Chapter Five
“I still don’t know why she couldn’t make it.”
Rod stirred the mashed potatoes around on his plate while he listened to his mom rattle on about Seraphina.
“She said she wasn’t busy, then you tell me she is. Makes no sense.”
“Something came up,” he repeated for the tenth time at least.
“Like what?”
He reached for his beer, chugging a gulp of it before he answered. “I don’t know, ma. Something.”
“Nope. Not buying it, son. I’m not fresh. I know when you’re hiding something, and that girl was perfectly sweet when I talked to her. She wanted to try my fried chicken. I could see it in her eyes.”
He forced a bite into his mouth just to stall for time even though he didn’t feel like eating. The way Seraphina looked when she left Red Cap had been a stone in his belly all day. Something was wrong. Something he’d said. Or maybe what he’d done over the radio was finally too much. Whatever the case. He hated it. Hated that he’d made her look that way.
Defeated. Sad. Hopeless.
The way he felt inside, that’s how Seraphina had looked. And it wasn’t right.
But it was also proof that he wasn’t the type that could make her happy. He couldn’t be what Aaron and Rider were, the missing piece to her puzzle.
“Ma, please. Can we just drop it?”
She was silent for a space, but he knew the conversation wasn’t over.
“I know,” she said, sounding lighter. “You can just take her some.”
“What?” Rod frowned, his fork halfway to his mouth.
“Tonight. I’ll pack up a plate and you can take it over to her. Easy.” She pushed back from the table and hurried off to the kitchen before he could object.
Ten minutes later, he was being shoved out the door, his arms loaded with Tupperware containers and his lips sputtering objections. But his ma seemed to hear none of it.
“Go,” she ordered. “Get that food to Seraphina, and don’t come back until you’ve watched her eat it. All.”
Rod stared at her dumbfounded. “Seriously, ma? What the hell. Should I point a pistol at her head? Force feed her?”
She cocked her head, looking down at him from the porch. “You won’t need to. My threat was for you. Don’t want you throwing the container at her and hauling ass back home. Got it?”
She swung around and let the screen door slam closed behind her, leaving Rod no option but to do as she said.
Sassy-ass woman.
Rod tucked the containers in the passenger seat of his Mustang and took the fastest route to Old Man Hubbard’s motel where the vixens had taken up home.
Better to just get this over with. Besides, he’d been aching to check on Seraphina all fucking day. He wanted to see for himself that she was okay after everything that had happened this morning.
He pulled into the parking lot and took the spot closest to the door. Inside, he headed for the front desk. He didn’t recognize the lady behind it. She was new. A recent hire. Because Old Man used to work on a bell system at night. Before the Vixens had come to help him straighten up the business, any late customers had to ring the hell outta that little metal contraption and then wait for him to arrive.
Rod approached the counter.
The lady, who looked somewhere around his own age, gave him a smile that morphed into something more than just professional. Gia, her name tag said.
“Hello there,” she murmured. “How can I help you?”
“Looking for Seraphina.”
Her face fell at that, but she recovered. “Oh, she’s not here right now. Sorry about that. Can I take a message?”
“Nah, that won’t work. Just give me her room number and I’ll drop by.”
Gia shifted nervously. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t give you that information. It’s not allowed.”
“No, see. We’re friends. I’m just bringing her food.” He held up the containers as proof.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Did he really need to turn on the charm just to get his vixen’s room number?
He leaned in over the counter, getting as close to Gia as he could, tossing her a smirky grin. Then he pulled out his secret weapon… the voice of Hot Rod Turner.
“Gia, is it?”
She gulped and gave him a nod.
“What a nice name.” Not as nice as Seraphina, but not a lie. “See, I know you can give me that room number. But what I’m really hoping is that you will. I could even say please. And…” he let his voice go husky “…thank you.”
Also not a lie. Gia might be disappointed when what she got was super literal, but still.
Her eyes were dazed and she opened her mouth to say something. But a sharp voice from somewhere behind him cut her off.
“Room number won’t matter. She isn’t here.”
Rod turned to find Ragan, the least sociable Vixen, propped against the wall next to the elevator. He didn’t know much about her. Only that she’d had it rough starting out. Just like so many people he ran with. And she’d had a bad mating. One of those asshole foxes that wanted to own the girls. He’d messed her up and left her with a young to care for.
She and her little boy were the center of the Vixens’ world. They’d do anything for Ragan and Kit. It even showed when they came to drink and dance at Red Cap. They circled her, always. Like some kind of subconscious protective instinct. She was the glue that held them together, and he’d known it from the beginning.
