I was about to snap out another nasty question when Gareth said smoothly, “You won’t have to worry about us. We can handle ourselves.” He aimed those dark eyes at me. “And yes, we’ll be able to help.”
“Even him?” asked Mateo, practically sneering at Sean. Well, it was really Alpha now, who didn’t much care for Sean since he’d taken up to flirting with Evie incessantly.
Sean grinned like a fiend. “Even me, Alpha.” He winked at my cousin.
Mateo narrowed his gaze then huffed before turning back toward the window.
Gareth guided us through the small town of Belle Chasse. We all fell into silence as we passed the Navy base, the lights disappearing as we crossed into the shadowy outskirts where Violet was being held in who knows what kind of condition. Heaven help Shane if he’d hurt her, because nothing on this earth or in hell would stop me from killing him if he did.
Chapter 28
~VIOLET~
* * *
Ty slipped his shirt back on while I pulled off my latex gloves. We’d kept to small talk while I tattooed him. One reason was because I was getting tired and really needed to concentrate. The other was that every question I wanted to ask him related to Nico, and I was afraid that might be an invasion of privacy. For Nico.
As I put my tattoo machine on the charger, I knew I needed food and sleep before I started on the next round. I’d only done three tattoos, but after the long day and night for the grand opening party, then being kidnapped and knocked over the head, I’d say I was doing a stellar job.
“I forgive him, you know.”
I snapped my head around to look at Ty, the shy young werewolf who could barely hold my gaze. He gave me a small smile as he picked up his jacket.
Turning back to the table to straighten my ink bottles unnecessarily, I asked, “Does he know that?”
“I told him so. Many times before he left. But somehow I don’t think it’s about my forgiveness.”
Facing him, I crossed my arms—to ward off the chill, not to be defensive. “What is it about then?”
“Nico needs to forgive himself.”
The teenager had a kindness in his eyes despite weathering some rough times in his short life. From what I understood, the only reason he and his brother were a part of this pack were because their parents hadn’t wanted them.
“You’re pretty smart for someone so young.”
His shy smile widened into a true one. Yet again, I was shaken by the fact that all werewolves seemed to have this magnetism that was inescapable. This one would be a heartbreaker one day.
“Anyway…” He glanced toward the door as Shane reentered, carrying takeout bags of fast food. “Maybe you can help him move on. He deserves it.”
Returning his smile, I agreed. “He definitely deserves to move on, find some peace.”
“Oh, yeah.” He shook his head. “That, too. But what I really meant was that he deserves you.”
“Me?” I laughed. “How do you mean?”
“Well, you’re—” He glanced down my body then blushed and looked away. “Um, really beautiful and kind. And Nico, he’s a good guy. A great guy. He deserves someone like you.”
Okay, now I was positive this kid was going to one day collect hearts and leave them in broken shards in his wake, all the while apologizing with that tender look, making them still want him despite their heartache.
“Thank you, Ty. Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of him.”
He held out his jacket. “If you’re cold, you can use my jacket.”
As I slipped it on, I shook my head with a laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“Oh, Ty. I feel so sorry for every girl in your future.”
His brow furrowed in confusion but then Shane was there, opening up the first bag and taking out wrapped burgers.
“Not much was open but a joint around the corner, but I figured you might be hungry.”
“Thanks.” I took a burger and fell onto the sofa, tucking my legs underneath me. “I need to get some rest anyway.” This side of the room had been in a perpetual glow from the magic I was emitting, but the light had dimmed to almost nothing as soon as I’d finished up with Ty. My energy was depleted, my body exhausted.
Shane observed my face, likely seeing the bags under my eyes before he nodded. “I figured. Eat up and take the couch.”
I took a seat and opened the wrapper on my lap, so damn hungry I didn’t even care what was on it. Not that I was all that picky anyway.
“You should let me call Nico and let him know I’m okay. He’s likely going out of his mind, trying to find me.”
Shane seemed to consider it for a split second before shaking his head. “Too risky. He may have access to cell tower locations and find us quicker.”
“Your funeral,” I said, biting into my burger.
“Probably. But Nico can’t think clearly where you’re concerned. As soon as you finish the tattoos, I’ll bring you back safe and sound.”
I didn’t mention to him that Livvy had sent me frantic telepathic messages a few times while I was tattooing, letting me know they were looking for me and not to worry. I wasn’t worried. Besides, if they listened to Clara, they’d know I was perfectly fine. I might’ve eschewed her “twin bubble” idea from time to time, but it was true that she’d be able to detect my well-being and could relay that to them.
I hoped that she was able to calm Nico down because he was surely unraveling over all this.
“You know, I’m still not even sure if this spelled ink will work,” I told Shane around a mouthful.
He devoured half his burger in one bite, staring down at the floor. When he swallowed, he said, “You gave a tattoo to Nico with the ink, though.”
“How’d you know?”
He arched a brow.
“Oh, right. The bugs.” I stared up at him, rather impressed with his devious ways. “Huh.” I took another bite, trying to remember all the clients that came through and what else they may have overheard.
