Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 44
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
At that, the witch reached into her inside pocket, as Melissa tried to wrap her head around what she had just heard. Something did not add up. If Joe was actually open to dating anybody, he would not have rejected her like that, and he had done that twice already. Regardless of that, however, she didn’t have time to analyze his behavior. Once again, Helena’s crystal ball was spinning before her, glittering with a soft, silver color. A massive, luxurious mansion was brought into view, as the sphere rolled to a stop. The water of a large pool was shimmering under the moon in the background. A small crowd had gathered just outside the black, arch-shaped gate. Six women, in skimpy outfits were laughing and squeaking, surrounding three men, including Joe himself. An old man in a driver’s uniform was holding the rear right door of a black limousine open. One by one, they all entered it. But, before the expensive vehicle could cover more than a few hundred yards, Melissa’s blood froze in her veins, as a bullet pierced the windscreen’s glass. Within seconds, each and every window of that limousine was shattered, as more bullets were fired, puncturing holes into the car frame and the tires alike.
“I looked into his future, just a few minutes before you arrived,” Helena continued, as Melissa shook her head in disbelief. “The estate in question is on Actor’s Colony Road in North Haven.”
“That’s four hours away!” Melissa cried out her voice tormented and filled with tension and fear.
“These events occur just after 2 a.m., dear,” the witch stated in a tone unaffected by Melissa’s outburst. “You have plenty of time to get there.”
“We won’t be able to shift with so many people around,” Dean remarked, his gaze still locked on the crystal ball.
“We’ll figure something out,” Melissa said with a nod, her tone returning to normal. “Dean, do you mind if I do this with Kate?”
“Actually, I do,” he muttered, raising his eyes to meet hers. “You’re not doing this alone.”
“Honey, please take your truck and follow us,” Kate interjected, her voice sweet, as she turned left to face him. “I need to talk to your sister. We’ll bore you with all this girly stuff.”
“Will do,” Dean murmured, tipping his head down. Melissa would not start speculating on why Joe was in the company of so many beautiful women. Attending such a party was consistent with Helena’s revelations. She winced at the thought of having a long, complicated conversation with him. However, they could not discuss anything if he was brutally gunned down that night, and that was precisely what Melissa and Kate had to prevent.
Chapter Thirteen
In spite of her reluctance to guess on the reason that Joe was surrounded by half-naked women, Melissa simply could not avoid it. The image of all those girls beside him poisoned her mind. Her heart sank as she realized that the man she considered to be so much different than the others could, in fact, be a fake. Of all the men in the world, shifters or human, she resented cheaters. As far as she was concerned, such betrayal was unforgivable. She wouldn’t even have dared to think that Joe was one had he communicated with her once that day. Nevertheless, his disappearance was a sign of guilt, a clear indication that he was hiding something from her.
Melissa was relieved that she wouldn’t have to drive that night. Her confusion and anger would not have allowed her to focus on the road. Furthermore, she was grateful to Kate for changing Dean’s mind about riding with them to North Haven. Negative thoughts were already tormenting her. She could do without a disgruntled brother.
Kate put her foot hard down on the accelerator, as she turned right and onto the much wider road outside Shandaken. The small engine was roaring, when Melissa rolled down her window. She was so puzzled that the air around her had become too thick to breathe.
“I know that look in your eyes,” Kate’s voice tore through the silence, as Melissa rubbed her chin. “What’s on your mind, girl? Although I do suspect a thing or two, I must say.”
“Well…” Melissa sucked in a deep breath, running her hand up her cheek; “…I’ve been trying to make a list of all the things he could have kept from me. He could be cheating on me with one of those bimbos. He’s got a nasty habit, which he lied about, by the way. It’s so frustrating… I mean, I learned more about him from Helena in ten minutes, than he’s told me in the five days I’ve known him.”
“Welcome to the world of humans,” Kate smirked, casting an ironic, sideways glance up at her. “Not everybody is as forthcoming as my friends and I, Mel. Especially when they’ve done things they’re not proud of. In my opinion, you should cut him some slack about the coke. You guys just started dating.”
“Screw the coke,” Melissa groaned, banging her hand onto her knee. “I’d forgive him, if he promised to quit; but if he’s screwing around with those bitches, I’m going to make him regret meeting me.”
“Ok, settle down,” Kate advised, as her face twisted in a mocking leer. “Let’s get him out of this mess first. You can kick his ass later. Is that all you have to say?”
“Pretty much,” Melissa uttered, exhaling hard, as she gazed at the hundreds of taillights ahead of them.
“Good,” Kate nodded in satisfaction. “Now, here’s what I think. Let’s say he’s not been…” she faltered; “…naughty with those girls, and that he’s got a good reason for disappearing on you today. You guys shouldn’t keep seeing each other like this. The distance is going to kill you. If Dean hadn’t taken me to Paxton when he did, I doubt we’d still be together. Ray did the same with Julia, and now just look at them. I’m not saying you should move in with him. Just spend some time with him; see for yourself if he really is the guy you think he is.”
