The Wolf Who Played With Fire: New Adult Paranormal Romance (Cry Wolf) (13 page)

“How do you know I’m feeling less stressed?” He huffed, as if shaking away the thought I might be in his head. “And I paid you for the potion with a tip.”

If he was still stressed, he wouldn’t be taking naps this late in the day. The potion I gave him caused a person to be sleepier than normal due to its relaxing qualities. If he was taking it during the day, he’d have the desire to sleep more.

I gave a fake laugh. “Really? That’s what you’re going to say? You know, I have my ways of becoming a much bigger pain in the ass than I’ve been. You need to trust that I can help.”

“Whoa, wait just a minute. I’m taking you home from work. No one said anything about you helping to find your boyfriend. You’re in way over your head, girlie, especially with that limp you’ve got.” He sneered. “Just give me twenty minutes, and I’ll be there. But you’re going straight home.”

I sank my teeth into my lower lip as I put away my cell phone. If he thought I’d flop over and take it, then he had another thing coming. No one knew where Ethan was, but since we had a connection, I could find him.

If I’d been thinking clearly earlier, I might’ve tried scrying for him, but knowing he might need my help and that the werewolves didn’t know where he was lit a fire inside me.

I was standing outside of Eternally Magick with the locked door when Chad pulled up.

He raised an eyebrow at me and rolled down the window. “It’s not just a minor limp now. What did you do to yourself?”

I rolled my eyes, not amused by his arrogant sense of humor. “Ha ha.” He could bite me... or not. I prided myself on my heritage as a witch, and I had no idea what being bitten by a werewolf would do to my magic. There was a lot more at play with me than with a normal human. No way would I ever submit myself to an Alpha like the wolves did. I was my own person, even if that meant I was mostly a loner.

Limping to the car on the crutches, I wasn’t surprised Chad didn’t get out of the car to help. I was a witch, not a top priority for him. I was the nuisance that nearly killed his father. Regret tugged at my chest. I put the crutches in the backseat, then slowly lowered myself into the vehicle. Once I shut the car door, I turned to him. “Take me to the Pack meeting too. I can help.”

“Get out.” His tone was deadly serious. He stared me straight in the eyes, seething with anger that I’d brought it up again.

I held his gaze, knowing it was stupid for me to do so. He would see it as a challenge, and honestly, I was weaker than the last time I faced down a werewolf. Maybe not magically, but if he chased, there would be no way I could run from him.

“Get out of my car. I’m not going to stand for this nonsense.” Chad leaned over me, brushing his arm over my midriff as he opened the car door. His touch was like fire. He burned hot. An angry vibe of power radiated from his touch, sending a shiver down my spine. “If you keep talking like that, I’ll throw you out. Do you want a ride home or not?”

“Yes, I do want a ride.” I bit my tongue on where I actually wanted to go, but if he wouldn’t drive me, then I would need to fight through the pain and follow him in my own car.

Chad pulled away from the curb and drove straight to my place. Instead of prying into what he’d learned, the drive was silent. “We’re here.”

Argh!

Maybe I needed another tactic here. Glancing over him, I cocked an eyebrow. “Could I have some help getting out? Also since you’re stressed, I could give you some relaxing tea since you’ve been so kind.”

He rested his forehead against the steering wheel. Frustration poured from him in waves of stinging energy.

My grandmother’s grimoire had a recipe for a potion that might make him more agreeable. If I gave him a potent enough dose, he might allow me go to the Pack meeting. Not that I wanted to go, but if it meant I’d be able to see Ethan again, then I would do everything in my power. I wouldn’t leave him to die or succumb to the danger he was in.

“Fine.” Chad got out of the car, and I nearly bounced in the seat, except it would have hurt my ankle and raised suspicion. He yanked open the passenger door and stared down at me. “I can’t stay long. If they discover I’m hanging out having tea with you, witch, I’ll be in big trouble. You can kiss all the things I’m doing to help your boyfriend goodbye.” He hefted me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

A scream bubbled up in my throat and I fisted my hands in his shirt. If I’d been wearing one of my shorter skirts, my ass would’ve been on display for the whole neighborhood.

