The Werewolf Tycoon's Secret Baby (The Woolven Secret Book 2) (16 page)

“Out of all of that, you’re upset he didn’t eat the cupcakes? He brought you the heads of your enemies. That’s kind of the best thing, right?”

“I suppose.” Gin shook her head. “There’s something wrong with me. I need therapy. I need drugs.” She turned to Emmie and shook her violently. “I need a kick in the head.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” She pushed her off. “Also, you’re making me seasick.”

“Sorry, but I’m really sick. There’s something wrong with me.”

Concern for her friend overwhelmed her. “What is it?”

“Was he… hot?”

“Hot as in… you want to grab his wings and bang the shit out of him? Is that what you’re saying to me right now?”

“It’s some Stockholm Syndrome, I think. I mean, it has to be, right?” Gin cocked her head to the side. “I’m just sick.”

“I don’t know, he had a certain quality.” Emmie shook her head. “No, it’s fine. You know why?”

“Why? Tell me why? Make it good,” Gin implored.

“He slaughtered your enemies. He’s their boogeyman. If he terrifies them, he must be good for you. You know what I mean?”

“But he’s one of them.”

Emmie knew exactly what she meant. “Maybe, but like he said, they’re not all bad. Can you imagine what it’s like to be him? He is the only one of his kind. He’s them, but he’s not. He’s alone.”

“Don’t make him the tragic hero. Or I might have to sleep with him. His voice was—”

“—awesome.”

“—awful.” They said at the same time.

Then they laughed. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I don’t find him attractive. He’s all yours.”

“As well he should be, you’ve already got a billionaire werewolf. Leave something for the rest of us.”

“I do, don’t I?”

“Glad you’ve accepted your fate.” Gin crossed her arms over her chest.

“I guess we’ll see if you’ve accepted yours.”

“The Watcher is not my fate.” Gin rolled her eyes. “So, I thought he was hot in that forbidden-oh-my-god-I’m-going-to-hell way. That was it.”

“Uh-huh. You were totally checking out his loincloth.”

“Did you see his obliques?”

“Why yes, I did. They were blue.”

“The most gorgeous blue. It reminded me of my favorite flavor of cotton candy. I could just lick—” She coughed. “Out loud again, sorry.”

Emmie waved it off. “Never mind me. I’ll just regale you with stories of werewolf sex.”

“Oh, really? I won’t complain. Come back to the shop. I have more cupcakes.”

“I can’t. I have to get back to the house. Things are kind of in crisis at the moment.”

“By the way, some guy came by the shop looking for you. He didn’t look like he belonged in Den Hollow.”

“He wasn’t wearing a black cloak, was he?”

“He wasn’t that much of a freak. No, he was very put together. David Gandy type, but he was obviously a werewolf. I mean, I have no idea how he functioned in normal society. If I were human, he’d have freaked me the hell out.”

“Did he leave a name?”

“He said you’d know.”

“But I don’t. I have no idea.”
Who could possibly…?
“It wasn’t Peter, was it? He’d be crazy to come here.”

“No, I know what your asshole ex-husband looks like. Den Hollow was warded against him as soon as he was Turned. Our Mrs. Westwood knows what she’s doing.” Gin bit her lip. “It wasn’t someone you knew? I just assumed a werewolf with permission to be on these lands would be friendly.” The sugar fairy narrowed her eyes. “Now, I’m pissed. Here, I’m going to make you something to take to Mrs. Westwood.”

A cloud of sugar whirled in the air, spinning and whipping this way and that until it all crashed together to form a statue, much like the delicately carved sugar skulls and Catriona dolls. Only this wasn’t a beautiful woman in a flowing dress.

It was a nightmare sculpted of sweets.

There, before her, was the thing in the darkness she was always afraid was looking back at her. The face that had been hidden from her for so long.

The world gave way beneath her feet and the shadows swallowed her whole as she crashed to her knees. She reached out for Gin, but even the bright light of the sugar fairy couldn’t keep the black pit at bay.

D
rew Woolven had always prided
himself on his control.

The way he kept his human veneer in place until it was time to reveal the wolf. His utilization of communication skills, negotiation, until it was time for teeth.

When he saw the statue of Royce DeVayne next to his mate’s crumpled body, his warrior form ripped through his skin and it was Parker, of all people, who put himself between Drew and the door of the sweet shop.

“Brother, stop. Think.” Parker held out his hands.

