Chapter 19

Nineteen

GRAYSON

T he park is almost empty.

It’s too cold to really enjoy it, and with school in session, there are no children to grace the play set. Still, every once in a while, I’ll see a couple jog past in workout gear or a mother pushing a stroller down the sidewalk.

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting on the park bench when I become keenly aware of a presence directly behind me. I inhale, but with my vampire powers muted, I smell nothing but pine trees and crisp winter air. It’s only when he steps closer do I detect a hint of…dog.

Matthew sits beside me on the bench, rubbing his hands together to ward off the chill.

“I came,” I tell him blandly, not bothering to beat around the bush. “What do you want?”

“I don’t believe you murdered those females,” Matthew begins, seeming to choose his words carefully.

“I kind of suspected as much when you allowed me to leave.” I lean forward and rest my arms on my legs.

Directly in front of me, a young woman jogs down the trail leading into the forest. She sort of reminds me of Izzy, and a pang reverberates through me when I think about my mate. All I want to do is be with her. Hold her. Love her.

My cock jerks to life in my pants at just the memory of her pussy milking it for all its worth.

Fuck.

Now is most definitely not the time to get a boner.

“What have you done about Kain?” My voice breaks on that final word, and I reach for the water bottle I always keep with me.

“Nothing as of yet.” Matthew frowns. “We don’t want him to think that anything is amiss.”

The water I’m swallowing gets lodged in my throat. “He’s still out there? At school?”

At Izzy’s school?

Anger traverses through my veins like lava.

He threatened my mate.

Told me he’ll kill her.

And he’s with her right now?

I need to get to her. Protect her. Rip Kain’s throat out?—

“Remain calm, young vampire.” Matthew glances at me out of the corner of his eye before facing forward once more. He, too, seems to be fixated on the jogger opposite us. “Isabella is fine.”

“You don’t know?—”

“I do, actually.” Matthew reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out two gloves. He carefully slips them onto his hands. “But we can’t let him know that we’re onto him. There’s more at play here than you could possibly understand.”

I stare at him in wide-eyed disbelief. “Are you kidding me? How stupid do you think Kain is? He knew I got arrested—hell, he visited me in my cell—and he’ll know that I got released. He’ll assume that I talked.”

A tiny grin tugs up the corners of Matthew’s mouth. “As of now, he doesn’t know that you’ve been released, and we intend to keep it that way…at least for the time being.”

“What do you mean?”

“Kain believes that you were sent away to be…interrogated more thoroughly. Or perhaps he’ll believe that you’re already dead. Who the fuck knows?” Matthew scratches at the stubble lining his jaw. “Which makes you the perfect asset.”

“Asset?” I fucking hate that word. How many times did the Elders refer to me as their greatest asset?

“You’ll be able to do some digging on Kain and the other pack members without them knowing.”

“Kain and the other pack members?” I gawk at him. “You don’t think Kain was working alone?”

Matthew finally turns to face me fully, his expression grave. “I don’t. I believe there’s more at play here than any of us can even comprehend.”

“Kain was working with Hunters. He was?—”

“Was he?” Matthew quirks an eyebrow questioningly. “Have you ever seen any humans with Kain?”

“No, but?—”

“I want you to keep an eye on Kain and everyone he talks to.” He glances at me slyly. “I heard about you, Grayson Grey. You’re not just any normal vampire, are you?”

I grit my teeth together and remain silent.

“When was the last time you fed?” Matthew asks, and his abrupt change in topic makes my head spin. Before I can answer, he continues. “You have no reason to hide anymore. We know what you are, and you’ll be of more use to us if you’re in possession of all of your gifts.”

Once again, I remain silent, not daring to speak.

Not daring to even breathe.

When I finally have my thoughts in some semblance of a working order, I ask a question that has been nagging at me since this conversation began. “What happens if Kain sees me? Or if he discovers that I’m free?”

He’ll go after Izzy, of that I have no doubt. He’ll hurt her to prove his control over me.

“Hopefully, the coward will run to his leader.” Matthew scrubs his hands against his jeans with a wry, humorless chuckle. “A weasel like him isn’t smart enough to think this up alone.”

“I don’t even know what this is,” I protest.

Matthew waves a hand in the air. “Just keep an eye on Kain and his friends. And, if you’re able to, see what you can find out about Gregor.”

“Gregor?”

“You may remember his son…Ashton.” Matthew’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

I remember being dragged into the Council room and meeting with a bunch of wolves. The tallest and most domineering one had dark skin, closely cropped hair, and a perpetual scowl on his face. He scared me more than any of the others.

“Do you think Gregor has something to do with Kain and the murders?” I demand, but Matthew is already standing, rigid tension radiating through his muscles.

He glances in both directions nervously. “I need to leave.”

“Wait—” But my raspy protest falls on deaf ears as the wolf shifter hurries away.

For a long moment, I simply sit on the park bench and ponder Matthew’s words.

Could Kain have been working independently of the Hunters? Why would he lie about that? No, the better question is—why would he have done that in the first place? And why would Matthew believe Gregor is involved? It isn’t like they’re murdering vampires or warlocks or witches or any other supernatural. The females killed were wolves.

So what is their endgame?

Or is Matthew simply creating a conspiracy that doesn’t exist outside of his head?

And how will all of this affect Izzy?

Even now, my thoughts return to her. I can’t help it. She consumes me.

A giddy rush of euphoria thunders through me when I think about my plans for tonight. I purchased steaks—Izzy’s favorite—and a bunch of candles and flowers. Shit girls find romantic. As soon as I get home, I plan to decorate my apartment, cook a fancy dinner for her, and then tell her the truth about what she is to me.

My mate.

I’ve never done anything like this before. My relationship with Sidney was a sham—as horrible as that makes me. The most romantic thing I did for her was pay for her McDonald’s hamburger. Suffice to say, the girl was not happy when I called and broke up with her.

But what can I say without sounding like a bigger ass than I already am?

Oh, I’m sorry, but I never had any feelings for you because I’ve always been in love with my best friend, who, by the way, is my fated mate.

Yeah. I’m certain that would go over well.

I pull out my phone and begin to scroll through my notes app.

Candlelit dinner. Check.

Bouquet of flowers. Check.

Box of jewelry. Check.

Anticipation swells as I finally rise from the bench.

I have a few hours before Izzy returns home from work. I need to make sure everything is perfect. She deserves nothing but the best?—

Movement in my periphery captures my attention. I turn, my stomach in knots, to see a pale face and glinting red eyes.

“Grayson,” the familiar man hisses. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Before I can even think of a response, something hits me over the back of the head.

And then all I know is darkness.