Rod made his way over to her, and she eyed him warily.
“I brought her food,” he said flatly. “My mom’s chicken. It’s the best, ask anybody. Only the best for her.”
Shit, that part wasn’t necessary. Why’d he say that?
Ragan frowned. “You want to feed her?”
He straightened his shoulders and nodded.
“Well, you just missed her. She’s leaving for a little while.”
His stomach sank to his feet. Leaving?
“What do you mean for a little while?”
“She’s going to be spending some time away. Just until…”
“Until what?”
Her eyes shifted to the counter, then down the hall.
“Until it’s safe,” she whispered so low he barely heard it.
“Safe?”
Ragan nodded, her eyes digging into him. Trying to tell him something. Seraphina wasn’t safe.
Shit.
“What is it?” he hissed. “What happened?”
Ragan shook her head, her mouth pressed into a tight line.
Seraphina wasn’t safe.
The reality of what Ragan was saying slammed his chest like some kind of lightning bolt. Jumpstarted his heart into a painful rhythm he’d never felt before.
Most days he was good at pretending he didn’t give a fuck about things. But the truth was he gave lots of fucks when it came to the people he cared about. So many that he couldn’t find himself on the map anymore. He’d become a tiny speck while everyone he loved grew to metropolises.
And… well… she was one of them, wasn’t she? Shit.
His vixen wasn’t safe.
He clenched his jaw so tight it cracked.
But he’d make damn sure she was. Right fucking now, in fact.
“Where is she?”
“Gone.”
“Where, Ragan?” His voice came out all garbled but he didn’t give a fuck.
“She just left. Took the back exit. If you hurry, maybe they’ll still be in the parking lot.”
“How long?”
“Two seconds before you walked in.”
He didn’t waste another one. He ran down the hall toward the back door, ma’s fried chicken tucked to his chest.
***
Seraphina tossed her small suitcase into the bed of Surge’s truck. The wolf shifter was huge and muscular and she felt sure he could smash Maxim’s face in if need be. She watched him reach for the passenger side door and swing it open wide for her. A long piece of field grass hung out the side of his mouth and a set of aviator sunglasses sat atop his buzzed head even though it was way past sunset. He looked cool as a cucumber. Not like he was guarding her against some threat. Somehow it made her relax.
If he wasn’t worried, why should she be?
“Well, go on, girl. Let’s get you safely to our land before Alpha Drake has a coronary. Getting old enough for it, that one. But don’t tell him I said that.” He motioned for her to get in the truck, but she wasn’t so sure this was the best plan.
When DTD found out Maxim was hunting the Vixens, Drake ordered them all to the compound. The pack’s property was secure and they could hide out there under the wolves’ protection. Strength in numbers. It was always their motto.
And they needed numbers because Maxim wouldn’t come alone.
But the other girls didn’t want to leave Old Man Hubbard in a lurch. And Aaron and Rider were lurking around keeping watch too. Plus no one was going anywhere alone and the Vixens weren’t exactly defenseless. They all had kickass claws and very sharp fangs to work with.
So that meant the only one who was in any real immediate danger was Seraphina, with her confused submissive inner fox.
You have to be stronger. She gave it an internal pep talk.
But she knew it wasn’t a matter of strength. It was more a problem of design. She was made to be commanded. Meant for a male who would take control. Conquer her.
Like Maxim.
She shivered at the dread that pooled in her belly. Not him.
But her heart needed someone like that who also wasn’t cruel.
Like… who? Who was her commander? Who was the alpha of her heart?
If she didn’t find out soon, she was going to be in a mess of trouble. She could feel it. It was coming for her. Maxim was coming for her.
Surge cleared his throat. “Uh… you need a boost or something?”
Seraphina rolled her eyes. His truck was lifted, but only a few inches. She didn’t even need a running start.
She stepped up on the side and started to pull herself in when a frustrated voice stopped her.
“Wait! Wait just a goddamn minute,” it boomed from across the parking lot, causing Surge’s gaze to swing around and Seraphina to lose her grip on the truck.
She stumbled backward, righting herself, and tugged to straighten her jacket.
Maybe no one saw.
Peering across the dark lot, she spotted Rod jogging toward them, a pile of something tucked under his arm. When he reached the truck, he shoved what she could see now were plastic food containers at Surge, not even looking the wolf’s way.
