Chapter Thirteen

Ian skillfully navigated his way around the side of the house, ensuring he was positioned downwind. In his panther form, he easily moved through the foliage without making a single sound.

As he continued to slowly advance, his whiskers twitched, picking up strong traces of Nolan's scent. His gut had been right. He should have known he hadn't seen the last of the coyote shifter.

Cautiously avoiding the path so he wouldn't be seen, he stalked forward while praying the wind didn't change course. Ian didn't want Nolan to be aware of his presence until he was close enough to pounce.

This time Ian wouldn't back down since there was no chance of Jace coming outside to witness his violence.

This time Nolan was either going to talk or get flatlined. The forest was vast enough that his body would never be found.

Just as Ian drew close enough to attack, another scent drifted toward him. He crouched low and sniffed the air.

Nolan wasn't alone.

"Fuck this up and teaching some guy a lesson will be the least of your worries," Nolan snarled. "Don't make me regret trusting you."

"Don't get shit twisted." Owen's tone was biting. "It was you who found me in the coffee shop looking for directions to Ian's house. You're the one who better not fuck this up."

Ian edged closer until he could see the two. Nolan was leaning against a tree, seemingly at ease, but there was visible tension in his muscles, like he was holding back from attacking the human.

Owen paced in front of Nolan, his fists clenching and unclenching. Ian doubted the guy knew about the preternatural world and how close his dumb ass was to having his throat torn out.

At least that would save Ian the trouble of killing Owen himself.

"Why are we just standing here?" Owen demanded. "Earlier you were talking tough about getting revenge on Ian." He thumped his chest like a caveman. "I know I can beat Jace's ass. Are you chickening out on me?"

Nolan smirked as he huffed. "Just my luck I partnered with a hothead."

"Fuck this." Owen stormed toward Ian's hiding spot. He would prefer to take them on one at a time, but if his hand was forced…

With an animalistic snarl, Nolan caught up to Owen and seized his upper arm. The human was a downright idiot for not recognizing the cold glare of death in Nolan's eyes.

"Goddamn it!" Owen tried to yank his arm free, but the iron grip was unbreakable. "Let me fucking go!"

"Speak above a whisper and I'll spill your entrails," Nolan warned before releasing him with a shove.

"We had a plan," Owen gritted out in a low voice.

"Ringing the doorbell and overpowering Ian is your half-baked plan, and it'll get you killed." Nolan turned to stare at the house. "While you want to use a hammer, a scalpel is what we need."

Owen frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Nolan sighed heavily, a look of save me from this moron on his face. "It means we need to quietly infiltrate the house. It will be a lot easier to overpower them if they're sleeping."

"I'm not afraid of Ian," Owen said.

You should be very afraid, human. I plan to terminate your existence.

"Your death." With a forced smile, Nolan held out a hand to tell Owen to lead the way. "If you're capable of stealth, we'll check the windows and doors to see if we can gain easy access. If not, well then, I guess you'll get your wish and we'll use brute force to get inside."

Ian crouched even lower, waiting for them to pass him. When the two were far enough away, he bolted toward the house, using a wide berth in order not to be seen. With his panther's speed, Ian made it to the deck in no time. He snatched his phone from under the cushion and unlocked his door, certain they weren't close enough to catch him.

Unfortunately, Nolan would know that Ian was recently outside by his strong scent on the deck, but there was nothing to be done about that.

As soon as he stepped inside the house, he locked the door. He stuck his middle finger toward his ceiling. "Thanks for bringing those two assholes together," he said to whomever or whatever had made that happen.

A thumping sound caught his attention. What the hell? The sound was inside the house. He quickly dressed then hurried toward his bedroom, the sound growing louder.

Shit. It was Jace doing all that banging. His mate was going to be livid that he'd been locked in the bedroom. Ian would be lucky to come away with his balls intact.

Aside from mating with Jace, tonight could kiss Ian's ass.

Right after he punched in the unlock code, the panel flew open. Jace stumbled backward at the quick release of the door, falling right for the floor with outstretched arms.

Ian caught his mate and steadied him.

