Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 75
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
Love of my life
You’ve hurt me
You’ve broken my heart
And now desert me
Love of my life
Can’t you see?
Bring it back, bring it back
Don’t take it away from me
Because you don’t know
What it means to me
Love of my life
Don’t leave me
You’ve taken my love
And now desert me
Love of my life
Can’t you see?
Bring it back, bring it back
Don’t take it away from me
Because you don’t know
What it means to me
You won’t remember
When this has blown over
And everything’s gone by the wind
When I get older
I will be there to remind you
How I still love you
I still love you
Back, hurry back
Please bring it back home to me
Because you don’t know
What it means to me
Love of my life
Love of my life
The echoes of her voice were still lingering in the air, when the crowd’s roaring applause literally rocked the hall. Kate snapped her eyelids open to gaze out at Dean, as she tapped her fingers on the keys for the outro. There was a silent promise in her eyes, as their gazes met. It was as if they were seeing right into his soul, pledging her all to him, just like they had done in their mating ceremony. Her big, brown eyes had faded in the dim illumination, resembling small globes of gold, inviting him into her heart and soul.
“Thank you kindly, ladies and gentlemen,” Kate addressed her fans once more, averting her gaze from Dean. He leaned back in his seat, as her eyes swept the crowd. His mate was a special human; yet, every time he witnessed her connection with those listening to her, the same notion dawned on him. Even though she was a witch, she would never give up on her passion. Regardless of Helena’s fate or life choices, Kate was not going to be the one to replace her. The bond that had been forged between her and these people was too strong and too special to be replaced by witchcraft. His mate would provide a helping hand to the co-protector of his birthplace on occasion, but that would probably be the extent of her involvement with the ancient art that had enthralled Helena.
For more than three hours, Kate did what she knew best: enchant everybody with her music and vocal skills. For Dean, anything she played after the song that she’d dedicated to him was of no importance. Fast-paced songs or ballads passed by him unheard, as her passionate performance replayed in his mind. In truth, he couldn’t wait for her concert to be over. Eager to be alone with her, and show her how much he appreciated her gesture; he checked his watch every few minutes.
“I liked your idea about cooking tonight, but no, Siren,” He thought to himself. “You’re not doing it, not after what you did. I’ll do the cooking. It’s been a while since I spoiled you. I may be exhausted, but I’m going to try my best to give you a night you will never, ever forget.”
Just before 2 a.m., the crowd had thinned to a handful of people. The chandelier lights grew brighter, signaling the end of the night. Kate picked up her sheet music from the piano, before flashing Dean a bright-eyed look. His anticipation peaked, as she turned right and out of the main room. The steamy night he had been planning was only minutes away. Still, as he found himself in the hallway that led to her dressing room, he realized that something was very wrong indeed. The smell of death flooded his nostrils, instantly bringing back the memory of their recent war against Redfield’s clan. A banging thump against the door sent a massive shot of adrenaline rushing through his veins. Dean burst down the corridor, clenching his fists, as a faint sound filled his ears. Kate’s muffled voice sent slivers of fear slicing through him as he closed in on the dressing room. The subsequent banging noise on the door confused him. But, his bewilderment vanished as his gaze shot down to the floor. Shadows blocked the light from coming through the narrow crevice. Without wasting any time, he raised his right leg in the air. The door was ripped off its hinges as he kicked it down. Immediately, he noticed Kate lying on her back, with her hands on her throat, coughing, as a tall, thin stranger lay beside her. His big, black eyes sparkled under the ample light as he jumped back up.
“What’s that awful dog smell?” He smirked, sniffing the air around him.
“It’s the last thing you’ll ever smell, you fuck,” Dean snarled, a red glow spreading over his eyes, as he moved in towards him. Dean’s rival didn’t wait for him. Instead, he lunged towards him, raising his upper lip, revealing his lengthening fangs. However, Helena had taught him and his brothers well. By then, Dean had been expecting the unexpected with vampires. Letting out a ferocious growl, he curled his fingers into fists, a mere instant before his rival’s hand made contact with his throat. A tremendous one-two combination to his stomach sent the vampire flailing back. The thump sent vibrations throughout the room as his body was slammed up against the wall. The vampire fell to the floor like a heavy log, moaning in agony, as Dean dropped to his knees beside him. He felt the coldness of the vampire’s skin, as he gripped him by the throat. Maintaining his gaze on his twisting face, he reached up to grab the handle of the top drawer. With steady fingers, he slowly pulled it open, as his adversary squirmed beneath him.
“Tell me who sent you, and I’ll make this quick,” he growled, his eyes smoldering with rage, as he felt the markings on the handle of Helena’s silver dagger in his palm.
“Kill me,” the stranger choked out, his red eyes closed, as he tilted his head back.
Understanding that speaking any further would not avail him, Dean chose to be silent rather than to address him again. He jerked his arm back, desperate to end the life of the wretched creature that had dared to assault his mate. Just then however, his eyes snapped open, as he ceased squirming altogether.
