Chapter 9
Maximus smiled when Mystia suddenly appeared holding one of her many books about myths and legends she’d shared with him when he was growing up.
Those were the happy memories of his childhood, memories Mystia made sure he had to mitigate the terrible ones that haunted him after his father was killed.
Maximus was old enough to know what was happening when his father called Mystia to rescue him and the Dire Wolf Treasure during the fierce battle.
The pain he felt that night was gone, but his father’s parting words were engraved on his heart forever.
Clinging to his father’s leg, Maximus begged to be allowed to stay and fight by his side, promising he would kill all the bad wolves.
Tears streamed down his face when he realized his father wouldn’t be swayed.
When his father picked him up for the last time, Maximus wrapped his arms around his neck, inhaling the scent that always brought him comfort.
Then, his father spoke softly into his ear—the last words he’d ever heard from him, “Remember, Max, I’ll always be with you the rest of your life.
If you ever need love, look into your heart for I will be there…
if you ever need advice, search your mind, for I will be there…
and if you ever need faith, look for me in your soul, for I will be there, too…
always and forever my darling, brave boy. ”
“I love you, Father,” Maximus said tearfully, “always and forever.” Then, as the door to their home was bashed in and hordes of wolves barreled through, Maximus felt Mystia’s hands tugging him away from the only parent he ever knew.
Then both of them disappeared, his arms still stretching out for the dad he’d never be able to hug again.
Maximus awoke the next day to the new reality of being alone in the world except for the company of the witch he blamed for spiriting him away from his father, just when he was needed most. How she managed to put back together a heartbroken child still amazed him, but he knew it started with her library of old and rare books he found one day while wandering around, trying to figure out how to run away.
Opening one, Maximus was transported to a world of fantasy, mystical beings and fascinating tales.
Devouring one enthralling story after another that day, he failed to show up for meals and, when his bedtime had come and gone, Mystia found him sleeping among the piles of books he’d read.
Seizing on his interest, she began to spend hours with him, as together they read and discussed each myth or legend—mending his life that had been ripped away.
When he was older, she’d transport them to far off places where the myths and legends they’d read about had originated.
On one such trip to Italy, they met a seer who confirmed the existence of an Italian wolf who, among other powers, could disappear and reappear at will.
It was the first time they’d met anyone who could confirm a myth was true.
As the years went on, Maximus grew up, went off to university and started Dire Enterprises.
Then he met Oracle, fell in love and they were blessed with two pups—Steel and Slate.
During those years, their search for this ‘mythical’ shifter slowed down, but neither gave it up.
Then another piece of information—the year of the wolf’s birth—was discovered by Mystia on one of her many sojourns and he remembered how excited she was when she asked him to add it to the file.
Now they could narrow their search down to a place and time.
But these were just tidbits; Maximus knew it was still like searching for a needle in a haystack, but they kept at it—Mystia with her many scouting trips and he, hiring the investigator to search the birth records of shifters born in Italy that year.
However, their endeavors produced no new information and both Maximus and Mystia became desperate because, according to the myth, the Italian wolf shifter also had the power to destroy countless lives.
Then, the miracle photo of David’s tattoos had arrived, something Maximus never imagined would happen, and the last piece of the puzzle fell into their hands like a ripe apple from a tree.
But now, did they have enough time to save David from himself?
Rising after Mystia appeared, he hugged the witch who adopted him those many years ago and said, “So good to see you again, Mother.”
“You too, mon bébé,” Mystia murmured, returning Maximus’ hug before sitting at the table with him.
She opened the book she’d brought to the page recounting the myth of the vanishing shifter and placed a copy of a print she’d made of David’s photo next to the hand-drawn picture in the book.
The tattoos matched exactly. “See?” she said.
“You have, indeed found him. Do you know if he has the other powers listed here?” she asked, tapping the page with her finger.
