Jager was a little disappointed that he would miss out on the action, but he knew Daylen wasn’t ready to face a pack of lone wolves if the factory ended up panning out. And he wanted her turned before she had to confront any of Miles’ men. As a mortal, she was just too vulnerable.
After the others had left to check out the factory, Jager and Daylen raided the fridge.
Since it was already well past noon, Jager made her a thick sandwich that he layered with cold cuts, cheese and lettuce. Having eaten nothing since dinner the night before, Daylen ate with gusto. Jager must have been just as hungry because his practically disappeared in two large bites.
Their empty bellies now taken care of, Jager and she joined the other two couples.
The men eventually got on the topic of weightlifting and ended up heading down to the basement to check out the weights down there while the women stayed in the living room.
Roxie smiled at Daylen and said, “It would seem you’ve managed to tame the brash warrior. Both times I’ve seen Jager today he didn’t have his sword strapped to his waist like it was one of his vital organs.”
“Does he really carry it around that much?” Daylen asked.
Ansley answered her. “Afraid so. And Roxie is forever trying to take Jager’s sword away from him.”
Roxie snorted. “Not that I get it away from him for very long. He always manages to swipe it back when I’m not looking.” She then grew serious. “So have you really adjusted to the fact that you’re mated to a werewolf, Daylen?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m a bit surprised by how easily I’ve adjusted to the idea. If you would have asked me last week if I believed werewolves existed, and that I would be a mate to one, I probably would have suggested I take you to nearest shrink. It has all happened so fast.”
“That’s the mating urge for you,” Roxie said. “It makes you feel like you’re on a runaway train. It’s even worse for the males. They can’t focus on anything else but the woman who is meant for them.”
Daylen had noticed how more controlled Jager seemed now that their mating bond was in place. “About this not wanting to be separated, is it really that bad?”
“Yes, it is,” Roxie said. “And I’m speaking from experience. Ansley has gone through it as well.”
The other woman shuddered. “You feel as if you’ve lost your mind. All I could think about was that something had happened to Roan, and that I had to get back to him no matter the cost.” Ansley then smiled. “The only good side about the separation is the explosive sex that happens after you get back together. I only suggest that if you ever get separated from Jager for a long time, make sure you get away from other people as fast as you can or you’ll give them an eyeful.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Daylen said. “Maybe it won’t affect me that badly. I’ve always been a bit of a loner. I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it.”
Roxie gave her a look that said she didn’t think so. “If you’re that sure of yourself, why don’t you test your theory? Jager obviously didn’t let you bring a change of clothes when he brought you here handcuffed last night. Why don’t you go back to your place and grab some clothes and then come back? I bet even that short amount of time will get to you.”
“All right, but I don’t have my car here. How am I supposed to get back to my place?”
“Take Jager’s car. I noticed it wasn’t parked in the garage when Beowulf and I arrived. And if you are going to do this, you should probably slip away before Jager realizes what you’re up to. He’ll try to stop you if he finds out.”
Daylen stood. “You’re on.”
She quickly left the living room and headed up to Jager’s bedroom. The keys to the Camaro and her house keys were sitting on top of his dresser. Snagging both sets, she hurried back downstairs and slipped out of the mansion. When she drove the Camaro down the long drive and no hue and cry was raised, she figured she’d made a clean getaway.
By the time Daylen arrived at her house, she’d already started to feel a little out of sorts, as if everything wasn’t quite right. It was less than an hour since she’d left the mansion in Marin County and already she missed not being with Jager. If this was only the start of how it felt when she was away from him, no wonder Roxie didn’t believe her when she’d said she may not be as affected. Daylen could only think about getting back to Jager.
Once she was inside the house, she almost ran into her bedroom. Daylen quickly stripped off the clothes she wore and put on fresh ones. She then made short work of stuffing another change of clothes into an athletic bag.
Daylen was so distracted with thoughts of returning to Jager she almost missed the fact that a man stood blocking her way to the front door. Moving faster than a mortal could, he had her by the throat and gasping for air in a matter of seconds. As Daylen frantically tried to pry his hand off her, she realized this was the same lone wolf Jager had been fighting in the alley the first night she’d seen him.
The lone wolf eased his hold only enough so she could drag in air to fill her lungs.
“You recognize me, don’t you, little cop? I can also smell Jager’s scent all over you. He’s claimed you as his mate. I’m surprised he let you out by yourself, but it does make this a whole lot nicer. You’re his Achilles heel now.” He started to drag her toward the front door. “It’s time for you to meet my boss.”
Daylen dropped the athletic bag she’d been carrying and tried to punch out at him, but all that did was to have him throw her against the wall hard enough so her head cracked against it. With black spots flickering before her eyes, the lone wolf easily flipped her onto her stomach and tied her hands behind her back with a length of rope he’d pulled out of his jacket pocket. He then threw her over his shoulder and walked out of the house.
Chapter Twelve
Jager put down the dumbbell he had been using to show Beowulf one of the exercises he did. Something had suddenly started to feel not right. He frowned as he tried to figure out what the hell was bothering him.
“What’s the matter?” Roan asked him. “You look strange.”
“I don’t know. If I didn’t already know Daylen was upstairs with Roxie and Ansley, I would think she wasn’t in the mansion. I feel as if I really need to be with her to make sure she’s okay. I’ve never heard of the separation bothering mates when they are in the same place but not in the same room. We haven’t been down here that long.”
“It shouldn’t be affecting you like that,” Beowulf said. He then looked up at the basement’s ceiling. “Maybe you should go and check on Daylen.”
As Jager rushed up the basement stairs, he heard Roan and Beowulf following behind him. When he reached the living room and only saw Roxie and Ansley there, he asked, “Where’s Daylen?”
Roxie answered. “She went to her place.”
Jager took a deep breath to stop himself from bellowing at Roxie. “And why did she go there alone?”
“She didn’t want to believe how badly she would feel if the two of you were separated, so I bet her she couldn’t go to her place for a change of clothes and come back here without feeling as if she’d gone crazy. And she took your car, by the way.”
Jager wanted nothing more than to take Roxie by the shoulders and give her a good shake, but with Beowulf standing beside him, Jager didn’t think he would let him manhandle his pregnant mate like that. Instead, he took another deep breath and squeezed his hands into fists at his side. “I’m going to need someone to drive me to Daylen’s house. Now.”
“Since Roxie in a way caused this,” Beowulf gave his mate a stern look, “we’ll drive you.”