Playing with Passion Theta Series Book 1 (34 page)

Joseph stared at the flaming hand and
stepped forward, meeting The Director’s gaze as they clasped hands,
somehow managing to keep from screaming. After a full thirty
seconds, The Director smiled and released his grip. The wolf was
panting, practically whimpering, his hand a charred mess. But he’d
kept his feet and hadn’t tried to pull away.

“Your hand will be completely healed
in one hour, is this not so?”

“Yes, sir.” The wolf was obviously
furious. Ingrid would not survive the night if he did not repeat
the rules he and Joseph had agreed on.

“As I have left you permanently
unscarred, so shall you leave my Ingrid. She must return to me as
lovely as she was when you saw her backstage before the
performance. No public humiliation or sexual innuendo will be
allowed during the party. You will give her the time to greet each
guest who attended the performance. In public, you and your pack
will treat her with the respect I insist should be given to any of
my troupe members. Remember, they are my property, not your
toys.”

“Yes, sir,” the wolf
grunted.

The Director watched in fascination as
Joseph’s neck healed from the burn of the braid. The lupine virus
was thought to be destructive and cruel if not contained, but
perhaps his scientists should study this amazingly benevolent side
effect. His soldiers’ healing powers could use a boost.

“Don’t look so glum. When you and
Ingrid are locked safely away in your soundproofed suite, you, and
only you, may have your fun.”

“Of course, Director.”

The Director’s H-tab beeped. The image
of his second in command, Rem, spun over the screen. They spoke in
a language more ancient than the earth itself. “Yes?”

“Lord, the main tech squad
noticed a flux in
the source
earlier today.”

“Where did it originate?”

“The Hudson River Troupe
house.”

“Was Mack there when it
happened?”

“No, sir.”

“Alan?”

“Alan was in the carriage house. The
squad feels it was an actor who approached the
creature.”

“That is impossible.”

There was a long pause. “The evidence
points to Ingrid Hudson.”

“Please send over your report within
the hour. Also, keep me informed if there are any other
developments.”

“Yes, Lord Jorint.” The Director ended
the call.

The Director shut down his H-tab,
lowering his massive bulk into the specially designed desk chair.
Because his legs were so long, the seat of the chair and the
surface of the desk were higher off the ground, making them appear
to be on a platform. All of his guests were forced to stare up at
him. His brother, Susa, would tell him it was a sign of his vanity
and arrogance and that he should attempt to reach out to his
subjects, not distance himself, but Jorint understood power and
domination. The game would be played by his rules alone.

The wolf was restless, his knees
shaking with adrenalin, his injured hand cradled against his chest.
“Joseph.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You may sit. Help yourself to more
scotch.” As the wolf slid into the chair, The Director poured him
another dram, sliding it across the desk. Joseph downed it in one
gulp. “You’ll stay for lunch. There’s a report being delivered I’d
like to look over before you leave.”

“I’d be honored, sir.”

Joseph hadn’t bothered to
hide his sarcasm.
Ballsy
wolf
.
It was a
shame Ingrid would suffer under the wolf’s claws tonight because of
the alpha’s loss of face, he mused. Or perhaps not such a shame
after all. The female had been showing a decidedly rebellious
streak. The alpha wolf would put her in her place, but then again,
she might need more personal attention. He would discuss his
schedule with Annie tomorrow.

“You’ll be pleased to know, the rules
for tonight may have changed in your favor.”

CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE

After returning from his meeting
with the fae, Mack morphed into a hotel manager, nametag and all,
lingering near the door so he could be there when the troupe
arrived. The stretch limo pulled up, and Gene was the first to
emerge, dressed in tight leather pants, boots, and a black tee
shirt under a black leather jacket. He held out a hand for Ingrid,
both of them receiving a round of screams from the crowd of humans
who’d somehow found out where the party was being held. Ingrid
looked spectacular in a tight red leather dress with a low neckline
and high boots, her smile a combination of excitement and nerves.
The provocative outfit had been sent over by The Director’s
secretary, Annie, with a note stating the alpha had made the
request and provided the clothing.

Dave helped Diane out of the limo, the
two of them dressed in sophisticated attire, appearing more like
Hollywood celebrities than the rock star style of the ingénues. The
crowd was growing larger and rowdier, waving, and calling out to
their favorite troupe members.

“Ingrid, you’re so
hot!
”

“Gene, I love
you!”

“Diane, look this
way
!”

H-tab cameras were going off like
crazy, but the troupe was used to being bombarded by bright
flashing lights and screamed requests. Staci and Sam got the same
reception, the fans so excited to catch a glimpse of a live
theta.

One brave girl had ducked under the
cop's arm and dashed toward the ingénues. "Gene, could you please
sign my arm?" She waved a permanent marker at him.

Ingrid laughed good-naturedly. “He has
terrible handwriting,” she teased.

"Pay no attention to this
troublemaker. What's your name, honey?" Gene asked.

The teenager stood there
for a second or two, her mouth hanging open, absolutely blown away
that this superstar had called her
honey
. "Sharon...I'm
Sharon."

Several wolves had come
out of the hotel and were roughly shooing the crowd away. One of
them reached out to grab Sharon, but Gene turned to him with his
hand up. "Give us a minute, please." He'd thrown out some magic,
his voice as commanding as any top alpha’s. The werewolf stepped
back and waited, not having a clue he'd been
Influenced
. Mack wondered if Gene
even realized what he'd done.

“Holy shit, that boy has
some serious power.”

Gene smiled again, having
heard Mack’s comment.
“I try to keep it
subtle.”
He returned his gaze to the girl.
“Sharon. Pretty name." He was all charm as he gently took hold of
her extended arm. "Where?"

