Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan's Mate (Mid-Length Novel) (11 page)

Jenna pulled into Breakbend. This time she wasn’t lucky enough to score a parking space in front of the paper. She found a spot in a lot a couple of blocks away. Jenna gathered her purse, then locked the Rover.

Busy shoppers had Main Street humming with energy. Several men wearing lure-covered fishing hats strolled down the sidewalks.

Must be some kind of tournament going on,
she thought. Either that or the worst fashion show ever!

Jenna got her first inkling that something wasn’t right, when she passed the coffee shop on the corner. It started with an itch between her shoulder blades. The itch became a crawl that crept down her spine. Carl’s dogged pursuit had taught her never to ignore her instincts.

He was here.

It was only a matter of time before he caught up with her.

Jenna kept her pace even, taking care not to break stride or look around. Her gaze strayed to the windows that lined the storefronts. She searched the reflections for sudden movements, anything out of place.

It had to be Carl.

Who else could it be?

Once Carl caught her, he wouldn’t go easy on her, especially after their last encounter. No doubt he didn’t appreciate having his balls shoved into his intestines.

Somehow Jenna had to evade him for another day or two, until she could secure her interview and get her car repaired. Would be easy enough if she were in a city, but how could she hide in a town this small?

The paper came into view. Jenna passed the entrance. She saw Molly wave, then frown as she kept walking. She waited for the crowd of people to thicken, then she ducked down and darted into a side street.

The narrow lane gave her access to Puck Street, which ran parallel to Main, and went by the back of the Gazette building. When she came around the corner, Paul Welling was leaning against the back door, enjoying a long drag on a cigarette.

“What are you doing? Why didn’t you use the front entrance?” He dropped the butt onto the ground and stubbed it out with his heel.

“Got turned around in the crowd. Missed the door. Lucky I found you,” she said.

“Turned around in this town?” Paul scoffed, then his brown eyes narrowed. “How’s the interview coming along?”

“Good.” Her gaze strayed to the street. She didn’t see Carl, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t there. “I should have it finished by tonight. In the meantime, is there any chance of getting an advance on my first paycheck?” She needed money to run.

Paul laughed. “After less than a week on the job?”

Jenna wasn’t surprised by his answer, but it didn’t hurt to ask. She was out of time. It was either get the interview tonight—or never.

“Let’s go inside.” Before Carl found out where she worked. He wouldn’t hesitate to cause a scene. He’d made that clear, when he’d tried to abduct her. Jenna’s hand touched the cut on her forehead. Never again.

* * * * *

CHAPTER TEN

Jenna’s heart was in her throat. She’d stayed at work until five, long enough to make sure that Carl wouldn’t wander in looking for her, then she’d snuck out the back door and made her way down side streets and alleys until she’d spotted the Rover.

She didn’t immediately climb into the vehicle. Instead, Jenna watched the car and the streets for ten minutes before deciding it was clear enough to make a run for it. She jumped inside and sped off.

Her gaze flicked repeatedly to the rearview mirror, as she drove toward Aidan’s estate. Twice she’d thought someone was following her, only to have them turn off on one of the streets leading out of town. Somewhere in Breakbend, Carl was searching for her.

I thought I’d have more time. Damn it, Ethan!

Jenna’s sweaty palms slid across the steering wheel. It wasn’t until she caught sight of the massive gates blocking the entrance to the estate that some of the tension eased in her shoulders.

She pressed a button and those imposing gates opened. Jenna glanced one last time at the barren road, then hit the gas, sending gravel spraying behind her as she barreled down the driveway. Shadows filled the woods as the sun sank below the horizon. Jenna kept seeing movement where there was none.

“Keep it together,” she muttered, glancing once more in her rearview, even though she was safely behind the tall walls.

A black mass darted in front of her. Jenna screamed and jerked the wheel to the left to avoid hitting it. Something large thumped the bumper and sent her skidding out of control. The Rover fishtailed toward the trees.

Brush scraped the paint as she wrestled with the wheel. The front tires dipped, throwing Jenna sideways. Her head hit the driver’s side window, stunning her. The seatbelt tightened, yanking her back against the seat.

