Chapter 13
Simon read the pages one more time before closing the journal and jumping to his feet.
He hissed when all the blood rushed to his legs.
He’d been on the floor so long they’d fallen asleep.
The once bright light pouring in through the windows had dimmed to the faded ash of dusk.
Waddle-limping toward the back door, Simon groaned with each step, even though he felt lighter than he had in weeks.
He wanted to tell Gray what he’d learned from the journals. With a laugh, Simon realized how much the alpha had invaded his thoughts. He leaned down to rub at his aching legs as the circulation began to return and knocked off a layer of filth from the morning’s chores.
Changing course, Simon went to shower. The hot steam only increased his excitement. He scrubbed, his homemade blackberry and sage soap scenting the air as the suds covered his body. When he saw Gray again he wanted to look, and smell, his best.
He thought of Gray smelling his neck, his nose trailing down the sensitive skin there. Maybe he’d lick a little, tasting as he dipped down farther. Simon rubbed his hands down his chest, over his stomach, to his very interested dick.
Arousal surged through him when he gave it a quick, hard stroke. After gathering a palm full of bubbles, Simon used them to slick the way and began a rhythm of pulls and twists that had his knees wobbling for a totally different reason.
Imagining Gray kneeling before him, mouth open to receive Simon’s erection, made Simon arch and lean against the shower wall for support. He gasped, picturing Gray’s hot lips and tongue around his dick, sucking and teasing at the slit.
With a groan, Simon shot his load into the bottom of the shower.
All it took was a few thoughts of Gray’s gorgeous mouth to bring him off.
He stood under the steaming water for a few more moments, gathering his thoughts and his breath.
He dried off and threw on a clean pair of jeans and a dark green T-shirt.
He’d been told the color looked amazing on him. He hoped Gray agreed.
Shaking aside his lustful thinking, Simon restarted his journey to the back door.
Once outside, he looked around for Liam.
He headed for the section of woods where Cade had concealed himself earlier and heard a rustle in the trees to his right.
Simon turned with a smile, expecting to see the pack member, but instead came face to face with a charging demon.
Simon didn’t have time to react. The journal fell from his hands as the demon tackled him. They hit the ground hard, Simon’s left arm twisting behind him. He cried out in pain and tried to struggle out of the demon’s grip.
It was crazed. When Simon had last faced it, there wasn’t this madness in its eyes.
Before, it had been controlled and determined.
This time it was out of control, set on its course, and Simon’s fight didn’t seem to faze the demon at all.
Simon swung as hard as he could with his right arm, his fist connecting with a solid punch to the demon’s jaw.
It didn’t even blink to acknowledge the strike.
It grabbed Simon on either side of his head, sinking claws into the sensitive skin to hold him steady.
Simon threw up his shields, but it was too late.
The demon was focused on the leech inside him, and for the first time in days, it pulsed with renewed life.
He reinforced the bubble surrounding it, throwing everything he had into keeping that leech held tight inside the protective barrier he’d created.
One minute the demon was there on top of him, and the next it was gone.
Simon heard a roar and felt the jerk of the demon’s body lift from him.
Stunned, he rolled his head to the side.
Liam wrestled with the demon only a few feet from where Simon lay.
It didn’t even acknowledge Liam’s presence.
Its focus stayed on Simon and trying to get back to him.
That made it easier for Liam to fight it off. Simon cradled his sore arm against his chest. A few drops of blood oozed down his face from where the demon’s claws had cut him. He tried to think of a way to help, to come up with some way to keep Liam from getting hurt, but he didn’t know how.
Simon was beginning to panic, but after a few minutes of struggle, it stopped.
Liam threw the demon, and it landed several feet away on the opposite side of the yard.
Instead of coming back at Simon again, it turned and ran off into the woods.
Liam started to chase it, but Simon quickly stopped him.
“Liam, no! We have to get to Gray. It’s important. ”
Liam growled, and for the first time, Simon noticed he was partially shifted. He looked like he was in pain, so Simon approached him. He winced and held his side. “You need to shift?”
He nodded.
“Go ahead. I can drive us.”
Magic began to gather in the air. Before he had time to process the thought, a huge black wolf stood beside him on a pile of clothes. “You okay now?”
