Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Laney should be here by now. Something was wrong. I could feel it. Agitated, I started pacing on the field. Warmups had just finished, and I was about to meet the captain from the opposing team. The game was going to start in less than five minutes.
“Danny,” I said, getting his attention. “Laney isn’t here.”
“Maybe she’s already tired of your sorry ass,” he said with a smile.
“Not funny.”
“Neither is you saying you’re dating her.”
“Take over the coin toss.” I jogged off the field. I heard him shouting behind me, but I ignored him.
I went straight to my coach. “I know this is bad timing, but I’m not feeling well. I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back in five.”
He looked at me like I was the dumbest thing he’d ever encountered. “Hurry.”
I sprinted into the locker room and found my phone. There wasn’t a text from Laney. Running a hand over my face, I tried to think rationally. Maybe something had come up, and she wasn’t coming. Or she could be running late.
Rowan
Is everything okay? The game is about to start, and I don’t see you.
It didn’t say read, and there weren’t the three dots telling me she was responding. I decided to text Em.
Rowan
Laney is supposed to be here, but I don’t see her. Can you find her?
Em
You want me to leave the game, miss watching my boyfriend play, all to check on a half-breed that you’re dating but aren’t supposed to be?
I guess I deserved that.
Rowan
Can you send Kara or Marlow?
Em
They don’t even know her.
Rowan
Please?
Em
Where are you? The game just started.
Rowan
I’m in the locker room worrying about Laney.
Em
Fine. Get on the field so we don’t lose this game. I’ll see what I can do about Laney.
Rowan
Thank you. I owe you one.
Em
I’ll add it to my tab.
I went back outside and lined up next to the bench.
“Are you feeling better?” Coach asked.
“Yeah.” I needed to go out there and hit a few guys to take the edge off. I shouldn’t be so worried about Laney. I’m sure she had a valid reason for not being here. The problem was, I felt nervous and on edge. I feared those were Laney’s feelings, not mine, but I couldn’t be sure.
The whistle blew. “Ward, you’re in.”
A shiver went through me as I stepped onto the field. It was time to play.
Laney never showed. At halftime, I’d looked up to where Em was sitting and got a thumbs up. I assumed that meant everything was fine.
Once the game ended, I rushed into the locker room. Laney still hadn’t texted me back. I quickly showered and dressed so I could find out what was going on.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Jacob said as he slammed his locker closed. “A complete slaughter.”
We’d won, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting to Laney.
Jacob swung his arm over my shoulders. “Can I catch a ride with you?”
“I’m not going out.” I grabbed my bag and closed my locker. “You can take my truck.” I tossed him my keys.
“What do you mean you’re not going?” Adan said. “You’re our captain. You have to go.”
I ran a hand over my face. “Not tonight.” Without waiting for a response, I left the locker room, the guys shouting after me.
I ignored them all and headed straight for Laney’s dorm.
When I glanced up at her window, the light was off.
It wasn’t late enough for her to be asleep. Maybe she was in the library.
I pulled out my phone and texted her again.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I smelled a familiar scent that should not be here. I sniffed. The enforcers had told my dad they were leaving, but I smelled the one. I sniffed again. He’d been here within the past few hours.
I took off running for Laney’s building. When I got to the front, I pounded on the door. Someone had to be nearby and hear me.
A girl came to the door, pushing it open. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
I knew she wasn’t supposed to let me in, but I didn’t care. “My girlfriend needs me.” I pushed past her and ran for the elevator.
On my way up, my hands and arms shook. My body wanted to shift in order to deal with whatever this threat was. I took several deep breaths, needing to keep myself under control.
The door opened, and I jumped out, running down the hall and skidding to a halt at Laney’s room. I pounded on the door.
I heard an intake of breath inside.
“Laney, it’s me.”
No light shone from under the door, but I knew she was in there.
“Rowan?” she said from the other side.
“Yes. Let me in.”
The lock clicked, and I grabbed the door, opening it.
Laney stood there, her hair a mess, her eyes red. Fear coated her.
“What the fuck happened?” I demanded, going into her room and flipping the light on. If one of the enforcers hurt her, I’d fucking kill him. My fangs started to descend.
She backed away from me, as if afraid.
I closed my eyes, reining in my temper. She was scared, and I couldn’t add to that by being too forceful with her. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice kinder and gentler. “I got worried when you didn’t show. Are you okay? Did something happen?”