"Why was I locked in the bedroom?" Jace brushed hair from his eyes, looking around as if the answer was hiding around the corner. He lifted his gaze and stared at Ian. A deep frown puckered between his hazel eyes. "Did the door become jammed somehow?"

"Kitten, I promise the door isn't issue. I have to obscure the glass before they see us in here." Ian swung the door closed, locked it with his phone, then grabbed the remote to opaque the wall of glass.

"Before who sees us?"

"Nolan and Owen." The glass wall in his living room was made of the same shatter-resistant material as the one in his bedroom. However, the traditional-sized windows in his home lacked that feature. They would be able to break one and gain entrance. After Ian killed the sons of bitches, he was making a call so that every fucking window in the house was polycarbonate.

Jace's brows rose to his hairline. "Did you just say…" He pressed his hand against his stomach.

The terrified expression on his mate's face only fueled Ian's wrath. It was clear why Owen wanted to get his hands on Jace. The asshole was too narcissistic to admit that his own actions had gotten him fired. He blamed Jace and wanted to take out his rage on him.

Over Ian's dead body.

But Nolan's presence was still a mystery.

They looked at the panel when they heard glass shattering. Nolan and Owen had found their way inside. Ian grabbed Jace's hand and led his mate to his office.

"Another secret room?" Jace glanced inside. "You know, in the movies, hidden rooms are depicted as small, cramped spaces. I could fit my bedroom in here."

Ian sat at his desk and pulled up the interior of his house on the twelve screens. His blood boiled at seeing intruders inside his home, prowling around like they were casing the joint.

When Ian had his dream home built in Midnight Falls, he'd wanted the secret rooms because of the YouTube videos he'd watched on amazing home designs. It had seemed so cool to him to have areas inside his house that no one else would know about.

Admittedly, it was the inner child in him that had been fascinated with the idea, unaware that the concept would one day help to keep his mate safe.

Jace moved closer to the screens while Ian watched Nolan glance around the living room. Owen was checking out the kitchen. For what? Did the idiot think Ian and Jace were hiding inside the cupboards or in the dishwasher?

"Call the cops." Jace turned toward him. "Have them arrested, Ian."

As badly as Ian wanted to kill them, he had his mate to consider. He could take on Nolan, but that would give Owen the chance to go after Jace. "I could handle them if you stayed locked in the bedroom."

Jace's body was slightly rigid as he chewed his plump bottom lip, his gaze jumping from Ian to the screens. "What if they hurt you?"

Ian stood and pulled his mate into his arms, knowing his touch calmed Jace's anxieties. "I'll always be a complete kitty cat around you." He tucked his finger under his mate's chin so Jace would look at him. "I never want you to see me any other way, but when you grow up on the streets, life very quickly hardens you."

"I can't let you go out there to get hurt." Jace's breath was coming out in small pants as his gaze dropped. "I…just can't."

Which meant Jace wouldn't agree to stay locked in the bedroom so Ian could give his full attention to killing Nolan and Owen.

"Please." Jace looked up at him. "Call the police."

Whatever the two were charged with wouldn't be enough to keep them behind bars. They would get out, and then Ian and Jace would have to constantly look over their shoulders. Ian couldn't keep an eye on his mate twenty-four-seven.

Sooner or later, Owen would exact his revenge on Jace. Nolan knew how much Ian cared for the human—possibly surmising already that the guy was Ian's mate—and Nolan would try to use Jace as leverage to get to him.

The only real way to end this was to kill them.

Although Ian didn't want to make the call, he pulled his phone from his pocket. When he dialed the cops, all he heard was a succession of beeps. "The call isn't going through."

"I'll get mine." Jace pulled away from Ian and ran into the bedroom. With the threat so close by, Jace being even a foot away made Ian's panther snarl.

Breathy, Jace returned to the office and handed over his phone, but not before unlocking the device. Even with danger lurking just outside the bedroom door, his mate was reluctant to talk to anyone not in his comfort-zone circle.

Ian dialed but heard the same call-failed sound. He tried again with no success.

"Is it this room?" Jace asked. "Maybe try stepping out of your office."

"I've made calls sitting at my desk." Ian doubted changing location—no matter how minuscule the distance was—would help. But to appease his mate, he walked to the bed and tried again with both phones.