“You said it yourself, back in the cemetery,” Melissa spoke in a very slow tone. “I’d have to compete against his job. I doubt he’d ditch his job for someone he’s been seeing for just a few days. Plus, I’m not leaving Paxton. What am I going to do, get an apartment close to where he lives?”
“I would suggest a hotel room, but accommodation should not be your biggest concern, honey.” Kate’s voice dropped down an octave, as her smile fell from her lips. “The city is no place for a shifter. Dean describes it as ‘hell on Earth.’ The amount of noise in there would drive you crazy. Hell, it bothers me, and I don’t have super hearing. No, you can’t live in New York. He can live in Paxton.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Melissa said, as a sense of doubt washed over her. “You didn’t see Raul this morning. He’d tear Joe’s heart out if he found him in my cabin.”
“Don’t worry about your brothers,” Kate suggested, lightly shaking her head, once. “They might be a little too loud sometimes, but they’re reasonable. If Joe can convince them he’s not a bad person, they’ll have no problem with him staying there for a few days.”
“First, he’s going to have to convince me,” Melissa stated, her tone low, as a bitter smile spread across her face. A feeling of sadness swept over her, as she compared two, vastly different images: Joe in the cemetery against Joe outside that mansion. The contrast was huge. It was as if they were two, completely separate, people who merely resembled one another on the outside. All the same, before she could utter a word, she sensed Kate’s soft hand, stroking the side of her neck.
“You’re in love with him,” she commented, averting her gaze from the road up ahead.
“I think I’m more in love with an idea,” Melissa retorted, as her voice weakened. “I believe Joe is this really sensitive guy, who’s been down on his luck; that I’m the one who’s going to make him happy again. But, if what Helena said is true, then he’s nothing more than a manipulative son of a bitch, who just likes to screw people over.”
“Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between,” Kate shrugged, her cool approach somewhat baffling her friend. “Most humans have skeletons in their closets. Why should he be an exception?”
“Please, just drive,” Melissa let out yet another sigh, as she tilted her head back. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Happily for Melissa, Kate respected her wish. An emotional breakdown was too close for comfort; Melissa had to remain silent. However, a momentary collapse was not what was terrifying her the most. More than anything, she was afraid that she had fallen prey to her own misjudgment. She thought that she had tricked herself into believing that Joe was the perfect man for her. Now, Melissa’s life was hanging in the balance, and her only hope was that he would disprove this notion.
Chapter Fourteen
Melissa found herself in awe and amazement, as Kate drove them around in North Haven. Almost all of the estates were extremely large, featuring massive lawns and fountains, and they seemed either new or well-preserved. Moreover, there were quite a few, high-end cars parked in the driveways, like Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and Porsches. In truth, the two of them had entered a world that hardly resembled their own. There was no simplicity; just a huge amount of reckless extravagance. Melissa was just about to speak, as they neared their destination, but then she preferred to keep her comments to herself. Criticizing humans was not why they had traveled more than two hundred and twenty miles, and they both had to focus on the task at hand. Gossiping was only going to distract them.
Minutes afterwards, Kate turned right onto Actors Colony Road, as Melissa started throwing a few glances around her. Unfortunately, she could not find the estate they had all seen in Helena’s crystal ball. She was about to voice her conclusion, that they were in the wrong place, when deafening, beat music caused the floor of the car to vibrate beneath their feet, and the windows to rattle. Turning her gaze to the downhill slope of the road ahead of them, she discovered the origin, as Dean pulled his truck over behind them. There were people going in and out of the last house, at the end of the road, and two, black limousines, on either side of the road.
“Follow the noise,” Melissa suggested, tossing a quick glance down at the small crowd outside the gate.
“Gladly,” Kate whispered, taking her foot off the brake. The torment of her ears intensified, as the car rolled slowly down the road. Melissa gritted her teeth, enduring the agony, at the same time wondering why humans could find any pleasure in playing this meaningless music so loud. Still, as they closed in on the mansion, the discovery of a major problem filled the air with the scent of her fear. The reason was because the estate was located at the end of a dead-end street. There was only one way in and one way out of Actors Colony Road. Whoever attempted to open fire at a limousine would have to sneak up on her, Kate and Dean. They could all easily get caught in the crossfire. Melissa and her friend turned to one another, almost simultaneously.
“How do you want to play this?” Kate asked, her voice a whisper of anxiety.
“Dean will want to start beating people up. You’ll probably start throwing them in the pool, or up against the fence. It’s not that I don’t appreciate your powers, but I think I’m going to prefer a subtler approach. Stop the car. Turn both vehicles around. We might have to leave this place in a hurry,” Melissa urged, her face as hard as stone.
“Ok,” Kate nodded in agreement. “What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to claim my prize,” Melissa declared, a sly smile forming on her lips, as she winked down at her. Reaching for the handle, she opened the door. She squeezed her eyes shut, as she stepped out of the car. The music was wreaking havoc on her ears, testing their limits. But, this horrible torture was not going to deter her. She would find Joe, and take him out of there. This was a matter of pride for her.
Melissa straightened her red shirt, and looked down at herself. Her smile widened to a grin, as the moonlight reflected off the smooth skin of her legs. The pink skirt she wore was guaranteed to draw some attention. She wasn’t planning on seducing anybody, but she knew that flashing her assets to hungry, human eyes could be of assistance.