“No, unfortunately not,” Maximus answered. “The only thing Jackson knew for sure was David could disappear at will…well, that, and the markings.”
“Oracle is on her way there?”
“Yes, she left a little while ago. I think we need to tell Steel and Jackson about David because they can arrange for protection until we see what gift the Fates have in store for Zane.”
“Yes, I agree. We also have to find out if David’s soul is dark…and that depends on what his childhood was like.”
Maximus thought for a moment, before saying quietly, “You know if he is a dark being, we can’t let him loose on the unsuspecting world.”
Sighing, Mystia said, “Let’s find out more before we have to worry about that. You know as well as I do, if David is one of them and we have to destroy him, Zane will die also. And it will just about kill Jackson if that happens.”
“I know,” said Maximus, “but, I have never killed another being and I don’t want to do it now. Isn’t there another way if David is one?”
“Maybe. I’ve been doing some research because I know how you feel, but don’t get your hopes up.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep my fingers crossed instead,” Maximus said, smiling. “Now, how much do you want to tell Jackson?”
~/~/~/~/~
“Where is he?” asked the High Priestess.
“He’s at a hotel with his mate.”
“Has he been claimed yet?”
“As far as I know, no.”
“Did you find out who’s masquerading as his Fated Mate?”
“Yeah, a nothing wolf shifter from the California Blackwood Pack…small, very few members…nothing we can’t handle.”
“Go get him and bring him to me.”
“What about the shifter he’s with?”
“Kill him.”
~/~/~/~/~
Suddenly, David was wide awake. He was unsure why, because Zane was still sleeping, and the bedroom was dark and silent.
Listening to the deep, even breathing of his mate, his heart slowed down from the runaway beating it had been doing.
In fact, the whole situation reminded him of how he felt many times growing up in that godless place when he was jolted awake by someone entering the room, to do only who knew what to him.
Entering my room…that’s it. Someone is in the other room.
Now, knowing what he was listening for, it was easy to hear the shifter in the living room, shuffling about, no doubt looking for what he could steal before coming to get him.
David had no doubt he and Zane could escape, but to where?
That was the question tumbling through his mind.
Morgan’s place was out, because the High Priestess already knew he worked there—as he found out late one night when she paid a visit to his room.
Not having made a lot of friends in Scotland—because of his fear for their safety—there was only one other place he could take his mate where they’d be secure.
As he heard the shifter sneak closer to the bedroom, David grabbed Zane’s hand without a moment’s hesitation and the two of them vanished.
Zane was jolted awake when he felt himself sucked into a black hole and then found himself…
On a boat? What the fuck? Oh shit! This dude isn’t happy we showed up in the middle of the night.
Quickly pushing David behind him and growling at the man now standing before him, Zane had no idea why David brought them there but, knowing his mate, something happened when they were sleeping that triggered the disappearing act.
Right now, his only goal was to get them out of there without his mate getting hurt.
“Whoa, sorry for the disruption but we meant no harm. We’ll just go and leave you alone,” said Zane, in a calm, soothing voice.
It was a fine line he was trying to walk—convince the man they weren’t a threat but appear strong enough to discourage him from attacking them.
Shit, how do you look fierce in fucking pink, unicorn pajama pants?
“Zane, it’s okay,” David said. “This is the only safe place I could think of where they can’t find me.”
Keeping his eyes on the man in front of him, Zane asked, “Who can’t find you?”
“Zane, is it?” asked Captain Brian Crannach. “Are ye the Fated Mate of my friend?”
“Your friend?” asked Zane. “David, do you know this man?”
Grasping his mate’s arm, David tugged at it, signaling Zane to relax. “He’s the only one I trusted to go to who would help us.”
Brian extended his hand, saying, “Nice to meet ye, Zane.”
Zane studied the man, carefully analyzing his face and, when he saw only friendly concern, he shook the hand offered to him and replied, “Same, here. Again, sorry for the intrusion.”