Drew roared, but Parker didn’t back down. “Why else do you think he showed up here? To show you that he could. What you need to do is see to your mate. Get her back to Aphelion, send Mrs. Westwood with Noah to Academy, and once the family is secure, then we’ll hunt down this fuckwit.”

Drew stood, seething, foam at his mouth like a rabid dog.

“Hey, do you hear me?” Parker looked around his brother. “Throw some truffles at him, Gin.”

“You know…I thought about that, but I decided I choose life.” Gin was obviously nervous at having a Changed, raging werewolf in her shop and had pressed herself against the wall.

Drew’s vision was tinged with red and his singular goal was to make that crimson haze real, to taste the blood of his enemy and paint the walls with what was left.

“Your mate needs you, Drew. She needs you human.” Parker sighed. “Goddess, I’m not equipped for this. You’re the sensible one. Stop making me be responsible.”

“If I thought you were going to lose your mind before you took care of Emmie, I wouldn’t have called you.” Gin snapped.

Drew turned all of his attention on the little sugar fairy, and her eyes widened. “Shit.”

Something hit him in the nose.

Then something else.

Something…
chocolate
?

Parker cackled. “Oh goddess, she did it. She really did it.” Parker slapped his back. “She’s throwing truffles at you. This is the best thing I’ve seen in my entire life. And I’ve seen some shit.” Parker laughed harder, and it seemed as if he was struggling to breathe.

“Shit!” Gin cried again and tagged him with another truffle right in the snout.

Then he realized she was afraid of him. Her fear tinged the air, and that wasn’t what he wanted at all. Drew didn’t terrorize the undeserving, and sweet little Gin Goodwich was most definitely undeserving. She needed and had been promised his protection.

He pulled himself, and his human form together.

“I’m sorry, Gin. You know I would never hurt you.” He realized his voice was still at an inhuman octave. He took a moment to breathe. “This man who was here, I don’t know how he was able to cross Westwood’s wards, but he’s evil.”

Gin eyed him and threw another truffle at his chops. “The power of sugar compels you!”

Parker choked. “Oh… I’m dying. I’m dying.” He sounded like a croaking frog.

“It’s not that funny.”

“Oh yes, it is.” He snorted with glee.

“Gin, please accept my apologies.” Drew scooped Emmie up in his arms. “I promise you, we’ll take care of this threat.”

Gin nodded. “I know you will. I’ll admit, I was a little afraid, but the Woolvens have always protected me. I know you’ve handled Emmie gently.” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “It’s not like I don’t live in a world with monsters.”

“I’d never want to be that to you. Not only are you undeserving of such things, but I do love your truffles.”

The sugar fairy laughed. “It’s all good. If I’d known who that bastard was when he came into my shop, I’d have made all of his teeth fall out. I’m not without weapons of my own.”

“And uh, maybe don’t tell Westwood about Drew’s freak out. She’d be so pissed.”

“She would. I’ve had an extra hard day, what with the bone fairy.”

“What?” Parker’s eyes narrowed.

“No, no. It’s all good. It was with her permission. It’s part of the hunter’s plan. And he brought me the heads of those who had hurt me.” Gin contemplated the last truffle in her hand and ate it.

“He brought you heads?” Parker shrugged. “You’re getting married. Just saying. That’s how those bone fairies are you know. You didn’t give him a gift did you?”

Gin squinted. “Maybe…”

Parker grinned. “Yeah, you’re practically engaged.”

“I most certainly am not.”

Emmie began to stir in his arms. “We need to get her back to Aphelion and Mrs. Westwood to make sure everything is okay.”

“So, this Royce DeVayne, he hurt Emmie?” Gin bit her lip. “More than her ex-husband?”

“Yeah. He’s a million times worse,” Drew answered.

“You’re going to kill him, right?” Gin asked.

“Yes. In the ugliest way I can imagine.”

“I hope you have a good imagination,” Gin said.

“If he doesn’t, I do.” Parker grinned, showing his teeth. “We take care of our own, Gin. You know that.”

“Good. There will be more truffles for you when you come back. Preferably with his head. I’d like to see it severed from his smarmy body.”

“Aren’t you fierce? Look what happens, somebody brings you a head and then that’s all you’ll settle for.” Parker shrugged. “Sugar fairies. Whatcha’ going to do?”

“Stop flirting with me, Parker Woolven. I know you just brought your pretty bride home. What would she think of all this?”

“Honestly? She’d tell you to take me off her hands.” Parker winked at her.

“Well, if she does decide to trade you in,
and
you bring me DeVayne’s head, I would so go out with you.”

“You have to wear your wings.”

