Moon Kissed (11 page)

“Silence gets you nowhere,” Trevor said. “I can sense your unrest. Don’t forget that.”

Wolfe met the other man’s gaze, releasing another low growl. “What are you trying to tell me?” he snarled. “That my mate absorbs the anguish of others and will eventually go mad?”

Trevor snorted and shook his head. “She can take the misery of another, but she doesn’t have to keep it. She can pass it onto another. That’s how she vanquished the demon I wanted to destroy.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“I’m not surprised. People with the gift are extremely rare, and they only exist in families touched by magic. You can’t understand what you never see. I don’t know much about Cricket’s mother. That’s a subject she doesn’t like to talk about. But I believe she was either witch or Wiccan. It’s the only way her daughter could have inherited the gift.”

Wolfe crouched and lowered his face to Arden’s. She was beautiful in sleep, her long lashes fanning over her cheeks. He brushed his finger over her brow, thinking about what the warlock said. Lifting a strand of her white-blonde hair, he asked, “Is that why she has so many enemies?”

“Uh, that’d be a
no
,” Trevor drawled, folding his arms over his chest. “She has enemies because she left the Thymeria, got into the bounty hunting business and went in search of vampyren heads. Along the way, she took down whatever stood in her path—most of whom have family who hold a grudge. Cricket isn’t stupid. She knows if anyone discovered what she can do, she’d be a dead dhampir walking. Death by touch isn’t something immortals are keen on.”

Pounding at the door brought Wolfe to his feet. A deep and menacing snarl traveled up his throat. He hadn’t saved his mate to lose her now. In fact, he wanted to get her away from the warlock’s apartment as soon as possible. He’d checked in with a few members of the pack and apprised them of the situation. There were several safe houses available for use. Once he got her there, he could put guards in place. He had the resources to protect her.

“Down, Cujo.” Trevor scowled and lowered his arms. “It’s only the delivery boy. I ordered a pizza since I’m stuck here and the fridge is empty. I wasn’t expecting guests, you see.”

Wolfe followed Trevor to the bedroom door and stopped. He leaned against the frame, blocking his female from view. Trevor crossed the room, removed a wallet from his back pocket and opened his new and improved front door. A teenage boy stood just outside holding a pizza box. The fragrant aroma of various meats and cheese drifted to Wolfe’s nose.

“Keep the change.”

Trevor shoved a wad of cash into the boy’s hand and grasped the pizza box. He slammed the door without a thank you or good-bye and walked to the table nestled between the living room and the kitchen. He plopped the box down, opened it and removed a slice. Easing into a chair, he glanced at Wolfe.

“Care to join me?”

Not particularly.
“Don’t you worry about things like poison?”

“Nah. I only order food from Petrelli’s. I saved their son from a rage poltergeist a few years back.” He lifted the slice to his mouth and took an enormous bite. After a loud swallow, he added, “This pizza is clean.”

Wolfe eased his shoulder from the wall and walked over. It had been hours since he’d eaten and since he was a shifter, he needed all the calories he could get. Taking a seat across from Trevor, he pulled a steamy slice from the box. The first bite was fucking amazing. The pizza tasted as good as it smelled, cheese oozing and the meat piping hot.

“Good, isn’t it?”

Wolfe nodded and consumed the slice in seconds. When he finished, he reached for another. Only this time he chewed slowly, savoring the flavors.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do about this situation?” Trevor asked.

“I’m taking her to New York.”

Wolfe braced himself for an outburst or argument. He’d accepted Arden was close to Warlock Judge, even if it had been difficult at first. His jealousy, while natural, wasn’t something she needed to deal with. When Trevor didn’t respond, Wolfe looked at him. The man seemed to be mulling over the idea.

“Once she’s settled,” Wolfe continued, “I’ll return and request a meeting with Lucius Mercoix. I’ll make sure he understands Arden isn’t a threat to him. With her being so far away, I’m certain I can convince him to leave her alone.”

“You’re delusional.” Trevor snorted. “Cricket will never agree to that.”

“We’ll see,” he replied briskly.

Arden wouldn’t agree to leave, nor would she promise to leave Lucius Mercoix alone—not right away. She’d already told him as much before she’d been attacked. He only hoped she’d at least agree to leave well enough alone until Adam returned and Wolfe’s obligation to his cousin’s pack was over. They had to come to an understanding. She didn’t seem suicidal. He’d felt her concern for him when they’d been attacked.

