Chapter 15 - Eddie

Eddie entered the shop cautiously. Even over the scent of herbs and spices, he smelled the awful scent of the enemy as he drew close to the door that had been left ajar.

The broken latch on the door made him growl low in his throat. The protective sensation in his gut made him growl even harder.

Nobody was going to get away with this. This was Winter's shop, her home. Nobody was going to mess with that, not anymore.

Yet, the second he entered, he was accosted by three men who bore down on him hard.

“You fuckers!” he growled as he elongated his claws and fangs, fighting them off with lash after lash.

“What the fuck?” one of them exclaimed as he aimed at lashing blow towards Eddie's face.

The slap was little more than a tickle, and Eddie quickly returned in kind, striking his claws across the man's face.

“What the hell is going on?” another demanded, the attack coming to an end quickly as the other two men looked down at their hands.

Devoid of claws or even the slightest hint of fur, they looked utterly confused.

Eddie, however, knew exactly what was wrong.

“What’s the matter? Witch got your wolf?” Eddie chuckled, darting at the closest man to grab him and throw him into the nearest shelf.

Jars and bottles fell, shattering on the floor just as they had before. A small wave of guilt washed over Eddie, but it was quickly replaced by anger as the final man grabbed him from behind and tried to yank him backwards.

He remained stuck in place. Clearly, the spell had sapped not only their ability to shift, but also their strength.

“What's the matter? Don't like feeling human?” Eddie asked as he turned and lunged at the third attacker, shoving him hard in the chest towards the door.

“I suggest you get out of here and take this warning back to your alpha,” Eddie growled angrily. “You're powerless here. It's time to let the town go.”

The men glanced among each other, the confusion and terror clear on their faces.

Eddie laughed with amusement as they scattered, all rushing for the door at once, practically tripping over each other to get out.

Yet, he didn't let down his guard. The sound of movement in the back room drew his attention almost immediately. He wasn't yet alone. And with Winter still outside, he was determined to make the shop safe for her.

Tightening his hands into fists, feeling his claws dig into his palms, he raced right through the beaded curtain, ready for anything.

Fangs bared, claws at the ready, he stopped dead when he found Christopher sitting in Winter's desk chair.

The enemy alpha had a cocky tilt to his head, spinning a pen on the table in front of him.

“You aren't the witch we were expecting,” Christopher growled, and Eddie sensed movement to his left.

One glance told him that he and Christopher weren't alone.

The second man appeared from the shadows between two of the bookcases.

Teeth still bared, Eddie demanded, “Why are you here?”

“We came to collect what belongs to me,” the second man said, glancing at his alpha as if looking for permission to say more.

When Christopher said nothing, the man continued, “We've come for the witch. My bastard daughter.”

Eddie's stomach knotted. Is he talking about Winter?

“No daughter of yours is here.”

The man’s face twisted into a gruesomely amused smile.

“I can smell her on you. I know she is here.”

Eddie's stomach tightened even more. He had to be talking about Winter. He hadn't been around any other witches lately.

“She doesn't belong to you.”

The man stepped closer, his brow raised. “Who are you to try and tell me that?”

Eddie raised his chin, squaring his shoulders. “Her mate. She belongs to me.”

A flash of surprise shot through the man's gaze.

“You little runt!” he snarled, taking another step forward. The way he moved his body suggested he had been about to shift. Yet, he managed nothing, and his next words came out in a surprised gasp. “What the fuck?”

Eddie couldn't help but grin with amusement.

“What's the matter? Your wolf gone shy?”

Eddie stepped up to face the salt-and-pepper-haired wolf, leaving the door unguarded.

He barely noticed when Christopher rose from his chair and silently started across the room.

His eyes were fixed on the current threat, the man claiming to be Winter's father, the one who wanted to take her away.

“Eddie, what the hell is going on in—”

Fuck! Eddie cursed himself for ever stepping away from the door.

