Goddess of Love (9 page)

Draco stretched his muscles, feeling the tightness from the intense workout he’d just forced himself to get through. Despite the attempts at trying to act human, and to not let the sensations in his core rule his mind, he was losing the battle. He wondered if the magic he cast over himself to hide his identity was even working anymore. No one questioned him. His work was on a job-by-job basis. He was the muscle, the negotiator, the dealer of all deals for the right price.

Government or black market, he didn’t care. As long as the price was right and the circumstances potentially harmful and dangerous.

Draco had a death wish.

Even as a child he felt different. Separate from his two brothers and sister, the only common ground they shared was the magic within them and that their mother was the Chosen One.

He missed her. He missed them. But they obviously didn’t care about him. If they did, then they would have searched, would have found him and brought him back. Instead, they denied his existence and went on with their lives. At least that was what he remembered when he had fallen into the deep, dark pond in his drunken stupor. No one came. He nearly drowned and then he felt the hands, the power of something strong and dark save his life. They saved him. They cared, and as the days went on, and no one came searching for him, he knew that the power that helped him would guide him to his destiny. Even
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now, he felt its hold. It was always there. Always reminding him of his worth and his care. It helped him achieve his life and survive on his own. Draco needed no one. Self-sufficient, strong, a natural lethal weapon to anyone who got in his way, he needed no one. Alone was where he was meant to be.

He slammed his fist against the tiled wall and turned off the faucet. Enough dwelling on the past and on what couldn’t be. He’d made his decision. The moment he knew what type of monster he really was, he ran. He didn’t want to cast shame on his family, his brothers. He had no choice. They were Alpha Weres, rulers, and knights. Draco was a loner with a dark side to him, and after five years he realized why. With the guidance of that invisible power, he found himself, his true calling.

He towel dried and then stepped into a pair of black jeans. He had an appointment in an hour downtown at one of the clubs. He didn’t want to meet too close to the college campus there. He was afraid that he may be spotted by his sister, Batya. Last he heard, she was in the process of getting her master’s degree and dabbing in a bit of politics amongst the Were. He couldn’t afford to be spotted. He wasn’t part of his family anymore, their pack or their beliefs. He knew he was different, and that they would never accept him for what he truly was.

Draco grabbed his things, including the switchblade and the gun.

He was always prepared when dealing with ruthless humans. Lately it seemed that more evil creatures walked this realm in search of power and respect.

He looked around the dark penthouse. His computer sat unused for so long. His ideas of trying to build a company from scratch were long-gone daydreams. He had more money than entire packs, and he didn’t even need his name Venificus.

As he thought the family name, he felt the tug in his heart. Ever so slight, but enough to make him pause in his steps before leaving the penthouse. The emotion was strong, and then suddenly it was gone.

Replaced by something dark, stronger, and he snapped out of it. It was
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time to make some money and find out where this next job would bring him.

* * * *

Palidor was concerned as he lifted Ariella up into his arms and hugged her tight.

Orion stood up and caressed her back.

“We should talk to our parents, enlighten them of the information, and then contact our security teams. With the evidence you saw in your vision, Ariella, perhaps we could get a lead on the ones responsible for the atrocities.”

She pulled back and looked down into his eyes.

“What if we’re too late? What if I was wrong in what I saw?”

He smiled softly.

“Baby, it’s more than what we’ve had or have even come close to.

If it’s a wild goose chase, then so be it.”

“Yeah, but if it leads us to that truck, and those men, we could possibly save some of them if not all of them.”

She seemed to ponder over their words and then she wiggled down and out of his arms.

“Okay. Let’s do this.” She walked over toward her dresser.

“Wait. You’re not going anywhere. You’ll stay here where you’ll be safe and we’ll go with a group of trained men,” Orion stated.

She pulled out a pair of black thong panties and stepped into them.

She flashed her ass in the process which completely set Palidor’s wolf into a frenzy. He stomped toward her, pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth.

His hands pressed over her backside and then up and under the skirt.

Ariella pulled back and slapped at his hands.

“Enough of that. Didn’t you say we should move on this?” She walked toward her closet and grabbed a set of black knee-length
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heeled boots. She pulled them on and then sprayed some perfume on her.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Orion grabbed her arm and pulled her close. He scrunched up his nose and shook his head at her.

“You think perfume is going to keep us from smelling our mate?

Silly little Fae. We’ll have you anytime we want you.” He pressed his hand over her waist and under her skirt to her ass, squeezing it.

Ariella moaned as he must have moved his fingers over her pussy.

She jerked against him and then locked gazes with Palidor.

“This isn’t going to stop me from joining you,” she said in a shaky voice.

Orion walked her backward until her rear hit the wall. “If you come with us, we’re in charge, not you.”

She smiled at him and Palidor approached, getting the feeling that she thought she’d outsmarted them.

Orion gently held her face between his hands.

“We went easy on you the first time with the punishment. Next time it won’t be the case.”

Her lips parted, so sweet and moist looking, he wondered how Orion wasn’t kissing her yet.

“Easy?”

“Yes, mate, next time we’ll tie you down to the bed and have our wicked way with this body.” Orion covered her mouth and kissed her deeply.

When he finally released her lips and stepped back from her, holding her by the waist, she tilted her chin upward.

“You think so, huh?”

Palidor grabbed her hand and pulled her against his side. He cupped her breast and she gasped.

“Maybe we’ll gag you, too, and bring along some toys.

Considering you’re such a twenty-first-century woman.”

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He kissed her quickly and then pinched her nipple before pulling her along with them out of the bedroom.

“I sure as shit hope she was as effected as we are. I can hardly
even walk.”

