Once Upon a Shifter (55 page)

Trying to swallow the huge lump in my throat proved to be impossible. "Then why even start something that you know will pass?"

"Jesus, Mena…" he sighed, "…this is not how I wanted our morning to go. Please, just try to understand what I'm saying before you get mad and hate me. Love is nothing more than an emotion, like hate, lust, jealousy or anger. You feel it, or your mind tells you that you do, but it isn't who you are. You can enjoy being in the moment with someone without chaining yourself to one emotion and then getting let down. The difference between love and all those other feelings is that love is the only one that can truly break a person. You can get over anger, jealousy and hate—they don't leave lasting damage—but when you allow yourself to love, to let go and open your heart fully, that's when you can be destroyed, crushed. Love makes a person vulnerable; it makes them weak, and I refuse to be weak."

"You're wrong—"

"Nothing except immortality lasts forever, Mena." He paused, drew in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. "Did you love Marc? When the two of you got married, did you really love him?"

I forced myself to hear him out because I was convinced I was right. I would give him the benefit of the doubt and let him plead his case, though. "Yes, I did love Marc when we got married, but he—"

"Let you down? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am willing to bet that you fell out of love with him long before he cheated on you. The only constant in life is change. Two people don't always change in the same direction every time. They get separated for whatever reason and lose that connection, that bond. You were only with him for twelve years, Mena—twelve years. Imagine an eternity. Can you honestly say that you could love someone that long? I want you. I want you for as long as you'll let me have you, but I'm not a fool to think it would be forever, the kind of forever our kind have. That's why I can't love you. I don't want to become my father when you leave me," he finished quietly.

I could see why he was so anti-love, but I didn't know if I could be with him knowing he didn't love me back. No, I didn't love him—not yet—but it was bound to happen; our attraction to each other was so strong and the man made me feel things I never knew were possible. It was only a matter of time. And then where would I be? Heartbroken.

"I understand why you feel the way you do about love, Phoenix, but I'm not strong enough not to fall in love with you if we stay together. Too many cons and not enough pros."

He walked to me, and I didn't back away. My heart was already breaking for a love that would never happen.

"I hope that when you think about your future, you see me there with you. Love is just a word. I'm asking you to live and be happy, be strong. You are an Alpha, Mena. Love will only get in your way and cause you to make mistakes. Love will cause you to fail."

A knock came from the door, and I turned to look at it.

"Enter," Phoenix said, without taking his eyes from me.

Jaxon poked his head in. "The detective is here to pick up Mena. Shall I let him enter your chambers?"

"Yes, of course," Phoenix replied, and then took a small step back.

The door opened wider and Alex Rhodes walked into the room.

Chapter 28

Phoenix

Phoenix could feel the detective's eyes boring a hole in the side of his head, and knew very well how this particular scene appeared to him. After all, the guy was just so damn observant. The tangled sheets where Mena had slept, her in only a shirt and the fact that he was standing so close Rhodes wouldn't have been able to squeeze between their bodies without touching both of them was enough to give him good suspicion that something had happened—or was about to.

People assumed too damn much, Phoenix thought. But he wasn't about to set Rhode's mind at ease. He'd just let Mena's wolf explain that one.

"Good morning, Alex," Mena said. "I hope you slept well last night."

Alex exchanged a brief glance with Phoenix, but Mena was already sifting through her suitcase for something to wear for the day.

"I got in a few hours' rest. I'm ready for whatever," Alex said.

She turned to look at him, then at Phoenix, and raised her eyebrows, as if she knew the men in the room were keeping something from her. "Okay, well, I have a few things to take care of today. Marc's lawyer wants me to come in and sign some papers. Since I am his sole beneficiary, all his assets are now mine. I'm not quite sure what all that entails, since he was so secretive about his life. The insurance agent is supposed to meet with me this afternoon about Marc's life insurance policy. I don't know how long all that is going to take, and I don't expect you to be my chauffer, so if you'll take me to Enterprise, I'll rent a car and meet up with you for lunch as originally planned."

