Hunted (24 page)

I nodded.

“What you don’t realize is that you are also in full alpha mode. It hit me smack in the face when I stepped inside.” She blew out a breath and then grinned. “And it’s pretty damned awesome. I’ve never felt anything like that and I’ll lay good money most of the others haven’t either. But you might want to tone it down before we get to the ranch. Don’t tip your hand to Jennings too soon.”

She was right even if I hadn’t realized Matt and I had been in what she called “full alpha mode.” Matt was always so controlled. Then, looking at him, I saw the tightness to his expression, the steel in his gaze. He was ready for tonight, but he was also looking for blood. Thank God it wasn’t my blood. There was no doubt he wanted Jennings’ blood, just as I did. Well, we might have to flip for it because I wanted satisfaction from the man who had taken so much from me.

No, I needed it in order to move on with my life. I had to know he’d never come after me again.

“Have you heard from Danny?” Matt asked as he reached for his wallet and keys from the dresser top.

“He called a few minutes ago to say everything is ready at the ranch.”

Matt glanced at his watch and gave a decisive nod. “Then let’s go. Unless traffic is lousy--which it very well may be--we should arrive with more than enough time to do our own walkthrough before the others start arriving.”

“I also talked to your uncle, Finn. He said to tell you that the others from their clan have arrived. They should get to the ranch shortly after we do.”

“Thanks.”

I felt better knowing he and my grandmother had some of their own people with them tonight. If the man our watchers had seen at the airport really was Jennings, I had a feeling he’d brought more than just the three they’d seen. Jennings had never been one to let the odds be stacked in any way except in his favor. That meant he’d probably been sending people to the area from the moment I ended our call the other day. At least Danny shared my concerns and was even more paranoid when it came to security than I was. He and Teresa had assured me I didn’t need to worry, that they’d taken everything into account. I hoped so because tonight could turn bad very quickly.

“It’s going to take about forty five minutes to get to the ranch,” Matt said as we pulled onto the highway.

“I don’t remember it taking that long to get to Stefan’s and Hannah’s.”

“It didn’t, but we aren’t meeting there tonight.” He paused as he flipped on the turn indicator and changed lanes. “Because of the number of people who will be there tonight, we’re meeting at a ranch my family owns mid-way between Dallas and Denton.”

I didn’t say anything. Part of me was glad he wasn’t letting Jennings and his people anywhere near Stefan and Hannah’s place. But another part of me latched onto his “ranch my family owns”. I’d figured out pretty quickly that Matt had money, more than I’d seen in a very long time. His house, while not huge, was large enough to be comfortable. The furnishings were just as comfortable but there was no mistaking the fact they weren’t thrift store quality. This car, a very beautiful Mustang, was no more than a year old and fully loaded. Add in the motorcycles in the garage, the expensive suits in his closet which he’d assured me just the night before he only wore for business and it all added up to money. But how much I hadn’t asked and really didn’t want to know. All that mattered to me was that Matt didn’t appear to be ruled by it and neither did his sister.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He gave my hand a squeeze and grinned at me. “The ranch has been in the family for generations. It’s not as big as it once was. It’s been divided between family members over the years and parts have been sold off. But it is large enough and secluded enough for what we need--which is why we’ve kept it. Being a family filled with shape-changers, it’s important to have a place where we can be ourselves and not worry about being caught.”

I grinned and shook my head. He’d done it again. He’d done his best to reassure me even though I hadn’t said a word. The man was either a mind reader or there was more to being a life mate than I realized so far. Maybe a bit of both. Either way, and ridiculous as it was, I felt better knowing the ranch had been in the family for generations and wasn’t something huge--at least it didn’t sound as if it were. Besides, he was right. It would be nice to have a place where we could shift and roam in our animal forms without worry. That had been one of the few things I’d missed about Northern California. We’d been able to take advantage of the mountains and forests, shifting and knowing we were safe from prying eyes.

Besides, thinking about that kept me from thinking about the nerves forming knots in my stomach. This would be my first clan meeting since that terrible night so long ago when Jennings tried to claim me as his mate. I still woke up, covered with sweat and trembling in fear as the nightmare of that night returned. Maybe tonight I’d finally be able to put the nightmare to rest.

