Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan's Mate (Mid-Length Novel) (18 page)

The pack raced on, chasing a small herd of deer. The old and the weak had fallen behind. Soon the wolves would catch them and they’d feast. He leapt over a fallen tree trunk and plowed on.

Robert had no idea why Jenna thought she needed to warn Aidan, but he had no doubt that the Alpha could take care of himself.

The lead wolf caught sight of the deer. It barked once and the pack split in half, circling around the side of the herd to cut the older and weaker deer off before they could escape. Once a couple of deer were separated from the others, the pack formed a loose circle around them and closed in.

The lead wolf lunged for the deer’s back leg and got kicked for his efforts. The wolf whimpered, but dove right back in. This time his firm grip on the deer’s shank couldn’t be broken. Another wolf leapt, latching onto the animal’s neck, ripping its throat out.

The first deer fell, then the other was quickly taken down. Blood flowed, filling the air with its sweet coppery aroma. The wolves moved in to feast. Robert threw his head back and howled. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy.

The pack added their voices, then the wolves each took turns tearing off chunks of flesh. Robert stepped forward after the others finished, his mouth watering in anticipation. He could almost taste the prey’s sweet blood. He opened his jaw to take a bite.

Something hard hit him from the side, knocking him away from the carcass. Robert rolled snout over tail, then stumbled to his feet. He growled at his attacker.

Nic snarled back, then bones cracked and reshaped as he shifted to his human form.

Robert watched in confusion, then slowly followed suit. “I waited the appropriate amount of time. It was my turn to eat,” he barked.

Nic glanced at the two deer like he’d just noticed them. “This has nothing to do with the hunt. Alpha has sent me to get you. He wants you at the house now.”

Robert staggered back. “Why? What’s happened?”

Nic shook his head. “It wasn’t my place to ask.”

Stupid wolf
, Robert thought. He would’ve asked.

“You can go.” Robert dismissed the wolf, not bothering to hide his disdain.

Nic didn’t move. “He told me to bring you to him.”

Robert frowned. “I know where the house is. I don’t need an escort.”

Nic glared at him. “Let’s go.” He nodded toward a path in the woods.

Robert’s gaze strayed to the wolves around them. They’d all stopped feeding and were now staring at him. “Is this really necessary?” he hissed.

“You’ll have to ask the, Alpha,” Nic said. “I’m just the messenger.”

Robert chewed his nails as they walked back to the estate. What in the world could have Aidan so wound up that it couldn’t wait until he got back?

Had Jenna phoned again, while he was out? Fear settled in Robert’s gut, loosening his bowels. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He was only protecting the pack from a bad influence. Surely Aidan knew that and would understand his reasoning.

Dread set in when he saw the lights blazing in the windows and a shadowy figure pacing on the patio. “Alpha,” Robert said. “You wanted to see me?”

Aidan growled.

A drop of urine slid down Robert’s leg.

“Get in the house,” he said, then turned to Nic. “You may go.”

* * * * *

Once Robert was safely ensconced in his office, Aidan rounded on him.

“I would’ve told you that she called,” Robert blurted, before Aidan said a single word.

“What?” he asked. Jenna had phoned? When? And where was he?

“That’s why you summoned me. Wasn’t it?” Robert asked, sounding as confused as Aidan felt.

“No,” Aidan said. “I had Nic fetch you for another reason.” He walked over to his desk and picked up the crumpled piece of paper he’d found in his room. Aidan held it out for Robert to see. “Explain,” he said through clenched teeth. “Then we’ll get to Jenna’s phone call.”

Robert stared at the wad of paper, showing no sign of recognition.

Aidan tossed it at him. The paper bounced off Robert’s chest and landed at his feet. He picked it up and opened it. His color drained as he read the note.

“Can you tell me how that note ended up in my wastepaper basket?” Aidan asked. “I know I didn’t put it there.”

Robert smoothed the crumpled paper in his hands. “I-I have no idea, Alpha.”

“Lie!” Aidan roared. “Your scent was all over it. The only other scents on the sheet were mine and Jenna’s.”

Robert gulped. “I knew the human was going to betray you. I thought it best to lessen the blow.”