“I know what you mean. Perhaps we should have stayed the night
and worried about this truck tomorrow. The more I think about the
potential danger, the more my wolf feels we need to mark Ariella and
complete the mating process.”

“I know, Orion. I know. Let’s just hope we aren’t placing her into
further danger by letting her tag along.”

Orion chuckled then looked over his shoulder at a very blushing Ariella.

“Somehow, I don’t see her as a tagalong, more as a leader. We
are going to be bashing heads with her in the control department.”

Palidor chuckled.
“No kidding.”

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Draco entered the back room of the club. His senses were in overdrive as he approached the door, led by a man whose scent he knew immediately. He was from Morago pack, or at least used to be.

He tried to use his abilities to sense any danger. However, that feeling deep in his soul, the one he’d had since nearly drowning in the lake, intensified. His mind refocused as the wolf opened the door and waved his hand for Draco to enter first.

He scanned the room. At a small card table, a group of what appeared to be normal men were gathered around playing poker, drinking, and smoking. There was a small bar, a redhead with a serving tray who immediately winked at him, and then another table with three men sitting down drinking.

The pudgy one with a cigar smoking gently between two sausage fingers and a gold pinky ring waved his hand.

Draco wondered how the hell these wolves even tolerated the smoke around them, but considering half the men in the room were human, the wolves were pretending to be human, too.

“There you are. Welcome, friend. Can Leilla get you a drink?” he asked.

“No,” Draco replied very monotone like, and the pudgy man nodded. The other two men gave Draco the once-over, as if sizing him up. He read their body language and their eyes. They were the pudgy guy’s guards, his security or muscle. Half breeds of some sort, from what Draco could tell. He wondered what in the world he was doing here and how his connection set him up with this.

“My time is limited. What are your needs?”

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The pudgy guy chuckled and then placed the cigar down, putting it out. Draco had the feeling the guy just pretended to smoke it for show.

“I hear you’re the best. That you’re discreet and that you can snatch and grab anyone. We have someone in mind. Someone we have plans for.”

Draco crossed his arms in front of his large, muscular chest and stared at the pudgy guy.

“Who is it?”

“A woman.”

Draco uncrossed his arms.

“I don’t do funny shit. Perhaps your source to me was confused about what you needed.”

“Oh, no. There’s no confusion. My superiors have needs. This particular woman is very special.” He whispered and then nodded for him to take a seat next to him.

Draco moved closer, but did not sit down. He had a funny feeling in his gut, and then came the slight ache of that deep sensation, making him refocus and remind him that he was alone in the world, no one loved or cared for him, and that his destiny was his own.

“She is very special. She will be difficult to grab, two sets of wolves have failed so far.”

Draco raised one eyebrow at her.

“What are her powers?”

The pudgy man smirked. He looked around them and leaned closer. “Fae and Were. But she is powerful, and comes from a family with great influence in the Were communities as well as other realms.

My superiors need her.”

“Why?”

“Does it really matter? I was told that you don’t ask questions.

That you like to get the job done, get paid in advance, and act quickly and swiftly without incident. That is what we need. A professional.”

He pulled out a bag and slapped it down on the table.

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“Five hundred thousand. Plus a bonus if you are successful.”

Draco felt that sensation deepen and then the words enter his mind.

Take it. You are your own wolf, your own man. You live for this
because there is nothing else and no one else to live for. Do it.

He squinted his eyes and nearly shook his head wondering if he in fact heard the voice. The pudgy guy smirked at him knowingly.

“Who is she?” Draco asked as he placed his hand over the bag and slowly pulled it toward him.

“She is a daughter of McFae, Sinclair, and Crimson. Her father’s, Brad, Luke, Jacob and Troy, are mates to her mother, Antoinette. The joining of those wolf packs centuries ago, strengthened the Were packs we need to destroy. Her name is Ariella.”

Draco looked up feeling shocked. He knew her well. He had grown up with her. She had always been so kind, so sweet as a child.

A bit of a wanderer, never wanting to remain where she should. Close to home. She was tough and independent. He kind of felt like chuckling, knowing that other wolves were sent to grab her and weren’t successful. A good ten-year difference in age, she was in her twenties now. What were these wolves up to?”

“Who did you say your superiors were?” he asked and then felt the pain to his head. He grabbed a hold of it and nearly lost his balance.

The man moved closer and whispered next to his head.

“There’s no need to know that, Draco. You will do this. He has control over you now. There is no other choice, except for death.”

Draco heard the voice and in that moment it all became quite clear.

When you were down, alone and ready to die, I was there to save
you. I asked you if you were ready to serve and to be taken as my
own, and you accepted me. I own you now, and for all eternity.

There’s no turning back. No alliance to those wolves, those people.

They are dead to you as you are dead to them. You will get Ariella
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and you will bring her to Paulof. You have no choice. Accept the
money, leave the building, and prepare for your mission.

Draco growled low causing the room to quiet down. Paulof widened his eyes and then Draco slammed his hand over the bag of cash and took it. He stared at Paulof.

“I will be in touch.”

Turning, he headed out of the room, knowing why he had been in this state he was in for all these years. Somehow, in a time of weakness and fear, an evil creature grabbed a hold of his soul. He was officially a rogue wolf. No family, no alliance to anyone, but the beast that was now part of him.

* * * *

“You can’t jump the gun on this. You need to take the proper precautions. Let us make some calls. Perhaps Samantha and her men could provide more security and men for you?” Maximus asked as his sons and Ariella gathered around the front entryway to their home.

“I don’t think we can wait that long. We have a dozen men on standby. They can come with us, and we can use additional wolves from our packs and from Crimson, Sinclair, and McFae,” Orion suggested.