“Stephanie said she wanted to go out for a wolf run last night along the pass. It was about ten o’clock when she left—she never came back.” His wife cried harder and squeezed him tightly.
“Has she been seeing anyone, dating anyone she’d want to sneak off with?”
“Not that we’re aware of,” Rick said. “She said she was stressed about some school work but that was it.”
Lyonis came forward and embraced both of them. When a tragedy happened in the pack, all of them felt it as if it were their own child that was missing. He pulled back with promises that the guards were out searching for her right now.
“I will find her,” he promised. Rick nodded grimly, his face etched with pain.
Lyonis started back to his truck when a hard voice stopped him. “Your mate should be here to comfort the family.”
Lyonis slowly turned around, not surprised that it was Amy who’d spoken. The entire pack watched them both with wide eyes. Very few dared to use such an attitude with their Alpha, let alone question his mate. That she was only bitter because she’d pursued him for years almost made him angry enough to shout. As his father had taught him though, one cannot rule in anger; one cannot lead a pack with rage in the heart.
Lyonis spoke calmly even though her nasty attitude made him want to reprimand her. “Willow has not yet taken that step with me, but she will. She is still unaccustomed to our ways.”
Amy’s eye narrowed with a flare of victory. “Because she isn’t one of us! She’s isn’t a shapeshifter.” Lyonis nodded in agreement.
“Yet the bond I feel for her can no more be ignored than the moon rising each night. I hope that one day you will feel the same thing, Amy. Let’s try to focus on what’s really important right now. A pack member is missing.”
Her mouth clamped shut as a mortified blush stole over her. Lyonis got into his truck and took off for home.
There was that sound again.
“Stop it,” Willow grumbled. She snuggled deeper into the fluffy covers but the sound only got louder, more persistent.
With a growl, she tossed back the covers and stomped downstairs to the front door.
Throwing it open she yelled, “What?”
Some man was there, one she’d never seen before. He didn’t look like a shapeshifter but had long platinum blond hair that nearly reached his waist and an aristocratic nose with slender lips. He was handsome in a stark, aristocratic kind of way.
He smiled wryly. “Willow Bellum, I take it.”
She smiled sarcastically back. “Indeed.”
He chuckled at her and her shoulders started to relax from their tense position. “My name is Draven. I was sent here as your own special guardian by Chloe and Tyrian.” Willow crossed her arms and started tapping her foot on the ground.
“Oh really? As if I don’t have enough guards watching me around here let alone some Alpha hounding me.”
He only shrugged. “I don’t want to be here either, but I have my orders. I’m staying in one of the guesthouses on Fifth Street in case you need me. I’ll be around often, so if you need me just say my name.”
“How the fuck am I supposed to have any privacy around here with a posse following me around?” His lips twitched with a smile.
“I have some good news in that regard. See I work directly under Commander Tyrian because I’m half demon.”
Willow scrubbed a hand over her face. Obviously it was too early in the morning. “Say what? He kills demons for a living.”
“Nah, we have rules of engagement for that sort of thing. We mostly just push them back under the rift. See, I have a special ability thanks to my demon mother.”
His hand reached out and Willow jumped back. She frowned at his grin but he only touched the door with his hand fingers spread wide. Willow’s jaw dropped as the door disappeared completely before her eyes.
“What the fuck,” she said astonished. He pulled his hand back but still the door was gone leaving only an empty doorframe.
He grinned at her. “Go ahead, touch it.” She cast him a quick glance and thought that’s what she said with a chuckle.
Reaching out hesitantly, she gasped as she felt the hard of the door. “You turned it invisible,” she said with wonder. She felt all around, finding the doorknob and peephole, but to her eyes she was patting an invisible space.
“Yes.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Yah, it is. So I’ll be around and literally you won’t see me.”
“Is that really necessary though?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yes, if any of the shapeshifters are dangerous I’ll be able to see it before it happens. So as I said before, just say my name and I’ll hear it if you need me.” Draven touched the door once more and it reappeared before she could blink. Wow.
Willow sighed. “I guess this is better than the damn shapeshifters watching me behind the corners.” She peeked her head over Draven’s shoulder and yelled, “I see you over there!” Draven turned around to see the guard’s watching the house laughing.
The roar of a truck pulling into a drive had butterflies spinning in Willow’s stomach.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Remember, just say my name.” Willow nodded but her eyes were on the Alpha in the truck. After a small fight last night where he threatened to chain her again if she didn’t sleep in the same bed, Willow had finally given up and slept next to him.
Of course, the man couldn’t sleep like any normal person but had to friggen’ spoon next to her and wrap his whole body around her. But he hadn’t pressed her for sex for which she was relieved. Then this morning, he was gone before she’d even woken up. A frown tugged at her lips.
What the hell was she supposed to do anymore? He wanted to keep her; she wanted to go. If she left, he’d hunt her down and drag her back. That much she knew. If she did manage to escape and evade him—for the rest of her life—then he’d never be able to be with another woman. Would never have kids or a wife because of her. Willow curled her hand into a fist and thumped it against the wall. Why her? She didn’t want this task.
Lyonis stepped out of his truck with a grim look on his face. Willow was walking to him before she knew it.
“What’s wrong?” She’d never seen him look like this—so distraught. He was always smiling or grinning, happy and free.
“One of the pack members has gone missing.” Willow’s mind raced through all the members she’d met the other day.
“Oh my God, who was it?”
“Stephanie McLannahan.” Willow froze. His eyes narrowed on hers. “You met her? Ah, damn,” he muttered and pulled her close.
Willow didn’t fight it, couldn’t as her mind tried to process his words. Stephanie was the girl she talked to while her cursed Chihuahua humped her leg.
“What happened?”
“Her parents say she went out for a wolf run last night but never came back. I have a search party out there right now. We’ll find her.” Willow heard the promise in his voice and knew he’d stop at nothing until his pack was whole again.
She pulled away, rubbing at her cold arms. “I need to go see them. I need to go talk to them.” Lyonis hid his surprise—barely.
“You can take my truck if you want.” Her eyes jerked to his, astonished.
“You’d trust me not to leave?” He couldn’t stop from grinning.
“Not at all but the guards are on high alert today and we have a special guard tracking just you. This could be a great sign of trust,” he said and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her close.
Her eyes dropped to his mouth and whether she realized it or not, she thrust her chest against him in a tempting way. She may not like him and what he stood for, but she wanted him. It would be enough for now, but Lyonis never accepted half of what he could have. He’d have her heart and her body, and he’d never let it go.