Chapter 31
Intruder
D inner was so nice. It dawned on me that I was in a real relationship. Bradan doesn’t have to do any of the human things he does for me, but he makes the effort because it makes me happy. How can I not love him?
However, we shouldn’t have come here. The moment we got to the front door was my cue. I knew we should’ve skipped this stop, especially after Tangy said to stop by so late.
I had wanted to come sooner and be done with it. Now I’m ready to lose my shit on everyone in this funky-ass apartment. I’m so mad I can hear my anger sizzling.
“Sorry, I just got in. Give me a sec and I’ll get your package,” Tangy says as she comes out to greet me.
I’ve been waiting ten minutes for her. Leona was the one to open the door for me. She’s the one with the music blasting through the apartment.
I’m so glad to be done with this place. I live in a biker clubhouse filled with supernatural beings and it’s never this noisy and chaotic. There are clothes all over the living room and the sink is filled with dishes.
The place has gone to shit. Not that it was so great before I left. It was at least somewhat clean when I was living here.
“Where the hell is Angel? She better clean this shit up,” Tangy says in disgust as she waves us to follow her.
I should’ve known. Angel is like a tornado. Being the youngest roommate, her life is as messy as she is. Although, I don’t think that’s ever going to change, no matter how old she gets.
Tangy gets to the little hall closet and opens the door. A frown comes to her face as she looks inside. “Well, where the heck did it go?” she murmurs to herself.
“What?” I say as I begin to get more pissed.
“It’s not where I left it.”
As I stand here fuming, Bradan places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. If not for him, I know I would have lost it by now. Waiting for a whole ten minutes like I don’t have a life, standing in the middle of that messy living room not wanting to risk sitting on that couch—this is some bullshit.
There’s no telling what I would have done if not for his presence. I close my eyes and begin to count. I can’t afford to lose my temper. My powers are already pulsing within me and swirling at my hands.
“Reel it in, little one. We’ll be out of here soon,” Bradan warns in my head.
“You called me to say there was a package for me. Where the heck is it?” I snap at Tangy.
“I put it in this closet this morning. I know I did. Ugh, let me check Angel’s room. She’s been acting weird and goofy since you moved out. Her ass is about to be on notice. I’m so tired of her shit,” Tangy grumbles.
“I don’t know what anyone could have possibly sent here for me. Maybe I should just go,” I mutter.
“No. I’ll find it. That box is in this apartment.”
“Can I just leave our address for her to forward it?” I mind-link to Bradan, totally over this situation.
“No, that would be against club by-laws. The address of the club is never shared. That information should never fall into the wrong hands. Visits are by invite only and magic is used to gain access. A package leaves a trace.”
“Okay, fine. I get it. That makes a lot of sense.”
Tangy moves down the hall to Angel’s room. When she goes to turn the knob, rage covers her face. I fold my arms over my chest and cock my hip to the side.
“Since when does she have a lock on this door? The fucking audacity. Non-rent-paying ass.
“She walks up in everyone’s shit like she’s the one who owns the place, but she wants to lock doors now. I should kick this shit in. Now I know her ass took that box,” Tangy seethes.
I growl, like a deep growl. I’m not even sure where it comes from. Bradan is talking in my head, but I can’t even focus on his words. Before I know what I’ve done, the door to Angel’s room blows open and bounces against the wall.
Tangy looks between me and Bradan. A little smile turns up the corner of her lips. She shrugs and goes into the room.
“What in the entire fuck?” Tangy snarls from inside the room.
I step in behind her and my eyes grow wide. It’s worse in here. Clothes and old plates of food everywhere. It smells like stink ass and spoiled milk in here.
I swear a few pairs of pants on the floor look like they might stand and walk out. Stiff-looking panties are lying on the floor, but what has me ready to spit fire are my things which are all over the place. Things I had been wondering what happened to. Then there’s the open box on her nasty-ass bed.
Bradan wraps his arm around my waist and holds his hand out for the box as Tangy grabs it, a look of disgust on her face. She places the box in his hand. He lifts me and carries me out of the apartment before I burn this motherfucker down.
“That’s half my damn wardrobe,” I growl.
“Do you really want any of that shit back? I’ll replace it all.”
“I’m gonna beat her ass. Put me down. I’m not leaving until I teach her some respect.”
Bradan chuckles but doesn’t stop moving out of the apartment. I kick and wiggle to get free, praying Angel is on her way in as we leave out so I can see her.
“She isn’t worth it. She is also human and it’s against the by-laws of the club for you to harm her. I’m not able to banish my mate or allow my brother to, so reel that shit in, Taylor. Calm the fuck down.”