God, I hoped so.

At least Matt and my grandmother understood the need to bring the nightmare full circle. Aunt Jane and Uncle Lou would be there tonight, just as they had been that night before I ran away. Should Jennings show up and try to claim me, they’d be able to tell the other clan leaders gathered what happened. It wouldn’t just be my word against his. Even better, they’d contacted others who had been part of the Northern California clan at the time and who had left since then. They’d be here as well. Jennings, if he was foolish enough to attend, was going to discover the tables had been well and truly turned.

If not, well, I might just have my chance to finally dance on his grave which was the closest I ever wanted to be to the man.

Almost exactly forty five minutes after pulling onto the highway, Matt pulled off the road and onto a gravel drive. A large sign near the gate advertised Vickers Tree Farm. Giving credence to the sign was a double row of trees that also served to obscure the area beyond the fence line. Adding to the illusion--heck, for all I knew, this really was a working tree farm--row after row of trees lined the drive. Illusion or not, they served as a very effective buffer, not only preventing unwanted eyes from prying but also to muffle sounds coming from deeper into the property.

We drove for maybe another five minutes before coming into a large clearing. In the center was a sprawling home. The porch stretched the length of the front of the house. There was a white swing and matching chairs with small tables. Lights were visible from the front windows. A tire swing hung from one of the trees in the front yard. Closer examination showed a couple of bikes lying on the lawn, left perhaps in a mad dash to get to dinner.

“Matt?” I couldn’t hide the concern in my voice. If he had worried about letting Jennings and other unknowns near Stefan’s and Hannah’s place, why wasn’t he worried about letting them near here?

“Our brother lives here. So do our folks when they’re in the country,” he said as he parked in front of the house. “As for Jim, well, he’s more than capable of looking after himself.”

“What Matt’s not saying is that Jim’s the local police chief out here. He updated all the security around the place a couple of years ago. Last year, Danny and Teresa helped him update it even further. Believe me, no one can get within a mile of this place without Jim knowing about it,” Sharon added as the front door opened.

Matt was a big man, tall and well-built. But the man who appeared in the doorway was massive. He had to stand at least six feet six inches and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him but there was muscle--a lot of muscle. It wouldn’t have surprised me to learn he could bench press a Volkswagen. He lifted a hand and waved before coming down the steps to greet us.

“Is he?” I left the rest of the question unasked.

“Oh yeah and this is going to be fun.” Sharon was definitely looking forward to what was about to happen. I needed to remember this. She had a warped sense of humor, not that I minded, but I’d much prefer not to be on the receiving end of it.

Jim Kincade quickly crossed the yard, grinning as Matt climbed out of the car. He punched Matt’s shoulder good-naturedly and Matt countered with a soft swing to Jim’s stomach. It wasn’t hard to imagine the two of them quickly turning this ritual into a wrestling match. While it might be fun to watch any other time, we had things to do to make sure all was ready for tonight.

Before Matt could make it around the car, I opened the door and stepped out. The moment I did, Jim’s head snapped in my direction. The smile he’d been wearing disappeared, replaced by a look of surprise. Much as their sister had done when she’d entered our bedroom just an hour before, Jim dropped to hands and knees. There was no mistaking how he’d done so instinctively, without thought. There was also no mistaking that the next move was mine to make since Matt just stood next to his brother, grinning like a loon.

“Matt, help him up.” I shook my head, grinning as he did. There was no mistaking Matt’s pride just then, both in me and in his brother. “I’m Finn.” I extended my hand, waiting for Jim to take it.

“Jim.” His hand swallowed mine but he was careful not to press too hard. “Damn, both Matt and Sharon warned me you were an alpha and a strong one. I guess I didn’t take them as seriously as I should have. Sorry.”

“Don’t. To be honest, I didn’t take them seriously when they told me I was an alpha.”

He squinted down at me, his head tipped to one side. Well, that sealed it. That particular reaction seemed to run in the family.

“You didn’t know?”

“It’s a long story, Jim.”

