Once Upon a Shifter (73 page)

"Alex!" I shouted.

"Mena!" Alex's eager reply erupted from inside.

"Are you all right?" I shouted back. "What happened?"

"Let her in, Hardin!" Alex growled out, and then he groaned.

I didn't wait for the officer blocking the doorway to move; I shoved him out of my way and ran straight to Alex's side. There was so much blood that I was afraid to touch him anywhere, but he found my hand and pulled me in close then released my fingers to bring his hand up behind my neck.

With one swift tug from his fingers, my mouth was on his before I had time to prepare or let my wolf take back over.

I wanted to protest, but his lips were soft and inviting, and hard and full of anxiety at the same time. If I denied him this kiss, he would think I was having second thoughts about being with him.

So I kissed him back.

Phoenix

Phoenix turned away from the scene on Rhodes' living room floor as a few of the officers in the room chuckled and gave low whistles. It wasn't the human blood that bothered him. It was because he knew Mena was still in charge; he could sense the regret she felt flowing through him as if it were his own.

He didn't blame her; he knew why she'd done it, but even knowing that didn't make it any easier to watch.

"I was worried about you," Alex said, and Phoenix leaned against the hall wall, crossing his arms over his chest and his legs at the ankles as he glared at the guy.

"Worried about me?" Mena said, aghast, as she let her wide eyes roam over the blood-stained, shredded shirt he was wearing. "I'm fine, Alex. What the hell happened?"

Alex hissed as his head whipped around toward the EMT dressing his arm, and then a guttural moan escaped his clenched jaw, sweat beaded on his forehead and the blood completely drained from his face. He sucked air quickly in though his nose and out his mouth as he blinked up at the ceiling.

"Sorry," the EMT said. "Those are some really nasty bites, Detective. You could use a shot of penicillin to keep them from getting infected. I'd wager some painkillers would give you some relief, too."

He sighed. "I'm not going to the hospital. I'll call my doctor tomorrow."

The EMT shook his head. "It's your funeral, dude."

"Alex, what is he talking about?" Mena said, her frantic eyes darting between Alex, the EMT and Phoenix then finally settling on Alex again and staying there. "He said they were bites. What bit you?" she pleaded. Phoenix already knew. So did she. She just didn't want to believe it.

"Relax, baby," he said as he tried to sit up and failed. Mena reached out and grabbed his shoulder then pulled him into a sitting position as if he weighed no more than a toddler. He stared at her, the wheels turning in that detective brain of his, and Phoenix thought maybe the guy had figured it all out, until he opened his mouth. "Dogs. I took the trash out, and two Huskies attacked me."

"Huskies?" Phoenix said disbelievingly. "Really?"

Alex shrugged. "That's what they looked like, but it was dark, and I didn't see either of them until they were on top of me. It could have been a different breed of dog I suppose, but they were massive. I shot one of them and the other ran off, but by the time I got back in the apartment to call the Chief and got back outside, the son of a bitch was gone. I could have sworn I shot it in the chest. I guess I was in shock and my aim was off. There's a leash law in Montgomery; dogs like that shouldn't be allowed to—"

Phoenix interrupted. "Mena? Can I talk to you? In private."

She nodded. "Of course. I'll be right back, Alex. Let the EMT finish dressing those wounds."

Alex glared at Phoenix, and then pulled her in for another kiss. Cutting the kiss short, his eyes narrowed as he visibly sniffed of her face. "You smell different." Dipping his head, he sniffed of her neck then leaned back, making eye contact with her. "New perfume? What is it? It smells sweet."

It's called Eau de Parfum of Vampire, asshole. Now stop sniffing my girlfriend,
Phoenix thought. He had to hand it to himself; he was getting a lot better at controlling these emotions. Two weeks ago, he would have already killed someone for trying to stake claim on something that was his. He hoped Mena noticed how good he was being, keeping his thoughts to himself and all.

Mena's eyes flicked up nervously to look at Phoenix, then she stood and took a step back. "Uh…" She gave him a nervous smile. "I'm not sure. I think I only used your body wash," she said, and before Alex could respond, she held up a finger. "We'll be right back."

