mywolfprotector (25 page)

He grabbed his neatly folded clothing off of the chair next to the bed. “How many other secrets are you keeping from me, Taylor? We've damn near been inseparable since the night I got you back to Wolf Town, but even mated, you still didn't tell me this one.”

He started to the bathroom, with his clothing in his arms, before stopping dead in his tracks.

Without facing her, he asked, “What did you do for those guards to keep them busy the night Neal and Cody escaped? It's a question that has damned near burned me alive, but I didn't want to ask it and make you uncomfortable. Since we're telling all, though, I'd like to know. It wasn't sex, because I know for a fact you were a virgin when I took you.”

Anger shot through her body. The way he worded it sounded like an accusation, and it seared

her to the core. “How dare you? You should know, I never had a choice in that place. Think what you want, Marrok. And go to hell while you're at it.”

His shoulders tensed. Without another word, he walked into the bathroom, closing the door

quietly behind him. With a sob, she threw the clothes on the bed and started changing. Her confession had went even worse than she could have ever imagined.

* * * * *

her sigh loudly. She was alone in the house, although, there were two guardians stationed outside. It had been that way for three days now, since the night she'd told Marrok about Carlos.

He was gone to another guardian meeting, not that it really made much difference in how she

was spending her evening. Things had gone terribly bad between them, and she wasn't quite sure how to find her way back to him. Marrok barely spoke to her, and when he did, he was extremely

impersonal.

Taylor had tried to apologize to him after they met with Alexander and the other guardians that night, but he'd refused to listen. Instead, he'd returned to the spare bedroom, closing the door behind him. The distance between them hurt her worse than anything she could ever recall, even worse than her time in Hell's Pit.

She hung her head, lost in her thoughts. Was it possible for a mated couple to break up? She'd never heard of it before, but then again, most mates were happy. With the way Marrok was acting, she didn't feel very secure. He acted as if he despised her, and she couldn't blame him. Keeping her time locked away had been a childish thing to do, but telling it left her feeling vulnerable and shamed. Even now, she was still humiliated from having to repeat her story to the guardians in the meeting room that night.

They had been kind, though, and non-judgmental, and for that Taylor was grateful. Alexander

hadn't appeared surprised by the news. After thanking her for letting them know, Alexander had asked her if she wanted to sit with Carole Anne. She'd agreed, desperate to escape Marrok's tension within the small meeting room. The two women had sat in the lobby, while the men had discussed her revelation.

Since then, Marrok was gone even more. He generally came in for good after she was in bed,

and he was gone when she woke up in the mornings. She felt like a fish out of water, uncomfortable being where she wasn't wanted. Taylor wasn't sure how much longer she could take it.

Standing up, she decided to take a walk. It was early fall in Missouri, and the temperatures at night were cool. It felt good to her, and it would hopefully help her to clear her head.

Stepping outside the front door, she looked at the guardian that snapped to attention. “I'd like to take a walk.”

He nodded. “We'll follow along, discretely,” he told her, as the guardian from the back joined him. They were true to their word. She quickly forgot about them as she walked down the cobblestoned street.

Wolf Town was fairly quiet, at least, everywhere but the tavern. The music was loud and the

crowd rowdy. She wondered if Marrok was inside as she passed by. Another time, she might have

stopped in to look. Things were so bad between them, though, she didn't bother. Anymore, she

wondered if he even intended to honor his claim upon her.

Moving along, she came upon the empty house where Nicole had stayed. She had left the day

before with her new mate, Alonzo. She would be part of the New Mexico pack now, and Taylor was happy for her. Being with Alonzo would heal a lot of the pain the other woman had experienced.

She followed the sidewalk to the base of the hill and looked up at Alexander and Carole Anne's home. It was a large manor home, and it overlooked the entire settlement. Marrok had told her it was built hundreds of years before and expanded as needed. It was a very impressive structure.

Turning with the intent to go back home, she was surprised to see Marrok walking quickly in

her direction. His expression revealed nothing when he passed by the guardians, nodding in greeting to them as he moved in front of her. Her heart rate increased with excitement, although she tried to remain nonchalant. It was hard when faced with such a perfect specimen of masculinity.

“I've been looking for you, Taylor,” he said, brusquely. “I'll be leaving within the hour.”

“Leaving?” she asked, dumbfounded. “Where are you going?”

He took hold of her arm, indicating he wanted to head back. As soon as she moved, he released

her abruptly. Her eyes flinched shut in pain, but he didn't seem to notice. “We have a lead on the commander. It would seem he's hiding out in New Mexico. A team is being sent out to join up with the New Mexico pack. Alexander and I will both be a part of it. Carole Anne will be staying here with you.”

“Are you sure? I mean, it's hard to believe he would return to the same place, especially so soon after it happened.” Dread spread through her body, joined with the inexplicable feeling of fear.

Something didn't feel right, but Taylor couldn't place it.

“The guardians got a solid lead. We have to follow up with it,” he replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. “You'll be safe here.” His expression changed, growing harsh and hard with a red gleam in his eyes. “I doubt we will be there for very long. The humans won't be any kind of match for a team of pissed off werewolves.”

Taylor inhaled deeply, pushing past her hurt feelings to say, “I don't want you to go, Marrok. I just don't feel like it's this easy. Carlos isn't the type of man to slip up. Something's wrong, somewhere.”

He stopped and looked down at her, his features hard enough to be carved from stone.

“Doubting my abilities again, Taylor?”

“No,” she denied, vehemently, but he cut her off.