Winter's words were cut off the second she made it through the beaded curtain. In an instant, Christopher was on her, grabbing her by the wrist to pull her around to him. Holding her with his back to her chest, he snarled, “Don't move or I may do something we both regret.”

The alpha gripped Winter by the neck, his fingers pressed into her flesh as if he might rip her throat out.

“Haven't you realized yet?” Eddie demanded. “Your wolves don't have any power here.”

“Maybe not, but I can still choke the life out of her while you watch,” Christopher said, a hint of amusement in his tone.

At a nod from the alpha, Winter's father grabbed hold of Eddie.

“Struggle and she dies.”

“Like fuck I do!” Winter snapped, and Eddie was astonished as he saw a flash of animalistic aggression course through her eyes.

For just a second, he thought he saw a hint of wolf as she tightened her hands into fists, braced herself and slammed her foot down as hard as she could on top of Christopher's boot.

In an instant, Eddie tore free of the grip on him, whirling around to plant a heavy blow to the side of the man's head. He went down like a sack of bricks as Eddie turned to grab hold of Winter and pull her behind him.

“You have no leverage now, Christopher,” Eddie snarled, baring his fangs. “What is your next plan?”

“Even now, it is still two against one,” Christopher said, his gaze darkening before he turned his eyes on his packmate and snapped, “Get up, you useless fool.”

Winter's father did just that, lunging at Eddie again.

Eddie was about to strike him again when Winter suddenly slipped in the way, shoving her father backwards into the bookcase once more.

It was then she started to chant, the room growing hot with electricity as she began to perform some kind of protective spell.

“Fuck!” her father snarled out through gritted teeth, scrambling to his feet.

“You fucking coward!” Christopher called after him as the man scampered away through the beaded curtain.

“Not so big and bad now you're all alone without your wolf, are you, Christopher? I guess you know how those poor humans you've turned feel now,” Eddie growled, lunging for the alpha.

“Eddie, look out!” Winter hissed, and Eddie darted out of the way just in time to see a huge ball of electricity surging towards the alpha.

It struck him hard in the chest, carrying him off his feet and over the desk. Books, scrolls and jars were thrown from the furthest bookcase as he was flung into it.

The man groaned weakly as he found himself in a heap on the floor at the foot of the bookcase.

Eddie wasted no time. He rushed the man, dropped down onto his knees and slammed his fist into the man's temple, knocking him out cold.

Winter stepped up behind him and asked, “What now?”

Just hearing the sound of her voice caused Eddie to surge upwards, spinning to grip hold of her face in both his hands.

“Are you alright?” he asked, tilting her head to expose her neck, checking for any sign that she might be hurt after Christopher's rough handling. “I thought I told you to wait outside.”

“I'm fine,” Winter said, shrugging her shoulders. “I'm still surprised you care.”

Leaning in a little, Eddie tightened his grip on her face and admitted, “I can't bear the thought of any harm coming to you.”

Another spark of surprise lit Winter's gaze, and she smiled, placing her hand atop his on her cheek.

“I'm fine,” she reassured him, her gaze never leaving his.

For a few moments, they remained like that in the sudden stillness of the room, and Eddie could almost forget that they were not alone.

It was only a groan from Christopher that reminded him he had a job to do.

“Do you have any silver chains?” Eddie asked, dropping his hands reluctantly from Winter's face.

She cocked her head, her brow furrowed. “This is a supernatural shop. Of course, we have silver chains.”

“Good, get them. We need to restrain him before I call Jack and the others to come and pick him up.”

Winter's gaze darkened. “We can just throw him in the back of my car and take him up to the manor.”

Eddie shook his head.

“Why not?” Winter asked.

“Because as soon as he is gone, I'm taking you up to bed.”

Eddie heard the way she gulped, and he couldn't stop the smile that twitched at the corners of his mouth.

“To sleep,” he assured her. “That is, unless you want something else.”

The desire he felt at the indecisive look in Winter’s eyes drove him wild. Was there really a chance they would do more than sleep?