“This is my fault she’s in this situation.” Ulric never was one to shy away from hard things. Griffin claimed it was one of the reasons he asked him to become part of their Pack.
Dr. Silver—she of no moral compass—shook her keys. “You can play who’s the most to blame later. We need to move her while she’s sedated. My van is parked in the alley. I’ll drive.”
He didn’t argue since it put him in the back with Honey. He sat with her head cradled in his lap and resisted the urge to sigh melodramatically. He’d waited all his life to find the one, and he’d borked it royally. Was there any way of coming back from his?
“Where are we going?” he asked rather than dwell on his failures.
“Secluded property about two hours outside of town.”
“Her parents are going to notice she’s gone missing.”
“Not if her boyfriend whisked her off for an impromptu holiday before the pregnancy advanced too far.” Silver had a ready reply.
“A boyfriend they’ve never even met? That won’t get the cops called at all.” He rolled his eyes.
“I guess you didn’t see the TikTok Honey posted. It showed the departure board in the airport for Cancun, Mexico, and then the front of a brochure for a cruise.”
“How the fuck did you manage that?”
“Some of us weren’t being melodramatic.”
He flattened his lips. “Her parents will still expect a call.”
“She can call when we know she won’t tell secrets.”
“You can’t be serious!” he exclaimed.
“You know we have to be careful. Hopefully Honey will see rationale quickly.”
He had his doubts, and they didn’t improve on the drive. “What can you tell me about where we’re going?”
“It belongs to a hockey player. He only rarely uses it in the summer during his off season, but it’s actually equipped to work year-round and is rented when he’s working for his team. It’s got five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room, and acres of land, the perimeter of it under surveillance.”
That didn’t do justice to the giant log home they drove up to. Massive logs, which would likely get a company in trouble for cutting them today, framed the original front with its grand doors and peaked roof. To either side, flanked stone additions, the river stone partially covered by drying ivy, as the leaves turned brittle before the approach of winter.
A paddock attached to a barn to the left, a massive garage to the right. A gigantic pond. Woods.
It was… “Paradise.” He uttered it aloud, and for once, Silver didn’t sound stuffy or dry as she agreed.
“It is.”
The question being, would Honey think so as well?
Entering the house, he noticed the sprawling peaked ceiling with its massive bank of windows framing the back. The view of a lake rivetted. He carried Honey with him as he approached the glass. The house had been built about two feet from a steep decline, zigzagged with a staircase that led to the rocky shore of a lake.
A kitchen opened to the left of the great room.
“Three of the bedrooms are upstairs. Master and bedroom slash den on this floor.”
“Which one is Honey’s?”
“Master. It’s got the best security.”
He carried her into a massive space to the right of the kitchen. It could have fit several beds. It held a king, a fireplace with flanking chairs, a jet tub in a corner, and a bathroom to make even him jealous.
He lay her atop the covers, wondering when she’d wake. He held her hand tucked in his, head bowed, wondering what he’d say.
Maybe there wasn’t anything to say until he showed her. Once she realized he spoke the truth about being a Lycan, then maybe she’d truly listen to everything else he had to say.
She stirred, and he lifted his head to find her staring at him, expression soft at first then hardening into annoyance. He didn’t expect the punch to his nose.
16
Honey hit Ulric. She, a usually non-violent person who literally carried spiders outside, punched the father of her child in the face.
It hurt her knuckles, but it also felt glorious.
He recoiled.
She wasn’t done. “You bastard!” She remembered him holding her as that bitch doctor poked her with a needle.
Ulric held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “I’m sorry. I had no choice.”
“You kidnapped me!” she accused.
“Because it literally meant the difference between life or death.”
“Do you say that to all the girls? How many others have you abducted, you sick pervert?” Disdain unleashed, she pushed herself off the massive bed. Her feet hit the plushest carpet to ever spoil her tootsies. A glance down showed her feet sunken in the softness, the very light beige strands unmarred by stains, pet hair, or a single crumb. It appeared as immaculate as the massive room around her, replete with a gigantic bed made of actual logs. They matched the nightstands and dresser of knotted wood. A fireplace of stone with a mantel hung with a television faced the bed. A pair of chairs sat in front of it. Another set angled for a perfect view out of a huge window, which, even from here, showed a splendid panorama of forest and water.
Ulric interrupted her contemplation of the room. “It’s not abduction but rather an intervention.”
Her gaze narrowed. “It’s like you want me to hit you again.” Her fist clenched.
“I can explain everything now that we’re here.”
“Where exactly is here? Whose house is this?” Because the luxury around her boggled the mind.
“It’s a rental. But no worries. it can’t be traced back to us. It’s the perfect hiding place.”
She latched on the latter part. “Hiding from who?”
“Whoever sent that guy to your house.”
“Why would someone have sent him?” She didn’t follow his logic, not exactly surprising given it came from the guy who thought himself a werewolf.
“It’s possible he went after you because of the baby. But Billy says I should keep an open mind in case it’s actually something else.”
“Who’s Billy?”
“A member of our Pack and a cop. Detective as a matter of fact.”
“And does this detective look the other way when girls go missing around you?”
He had the nerve to sigh. “You’re overreacting. You’ll understand everything once I explain.”
“Got another story for me? Going to ditch the werewolf persona and become what, vampire next?”
“This is serious, Honey. Someone came after you. They might try again.”
“And you think it’s because of the bun in my oven.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “Why would anyone care if I’m pregnant?” It hit her in a flash. “Wait a second… Are you married or something? Am I being targeted by your crazy-ass wife?”
“What? No!” He couldn’t have looked more horrified if he tried.
“Girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Do you owe someone money? Were they going to ransom me?”
“No.”
“But this is somehow your fault, isn’t it?”