LycanMate Page 9

  She laughed nervously. "I'm not dangerous."

  His eyes narrowed. "Maybe not on the outside, but seeing the sun isn't bothering you, who's to say you're not one of the other kind."

  She stiffened. "The…the other kind?"

  "Werewolves!" His face twisted into disgust. "Just as bad as those other vile demons, but harder to detect." He patted his rifle. "I'm not worried though. I got me some silver bullets in here."

  Her face fell. "Oh. Well, that's good then. Not that…that I'm a werewolf, but if you did come across one, you could protect yourself."

  "Precisely." He spit again.

  A movement behind him startled her. It was a little boy of about four coming out from the front door. Stella's heart stopped beating. The picture in Gunnar's room! It was Tyler.

  The old man turned around and said harshly, "Go back inside, boy."

  "I…I'm hungry." Tyler's little face puckered into a sob.

  Stella's heart twisted and turned in her chest. She wanted to scream with joy and run to him, but she stopped herself.

  "I said go back inside, boy, before I take my whip to you."

  She had to get him out of there. Her gaze fell on the old man's rifle. Silver bullets were the only thing that could kill her. She took a deep breath. "Is…is this your grandson?"

  The old man laughed coldly. "No."

  "Your son?"

  The old man's face changed. "You're asking too many damn questions, lady. Now get inside, make your call and then leave."

  She could do that and then return with the authorities, but the old man's words about taking a whip to Tyler told her there was no time. She looked at Tyler and willed her hammering heart to slow down. He was gazing at her curiously, but she caught the thread of fear on his face. Her eyes burned and she was petrified she was going to burst into tears at any moment.

  Her thoughts went to Gunnar and how joyful he was going to be at having Tyler back. She gulped and tried to school her features to remain calm. The old man was gazing at her curiously now and she didn't want to hurt her chances of saving Gunnar's son. A violent surge of maternal instinct rushed forth and she had to stop herself from lunging forward and grabbing the little boy. She gritted her teeth, trying to control the strange feeling heating her limbs. It was almost primitive in nature. Wild and animal. She'd never felt this rush of primal energy flowing through her limbs and for a split second was consumed by the sheer force of it.

  "Well, well," sneered the old man. "Look at what we got here."

  Stella drew a sharp gaze to his face and frowned. Why was he looking at her like a cat that just caught the canary?

  "You're changing right before my eyes, little lady."

  She gasped and touched her face, drawing back in horror. Fur. She was changing into her wolf form! She glanced at the rifle pointed straight at her.

  She couldn't control her change! Slowly, her vision lowered and she stood on four paws, her clothes hung loose about her canine frame. She growled at the old man. Dammit, this was bad. He was going to kill her and Gunnar would never know about Tyler. At the thought of the little boy, she gazed at him and caught him staring at her in awe.

  "Like daddy," he said in a small voice.

  The man pointed his rifle at her. "So your mother was a vampire and your father is a werewolf," he said slowly, tossing a quick sideways glance at Tyler. "You're lucky I saved you when I did, boy."

  Tyler's face crumbled. "I want my daddy. I want my mommy."

  "Shut up!" the old man snarled. "You ungrateful little bastard. Your mother was a demon bitch and I sent her straight to hell where she belonged. I took you in to give you a chance at a normal life. Now stop whining and get back inside the house." He spat more tobacco on the ground, his gaze narrowing malevolently on Stella. "I need to kill this bitch first."

  Stella threw her head back and howled. It couldn't end like this. She bared her incisors and thought if she was going to die, she might as well take the old man out first. She could make the long leap to his throat in a couple of seconds, enough time to kill him before the silver bullet hit her.

  She growled menacingly. In the distance, she heard the roar of an engine. And then, as the old man drew back the gage, she sprung through the air and went for his throat. His gun went off as the sound of screeching tires came from behind her.

  She pinioned him to the ground. The rifle dropped at his side and she bared her fangs, growling with ferocity above his face.

  He cowered back.

  The bullet missed her. She turned to Tyler and saw him staring in awe at something behind her.

  "Daddy?" he said tearfully, his little voice breaking.

