Slowly, I make my way through the basement and up to the main level of the house. The smell of food from the kitchen makes my mouth water, but I feel disgusting and could use a shower. Looking down at my body, I see that my dress is ripped in spots, and my skin is covered in dirt and dried up blood. I didn’t need my wolf’s sense of smell to know I smelled hideous. Hurrying up to the second floor, I find the third door on the left and open it quickly, slamming the door behind me. When I turn around, I breathe a sigh of relief. Even though I despise Chase, I’m thankful for the change of scenery. The room has an earthy feel to it with its soft yellow walls and wooden beams. The windows have long, sheer curtains over them to allow the natural light to filter in. I walk over to the windows and peer out, gasping at the view. The moon is high in the sky, casting a shimmering glow across the vineyards. It’s breathtaking and serene, but the beauty of it doesn’t last long. I know where I’m at, and there’s nothing peaceful about it. I’m in a prison and surrounded by people who hate me.
Turning away from the windows, I notice my bag on the bed. I rummage through it, and discover most of my clothes are there, along with my toiletry bag. Chase must’ve grabbed them before he took me from Wyoming. After finding a pair of leggings and a sweater, I turn for the bathroom to take a shower. I don’t know how long I stay under the hot water, but I have to wash my hair three times to rinse away the matted blood. Of course, having whitish-blonde hair doesn’t help when stained with blood for a month. Once done, I change into my clean clothes and toss my tattered dress into the trash. When I walk out of the bathroom, something catches my eyes. My cell phone is on the dresser.
I rush over and tap the screen, excited when it lights up, showing I have a full battery. However, when I look at the date, reality hits me in the chest. I have been asleep for a little over three weeks. It’s the end of January. There are several missed calls from Nolan Lowe, but I can’t bring myself to bother with him right now. We’ve kept each other company the past year, mainly only for sex. He’s alpha of the Rich Valley Pack, the strongest man I’ve met that isn’t a royal, but that’s as far as it goes. I can’t even begin to think about sex at the moment; I have way too many problems to deal with.
The rest of my missed calls are from Brooke McEntire, the woman I entrusted Channon Vineyards to while I was away.
I type in my password to unlock my phone and the first thought to come to my mind is to call my brother. My finger hovers over his name, and my chest tightens. Family is supposed to be loyal, but Knox only cared about Amelie and his selfish desires. Now that he’s gone, I’m truly alone in the world. Lips trembling, I try to fight back the burn behind my eyes, but I can’t. A tear escapes down my cheek, and I angrily wipe it away. I can’t be seen as weak. The one thing I know how to do well is to cut off all emotion to my heart.
Anger has always fueled me in all aspects of my life. It drove my ambition to build my winery, and it fuels my desire to be the best. Anger is a powerful emotion. Without it, I wouldn’t be successful today. Looking down at the bracelet, I channel all my outrage and grip the cold, silver metal. I pull with every ounce of strength I have until my muscles shake with fatigue.
“Dammit, come on,” I hiss, pulling again. Finally, when it’s no use, I give up and suck in a few ragged breaths. Just exerting that amount of energy has weakened me even more. I walk over to the bed and sit down.
Laila and Kami’s voices echo in my mind as I remember back to that New Year’s Eve night when Laila stuck the bracelet on me. Only herself or I can remove it. Somehow, I don’t believe that. My lips pull back into a smile as I search through my phone. I know who can help me, but I can’t call her yet. Not when there are most likely ears listening to my every word right now.
I scroll through all my missed calls and texts, and like I thought, the ones from Nolan are about us getting together. However, the last one he sent says he’ll leave me alone since I haven’t responded to him. If I thought he could help me, I’d tell him where I was. Nolan is strong, maybe even on par with Chase, but I don’t think Nolan would win if they fought. The best thing to do is let him go. It doesn’t look as if I’ll be heading back to Virginia anytime soon.
The most important texts I scroll through are from Brooke. She’s worked her ass off for me for the past eight years; I’ve grown to trust her more than anyone. I met her eight years ago at a wine competition in New York. She worked for a prestigious winery, but the owner was the biggest douchebag I’d ever met. He overworked her and treated her like shit. It was because of her that his winery was doing as well as it was. After that competition, I approached her and asked if she’d like to work for me. I offered her twice her regular salary and even agreed to pay for her move from New York to Virginia. That was all it took, and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made besides my vineyard.
