Chapter Six #2
“She’s not in danger, but this will make me feel better.” He nods, and I write my information down. “No need to tell her I am worried. I like to be prepared for anything. Do you work here full-time?”
“Yes. I work the night shift.” I pass the paper back.
“Thanks, Stan…”
“Martin.”
“Stan Martin, have a good night.” I exhale slowly, hoping to ease the nausea, and leave the building.
I hold it together and make it to my car.
As I drive away, I concentrate on the first taste of my mate instead of the battle my body is going through.
I speed toward the hotel, and hope I make it in time.
She’s home and safe. She has my number. I will see her in the morning and begin the war for her heart.
Everything is blurring around me, and I have no idea the path I took to my temporary home.
Stumbling from the vehicle, I lock it and move fast. Luckily, I don’t have to stop at the front desk since I checked in last night.
The elevators seem miles away, but I keep my speed normal.
The humans would talk if I blur past them.
Once I’m on the way to the third floor, I sag against the wall.
My family are the only ones who have seen me as I am now.
I haven’t had to push off the effects this long before, and I don’t know how I did it.
My pride didn’t let me show my weakness in front of Rylee and her family.
It would have taken longer to know she is home, and not in the chaos at the club.
My head is going to explode from the pressure.
The doors open, and my vision blurs, but I find my room.
It takes me three tries for the key card to work.
The door barely shuts behind me before I lurch toward the bathroom.
I drop to my knees before the toilet, and finally get the relief I waited too long for.
I didn’t realize that I had the power to take the pain of others until I was fourteen.
My mom had educated me on all things about fox shifters.
She had mentioned that the white fox had that potential, but neither she nor my sister had it.
Issy had been playing outside in the forest behind our house.
We had spent hours in the woods, climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek.
I didn’t want to go out that morning, too busy doing nothing.
An hour after she left, I heard her screams. I found her with her foot in a bear trap that some asshole hid in the grass.
Mom helped me pry the metal from her ankle.
I panicked because of the amount of blood seeping from the wound, and the power rose inside me.
I had no idea what I was doing as I pressed my hands to her shredded skin.
Suddenly, I felt her pain, and she began to calm down.
As it flowed into my body, she started to heal.
All of us were shocked. I didn’t heal it, yet it was enough that she couldn’t feel it. She could shift and recover completely.
I lift my head. Every power has a consequence.
I knew taking a room full of pain would cause extreme vomiting, exhaustion, and hunger.
I need sleep and food, but if I do what my body demands, I will lose Charlie’s scent trail.
Sitting on my ass, I slide my phone out of my pocket and lean against the tub.
I met a boy named Shade my senior year. He loved computers and studied the world differently from most teenagers.
We became friends and kept in touch after graduation.
We don’t see each other often anymore, but sometimes I pay for his computer skills.
It’s been months since we’ve met in person.
We text and catch up on the phone as often as possible.
He’s a private man, and he values my dedication to staying silent about his life.
I would rather track my mate's date myself, but being healthy to spend the day with her tomorrow is more important.
I scroll to his name, and prop my elbow on the porcelain as I put it against my ear.
“Kill anyone lately?” he asks.
“You know me too well,” I chuckle.
“What else did you do? You don’t sound well.”
“I thought I was hiding it better,” I sigh, rubbing my head. “I'm sitting on the bathroom floor.”
“It must have been an extreme situation for you to use your power.”
“It was for my mate.”
“Shit, that will do it. Congratulations. How did you find her?”
“I just finished a job. I wasn’t expecting it.”
“That’s usually how it happens,” he drawls. “Where are you?”
“You haven’t traced my location yet?”
“Smartass,” he grumbles. “I’m not in my office.”
“That’s a first.” I roll to my feet and walk to the sink. “I’m in Oregon.” I put my phone on speaker, place it on the counter, pick up my toothbrush, and load it with paste. “Did I lose you?”
“No,” he says slowly. “You’re in Oregon.”
“Yeah. That’s what I said,” I mumble as I brush.
“No shit.”
“Dude, what the fuck is wrong with you?” I frown at my phone.
“Is that where the job is?”
“Yes, it was. The contract was fulfilled, and I was visiting friends.” I’ve never told him about Allie or her brothers. “I need a favor. I need information on a man, but I don’t know his last name. I can tell you where we were. I wanted to track him, but my system is fucked up.”
“Where did you meet your mate?” he asks.
“At a club.”
“Small, small world,” he murmurs. “What’s her name?”
“Rylee.” I spit into the sink. “Will you tell me what the problem is?”
“Are the owners of the club vampires or panthers?”
“Vampires.” I wipe my mouth with a towel, turn, and lean back against the sink.
“Ryker and Bash,” he states.
“How do you know this?” I retrieve my phone, holding it in my palm.
“I have connections there, and I’m very familiar with the club.”
“Do you have surveillance there?”
“Where don’t I?” he scoffs.
“Tell me,” I demand. Shade can be frustrating as fuck. We don’t share everything, but I’m closer to him than anyone else.
“I have friends who live there.” He pauses. “I also have men who work for me in the area. Have you met Heath?”
“You amaze me,” I mumble, and leave the room. “I did. I’m assuming you know him.”
“Not on a personal level, but I know Atlas and Luca. They called me when they met Sally. How is she?”
“Shit.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “Sally is great. I didn’t know her before today, so I can’t tell you much. It seems like you know more than I do.” I lay back. “I’ve known Atlas and Luca for years. I met Allie before them.”
“Interesting.”
“Does everyone here know you?”