Hale: Love Me Harder - Alien Paranormal Romance (18 page)

“Anything else you want to share with us, Dante?” Niko wondered what else Dante knew, but wasn’t sharing.

“Yes, Niko there is. When Dee becomes pregnant she will drive you crazy with her taste for shrimp.”

The room dissolved in laughter. Niko’s chest puffed up, all he heard was that one day Dee would conceive.

“Aran, how do you want to handle this?” Dante asked him.

Aran turned and looked at him, shaking his head. It always fascinated him how Dante controlled so much more and no one, not even the Created knew. He pulled strings carefully as if he were working with the tapestry of life. He was instrumental in each of his brothers meeting their mate. He worked to make sure Rena stayed alive long before Aran was to meet her. Dante was the first, the power he wielded should scare them all.

“We keep this information to ourselves for now. Scaring the human government is not in our favor. When the time comes we will inform them and let them know we will fight on the front lines of this invasion. There are other Created spread about on the earth. It’s time we track them down. They will either fight for this world or they will depart it.”

Every head nodded in agreement at what Aran proclaimed. Dante smiled at him giving a brief dip of his head. They would talk later.

Chapter Twenty Two

Tori leaned back to work the crick out of her neck and then her back. She and Lorali sat up late after all the others departed putting the finishing touches on the wedding and what she would need.

The new tablet Hale purchased for her was being put to good use. She was able to show Lorali sketches of designs she wanted to use for the wedding as well as having access to the drawings and pictures of the reception site.

“Lorali, what happened to your need for a lake or a pond?”

“Sergey is working on making a waterfall. He got the management team to agree to let him bring one in. They agreed as long as they were able to see the drawings. After they saw the drawings they added another condition. They wanted to have exclusive use of it. It’s to be on display for a year. Sergey and the others agreed to the terms.”

“Is there anything they can’t do?”

“They can’t have girls. Although I am betting Nicolas is working on that.”

“Nothing but boys?”

“Yes. If you agree to mate with Hale you will only have boys.”

Tori’s eyes lit up. “Little boys with platinum hair and brown eyes. I love it.”

“I thought you might.”

Lorali walked over to Tori. “Thank you, Tori. I don’t think I could have gotten all of this together without your help.

“Don’t thank me yet. We have to get it all done in two weeks.”

“You will do it. I think we have kept the males waiting long enough.”

Lorali reached over giving Tori a swift hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family. It is nice to have a new sister.”

She walked out the room leaving Tori with her mouth hanging open. With a shake of her head she followed Lorali to the game room.

“How are the plans coming?” Sergey asked as Lorali came into the room.

“Tori is amazing. The wedding will be beautiful. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”

She gave him a truly happy smile.

“Tori, thank you for staying late to help me finalize the plans. Hale, thank you for being patient with us.”

“You’re welcome, Lorali, I am excited to be coordinating your wedding.”

“Anything for a sister,” Hale said moving over to Tori’s side.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes.” She tried to cover a big yawn before saying her good nights and walking out with Hale.

“The wedding will be marvelous, Hale.” She climbed into the Jeep as he held the door open for her. “Didn’t we drive one of your muscle cars over here?”

“Dante suggested I might want to off-road tonight. I’m borrowing the jeep.”

Tori shook her head. “I might be wrong, but I think we still have Aran’s jeep at the house. Why would he think we would want to go off-road in the middle of the night?” Suspicion crept into her voice as her hands tensed a little.

Hale shrugged. “I don’t know the reason. I just know to listen when he speaks.”

Hale was keeping his eyes on the rearview mirror. He saw the hummer that was parked in the shadows on the side of the road. It pulled out behind them. He gave a small smile of satisfaction. His last human problem had taken the bait.

“Have you been off-road before, Tori?”

“No,” Her hands gripped the door handle.

“Hold on, Love, we are leaving the highway.”

He chose the stretch of highway that had no guard rail. He would have to call and recommend they fix that problem. It could be dangerous. The jeep dropped several feet before it landed on all four wheels.