  Gunnar! Holding the old man firmly beneath her paws, she turned her head and saw Gunnar staggering toward Tyler, his handsome face twisted in disbelief and love. And then he broke into a run and gathered Tyler into his arms, muttering incoherent words into his son's hair.

  Tyler squealed with joy and wrapped his little arms around his father's neck. "Daddy, you found me!"

  "My son, my son," Gunnar said hoarsely. "I love you, Tyler. Oh my God, I love you so much," he added, crushing him to his chest.

  Stella felt her eyes fill with tears and slowly her body began to transform back to her human self. No! Not now! She lay over the old man, almost naked since most of her clothes had been torn from her once she'd transformed into the huge wolf and panicked. He was eyeing her with a malevolent glare.

  "Gunnar," she yelled as she struggled to hold the old man down, but he was too strong for her. With a swiftness she found surprising for someone elderly, he reached for his back pocket. Something glistened in the blinding sunlight as he brought his hand around and plunged it into her side.

  She groaned as a searing, hot pain exploded on her waist. He'd stabbed her.

  "Nooo!" Gunnar roared.

  She slumped to the ground and closed her eyes.

  Gunnar sprung in the air toward the old man. He knocked him down before he could get to his rifle. Tyler cried in the background as Stella fought the wave of darkness around her.

  Gunnar roared and smashed the old man in the jaw, knocking him out. He took the rifle and knife and threw them in the bushes. He turned to Stella and her heart jolted at the look on his face. He staggered to her and collapsed on his knees by her side, looking down at her waist, his face tightening with unsuppressed emotion.

  She offered him a wobbly smile, her eyes filling up with tears at the look on his face. He reached down and gently took her face in his hands.

  "Don't you dare die on me," he said hoarsely, his eyes glistening. "Don't you dare leave me."

  She tried to raise her hand to offer him comfort, but couldn't summon the strength. She felt his palm press down on her side to stop the flow of blood. "I'm so happy Tyler…" she couldn't finish as coughs wracked her body.

  "Don't talk," he said roughly.

  She could see panic in his gaze as he glanced down at her belly. With his free hand, he pulled out his cell phone and dialled.

  "It's Gunnar. I've apprehended a vampire killer. And bring paramedics," he said. He gave the person he was talking to the address and shoved the cell back in his pocket. Tenderly, he brushed the hair back from her face. His throat was working convulsively and he released a ragged breath. "Help will be here very soon."

  She nodded. Cold started to numb her limbs and she grew scared. A dry cough shook her shoulders. Could she do it? She'd healed the odd cut in the past for herself or a debilitating migraine, but she'd never healed a stab wound. The cold grew and instinctively she knew she didn't have much time left. She'd already lost a lot of blood.

  God, she was weak. She couldn't even lift her hand. "Put…put my hand…over my…" she said, struggling to get the words out.

  "Don't talk. The paramedics--"

  "Let me heal myself," she croaked. Their gazes locked and slowly an understanding lit his features.

  Gunnar glanced sharply at her wound and then back to her eyes, his expression hopeful. Gently, he placed her hand over her wound.

  Stella prayed she could do this. She closed her eyes and focused every ounce of strength she had left on her wound. She stopped the flow of blood and then went deep to repair the internal wound. Sweat formed on her upper lip and she knew she was losing consciousness fast. She was almost done, only a little more. Her stab wound tingled and she felt a rush of relief. The tingling was good.

  Slowly she opened her eyes and gazed up at Gunnar who hadn't moved from her side.

  "Gunnar?" His eyes were closed, his mouth a grim line. It almost looked like he was praying. Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked at her with a mixture of fear and hope. A muscle was working furiously along his strong jaw and Stella knew he was overcome with emotion. Her heart expanded and filled with love.

  "I'm…I'm going to be okay." She was losing consciousness. "Just tell…the…the…paramedics to stitch me up."

  Just before she lost consciousness, she heard Gunnar say, "I love you, Stella."

  She opened her eyes and saw Gunnar and Tyler beside her. She was back home, lying in her bed and never felt more happiness at the sight of two people.

  "Daddy, she's awake."