“Go ahead,” he urged, his face twisting into an evil leer as his gaze met Dean’s. “End me. My brothers will avenge me. And you won’t even see them coming.”
A sense of total confusion struck Dean, as the vampire uttered his last words. Dozens of questions immediately ran through his mind. Still, this was not the time to seek answers. It was the time for action.
“Put that door back up, Kate,” he commanded, tightening his grip around the handle of the dagger. In a split second, his mate thrust her arm forward, as her face contorted in agony. Dean released his foe’s throat, only to cover his mouth, as the door clicked shut. The vampire’s muffled scream rang in his ears, his eyes opening wide, as he drove the knife into his chest. A puff of steam rose off his head, as the skin on his face reddened. A burning sensation in the palm of his hand forced Dean to pull his hand away from him as he caught a glimpse of a large blister on his right cheek. Breathing in pants, the Alpha’s brother watched, as the vampire’s skin peeled off his face, more steam rising from the floor, as sizeable chunks of it dropped on the gray carpet. Dean whipped his head to the left to face Kate, unwilling to bear witness to that gruesome sight anymore.
“Alright…” he gasped. “Are you ok? What happened?”
“I’m fine. He’d been waiting for me,” she heaved a long, heavy sigh, as she leaned against her shoulders. “The minute I walked in, he grabbed me. He pushed me up against the door. You know the rest.”
Tearing his gaze away from her, he looked back down at the floor. By then, the only evidence of the vampire’s presence in Kate’s dressing room was a six-foot long stain on the carpet. Dean picked up Helena’s dagger, wondering about his next move. Whatever that would be though, it was obvious to him that the passionate night he had been planning with his mate would have to wait. She was still in shock, and he was much too upset to think about anything romantic.
“We’re going back to Paxton,” He announced, rising up to his imposing 6’3” stature. “We can’t go to your apartment; more of those pricks could be waiting for us there. Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Three
“Who was that?”
This simple question swirled in Dean’s mind long after he and Kate left “Tommy’s Pit.” What was the identity of her mystery assailant? He didn’t know. Nevertheless, his nature provided a clue. Whoever he was, whoever had sent him there, the fact that he was a vampire proved to Dean that their war against Redfield’s clan was just the beginning of strife between the shifters’ and their natural enemies. If – by some unforeseen event – the pack had not eradicated that particular clan, there existed at least one more that posed a threat to their well-being; that seemed ready and willing to go after them. It was simply a matter of “when” and “where.”
Frustration hit the Alpha’s brother with a vengeance as he realized that, once again, the peace in Paxton had been shattered. Although there was an air of confidence in the pack, a sense of pride for defeating the vampires in March, they were still mourning the loss of their three, fallen brothers in arms. Most likely, they were not ready for one more battle. He could imagine their reactions to the news of Kate’s attack. They would curse their luck: be mad at fate for sending them off to yet another war; but mainly, this new test to their resolve could possibly break their spirit. Yes, they were all prepared to risk their own lives in order to protect their birthplace – all of them were strong, courageous warriors – but, inevitably, their psyches would be wearied by the constant fighting. In their hearts, shifters desired peace; and yet, with these continuing occurrences, they couldn’t have this most fundamental quality.
Minutes before their arrival in Paxton, Kate called Raul and Helena, and broke the news of her attack to them. The Alpha and the witch agreed to wait for them in his cabin. Dean’s frustration grew by the second, as he planned his narrative. Just as he did so however, a rather basic error he had made that night occurred to him: he had failed to catch the vampire’s scent. Of course, there were more than two hundred people in Kate’s bar, all of them with their own, distinctive scents and most of them wearing perfumes or colognes, but that could not serve as an excuse. A vampire’s smell is much more pungent than that of a human. Also, according to Kate, he had been waiting for her, which meant that he was there for a while. Dean should have smelled him.
Furious at himself for his failure, he slammed his car door shut, as he struggled to find an explanation for the mistake that he could have avoided. Raul was standing just a few paces behind his doorstep, with his hands shoved into his pockets, and a look of admiration written all over his face.
“You did beautiful tonight, brother,” the Alpha declared, as Dean’s hurried footsteps closed the distance between them.
“I screwed up. I screwed up big,” he groaned, as he strode through the door.
“Why would you say that?” Helena squinted up at him, as he brushed past his brother. “Kate said you killed him.”
“Damn!” Dean cried, his eyes lighting with rage, as he banged his fist onto the kitchen table.
“Hey!” Raul shouted, as he spun around to face him. “Keep it down! My girls are sleeping upstairs.”
“Oh, crap…” Dean said on an exhale, raising his hand to run it through his hair, as Kate eased the door closed behind her.
“Calm down, second son…” Helena advised in her usual, cool tone, as she stepped closer to him. “Why are you this upset? What happened back there?”
“I couldn’t smell him,” Dean confessed, putting his hands on his waist, as he shook his head sideways in disappointment. “I killed him, but I only smelled him when I stepped into the hallway, like ten yards away from the dressing room.”