Tori was grinding her teeth together, but she never said a word. Her breathing became erratic and her inner voice began to chant, He will protect us. Other than that she tried to enjoy the wild ride.

“Hale.” She waited until she could talk without choking on her fear or screaming at him. “Why are we on the side of the mountain instead of on the safe smooth highway?”

“In the hummer that was stupid enough to follow us is the man who thinks he owns you. I plan to come to a meeting of minds with him.”

“Does that mean he will walk out alive?’

“No.”

When had she become ok with violence? Was it when she knew John had every intention of beating her with that whip and then raping her? He told her in vivid detail what he planned to do. Ironically, it was because he spent so much time talking that Hale was able to get there in time to rescue her.

Now she was being followed by someone who felt it was ok to own a female. Not just own them, when he was done he tended to kill them. He didn’t want anyone else to play with his toys. She sighed knowing she wouldn’t be begging for his life. As long as he lived, he would come after her.

“So what do we do? Drive on the side of the mountain and see whose jeep falls off first?”

“We stop in the clearing ahead.”

Sure enough there was a clearing in the middle of the trees they just went through. Hale pulled the jeep to the side and got out.

“Tori, do you want to wait in the jeep?”

“Where would I be safer?”

“Closer to me.” She climbed out the jeep and came to stand by him.

The hummer plowed through the trees coming to a hard stop when they saw them standing in the clearing. Three doors opened allowing three men holding guns to get out the car.

“We don’t want any trouble,” the man on the passenger front said.

“Is that what you tell all your victims before you kill them?” Hale asked, not impressed.

“No, I just kill them. Word of you has gotten back to us. So we came prepared. You understand, I hope.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now that you’ve seen me you can return to your vehicle and leave. You will be able to go on with your lives. That sounds fair. Yes?”

“All we need is the girl. Then we can all live a long life.”

“She is my mate. I am not willing to give her up.”

“Just get another one,” the driver of the vehicle spoke. “They are not worth the trouble. I just kicked mine out. Told her to be gone before I get back. Heck, we can go to a bar and before the nights over you will have lots of women wanting to be your mate. Just give that one up. Look at her. You know she does anyone with the money to pay.”

“Enough talking, kill him,” a voice came from the back of the hummer.

The three gunmen raised their weapons and began to shoot. Hale turned while shifting into his other form. He grabbed Tori and jumped behind the jeep avoiding all but one bullet that struck him in his shoulder.

After making sure Tori was protected, he jumped the jeep and ran for the closet gunman taking his head off his shoulders. He used his headless body as a shield as he advanced on the next gunman killing him with a swipe of his deadly claws against his throat.

The third gunman dropped his weapon and placed his hand in the air. “I don’t know what you are, but I don’t want any trouble.”

“Coward,” the hidden man in the car yelled. “I paid you to kill him! Earn your money.”

“Kill me!” Hales voice came out deeper than she ever heard it before as he issued his challenge.

She was sure she was going to burn for this, but his voice was turning her on.

“No. I’m done, I’m going home to my wife. I quit,” he hollered at the man in the car.

He looked at Hale’s beast. “Look, I don’t know what you are, and I won’t tell anyone about this. Who would believe me? All I want to do is leave here alive. You will never see me again.”

“Go.”

The man turned and ran.

“I will have you hunted down as soon as I get back,” the man in the car shouted at the retreating back.

The last door opened letting a tall muscular man out of the car. He held an Ak47 in his hands.

“I don’t need back up.” He ran his gaze up and down Hale’s other form.

“What are you some type of science experiment? You don’t scare me. I came for the woman. She is mine. I paid for her.”

“Mate.”

“I get it, you fucked her. I’m sure you weren’t the first one. I guarantee you, I will be the last one.”

He raised his gun. “I won’t say it again, turn her over. There is no way you will survive this.”

“Then let’s not put it to the test.” Aran stepped out from behind the hummer and broke his neck. “No one threatens my family.”