Still nothing.

No matter how well a person could defend themselves, being cut off from the outside world was unsettling.

"You're only prolonging the inevitable," Nolan taunted from the screens in the office. "Owen wants Jace to pay for getting him fired"—Nolan's tone conveyed how little he cared about the human's grievance—"and I want to end your life, Ian."

"I was willing to do things your way, kitten." Ian tossed the devices onto the bed, grateful his phone hadn't failed him before he'd locked down the bedroom. "Now I'm going to do it my way."

On one of the screens, Nolan had his arms out, a sneer on his face. "You're going to pay for what you did, Ian." His arms dropped to his sides. "If you come out of hiding, I'll kill you quickly. If you don't, I'll make you wish for death long before I give it to you."

In the kitchen, Owen skimmed his fingers along a row of glasses in the cupboard over the sink, making them crash to the floor one at a time.

Ian had no idea what Nolan was talking about. He hadn't done anything to Nolan.

"Why does Owen look like he's savoring every shattering glass?" Jace whispered from the doorway, his lips trembling, unshed tears in his eyes. "What kind of person gets off on destruction?"

"Somone who wasn't hugged enough as a child," Ian snarled. "I need you to be absolutely quiet, kitten. I'm about to use the microphone to talk to Nolan."

"And say what?" Jace spun around and stare wide-eyed at him. "I don't think you can reason with either of them."

Ian sat at his desk. "I want to know what Nolan is talking about. I've never done anything to the jackass to warrant him hunting me down."

"We can't call anyone for help…" Jace said more to himself than to Ian. "Nolan is fixated on your death. Owen wants to beat the daylights out of me, or maybe even murder me."

"Babe, we already know all of that."

Jace stepped farther into the room, his lips flat, his gaze narrowed. Ian had no idea what was going through the guy's mind, but he didn't say anything, allowing his mate time to work out what he wanted to say.

Slim shoulders pulled back. Hazel eyes concentrated on the monitors. Despite the dire situation, Ian sat there captivated as his shy little kitten steeled his spine. It was like watching a tiny bird bravely facing a mighty storm.

Resolve filled Jace's eyes. "If it's between our lives or theirs, we're the ones who are going to walk out of here alive."

In that moment, Ian couldn't have been prouder of Jace. His mate was timid and anxious, yet fierce and determined. But his mate was merely coping the best he could under such stressful circumstances. As brave as he appeared, it wasn't his default setting, and Ian was concerned that Jace's courageousness would come at a price.

That it would in some way leave a stain on his beautiful soul.

Regrettably, Ian couldn't protect Jace from the ugliness of the inevitable battle. If his phone had been working, he would have locked his mate in the bedroom—even knowing how helpless and angry Jace would have felt—and faced Nolan and Owen on his own.

"Try to get your answers." Jace moved to stand next to him.

Ian turned on the microphone. "Since you're so thirsty for my death, you could at least explain why you have such a hard-on for me, Nolan."

As Nolan glanced around, his eyes turned to slits. "Maybe because your recent trip cost me everything."

What was he talking about? The last trip Ian had taken was to Springrest to help Deputy Wyatt Birch rescue his mate. Ian had reached out to Solomon Turne—a wealthy fashion designer and repulsive, deviant scumbag who'd been seen at the very auction where Alister had been unwittingly sold.

The same pompous, skin-crawling creep who'd had his lecherous eye on Ian for years. Solomon, a dominant male consumed by his own desires and oblivious to other people's needs, had continuously failed to realize that Ian was strictly a top.

Ian had invited Solomon to lunch under the false pretense that he wanted to sleep with the amoral pervert. The thought still made bile rise to the back of Ian's throat.

Their lunch date—Wyatt sitting at the table right next to theirs, listening to the entire conversation—had been a ruse to try and uncover the identity of Alister's buyer.

Honestly, Ian loathed the fact that he'd thrown himself at Solomon. He was also embarrassed that Wyatt had witnessed the repulsive show.

Fortunately, the humiliating lunch had paid off when Solomon told Ian they couldn't get together because an unexpected guest had shown up at his penthouse the night before and his appearance demanded Solomon's attention.