"I think it's important for Alex to stay with you, Mena," Phoenix said. "At least until Katie's killer is caught."

"I don't need a babysitter—"

"No, you need a bodyguard—"

"Alex has a full-time job, Phoenix. You can't expect him to put everything on hold just to protect me."

Phoenix's jaw clenched. "I can expect that, Mena, and I do. We've already had this discussion—"

"There are others who can help. Daryn has already texted me twice this morning. I'll call him—"

"You will not call Daryn. I don't trust him."

She laughed. "Well, I do. He isn't part of your detail, so you—"

"Until this psycho is dead, you won't go anywhere without Alex, Jaxon, Roel, Brad, Heath or myself. I don't care who you trust. Your safety is what is most important to me, and I don't trust anyone except for myself to protect you. Since I can't be with you twenty-four-seven, I do realize I need to expand a bit, but that short list is as far as I'm stretching. Deal with it or I will chain you up and keep you here with me until the case is solved."

Silver briefly flashed in her eyes, and Phoenix knew he was no longer talking to Mena.

"Fine," she said. "I'll stay with Alex. I'm sure we can find something fun to do after my meetings, but there's no real reason for him to be there during them. I doubt anyone would attack me in a public place. Be realistic, Phoenix. I'll just have the insurance agent meet me there and I'll call Alex and have him pick me up after we've finished. That way Alex can take care of any business he needs to without having me in his way."

Phoenix should have known Mena and her wolf would figure a way to cause him more worry, but he honestly didn't see a way to win this argument. His main concern was getting to her if she got into trouble.

Damn women,
he thought, and then waved his hand through the air. "I don't agree with it, but I won't stop you. Just promise me that you will stay at the law firm unless Alex or one of the others is with you, and not Daryn. I won't be able to trust anyone with your life until after tonight—"

"What happens tonight?" she said.

Phoenix smirked. "Let me just say I have a few magical connections. I have to meet with them tonight to get some answers that will help lead us in the right direction to find Katie's murderer as well as let us know who is trustworthy in your circle."

Mena shut the suitcase and stormed toward the bathroom. "I don't guess I'll be allowed to go tonight, either," she said, and then slammed the bathroom door behind her.

Phoenix chuckled as he took the phone from his pocket to text Roel, Brad and Heath that one or all of them needed to keep an eye on Mena at the law firm. She may be convinced that she will be safe in a public place, but he knew otherwise; this Jessica bitch was certifiable.

"You didn't tell her about last night or that Meridia requested that she come?" Alex said.

Phoenix shook his head as he slid the phone back into his slack's pocket, and then walked to the table to clear everything away from breakfast. "I'll let her stew a while and let her try to figure out a way to bribe me into letting her go. It won't hurt her and may benefit me."

"Why can't you just admit that you care about her?"

Phoenix shrugged. "I have no problem admitting that I care about her, Detective. I care about her very much."

"But you don't love her?"

Phoenix sighed as he set the plate and cups back down, deciding to clear everything when he didn't feel like throwing something across the room. What else was he going to do besides worry until sunset anyway? "No, but I can see that you do, Rhodes. I can't honestly say that it doesn't bother me that she seems to be into you, too, but it is what it is."

Alex gave a short laugh. "I'm not in love with Mena. That's just—"

"You may be a good detective, but you're a bad liar. How about I do my thing and you do your thing, and we stay out of each other's way? I won't try to keep Mena away from you, and I suggest you pay me the same courtesy or you won't like the outcome."

"Is that a threat?"

Phoenix grinned. "I'm not trying to be your enemy, Rhodes, but I have all the friends I need. However, it would be best if we got along. It's what Mena wants. And for your information, I'm not going anywhere in your lifetime." His lip twitched in amusement when the human's nostrils' flared.

"My lifetime?" Alex spat. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

Phoenix snickered. "Calm down, Rhodes. I'm not planning to kill you or anything."

Alex adjusted his cap and sighed. "I don't know what to make of any of this, and I'm not going to try and figure it out with as little sleep as I've had in the last week. I assume you want me to go again tonight?"

