"Now we go forward. You knew that this might happen. That Jessie might be a part of what was going on." He looked around the room. "We all did."

Alexis nodded and turned to Phil again. She let him take her hand and pull it to his mouth. A low growl from Stacy startled her, but she didn't look at the girl. She was focused on the very sharp teeth that were coming to her wrist.

"I will deaden the pain with my saliva. Once that is done all you'll feel is a small pinch. Are you ready?" She nodded. "Then look at Gordon. He'll be happier that way."

She didn't just look at him, but kissed him. When she felt Phil's tongue slide against her wrist she was vaguely aware of a small pain, but nothing more. When Gordon pulled back, she moaned. There was something extremely needy in that kiss and she wanted to find a dark corner quickly and show him.

Phil had laid his head against the back of the couch. He looked drained, which was silly as he was usually the drainer. She flushed at her stupid joke and asked if he was all right.

"You're a shifter all right. A very powerful and full-blooded one, as a matter of fact," he said without moving. "Your blood, it's like a fine wine, an amazing drug, and a great night of s.e.x all rolled into one." He grinned at her.

"I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Now tell me what this little experience told you about me other than I'm not anything different than you thought." She flushed when she noticed he had an erection. She knew that Gordon had one as well; he'd put her into his lap when she'd spoken to Phil. It took her several seconds to settle down and when Gordon nipped at her shoulder, she nearly came.

"You're a full-blooded shifter, as I thought. And, as we've already ascertained, Jessie is in with the vampire. I don't suppose any of you know who he might be." He pulled the pillow over his lap as he continued. His wink at her made her face heat. They all looked toward Darcy as she entered the room.

"I know who he is. His name is Tom Garrison and he came to the house the day my mother was killed. I heard Aunt Jessie telling him about the cameras. The one that is over the picture in that cornerin the living room at home." She kept looking at Gordon as she spoke, something she'd never done until recently." She didn't point, but simply kept looking at Gordon. "He has one in the kitchen too, but I'm not sure where. But he watches us all the time."

"Yes. I remember him now. But I don't think I ever knew his name. After you were hurt I could only focus on you and helping you." Alexis looked over at Gordon when he cleared his throat. "You know something?"

"Paddy was changed by a Garrison. Probably the same guy. He more than likely knows what you are and wants you for his...dinner." She'd never thought of that and was nodding before he finished.

Stacy moved toward the door and she started to stop her. But the girl turned at the last minute and spoke to everyone in the room. "I have to go. But I'll keep watch." She glanced toward the door behind her before continuing. "Trust no one at your home. She might not be the only help he has."

She shifted so quickly and was out the door before anyone could ask her what she meant. Alexis started to rise, but Gordon held her still. She turned to snap at him, but before she could say anything, he spoke in her ear.

"She's right. You need to figure out why he wants you and who else, if anyone, in the house is trying to help him. We think it's your aunt Jessie, but who knows if your aunt Glad is in on it too." He pulled her closer still. "If she's in on it she'll know why he's hunting you and what he wants now that he's found you."

Chapter 17.

Alexis had been quiet all the way back to her house. She'd said very little at the pack house and when dinner was served she only picked at her food without eating. He wanted to tell her she needed to eat more, but a shake of CJ's head stopped him. Through their link as wolves she spoke to him.

"She's had a lot thrown at her tonight. I'm guessing she's processing it and if you try to make her do what you might think is right you're more than likely going to p.i.s.s her off. It would me if you tried your he-man c.r.a.p." When he started to tell her that he was not going to be he-manlike she snorted at him. "You know you were going to be so just leave her alone and eat your stupid dinner. Men," she huffed at him.

He had wanted to be offended, but thought maybe she was right. Not that he'd tell her that, but he could think it. Gordon smiled now, wondering what she'd do to him if she knew that he was going to seduce Alexis out of her black mood.

"I don't want you to stay here tonight," she said as they pulled into her driveway. "I've had a really long day and I just want to go to bed. Alone. So I can talk to you tomorrow, all right?"

He didn't want to be p.i.s.sed, he didn't want to be hurt either, but he was both. He took a couple of deep breaths before he spoke to her and when he did he tried his best to sound like he was neither.