I take a deep breath and calm. Banished? Angel isn’t worth losing my family. I finally have one and I’m not going to allow her to take anything else from me.
“Fine,” I mumble.
Clearly, I need to get ahold of the club by-laws to find out all the things I’m not supposed to do because, at the moment, I’m ready to kill a bitch. They are only things, but they’re my things. I’ve worked hard for everything I have.
As a child, I had to take what was given to me and cherish it. Too many times, as the smallest child, others took my things, and I said nothing. I’m not that child anymore.
I shake away the memories and calm down. My fists are still balled, but I have more control of my temper.
“Good girl. Let’s go home,” Bradan murmurs.
Bradan
Taylor sits in my lap with a beer in her hand as she throws her head back and laughs at Tala and Violet. The she-wolves surround us as we have a few drinks and laughs. My little mate seems happier now after nearly exploding in that apartment.
“You guys have some of the funniest stories. I can’t wait to spend more time on the pack grounds. I wish I could have seen your wolves,” Taylor says through her laughter.
“You will love it. Our wolves have all been excited to meet you. It’s never been like this with anyone else before,” Violet says.
“I know Tika, my wolf, she adores you. When you’re not around, I can’t get her to shut up about you,” Tala adds.
“ Aw , I feel so special.”
“You are,” I whisper into her ear.
She looks over her shoulder and smiles at me. A broad smile comes to my face. This is the most laid back it’s been around here in a while. I love watching Taylor fit in.
Since our talk earlier, I’ve been watching her find her confidence. I’ve often wondered how a mate would fit in with this lifestyle. Biker life can be taxing without all the supernatural dealings we have.
The one thing we have over human clubs is the lack of attention from law enforcement. Oh, they have tried but we spin them in circles easily. Not to mention, we have several human members who are in law enforcement.
So far, Taylor has proven this is where she belongs. Hearing the joy in her laughter warms my heart, especially after that scene at her old apartment. I was surprised to see her lose it the way she did.
My little one is really leaning into that fire inside. The more she does, the more she’s been coming out of her shell. The shy tension that’s also in her body has loosened up. Her new friends are good for her as well.
“You want another beer?” I breathe into her ear before nuzzling into her neck.
Her scent has been changing, taking on a smokier note. I hadn’t expected the change to happen so fast, but it’s one more thing that proves she belongs to me. I inhale deeply and savor her smell.
“Yeah, one more would be cool,” she says.
I replace her longneck without looking up. I know she has it for sure as her throat begins to move when she downs the new beer. I lick her soft skin and suck it into my mouth.
We’ll be heading upstairs soon. Her pussy pulsing against my lap proves my thoughts right. The heat coming from between her legs is calling me.
I begin to think of all the things I’ve taught her already. We’ve done a few different types of fire play. She seems to enjoy cigar play a lot. Watching Taylor give cigar service is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Smoke play is another that has gone over really well.
I’m hoping we can try wand play once more. She wasn’t ready for it the first time we tried. The wands and the flames began to react to her anxiety, and I had to stop. Another reason I know my mate will have more control over wielding fire than she thinks.
As images fill my mind of her riding me with that fat ass in my hands while I blow shotgun, I grow harder. I know the moment she taps into my thoughts. Her body melts into mine and she begins to pant.
Suddenly, I stiffen. All the wolves sitting around us freeze and their eyes begin to glow. We can all sense Ace as he comes through the gate to the clubhouse that all the supers have to enter through.
Something is wrong. As soon as I have the thought, Aravos tries to link with me and my brothers. Lifting Taylor and placing her in my seat, I quickly teleport to the gate to meet Ace. He’s injured and on the verge of shifting.
“I need to speak with Kendrick. I had to come to see you both,” Ace forces out.
I grab him by the arm and wrap it around my shoulders, supporting his weight as I take us to Kendrick’s office in a flash. Kendrick is already there as we walk in. I’m concerned by how labored Ace’s breathing is.
“Ace, what happened?” Kendrick asks.
Meanwhile, I’m mind-linking Reilly to come see if he can heal Ace. We have healers, but this is my best friend’s pup. No matter how old Ace is, I will not allow my friend to lose a child on my watch.
However, Ace’s next words grab my attention and send my blood boiling. “The holy land was attacked. I was there alone to pray to the moon goddess. I was hoping to find guidance to find my mate as you all have,” Ace says.
I close my eyes and groan. Dyson still hasn’t told the triplets about the curse. I get it. The guys need their mates.
