Chapter 58: fifty-seven

“Max’s picking Oscar from the hospital,” Ross said the next morning at breakfast.

“Good. Where are we on Arabella’s death?”  Ajax asked as he piled his plate with bacon.

“Tricky one. No busted windows, and the door was fine so she knew who killed her. Weirder, she was killed with a knife. Maybe it’s not a wolf,” Ross explained.

Ajax rested his hand on my thigh when I sat on the stool next to him. He stuffed his cheeks with bacon and shook his head.

“I bet he just didn’t want his venom anywhere. There are ways to track a wolf with his venom.”

Ross nodded seemingly coming to the same conclusion. Ross and Ainsley sat across from us. Ainsley filled her glass with water and frowned before she spoke.

“Arabella was a Seer didn’t she know her life was in danger?” Ainsley asked.

I looked at Ajax who finished the bacon from the bowl. “Yeah, but it doesn’t always work that way. She might not have known where the danger was coming from but Arabella was a smart woman if she had a hunch who her killer would be she might have left us a way to find him. We’ll have to search her house from top to bottom for more clues.”

“It’s going to be a busy day,” Ross said, rising from the table.

Ajax pulled me close and kissed my cheek.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

I pulled back and kissed his lips. I let myself linger on his lips a little.

“You have a lot to do. I’ll go to the clinic to help Shaina and Betty out. I don’t want to be cooped up here all day. Don’t feel like going to the studio either.”

“It’s clean now. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

I lifted a shoulder. “I guess I’m just anxious.”

Ajax kissed me again. “See you later princess.”

Ajax got up and dumped his plate in the sink before he walked out the front door with Ross. Ainsley planted her chin in her palms.

“You guys make the cutest couple!” Ainsley beamed.

“Not as cute as you and Ross!” I teased.

“Eww, gross!”

I laughed. “He slept in your room. Do you expect me to believe he slept on the floor?”

Ainsley frowned. “Okay no. He’s a player and I don’t want to get hurt.”

“I wish I could say he would never hurt you but I don’t know what. Are you going to take it slow?”

Ainsley nodded. “If I see any sign of trouble I’m running for my life.”

I chuckled. “Deal.”

***

An hour later Ainsley and I walked to the clinic. It was shorter by car but I didn’t hadn’t learned to drive. Ainsley had a shift at Ajax’s bar. I loved how far we’d come. We were both slaves, though I didn’t know how Ainsley ended up at the slave mansion I was glad we weren’t slaves anymore. We were forging a new path even with the rocks on the road it was a path worth walking on.

After spending the whole day at the clinic I only attended to one elderly lady who came for a monthly check-up with Shaina. It was a slow day just like every other day. When I got home the driveway was empty and the lights outside and inside were all off.

Ajax might be out late again and this time I won’t have Ainsley to keep me company. At least I had Goby to keep me company tonight.

Headlights flashed across the driveway as I dug in my purse for the key. Ajax’s home is great, the house won’t be so empty. I turned to greet him with a smile but my smile slipped when a staggering man shut the door.

Panic settled in my gut. I couldn’t reach the house keys my palms were suddenly sweaty.

“I thought, I’d find your mate here,” Maximus said as he walked up the porch casually.

“He… oh… I thought you’d be together at the pack house.”

Max was a foot away from me. Too close in my mind. I could smell his cologne.

“It’s been a busy day. No one other than the Alpha has been at the pack house.”

I cleared my throat still trying to dig out the keys. Gosh, I have to clean out my purse!

“He isn’t there though. I think he still might be busy.”

“I guess that isn’t so bad.” He inched closer.

“Is there something I can help you with General?”

“Yes, ever since you told me your age it was the one piece I needed to fit everything together.”

My eyes widened. My fingers closed around the cold keys and my back slammed against the door.

“I never forget a face. I’d seen yours only it wasn’t you. You’re Alexandra’s spawn! The one I ordered to have killed,” he spat.

A tremor went through my body. I felt his hatred in my bones.

“I-I never did anything to you,” my voice quaked.

“You were born and that was enough. Even after all these years I still despise what happened. I wanted all evidence of that affair gone!” he blasted.

I hoped one of the neighbours would come out and interrupt but not even a curtain flickered or a door creaking open. I was alone with a furious man. A man who made me an orphan. Rage slowly built in me. He ripped me from my mother and sentenced me to death.

What right did he have?

Who gave him the power to decide anyone’s fate?

“You killed my Dad and you imprisoned my Mother. Is she even still alive?”

“I don’t give a damn,” he spat.

“She was your wife. Couldn’t you have mercy?”

“She was my wife and I adored her. She went behind my back and slept with a hired gun. A disgrace to the werewolf community. But none of that matters, Delanie.”

“What do you mean?” I couldn’t unlock the door in under a second because that’s how fast I needed to be to get away from Max and I doubted the door would keep an Alpha wolf out if he wanted to get in.

“The moon goddess cursed me the day I sentenced Alexandra to exile. The witch made it impossible for me to have an heir. I’ve searched the earth for a cure. You don’t know the number of vile concoctions I have to take. Then you… you fall right on my lap.”

“You… how did you know? You’re the one who killed Arabella, aren’t you?”

“Arabella should have known better than to cross me. She simply confirmed you were the human cure before she died. She also gave me very interesting news.”

“What?”

“I’ll keep that to myself.”

He reached out I swatter his hand and darted past him.

“Help!” I bellowed.

Max caught up with me, wrapped his hand around my mouth and held me to his body.

“Nice try. I’ve been waiting, longing and looking for years. I’m not going to let this slip through my fingers. You hot-headed mate won’t come between us.”

Where are my magical powers when I need them? Fire, ice anything please appear I begged as I struggled to free myself from Max’s grip. He barked out a laugh instead but I didn’t stop fighting.

“Let’s go, Delanie. We don’t have time to waste.”

Suddenly I felt weak. Max pushes large doses of Alpha power into me. It felt like being hammered in the back. My fight back died down. My limbs went numb. No, I can’t let him take me. I should have taken my combat lessons more seriously.

The cold empty street was the last thing I saw before I drifted off to sweet sleep.