He cleared his throat after he polished off his burger. “Our tech was really good.” He wore such a devious smile that I expected devil’s horns to sprout out of his dirty blond hair. “Even detected sound through the closed door of your supply closet.”
This asshole had listened in when Nico and I had first had sex?! A flush of heat swept up my neck from both embarrassment and fury. “Not cool.”
Several werewolves close by laughed, but not more than Rhett. That was Dimples’ real name I’d found out after a very flirty tattoo session.
Shane chuckled, too. “The intel actually helped, believe it or not.”
“How so?” I glared daggers at him, running back through that volcanic sex session with Nico through my mind.
“It told me exactly how fixated Nico was on you. And that if I gave him the right incentive, I could easily lure him away long enough to snatch you. And that you were making breakthroughs with the werewolf tattoo.”.”
I dropped my hands in my lap over the wrapper, still holding the burger in both hands. “Huh. You’re right.”
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I deleted the audio once we had what we needed.” He winked at me and gestured toward the sofa. “Get some sleep.”
“You know, you don’t have to hold me here. I’ll do the tattoos without force.”
He observed me a minute, biting his lip in concentration. “I know that now. But Nico’s going to want blood. Best we do this all in one swoop and get our asses back to Texas.”
He was probably right. I finished the burger then lay down as the lights went off in the warehouse. I could still see the outline of figures near the door and a few settling onto the floor on the opposite wall. My eyes were drifting closed when I felt a blanket spread over me. Opening my eyes, I caught the slender silhouette of Ty walking away.
Smiling to myself, I mumbled, “Poor girls” before closing my eyes again.
Right as I felt myself slipping into sleep, the outside door burst
open. I didn’t have the heightened senses that werewolves did, but I recognized the hulking figure and voice of Rick when he said, “We’ve got company coming up the gravel road.”
“Fuck,” cursed Shane before heaving an aggravated sigh. “Get ready for one fucking insane werewolf, guys.”
Chapter 29
~NICO~
* * *
“Do you know how far ahead the warehouse is?” My voice had gone gravel-deep, nothing but pure wolf.
“One point three miles,” said Gareth. “Pull over. They’ll already know we’re here. Let’s go on foot through the woods so we can circle to the back.”
Perfectly fine with that, I pulled over. I needed to shift anyway. There was no holding back the full beast now. He would have none of my chains as we stalked to the lair where they’d taken our mate.
“Is there another exit?” asked Mateo.
“No. They’d have to carry her on foot, which would be risky. We’d catch up to them before they got far.”
“Me and Nico would anyway,” he clarified with a snort.
“No,” said Henry, who rarely spoke. “We’d catch up faster than you, most likely.”
I remembered for a split second the moonwalk near the river earlier tonight when he blurred past us. I wondered what grims truly were and what they could do. But now wasn’t the time. I didn’t give a shit as long as they didn’t get in the way. And so far, all they’d been was completely honest and helpful so I wasn’t second guessing them.
I parked and pulled the emergency break. As we hopped out, I started stripping.
“Hey.” Mateo had stripped off his shirt and tossed it on the hood and was shoving off his boots. “Don’t kill anyone until we find out exactly what’s going on.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You’re trying to be the voice of reason? What if they had Evie?”
I got nothing but a spine-chilling growl in response.
“That’s what I thought.” I shoved off my jeans and boxer briefs, tossing them on the front seat. “Don’t worry. I’m only going to fuck him up a little bit at first. Unless they did something to Violet.” I popped my neck, getting ready for the shift. “Then he’s a dead man.”
Another growl in response as Mateo shifted. Bones broke and realigned until he was towering behind me. While Henry and Gareth observed all of this with perfect poise, Sean took a decided step backward, eyes widening. I almost smiled.
I honestly didn’t believe Shane would harm Violet. He had to know what she meant to me. And even if she hadn’t been my mate, he’d never been violent toward another woman. He’d beat the shit out of plenty of guys in bars for fun, but he didn’t crave hurting women. At least, he hadn’t when we’d been best friends. Then again, I’d never seen that menacing glare that he’d directed at me in the Cauldron. He blamed me for leaving. How far would he go to make me pay for it?
With a flare of rage, I shifted, the painful rip through my skin a cathartic release that I craved as much as my next breath. My awareness of every sight and sound and smell heightened triple-fold. I huffed a misty breath into the cold night air, glancing down at the three grims watching us.
While Henry and Gareth observed all of this with perfect poise, Sean took a decided step backward, eyes widening. I almost smiled. He was lucky he wasn’t my prey. The wolf sometimes latched onto whatever nearby creature showed fear. But tonight, my target was very clear, even with my wolf driving my instincts.
“Follow me,” said Gareth, turning and blurring into the woods.
What the fuck? They could trace almost as fast as vampires?
Then I remembered how fast Henry moved when we chased Shane on the streets. He was obviously holding back even then. He could’ve caught Shane.
I turned my head toward him and bared my teeth, releasing an eerie growl.
What did that fucker do?
He smiled, tilting his head. “I can’t trace in front of humans. It’s part of our code.”