"No." Well, that sucked, he thought. "I don't want to go home. I want to be with you, Alexis. You're my mate and I need you."

"I've been...why?" Her sudden question startled him and before he could think about an answer, she was going on. "Is it because of the s.e.x? I'm sure you've had much better and as for the mate stuff, I can't understand why you'd want to be mated to-"

He tore open the pa.s.senger side door as soon as she rolled to a stop. He was rounding the vehicle when she got out on her side. He wasn't sure what she was about to say because he pulled her into his body and kissed her, his mouth hard against hers and his body pressing her into the cold metal behind her.

Her hunger slammed into him. So hard, in fact, that he was sure she was going to take him rather than the other way around. When she moaned, wrapped her hand into his hair, and pulled him to her throat he opened his mouth over her rapidly beating pulse. Gordon felt his canines drop, salvia formed in his mouth, and all he could think about was marking her. Making her his for all time.

"I ache to take you. Now, right now." Gordon rocked into her hard and heard her moan again. "Christ, you'll never make it inside."

He let his wolf go just a bit. His claws formed and he tore her pants from her. Her scent hit his senses immediately and he growled deep. Licking a path down her neck to her throat again, he tore at his own pants and freed his c.o.c.k. The cool air of the evening did nothing to slow him. Lifting her up by her a.s.s, he slammed into her as he sank his teeth into her neck.

Her scream filled the air. He couldn't stop now if his very life depended on it. f.u.c.king her hard and holding her still with his teeth, he felt his b.a.l.l.s tighten up, his climax beating at him as hard as he was at her. When she lifted his wrist to her mouth he knew she was going to bite him and he wanted it. Wanted her to take from him as much as he was from her. When her teeth broke the skin and she suckled he came with a roar. His seed spewed from him and into her so hard that he was lightheaded from it. But he wasn't finished, wasn't nearly satisfied. When he lifted his head he knew what she was seeing. His beast was there in his eyes, his canines where long.

"Turn around," was all he could manage. When she didn't move fast enough he pulled from her still pulsing body and shoved her against the trunk of the car. Before she could protest, if that was even in her mind, he was deep inside of her again, her p.u.s.s.y sucking him in and soaking him.

"f.u.c.k me. Oh please, Gordon, f.u.c.k me." He couldn't think beyond her p.u.s.s.y, and her words only took him closer to the edge. Reaching around her, he slid his fingers into her slit. She was wet, soaking wet, and hot. When he pinched her c.l.i.t, her sheath rippled along his c.o.c.k. When he did it again she put her hand over his and rocked back.

"Come, Alexis. Come now and I'll make you mine." He licked her shoulder again. "I want to claim you in the way of our kind. Come with me, baby, and you'll be mine."

She came quickly. Her body stiffened beneath his and he bit as she screamed again. This bite was deeper, harder than ever before. It would also leave a mark, a mark of his teeth into her flesh that all would see. He jerked his mouth hard, tearing at her tender skin, and let his climax roll again. Gordon felt the connection between them snap into place, much like a rubber band against his wrist.

They had truly mated and bonded.

He didn't move. He actually wasn't sure if he'd be able to after that. Alexis was resting her head against the car and her body was limp. He moved her hair from her face and saw that her eyes were closed, but she seemed all right. After watching her for a few more seconds he realized she was asleep or unconscious.

He pulled from her gently, but even that had him wanting her again. He wanted to wake her and take her again, but thought if he did they'd both be sleeping where they were. He didn't think he'd have anything left to walk much less carry her into the house afterwards. Smiling, he adjusted his clothing and then wrapped her in what was left of his shirt and took her into his arms. He was nearly to the house when he heard the first baying of the wolf.

Stilling, he tried to pinpoint where the wolf was. He had a pretty good idea it was Stacy, but not completely. Once inside the house he lifted Alexis higher into his arms and set the alarms, glad now that she'd given him the codes. When he turned around he nearly dropped his mate when he saw someone walking along the hallway toward the kitchen.

Setting Alexis on her feet, Gordon put his hand over her mouth and woke her. She smiled up at him before she looked worried. He knew just how she felt. When he leaned in to whisper in her ear another person walked along the hallway toward the kitchen. Alexis stiffened in his arms, but made no sound.

