“As an alpha, your wolf is trying to figure out where she fits in. She probably doesn’t know where she belongs.”
“Doesn’t she belong with you?”
“Yes. But she’s never experienced the world until she was awoken within you. It’s all new. Imagine being born and waking up, but you’re in an adult’s body. You’ve got the mind of a child but none of the history or background to know how to react to the world around you. All you’ve got is an innate instinct. That’s what your wolf is dealing with. She wants to belong. We are pack animals first and foremost. If you still view the world from the eyes of a human, you won’t ever be at home with the pack. If you aren’t at home here, then she never will be. If you can truly openyourself to being one with the pack, then I think things will get better.”
He was right. I hadn’t thought about that. I wasn’t human anymore. I was a shifter. My wolf settled even more as realization dawned on me. My life was different. It was different in a good way. We were home. This was where we belonged.
45
NICO
My last visit to the auto shop had been cut short by the kidnapping attempt on Maddy, but I knew I couldn’t keep neglecting the shop. I got Felipe to come and watch over Maddy while I headed out to finish what chores I had left there. The team was good and, thankfully, didn’t ask too many questions about my abrupt departure the other day. After a few hours there, I decided to head back home. There was too much uncertainty. As much as I enjoyed working at the shop, I had other responsibilities. I walked out to the parking garage, swiping through my phone to see if I had any messages. I did have a few texts, mostly from Maddy, some from the guys, but nothing crazy or important.
I put my phone away and walked slower. Something didn’t feel right. I glanced around with every step I took. Sniffing the air, I noticed an unfamiliar scent. The hair on my arms rose, making me nervous. I even thought about calling for backup, but the smell was faint. Whoever had been here had left hours ago. I had the sense that I was safe for now.
I walked around my car, even looking underneath it. When I was about to unlock it, I saw something that made no logicalsense. There was a jeweled case with either a CD or DVD in it lying on my driver’s seat. I glanced around one more time and tried my door handle. It was still locked. What the fuck? Memories of old gangster movies with car bombs filled my head, but that wasn’t what was happening here. The royals wanted Maddy to give herself up. Killing her mate was a one-way ticket to making sure thatdidn’thappen. Though they had been brazen enough to try to take her, I didn’t think they were desperate enough to do something so rash.
I unlocked my door and got into the truck, picking up the case as I did. Flipping it over, I found a piece of paper taped to the back.
A friendly reminder that the full moon is approaching. In case you forgot how serious we are.
I gritted my teeth and started the car, then sped home. Maddy was downstairs in the living room when I came in. I tucked the jewel case into the waistband of my jeans. I needed to watch it before I showed it to her. That way, I could help prepare her for whatever blow awaited.
Felipe nodded. “Hey, man, are you good if I go now that you’re back? I need to run some errands.”
“Yeah. Fine.” I grunted the words as I headed toward the stairs, desperate to get to my office and my laptop.
“You good, Nico?” Felipe asked.
“Yeah. All good.”
“Are you gonna even say hi?” Maddy called from the kitchen. I winced, realizing I’d totally ignored her.
I turned around and plastered a fake smile on my lips. I prayed it looked more genuine than it felt. “Sorry. I need to order some parts for the shop. It’s something I should have done a week ago, so I want to get it out of the way.”
I gave Maddy a quick kiss. Felipe called a goodbye, and we both heard the front door close. Maddy stared into my eyes, and I realized I was totally fucked.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Huh? Nothing.”
“You’re lying, Nico. I can tell. I can hear your damned heart beating a mile a minute. Something happened. What was it?”
My shoulders slumped as I came to grips with the fact that whatever was on that disc would be out in the open soon. I wouldn't get the chance to watch or listen to it first. I just hoped whatever was on the disc wouldn’t devastate her. Slowly pulling the case out of my waistband, I held it up between us.
Maddy’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell is that?”
“The royals left it. They somehow managed to break into my truck. It was on the driver’s seat with a note. I have no idea what it is. I wanted to check it first before I showed it to you. If it was… something bad, I wanted to be able to prepare you for it.”
“Well, it’s here now. Let’s see what those assholes sent,” Maddy murmured. She looked less confident than she sounded.
I got my laptop from my office and set it up on the kitchen island, sliding the disc into the drive. It only took a few seconds for the media player to pop up. It was a video file. A knot twisted into my guts, like snakes fighting each other. Video would be worse. There was no way it wouldn’t be.
“Push play,” Maddy whispered.
I hit the button, and within seconds, it felt like the floor had dropped out from under us. Maddy’s mother was on the screen. She was still tied to a chair, her hair matted and greasy. Sweat and dirt coated her skin, but otherwise, she looked healthy and unharmed. She was staring to the left of the camera and nodding. Someone must have been giving her instructions.
Finally, Maddy’s mom looked at the camera. “Maddy, baby. We… need you to do what the… the royals say. It won’t be thatbad. They’ve… uh… they gave me, and your father guarantees that nothing will happen.” Maddy’s mom glanced to the left again, possibly listening to more coaching, then she focused on the camera again. “They only need some blood. They—” Maddy’s mother gritted her teeth and snarled at the camera. “Don’t do it, Maddy! Do not do it. Your father and I will die for you. It’s our job. We’re your parents. I forbid you from trying to save us or doing?—”