Two, giggling blondes were leaving the gate behind them, as she strolled towards the estate. Melissa tried to sweep the interior, but, the two, large men in black suits in front of the gate prevented her from doing so.
“Evening, ma’am,” the one on the right said, lifting a piece of paper up to his chest. “May I have your name, please?”
“I’m Joe Stanton’s fiancée,” Melissa claimed, putting her right hand on her hip, as she hid her other one behind her back. “He’s your boss’s lawyer. I don’t think I’m on that list. Do you really want to bother him?”
“She’s just a girl,” the man’s colleague interjected. “Let her in.”
“Enjoy your night, ma’am.” He smiled down at her, taking a step to the left.
“Thank you,” she nodded, passing by him. Nothing could have prepared her for the scene of chaos that greeted her. The building itself was in the middle of the plot. There were dozens, maybe hundreds of people dancing around in the yard, laughing hard, pointing at one another. A handful of them were in the pool with their clothes still on, just a few feet across from her and to the right. Just like she had predicted, Melissa could feel many pairs of eyes on her, as she made her way towards the pool. Nonetheless, she would not address this issue. Her own gaze was fixed on her prize; nothing could distract her. Joe was sitting on a lounge chair, enjoying his drink, as he talked to a blonde girl in a violet bikini, on the left side of the pool. Melissa did not say anything. Instead, she chose to drag her gaze away from him, and stare at the blonde, in an attempt to grab her attention, as her confident footsteps led her closer to them. She raised her eyebrow in annoyance, as her eyes and the stranger’s eyes met. Joe’s face fell in total disbelief, as he whipped his head right.
“Melissa!” He gasped in surprise as his glass slipped through his fingers and almost out of his hand. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you?” Melissa said, her voice dripping with irony, as she beckoned him towards her.
“How did you find this place? How did you even get in here?” Joe spoke too fast, halting before her, as a wave of fear spread over his face.
“First, you tell me where the hell you’ve been all day,” Melissa grumbled, feeling her blood boiling in her veins, as she furrowed her brow. “I get no phone call, no text, nothing?”
“I always keep my cell phone off during appointments,” he said, his voice just louder than a whisper. “The meetings ended a lot later than I expected. I tried to call you, on my way out of the firm’s building. I dropped the phone on the stairs. This is what’s left of it.” He continued, pulling out a small, plastic object out of the pocket of his jacket. An aching sense of regret flooded through her, as she recognized a sim card bracket. Melissa pressed her lips together, gazing deep into his eyes, as a tall, chuckling brunette approached him from behind.
“Joe, honey, you’ve been avoiding me all night,” she complained, putting her right hand on his shoulder, her mouth barely an inch away from his ear. The stranger’s fingertips turned white, as she squeezed him. Melissa felt her adrenaline shooting up into the ozone layer. A red gleam spread across her eyes, as her inner wolf rumbled within her, aching to take control. This level of intimacy with her prize was not allowed. A ferocious snarl rose up in her throat, rattling her teeth, as she reached both of her hands towards him. A voice echoed within her, growing louder, commanding her to take action:
“Mine.”
Melissa could not ignore it. She would not. Jerking Joe to the left, she took a large step towards her rival, as her gaze shot down to meet the brunette’s.
“Leave. Now,” she growled, letting her beast peer out of her eyes, as she glared at the stranger.
“Oh, my God!” she squeaked, her brows popping up, as she opened her mouth wide. “You…”
Joe didn’t give the brunette time to finish her sentence. A light push on her side knocked her off balance. The woman’s scream filled the air, just before her body fell into the pool with a splash. A few drops of water landed on Melissa’s face and her hair, as her eyes glinted with amusement.
“I’m sorry you had to see this, but I had to sober Ms. Lane up somehow!” Joe pitched his voice louder, looking around him at the baffled people who stared down at the brunette.
“Thank you,” Melissa gave a satisfied nod, as her lips curled into a sweet smile.
“Thank you?” Joe whispered, his face twisting in anger, as he leaned closer. “What the hell got into you? You were about to bite her head off, for God’s sake!”
“I don’t like it when other women touch you like that, especially in public. That’s what got into me,” she emphasized, her smile fleeing, as her face stiffened. “Now, pay attention. In about ten minutes from now, you are going to leave this party in a limo, with a couple of old men, and six women. You’ll never make it back to New York,” she paused, and leaned over towards him to whisper in his ear. “They’ll kill you.”
“What?” He shrieked, surprise written all over his face. “What are you talking about? How do you even know all this?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Melissa raised her tone slightly, maintaining eye contact with him. “Right now, I want you to trust me. You need to stay away from that car. Come with me. Where did you park your car?”
“The owner drove me here. I still have to warn them,” Joe said, throwing quick, furtive glances around him, as panic crept into his voice.
“What are you going to say to them?” She wondered, narrowing her brows in confusion. “Don’t get in that limo, because my girlfriend says someone’s going to attack you? If even one of those people makes it out of that car alive, who do you think they’re going to accuse first?”
“Me,” he murmured, clenching his jaw, as he settled his gaze on her.