She hit the breaks, but it was too late. The front of the SUV collided with the trunk of a pine tree. Glass shattered. Metal crunched. Then the airbag exploded in her face.

Dazed, Jenna glanced in the rearview mirror. A naked man lay on the other side of the driveway. That couldn’t be right. She shook her head and squinted. His dark hair and muscular body came into focus and looked...
familiar
.

For a second, Jenna couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, then adrenalin hit. “Aidan!” she cried.

Jenna struggled out of her seatbelt. What if he was hurt? What if he was... She couldn’t even bring herself to think it. He had to be okay.

“Hang on, Aidan. I’m coming.” Jenna threw the door open in a panic and fell onto the ground, her legs trembling too bad to support her. She pulled herself up, using the Rover for leverage. She had to get to Aidan.

Jenna scrambled up the short embankment and out of the woods. From here she should be able to see if he was breathing. She glanced across the road.

Aidan’s body was gone.

It wasn’t possible. She’d seen him. Did that mean he wasn’t hurt? Jenna glanced down the driveway, hoping to see him walking toward the house. There was no sign of Aidan.

Where did he go? Had he wandered into the woods?

Blood roared in her ears. Fear enveloped her. If Aidan had stumbled into the woods, then he was definitely hurt. She had to find him before the wolves did.

Jenna crossed the road, her gaze scanning the ground, searching for clues that might indicate which way he’d went.

“Aidan, where are you?” She turned in a circle, the trees blurring before her eyes. “Aidan!” Jenna couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not yet.

The shadows hid him at first. His black fur blended so well that she’d nearly stumbled over him. Her
wolf
. Lying next to the trees not far from where Aidan had been.

Or had he?

Had she really seen him?

Jenna wasn’t sure.

Just how hard had she hit her head? She thought she’d only been momentarily stunned. Jenna felt the wound on her forehead, but other than being a little sore from the airbag, it didn’t feel too bad.

Had she imagined the whole thing? Aidan had looked so real in the rearview mirror. She glanced across the driveway at the tilted SUV. The angle out the back wasn’t perfect. It wouldn’t give her the clearest view.

Jenna shook her head and looked down at the ground. Maybe she’d just wanted to see Aidan again. So much so that her brain had conjured him up for her. She didn’t want to examine why too closely.

It dawned on her that he hadn’t been wearing any clothes. Jenna groaned.

Terrific! Even during an accident, she couldn’t escape thoughts of his naked body.

Jenna stared at the black wolf. The wolf stared back. She had hit something. Of that there was no doubt. Since Aidan wasn’t here, it stood to reason that she’d struck her wolf.

She needed to make sure he was okay. If he wasn’t, then somehow she’d coax him into a vehicle and get him to a vet. Jenna tried to imagine lifting over two hundred pounds of wolf into her car. No way could she do that without hurting him worse. He had to be okay.

 “Easy, fella.” Jenna held her hands out and kept her voice soothing. “How’s my pretty boy?”

His ears perked up as he watched her approach. There didn’t appear to be any visible injuries, but she wouldn’t know for sure until she could examine him. Jenna kneeled as she neared the animal.

“Come here. I need to make sure that you’re okay.” She reached out and slowly felt his legs before making her way over his body, checking for tenderness.

There was no blood that she could see or feel. And nothing seemed to be swollen. Did that mean he was okay? Maybe she’d simply stunned him, too.

Please let him just be stunned.

“That’s a good boy.” Jenna carefully examined him again, making sure she hadn’t missed anything. The wolf didn’t whimper or flinch.

Relieved that he was unharmed and that it hadn’t been Aidan that she’d hit, Jenna’s composure shattered. She threw her arms around the wolf’s neck and buried her face in his fur. The tears she’d held back released in a flood. All the pain and frustration she’d suppressed came bubbling out.

“I’m so sorry.” Her shoulders shook as she cried. “I never wanted any of this to happen. I thought I’d have more time. But he’s here,” she said between hiccups. “I don’t want to betray his trust...But I can’t fight him without money.” She sobbed. “He’ll just keep coming...Won’t ever stop...Maybe someday Aidan will forgive me.”

