Chapter 15 - Hector

The moment we got home, I double-checked everything. The security monitors, the cameras, the alarms, the silent alarms, and even one of the magical lines that Cliff had installed from an old friend. Most of the things that I had were up to date as far as security went, and everything was controlled in the kitchen. I had a loose panel in the wall behind the table that slid aside to reveal a small series of monitors and a keyboard where I could control everything with a mouse.

Faye sidled up behind me. "So, that's where you keep an eye on everything."

"Yeah, it's kind of like my Big Brother center."

She made a choking gasp sound. "I don't like being watched."

I laughed as I turned around. "Don't worry. There aren't cameras in the bathroom or anything."

Her eyebrows shot up. "That wasn't very reassuring."

"It's fine. I don't have to spy on you in the bathroom. You'll give yourself to me again when you're ready."

She bowed her head, a lock of hair falling in front of her face that begged for me to push it behind her ear. And I did. Because I would do just about anything for her. I felt it in my soul, the yearning that I had to keep her tight to my side, to keep her in my arms, to never let her out of my sight. The way the demon and the storm put our lives in danger made me realize that I didn't want to lose her at all, in any way, shape, or form. If she missed her family, then that meant we had to get in touch with them.

I cupped her face. "I'll do anything to keep you here. And if that means I must put you in touch with your old pack, then I will."

Her eyes lit up. "Do you mean that?"

I nodded. "I'm your alpha. I always mean what I say."

She stepped back a few inches to put space between us and crossed her arms over her chest. "Then, prove it."

***

After a hearty dinner of leftover steak, we went upstairs and started to part ways on the landing. I thought better of it and turned around to catch her elbow. "You should sleep with me from now on."

She turned with a surprised look on her face. "Are we not already sleeping with each other?"

"Don't play coy with me. You know what I mean."

"Well, I had considered it, but I thought maybe space would be okay for now."

I tugged on her elbow. "Your safety has been compromised. I need to protect you."

She brightened up. "What made you worry about my safety?"

I didn't want to say it was the lightning striking the hood of the car, and I didn't want to say that my losing control of the car was contributing to that feeling. "The demon commercial. The demon. Take your pick."

"Are you commanding me or asking me?"

I nodded toward my doorway. "Yes."

Fear and affection laced through my chest. I was holding my breath like it was the last thing I would ever say.

She smiled faintly. "Yeah, sure. That's all logic to me."

Faye walked ahead of me, avoiding my hand when I tried to walk her to the bed. She crawled under the giant down comforter and scooted to the middle.

I sighed. "No, Cherry Pie. I don't think so."

She wiggled deeper into the pillows. " So much better than a futon."

"I said, move over ." With a playful grunt, I scooped her up and shuffled her toward the right side of the bed so I could climb onto the right side. I wanted to face the door in case any of those demons got past the big sphere.

The thought of an attack made me itch with worry. I glance at my alarm clock that would signal me if anything got near the perimeter. "I hope you don't snore."

"I can say the same about you."

I glanced at her, feeling an odd sense of connection in that moment. She was lounging in the down pillows like that had been her spot for many years. The natural way she draped her hand over my left elbow with her eyes closed made it seem like this was our regular nighttime routine.

I couldn't read her expression very well, but when she opened her eyes and looked at me, my heart swelled two sizes.

I stroked her cheek. "I'm not letting you get hurt. I promise."

"What about my alphas?"

I growled. "They're not your alphas anymore."

She rolled her eyes, pulled away from my hand, and rested on her back. "Right. Almost forget."

"And what about them, anyway?"

"What if they get sucked into my demon drama?"

I rested my hand in the space between us, the comforter cradling my palm with white fluff. "We'll cross that bridge if we get to it."

"You mean when we get to it."

I frowned. "Get some sleep, Cherry Pie. We'll call your old pack tomorrow."

My heart ached. I felt bad for offending another pack. At the same time, I knew what I'd done was the right thing. Not just for my pack, but for Faye. Adrian had assured me it was right.

And seeing as Adrian was the closest thing I had to a father, I had to believe him. I had to believe that I was doing the right thing.

There was no other alternative.

***

Darkness greeted me when I woke up. It was a stiff darkness, a cold darkness that wanted me to sit up and explore it. My ears prickled as if I'd heard something. That was impossible because I knew the alarms would go off if anyone was in the yard. Even if somebody approached the outer perimeter, I would know about it immediately. I had a seemingly innocuous alarm clock next to the bed that would signal me if any of the alarms were triggered.