He looked around. “Are you alright?”

Hale’s form had already receded. He went straight to Tori and collected her in his arms.

“I am good,” he answered Aran. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, every time,” Aran turned and walked away.

“Tori looked at the men dead on the ground. What about the…”

“Leave them,” Aran said before he disappeared into the tree line.

“Tomorrow there will be evidence of one vehicle going off road. No one will know what happened to them. That’s if anyone finds them,” Hale answered her unspoken question, before he helped her into the jeep.

“We need to go see Nicolas so he can treat your wound.”

“It’s superficial. The wound already closed, it barely broke the skin. You can look at it later and if you insist I will have Nicolas come over.”

She nodded before staring out the window.

“I’m free, Hale. There is no one else looking for me.”

“You’re free, Tori. You can go where ever you want.”

Her shoulders fell. The ride home was made in silence.

“Tori, you’ve been quiet for a while. Is everything ok?”

She gave him a weak smile and shrugged. “Everything is good.”

She turned to walk away then stopped. “Have you ever lived in fear so long that when it’s over you actually feel sort of a letdown? I thought I would have this grand feeling of relief, but I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad it’s over with, but now I’m wondering what I should do next. I spent so much time thinking of running that I forget to think about living.”

She left the jeep he had just parked and walked towards the lake that ran through his property. Taking off her shoes she dangled her feet in the water. It felt good on her feet. A soft sigh of relief escaped her body as the fact that she no longer had to run moved through her.

Sure there was still the tainted Created, but he only wanted her because she was associated with Hale. She could break that association at any time.

Who’s lying now? Her inner voice asked her.

She didn’t want to leave Hale. She loved him. She sighed and closed her eyes as tears of joy tried to leak out. He wasn’t the only one who was feeling whole. Every time he was near, she felt complete.

Chapter Twenty Three

Hale laid down by her side allowing his feet to dangle in water next to hers.

“Tori, do you want to talk about it?” She raised her head to look at him.

“Do you want to listen? I may ramble.”

“I can handle that.”

“My parents were older when they met and married. So I was born later in their life, but they loved me. I was devastated when they died. I remember thinking how unfair it was that I didn’t get more time with them. I knew people who didn’t even talk to their parents. Then I was alone except for Rita. We were supposed to be best friends forever.”

Tori closed her eyes thinking of all the parties Rita went to while she sat at home, but she was never mad at her friend. Rita was popular and Tori encouraged her to go out and have fun. It wasn’t until they argued that Rita told her everyone wanted Tori to come to the parties. Rita convinced them Tori wasn’t interested. She didn’t want the competition.

“Then Rita was gone and I was alone and living in fear. Somewhere along the way I started thinking everyone I love goes away.”

“Did you ever get to the point that you realized that wasn’t true?”

“Not until I met you. That’s when I realized life wasn’t promised. Losing my parents made me sad, but almost every day I hear my mom making a joke or my dad giving me advice.”

“Tori, I never had a Father or a Mother. All I have is the memories of a people I have never met.”

She reached over and took his hand. “Hale, here’s my problem. I met this male, who I was sure I was going to want to leave after a while. Except the more time I spent with him, the more he got under my skin. Now the thought of being separated from him makes me feel sick. I know he says he loves me, but will he love me in ten years?”

“Does love come with a guarantee? Here’s what I know, Tori. I want you to be my mate, not because you’re beautiful or exotic looking. Not because my other side recognized you immediately. I want you because I love the way you laugh, it makes my heart light and my smile bigger. I love the way you trust me. I love the way we work things out together. I love how your mind works, it fascinates me. Yes I desire your body, but you’re so much more than your body. I love you, Tori. All I can promise is that I will do whatever it takes to make sure you love me forever.”

“And that is one of the huge reasons I love you, Hale. I do love you. I don’t know how or when it happened, I just know it did. I want to be your mate now and forever.”

He turned over and pulled her closer to his side. “I want you to be my mate, but you need to understand what that means.”