting and her skin felt too tight. She pressed her body to his hard packed muscled one. Oh baby. There clothes had to come off now. She undid the button of his jeans.

  He withdrew. “Here? Now?” The shock in his voice only made her want him more.

  “Of course.” She undid her button. “You have a better idea.”

  “I have a room with a bed.” He glanced over his shoulder at the distant street. “And walls.”

  “You’re a shifter. I thought public nudity didn’t bother you.” She panted for breath between words.

  “It doesn’t. Sex is different.” He tilted his head in an inhuman manner.

  She put some space between them. “Fine, let’s go back to your place.” Because following a werewolf home was the smart thing to do. Whenever Robert was in proximity, she forgot all her training. Or had she? This would give her the chance to explore the brownstone. Check if his story was true. See if there was any traces of vampire.

  Robert would be the death of her. She just knew it.

  He gathered her in his arms and buried his nose in her hair. “Yes, that sounds good.” He placed a kiss on her neck, his hands traveling along her body.

  Desire flashed hot, scalding, burning away rational thought. Death might be worth it.

  “Crap.” Robert stopped petting her and leaned his forehead against hers. “I can’t. Not yet.” His warmth faded as he released his hold and buttoned his pants.

  “You are trying to kill me. I knew it.”

  He chuckled, thinking she was joking. “I need to take care of a problem first.”

  “Maybe I can help.” And get this show on the road.

  “This is a pack issue. I need to take care of it myself.” He touched her face. “Why are you following me, Esther?”

  “I’m not following you.” It was a half-lie, one he couldn’t detect. “I remembered your address and went there this evening to see you. That’s when I saw the women.” The twisted truth came so easily to her lips. As a mistress of deception, the pain it caused surprised her. She blinked, unsure what to do next. Confess? What good would that do? “I became angry and followed you to the bar.”

  If Rob ever found out the truth, he would leave her if not kill her. She was a slayer. She had killed his kind and she wanted to kill his vampire master. Better to live with a lie for whatever time fate gave them. She would have him for as long as she could because she didn’t deserve better.

  “So jealous you wanted to shoot me?”

  “Nothing’s more dangerous than a woman scorned.” She took his hand luxuriating in his head and strength. “What’s your problem?”

  “I have a pack member stirring trouble. A lot of trouble, especially for me. I need to take him down a peg or two.”

  “I kno
w some things about werewolf packs. Shouldn’t your alpha be disciplining the troublemaker?”

  “Sure, if he was in town. It’s up to me while he’s gone.”

  “You’re the beta?”

  He frowned at the shock in her voice. “You sure know how to make a man feel good about himself.” He let her go and stuck his hands in his pockets. “I need to go.”

  “Wait.” She grabbed his elbow. She was screwing up everything and really didn’t want to lose this connection between them. “You always catch me off guard by not being who or what I expect.” Standing in front of him, she blocked his path. With his unnatural strength, he could have lifted her out of the way, but he didn’t. “I’m not good with surprises, but I like that you’re different. You’re not like any man I’ve ever met.”

  “You’ve known a lot of men, Esther?” His tone softened.

  “Yes, but none of them compare to you.” She chuckled. “I’ve definitely never stalked any of them to a bar and threatened to shoot them.”

  “That’s not reassuring.” His grin took the sting from his words and she realized he was teasing her.

  “You make me crazy, Rob. What can I say?”

  His gaze soften again, that hungry look returned with promises from a patient and dominate wolf. “Truth,” he whispered.

  She rolled her eyes. Yes, it was the truth. “Don’t let it go to your head. I’ll drive you. When you’re done, we can continue where we left off.”

  “That would be nice.” He placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer. “I hope you realize I don’t have anything worth stealing at home.”

  She gave him a small punch in the flank. “That’s not funny.” He was playful too. Robert was going to break her heart, yet here she was offering it to him like a sacrifice.

  He flinched but laughed. “Just needed to clear that up.”

  “If you don’t trust me then we’ll go to my hotel room instead.” Wait what? Brain to heart, what the hell?

  Chapter Five

  “You’re from out of town?” Robert glanced at Esther as they walked out of the alley onto the sidewalk by the club. His strong arm gripped her shoulders, pulling her closer.

  “I’m in transition.” She never stayed anywhere too long. “We’ll take my car.”

  “Fine by me.” He shrugged. “So, what do you do for a living then?”

  “I hunt vampires.”

  He laughed and squeezed her shoulders. “Good thing I’m a werewolf.” He totally missed the truth and thought it a joke. Most men did, but he wasn’t most men. She swallowed her disappointment.

  “Yeah.” Yet, she carried silver bullets in her gun tonight. Wasn’t she a bitch? “Here’s my car.” She unlocked the doors and slid into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”

  “Take I-Ninety. We’re going to a biker bar where my problem likes to hang out and see if he’s there.”

  “Good, I could use a stiff drink.” She started the car and pulled out. “Are you going to fight him?”

  “Probably. Can you stay out of it if I do?” He twisted in his seat to face her.

  “Umm…if he’s going to kill you, I’ll have to shoot him. Otherwise, I’ll stay out of it. I understand the whole dominance games packs have to play.”

  “Who are you, Esther?”

  She glanced at him as he stared at her profile as if memorizing it.

  “You kiss me, steal my wallet, shoot at me, follow me, hold me at gunpoint, then kiss me. You’re either an escaped mental patient or someone really interesting.”

  “I’ll opt for the interesting someone. And I shot because you were in beast form, loose on the street, and I didn’t know it was you. Not to mention, you scared the crap out of me.”