She indicated the smooth
underside. Gene wrote, speaking out loud so Mack would hear.
“
To Sharon,
a
lovely girl. From your fan, Gene
Hudson
.” By the time he’d finished, she
was trembling, tears running down her cheeks. He returned the pen
and kissed her hand, escorting her back to the barricade. He handed
her a card. “Do you have an H-tab?” She nodded. “You can find me
here at my website. I may have a job for you, but it’s a secret,
okay?” He winked.

"Oh god—thank you, Gene." She ran
behind the wolves, hugging another teenaged girl and giggling
excitedly.

Ingrid leaned closer to
Gene, taking his hand. "
You're kind of a
nice guy aren't you?"

"
Shhh, don't tell anyone
.
You inspired me the other night, with
Johnny
." Johnny was driving the limo again
tonight, standing by the driver's door, professional in his
all-black uniform.

After a glance from Gene, the wolf
security guard who’d tried to stop Sharon seemed to come back
online. "Sir, Miss, you need to go in now. The rest of your troupe
is already at the party."

"We like to make a dramatic entrance.”
Gene offered Ingrid his arm. "Miss Ingrid?"

"Thank you, kind sir." She giggled as
they waved at the crowd, strolling to the entrance of the hotel at
their own pace.

As Ingrid passed Mack, she lifted her
face for a moment to catch his gaze, her lips curling up with a
hint of a smile. Her incredible beauty made his breath catch in his
throat. He wanted to snatch her away from Gene and kiss her, right
in front of everyone. Fortunately, his survival instincts kicked
in.

Stomping down on the fires
of his inconvenient libido, Mack sent her a mild surge of axis
energy to let her know he had her back tonight
. "I'll be
waiting nearby. You'll be
fine."

She nodded once, her eyes
glittering from the magic.
"I'll have him
eating out of my hand.
No
worries."

But Mack was very worried. He’d seen
Joseph Herron arrive and there was something about his gloating
attitude that had Mack’s hackles up. Something had changed since
the guy had come backstage the night before.

Mack watched Gene and Ingrid step into
the elevator. He wondered if their plan to project a fantasy to the
most powerful alpha on the east coast was the best one they could
have come up with. By putting Ingrid on the offensive, had they
ensured her execution?

Heading toward the staircase, he raked
his fingers through his hair, frustrated and furious to be in this
position. He couldn’t recall ever feeling so helpless.

Nothing would happen immediately. The
alpha would have to allow her to greet all the other high rollers
first. They'd all paid the same fifty grand to see the show and
would each be expecting at least a few minutes with Gene and
Ingrid. She’d be safe for at least half an hour.

The three of them had plotted and
planned, trying to prepare for every scenario, but so much could go
wrong if their timing was off. An alpha wolf of Joseph Herron's
abilities was probably only one step down the power grid from an
ancient master vampire and only a few steps down from The Director
himself.

Using the staircase as a stress
reliever, Mack raced up flight after flight, not even breaking a
sweat. His axis was topped up, his physical strength at its peak.
He slowed as he approached the floor where Joseph Herron had
reserved a suite. The plan was for him to wait until he saw Ingrid
get off the elevator, then he’d walk past them, opening a
connection to Ingrid and sharing his energy.

He pictured her again in
that tight red dress, wondering if she’d wear it for him one day,
after they were free.
After they were
free
. When had he become a guy who dreamt
about future happiness—even marriage? To keep his mind occupied
while he waited, he imagined what a future with Ingrid could
be.

They'd find a house near
the shore and make it into a real home. Walk along the beach in the
evening, he’d tell her she was more beautiful than all the stars
she’d always wished on. Every night he’d cover her body with kisses
and lose himself in her passion. They’d learn how to love each
other more with each passing day, because they’d be free to be who
they truly were.

Mack was overwhelmed by a
sudden wave of emotion, a sweet ache, a soft acceptance. He
loved
her, and that
incredible truth brought his spirit to life. He'd said the words,
but tonight, imagining a real future together, he believed them
with every cell in his body. He’d lived a half-life before Ingrid,
but he never would again.

Despite the serious circumstances,
Mack was grinning from ear to ear. If anyone had walked past him at
that moment, they’d have thought he’d gone loony. Well, maybe he
was a little loony. Wasn’t love supposed to make people
crazy?

As the elevator doors opened on the
twenty-fifth floor, he shook off his unexpectedly strong emotions
and tried to focus on what lay ahead tonight. Remembering what The
Director had ordered Ingrid to do, and how he'd brutalized her
after the show, his rage returned full force. If this alpha creep
hurt her, Mack swore he'd find a way to kill him, and the archdemon
sadist would be next.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR

The room they'd rented for the
informal gathering was large enough to fit the twenty alpha and
beta wolves, their mates, and girlfriends comfortably. A pianist
and singer were entertaining the pack with smoky ballads near the
terrace doors, as some servers took drink orders and others brought
around trays of appetizers.

People were chatting excitedly, many
crowding around Diane and Dave, who seemed to be enormously
popular. They'd been the torturers and rapists during the
performance, and Ingrid agreed they'd done a particularly realistic
job of it. Many of the wolves currently surrounding the two divas
had also seen them perform as ingénues and were doubly thrilled to
be meeting them in person. Sam and Staci had their own smaller
group of fans, asking for autographs, and of course the occasional
fantasy, which they politely refused to pull up.

Ingrid handed her short leather jacket
to the wolf who'd ushered them inside, then linked her arm through
Gene's. "Like glue," she whispered in his ear, watching his mouth
turn up in a sly smile.