The same night Alister had been kidnapped by two hellhounds.

Ian wanted to destroy Solomon when he realized he was seated across from the man who'd purchased the defenseless mate.

When Solomon left the restaurant, they'd followed him home. Ian had stayed with the chauffeur to make sure the guy didn't tip off Solomon. It had been Wyatt and his friends who'd successfully rescued Alister, killing not only the fashion designer but also his two bodyguards.

His mission to help Wyatt had been the first time in over a year that Ian had traveled outside of Midnight Falls.

"How did my trip to Springrest cost you everything?"

Fists tight at his sides, Nolan curled his lip. "You really don't know, do you? Or are you just pretending to be clueless?"

Though Ian's gaze remained steady on the monitors, he could feel Jace's confusion and fear. He reached out and took his mate's hand in his, giving and receiving comfort from their connection.

"Enlighten me," Ian said.

Nolan turned his head toward the glass wall overlooking the backyard. "Solomon was far from perfect, but…"

"Oh snap!" Owen slapped the counter a few times, causing the remaining glasses to bounce on the shelf before they plummeted toward the floor and shattered on impact. "Nolan's in love with this Solomon guy." He whooped loudly, his teeth on full display from his wide smile. "Did you steal him away, Ian? Is that why Nolan hates your guts?"

"Shut the fuck up!" Nolan's anguished outburst said it all.

Ian stared incredulously at the screens, convinced he'd fallen into a parallel universe. Who in their right fucking mind could possibly have feelings for such a reprehensible monstrosity?

"Who's Solomon?" Jace frantically tapped Ian's arm with their joined hands.

"Is that you, Jace?" Owen tilted his head to one side, a wicked grin curling his lips. "Come out, my shy little mouse." His voice dripped with malicious delight. "This kitty cat wants to play."

A bark of crazed laughter shot out of Nolan. His eyes red and watery, he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe his nose, his teeth clamped tight.

"Taunt him all you want, Owen," Ian said, "but I goddamn guarantee there's a bigger, deadlier cat in this house."

"Why don't you prove it?" Owen flung the next cupboard open and launched the dinner plates like Frisbees. "If you're bigger and deadlier, show yourself, Ian. Let's settle this once and for all, shall we? I want to see just how pathetic you really are."

Nolan crossed his arms, gliding his tongue over his bottom lip. He studied Owen, a cruel smirk lifting the side of his mouth. "I tell you what, Ian," he said to the room since he had no idea where the cameras were located. "We'll call a ten-minute truce between us if you kill this annoying shit. That'll give you plenty of time to run back to your hidey-hole."

"You serious, bro?" Owen attempted to appear tough by flexing his upper body, but it was hard to take him seriously. First, he was posturing in front a shifter who possessed ten times his strength. Secondly, it was blatantly obvious that Owen had spent more time preening around the gym than actually working out.

Jace pointed at the microphone. Ian cut it off. "Are we just going to wait them out? I'm perfectly okay with that, but what if we're stuck in here for days? There's food out there. Those two aren't going to starve. We are."

Ian opened the bottom right drawer and pulled out a ten-pack box of peanut butter crackers. "Since our phones aren't working to call the cops, I have no choice but to confront them."

Jace looked worriedly at the monitors. "Not that I want you to confront them, but how are you going to get out of your bedroom if you can't unlock the door?" He turned to face Ian. "Is there a manual switch you can use?"

Ian ran a frustrated hand through his long hair when he remembered one slight problem with his plan. "The damn thing broke off. I've been meaning to get it fixed, but I haven't gotten around to making the call."

"Are you saying we're trapped in here?" Jace asked. "Can't you use your big muscles to break the door down?"

"When the room is on lockdown, not even my big muscles will get that door open." Ian reached into the bottom left drawer and pulled out a bottle of water for his mate, unsure if that statement was entirely true. The door was sturdy, but if enough force was used, it might not hold.

"Then what's the plan?" Jace took a pack of crackers from the box.

Right now, there was only one thing Ian could do. "Since we're stuck in here for the time being, I'm going to see if I can pit those two against each other."