Before Matt could say anything else, the sounds of another car coming up the drive reached up. We paused, waiting, and the knot of tension in my stomach grew. Then the front door opened and Danny appeared.

“It’s Teresa. Adam and your grandmother are just behind her, Finn,” he called from the porch.

“You guys go on in. I need a few more minutes with Danny and Teresa,” Jim said. “We’ll talk later, Finn, over a cold one. There’s a lot about my kid brother I can tell you.”

Seeing the look that crossed Matt’s face, I laughed. It was going to be fun watching the brothers try to outdo one another. But that would come later and it was something to look forward to, sort of a reward for making it through tonight.

“Now I see where your Uncle Stefan got the idea for his barn.”

I stood just inside the door and looked around. Other than the fact this barn was so large it made Stefan’s look small, there was little difference to how it was set up. There was one change, however, that looked to be recent. At the far end of the main room was a raised platform. Two wooden steps led up to the platform where two chairs with a small table sat. At least they were regular chairs and nothing fancy. But I had no doubt they were meant for Matt and me. Nor did I doubt they, along with the platform, were new additions to the room and meant to drive home the fact that we were the alphas in charge of what was about to happen.

And, yes, the butterflies in my stomach just multiplied a hundred fold.

“Very nice, Matt,” my grandmother commented as she joined us. “I see some new additions since the last time I was here, but not many.”

“Why mess with something that works?”

“You’ve been here?” I asked.

“Our clans have met together here several times, just as his has joined us in Tulsa on occasion.”

Clan politics really were different now from what they’d been when I was younger. Or was it just that they were different down here? Not that it mattered. I happened to agree with how closely it seemed these two clans at least had become and it helped me understand why Matt was so convinced this was the way all clans had to go if we were to survive.

“I have so much to learn.”

“Not really. You already know it,” Grandma said as she reached for my hand. “Remember what your parents taught you and trust your instincts. That’s all you need.” Now she paused and her left hand reached up to her ear and I realized she was wearing a Bluetooth receiver. She listened for a moment and then nodded. “Excuse me. My people are here and I want to have a word with them. Matt, Adam said to tell you there are others starting to arrive as well.”

“Thanks.” He looked around and motioned to a young man I recognized from the warehouse. “Go tell Teresa and Danny we need to see one of them ASAP.” The young man nodded and trotted off. “Sharon will give you a quick tour of the building. If you have any questions, ask her. I want to make sure everything is set. I’ll join you in a minute,” he added as he turned to me.

“Go. Don’t worry about me.” I was doing enough for both of us.

“Finn, relax,” Sharon said softly as we moved away. “There’s no way Jennings or anyone else can get within a mile of this place without us knowing it. Danny may be paranoid, but Jim makes him look laid back when it comes to security. Put the two of them together with Teresa and we probably have better security than the president.”

“I can’t help it.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure we were out of Matt’s line of sight. Satisfied, I stopped and leaned against the wall. For the moment at least we were alone. “I need you to make me a promise, Sharon.” I waited until she nodded. “If Jennings shows up tonight, and I know he will, there’s going to be trouble. No matter how much Matt thinks we can keep this from disintegrating into a fight, we won’t be able to, not unless Jennings has completely changed in the time since I last saw him. I don’t think he’ll be foolish enough to call Matt out. My concern is that he’s going to have enough people here to cause trouble. If that happens, you stick to your brother’s side. Make sure nothing happens to him.”

She frowned and then sighed, her frustration clear. “The only way I can promise is if you promise not to leave his side. My big brother is very protective and he’s already told me my only job tonight is to keep you safe.”

I shook my head, torn between affection and frustration. I should have realized Matt would have done something like that. He’d been too relaxed whenever we’d discussed Jennings today. I could tell myself I hadn’t realized what he meant to do because I didn’t really know him that well and didn’t know what cues to look for, but that would be a cop out. Within an hour of meeting him, I’d known he was a man who took his duties as clan leader seriously. He’d take his role as mate even more seriously and would do whatever it took to make sure I stayed safe--whether I liked it or not. Well, he was about to learn two could play that game.