Phoenix grinned when confused hazel eyes met his. "It's probably best if you get rid of these guys soon. It's going to be a long night for you, Detective." He chuckled when Mena grabbed his hand and jerked him down the hall.

Before Mena even flipped the light switch, he knew what room she had brought him to; he could smell her scent as strong now as he'd smelled her the day before in his bed, as well as in his car only a few hours before.

As the room brightened with sixty watts, his eyes were immediately drawn to crumpled sheets, strewn pillows and a shiny pair of handcuffs that were looped through the wrought iron headboard.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I guess I could have chosen the bathroom."

He sighed as he turned to look at her, his hands coming up to gently frame her face. "I'm only sorry you had to go through that. Are you okay? I should have asked sooner."

She nodded, and then rose up on her tip toes to give him a brief kiss.

He wrinkled his nose. "You smell different. I think you need some more of me on you." He grinned mischievously as he rubbed against her, but she laughed and pushed him away.

She didn't laugh long enough to suit him. That beautiful smile disappeared as anxiety crept in. "Those aren't dog bites, are they?"

Phoenix shook his head. "You can't stay here, Mena, and neither can Alex. Jessica's wolves did that for one of two reasons: to let you know they know where you are or to claim Alex as their own. They will come back."

Blowing out a heavy breath, she sat on the foot of the bed and looked down at her hands. "My wolf agrees with you for once. So how do we get him to leave here without telling him the truth?"

Phoenix smirked. "We tell him the truth."

She shot to her feet. "Are you serious? Now?"

"Why not? Your wolf was waiting for the perfect opportunity. I don't think it will get any sweeter than this; he can't blame her for it. We'll just tell him if he wants to know the whole story, he has to come with us."

Pressing her lips together, she nodded again. "She thinks that's a good plan."

"Hmmm… Two in one day. I guess I need to hurry and insult her before she starts to like me."

Mena laughed as she started for the door, but Phoenix grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. He kissed the surprise right off her face. She quickly melted in his arms and allowed her hands to hold tight to the muscles of his triceps as she kissed him back.

"Come on," he said as he put some distance between them and reached for the door. If he stayed in this room much longer with her, he'd have the detective's whole bedroom smelling of Eau de Parfum of Vampire. "Let's get this over with."

Chapter 49

Mena

"What?" Alex said, and then shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to sit my gimp-ass right here, try to get comfortable and, in the morning, I will go see my doctor for a nice, big shot of penicillin."

"You won't need to see a doctor in the morning," Phoenix said.

"Do you think I'm going to die before then?" He laughed as he held up his gauze-wrapped arm. "I honestly don't think it's that serious, just hurts like hell. I'm going to kick the Chief's ass for sending out a freaking cavalry, though. I'll be the laughing stock of the PD for months now. Damn dog bite." He snorted.

"Alex," I said, "please go with us. You can't stay—"

"You're going with him?" He stared at me a moment, the heartbreak clear in his expression, and then he huffed as his sad eyes focused on the gauze. "I knew it was too good to be true—"

"You don't know anything… yet. We are going to tell you everything… tonight. But you have to come with us if you want to know. It's not safe here. They know I'm here, and I'm afraid they will try to hurt you." He didn't say anything, and he didn't look up at me. I went to him and knelt down beside the couch he lay on. "Alex, please," I pleaded.

His eyes locked on mine. "I couldn't even protect you for twenty-four hours."

His skin was warm against mine as I laced our fingers together. "I have something very important to share with you."

"The big secret all of you have been keeping from me? You're going to tell me what it is if I go with you? You will tell me tonight?"

I nodded. "I promise."

It felt like an eternity before he responded, but he finally sighed. "I can't drive a stick with this bum arm."

I smiled. "I'll drive."

"Brad, Heath and their wives are meeting us there," Phoenix said as he slid his cell back into his pocket. "Roel is already there with Lea. We need to go, Mena." Phoenix's gaze moved to Alex. "Do you need me to carry your gimp-ass down the stairs?"

