Page 67 of Patrick’s Seduction

Her nape prickled with tension, and she couldn’t wait to get in the car. Only when the engine finally howled, and they drove back to the gate that opened by itself, did she feel better.

“It was a mistake to come here,” Wesley said from the back bench.

“No, it wasn’t,” Patrick said. “We now know that Gallagher knows full well that his son is alive and that he merely faked his death. He probably helped him.”

“How? The guy looked pretty stone-faced from where I was standing,” Wesley said. “Wouldn’t wanna play poker with that asshole.”

Fallon looked over her shoulder. “Byron gave him away. He knows that Cameron is alive, and he also knows what he’s capable of.”

“Exactly,” Patrick confirmed, and squeezed her hand. “We’ll get him.”

“How?” Wesley asked.

“What would you do if your son was being hunted by vampires?”

“I don’t have a son, but, well… I would probably try to help him get to safety,” Wesley mused.

At Wesley’s words, Fallon relaxed into the passenger seat. Patrick had a plan, and she was grateful for it because she was close to breaking. The argument with William Gallagher had cost her more energy than she’d expected. But she’d withstood his demands and insinuations. She was stronger than even a few days ago. Was the wolf inside her lending her this newfound strength?

33

It took almost an hour to get back to Scanguards headquarters. Despite it being daytime, it was busier on the executive floor, which was reserved for vampires and their mates only, but Patrick wasn’t surprised. He’d asked Amaury to put a call out to the entire vampire and hybrid staff to report for duty, even though most of them normally worked nights only. It was all-hands-on-deck to find Cameron and subdue the werewolf threat.

Whom he hadn’t expected to see was Striker Reed. He and Amaury were waiting in Samson’s office. He hadn’t seen the tracker the vampire council had employed to find vampires who didn’t want to be found for quite a while. Why he’d left the council’s employ—and why they’d let the best man they’d had leave—was anybody’s guess. Striker wasn’t one to offer information if he wasn’t forced to, and even then, he’d rather bite his tongue off than talk. Still, he liked the taciturn vampire with the grim expression, because he’d helped find Isabelle’s kidnapper almost two decades earlier, and more recently, he’d helped them out when Samson and Cain, Grayson’s now-father-in-law, had been kidnapped.

With an outstretched hand, Patrick approached Striker. “Striker, it’s good to see you.”

He nodded and shook his hand. “Patrick.” Then his gaze slipped past him to Fallon. “So, this is the reason we’re starting a war with the werewolves?” He clicked his tongue. “Not that I can blame the guy. She certainly has something…”

“Careful,” Patrick said, his jaw tight, not liking the way Striker let his eyes roam over her body. “Yes, this is Dr. Fallon Doyle, and you’d better keep your comments and your hands to yourself.”

A humorless chuckle rolled over Striker’s lips. “I see. Now things are getting clearer.”

Patrick turned to Fallon. “Fallon, this is Striker Reed. He was a tracker for the vampire council, one of their best, actually.”

“Nice to meet you, Striker,” she replied.

“Sure,” Striker said, since clearly a response like likewise or nice to meet you too was too much to ask for.

“What brings you out during daytime?”

He jerked a thumb toward Amaury. “Got a call that you need information on werewolves.”

“What do you know about them?” Patrick asked eagerly.

Striker shrugged. “A fair amount. I’ve run into a few in my time.”

“Fill us in,” he urged him. “We know practically nothing about them, other than that a bite will turn a human, and that they automatically shift during the full moon.”

Striker rubbed his neck. “Yeah, well, not exactly. Just like vampires, they are either born into the life or bitten. The werewolves born into it don’t have to shift during the full moon. They’re in control over when to shift at all times.”

“And those bitten?” Fallon asked, anxiety evident in her voice.

Striker shifted his gaze to her. “Like you? They’re compelled to shift during the three days of the full moon.”

“But I’ll learn to control it like the others, right?”

“No.”