"It's Aunt Jessie. Where is she going in the middle of the night?" They both heard the door open then close and Alexis turned to look up at him.

"She's not alone. Someone else went that way just ahead of her. Go carefully and when I tell you to move, do it." She nodded. He wasn't sure she'd do it, but at least if he had to shove her out of the way she wouldn't be able to blame him. He heard a voice before they got to the doorway.

"Can't tell you anything if I don't know the answer, now can I?" The pause made him think she was on the phone as he didn't hear any other person. "No. No, that won't be necessary. He hasn't come by yet. When he does I know how to get rid of him. I just don't know why you can't just...what do you mean you can't kill the p.r.i.c.k? I told you before if you want her you're going to have to cut me some slack here."

Alexis turned to look at him. Her face was full of shock. As the conversation grew more heated, another voice spoke up. This one startled him so badly that he couldn't move. And they nearly got caught when the door opened from the kitchen and two people walked out.

"I don't know why we didn't get rid of that wolf when he first showed up. This is stuff that should have been cleared up way before all this went down." Wilbur, the delivery man, was there too. "You'd think we'd be better at this by now, what with all the killings we been doing for Tom. Where is that man anyway?"

"He said he'd meet me tomorrow at his house," Jessie said as she headed for the stairs with Wilbur in tow. "I'm thinking he might be wanting us to go with him when he leaves here. Whatcha think?"

"I'm thinking Glad might be right and you are the dumbest woman alive. Why on earth would you be meeting a cold blooded killer on his own turf?"

Their voices faded as they climbed the stairs. When the door to a room closed Alexis turned to him and stared up into his face. She was quiet, but he could see a world of emotions swirling in her eyes.

"I'm not leaving here. I know that's what you're thinking, so you can stop that right now." He brushed away a tear before he continued. "We won't let them win, Alexis. And besides, we're mated now. Nothing can hurt us."

"They'll hurt us in other ways," she said as she laid her head on his chest. "They both..." She looked up at him. "Why?"

He pushed her head back to this chest. He didn't know. Most people do things for greed. But this woman seemed to be doing it for simple pleasure. Gordon didn't know yet, but he'd find out.

Picking her up, he took her to their bedroom. She didn't say anything about him leaving again and he didn't press when she insisted on looking at the book that Phil had given her. He wanted to tell her that in the morning things would look better, but he could feel her hurt at what was going on. When she pulled open the wall that he'd thought was a computer area he could only stare at what she revealed to him.

The wall unit was huge when it was closed, but when open it was ma.s.sive. The doors only hid the room beyond them and the equipment she housed there. When she sat at the large desk he walked in and sat in one of the many chairs that faced it. She was booting up the computer when she started to explain.

"I'm not what...my family thought I was a chemical engineer." He watched as the screens behind her lit up. "I've been employed by the best of the best. I'm still employed by our government. I find things. Mostly people, but I sometimes get called out to find treasures, bombs, and even an occasional murderer."

He watched the screen directly behind her start to focus on something. It took him several seconds to figure out she was looking at this house. When the screen moved he watched as it seemed to be stopping and starting again, searching for...well, he wasn't sure what it was searching for.

"Are you looking for someone? Or something?" She grinned at him and he looked back at the screen. "The phone call. You're tracking the phone call, aren't you?"

"Yes. I have this enhanced signal booster that can back trace a call. The call was made from this house and all I need to do now is find the source. I'm thinking I might know who the person is, but...well, I don't know where he lives."

"Tom. You're looking for Tom. Is he the one that you think is talking to your aunt and Wilbur?" She nodded at first then shook her head, seemingly undecided. "You think he might be looking for you and someone else then? Who? Do you know?"

"Sort of. I know that Tom changed Paddy, or at least the vampire part. And, for whatever reason, he wants Darcy. I figure he's going to use her against me. Maybe that wasn't his plan at first, but I think that might be where this is headed now. I got the feeling he was going to keep her for something, but I didn't know what."

They both watched as the screen kept zigzagging across. He was dizzy watching it and looked back down at her. She was looking at the screen in front of her with a frown. He started to ask her what was wrong when the screen froze. She looked up at him.