“The hell?” Surge muttered, juggling to keep from spilling them.
Rod crowded Seraphina until she was backed up to the truck and then he braced his arms on either side, boxing her in.
Holy… hello.
And the look on his face was so fierce she wanted to kneel at his feet and wait for instructions.
“Is it true?” he rumbled, “you’re not safe?”
His face was so close his eyes moved side to side as he tried to read her.
She shook her head. “I’m not. But I’ll be fine—”
“Do not fucking say that to me, understand?”
She went stiff at the emotion behind his words, and her vixen paid attention. Yes, sir.
“Don’t want bullshit. I want the truth. What is it, tell me now.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated,” he ground out, pressing in even closer. His heat washed over her, and his scent invaded her lungs making her feel like her head was floating. “I don’t give a fuck about complicated. Tell me why you aren’t safe so I can take care of it.”
Surge snorted, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from Rod. She’d never seen him like this. Not ever.
“Wolf, back off,” he barked.
“Back off. Right. What’s in here?” Surge asked, lifting one container and giving it a sniff. His eyes went half-mast. “Oh. Oh, fuck me. All. Night. Long. Just go on and ride me ‘til the sun comes up. This your mama’s chicken, son?”
“Not now,” Rod snapped.
The air crackled for a breath, and Seraphina knew an alpha male like Surge wouldn’t appreciate being told what to do. But then he smiled a shit-eating grin and laughed.
“Heheeee. Well, awright, human. But I got the chicken so who’s really winning here anyways, huh? Tell me that.”
Rod ground his teeth, his jaw flexing with barely restrained temper as Surge headed for the front of the truck and leaned against it to open the container of food.
“T-Take care of it how?” Seraphina asked. If there was any hope someone could stop Maxim…
Rod swallowed hard, his eyes huge and serious. “Bust a fucker. Crack skulls. Whatever I have to. Do not underestimate me.”
“I… I…”
This was a wide swing from how he’d behaved earlier. How he behaved always. Distant. He looked at her sometimes, and she thought she saw yearning, but it never lasted more than the time it took her to blink. Now he was promising to protect her at all costs.
What had changed?
“My… my past is catching up with me.”
“What does that mean?”
Her mind scrambled with how to explain.
“A hound is coming for me. A fox. He thinks I’m his, and he’s close.” He went still as night. Not even blinking. “I’m going to stay with Surge and Tana so he can’t find me.”
“He thinks you’re his?”
She nodded. “But I’m not. I don’t want to be.”
“Damn straight you’re not.”
“Mmm hmmm,” Surge murmured from the front of the truck, a chicken leg hanging from his mouth while he dug through another container. “Claimed her in front of the entire Clinton County listening area, ya did.”
Rod pulled his gaze away to toss a glare at Surge. “Eat the chicken. Shut up.”
“Hahaaaaa. Sure thing, human. Sure thing.”
Rod’s eyes found hers again. “Tell me what to do. Where do I find this asshole?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that he’s close. He calls here. He says he’s coming for me.”
His jaw went hard. A stubborn ridge she wanted to lick inappropriately.
“Yeah? Well let him come.”
He grabbed her hand and started dragging her across the parking lot.
“Wait, where are we going?”
“Yeah,” Surge called, all the humor draining from his voice. “Where the fuck are you going?”
But Rod didn’t stop, and they were halfway to his Mustang.
Surge blew a sharp whistle. “I’m under orders to bring her to DTD. And I don’t particularly want my ass chewed. Unless it’s really super literal and done only by my smokin’ hot mate. But in this case, it would be the alpha doing the chewing. Just not my thing, man.”
“I’m taking her home. It’s the safest place. With me.”
Seraphina almost swallowed her tongue.
Surge was on their heels. “How you say?”
Rod jerked open the passenger side door and huffed out a breath. “The bastard don’t know me, so he won’t think to look for her there. But money says he’d move straight for your place. And my guess is he won’t be coming alone.”
Surge crossed his huge arms over his chest. “We can take a few foxes. And besides, have you seen my kitty? Tana wouldn’t let anything happen to Seraphina.”
Rod shrugged him off and nudged Seraphina to get in the car. “Tell Drake to only send Adam to check on us, because I know he’ll send someone. The wolves or vixens might be followed, but nobody knows Adam from Adam. Got it?”
He slammed the door and jogged around the front of the vehicle. Next thing she knew, he was telling her to buckle up and they were backing out of the lot, headlights hitting Surge as he scowled after them.