  “You weren’t that scared.” He tapped his nose. “Good sense of smell. What aren’t you telling me? Not every girl I meet pulls a thirty-eight out of her waistband.”

  “You know your guns.” She took the on-ramp to the interstate. “I’m not the only one with secrets, Rob. I saw the way you moved when I pulled the trigger. You’re no-run-of-the-mill werewolf. Why does the Vasi pack need trained fighters?”

  “You know the pack’s name?” He leaned in closer and sniffed.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Just double checking and making sure you’re not a werewolf masking her scent.” He cleared his throat. “Pure human.”

  She weaved through the scant late-night traffic. Their silence stretched. “So, are you going to answer my question?” The air in the car grew warm, so she kicked on the AC.

  “Let’s agree to keep our own secrets for now.” He played with the vent, angling the air to hit him more directly. “Esther?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  She gripped the steering wheel tight. “I don’t blame you.”

  God, he was getting under her skin. She wanted him to trust her. Shit, she wanted to enter that fucking bar and blow away his problem too. What a mess. She couldn’t take the contract on the Nosferatu. To accomplish such a task, she needed to be in the game one hundred percent. Not have her head in the clouds over a werewolf and her heart dangling on a thread. She’d been acting stupid all night. Time to make a responsible decision. No vampire slaying until she had her shit together.

  “Take this exit.” His voice deepened, and his eyes shone with that inner light werewolves had when their beasts were close to the surface of shifting.

  “You all right?” She took the exit. If he shifted in the car with her, she’d probably crash.

  “I’m fine. I’m in control. Just getting ready.” He rolled down his window and stuck his face into the wind. “Make a left at the light. It should be two blocks down. It’s called the Twisted Tire.”

  She took the turn and made it past one block when Rob leaned his torso out the window. “Stop.”

  “Did I miss it?” She slammed on the brakes and parked along the deserted street.

  “No, I smell someone I know, and I need to talk to him too.” He opened the door and leaped out, then spun around. “Wait here for me?”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  He grinned and ran down a side street.

  Shaking her head, she leaned it against her steering wheel. He smelled someone? What an odd thing for her to just accept, or would be if he were human…which he wasn’t. Playing chauffeur for a werewolf and not taking a contract that could take care of her for life were not part of her personality. She groaned. Was Rob worth a million dollars? Something in her gut told her he might be.

  Robert jogged around the building next to where Esther parked. He watched the rooftops until he saw who he smelled.

  On a four-story building a set of huge boots dangled over the roof’s edge. Not too many men had feet that size, and Daedalus liked a place with a view. Even if he fell, nothing would happen to him. Was it coincidence he sat here so close to where Talon hung out? Robert didn’t think so.

  Climbing the fire escape, he reached the roof easy enough. “Hey.” He hopped onto the surface and trotted to the vampire. Sitting next to him, he leaned on his hands. Lake Michigan was a black, smooth surface dwarfing the city’s edge. “Nice view.”

  “Yeah.” Daedalus continued to stare, an aura of dark foreboding surrounding him.

  “You waiting on Talon?”

  “I was, but I started thinking about Sugar.” He shifted his shoulder, then glanced at Rob. “She okay when you left?”

  “Sam took her to the movies.”

  He nodded. “You’re good friends. She deserves the best.”

  “Go home, Daedalus. She should be back soon. Surprise her with something.” Two more days before Eric and Spice came home. They would know what to do. He needed to keep the pack and his small family together for that short amount of time. Should be an easy task but everything was unraveling faster than he could fix it.

  “I’ve got nothing left to give her, Robert. She can’t accept what I am, and I can’t watch her commi
t suicide by mortality when I have the means to stop it. No matter what, we’re fucked. It’s like having someone cut off the tips of your fingers. It’s less painful when they do it quickly.”

  “You’ve had the tips of your fingers cut off?”

  The vampire turned his hard gaze on Robert. “Not the point. I’m thinking I should leave tonight. End things fast.”

  “That’s stupid.” The moment the words left his mouth he knew he was a dead shifter. He did a backward somersault and avoided a slap to his noggin. “Listen before you decide to beat me to a pulp, D.”

  “D?” The Nosferatu twisted.

  “We’re buddies now, right?”

  Daedalus only stared back at Robert as if he’d grown two heads.

  He held his hands out in a placating gesture. “Don’t make any rash decisions.”

  “I’m not,” the vampire shouted. “Ever since I asked Sugar to cross over and become a vampire, things have been heading this way.” He turned his back on Robert. “I’ve never asked a woman to cross over. Part of me wishes I’d just gone ahead and done it. At least, I’d have the rest of eternity to make it up to her instead of a few decades wishing I’d done it when we first met.”

  “She’d never forgive you.” Robert didn’t want to sit on the edge of the building anymore. It would be too easy for Daedalus to shove him off. He might survive the fall, but it would hurt like hell, and the vampire was in an ugly mood.

  “Time heals all wounds. Trust me on this one,” said Daedalus.

  “Then why haven’t you done it?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I’m off my game. I—I care too much. It’s not a good habit, take my advice on this, Robert.”

  “You want her to want this.” Robert ran his fingers through his hair, trying to yank a solution from his head manually. “You’re both so stubborn. You remind me of my parents, believing so much in your own ideas you’re willing to let it tear you apart.”

  Daedalus rose from the edge and faced him. Anger radiated from him in waves.

  Yet Robert’s mouth kept on its suicidal path. “I’d give anything to experience what you and Sugar have. There’s a solution, you just need to think outside the box. Isn’t there some other way for her to live longer instead of becoming vampire?”