Page 62 of His to Claim

As the door opened cautiously, the chain still firmly in place, I offered a large smile. “Mr. O’Rourke? We spoke on the phone. I’m Vanessa Bridges.”

He glanced up and down, the single light behind him highlighting his expression of distrust. “Yeah, I remember. Hold on.” The moment he closed the door briefly, creepy crawlies settled in, forcing a lump in my throat.

“Come in. Been a long time since someone asked me about the Wolfen.” Randy immediately locked the door behind me, adding the chain before taking me into his living room. “Sorry about the mess. I don’t get a lot of company.”

There were books located everywhere and from where I was standing, I was able to catch several of the titles. It wasn’t a huge surprise that they were all about wolves and the Lycan legend. The man was obsessed. I was beginning to wonder whether I’d get any kind of accurate information. It was worth a try.

“Here you go. You can sit here,” Randy said after moving a stack of books from one of the chairs, particles of dust spewing into the air.

“Thank you. I won’t take much of your time.” I sat down, keeping my purse at my feet, able to see the handle of the weapon from where I was sitting.

“Let me be frank with you, Ms. Bridges. I’m not going to take any crap about what I wrote. I stand by the article and the subsequent information I found on the Wolfen pack as well as other breeds living throughout the world.”

I swallowed again, trying to find the right questions to ask. “Why don’t you tell me about them.”

He smiled, sitting back against the couch. “I tell you what. Why don’t you tell me what you know? We’ll go from there.”

“I’ve read that the Wolfen were supposedly created from a disease centuries ago, one that killed a huge percentage of the human population. I also know that this disease is supposed to return at some point, making the Wolfen stronger, rewriting the balance of power.” With every word I said, I could see the light building in the man’s eyes.

“Very good, Ms. Bridges. You’ve at least read something on the Wolfen, although you could have gleaned much of that from my article. I’ll give you credit for taking your time to educate yourself. So, why are you here exactly?”

The million dollar question and one I’d mulled over during my ride here. “I know there are secrets to be told, the Wolfen doing everything to keep their pack protected.”

“Yes. That is correct. Tell me again why you’re here?”

“I’m very curious.”

“Don’t lie to me, Ms. Bridges. I might be a recluse, forced out of my job because of my beliefs, but I still have access to information from all across the world.” He smirked. “Why would a high powered attorney from Baltimore quit her job for what so many would consider a wild goose chase?”

A strangling sensation wrapped around my throat, pinpricks of light floating across my field of vision. “I have my reasons.”

Randy said nothing for a full ten seconds then shook his head. “Don’t waste my time or yours, Ms. Bridges. If you aren’t willing to tell me why you’re here, I certainly won’t provide you with any information. There are still people in this town who think I’m insane for my beliefs.”

“They just don’t understand,” I managed, heat building across my jaw, sliding into my cheeks.

“No, they don’t. They have no idea that I’m being watched from both sides.”

“Both sides?”

He moved to a standing position, glaring down at me. “I’m a very good judge of character, Ms. Bridges, and if I’m correct, you’ve already had at least one experience with a member of the Wolfen pack. You know what they are capable of. What you don’t know is that there are a group of hunters, mostly men who’ve made it their mission to wipe out every wolf they come in contact with, whether human or animal. In fact, they’ve eliminated a good portion of the natural wolves living in our woods, making the animal variety hungry to hunt their enemies. As far as those capable of remaining human? It won’t be long until they strike, waging a necessary war of their own. They are beasts after all, their instinct to live and thrive first and foremost and they will stop at nothing to eradicate anyone who gets in their way.”

My jaw clenched, my blood pressure rising. The conviction in his voice gave me the jitters. I found myself unable to respond, as if the words were sealed in a vacuum.

He huffed as he inched closer. “As I said, don’t waste my time, Ms. Bridges. I’m no fool but I do need to stay alive and I assure you, I will.”

I cringed as he stomped out of the room, his heavy footsteps reverberating in my ears. I finally let out the breath I’d been holding as I brushed my hand through my hair. I hadn’t trusted a single soul with my thoughts or my reason for returning to Denver. The man was a stranger, someone I shouldn’t share a single thing with. Right now? I had few choices other than to open up to Stone.

I wasn’t prepared to do that. Not yet. Not until I knew more.

I fingered my phone, shifting to my pictures. The grainy photograph was all I had of someone I didn’t even know. As I stared at it, I gathered a sense that the man posing wasn’t happy with the photograph being taken. I could even tell his eyes appeared unfocused.

But I could swear I’d gathered a sense of his thoughts.

Anger.

Fear.

Remorse.

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