Love Bound in Ice: 3 (Werewolf Sentinels) (7 page)

Now he was hers, and always would be. Haven had felt the mating bond snap into place between them. It also intensified the feelings she had for Ketah. Without having to worry about him dumping her, the wall she’d erected to guard her heart had come crashing down, never to be raised again. Whereas before she’d been falling for him, those emotions had turned into something more solid. She wasn’t ready to admit to it just yet or say those three little words to her mate. It was too new. Plus, she still had one more aspect of their relationship to test out.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Ketah looked at her. “I really wish you would change your mind about making us go through the separation anxiety. It won’t be fun. You have no idea how bad it can get. You’ll think something horrible has happened to me and that you haven’t seen me for a very long time. All you’ll be able to think about is getting back to me. And I’ll suffer through the same thing.”

Haven sighed. “I know you aren’t thrilled about it but I need to know. I’ll second-guess the bond we have until I learn how strong it actually is. Right now I don’t feel it. The only time I did was when it formed between us.”

“I still think this is crazy. No mated couple I know would ever voluntarily go through the separation anxiety. It’s tortuous and really messes with someone. How long do you intend to make it last?”

“It depends on how long you think it will take to get really bad. I know you hate the idea of this, but I need to experience this for myself, not because I don’t believe you. The scars I have from my parents’ relationship run too deep. This will help heal them, show me I have nothing to worry about, even though the logical part of me already knows that.”

“A couple of hours will be more than enough. Frankly, we’ll be feeling it within a half hour, but if you want the full extent, then two hours. But be forewarned, once we’re together again, the only thing on our minds will be sex. We’ll want to reaffirm the bond we share the instant we are with one another. It won’t matter where we are, or even if there is someone around to watch. We won’t be able to help ourselves.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’ll be waiting for you at my house. Once we get back to the park’s parking lot, you’ll go to your place and me to mine.”

“And talking about houses, you do realize you will no longer be able to live alone. As for working as a guide, the only way it would work is if I came with you every day.”

Haven hadn’t thought that far ahead, and she wasn’t ready to make the kind of decisions needed for both those subjects. First she wanted to get this test over with.

“We can figure out those things later,” she said as she closed the distance between them and put her arms around Ketah’s waist.

“Well, I won’t go past the two-hour mark. Now that I claimed you, any werewolf will be able to tell from your scent. If the dark wolves were to get a hold of you, they could use you against me. And you still being mortal puts you in a vulnerable position.”

Haven obviously had a lot to learn about the new life she’d entered into, but she still didn’t regret her quick decision. Looking at Ketah, knowing he was hers—really hers—gave her goose bumps. She wouldn’t ever have to worry about him cheating on her, his love for her wouldn’t be phony, and he wouldn’t ever just walk out one day and never come back. The werewolf part, she could get past. She’d have to get used to it, is all. As for her becoming one, she’d do it once she was more comfortable with the whole notion of it.

“Fine, two hours at the most. And what are the chances of the dark wolves getting a hold of me, anyway? We’ve only known each other a couple of days, and it isn’t as if we’ve been going to a whole lot of different places together.”

“We don’t know what their pack leader is capable of. When you’re with me, I know I can keep you safe.”

“I promise this will be the one and only time I’ll ask you to do this.”

Ketah brought his lips to hers and gave her a sweet and tender kiss that had her toes curling inside her hiking boots. “I understand. I don’t like it, and dread what we’re both going to have to go through, but I can see why you need to experience it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And this
will
be the only time I do this knowingly.”

Haven stood on tiptoe and nipped his chin. “Thanks, Ketah. This means a lot that you’d do this for me.”

He looked into her eyes. “I’ll do anything for you, my mate.” Ketah took a step back. “Now let’s walk back, taking our time, then get this over with so I can have the rest of the day with you.”

Haven nodded, then bent to pick up the blanket. She rolled it up and tied it to her backpack. Two hours after leaving the park, she’d have all the reassurances she needed so she could start working on the new life she wanted with Ketah.

Chapter Seven

Back at the parking lot, Haven kissed Ketah goodbye, and after telling her boss she was done for the day, she left to go home. On the drive there, she didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary. She missed Ketah but it was no more than she thought was normal.

At her place, the feeling increased, becoming a little stronger. Haven didn’t find it too intolerable. She did notice she couldn’t stop thinking about Ketah, wondering about him. Then her thoughts veered to him having come to harm, but since she’d been forewarned about it, she knew it wasn’t true.

To distract herself, Haven went to the kitchen to see what she had in the fridge to make dinner for Ketah and herself. She didn’t find anything appealing and decided they’d either have to do takeout, go somewhere to eat or make a trip to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for her to cook.

The need to see Ketah, to be with him again, slowly increased as the minutes passed. It had been over a half hour since she’d left him at the park, but to her it felt as if it had been months.
It’s just my mind playing tricks on me
, she reminded herself.
I’ll see Ketah again. He’s not gone for good.