Liam’s answer was to nudge at Simon with his head. Simon laughed and took the hint. “I’m going, I’m going.”
He grabbed Liam’s clothes off the ground, then hurried to the house. “Crap,” Simon said, as he spun around to run back to the yard and grab the journal. Liam growled at him, and Simon could hear the “hurry up” in the tone. “I need to take this to Gray,” he explained.
Spinning around again, Simon winced when his left arm suddenly began to throb. “Shit. That hurts.” Liam was immediately at his side, his nose sniffing along Simon’s arm. “It’s fine. We’ll worry about it later. Let’s get out of here.”
They went through the house, and Simon took a minute to grab his keys and wallet, then headed out the front door. The drive to the compound was strange with a wolf filling his tiny backseat. “I think I’m going to have to get a bigger car if I keep hanging around with you guys.”
Liam huffed his agreement, his nose pressing into Simon’s neck.
“Cut that out. It tickles.” Simon chuckled and moved his head to avoid Liam’s snout.
Liam licked his face, cleaning up the dribble of blood that traced down his cheek.
“Seriously, Liam. Knock it off, you pest.” Liam sighed and went back to staring out the windows, watching the darkness around them for any sign of a threat.
They arrived in front of the huge black gate after a few minutes.
It opened immediately, and Simon started to drive through.
A pack member he recognized as one of the cub’s parents ran up to the car.
Simon stopped, and he opened the passenger door and got inside.
“Alpha is waiting for us,” the man said.
Liam nodded and Simon drove again. He pulled up in front of Gray’s house. The car was barely parked when his door was jerked open, and Gray pulled him into his arms.
“I’m okay, Gray. I’m fine.”
Gray didn’t seem satisfied with his words. He looked at Liam, who seemed to be communicating with him, then grabbed Simon’s left arm gently.
“Gray, really, it’s just twisted or something. It’s not important. I have to show you what I found.”
Simon pulled away and reached into the car for the journal. They started inside the house, and Aunt Maggie appeared, a towel full of ice in her hands. “Here, sweetie. Let’s get some ice on that.”
It amazed Simon how seamless they were. Garon ran down the stairs and threw himself against Simon. Simon held him tight. “I’m fine, little man.”
“Don’t leave again, Simon! You belong here with us.”
Simon hugged him a little tighter. He wouldn’t lie to Garon and tell him he wouldn’t leave again. There were just too many stumbling blocks in the way for that to happen.
They settled in the living room, Simon and Gray, Garon and Aunt Maggie, Cade and a man Simon didn’t know, along with Liam and the guard from the gate—it bugged Simon that he didn’t know the man’s name. He went over to him, holding out his right hand. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name.”
The man smiled and shook Simon’s hand. “I’m Robert, Danny’s dad.”
“Hi, Robert.” Simon turned back to Gray. “And I don’t know that guy either, but he doesn’t feel like one of us.”
“You’re right. Simon, meet Rocky. He’s from another pack, and I brought him in to help with security.” Simon shook Rocky’s hand, then went over to the couch with Gray.
“Is it okay to talk about what I found with everyone?”
“Yes. I trust everyone here completely.”
Simon looked around the room. “You all need to understand that what I am about to share needs to be kept between us.”
Everyone nodded agreement.
Simon opened the journal and laid it across Gray’s lap with a smile. “I found something that might help.”
“Might?”
“Well, I guess I should say I found someone.”
“Simon, just tell us. I don’t want to read all this now. Give me the rundown, and I’ll read it later.”
Simon grinned. “Okay, here it goes. A long time ago—centuries or something, it isn’t clear—there was a vampire who had this brilliant idea to try to turn other magical creatures into vampires as well.
My grandfather says that he was probably trying to build a powerful army or something.
” Everyone waited for Simon to continue.
“So he hears about this one Enchanter who lives alone out in the woods.”
“Simon, what’s an Enchanter?” Garon asked.
“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest, but that’s what Grandfather called him.
So, the vampire goes to find this Enchanter and finds out the guy has a familiar.
” Simon paused and looked at Garon. “That’s like a friend that’s an animal.
” Garon nodded his understanding. “Well, this guy’s familiar was a wolf, but not just any wolf. He was a werewolf.”