Nathan’s mate—a vampire who’d somehow been involved when Sadie had saved Trey’s life—had promised to return after a period of three months. Nathan hadn’t wanted to give her that space but current events had prevented him from stopping her departure. Fortunately, due to their circumstances, the men had been able to share their concerns about taking vampire mates. In the shifter world such unions were forbidden. Vampires were magical creatures, with some of them being able to turn the animals inside shifters into familiars.
Such a thing could render a shifter—male or female—powerless.
“Listen,” Nathan said, this time in control of his emotions. “When Leigh shows up I’ll find out about Sadie. As soon as I know where she is I’ll tell you. You can talk to her and sort things out.”
Sounds like a great plan. Too bad she doesn’t want to talk to me.
The intimate time he’d shared with his mate had gone badly—very, very badly. He’d been drunk, relying on his friend Mr. Daniels to assist him in grief. Sadie’d paid the price for his spiral of gloom. All it had taken was a few words—words he hadn’t meant to speak aloud, for fuck’s sake—for her to promise he’d never see her again.
The way she’d looked at him…the hurt he’d glimpsed in her eyes…
Christ it made him feel like a total piece of shit.
Nathan walked across the bedroom toward the door. “Diskant called right after you crashed. He’s arranged for a meeting with the pack at noon.”
“Let me guess.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed, flexing the muscles in his back. “We’re hosting.”
“You’re Alpha,” Nathan responded over his shoulder. “What do you think?”
Nathan vanished around the corner, leaving Trey staring at the empty entranceway. After Diskant had moved he’d handed over the keys to his former home—an old fire station, of all places—to Trey. The place had always been used for meetings. Since Trey had been reinstated as Alpha—a responsibility he’d abandoned to search for those who’d killed a large portion of his pack months ago—he’d been in charge of all werewolf business in the city.
He’d thought pack business would be a welcome distraction. Something to ease the memories of a woman he wasn’t sure he’d ever see again. Instead each gathering with his kind served as a reminder of how moronic he’d been. Yes, he was Alpha. As such he’d always care for those who turned to him for protection. However, as a shifter it was impossible not to do the same for his destined female.
She was equally—if not more—important.
As he walked to the adjoining bathroom he thought about the time that had passed. Sadie had rescued him from a Shepherd cell eight weeks ago. For two months he’d wondered where she was and if she was safe. Nathan had hesitantly told him about what he’d seen when Leigh had brought him home. Sadie had been in the car, bleeding all over the place. Nathan hadn’t had the opportunity to inspect her wounds since she’d vanished into thin air.
Phasing.
That’s what vampires called it. Some vampires were born with the talent, able to move from one place to another instantaneously. It allowed them to protect themselves from harm and to move around undetected.
He turned on the shower and considered contacting Aldon Frost. The vampire was the only person he knew who could give him answers. Unfortunately contact with the leech wasn’t welcomed by the pack, which meant it was done on the down-low. They knew Trey did the vamp’s security and accepted Aldon returned favors but that was as far as their knowledge went. Aldon had been curious about Trey’s interest in vampires but hadn’t asked questions. That was one perk of running a private and exclusive security business.
He chose his clients and worked when he felt like it, was his own boss on his own terms.
As his client, Aldon would answer questions without hesitation, sharing information in exchange for state-of-the-art technology. Not to mention Trey’s services came with complete confidentiality. No one would know where Aldon lived, what kind of system he’d purchased or what kind of traps he had in place for unwelcome visitors.
Sliding his head under the hot spray of water, he thought of Nathan’s promise.
A few weeks.
Sure as fuck, it sucked, but he’d wait.
Like a premonition of bad things to come, Sadie’s warning returned to haunt him.
After tonight, you’ll never see me again. You have my word.
“I warned you not to make promises you can’t keep,” he growled in frustration, closing his eyes and enjoying the hot streams of water beating down his back. “Once I find you, you’re mine. There’s no running from me.”
Not now.
Not tomorrow.
Not ever.
He didn’t take his time, glad that he’d gotten his hair cut and didn’t have to primp or preen. Toweling off, he studied his reflection. Since he’d stopped drinking his coloring had returned to normal, although he still had shadows under his eyes. That came from restless sleep—most nights consisting of dreams of Sadie. On good nights they’d engage in pleasures of the flesh, exploring each other’s bodies in all sorts of wicked, delectable places. On bad nights, such as the one he’d just woken from, he’d be trapped in his body, unable to move, knowing after Sadie had taken his blood she’d leave.
The doorbell rang, which was odd since the pack usually just barged inside the house whenever they felt like it. He got on track and pulled on his clothes. Black T-shirt, worn blue jeans and a beat-up pair of boots. It wasn’t anywhere near noon—maybe six or seven if his inner clock was ticking right. Perhaps it wasn’t the pack and Ava had decided to swing by. Usually if she had an appointment with the doc, who’d started monitoring her pregnancy more closely, she liked to drop off leftovers from dinner.
His mouth watered just thinking about it. The woman certainly knew how to cook.
Diskant and Emory were lucky bastards. Their mates—Ava and Mary—had become close in recent weeks. The women made meals, talked and spent their free time together. The men in their lives reaped the rewards of the friendship. Not only did they get to eat homemade food every night, they also got to take their mates to bed after they finished. It was the good life—one Trey wanted for himself.
Stop that shit. Get your head on straight. Pack business today. Remember?
He tried to listen to sound reasoning, going through the motions.
Then logic flipped upside down and turned on its motherfucking head.
A scent drifted through his door, hitting him like a well-aimed sucker punch.
The hair on his nape rose on end, his sense of smell kicking into high gear. The fragrance was familiar but he couldn’t quite place it. Flashes of memory bled together. Wasn’t the scent from the nightmare he shared with Sadie? Every single time she took his blood then left him high and dry there’d been someone else with her. He’d always known there had been—had been able to feel the weight of the outsider’s stare—but didn’t really give two dog dicks about it. All he wanted to focus on during the encounters was his female, not some idiot who’d decided to enjoy the show.
He dragged in a deep breath, senses going into overdrive.
Damn. The smell was so fucking recognizable. Deep down he knew it from somewhere. Worse? He also identified traces of Sadie’s scent along with it. His mate’s sweetness was there—faint but there.
What the fuck?
Two and two. Simple fucking math. Bringing everything together.
He ran from the bedroom and rushed down the stairs, heart pulsing, muscles in motion. He’d recognize Sadie’s luscious scent anywhere, delicious and vibrant, an aphrodisiac that went straight to his head. She wasn’t close but someone who’d been in her presence was. God help the person who’d come to his home. He wasn’t in the mood to ask questions. He was going to demand answers.