  "Yes, she is," Gunnar said, his voice thick. He placed a gentle hand on her forehead and looked relieved. He gave her a dark, passionate, possessive look.

  She looked at Tyler and smiled warmly at him. He looked like he'd had a bath and he was wearing one of Gunnar's T-shirts. Her heart swelled with love for the little boy. "Hi, baby."

  Tyler smiled shyly. "Hi." Tyler looked at his father. "Daddy, she's like you."

  Gunnar placed his hand on his son's shoulders and drew him close to his side. "No, son. She's an angel," he replied, his tone thick with emotion. He was holding his son, but h
is gaze was on her, dark and intent.

  His expression made her bones melt. She wanted to tell him so many things, but this wasn't the time with Tyler looking at both of them curiously. "Did Tyler eat?"

  Gunnar nodded. "I warmed up the rest of the dinner. He had a heaping plate."

  Stella smiled at the little boy. "You're okay now, honey? You're not hungry anymore?"

  Tyler shook his head. "No. And Dad let me have some ice-cream, too."

  Stella laughed softly. "You know, I have some children's DVDs for clients who come here with little kids. You can watch them tomorrow."

  His eyes lit up. "Do you have Sponge Bob?"

  She smiled tenderly at him. "Season One and Two." Her heart swelled with compassion. "It's over now, baby. You're back with your father and he will never let anything happen to you again." Gently, she touched his cheek and closed her eyes. "You're such a brave little boy," she whispered. She had to see. She had to know he was going to be okay.

  She went deep into his psyche, looking for any distress or fear or scars that would haunt him in his life, but found none. She inhaled sharply and tried again. She wanted to be sure. A few moments later, she sighed with relief and opened her eyes.

  She smiled gently at Gunnar. "He's going to be fine. I went very deep. He's a very resilient, strong little boy." Gunnar's expression told her he understood what she meant, and he nodded with relief and gratitude.

  He gathered his son in his arms. "Come, little one. It's time for bed."

  Tyler's face fell. "I wanna stay with Tella."

  "She needs to rest now, son. You can play with her tomorrow."

  "Okay."

  "Good night, honey," Stella said.

  Gunnar rose from the side of the bed with Tyler in his arms. He gave Stella a possessive, yet warm look. "I'll be back."

  A dart of heat crossed between them, thrilling her, and she nodded. Once he left, she lifted the covers and saw she was wearing a short nightdress. Carefully she lifted it to her waist and saw the six neat stitches on her side. All the blood had been washed away. She pulled her nightdress back over her body and lay back, closing her eyes.

  She knew he returned without even opening her eyes. She sensed his presence. She smelled his scent. She felt his energy in the room. She released a soft breath and opened her eyes. He was standing by her bed, looking down at her with a predatory glint in his eyes.

  "I…I involuntarily shifted into my wolf form. I couldn't stop it."

  He sat next to her and took her hand. "Something triggered your instinctive urge to change."

  "Tyler. I had to save Tyler."

  "Yes," he replied brokenly.

  "Gunnar, if I wasn't a werewolf I wouldn't have been able to save Tyler. If…if I wasn't like you, he would have never let me leave with Tyler. That man was crazy enough to kill an innocent human."

  His face was grim. "He was a vampire killer. From what I learned from Tyler, that day Veronica's car blew a tire. The day was overcast with thick clouds, but once her tire blew, the sun started to come out and the old man saw her arm getting seared. He went back to car, telling her he'd be back with a tire iron, but returned with a stake instead. He killed her before she knew what happened. Authorities couldn't find her body because vampires, like werewolves, disintegrate once they die by stake or silver." His face turned grim. "The old man was about to kill Tyler, but saw he wasn't affected by the sun."

  "What happened to him?"

  "He's locked up. My kind showed up and took him away. He's not going to hurt anyone else." He released a strangled breath. "To think how close I came to losing you, Stella."

  She placed a hand on his arm. "Like I told Tyler, it's over now. You have him back in your life."

  "Thank you. Thank you so much for finding my son, for making me whole again."

  "When you first came here, I used to think it was my healing powers you needed because of your grief. Now I know it was my finding abilities that brought you to me. I had to find Tyler."