He also grabbed the crutches and my purse. I couldn’t help but be wildly impressed by his abilities to juggle me and all of my stuff. However, his hand slid from a respectable position on my leg to one a little too close to my thighs for my comfort.

“Okay, what key is it?” he asked, as we made it to the door.

“The one with the hardware store logo on it. Next to the car key.”

The keys rattled in his hands, and he unlocked the door.

The old woman from next door stepped outside to get her mail.
Oh boy.
Her gaze met mine and a look of disapproval burned on her face.
Great. Now she probably thinks I have a male harem.
Then again, she probably heard some of my screams during the lovemaking session last night.

My skin warmed with embarrassment, and I buried my face into Chad’s back, even though it was the last place I’d want to be.

He closed the door behind us, then set me to the floor. His eyebrows were drawn together as if he wasn’t exactly sure what to think about me plastering my face against his back, but I didn’t really care. I wasn’t about to explain it, and he wasn’t about to ask either.

“So, what kind of tea is this?” he asked, following me into the kitchen. I was glad I hadn’t moved my supplies since I’d started utilizing my magic regularly and making more potions. However, my only problem was he’d seen me dig for my magical supplies before. I didn’t want him to suspect anything, so he couldn’t spot me.

“It’s a soothing blend I bought from a store in the mall.” I nodded to the couch in the living room. “I can bring it in if you don’t want to stand around and watch me boil water.”

He chuckled. “You might need help.” He was on to me.

I walked to the cabinet where I kept my teakettle and went about boiling the water. We wouldn’t have use for the actual tea until the water was ready anyway.

While I waited, and to give myself something to do since his stare was making me sweat, I grabbed two coffee mugs from the cabinet. Normally I’d go with teacups, but I didn’t want to give myself the wrong cup, so I made sure his would be the snarky
I don’t do mornings
mug, while mine had a cute kitten on it.

He thrummed his fingers on the kitchen island and watched me. Never letting me out of his sight.

I leaned against the counter once I’d done everything I could without looking ridiculous. If he didn’t leave the room or get distracted, my plan would fail. Ethan’s safety would be up to the werewolves, who might never find him. Even if I scryed for him myself, I couldn’t go alone in my condition.

Selene leaning into me flashed through my mind. She was the last person I wanted helping me after what Jessa had said about her, but if the werewolves didn’t let me in, then I’d be forced to seek her out.

Jessa was currently out of commission, and she’d proven her hatred for werewolves already. She wouldn’t help me track him down.

Chad was my only hope.

“Seems you need some of the tea too.” Chad’s low, rumbling voice made me nearly jump out of my skin. “We’ll find him. You just sit back and let us take care of it.” He made it sound so easy, like my heart had no reason to break at the fact Ethan could be hurt or dead.

I turned away from him, staring out the kitchen window. “How can you be so sure?”

“Stop—” An unfamiliar ringtone interrupted his words, and I glanced over my shoulder at him. “I need to take this. Stay here.” He narrowed his gaze at me and headed into the living room before answering the call.

My breath nearly burst from my lungs in relief. I had no idea how long he’d be gone, so I needed to act quickly before he returned. The teakettle whistled, and I cut the heat to it, curious about the guttural murmurings and sizzling energy pulsing from the angry werewolf.

The conversation wasn’t going well. Did he have news about Ethan?

“Father, I’m on my way there now. No, I’m not screwing around.” He huffed, stomping back into the kitchen.

Keeping my back to him, I slipped several drops of the potion into his cup, put the teabag in, and poured hot water into the mug. I shoved the vial behind the teakettle, hoping he wouldn’t notice. The situation balanced on a thin edge, especially with him now so angry.