The next half hour was even worse with her thoughts jumbling together. Haven paced the floor in her living room, unable to sit still. She rubbed her eyes, on the verge of tears, something she usually never gave into. Haven hated having moments of weakness. She’d had to be strong for most of her life, had let her mother lean on her more often than not.

An hour and fifteen minutes in, she didn’t know if she could endure going through the rest of the time that would make a full two hours. This was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She was so tempted to pick up the phone, call Ketah and tell him to get the hell over to her place. But she forced herself not to do it.

Having to go through the separation anxiety showed how connected she was to Ketah. It also made her realize how in love with him she was. Her feelings for him were a lot stronger than she’d counted on. The thought of not seeing him again, never getting to look at his handsome face once more, had her weeping. It would be as if a part of her were missing. She’d never be complete without him.

Haven watched the clock on her digital cable box as she continued to pace. The minutes seemed to pass increasingly slower. It felt as if an eternity had ticked by before the digital number increased.

The doorbell rang, which caused Haven to nearly jump out of her skin as she almost ran to the front door. It had to be Ketah. If he suffered as much as she did, maybe he’d decided to put them both out of their misery.

She swung open the door and stiffened when she saw who stood on the other side. “Dad. What are you doing here?”

“I came to tell you I’m leaving the city.”

“You could have done that on the phone.” Haven shifted on her feet. She had to get rid of him. If what Ketah said about them having sex as soon as they were together again was true, her father did not need to be here to see it happen.

“I thought I’d have a visit with you first since I don’t know when I’ll be back in Juneau.”

“Now really isn’t a good time. Maybe tomorrow.”

“I’ll be gone by then.”

He pushed past her and stepped into the house. He walked into the living room, went to the big picture window and stared out of it for a few seconds then turned to face her, keeping his back to the glass.

“You can’t stay for long,” she said. “I’m expecting someone.”

A look of unease flashed across her father’s face before it disappeared and he smiled, which didn’t appear to reach his eyes. “I won’t be long. Is this someone a boyfriend?”

“Yes, and I really don’t want you here when he arrives.” Haven wrapped her arms across her stomach. Mentioning Ketah had her need to be with him increase. She also wanted to the pace the room, but settled for shifting from one foot to the other instead.

Her dad looked at her. “Are you all right? You don’t seem to be yourself.”

Haven just barely managed to bite back, “How would you know since you haven’t been around for most of my life?” There was no point in saying it, though. Her father would only ignore it and change the subject right away. Something he was really good at.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Say what you want to, then leave.”

Her father sighed. “Not yet.” His gaze shifted to a point over her left shoulder.

Muscular arms came around her waist and pulled her against a hard body, but it wasn’t the one she longed to have pressed along her back. Haven turned her head to look into the face of a stranger. He was native like Ketah but his eyes were pure black. She tried to free herself, which caused the man to hold her even tighter.

He bent his head and stuck his nose into the crook of her neck. He took a deep breath, then chuckled. “Well, well. Ketah’s scent is all over you, inside and out. He’s claimed you, hasn’t he, little mortal?”

Haven really struggled then, knowing the man who held her had to be a werewolf since he referred to her as a mortal. And she didn’t think he was a good one, either. The way he looked at her once he lifted his head gave her chills. Evil seemed to radiate out of him, and his touch made her skin crawl.

She swung her gaze to her father. Much to her surprise, he didn’t look worried about a strange man holding her. In fact, he appeared quite happy about it. “Dad?”

“You left me no choice, Haven. If you’d given me the money I’d asked for I wouldn’t have had to accept Tanner’s offer. It seems he and one of his friends want you—bad. I don’t know why, and I don’t care as long as I get the money they promised.”

“How come you’re alone, Haven?” Tanner asked. “Where is Ketah? You must be suffering separation anxiety.”

Haven looked straight ahead. She’d be damned if she told him anything. But her father answered for her.

“If Ketah is her boyfriend, she’s expecting him to show up soon.”

“In that case, it’s time to leave. I’m not prepared to confront Ketah yet.”

Tanner picked Haven off her feet and headed out of the room. She struggled with everything she had, scratching and digging her fingernails into his forearms. He didn’t flinch or show any sign of pain, even though she left bloody furrows in his skin. At the front door, she slammed her head back, hoping to catch him in the nose, but he jerked out of the way before she made contact. It also earned her a cuff to the ear, which left it ringing.

“I wouldn’t try that again if I were you,” Tanner snarled. He carried her outside to an older van that didn’t have any windows in the back or sides. “You drive while I keep her restrained,” he said to her father.

“The other half of my money, will I get it once we meet up with your friend?”

“You’ll get what you’re due. Don’t worry about that. Drive to the address I gave you earlier.”

Haven would have screamed as Tanner carried her to the rear of the van, then opened one of the doors there, but the hand he clamped over her mouth stifled all her attempts. With ease, he climbed into the vehicle, even burdened with her. He closed them inside as her father got into the driver’s side. He started the van and they drove away.