  "You're forgetting one thing."

  "What?"

  "For every Lycan there is one true mate. I know in my heart we belong together." He swallowed hard. "Tell me you'll stay with Tyler and me. Tell me we'll be a family and one day you can find it in your heart to love me."

  She smiled softly. Didn't he know? Couldn't he see she was already falling in love with him? "For a man who's lived a couple of hundred years, you still have a lot to learn about women." She drew herself up from the bed and brought her face close to his. "I'm already falling in love with you, Gunnar." At his quick intake of breath, she kissed him.

  Stella woke up the next morning with a dull ache on her side. She turned to her side and saw Gunnar sleeping above her blanket next to her, still dressed in his denim and black T-shirt. His expression looked serene, calm in sleep, and she leaned over to him and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. He stirred and opened his eyes.

  "Good morning," he said, his voice husky from sleep.

  "Good morning. I'm going to check in on Tyler and then make breakfast."

  "I'll do it."

  "No, I'm fine. You've hardly slept in two days. I'll see you in the kitchen."

  Jeans would have been uncomfortable with her stitches a couple of inches above her hip so she decided to change into a light summer dress and went into the bathroom before she went upstairs to see if Tyler was up. Gunnar stared at her the whole time she got ready and she smiled at him before she left.

  Tyler was just waking up when she went to see him. "Hi, baby."

  "Hi." He smiled from Gunnar's bed.

  "Did you sleep well?" she asked as she bent over his head and kissed him on the forehead.

  "Yes. I like this big bed."

  Stella smiled. "Here. Put on your clothes and meet me in the kitchen. I'm going to make you and your daddy a big breakfast. And then we'll go into town and I'm going to buy you some new clothes, okay?"

  "And a toy?"

  Stella laughed softly. "Yes. And a toy."

  He smiled and she left his room. Downstairs it only took her fifteen minutes to whip up bacon, eggs, toast, and sliced fruit. She searched her fridge for a tomato as Gunnar strolled in with Tyler in his arms. She smiled up at them.

  Tyler glanced at the three huge plates of food and his eyes widened.

  "Too much?" she asked Gunnar.

  "A bit. He'll finish what he can," he replied with warmth in his eyes.

  She looked back in her fridge. "I just need some cherry tomatoes to top this off." She smiled up at Gunnar. "I'll be right back. There's a few ripe ones in the garden."

  He placed Tyler in his seat. "I'll do it. How many do you want?"

  "Ten?" she said, giving him a small bowl.

  "Ten it is." He smiled and left through the patio door.

  She felt like she was floating. She was so happy this morning. "Do you want orange or apple juice, honey?"

  The doors chimed and she saw Tyler staring down her hallway, his eyes like saucers. An eerie feeling crept up her spine and she went to see who was there. She froze as she stared at a massive Lycan holding a gun. She screamed and ran to stand in front of Tyler.

  Her heart refused to beat. He was bigger than Gunnar and she knew almost instantly who he was. "Marcellus," she whispered.

  The huge Lycan advanced slowly into the kitchen as though he had all the time in the world. "Correct. You've been very hard to apprehend, my little witch."

  "Gunnar!" Stella screamed, but Marcellus only laughed in a hollow, eerie voice. "Your lover is busy in the back, my dear. Don't expect him to come to your rescue. I have four of my oldest and most powerful Lycans fighting him. He doesn't stand a chance."

  Stella snapped her gaze to the back window and saw four massive wolves circling Gunnar in his wolf form. My God! They were going to rip him to shreds.

  "Gunnar!" she yelled. She saw him snap his gaze to the inn and raise his head, releasing a long, wild, feral howl. And then all hell broke loose in the back as Marcellus's wolves pounced on Gunnar. Jaws bared down on fur, talons ripped through limbs. Stella tried to make out which one was Gunnar, but all she saw was a furious mass of sharp incisors and deadly paws with four-inch talons ripping each other to shred. Tyler cried out and she snapped her gaze to Marcellus. "Don't do this."

  "Too late. I'm already doing it. My wolves will kill your mate, and I will kill his son."