Page 96 of His to Claim

Karma had a way of kicking ass.

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I was still shaking as I parked my car in the very garage where I’d been attacked. It was still daylight, the late afternoon sun sweeping into the area enough to keep the shadows at bay. Yet I couldn’t avoid the wave of fear as I locked the car door, scanning the perimeter not once but three times. There were no creatures waiting, no monsters lurking. Besides, this time I had protection.

I moved into the elevator, holding my breath until the doors closed. I was here to retrieve my laptop and nothing more. Then I would do exactly as Stone had asked, remaining behind the invisible walls of Roselake while trying to find additional details about my father. Max had to be able to use the information. I only hoped the indictment would stick.

What I didn’t understand was Chris’ use of hiring the wolf, but I suspected it was another aspect of truth I’d never learn. So be it. My guess was that Stone and everyone in his… pack would hunt the wolf down, eliminating him as an enemy.

I took small comfort in that even though I was tingling all over.

What am I?

I couldn’t get the question out of my mind.

I was still trembling as I pulled out my keys, constantly looking behind me as I walked to my condo door. There were no outward signs of forced entry or any visitors for that matter. I slipped the key inside the lock, turning slowly. As I opened the door a crack, I took a deep whiff, making certain there were no foreign smells. I gathered likely the last hint of fragrance from the dying flowers and little else, the realization giving me comfort.

The moment I walked in, I was shaken once again. Everything in the place had been tossed. I could barely handle closing the door behind me. It suddenly seemed as if my entire world had been ripped away. My hands were numb as I pulled the gun into both, taking careful steps through the mess. I couldn’t believe it.

Every piece of furniture had been turned over, the glass coffee table smashed. Pictures had been ripped off the walls, tossed across the room. As I took additional steps, the sound of crunching glass created a fake echo in my mind, my heart racing. Why would someone do something like this?

As I walked into the kitchen, flipping on the light, I knew instinctively that this wasn’t about searching for something. The destruction was about pure evil, rage that the perpetrator hadn’t found me instead. I was suddenly overwhelmed with fear. I couldn’t imagine Chris getting this angry.

The wolf.

I could swear I gathered his scent, the same musky testosterone I’d experienced the night before. The bastard wolf had done this. He’d meant to… take me. Oh, Jesus. Every cabinet had been pulled off the walls, dishes and glasses everywhere. If the fucker thought he could ruin my life, he had another think coming.

I crouched down, noticing the article and other information I’d printed on the Wolfen. Slash marks had been raked down every page, but I had no doubt the wolf had read them.

I moved quickly into my bedroom, steeling my nerves, kicking through the various clothes that had been ripped out of the closet until I found the box where I’d stored my laptop. While the box itself had been pitched against the wall, the laptop appeared fine, still secured in the padded bag I’d placed it in. I yanked the handle and grabbed one of my suitcases, dumping both onto the floor. Even the mattress had been cut to ribbons, the jagged marks reminding me of claws.

I ignored everything, including the buzzing inside my head as I tried to gather some clothes, tossing them into the suitcase without care about what I’d chosen. Who gave a shit at this point? I knew it was vital I got the hell out of here. I didn’t even bother turning off the light, struggling with both cases as I lumbered toward the front door, giving the area one last hard look.

The bastard would pay for what he’d done.

Hissing, I opened the door. The shock was complete, my world crumbling.

“Hello, Vanessa.”

The voice wasn’t one I’d expected to hear, the sound drumming in my mind. Everything was a blur. As I turned my head slowly, I opened my eyes wide, a knowing settling in. “What have you done?”

“What had to be done, the extinction of a vile species.” After taking a deep whiff, another command was given to the beast standing by. “Take her.”

CHAPTER16

Stone

Danger.

I could think of nothing else as I revved the Harley, roaring down Max’s driveway. I was antsy to get back to Vanessa, still incensed after the conversation with Markel. I jumped off the bike, half tossing my helmet before storming toward the front door, my fist slamming against the wooden surface.

Max lifted an eyebrow as he opened it, ushering me inside. “Jesus Christ, buddy. You need to calm down.”

“Calm down? Markel told me nothing except that I would be banished if I mated with Vanessa.”

Max sighed as he pointed toward the chair, sighing when I shook my head. “I think that might already be too late.”

“I haven’t attempted to turn her. I haven’t brought her into our world. I’ve made love with her. There’s a fuck load of a difference. But I will say this, that bastard can’t tell me who I can mate with. Fuck him!”

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