I checked for Faye once my eyes adjusted to the dark, noticing that she was sprawled out next to me with her arms over her head and her legs spread wide. She seemed to be sleeping a lot more comfortably here than she did on the futon in the FROG. She tended to sleep curled up on her left side by herself. Next to me, she was limbs akimbo. She was practically taking up the whole bed.

The numbers on the alarm clock started to blink. Red into white, and white into green, and green into yellow. Something or somebody had tripped the outer perimeter. This silent alarm would give me time to inspect who exactly was invading my space. I had mere moments before the other alarms went off and woke everybody in the pack.

I left Faye sleeping comfortably in my bed and quietly went downstairs. In one of the living room drawers was a dart gun that I used to tranquilize predators in the area that got too riled up. I ensured that there was a dart inside of it and then went to the front window to check the yard. Nothing was there.

I went to the kitchen and opened the panel, checking the cameras for movement. I didn't see anyone specifically, but I could see something like a cloudy outline of two figures approaching the backyard. My senses spiked as I went to the rear door and noticed the two figures wandering in the moonlight toward the rear porch.

One more step triggered the rear floodlights that illuminated the entire rear yard. The two figures disappeared in an instant. It was like they had dissipated into thin air. Demons. With my breath caught in my throat, I yanked open the rear door and stepped out onto the porch with my dart gun extended.

I pointed it at the yard. "Show yourself."

I scanned right to left, trying to find where the figures had gone. "You're trespassing on private property. You need to show yourself."

The silence grated my ears. Not even the bugs were chirping in the trees. There was nothing in the area. Just an empty coldness that made me feel like I was being watched. No magic came at me. My vision didn't change. Perhaps these weren't demons after all, but something far more relatable. I sniffed the air—it almost smelled like wet mutt.

A twig cracked to my right. I swung my dart gun in that direction only to be met by a strong slap on the back of my neck. The strike was supposed to put me out, but it only sent me to my knees, sending the dart gun flying from my hands. A black boot kicked away the dart gun.

As I started to recover my balance, I watched a fist coming toward me. I ducked out of the way in time, choosing to take the strike to my shoulder instead of my face. With a grunt, I lunged forward and knocked the figure back on the porch with a hefty slam from my forehead. He hit the ground with a groan and tried to stand as I cracked my knuckles.

"You don't look like a demon. But I could use a rage distraction." I popped my neck. "You chose the wrong house to break into."

Another blow came to the back of my head, and then another. Stars danced in my eyes as I swung around, swelling with anger. Whoever it was couldn't take me down. Still, the hits filled me with rage, and my vision became red as I sought justice. I swung in a reckless haymaker style, trying to get the figures to stop attacking me. One of them landed on their backside, knocking the air out of them. I could see them better now that they were closer, wearing black ski masks and black outfits. One of them had hands as white as a ghost with fingers covered in some kind of Roman numeral tattoos. The other was just as pale, with long brown hair pulled back in a braid.

I should never have brought her into town , I thought. I put us both at risk. This is my fault .

The attacker with the Roman numeral tattoos swung again, causing me to raise my hands to block his punch. It left my belly exposed for him to slam several times. I felt it bruise my solar plexus and ribs and stumbled back to catch myself on the railing. Just as I went to grab him, the other attacker jumped on my back and put me in headlock. It only doubled my rage, sending me tumbling forward to grab the man.

"This ends now—" I growled as I yanked off his ski mask. " Show yourself, coward. "

The pale face beneath was matched with ghastly white hair and green eyes. Freckles of rusty orange decorated his pale skin. I saw hesitation in his face—and that made me freeze up.

"Stop it!" yelled a voice from the doorway. "Stop it right now, you pile of damn idiots!"

We all stuck together like we were in the middle of some kind of theatrical improv, staring at Faye, who was staring at the other two with a blistering look of disappointment. "Kylie, get off of him right now."

The woman on my back dropped to her feet and pulled off her ski mask, revealing a rather innocent face with the perfect contour to match her hazel eyes. She had an autumn-brown tan now that I could see her neck properly. Her hands were white because of a pair of gloves she was wearing. What I thought was brown hair was actually a reddish-brown that glimmered under the light of the porch with blonde highlights.

She cast a suspicious squint at me before turning back to Faye with genuine concern. "Faye, aren't you in trouble?"

I gaped at the invaders and then I stared at my mate. "What the hell is going on here? Why are you telling me to stop? These people are attacking me."

"I'm telling you to stop because…" Faye trailed off, sniffling. "Because they're my family. And I'm sure they want to know what's going on."