He didn't like the look. Slowly, he looked back up at the large screen behind her and tried to make out where it was. When he figured it out, it was all he could do not to howl. Christ, the man was living on pack land. And not only that, he was living in CJ's old house.

Paddy paced the yard. He'd been waiting on Tom for over an hour. He had a plan he wanted to share with him and hadn't gone to the house like he should have. Plus, he had to pee. If the p.r.i.c.k didn't show up soon he was headed for the woods. After another twenty minutes Paddy went to the edge of the property and into the deeper woods to take care of business. While he was just pulling out his c.o.c.k to urinate a car pulled up. Paddy nearly peed on his own shoe when he saw who got out.

He wasn't really surprised to see Tom being handed out. The guy couldn't take a s.h.i.t without fifty people there to hand him a sheet of toilet paper to wipe with. And eating dinner was something that Paddy had only joined him for once and thought he'd die before going back to sit through 'courses.' And all the plates and silverware completely confused him. Nah, he thought, give him a brown paper bag, burger and fries, and a beer and he had all the courses he wanted.

The next person out of the car was Jessie. He'd never liked her and seeing her hanging all over Tom like she was his... Paddy frowned. They were lovers, he just realized. And he realized something else. She was Tom's source too. Watching the two of them touch each other and acting like, gross he thought, randy goats, he nearly turned away. But he heard Tom speak and he froze in his tracks.

"Did the moron show up?" Jessie shook her head. "I give you one job and this is how you do it? Jessie, I've told you before, when I give you something to do I expect it to be done promptly. Not when you get around to it. I'll not have anyone thinking they can get away with not following the simplest of directions."

"I have a plan. I'm going to make sure his scent is all over my niece. He left some of his clothes behind when he departed the house the last time and I've put them in with some of Alexis' clothes in a trash bag. Every time I go by it I give it a good shake so that his scent is all over hers." Jessie slid her hand over Tom's chest and Paddy backed up, suddenly unsure of this situation.

He stepped on a log as he moved and it snapped. The sound was loud in the otherwise noisy forest. Everything around him grew quiet in an instant. The couple and the driver looked toward where he was standing. Paddy knew that any moment he was going to die.

The driver took out his gun and started to where Paddy was hiding. He didn't have time to move, so he stood perfectly still. The closer they got to where he was hiding, the more terrified he became. The way they were standing with Tom just behind the driver and Jessie with her back to the men and her gun out too, there was no way they'd miss him if they saw him. He never took his eyes from them even though the need to flee was strong. Just before they took a step into the woods a large male deer leapt out of the tree line beside them and had them all turn as one toward the giant stag.

The roar of gun fire was terrifying. Paddy watched as the stag fell first to his knees then to the ground. He was dead long before his head fell to the side. With eyes wide open, blood spilled to the earth and he took his last breath. Paddy had never been so happy to see something else die in his entire life.

"That was f.u.c.king awesome," the driver said as the last echo faded away. Paddy had fallen to his a.s.s at some point and didn't even bother looking up to see what he was talking about. "Did you see that sucker bleed out? Christ, let's scare up-"

"Shut up and get that piece of s.h.i.t out of here." Tom slapped the driver hard in the face and knocked him down. "And this one too."

The gun was still out, and pointed at Jessie's head so quickly that Paddy nearly screamed for her to run. The bullet went in her forehead and out the back of her head so quickly that Paddy knew she was able to watch her body drop. Tom had just killed his source and he had a sudden feeling that he was next.

Paddy felt his urine run down his leg as he thought of what lay in waiting for him the next time he crossed paths with Tom. When the driver picked up the dead woman first, tossed her on top of the deer carca.s.s, and he began to drag the two bodies away, Paddy made the decision to get as far away as he could. Right now, right f.u.c.king now.

As soon as Tom went into the house and he was sure that the driver was well away Paddy gathered up as many leaves and pinecones as he could find and tossed them over where he'd been, hoping to mask his scent. After waiting another hour, and after the driver returned and went inside, Paddy left. He was nearly to his car when his cell phone went off. Knowing it was Tom he broke the phone in half, tossed both pieces into the road, and drove over them when he started up his car.

Next stop, he thought, was out of here.

Chapter 18.

Austin looked down at the lease that lay on his desk. He'd not asked any questions when he'd okayed the renting of the little house, but now he wondered if he should have. He looked up when Phil started talking again.

