Chapter Eleven
Stacey shot up in bed as someone pounded on the door. Wildly, she looked around. This was Micah’s home. Everything smelled like him. Everything felt like him. Here, she was safe.
With a sigh, she pushed the sheets off and grabbed some clothes. Expecting Lynette or one of Micah’s men, she threw open the door.
Bridgette stood on the other side. Upon seeing Stacey, her face contorted in rage. “Bitch,” she screamed as she shoved her.
Stacey stumbled back and hit a table. Her eyes widened with Bridgette drew a gun. “Let’s go,” she said in a calmer voice.
“Easy,” Stacey said in a soothing voice. “I know we need to talk, but we can do that without the gun.”
“Get the fuck up off the floor, and let’s go,” Bridgette snarled.
Stacey pushed herself off the floor. “If you shoot me here, everyone will know. You’ll never get away with it.”
“That’s why I’m not going to shoot you here.” Bridgette smiled coldly.
“Then why would I go with you?”
“Because Travis is with Micah’s mother. And all I have to do is call him, and he’ll slip her a deadly cocktail. My brother is oddly talented with potions like that. No one will suspect a thing.”
Stacey’s heart caught in her throat. “Why would you kill Lynette?”
“I don’t want to. Actually, that’s a lie. I do want too. That bitch hates me. But you can save her if you come with me. Only one person has to die tonight,” Bridgette said. She cocked the gun. “Let’s go.”
Keeping her eye on the gun, Stacey slowly walked out the door. Bridgette gripped her arm tightly and shoved the gun into her back. “If we pass anyone, and you tell, I’ll shoot you and them. Got it?”
Nodding shakily, she stumbled as Bridgette pushed her onto the elevator. Twenty floors down, she stumbled into the lobby.
The waning moon was high in the sky, and there wasn’t a single soul outside. Her heart sank. The chances of someone coming to her rescue were getting slimmer and slimmer.
“Why are you doing this?” Stacey said. The chill of the evening shook her bones, and she shivered.
“I told you that Micah was mine. You didn’t listen.”
“Okay, but most people eat a pint of ice cream and cry. They don’t resort to murder.”
Bridgette laughed. “Oh, you poor thing. This isn’t about love. I don’t give a damn about Micah. Once we’re married, and I’m carrying his cub, I intend to kill him. This is about power. Travis deserves to be alpha. My family deserves to be on top. Keep walking,” she yelled.
Soon, they were walking deep into the woods. “Why didn’t you just challenge Micah?” Stacey asked as she tried to buy herself some more time. If Micah could feel her pain, she prayed that he was feeling something now.
“There hasn’t been a challenge of the alpha in centuries. If we start one now, the entire clan will challenge Travis. I can’t risk that.”
“All of this just for your brother? That’s one helluva bond you got there,” Stacey said softly.
Bridgette heard her. “Shut-up. I have always looked out for my brother, and I always will. He’s twice the man that Micah is.”
Stacey shuddered. It was clear that Bridgette had long ago lost her battle with sanity. Suddenly, it dawned her on. “You attacked me.” She whirled around. “You stabbed me.”
A wicked smile crossed Bridgett’s lips. “Micah started acting differently, so I followed him. Imagine my surprise when I found him lusting after you Taking you out for a date.” Her lips twisted in a snarl. “A human.”
“Looks like your plan worked real well,” Stacey taunted. “If I turn, I have a shot at winning over the pack.”
“You’re not turning. You’ll be dead before the next moon rises.” Stacey felt a little relief with Bridgette suddenly put the gun away. “This is far enough.” Reaching back under her coat, she pulled out a long blade.
“Stabbing is better than shooting?” Stacey asked as she eyed the knife.
“Please.” Bridgette rolled her eyes. “I could rip you apart with my bare hands. But I need to place the blame on someone else. Once I break your neck, all it’ll take is two tiny puncture wounds on your neck. And Micah will never suspect. Until it’s too late, of course.” Tossing the knife down, she launched herself at Stacey.
Ready for the attack, Stacey twisted herself at the last minute. As blood and adrenaline pumped through her veins, everything felt different. Her senses were heightened. She could almost see Bridgette’s move before it even happened.
Ther tumbled onto the ground. Bridgette straddled her and attempted to her hands around Stacey’s neck, but Stacey easily bucked her off. Pulling herself to her feet, Stacey gasped for breath and circled Bridgette.
“Putting a kink in you plans?” she taunted her. “After all, what human can fend off a vampire attack? Micah’s going to see the struggle.”
Bridgette growled and threw herself at Stacey. This time, she could see the brilliant flash of blue in her eyes as Bridgette partially shifted. This time, Stacey wasn’t fast enough. She hit the ground hard. Her head struck something rough, and she saw stars.
The bear shifter was already rolling her onto her stomach. She felt the woman wrap her arms around her head, and she knew if she didn’t act fast, she would lose. Summoning all her strength, she gripped the rock beneath and hurled it behind her. Bridgette screamed and released her.
“Stacey!”
She could head Micah’s panicked voice cut through the darkness. Suddenly, they were surrounded by shifters. Micah raced to her side, but the cock of a gun stopped him cold.
Bridgette stood over them, manic in her eyes as she aimed the gun at Micah. For the first time that evening, Stacey felt true fear.
“Bridgette, what are you doing?” Micah asked softly. “You can’t kill everyone here. Give it up.”
“Travis should be alpha,” she growled.
“Travis is in custody. He’s not going to be alpha of anything,” Micah said. Stacey felt a bit of relief. At least Lynette was safe.
“No,” Bridgette wailed. “All this time. All this planning. How dare you!” she shrieked.
Everything seemed to slow down. Before she even pulled the trigger, Stacey could see the bullet exit the chamber. Everything in her body shifted, and she threw herself at Micah. Pain lanced through her as the bullet entered her, but she was bigger and stronger. Bones rubbed bones as she fell to the ground, and it was no longer the bullet hurting her. Her entire body was growing and stretching. Fear gripped her as she struggled to control her body, and suddenly, she felt Micah holding her, whispering to her. As she listened to his voice, the panic eased, and she felt the bear release her.
Her body returned to normal and everyone gaped. Blood soaked through her pants. “I got shot,” she said in a dazed voice.
Micah reached down and ripped the hole in her pants even bigger. “It just grazed you,” he muttered, relief in his voice. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I couldn’t let you die. I love you,” she said. “So I guess I’m a bear now.”
He laughed as he held her. “My love, you are so much more than that.” He lifted her in his arms and kissed her. Around her, she could hear Bridgette wailing and the men muttering among themselves. But as Micah walked her out of the woods, all she knew was him.