“Naw, tis’ nothin’. Have a seat and then the young High Priest can tell us why he brought ye here.”
Glancing at his mate, Zane mouthed ‘High Priest’ with raised eyebrows before sitting. My mate is a High Priest? Holy Shit Balls!
David rolled his eyes when Brian called him that, knowing his mate would now want to know all about him.
Hoping to keep Zane from asking, he sat next to his mate, grasping his hand before beginning.
“Brian, tonight I was with Zane in our hotel suite sleeping when I heard a shifter in the living room.”
“Someone broke into our hotel room? Why didn’t you wake me?” asked Zane.
“Because I couldn’t risk your life. Brian and I are friends, and no one knows him so they won’t be looking for me here,” David said.
“And these shifters who are after you? Why?” asked Zane.
“Because I have a Fated Mate. One of their spies must have told the High Priestess I found you…well, technically, you found me,” David answered.
“Why would that be a problem? Fated Mates are gifts from the Fates and are to be treasured by all shifters, no matter who the Fated Mates belong to. That’s why once we claim each other, we’ll wear a permanent mark,” said Zane.
“They don’t believe in the Fates,” answered David.
“But they know about Fated Mates, right?” asked Zane.
“Yes, but they think it’s Satan at work, keeping shifters weak, by burdening them with other shifters,” David said.
Zane’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Do you believe that? Is that why you disappeared when I first saw you?”
“No. My mother told me I’d meet my Fated Mate some day and, when I did, I’d find what I’d been searching for,” David said.
“Ay, maybe we can sort that out later,” Brian said, interrupting their discussion. “Maybe ye’d tell me how ye knew someone was in your room?”
“I woke up, startled, and I didn’t know why, but it reminded me of something that used to happen all the time in my childhood, and I heard careful footsteps, you know, like someone didn’t want anyone to know he was there.
Then I sniffed and recognized who it was, so I did the only thing I could think of to keep my mate safe…
and here we are,” David said, taking a deep breath.
“You knew who the shifter was? Where is he?” asked Zane.
“I don’t know his name or where he is now, but he was the one who gave me my last warning,” said David.
“Ay,” Brian said. “So what is it ye crave me tae do?”
“Can we stay here for a while?” asked David. “No one knows we’re friends, not even Morgan.”
“Babe, I can’t stay here,” Zane protested. “My brothers are going to freak out when they wake up in the morning and find out we’re gone.”
“But it’s not safe for us…actually for you…
back there. I’m sure the shifter was going to give me more than just a warning this time and then you would attack him and get hurt.
Trust me, it’s better if we stay here for a while.
I was hoping Brian could do some snooping for me and see if he could find the shifter,” David said.
“Ay, I could do that but Zane has a point, too. I know two of his brothers and they will nae be happy,” Brian said.
“How do you know any of my brothers?” asked Zane.
“I helped them save Fionn and Slate,” Brian answered.
“Huh. It seems my brothers have some explaining to do,” Zane said.
Looking at his mate, Zane had no doubt David was worried about his safety and trying to protect him.
That thought made him happy because it showed his mate cared for him—maybe even loved him a little bit.
And that was fine with him because Zane already knew he was in love with his mate and couldn’t wait to claim him.
“How about this, babe, we stay here tonight and, in the morning, I’ll call Logan and let him know we’re all right. ”
Smiling at his mate, David was grateful Zane respected him enough to offer a compromise instead of going all Alpha and ordering him to return them to the hotel immediately. “That works,” David said.
“Guid, then that’s settled,” said Brian. “I’ll take the berth back here and ye two can have the cabin forward. Anyone try’n to come aboard, canna sneak past me,” he assured them.
“Thanks, I appreciate your help in keeping David safe,” Zane said, leading his mate forward.
“Ay,” Brian said. “And I love yer pink unicorn pants, Zane.”
Groaning at the comment, Zane muttered, “Kieran and his fucking pink obsession.”