“There were more than two hundred and fifty people at the club tonight,” Kate interjected her opinion, her voice picking up volume, as she rushed towards him. “That place reeked of cheap perfume.”
“I wish I could give you my nose for just a few minutes,” Dean muttered, shifting his gaze to her. “You’d see what I’m talking about.”
“He’s right, Kate,” Raul assumed a bass-deep voice, tossing a quick glance down at her. “A vampire stinks like a carcass that’s been rotting for months. But, I’m not worried about that. Dean could have been distracted, it can happen to anyone. However, getting news of another vampire? I thought we were through with them.”
“We are through with one clan,” Helena pointed out, raising her index finger up to her chest. “Maybe more of them have had Redfield’s idea to invade Shandaken, although it doesn’t sound so probable, I must say.”
“Care to elaborate on that?” Dean requested, his tone coming out slowly.
“Well…” Helena sucked in a deep breath. “Our war with Redfield started when Raul killed my brother. We all thought he wanted to avenge Darryl’s death, at least that’s what the vampire told Martin and Jimmy, but it was just an excuse to invade Shandaken. The one Dean killed tonight didn’t attack any random wolf in the woods. He went straight for Kate; he knew who she was in relation to the pack. Whoever orchestrated this, they’re out for your heart. This is personal.”
“The whole city of New York knows who Kate is, Helena,” Dean emphasized, pursing his lips. “There’s a billboard outside, with her picture on it, and her scheduled performances. I’d agree with you about the whole ‘personal’ thing, but I can’t think of any bloodsucker that mad at us who wants to go up against us.”
“Raul, have your scouts noticed anything out of the ordinary lately?” Helena asked, putting some force in her voice, as she turned to him.
“Nothing;” the Alpha’s response was sharp. “Why?”
“I was just checking to see if there had been any signs of vampire activity. Who knows? Maybe we didn’t kill them all. Anyway, why don’t you go get some sleep everybody?” She suggested, lowering her tone. “I’ll do some research in the morning, and I’ll get back to you. Goodnight.”
“Thanks, Helena,” Raul gave her an appraising nod. “Goodnight.”
Dean’s initial thought was to continue his conversation with his brother. Still, it was already 3 a.m.; he was exhausted. Moreover, discussing possibilities with him would lead to speculation, and guessing would frustrate him even further. So, he took Kate by the hand, and mumbled a “goodnight” to his Alpha, eager to rest his weary bones as well as his troubled mind. The anger within him had not settled: sleep would not come easily; yet, he owed it to himself to try. Another war was on Paxton’s doorstep. He had to keep up his strength. Soon enough, he would need it.
Chapter Four
A tender sensation, followed by a small amount of pressure, on his body disrupted Dean’s sleep. The feel of soft fabric on his chest was no stranger to him. It was satin: Kate’s blue, satin nightgown. A tentative kiss on his lips compelled him to open his eyes. There she was, lying on top of him, a few strands of her golden hair flowing down the sides of her glorious face.
“Wake up, Wolfy…” she whispered, her breath on his beard stubble sending sweet tingles across his skin.
“What have I done to deserve something so sweet?” he wondered, his voice drowsy as he opened his eyes to slits.
“Let’s see; other than save my life for the hundredth time? Nothing,” Kate responded, brushing the tip of her nose on his. “I was hoping we could talk. You were too upset last night to have any kind of conversation.”
“Are you sure you just want to talk?” Dean asked, raising an eyebrow, as he slid his hands down the sheets.
“If I didn’t, I’d be naked,” Kate stated, her lips curling into a sexy smile as he felt the silky skin of her thighs on his fingertips. “My head would also be a few inches south of here.”
“You’re a bad girl,” he whispered, returning the smile. “What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she murmured, her voice going up an octave, as she peered towards the ceiling. “Something about a song last night; what was it called again?”
“Love of my life,” Dean said with a chuckle. “You were amazing, Siren. You blew my mind. Right after your little speech, I wanted to get up, and kiss you in front of everybody.”
“I meant every word,” Kate assured him in an emphatic tone as her gaze shot down to meet his. “You’re everything I’ve been looking for, Dean Bradford. You’re the man I want to grow old with. But, the love of my life has got to learn to be a little more lenient: on others as well as on himself; plus he needs to not let life get the best of him.”
“I almost lost you because I wasn’t vigilant enough,” He put a little force in his voice, as he gazed up into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Kate, but I’m getting tired of all this. I mean, can’t we have a moment’s peace around here? Do we always have to be at war with someone?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt. You got there right when I needed you,” she murmured to him in a sweet voice, unaffected by the tension in his. “And those wars you’re referring to? They’re not your choice. You and your brothers have evolved over the past year, Dean. Okay, you feel a little frustrated about last night. Honestly? I’m pretty mad, too; but, this is your life now. Everyone will want to bring you down. Everybody would love to destroy the legacy you, Raul and Ray have been building. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you’re not the bunch of mechanics Monica told me about, when she left Raul. You’ve become this town’s heroes. You’d better get used to that role. If you don’t accept it, you’re always going to feel like you did last night.”