She rubbed her eyes and sat on her bed, pulling the covers up around her. I had no idea why she’d been in here with the lights off and the blinds closed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come.”
I sat on the bed next to her. “It’s fine. I’m just worried about you.” She needed to tell me what the fuck was wrong before my control snapped.
“I was on my way to grab something to eat when this guy approached me.”
I balled my hands into fists, afraid my nails would descend as anger and terror filled me. If someone hurt her, I would destroy him. Painfully.
“He was dressed nicely, so I thought he was a professor.” She glanced at her window, as if afraid someone was out there watching her. “He asked some strange questions. I think…I think he was one of the guys who’s been watching me.”
“What did he look like?” The four I’d seen in human form had varied. One looked like a classic American biker, two wore suits, and the fourth had been in athletic gear.
“He had black hair and green eyes.” That was the wolf who’d been in charge of the group.
“Did he touch you?”
“He held my hand and sniffed me.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. I could hear her heart immediately calm down. “What else?”
“He said I was taking aconitum and poisoning myself. Is that in my injection?”
“Yes, but it’s not poisoning you in the way you think. It’s suppressing a gene. At least, that’s what I think.”
“He said my mother’s maiden name was Thatcher. How would he know that when not even I do?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t recognize that name. I’d have to pass it on to my dad so he could investigate it.
“Is he one of the guys who’s been following me?” she asked, twisting to look me in the eyes.
“Yes.”
“I think he went and saw my mom yesterday.”
Shit. These guys were probably tracing her lineage to find out who’d sired her so they could rectify the situation. They’d probably kill her father for what he’d done, then they’d take care of Laney. As to why they hadn’t done anything yet was beyond me.
“They asked if I was under your protection. I’m assuming they didn’t mean as a girlfriend.”
“No, they did not.” And I’d have to talk to my dad about taking her into our pack so we could protect her.
“I’m scared,” she said.
I could smell her fear. I ran my hand over her hair.
“I’m here. There’s nothing to be worried about.
No one is going to hurt you. I promise.” I’d die to protect her.
It felt as if she were part of me. If someone hurt her, they’d hurt me.
Retribution would be swift and painful. “Is that why you’re hiding here? You’re afraid they’re still around?”
“I just saw the one. He said he was leaving, but I don’t know. He freaked me out. The guy was huge. Like you.” She glanced up at me, a silent question in her beautiful blue eyes.
“Yes, he’s like me. We’re the same.”
“But I’m only part of you?”
I nodded. “I promise you, Laney, I’ll protect you.” I held her tightly against my body. “You’re safe.”
I pulled out my phone and sent Danny a text, letting him know what happened. I told him to do a perimeter check around the school when he was done celebrating with the guys. I’d call my dad when I was alone and have a conversation with him about Laney.
She wrapped her arms around my torso. “I’m sorry I missed your game. I didn’t even eat.”
I ran my hand over her hair again. “You did the right thing.” I pulled up my app and ordered us food from the dining hall.
“I’m sorry I ruined your night.”
“You haven’t ruined my night.” I reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I’m right where I want to be.”
“You don’t have to stay with me. I’m good.”
“I want to be with you,” I told her. “I ordered us food. Why don’t you get changed, and we’ll watch a movie while we eat?”
“You’re staying here?”
“I’m not leaving.” I planned on staying all night.
“Sarah will be back in a couple of hours.”
I shrugged. “So?”
She stood and grabbed lounge pants and a sweatshirt. “That means we can’t fool around.”
“I’m not here because I want to fool around.” I stood. “I’m here because I care about you and want to spend time with you.”
She looked down at her feet and smiled.
“I’ll go and grab our food. You change while I’m gone.” I reached for the door. “Unless you’d rather have me help you change? If that’s the case, wait until I get back. That shirt might be too hard for you to get off on your own.”
She chuckled. It was good to hear her laugh.
My neck hurt like a mother fucker. I rolled over and clutched it, massaging the muscle. Peeling my eyes open, I found myself on the floor of Laney’s room. Then I remembered Sarah coming home late last night and refusing to share a room with me in Laney’s bed. So I’d agreed to sleep on the floor.
I sat up and peered over at Laney. She was sleeping peacefully. I smiled. She was so beautiful.
“Wow,” Sarah whispered, coming out of the bathroom already dressed. “That look on your face says a lot.”