23. Monica

23

MONICA

" Y ou're free to go home." Helena's cheerful tone, along with her statement, puzzled me. To add to my confusion, her reason wasn't really an explanation. She'd just winked and added, "Ask Raul."

It was amazing how a woman who loved to share stories of her past with me, had decided to seal her lips about something so important. She had no problem narrating tales of her old flames, but it was more than clear that she had no intention of giving me details about this, an apparently good, development.

I had been enjoying myself at the old compound. I may not have had daylight and some other things that people take for granted, like the freedom to come and go as I pleased. Still, it was full of charming, fascinating memories. It was like a warehouse full of relics, an open door to the past. Taking me to a time I had only heard tales of recently but bringing those stories to life.

Edward and Doreen's lives were lying in there. Raul's grandparents, who'd once shared a passionate love. His letters and gifts to her depicted a man who wasn't afraid to show his love to his woman. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, dozens of beautiful trinkets and gifts.

However, Doreen didn't appear to be the talkative type. Her own letters were brief and quite concise. I think she let her eyes do all the talking. I had to admit she had done a very good job at it. Even an outsider like me could see her love for her husband in her eyes in their pictures together.

In spite of my affection for the place, heading back home offered me a mixed sense of relief and joy. I loved everything about my new home. From its location to its seclusion, it was the complete opposite of my New York City apartment. I had only begun to savor some of its unique features before the night Raul had showed up on his motorcycle. Who would have thought that a mere motorcycle ride would lead to so many revelations?

Walking through my front door for the first time in days, it felt fresh. As if I was seeing it all for the first time, again. I wandered through the house, letting my fingers trail over the walls and furniture. Some of my stuff was still in boxes, stacked in a corner of the living room. It made me smile to think of how much had happened in such a short time, the events that had kept me from fully settling in.

First things first, I went into the kitchen to finish the chores I'd left undone there when Helena had taken me away. As I took the dishes out of the dishwasher, a desire flamed to life to repeat what I had been deeming "too dangerous" almost all my life. I toyed with the idea and just as I was about to ring Raul up, the roar of twin exhausts told me that he had had the same idea.

My heart singing, I headed out of my home and there he was. His rugged handsomeness capturing all of my attention on him and him alone. He was decked out in black leather from head to toe. I watched as he set the stand of the motorcycle down and pulled his helmet up and over his head.

"Nice outfit," I complimented, strolling towards him. "How come you didn't wear it the last time you were here?"

"For the same reason Helena told you it wasn't safe for you to come back home," he explained, his lips curling into a big smile. "Remember the rule that forbade relationships between shifters and humans?"

"What about it?"

"I just abolished it," he continued, moving around his motorcycle. "I faced Brad in battle last night." I gasped in surprise and looked him over for any signs of wounds, knowing how I had found him the last time he had faced off with Brad. He chuckled. "Don't worry, Doc, I won. I'm the new Alpha of the pack."

"What did you just say?" I asked, unsure if I had heard him say what I thought he did or if I was imagining it. How fast would things continue to change around me?

"Come on, Monica," he said with a short laugh. "You heard me just fine. We're safe. We're free."

The implications of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew I'd told him what he'd needed to do, but taking a life? I had dedicated myself to saving lives, not taking them, but there was no doubt about what had happened between him and Brad. Or denying my involvement in it.

"I got that, but, um…" I paused and squeezed my lips together. "I guess I hoped you wouldn't have to fight him. That, maybe, I don't know, maybe you'd come to some sort of arrangement with him."

"Arrangement?" he asked with a cocked eyebrow. "Monica," he said, moving closer to me, "shifters don't come to arrangements. They only understand one thing: Power. I was stronger and I beat him, fair and square. He's not going to be a problem anymore."

"You…"

"Killed him?" He finished my sentence. "Yeah."

By all rights, I should have appalled. Having him confess such a violent act should have sent me running back into my home, slamming the door shut behind me. I was never a fan of violence. Nevertheless, the feeling that washed over me wasn't disgust. It was unparalleled bliss. It roared into my heart, the way a tidal wave sweeps past a shoreline. Looking up at him, I raised my hands to cup his face.

"You did that…" I swallowed hard. "For us?"

"That's right," he said, the leather creaking as he pulled me into a tight embrace. "It took me a long time to meet someone like you, Monica. I wasn't going to let anything stand in the way of us being together. Nothing."

I lifted onto my toes and left a tender kiss on his chin.

"I'd just been thinking that I'd love for you to take me for another ride on your bike…" I trailed off kissing his cheek, "but it can wait. I've got a better idea. Let's go inside."

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a cunning smile.

We walked side-by-side toward the house. I would never say this to him, could barely admit it to myself, but his confession had had another effect on me. It made me hot, turned me on in some inexplicable, primal way. All I wanted right then was to spend the next couple of hours in bed with him.

I wanted to get naughty with him and be the woman he had killed for. Literally. I wanted to be loving, passionate and wild.

Wild… I thought.

If Erica and Stacy could hear me, they would laugh their heads off. Their friend's inhibitions were long gone. This incredible man had destroyed them all.