Pride to Pack (The Mount Roxby Series) (29 page)

“You’re sorry? I just killed the only person who knew where he was. On your word, that they’d be able to tell us. How the hell are we going to find Theo, now?”

I can feel aggression run through the pack members in the alley at what I’ve just said.

“Angel, you need to calm down. We’ve all been worked up tonight. Your tension could make us all change and that won’t be useful to the boss, will it?”

I look at Paddy and
Eddie; both their eyes are no longer human. I don’t need to look at any of the others to realise what Billy had said was right.

“Okay, sorry.” I say through gritted teeth as I take a deep breath and reach out to find someone happy. I find Wesley and Alyssa who must be in Misty’s and pull their happiness into me. With that happiness clearing my head I get an idea. “Dominick, Theo mentioned a census for all the
supes in town. Does it contain home addresses and other property addresses?” I can feel the hope run through everyone - that my idea might actually lead somewhere.

“Yes. But there are a lot of us in town. It could take
days to find Emmanuel’s entry. I‘ll get Patsy on it straight away, but if you get one of your men on it too they can start at opposite ends. If someone knows his last name that will help.” Patsy leaves immediately after he says her name.

I look at Billy, having no idea who would know where the census information is kept. “I’m on it. Darren you take everyone to Theo’s shed and give Doc Patel a call; best to get everyone checked over. Don’t forget Selena. Don’t let her see any of you. Dave, can you go let Wesley know what’s happening and ask about for anyone in the bar who might know Emmanuel’s address?”

“No, I’ll do that. Dave you go with Darren. Emmanuel was Misty’s friend, I feel like I should break the news to her. I’ll find out what she knows at the same time. Dominick, do you mind helping by asking about in the bar too?”

“It’s the least I can do,” Dominick says as his guilt flows off him. I feel even guiltier now that I have just realised I killed one of Misty’s friends.

“Rosabel, do you want me to stay and help you too?” Eddie asks. His eyes back to his human sky blue. Thank God!

“That will be great. Thanks, Eddie.”

He beams at me in delight.

Everyone heads off in different directions. Billy is going for his bike. Darren, Dave, Phil, Paddy and Jared all get in the van I found myself sat in not long ago, leaving Dominick, Eddie and myself in the alley.

I look up at the roof.
Is he still up there? Oh my god! What did I do?

“Rosabel, he gave you no option. Greg has taken him to the morgue. He’ll make sure everything is dealt with. Let’s get inside and focus on finding Theo,” Dominick says, making his way to the back door that Misty must
have left propped open for us.

28. FACING DOWN THE WOLF

Rosabel

We enter bar to a round of applause. Wesley had already spread the news. Ignoring the applause, I immediately look around for Misty but only find Lucy behind the bar on her own, which is really unusual for a busy night like this one.

I lean over the bar and shout over the crowd “Lucy, where’s Misty?”

“No idea. When Wesley announced that Emmanuel was dead, she ran off through the back. If you didn’t see her outside I’d guess she’s in the toilets or office.” I nod with a smile, to let her know I heard her over the rowdy crowd and turn to go find Misty.

I nearly fall over Eddie, who had been standing directly behind me. “Oh Eddie, will you do me a favour and ask about in here for an address? Let Wesley know what everyone else is doing too.”

As I look around the bar to make sure Wesley is still here, I see Dominick is already asking people questions.

“Yes. Consider it done,” Ed says, slipping away into the crowd.

I go straight through the back hoping to find Misty. I check the toilets as I pass but she isn’t there. I just hope she hasn’t slipped out between us entering the bar and now. As I open the door to the office, I get hit by a wave of sadness. It doesn’t do my guilt any favours. I killed one of her close friends.

“Misty, I’m so sorry.” I have no idea what else I can say. Nothing will make her feel better.

“It’s okay. Ya had no choice. Wesley explained everything. I just wish everyone wasn’t so happy about it. I feel so guilty that I set ya up with him. I had no idea he was like that,” she manages between sobs.

“I went on dates with him and I had no idea either. He hid that side of him well, but he wasn’t all bad.” I start to cry. “I actually cared for him and if Theo and I weren’t true mates, who knows, I could have fallen in love with him. And yet I just killed him.”

Misty comes over pulling me into a hug. “It’s okay don’t live ya life blaming ya-self, ya had no choice.” she consoles me, making me giggle at the situation.

“I came in here to console you not the other way
around. I need to ask you something too, do you know his address? He didn’t tell us where Theo is and the others don’t remember anything about what they’ve done, or where they’ve been.” I ask hoping for some good news.

“I’m sorry no. We always met up away from our
houses. He never knew where I lived until he walked ya home,” she says frustrated. Probably because she can’t help.

“It’s okay. Patsy and Billy are both checking the census, and Dominick and Eddie are asking about in the bar too. I’m sure we’ll find it soon.” A shocked look washes over her face.

“Oh poor Lucy, I left her alone and the bar is packed tonight.” With those words she dashes out the office leaving me standing alone staring at the door as it closes behind her.

I look at the chair behind the desk and think how nice it would be just to sit down for two minutes. But I don’t have the time I need to find Theo and the only way I will do that is by finding an address. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.

I open the office door and walk straight into Eddie, again. “We’ll have to stop doing this,” I say whilst rubbing my nose after bumping it on his rock hard chest.

“I don’t know, I quite enjoy it,” he says with a cheeky grin.

“No one knows anything in there. We’re going to have to wait on Patsy and Billy,” Dominick announces as he walks up behind Ed. He doesn’t sound happy at the prospect of waiting.

“I know this might sound obvious, but can’t you just teleport to him? Billy said you can just think of somewhere with your eyes shut and be there when you open your eyes,” Ed enquires sounding eager for his plan to work.