I read through her text messages, and luckily there aren’t any saying the vineyards have been taken over by fire. I press her number, and the line begins to ring. It’s been a month since I’ve talked to her.
“Hey,” she squeals into the phone. “I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Things have been a little hectic here.”
“Are you okay?” she asks, genuine worry in her tone. Brooke cares a lot about people, and I know she cares about me as her boss. There have been times I’ve wanted to open up to her, but she’s human. I can’t fully be honest with her about my life, and because of that, I can’t get too close.
“I’m fine. Is everything okay out there?”
“Oh, yes! We’re doing fantastic. The team pruned the vines about a month ago, and they’re all protected for winter. But, get this … we got a couple more clients since the last time I spoke with you. And I’m not talking just piddly little stores here and there who want to try selling our wines. I’m talking huge clients, like large, chain hotel type of clients.”
A considerable weight lifts off my chest, but it’s hard to get too excited. If I don’t get back to my vineyards, I’ll lose everything, even if we acquire significant clients. I can’t be a prisoner and run my business. Everything I’ve worked for will be lost.
“That’s amazing,” I say, trying to sound upbeat.
“They are really interested in the new merlot we released on New Year’s Day. It’s been a huge hit. I’m surprised you haven’t said anything about it. Your name has been all over the internet.”
Unfortunately, I’ve been under a sleeping spell. I could just imagine the expression on Brooke’s face if I said that. I should be elated that my name’s being spread far and wide but there’s no joy in my heart. My time of fame in the wine business has finally come, and it’s going to go away just as quickly.
“I’ve been without internet in these mountains,” I end up saying. “As soon as I’m back in the land of the living, I’ll catch up on everything.”
“Sounds good. When you come back home, we’ll have to celebrate.”
“We will do that. I’ll talk to you soon. But, for now, just do what you’re doing and keep everything afloat for me.”
She giggles. “You know I will.”
We hang up, and my stomach growls with a vengeance. I’ve been asleep for almost a month and haven’t eaten or drank a single thing in that time. Obviously, the sleeping spell protected my body. Otherwise, I’d be dead from dehydration. Getting up, I stop at the bedroom door and listen. I can’t hear a damn thing other than my breathing and gurgling stomach. Slowly, I open the door and tiptoe out into the hall, looking all around me. No one is there. Surely, Chase has someone watching me from somewhere. I walk downstairs, and I can smell food coming from the kitchen. Stopping at the swinging door that leads inside, I pause for a second. Do I really want to go in? I’m not in the mood to see Chase or anyone else in his pack.
My stomach rumbles again, and I huff. I may not have my wolf powers right now, but being hangry will make me even more miserable. Placing my hands on the door, I push gently and peek inside. On the kitchen table is a covered plate with a bottle of water to the side. I could use a glass of wine … or twelve.
No one is in the kitchen, so I hurry over to the table and grasp the handle on the cover. With my luck, there’s going to be nothing underneath. I can see Chase and the Royal pack wanting to starve me as punishment.
I lift the cover, and relief settles in my chest. There is food underneath. Grilled pork chops, macaroni salad, and Brussel sprouts. Grabbing the fork, I cut into the pork chop and stuff it into my mouth. I thought I was hungry before, but I find myself ravenous with just one taste of the tender meat. It takes me all of two minutes to finish the plate of food.
With my belly full, I have more energy. I feel as if I can run ten miles and not stop. A few minutes pass, and I don’t hear a peep in the house. There has to be someone watching me. I slowly walk down the hallway to the living room and peek around the corner. No one is there. The front door is, though. I think it’s time I test my boundaries.
I head straight for the door and open it wide. Before I can even take a step outside, Chase is right behind me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Snarling, I spin around. “Out. Got a problem with that?”
He replies with a smug grin, and my fury comes back. My hand flies on its own, and I want to feel the joy of connecting to his face, but alas, I don’t move fast enough. His laugh echoes in the night air, and his hand closes around my arm. “That’s the second time you’ve tried to hit me tonight.”
“Yeah, well, one of these days I’ll actually hit you,” I snap. “You’re the most infuriating man I know.”
Still holding my arm, he chuckles again. “Where exactly were you planning on going off to?”
I glare at him. “Anywhere but here.” With all my strength, I jerk my arm out of his hold just as he decides to let me go. Everything moves in slow motion as I fall backward, knowing I can’t move fast enough to soften the fall. The concrete hits my back with sickening force, and it knocks the breath out of my lungs. I suck in a breath and curl into a ball, hoping I don’t throw up everything I just ate. The pain is excruciating. Is this how humans feel when they get hurt? If so, it must be miserable, and I’m glad I’m not one of them.