It’s not just a desire to have them; they need to have their lunas by their sides. They have been suffering without them. The brothers are incomplete.
However, I have questions. Ace is an alpha and one of the strongest wolves I know even with his lycan trapped in slumber. How did someone get by him and why is he in this state?
“I didn’t catch the scent. Not until they were leaving, and the wind shifted. I fought him, but it’s like something was keeping me from shifting,” Ace says, answering my thoughts.
“You should have gone to the pack doctor to heal before you came. You don’t look well,” my brother says.
“Kendrick, the stone is gone. He knew where it was.”
I move to place Ace down in a chair as my anger ignites and my temperature begins to rise. Embers circle my hands. I note that Kendrick’s are sparking with lightning.
Dyson was more than the alpha of the Sapphire Moon pack. When he stepped down, he passed the throne down to his sons. They are now the lycan kings.
It was my relationships with the lycan kings before them that made me choose the werewolves as the guardians of my stone when I had to choose. It should have been safe. Only the king knows of the location of my stone. With each generation, that information is only passed down to the king by myself.
“Bradan, go to the holy land. See what you can find out,” Kendrick says, pulling me from my musing.
“Should we alert the others?” I ask as it dawns on me someone could be targeting our source stones.
“I’m still thinking. I don’t want to lead anyone to them if this was a stroke of luck.”
Kendrick has a point. I nod my agreement. We can’t allow another stone to be taken.
“I feel you, but if they were able to keep Ace from shifting, we don’t know what we’re up against. This could be those hunters.”
“For now, let’s find out what happened on the Sapphire grounds. Go to the holy land and see if you can find out what happened. We will move from there.”
The stones are useless without the one sword, Kendrick is the only one who knows where it’s located. I nor either of my other brothers have this information. We decided it was for the best a long time ago.
“Where is he?” Reilly asks as he appears.
I nod toward the chair Ace is now passed out in. He looks pale, but I have all faith in Reilly. He will bring him back to health. For now, I need to get to the holy land and find out what the fuck is going on.
***
I step onto the holy land right in front of the statue of the moon goddess who holds a shield with my crest. I was honored when the packs wanted to include me in the monuments here.
I’ve met the moon goddess once as a young boy. I remember her smile and kindness. It was then she told me of the wolf kings and the role I would play in their lives. Centuries went by before I met the first one.
“Bradan, Ace informed us you would come. Nik and I remained behind in case someone returned. We’ve kept everyone out of the area,” Dom says.
“We’ll patrol the parameter of the area once you give the all clear,” Nik finishes.
“I will join you after I investigate here. Keep everyone out,” I reply.
Only members of the Sapphire Moon packs can access the temple above. I knit my brows as I sense a cloaked presence has been here. No wonder Ace didn’t sense them right away, but how did they get up to the temple?
I inhale deeply then breathe out. The steps to the temple appear, smoke seemingly rolling off them. I make my way up swiftly, tracing the remnants of the presence that was here.
Once at the entrance of the temple, I scent Ace’s blood. I frown as I can sense the battle was much worse than it looked by the time he arrived at the clubhouse. I clench my fists and move to the center of the temple.
The best way to know what happened will be to see it for myself. Things are about to get hot in here. I double-check to make sure no one else is here.
“Ben kral?m.”
I stand with my hands out to my sides as flames ignite, encircling me. They move clockwise, swirling around me. The room begins to pulse with heat as a vision of what happened here earlier this evening begins to play.
Ace entered the temple as he said. He moved to the altar and kneeled to offer his prayers to the goddess. It’s while his head is bent a cloaked figure appears in the shadows.
His frame is large, putting me in the mind of one of my kind, not a wolf as I had expected. Wolves are smaller than we are. Only lycan alphas come anywhere near our size.
I shouldn’t be surprised as we have already learned there are those of our kind still roaming the earth. My curiosity is piqued. If not a pack member, how did this being get in?
A gust of wind picked up as if someone had blown it into the temple and Ace lifted his head. Ace stood right away, on alert and ready to protect the temple.
However, something else entered the air. It’s so oppressive I can feel it even now in this state. No wonder Ace couldn’t shift. However, he’s a skilled warrior and took on the cloaked intruder without shifting fully.
I watch as the cloaked figure fights with a familiar style. However, there’s something off. Almost like he wasn’t in complete control or as if he was intent on being cautious.
He was in a defensive mood almost the entire time. Then it happened and I’m jerked back to the present. The same flash of light from the night I found Taylor in the parking lot.
“Those fucking hunters,” I growl.