I turned around and set the tea in front of him as he shoved the phone back into his jeans. He stared down at it with a hint of longing in his eyes. “I don’t know if I can. I need to go. I’ve stayed too long as it is.”

My eyes widened, and I nibbled on my lower lip. “You should at least have a taste after I went through the effort of making it, especially with all the tension radiating from you.”

However, the tea was boiling hot. Not even I would be able to sip it down right away. Just because he was a werewolf with the ability to heal quickly didn’t mean he’d want to scald his mouth. “I could get you some ice?” I smiled doing my best to look encouraging but not too pushy.

“Fine. I’ll take some ice, but once I’m done, I’m out of here.” He resumed his seat at the island in the kitchen while I put ice in a cup for him to choose as many or as few ice cubes as he wanted. Instead of using ice, I blew on my own tea. I didn’t want to dilute the flavor. Besides, I had a feeling I wouldn’t have time to appreciate it.

The ice cubes melted almost as soon as they reached the tea, and Chad took a few sips. He blew out a breath, and the lines etched in the corners of his mouth and eyes faded. Soon the whole cup was empty.

I blinked at him, unable to believe he’d guzzled it down. That wasn’t how tea should be enjoyed.

He pushed to his feet and gave me a nod. “Thanks. That was just what I needed. I feel better already.”

“That’s great to hear.” I rose and grabbed the crutches. Usually the agreeability potion took ten to twenty minutes to take effect, but I didn’t have that time. “We need to get to the Pack meeting now.”

Chad met my gaze. The confusion in his eyes shifted to acknowledgement. “Yeah, let’s go.”

My heart soared. It had worked. Now to figure out how I’d handle the rest of the wolves when we arrived.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ethan

The research facility loomed behind me with spotlights scanning the area and men everywhere. If anyone tried to get in or out of this place, they’d be detected instantly. My instincts shouted at me that this could be where Jacob and his friend were, but I didn’t see how they could have escaped, especially since the security had been beefed up.

My post was on the opposite side from the road close to the woods. Something about this didn’t feel right. While everything the military had drilled into me grounded me, the beast yearned to explore and confirm his suspicions.

No way.

Going off half-cocked in this place was perilous. I would be screwed. The mercenaries outnumbered the soldiers around here. The person in charge might not trust us, but they needed the extra manpower we provided.

I kept my gaze on the forest surrounding the massive structure, remaining aware of what potential dangers lurked out there. However, I couldn’t quite comprehend why they had this much security. The briefing had mentioned they merely needed to protect the building from terrorist threats.

They were out in the middle of nowhere. Seeing the large and well-guarded building, I couldn’t imagine anyone barging in whom the mercs couldn’t handle. Besides, if they were some kind of research facility, why did the place have a prisonlike feel to it?

I glanced over my shoulder at the actual building and took a deep breath. The only scents I picked up were of the pine trees, vegetation and a few rabbits in the vicinity.

They weren’t so much as worried about someone entering this place as much as about someone escaping. The puzzle pieces fit together, and I grimaced, not happy we were a part of this.

My jaw clenched a little and I scratched the back of my neck. The men in Shane’s voicemail had sounded like mercenaries recovering the escaped werewolf and his companion. This had to be the place. Before I could bring my wolf back under control, he and I were headed toward one of the side entrances.

I grimaced, holding back my arm as the wolf beckoned me to open it. To my surprise, the door opened and I ducked out of the way as Baldie, the silent mercenary, from earlier walked out. He narrowed his angry eyes at me, but he didn’t talk.

What did I say? I’d left my post without permission due to my reckless inner wolf. “Sir, I was looking for a restroom.”

He nodded and waved a hand for me to follow him. We walked a few steps, but my hands were wrenched away from my sides and my rifle was taken away. Mercenaries surrounded me, and I hadn’t even heard them approach.

What the hell?
Shock rocketed through me that they were doing this. The men pulled me down a hallway as if I were a prisoner being brought to a cell. No, this couldn’t be happening.
Shit!