“Have you considered ringing up Luke? That might be best.”

Shit.
The Warlock knew more than Wolfe was comfortable with. “What about Luke?”

“Don’t play stupid.” Trevor
tsk
ed, licking a sliver of cheese from his lips. “You should tell him what’s going on.”

Trevor was probably right but Wolfe didn’t want to contact Luke. Adam’s younger brother had made it clear he wasn’t interested in being in charge. Not right now. That was the primary reason Adam had turned to Wolfe to take care of things in his absence. While Wolfe could ask Luke for help, he wasn’t sure if he should. The pack might take it as a sign of weakness. If they did, Wolfe would have to prove his worth and fight any male who wanted to challenge him for the position.

Like he didn’t have enough crap on his shitty plate.

“There’s another option.” Trevor reclined in his chair. “You could always step up to the plate and
really
take your place as Alpha. No more bullshit either. If you show the pack what you’re really capable of, there won’t be an issue.”

Son of a bitch.
The warlock knew a
lot
more than Wolfe was comfortable with. “How long have you known?”

“That you’re a natural born Alpha?” At Wolfe’s nod, Trevor said, “I’ve been living in the Quarter for over a century. I know everything about everyone.”

“You know what happened? You’ve heard about what I’ve done?”

The thought of anyone with that knowledge ate him up inside. He’d been so stupid. So fucking naive. His weakness had made him do the unthinkable. Even with Adam’s support, the pack didn’t trust him and Wolfe didn’t blame them. That was one of many reasons he’d decided it was best to let Adam ascend.

“I know what happened,” Trevor answered slowly, nursing his pizza. “It’s not your fault a she-bitch trapped you with magic. It won’t be the first time—or the last—a female has stooped so low.”

Wolfe set the pizza on the edge of the box, his voracious appetite gone. “I killed one of my own.”

“The
magic
she scribed with your name killed that lycae, no’ you. You couldn’t have done anything to stop what had been set into motion. Love curses are nasty. I stay away from them for a reason.”

Wolfe’s mind drifted back, traveling to the not so distant past.

The memory of ripping out the throat of his brethren disgusted him. He had been so lost in the moment, unable to stop himself. He hadn’t understood the possessiveness, the desire and the raw need that had consumed him when he’d met, and consequently fucked, Deidre. He truly thought he’d met his mate—the one female for him. Only to learn the truth when the spell faded and the world came crashing down around him.

Deidre had been a scorned woman who ended the life of another because he’d denied her sexual advances. Her pride had only been able to take so much. To retaliate, she’d hatched the perfect plan. Wolfe became her means to the end. She’d fucked him, bespelled him and ruined his life with a fucking smile on her face.

He’d departed New Orleans and joined another pack shortly thereafter, living with friends and relatives in New York. But he couldn’t escape what he’d done. There wasn’t enough distance in the world to take the blood from his hands.

“None of that matters now.” Wolfe shook off the horrific memories and rose from his seat. “I can’t risk the pack. With Adam gone, they’re too uneasy. I’ll talk to Arden and make her understand. As soon as Adam returns and she’s safe, I’ll deal with Lucius.”

“How do you plan to deal with him?”

“By extending an olive branch. I’m going to give him my word Arden will leave him alone if he agrees to the same when it comes to her.”

Trevor tossed his pizza crust into the box. “That won’t work.”

Like hell it wouldn’t. “The vampyren king won’t risk going head-to-head with the pack. He has too much at stake. The man has enough enemies without adding lycae to the list. With Arden gone, he can breathe easy. He’d be a fool to say no.”

“Oh, I have no doubt he’ll accept your offer. He’s been dodging that mate of yours for two decades now. She’s taken out his best masters and slaves time and again.”

“Then it won’t be an issue—”

“It most certainly
will
be an issue,” Trevor snapped, no longer amiable or friendly. “Cricket won’t find peace until she has killed Lucius Mercoix. It’s been the one constant that has driven her all these years. She took a vow. She’s sworn she’ll do everything in her power to see it fulfilled. Nothing you say or do will stop that.”

“She avowed herself?”

“Yes.”