“Get out of here.” She rolled her eyes. “Take care of my friend.”

“She’s my sister now, so yeah, looks like that’s definitely on the to do list.”

Drew cradled Emmie closer and carried her all the way to Aphelion. Hiding the incident would be near impossible, as his clothes had been shredded and they now hung off his body in tattered rags.

But he didn’t care.

He didn’t care what anyone thought, he didn’t care if Westwood was pissed, nothing mattered but Emmie and Noah.

Entering Aphelion, he’d never been more grateful for his family. His brothers. His pack. He imagined what it would be like facing down DeVayne, Monk, and all the other threats he now faced on his own. It would be like drowning.

Mrs. Westwood appeared at his side the minute he carried Emmie though the door.

“Let’s get her to your room.”

“It was DeVayne. He was here.”

“That’s impossible.”

“And yet, he stood in front of Gin and asked for Emmie.”

Lightning crackled in a nimbus around the witch. “He has a witch, then, who must be more powerful than me. I will consult my sources.”

“Could the Okami have helped him?” Parker suggested.

Westwood paused. “Yes, he very well could have. That would give him enough power to cross the boundary, but only if he didn’t intend immediate harm.”

Drew eased Emmie’s unconscious body down onto the bed where only a few hours ago, they’d made love.

The witch scanned Emmie and sighed. “The wall is still in place, but not for long. It’s going to crumble. You need to decide. Do you want to be here with her when it falls, or do you want to kill DeVayne and Monk?”

“Why is it a choice?” Parker asked.

“What’s happened?” Blake demanded.

Westwood met his eyes. “There is something I can do, but how sure are you of your love for her?”

“I am sure. I am her mate.”

“Hers for you must be just as fierce,” Westwood warned.

And of that, he was not as sure. He knew Emmie wanted to be with him. Knew she cared for him, had acknowledged the mate bond, but she wasn’t a wolf anymore. She was human.

“I don’t know.”

“I ask, because I can give her the sleeping sickness. She will fall into stasis and only true love’s kiss can wake her.”

“What happens if…” Drew couldn’t bring himself to finish.

“She sleeps forever. Time will pass. Ages will come and go, and she will sleep on. Woolven’s very own Briar Rose.”

How did he make that choice? At first glance, it seemed like it was the right thing to do. When she awoke, all the things that went bump in the night would be dead. If something happened to him and to Lenore, Peter would never be able to terrorize her again, either.

But Noah.

Noah would be without his mother.

She wanted the wall to come down. This was what she said she wanted…

Drew clamped his hand on his shoulder. “As Alpha, I’m taking this choice from you, brother. This is not on your shoulders. For the good of the pack, put her under. Brief us on how to capture the Okami, then I need you to take my nephew to sanctuary at Academy.”

“Yes, Blake.” Mrs. Westwood agreed.

A spindle needle appeared in her hand, black as night.

“Wait! No. I will take this on my shoulders. It’s my responsibility.”

“And what do you say, brother?” Blake asked.

“Yes, do it.”

Mrs. Westwood pricked Emmie’s thumb and a drop of blood welled bright and stark against the pale pad of her thumb.

“It is done.” She tucked the spindle needle in her pocket. “I’ll get Noah.”

Drew wasn’t sure if he’d made the right decision, but it was the only decision. He’d never be able to live with himself with either choice before him otherwise. Stay with her, and send his brothers to fight his battle, or go with them and leave her to face the monsters in her head alone.

Now, she’d sleep, and maybe have some chance to rally her strength before she had to fight again.

“It’ll all work out, brother.” Blake promised him. “I swear.”

They headed toward the door, and he took one last look at Emmie. “She’ll be safe here, won’t she?”

“As safe as she can be. There is something you must consider,” Mrs. Westwood began.

“Oh, now you tell me?” Drew growled.

“Stop growling at me! Listen, as I was in the middle of telling you before you flipped shit and ran for the sweet shop, something you must be prepared for is that the Okami belongs with Emmie.”

“What does that mean?”

“Her wolf spirit is broken. The Okami, though twisted, would take its place. No, I don’t know what that would mean for Emmie. Only that we’ll burn that bridge when we get to it.”

Drew’s mind raced with all the possibilities and none of them ended well for anyone.

“Where are we going to find this fucker?” Warner asked from the door.

“I’ve got a location spell spinning in my laboratory.” She blinked out and was gone for several moments before she blinked back. “He’s at the old family estate.”

B
lake pulled
out his cell phone. “Fuel the jet. We’re going to Scotland.”