Phoenix grinned. "If you're not too tired, you are welcome to tag along."

Alex rubbed his hands over his face as he nodded. "All right, I'll go. What time and where do we meet?"

"You need to have Mena back here by dusk. Jaxon will fill you in then on time and location."

"Fine. Tell Mena I'll wait for her in my Jeep."

"Hold up," Phoenix said, and then grabbed his cell again and called Jaxon. "Rhodes is ready to leave and needs an escort," he said, and then ended the call.

"I know my way out. I don't need an escort."

"Trust me, you do."

A soft knock sounded at the door.

"Enter," Phoenix said, and Lea walked into the room. Phoenix gave her a small smile. "How are you feeling, Lea?"

"I'm fine. Thank you. Jaxon said the detective was ready to leave. I can show him out," she said.

Phoenix nodded. "Thank you," he said, and then looked at Alex. "I know she thinks you will be leaving her there alone during her meetings, but I would rather you stay; you have no idea what we're dealing with here, Rhodes. Let me be clear when I say that I will blame you if anything happens to her."

Alex gave him a hard look, and then finally sighed. "I'll stay there the whole time. I promise."

Phoenix nodded once. "Good. I'll see you tonight."

Chapter 29

Alex

Despite how tired he was, a smile stretched across Alex's face when Mena emerged from Phoenix's garage.

Lea was with her, too, and she watched as Mena jogged to his Jeep and got in before she lowered the garage door.

The nervousness he was feeling about seeing her again after that kiss the night before suddenly faded away when she leaned across the console, placed her palm on his cheek and pressed her lips to his.

She didn't object when his hand came up to her neck to pull her closer or even when he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. The low moan that vibrated against his mouth had him wanting to do a lot more with her than make out in Phoenix Mahoney's driveway.

If he knew Phoenix at all, he would bet the guy had some sort of security camera pointed right at them and watching the whole show. If he knew Mena, she probably knew that, too.

Alex sealed the kiss and leaned back enough to look at her desire-filled eyes. If this was an act, he couldn't see it.

"I missed you," she whispered, breathlessly. "What are you going to do with me after I finish with my boring meetings?" She winced, and her fingers quickly shot up to massage her right temple.

Alex frowned when she pulled away. "Headache?"

She sighed. "Yeah, something like that. Although, it's probably better defined as a migraine—stubborn little bitches, they are. They just won't go away when you're trying to have fun."

His brow rose. "It sounds serious. Do you need to take something for it?"

She laughed lightly. "There is no medicine that will cure what I have wrong with me, Alex. I'll be fine. It's only stress induced headaches."

He nodded, knowingly, and started the Jeep. As if someone was watching them, the huge gate began to open inward.

"Don't think I didn't notice that there is something you and Phoenix aren't telling me," she said as he pulled onto the road leading away from Phoenix's home.

He threw her a sidelong glance. "Ditto."

As long as he'd lived in Montgomery, Alex hadn't had a clue there was a house back here, or even a paved road that led to it. If Mena thought her late husband was secretive, she'd better look at her friends a little closer; Phoenix Mahoney seemed to have plenty of secrets, and Alex intended to find out what they were.

"Phoenix may be keeping something from you, but I never will. I'll tell you anything you want to know—not that I know much—but I'll tell you what I can."

"Well, you can start by telling me why you look like you're about to pass out then."

He gave her an up nod as he laced his fingers with hers. "I was hoping it wasn't that obvious how sleep deprived I am. Guess I look like crap, eh?"

"You do not look like crap, but you do look tired. What's doing?"

"After I got home last night, Roel, Brad and Heath stopped by to see if I wanted to go eat breakfast with them—"

"Are you serious?"

Alex chuckled. "That's what I said. So, we go to IHOP and eat, and then Phoenix and Jaxon show up. Phoenix introduced Jaxon as his
friend
, but he hesitated when he said it, so the first thing I thought was that they were together. I—"