The wolf licked the tears off her cheek, then swept his tongue over the wound on her forehead. Jenna could feel his muscles quiver beneath her hands, but he didn’t try to pull away or try to bite her. She rubbed his head and ran her hand over his muzzle. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

He licked her hand.

She sniffed loudly and wiped her face with her sleeve. He couldn’t understand a word she was saying, but that was okay. She’d just needed someone to listen.

“Thank you for letting me hold you. I’m glad you’re all right.” Jenna stroked the wolf’s sides one last time, then slowly rose to her feet.

The wolf waited a moment, as if to make sure she was all right, then bounded into the woods.

Jenna watched him go, paying special attention to his strong legs. No limps. No favoring of sides. No whimpers of pain. She sighed. Thank goodness.

She walked back to the Rover and climbed behind the wheel. Jenna had no idea how she’d pay for the SUV’s repairs, when she couldn’t even cover the Bug’s, but she’d get the money together somehow.

“Please start,” she whispered.

The engine sputtered, then turned over. Jenna slipped the Rover into reverse. Twigs snapped and limbs creaked as she backed out of the woods and did a three point turn to get the SUV headed in the right direction. Jenna drove sedately down the rest of the way the driveway.

Aidan rushed outside, when she reached the house.

Despite her encounter with the wolf, Jenna’s gaze roamed over him, examining every inch. She needed to see for herself that he was unharmed. Her relief was palpable.

So much for keeping her emotions in check.

Aidan opened the driver’s side door and pulled her into his arms.

Jenna allowed herself to sink into his warmth, feeling his strength beneath her fingertips. His chest rose and fell against her cheek. She could hear his powerful heartbeat, its steady cadence reassurance that he was in fact all right.

“Are you all right?” He brushed her hair away from her face, his gaze carefully examining her.

People from the household gathered outside to see what the commotion was. They watched her and Aidan’s exchange closely, their expressions registering various levels of surprise.

Uncomfortable with the growing audience, Jenna stiffened. “How did you--”

“Security cameras,” Aidan answered before she could finish her question. “They saw everything. We were just about to come out and get you, when someone spotted the headlights. Are you sure that you’re alright?” He moved her inside without waiting for an answer.

Robert stood in the doorway, his wiry frame ramrod straight. He took one look at the Rover and scowled at her. His frown deepened, when he noticed how tightly Aidan held her.

Jenna slipped out of Aidan’s embrace. She felt guilty enough over having to betray him. She didn’t need or want him to take care of her. His concern for her well-being only added to the heaping pile of self-loathing, growing inside of her.

Aidan didn’t acknowledge the move. Instead, he countered it by wrapping his arm over her shoulder and maneuvering her up the stairs.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“My room. I’ve called for our staff physician to meet us there.”

His room. Warning bells went off in her head. Jenna didn’t think going to Aidan’s room was a good idea, stunned or not, but there was no deterring him. She had a feeling if she dug in her heels and refused, he’d pick her up and carry her.

Aidan threw open the double doors to what could only be described as a decadent master suite. Jenna took in the room in a glance.

It was no surprise that Aidan’s bed garnered center stage in the space. The massive sleigh frame carved from cherry wood appeared to be custom made. Jenna’s suspicions were confirmed when she caught sight of the extra large mattresses.

Soft cream sheets met a mountain of pillows. Two matching side tables flanked the bed. There were books stacked on top of both.

Aidan was a reader.

Jenna wasn’t sure why that surprised her or why it pleased her so much. She scanned the titles quickly, recognizing a few familiar names before her gaze was drawn to a set of dual French doors. The doors led out to what looked like a large balcony.

The perfect spot for the King to survey his kingdom
, she thought. A soft knock interrupted her musings.

“Come in, Gabe.” Aidan didn’t look to see who was at the door.

A man with sandy blond hair and gold-rimmed glasses entered the room, carrying a brown leather bag. Jenna had never seen him before, but he seemed familiar with the space. He walked past them straight into Aidan’s bathroom and set the bag on the counter. “Bring her in here.”

Aidan guided Jenna into the bathroom.

“I can walk by myself you know?” she said.