Aidan’s hands curled into fists. “You had no right to interfere.”

Robert trembled under Aidan’s fierce gaze. “You slept with her. I smelled her on your sheets.” His voice cracked. “She spent the night in your room. That privilege was reserved for your bondmate.”

Aidan approached him and slowly circled Robert. “I am aware of the social mores.”

Robert looked up, his wolf showing in his eyes. “Then why? Why would you dishonor your future mate?”

Aidan stopped directly in front of him. “I haven’t. My future mate was right where she needed to be. In my bed, beside me.”

Robert stumbled back, a look of horror upon his face. “You didn’t. You couldn’t. You’re...you’re an Elder. She’s...”

“My bondmate,” Aidan supplied.

“But I saw her in the arms of another,” Robert said. “If she were truly bonded to you, she wouldn’t have been able to stand the contact.”

Aidan’s vision faded to red. Claws slipped from his fingertips and his teeth sharpened into vicious points. “This note and the call you failed to mention, tells me there’s more to this story. Where’s Jenna now?”

“I don’t know.” He cowered.

“Where is she?” Aidan stormed. His clawed hand rose, preparing to strike a fatal blow.

Urine flowed down Robert’s leg, then spread across the floor, forming a puddle. “I swear. I don’t know where she is.” Robert’s hands trembled as he held them up to ward off an attack. He slowly backed away, splashing urine with each step he took.

Aidan looked down in disgust, then back at his ‘former’ assistant.

Robert stopped. “The last time I saw her, she was leaving town with the men. They could be anywhere by now.”

Aidan growled. “You didn’t note the number she was calling from?”

He shook his head. “No, I didn’t think it was important.”

Aidan barked out a laugh. “You didn’t think it was important.”

“I was only doing what I thought was best--”

“Don’t!” Aidan warned. He was sick of hearing Robert’s excuses. “You should’ve followed her and found out who those men were before you passed judgment on her.”

What if Jenna was forced to leave? What if she were in trouble? The thought nearly brought Aidan to his knees. He’d promised to protect her, even if that meant protecting her from herself.

Why didn’t you come to me?

Robert whimpered, his gaze bobbing from the floor to Aidan and back down again. “She had her hands all over that male, rubbing him. She was betraying you. It was only a matter of time before she betrayed the pack,” he said.

“The only person who has betrayed me at every turn is you.” Aidan snarled. “Now get out of my sight! I want you off the property by the end of the moon run.”

His wolf struggled to break his hold. It wanted to tear Robert to pieces and gnaw on his bones. He should just kill him and get it over with, then he wouldn’t have to worry about Robert trying to slip a knife into his back.

“For your sake, you’d better hope that nothing happens to her,” Aidan said.

Robert rushed for the door. He hesitated when he reached it and looked back at Aidan. “Alpha, I swear--”

“Leave now, while you still can,” Aidan said. His control was hanging by a pin. One tug and his beast would be unleashed. “I’ve made my decision.” Now he had to find Jenna.

* * * * *

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jenna spent a fitful night crammed into the small bathtub. Ethan and Carl had taken the beds. Her only options had been to sleep on the floor or in the tub.

After staring at the cigarette burns and mystery spots, she’d decided the tub gave her the best chance of avoiding a future tetanus shot.

The men had checked on her periodically throughout the night to make sure she hadn’t escaped. Unlike Ethan, when Jenna gave her word, she meant it. As long as he left Aidan alone, she’d go with him.

That didn’t mean that Jenna wasn’t planning on sneaking out and trying to phone him again. She was determined to get a message to Aidan, even if she had to send it via pigeon.

Once the men had showered, Ethan had Carl check the area to make sure no one had raised any alarms. The private investigator returned to the motel in late afternoon to let him know everything was fine. No one was looking for Jenna and her Bug was still parked where she’d left it the day before.

Carl had barely settled into the chair, when Ethan sent him out again. This time for food. Carl grumbled something about ‘delivery’ under his breath, but did as he was told. Jenna would’ve found the situation amusing, if it weren’t so depressingly serious.

Ethan’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the number and smiled. “Manning,” he said in lieu of hello.

Jenna wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the room wasn’t big enough to avoid doing so.

