Chapter 15 #2
Sera giggled. She really couldn’t wait.
After the guys left and it was just her and Caesar, he turned in his seat and said, “You’re really happy?”
“I am. Everything that you’ve done for me is just…more than I ever imagined my life would be like.”
“I’d give you the world if I could.”
She was going to suggest they head down to the house for a little tumble in the sheets before he went back to patrolling when Justus walked into the cafeteria, a grim look on his face.
Sera’s stomach felt like it was suddenly filled with lead.
He held a large envelope. “This just came in with the day’s mail,” he said, holding it out to Caesar. “It’s got your name on it.”
Caesar stood slowly and took the envelope. The moment he brought it close, his nostrils flared and he growled. “I smell jaguars.”
Her stomach twisted.
Caesar opened the envelope and pulled out a few glossy photographs.
Sera gasped. The first photo was of Fallon, outside of the barn, walking in the garden. She felt the blood drain from her face.
The next photo was a grainy image taken at night, showing Caesar lying in the paddock and Sera next to him, his body contorted in pain from the trap around his leg.
A folded sheet of paper was between the two photos, with a handwritten note.
Caesar read it aloud with a growl. “Sera is mine. Fallon will never be safe as long as you deny what is the truth. You have twenty-four hours to contact me and arrange to hand Sera over to her rightful mate, or I will destroy everyone in her life, starting with her pregnant daughter.”
“No,” Sera whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “This isn’t possible.”
Just when she was feeling happy and making a place for herself, just when she’d begun to hope that Otto had decided to walk away after not hearing from him for the last week, he made it clear he was watching not only the park but the farm.
“He’s taunting us,” Justus said. “Using drone images to show that he hasn’t given up.”
Caesar nodded. “I need to talk to Jupiter, and the alphas.” He handed the photos back to Justus. “Contact Crew at the farm and tell him to keep an eye out for drones. Fallon and the other mates shouldn’t be outside alone, there’s no telling what Otto might do.”
“I’m on it.”
Justus left them alone in the cafeteria.
Caesar pulled her to her feet and hugged her.
“This doesn’t change anything. I will keep you safe, I swear.
And Crew and the stallions will keep Fallon safe.
He’s trying to scare you into giving yourself over to him, and that’s not going to happen. You’re mine.”
“What if he’s close?” she asked, twisting her hands in his shirt. “What if he’s watching the park right now to see what we’ll do?”
He pushed her to arm’s length, his eyes hard with determination. “I’m done reacting to this bastard, letting him make a move first and then playing catch-up. I’m not waiting for the next message or drone attack. I’m going to take the fight to him.”
“You won’t go alone?”
“No, I’ll put together a team. We’ve got a secret weapon in the wolf pack and it’s about time we deployed it.
Otto will not be a problem anymore.” He cupped her face, his eyes shining with the amber of his lion.
“I will not let him get to you, Sera. Or Fallon. You’re my family and I will do whatever’s necessary to protect you both. ”
“I trust you.” She wrapped her hands around his wrists, her jaguar letting out a growl of agreement.
He walked with her downstairs, leaving her in the house and heading to a conference room with the alphas and several security team members to discuss the situation.
She was scared to pieces that someone would get hurt, but she was more scared that if Otto remained unchecked, he would do something truly dangerous.
She reached for her phone and called Fallon.
“Mom? I just heard. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m in the house. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m on lockdown with the other mates. Avi is being extra-strength protective of me.”
“Good. I know he’ll take care of you and the baby.”
“What’s Caesar going to do?”
“He’s going to go after Otto and put an end to things.”
Fallon paused, then said, “Do you think he’ll kill Otto?”
“I think he’ll give him a choice to walk away first, but I doubt Otto will take it. He’s unhinged.”
“Definitely. I just want you to be safe, Mom. I want to be able to come to the park and visit you whenever I want, and I want you to be able to come here too.”
“It’ll happen,” Sera said. “Caesar is going to take care of it.”
“Tell him to be careful,” Fallon said. “I want to get to know my new family better.”
“We’ll have a big party to celebrate when we’re both safe.”
“Well, I still have to deal with this damn Colton butthead, Avi’s cousin who keeps trying to take over the herd. But at least he’s not watching us with drones. How creepy!”
“I think we’re danger magnets.”
“Fate just wanted us to have some great stories to tell about how fierce our mates are.”
Sera chuckled. She was starting to relax, knowing that Fallon was safe and being watched carefully by her mate and the other stallions. They were a protective bunch.
As her daughter told her about the curtains she was making for the baby’s room, Sera sat on the couch and listened intently, thankful to have something to keep her mind off Caesar’s quest and the danger that would surely come with a confrontation.
He’d be victorious. He had to be.