She tried to free herself again but Tanner easily subdued her. Her shoved her onto her stomach on the floor of the van and jerked her hands behind her back, then used a length of rope to secure them there. For the second time that day Haven tasted real fear as it coursed through her. Only this time it was so much worse. Ketah wasn’t the one frightening her now, someone who would never hurt her. She had no idea what Tanner was capable of but was afraid she would find out.

A foot on the small of her back kept her pinned to the floor. Tanner sat on a crate next to her. She lifted her gaze to see him staring at her. The look on his handsome face sent a chill down her spine. Between the fear coursing through her and suffering the separation anxiety, Haven wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t come out of this with her sanity intact. That is if she survived at all.

From where she lay, there was no chance of Haven catching a glimpse of the landscape out the windshield. Once they reached their destination, and Tanner had dragged her out of the back of the van, she found they were inside what looked to be a small, empty warehouse.

Her father walked over to join her and Tanner. “I need my money, then I’ll be on my way,” her dad said. He refused to look at her, even though Haven stared right at him.

“Don’t worry,” Tanner replied. “Andre will be along in a minute to give you what you’re owed.”

The sound of a door opening into the space had Haven turning her head to look past Tanner. Another man, who she assumed was Andre, walked through and headed toward them. He was as handsome as Tanner but a sense of evil radiated off him more. She had to resist the urge to try to back away as he approached.

Andre’s eyes—pure black like Tanner’s—had a cruel look about them. She couldn’t hold back a shudder of fear when he ran his gaze up and down her. That brought a smile to his lips, as if he enjoyed her reaction. He then turned his attention to her father.

“I see you were successful in securing your daughter for us,” Andre said.

“I told Tanner I would be able to. I held up my end of the bargain, now it’s time for you to uphold yours.”

“That you did.”

Haven watched Andre’s eyes suddenly glow red as he launched himself at her father, shifting into a wolf mid-leap. He slammed into her dad and took him down to the floor. Her father’s screams of terror turned into a gurgle and then abruptly cut off.

She became rooted to the spot, taking rapid breaths as her whole body shook. No sound came out as she opened her mouth. All she could do was watch the wolf tear into her father’s throat, causing blood to spray. It all happened so fast Haven had a hard time registering the fact that Andre had just killed her dad in cold blood.

The wolf’s body became surrounded with a black, almost smoky mass again as Andre once more took his human form. There was no shimmering and blurring as when Ketah had shifted in front of her.

Andre returned to her and Tanner. Haven’s stomach roiled as he licked up some of the blood that coated his mouth. It also ran down his chin and neck. He held her gaze, his eyes mutedly glowing red, and made a show of catching some of the blood on one finger and sucking it clean. Her shaking increased.

“You did well, Tanner,” Andre said.

“I did even better than that. She’s Ketah’s mate. He’s claimed her already. And for some reason he left her all alone so the two of them are suffering separation anxiety. I think Ketah would do anything to get her back.”

Andre laughed. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better than having a wolf brother’s mate. We can use her and the separation anxiety against Ketah. It’s perfect. To make him suffer, all we have to do is lock her up. And when we’re ready, she’ll be the bait to lure him into a trap of our making. Put her in one of the empty rooms.”

“And the body?” Tanner asked.

“Have a couple of our new pack members dispose of it. We’re only using this place temporarily, but I don’t want anyone tracking it back here.”

“It’ll be done.”

Andre headed for the door he’d used earlier as Tanner forced Haven to walk in the opposite direction. Her gaze landed on the still form of her father. She quickly jerked it away. Tears rose to the surface. She’d mostly hated her dad but the small part of her that was still the innocent child who’d once adored him sobbed over his death.

Tanner opened the door to a windowless room and flipped on the light switch. He shoved her inside with enough force to cause her to fall. He laughed as he closed the door once more.

Haven struggled to push herself into a sitting position, which proved difficult with her hands tied behind her back. Once she accomplished that, she positioned herself into one of the corners. There she sat, tears streaming down her face. This was all her fault. If she hadn’t talked Ketah into leaving her to test the full extent of the mating bond she wouldn’t be where she was now. He would have been there when her father had arrived, and would have been able to fight off Tanner. Her dad would also still be alive.

Whatever happened, she couldn’t allow Andre and Tanner to use her against Ketah. She wouldn’t allow her stupid decision to cause her mate to suffer.

* * * * *

Ketah paced up and down the entrance hallway of his house, feeling as if he’d lose his sanity at any minute. Agreeing to willingly suffer through separation anxiety was probably one of the dumber things he’d done. He knew it would be bad but he’d had no clue it would be like this. Hearing what it’s like from someone else was totally different than experiencing it firsthand. The need to be with Haven again constantly rode him until he couldn’t think about anything else. He was tempted to turn his mate over his knee for asking this of him, after he’d made love to her, of course.

“It’s time to end this,” Edensaw said as he stepped into Ketah’s path. “You are suffering needlessly, as is your mate. I’m sure she has had more than enough proof to show her how bonded you are to her.”

“It hasn’t quite reached the two-hour mark. I still have a half hour to go.”

“Doesn’t matter. You have to stop torturing yourself. Cassidy and I will drive you to Haven’s house. You’re in no shape to be driving.”