“I can do that, yes, but I need to be able to smell, see and feel the place in my head to get there. Not knowing where exactly he is means I have don’t have those senses about this place. I’ve never even seen him in his wolf form, so I can’t even try and do it by looking at him,” I say furious at myself for not being able to do it. Eddie’s eagerness fades within a split second.

“But you know his scent. If you focus on just that, it might work. What have you got to lose?” Dominick always seems to know what to do. Eddie gives me the loveliest encouraging smile. How can I say no to that? I guess it’s worth a try.

“Alright, I’ll give anything a try.”

I close my eyes and focus on nothing except Theo’s dark spicy scent, letting it surround me like a blanket. On opening my eyes I find myself in Theo’s room with a shocked Ruby staring at me with her jaw to the floor.

“Sorry, I’ll explain later.” I say before closing my eyes and trying again. I would rather keep looking for Theo then waste time explaining what I’d just done.

This time I open my eyes hoping with every ounce of my being to see Theo in front of me, only to find myself in his lounge this time.
Crap
! At least Selena isn’t in here. I don’t think I’d be able to escape without an explanation if she was.

I go back to the alley feeling totally defeated.

“Did it work?” Eddie was so excited at the thought of me actually finding Theo. It’s such a shame to fill him with the disappointment I feel too.

“No sorry. I just ended up in his bedroom and his lounge. I scared poor Ruby half to death.” I say trying to lighten the disappointment by adding that bit about Ruby. “If only he’d not stood me up the day he was meant to take me on a run, I’d be able to picture him too.” Now I’m mad at Theo, which isn’t really fair considering he’s the one trapped alone somewhere that no one knows about.

“What colour fur does he have, Eddie?” Dominick asks.

“It’s a rusty colour, why?” We both look at Dominick with the same questioning look.

He answers me rather than Eddie, “Because if you picture a wolf with that colour fur while doing what you just did with his scent, you might find him.”

I close my eyes and picture a rusty colour wolf just like Dominick suggested. I wrap Theo’s dark spicy scent around me. I feel the swirl that I felt when Dominick called me to him that first time, and as I open my eyes hoping I’m not at Theo’s house again, I find myself faced with a big rusty wolf. I did a good job with the colour. It’s just as I imagined. It’s just the size I was off
on; he’s easily double the size I imagined - absolutely huge! And he’s growling at me. I didn’t imagine that.

“Theo, it’s me, Bel! I’ve come to take you home!” I approach him cautiously, but when I am about a metre away, I notice he’s not here with me.

He’s delirious. His fur is matted with blood, obstructing my view of any actual wounds. I reach deep into our mate bond hoping to get through to Theo.

The wolf before me pauses and weighs me up.

I don’t move, I can’t tell if he recognises me or if he is wondering if I taste good. It’s much scarier being faced with Theo ready to eat me than it was being faced with Paddy. He’s making a rumbling growl deep within his chest as he slowly starts to edge towards me. I hold my hand out for him to sniff and hope he recognises my scent.

It doesn’t take him long. He’s barely sniffed it when he drops to the floor with a whine. His whole persona changes. He’s extremely weak. It must have taken so much out of him to pretend to be so fierce.

When I fall to my knees and reach out to feel for injuries, he doesn’t protest. I rub my hands over his head and neck, which all feels normal. I find the first wound on his shoulder. He doesn’t even flinch as my fingers probe it.

What the hell is wrong with him? He should at least be reacting to the pain.

“Jared just informed me that Theo has at least two silver bullets in him. He clawed one out himself last night.” Dominick’s voice answers the question I was asking myself. I don’t complain this time.

Thanks.

In the blink of an eye I shift my hand to claws and slice into his shoulder making the wound bigger, once I get it deep enough so that I can see the bullet, I shift my hand back and grab the bullet between my fingers. I grit my teeth against the burning on my fingers where the silver comes in contact with my flesh, and drop it to the floor the second it’s out.

“Theo, one down,
let’s see how many more you have in you,” I say, running my hands over his body. I find numerous bites but I can’t find another wound that looks remotely like a bullet. I’m about to give up when I find it lodged in his front leg. It’s not too deep but I still need to use my claws again to make the wound big enough for me to get a grip on the bullet. I’m throwing that bullet across the room in no time.

“I think that’s it, Theo. Now we could do with some meat to get your energy back up.” I regret my words as soon as they leave my mouth.

Mentioning food to a hungry wolf. Clever idea, Bel!

His eyes flash from the black of his wolf’s to emerald green. Theo must be fighting his wolf for control.

I slowly back away looking for an exit, catching sight of the reinforced steel door with no handle. I realise I have no chance getting out of that so I give the rest of the room a quick glance. All blank solid walls and not one window to be seen.

Brilliant! There isn’t even a wardrobe I could lock myself in.

“Rosabel, don’t worry. We’re on our way. I can sense you,” Dominick reminds me, the panic clear in his own voice.

I turn my full attention back to Theo. “They know where we are. They’re on their way. Just hang on a little longer.”

His eyes are fully black now, telling me his wolf is back in full control. I have to have faith that he won’t harm his mate. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but he’s been confined and left injured for twenty four hours. To make things worse I just pulled out two silver bullets that had been stopping him from healing and taking all his energy. He’s not exactly in his right mind right now.

“We’re two minutes away Rosabel!” Dominick tries to reassure me and fails miserably.

It won’t take him that long to devour me
. Is the reply that runs through my head as my body floods with panic and fear.

“Calm down.
The fear will make him want you all the more,” Dominick suggests.

How helpful Dominick. It’s not like I already know that, being a wolf and all. You try being calm in my boots.

Shifting into my wolf would only serve to make Theo feel more threatened, therefore pushing him to attack me. I find myself backed up into the corner of the room; I must have been backing up whilst arguing with Dominick.