The information changed everything he’d planned. Avowing yourself as an immortal meant you couldn’t turn away, even if you wanted to. It was more than a matter of honor. A vow was a living entity, something that could never be denied. Some believed that by speaking the word a spell was evoked, unbreakable until the promise had been kept. Failing to keep your word brought on enormous suffering.

“Why?” What could be so important she’d been willing to sacrifice her life?

“Mercoix killed her friend during a skirmish with the Thymeria human faction. The girl was still alive when Cricket arrived. One touch was all she needed to see the assailant’s face.”

A dark cloud descended, weighing heavy on his shoulders.

Arden was avenging the loss of a loved one.

There was nothing more honorable or important.

He wanted to curse when he reached for his cell and remembered he’d forgotten it in his rush to find Arden. “Where’s your phone?”

“Why? Who are you calling?”

“Taylor Martinson. I need to arrange a meeting with Lucius.”

“And what? Make promises you can’t keep?”

“No,” he snarled, his wolf no longer passive. If Trevor kept pushing, he’d wind up with a fist in his face. “I’m going to remove the threat to Arden once and for all, starting at the source.”

“I doona like that idea at all.” Trevor’s heavy brogue lengthened his vowels and made his voice deeper. “The vampyren king is no’ stupid. He’ll know why you’ve come tae see him. He’ll kill you before ever granting you an audience. You need tae get on the horn tae Luke and ascend tae alpha. That’s the only way tae take the son of a bitch down.”

Wolfe blew the warlock off, searching for a phone. “How long do I have until she wakes up?”

“Donna be a fool!” Trevor snarled and rose to his feet. “You’ll get yourself killed, and Cricket will avow herself a second time.”

Wolfe spun around and faced Trevor. “I don’t have time to argue with you. I’m going to see Lucius, and I’m going to do it while my mate is sleeping and unaware. It’s the only way to be sure she won’t follow. Once she wakes up, I’ll tell her what I’ve decided. It’s my job to keep her safe from harm. If I have to, I’ll kill the fucker once the dust has settled to end her vow.”

“That’s a crock, and you know it. You’ll put her in danger if you place yourself in harm’s way. She’ll come for you, Wolfe. And when she does it won’t be pretty.”

“Then I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t have a reason to come for me.”

“Utter horseshit. You’re not an army of one. Wait until she wakes up. Talk to her. There has to be some way you can come to an agreement. She’s capable of taking care of herself, you know. She’s survived for decades without you.”

“That was then.” Wolfe growled and stepped closer to Trevor, invading the warlock’s personal space. “This is now.”

“So very fucking Zen of you,” Trevor snapped. “I didn’t know you were so goddamn clever.”

Enough of this shit.
“Where. Is. The. Fucking. Phone?”

Trevor didn’t display any fear, only anger. “So be it. It’s your funeral. I can’t force you to pull your head out of your arse. But know this. I won’t let you take Arden down with you. I’ll do whatever I have to if her safety is on the line. Once you leave, you’re on your own.” He lifted a hand and pointed across the room. “The phone’s next to the sink just behind you. Go make your call. Good luck in the afterlife.”

Wolfe turned, went to the phone and yanked the cordless from the base. Trevor had the right idea, but there was one enormous problem. Wolfe couldn’t take control of the pack without their consent. Stepping into Adam’s place temporarily was one thing. Taking over completely—using all of the strength he’d been gifted with at birth—could cause some serious shit to go down. If anyone rejected his ascension, he’d be forced to fight for the position.

A pack that fought amongst itself was weak—vulnerable.

He’d promised Adam he wouldn’t let that happen.

His thoughts shifted to Arden’s safety. So long as she remained in Trevor’s care, she’d be protected. The man was more powerful than he seemed. A hum of magic surrounded him, electrifying the air. Being an alpha, Wolfe could feel the energy rolling off the former sheriff. While the pack was strong, Wolfe had no doubt Trevor McAvoy was equally capable of protecting those he cared for.

The line clicked over on the second ring. “How may I direct your call?” a soft, feminine voice inquired.

“Taylor Martinson.”

“Who can I say is calling?”

Wolfe lifted his gaze and watched Trevor snag another slice of pizza. The Warlock didn’t seem interested in him any longer, chomping on the greasy meal at his disposal. If he wanted to eliminate the danger to his female, he had to strike while the iron was hot.