Gareth reappeared in a blink. “What the fuck are y’all waiting on?”
Right. I took off through the woods with Alpha at my side, my cousin’s fierce wolf shining from his golden eyes. Our size and speed allowed us to move as fast as the tracing grims.
Tracing. Unbelievable. I had no idea they could move like vampires. What else could they do? I had a feeling I was going to find out.
Find our woman.
My wolf was present in both mind and body.
We skirted the property, but I could hear the werewolves off to our right about a half a mile, moving around and barking orders. They were stalking away from the warehouse to the perimeter of the woods to try to stop us before we could get there. Once they saw us, they’d be shifting, too, and it would be a nasty, all-out brawl, which is exactly what I wanted right now.
My craving for violence reared up, needing to release the rage that had rooted itself in my soul the second I heard that Violet was gone. We maneuvered to the northern perimeter on the exact opposite side of the gravel road that led into the property.
Henry signaled for me to come alongside him, completely unaffected by my monstrous form, and then whispered to me, “You and Mateo go straight in from this side. We’ll go another quarter mile that way and come in from behind and sneak into the warehouse to get Violet. They won’t expect grims, and they won’t detect us.”
I glanced at him, unable to speak in this form, but I was wondering how the werewolves couldn’t detect them.
His dark eyes glinted under the half-moon. “We don’t smell like werewolves. Or vampires. But we can move as fast as them.”
And apparently, they were also telepathic and could read minds. With a nod, I crept straight toward the edge of the woods with Alpha right at my side, our beasts larger than the average werewolves.
All werewolves were gargantuan beasts, but the alpha blood that ran through both our wolves made us bigger than the norm. And stronger. Shane would know this, him being the only alpha that I knew of amongst his pack now that I was gone.
Alpha’s growl rumbled like a tangible ripple in the woods, shivering into the wind, his electric yellow eyes mere slits as he spotted the men at the edge. But they hadn’t shifted. They were still in human form. What were they playing at? Didn’t they understand the threat at their door?
Fucking cowards!
I agreed with my wolf.
Alpha and I shared a look of understanding. He seemed to feel the same way my wolf did, curling his lip at the men. I huffed out an angry breath before stalking forward on all fours.
As we exited the edge of the woods, I reared up onto my hind legs and walked forward, knowing my nearly ten-foot-tall stance would intimidate the fuck out of them. There were two men, unarmed, standing there and walking backward with hands up.
What the fuck were they doing? They weren’t shifting, and it pissed me off.
Kill them anyway.
Alpha’s rumbling growl reverberated with my own. I fell back to all fours and moved slowly forward, glaring at their puny human forms. Even as my wolf was ready to rake a claw out and slice them to ribbons, it hit me with blunt force. The fact that they hadn’t shifted was their surrender.
A human was no match for a werewolf. They knew it. And Shane also knew that I wouldn’t kill a man unless it was warranted. Right now, I wasn’t quite sure if it was warranted.
Of course, this could be some sort of stalling maneuver, to keep me placated while they tried to sneak Violet out another way.
Slit their throats. Gut them good.
It was hard to think clearly with him in my head. I almost listened to him.
With the enraging thought that they might be trying to escape with Violet out the back, I leaped over the men and charged toward the building. A few other werewolves sprinted out of my way when I reached the double garage and gouged through the corrugated steel to get inside. Alpha was right there with me, clawing and ripping away the metal like it was paper.
When I stormed inside, I was
n’t prepared for what I saw. Violet stood next to Shane, holding onto his arm and wearing a Blood Moon jacket. His hand was apparently on her back. Something primal clicked inside me that wasn’t human. It was a lashing, red fury at my senses, roaring at this other man trying to take my mate.
Fucking kill him.
The reasoning man inside me was shoved behind bars as the beast took full control and charged toward his goal and target. To eliminate the competitor. To kill Shane.
Yes.
* * *
~VIOLET~
* * *
“Oh, fuuuck.” At the sound of huffing beasts outside the garage doors, I grabbed Shane’s arm to keep him near me so I could protect him. If I could calm Nico down long enough to explain what was going on before he got to him, then we’d be fine. Right?
Then the screeching rip of metal gave way to the deafening snarl of two seriously pissed-off werewolves leaping through the holes they’d created in the building. I knew which one was Nico right away, his electric green eyes so familiar.
I swallowed but had no saliva left in my mouth as I stared at Nico in werewolf form. There were no words to describe the sheer power and aggression pumping off his massive body, made of nothing but muscle and fur and sharp fucking teeth.
“My God,” I whispered.
I had no idea what he’d look like. I’d seen plenty of pictures in books and even videos on the SuperNet. But nothing had prepared me for seeing my boyfriend in beast form. Breathtaking didn’t quite cover it.
“Don’t shift!” shouted Shane as Rhett and some other guy were heaving breaths, canines extended.
But it didn’t matter. Nico’s beast narrowed his eyes on Shane, and I realized in that split second what he was seeing. Me, his woman, clinging to another alpha male. I suddenly released Shane and took a step forward. But it was too late.
Witches Get Stitches Page 29