“Yes,” Ethan said. “She’s here with me now.” He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, then brought it back. “Can you hang on a minute?”

She sat on the bed, watching and waiting.

Ethan pressed a button. “Dad?” He paced toward the door and back. “That’s fantastic! What time will it arrive? Seven?” He nodded. “We’ll be there.”

Jenna’s heart sank. The plane was going to arrive sooner than anticipated. She was running out of time. She had to make a move now because she might not get another chance later.

Ethan clicked over to his other call. “Good news,” he said. “Our flight will land around nine-thirty tonight. No sense in waiting. Meet me at my office at ten-thirty and we’ll get everything signed and notarized.” He hung up and smiled at her.

“I take it we’re leaving early?” she asked.

“Yep, we’re getting out of this dump,” Ethan said.

“What about Carl?” she asked.

Ethan shrugged. “He has a car. He can drive back.”

“I’m going to catch a shower before he returns with the food,” she said.

With any luck, she could shimmy out of the bathroom window and go use the elderly man’s phone again. Jenna would be back before anyone knew she was gone.

Ethan’s eyes hardened. “I thought you showered earlier.”

Jenna shook her head. “No hot water. You guys used it all.”

“Well hurry up,” he said. “Carl will be back any minute.”

She walked into the bathroom and locked the door. Jenna was about to turn the water on, when she heard Ethan talking. Had Carl returned already? Jenna leaned her head against the door and listened.

“Were you able to get me a list of Aidan Fortier’s enemies and private holdings? What do you mean he doesn’t have any? That’s not possible,” he said. “You need to look again. I want the information waiting for me when I return tonight.”

Jenna cursed under her breath. She thought Ethan would at least wait until they got back to Vancouver, before he made good on his promise.

What was she going to do?

She glanced at the shower. Jenna needed to use the phone, but there was no way Ethan would let her. His cell rang again. She heard him answer, but this time Jenna didn’t listen to his conversation. She’d already heard enough.

Jenna turned the water on and maneuvered the curtain around the spray, then wadded up a towel and dropped it into the tub to make it sound like someone was showering.

She stepped on the side of the tub and examined the window. Thick coats of white paint covered the window ledge, but couldn’t disguise the pockmarked, rotting wood beneath. The size of the window made it clear it had been added for ventilation only.

This was going to be tight.

Jenna slipped the lock, then put both hands on the frame. The window creaked loudly, as she pushed and shoved forcing it to open. She heard Ethan say ‘hang on a minute’, then he was outside the door.

“What are you doing in there?” he asked. The doorknob twisted, but the lock held.

Jenna manufactured a coughing fit, then flushed the toilet with her foot.

“Are you okay?” Ethan called out.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Just had a tickle in the back of my throat. Now can I please have some privacy?”

There was a pause, then Ethan said, “Hurry up. Carl’s on the phone. He’ll be here in five.”

“I’ll be out in ten minutes.” Jenna looked at the closed door, listening for the sound of retreating footsteps.

The second she was sure that Ethan wasn’t hovering outside the bathroom door, she leveraged herself onto the small windowsill.

Broken bottles and discarded cigarette butts littered the ground. It wasn’t a far drop, but she doubted that she could land silently. It wasn’t like she was a frickin’ ninja.

Jenna glanced at the tub. An inch of water sat in the bottom of it. She had to go now. There wasn’t much time.

She swung one leg out the window, then squeezed the other through. So far so good. She slid a little further. Her hips caught on the frame, stopping her progress. Jenna wiggled and shimmied, scraping her sides as she contorted her body.

The rotting wood cracked under her weight and crumbled to the ground. She held her breath, expecting to hear Ethan at the door. Jenna coughed again, which was hard to do while balancing on her belly.

“Get your ass out here,” Ethan said.

“Can I finish going to the toilet first?” Jenna snapped. “It’s that time of the month.”

The conversation died instantly like she’d anticipated. No guy liked to discuss that particular subject.

Jenna dropped onto the ground, somehow missing all the glass. The gravel crunched beneath her feet, but she doubted that Ethan could hear her over the shower spray.

She sprinted down the back of the building and around the corner. Jenna came to a halt a few feet from the soda machine.