I can feel the burn slide up my throat, but I force myself to swallow a few times to force my dinner back down. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Chase’s hand as he extends it to me.
“Seriously?” I snap, glaring up at him. Then, finally, I smack his hand away. “I don’t need your help.”
He brings his hand back. “You should be thankful. Without me, there’s no telling where you’d be right now. You’re vulnerable, and you need protection.”
Vulnerable. I hate the word. I’ve been able to protect myself since the second I learned to walk. Still on the ground, I huff. “Move your hand, or I’ll rip off your arm. I can take care of myself.”
Chase holds up his hands and backs away.
When I get to my feet, I brush off my clothes and bite back a hiss as my hands run over the tender spot on my backside where I fell. “I have to get back to Virginia. My vineyard is all I have. I can’t let it go downhill.”
“That’s fine. You can go back there,” Chase says, shrugging as if it’s no big deal. A spark of hope vibrates through me, but it diminishes with his next words. “But I have to go with you.”
“Hell no,” I snap. “You’re my biggest competitor. I can’t let you see what I do.”
His smirk comes back. “Take it or leave it, princess. Those are my terms.” He turns for the door and walks inside. “Be sure to shut and lock the door when you come in.”
The man is infuriating. I quickly look around for something to throw at him, but there’s nothing. So instead, I watch him disappear down the hallway, strutting as if he’s the Great Luna’s gift to all women. Huffing, I step inside and blow out a frustrated breath. I glance back at the open door and leave it exactly the way it is.
With a smile on my face, I stomp up the stairs to my room, knowing Chase can hear me. “You can close your own damn door, you smug bastard.”
===
Chase
I love getting under Kara’s skin. She’s even sexier when she’s pissed, especially when she pierces me with those stormy blue eyes of hers. As soon as she’s up in her room, I leave my office and shut the front door. No one else knows she’s awake, but it’s probably time I inform the Royal pack. I reach into my back pocket, pull out my phone, and scroll through my contacts as I walk down the hall back to my office. The second I see Zayne’s name, I walk into the room and shut the door. With Kara’s hearing no better than a human’s, I don’t have to worry about her listening in.
The line rings a couple of times, but then Zayne picks up. “Maheegan. I figured you’d be calling soon.”
“She’s awake,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I thought so. Any problems?”
I fight the urge to laugh. Kara’s been a spitfire, that’s for sure. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I say.
“Good. Call us if anything changes. We’re not worried about her here. If she were to step into our territory, it wouldn’t end well.”
Out of all the years I’ve known Kara, it disappointed me when I found out she tried to hurt Amelie. I thought she was better than that. However, I am glad they didn’t kill her.
I look up at the ceiling, and everything is quiet with Kara. “I understand. She’s not going anywhere.”
We say our good-byes, and I set my phone down on the desk. I hear footsteps approach, so I get up and open the door just as Arlo turns the corner to the hallway. He’s about ten years older than me, with jet black hair and golden eyes. Arlo’s a master at staying hidden. Kara thought she was alone in the house, but he was right there with her the entire time. His family has been part of the Timberwolf pack since it began centuries ago. Loyalty runs deep with my wolves.
He walks up and nods up at the second level. “Do you need me to stand guard tonight?”
I clap a hand on his shoulder. “No, I got this. Kara won’t be able to breathe without me hearing it. Go home to your new mate.”
A small smile spreads across Arlo’s face. He and his mate just completed their bond at the last full moon, the same full moon night I brought Kara to California and jailed her in my cellar.
Arlo’s grin widens. “Thanks, boss. If you need me, I’ll be right here.”
“I know,” I reply, knowing he’d have my back.
Arlo turns to leave, but then stops and faces me again. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are your plans with the royal?”
It’s a good question, but I have some things in mind. All I know is that I plan to drive Kara crazy. “I’m not exactly sure yet. I think I might have her work at the restaurant.” But, of course, all of my employees are members of the pack, so she’ll be under lock and key.
Chuckling, Arlo shakes his head. “Good luck with that. The pack knows she doesn’t have her strength. You might want to think twice about getting her around the females. They can be pretty vicious.”
“You know what,” I reply, grinning mischievously; I wish I would’ve thought of that before, “I think it might be what Kara needs.”