"Not even if I was dead," he said, and sat up. With a confused look on his face, he stared at his arm then moved it around. "Huh… It doesn't hurt much anymore. Must be the shock."

"The shock you're in now is nothing compared to how floored you'll be later. You may need extra underwear."

Alex rolled his eyes as he stood up. "I've seen and heard a lot of shit in my day. I'm sure I'll be fine."

I turned Alex toward the door before he could see Phoenix's huge grin. He was enjoying this way too much.

Alex grabbed his keys, gun and badge then looked around as if something were missing.

"They're cuffed to your headboard," Phoenix said, dryly.

My face flamed hot with embarrassment and hot tears burned my eyes when Alex jogged to the bedroom to collect the handcuffs.

"It wasn't you, Mena," Phoenix whispered by my ear.

I couldn't speak. I was afraid I would cry if I did. What I really wanted was to go to Phoenix's home and curl up around him in his bed. Living this double-life was driving me to insanity at a neck-breaking speed.

I simply nodded then walked out the door when I caught sight of Alex coming up the hallway, pulling a shirt over his head.

"I'm pretty sure I can drive, Mena," Alex said when I walked to the driver's side of the Jeep. "My arm doesn't hurt at all."

"Better to be safe than sorry," Phoenix said as he opened the door of the Corvette. "Let her drive."

Alex shrugged, and handed over the keys.

I dreaded the ride. Two people could say a lot in fifteen minutes, and I couldn't tell him anything about my secret while driving through a busy city.

We were about three miles from his apartment when he spoke. "I'm not going to hate you after tonight, am I?" He was looking out his window when I glanced at him. "Because I don't think I would like myself very much if that happened."

My emotions got the better of me.
This
was not my fault.
This
was my wolf's fault, and it was Alex's fault. If he had just avoided me, stayed away, none of this would have ever happened.

"You
shouldn't
have come to Marc's funeral," I said, after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "You would be safe now if you
hadn't
stopped to check on me when Katie and I were having lunch." I pressed on, and realized tears were rolling down my face. "You shouldn't have kissed me back when I kissed you on my front porch. You
shouldn't
have gone with Phoenix and the others to see the witches. You
shouldn't
have kept Marc's case, Alex. So, if you hate me after tonight, it's because of all the things you did that you
shouldn't
have." I sucked in a ragged breath and wiped my nose with my shirt sleeve. "Why didn't you just stay away from me?" I sobbed, but I couldn't look at him; I was having enough trouble seeing the road through my tears.

"I
couldn't
stay away from you, Mena," he said, softly. "Because I
shouldn't
have fallen in love with you, but I did."

My face twisted, and more tears sprung from my tear ducts.

That was what my wolf wanted, right? For him to fall in love with her? I just didn't know how he was going to take the news that the woman he was in love with wasn't exactly me.

"Everything is going according to plan, Mena," my wolf said.

"You could take these tears away so I could see the damn road, unless your plan is for me to hit a tree."

"Your reflexes are better than you think they are. You haven't crossed the center line even once. As for the tears, Alex needs to see them; he needs to see that you care. You're doing fine. Tell him that part of you is in love with him."

Alex sighed next to me, and I felt his gaze move away. "Since we're on the topic of things I
shouldn't
have done, I guess I probably
shouldn't
have said that, huh?"

Maybe she was right. Prepping him for what was to come could help. He would get an information overload and have a panic attack if we told him everything at once. I glanced in my rearview mirror at Phoenix's headlights and prayed this wasn't a mistake. "Alex… part of me is in love with you."

"It's okay, Mena," he said, exasperated. "You don't have to lie to me just because—"

"I'm not lying. I have… uh, how do I put this? I have two personalities. One of them is in love with you."

I could feel his eyes on me again. And what was even better, the tears had almost stopped.

"Have you seen anyone about this? Taking on a mental illness is common with people who have had something tragic happen in their lives. I'm sure losing Marc was no easy—"