"It was done completely by a third party. The person who needed it was told that it would be on a month to month basis until the owner could figure out whether or not to sell." Phil got up to pace, something he only did when he was nervous or p.i.s.sed. Austin figured it was a good deal of both.

"How long has the man been renting the house? And when did he move in?" Austin looked over at his mate. She was looking very pregnant and he was concerned about the added stress of this. "If it's month to month, I say we just kick his a.s.s out then kill his sorry a.s.s."

"You might be ri-"

"No." Dallas cut Phil off. "You might want to rethink that. At least when he's right there at our doorstep we can keep an eye on him." Dallas looked at him. "It's your call, of course, but I would have my friends close and my enemies closer."

Austin agreed. But it wasn't just his decision to make. He looked over at his brother and his mate. Alexis had the most to lose in this and also the most to gain. Gordon would do whatever he asked of him, but Alexis...well, he wasn't sure what she'd do. He looked over at CJ. "The house is still in your name. Ultimately, it's my decision, but I would very much like to hear what you have to say." He winced when she glared at him. "I mean, I would consider anything you have to say and weigh it against what is good for us all."

"Good save, doggy boy, but not good enough." CJ got up, walked to where Alexis and Gordon were sitting, and knelt before them. "The house is secure, both this one and yours. We had cameras set up all over the house and if he didn't disable them then we can see him as well if not better than if he was sitting here in the house with us. He won't get in to either house unless he has a tank and I'm pretty sure that we would all hear that sucker coming a mile or two away. So my question is, what do you want to do?"

Austin knew she was right. This directly involved them more than it did pack. But still, the man was- "Oh hush up. I can hear your thoughts, you know." He mentally stuck his tongue out at CJ. "Yeah, you do that now, but I'm betting you can think of better uses for that tongue than sticking it out there useless."

Austin felt his body harden for her. She knew what she was doing to him and it took him several seconds to realize that he'd missed something. When he tried to concentrate on the conversation CJ sent him a mental picture of what he'd done to her last night.

"Behave or I'll spank your a.s.s again. What are you doing now? You know that Phil thinks they're both safe here. If they want to go up against this b.a.s.t.a.r.d they could very well be the only ones to walk away unscathed."

"Or not." He felt her fear then. "What if he's wrong? I can't...I won't lose either of them. Not now. We have to protect them as our own."

Austin had never been prouder of anyone than he was at that moment. He sent her his love through their connection and felt it retuned back to him. Then he settled in to listen to the plan. And in the end he thought it a very good one.

They were to confront him. They all agreed that it was the best bet in bringing out the man who was in charge. Phil said there had to be a higher power in all this and he was going to check with his father and mother to see what they knew. His dad was a vampire and had just as much power as his mate. He thought that the two of them could come up with an answer. Then there was the changing of Paddy to vampire. How would Tom have gotten permission to change Paddy? There had to be someone else, someone that would have enough power in the vampire council to give him what he needed to get what he wanted.

"When you go to the house, what are you going to say? 'h.e.l.lo, I'm here to kick your a.s.s and bend over so I can do it?'" Dallas grinned as he spoke. "I'm pretty sure all that's going to do is p.i.s.s him off more. I was thinking maybe you could simply ask him if he has a cup of sugar."

"Nah," Phil chimed in. "That won't work. He's full-blooded. He won't have that in his kitchen."

Hilarity broke out. They were all tired and seemingly not taking things as serious as they should have been. Austin was about to call it quits for the night. After twenty some hours of going over different strategies, he figured they all needed a good night's sleep, but Glad came in the room.

"Has anyone seen Jessie? She said she had a date and hasn't returned." Austin could feel her worry and fear. "She normally calls when she's spending the night somewhere else. And before you ask, yes, I called the delivery man. He's not seen her either."

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her if Jessie was meeting Tom, but a sharp look from Phil warned him to stay quiet. Instead, Phil went to her and put his arm around her. He began to rub her bare skin and suddenly, Austin knew what he was doing. He was trying to get a place to draw blood.

"Oh my, Glad, what have you done here?" She tried to turn to see what Phil meant when she inhaled sharply. "See, you have a cut here. Let me put something over it. It looks a little red."