“You sure know how to unman a man,” he told her, his voice cold as ice. “As much of a

weakling as I am, it's amazing I was ever able to become a guardian. Maybe Alexander's judgment is flawed as well, trusting me to protect the pack.”

“I don't mean it like that,” she insisted, but he just continued to glare at her.

“I'm going to collect what I'll need for this mission. I just wanted to let you know I'll be gone.

The guardians left behind will continue to protect you, around the clock. When I come back, we'll talk.”

“Marrok, please,” Taylor cried out, not wanting him to leave with things so bad between them.

“I don't feel right, leaving things like they are.”

“When I come back,” he told her firmly, walking away. He disappeared into the dark night,

without a backward glance.

* * * * *

tree. He dropped down to the ground silently, landing beside his accomplice. Gesturing for him to follow, they made their way deeper into the forest.

Once they were half a mile away, the first man pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. Pressing a key to dial a programmed number, he waited for it to be answered. When it was, he smiled, his grin cold and cruel. “It's George. Everything is going according to plan. The werewolf warriors are gearing up to move out. They plan on leaving within the hour.”

“Very good, George,” a chilly male voice replied. “You've done your job well. Will the woman

be left behind?”

“As far as I can tell,” George replied. “She seemed to be hanging onto one of the men there, but he didn't want anything to do with her.”

“Was she now?” the chilly voice turned lethal. “Which one was it?”

“She called the werewolf, Marrok. He's a big bastard, and he looks Native American or

something.”

“That's very interesting news, indeed.” He said no more on it, but he didn't need to. George

knew the werewolf would soon find himself dead or captured. Nobody pissed the commander off and walked away. It simply didn't happen. He was cold as fuck, and that was saying a lot coming from a man that killed as easily as he did.

“What do you want us to do now, Commander?” They weren't the only ones there under

employment from the research facility. There were others, but they were spread out around the area.

After he got his orders, he'd let them know what to do next.

The other man laughed. “Remain where you are, George. The night is still young. Let me know

when they fly out. I'll give you your orders, then.”

“Whatever you say, Commander,” George replied. “You're the boss.”

“That I am,” he agreed, coldly. “That I am.”

* * * * *

late at night, the airfield was bright and lit up, the noise deafening. She was surprised at the sheer number that was leaving. They were using the same large, military-styled helicopters she'd arrived in, and they held quite a few people.

The rest of the pack was bloodthirsty and excited, but Taylor felt cold and numb. The feeling

that all was not right intensified, but there was nothing that she could do to stop them. Marrok and the guardians were convinced that they'd located Carlos, and nothing would deter them in vindicating their own.

Her eyes were locked on the aircraft Marrok was on, but she couldn't see him within. They

hadn't spoken again since his announcement about his departure. He had boarded with Alexander, not looking back. Her eyes watered, but Taylor quickly blinked them away. She would not embarrass

herself, or him, by crying in public. There would be time to fall apart later, once she returned to the cold, lonely bed she'd once shared with her hot-blooded mate.

Carole Anne gripped her arm, her expression one of misery, despite her attempts to hide it. As Queen of Wolves, the other woman was expected to take everything calmly. It was an awesome

responsibility, and one Taylor was glad she didn't have. Carole Anne wore her crown well.

The first of the three helicopters lifted off, the wind from the blades blowing her hair away from her face. She quickly smoothed it back down as she watched it hover in the sky. Her heart was heavy in her chest. How many of the guardians would return, as alive and whole as they had been when they left?

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Marrok stepped out of the

helicopter, his eyes immediately locking with hers. Dying embers caught fire, flaring to life within her, the heat burning her alive.

The forceful wind stirred his short braids as he walked purposely in her direction. She barely noticed when Carole Anne's hand slid from her arm as the other woman smiled and stepped back.

Taylor had eyes for nobody but him.

Within seconds, Marrok was there, gripping her upper arms as he pulled her to him. “I couldn't leave you without doing this,” he bit out, taking her lips forcefully with his.

All too soon he pulled away, releasing her arms to fall back numbly to her sides. Stepping away, he gave her one, last intense look, as if he were memorizing the very features that made up her face.

“When I come back,” he reminded her, his words full of promise.

With that, Marrok turned and walked away, taking her heart with him as he got back on the

helicopter. The tears overflowed, running down her face. She wasn't capable of holding them back, anymore.

Within minutes, the two remaining helicopters were gone. Taylor watched the one carrying

Marrok, until she could no longer see its lights. He was gone. There was nothing left to do but try to make it through until he returned.

Several of the pack members left, returning to their homes and beds. As queen, Carole Anne

would stay until the last minute. Taylor remained with her, not wanting to leave her alone. She dreaded returning to her empty house. Nothing awaited her but a sleepless night and a fountain of tears.

Carole Anne smiled wanly, her face pale. “I always hate it when Alexander has to leave me, but thankfully, it's not very often. Do you want to spend the night at the manor house? I won't say it'll be a fun girl's night, we're much to heartbroken for that. I will promise you, though, I've got unlimited alcohol, something I think we both need.”

Taylor nodded, her ears still ringing from the sound of the helicopters. “I'd like that. It will make it easier on my guards, maybe. I think they are about to die from boredom from watching over me.”

Ivan and Elena walked up to them, their expressions sad. There was only a handful of people

left, and the guardians were fixing to kill the lights. “It's time we left, ladies. Elena and I will see you home before heading home ourselves, unless you want to stay over with us?” They adored the woman Alexander had mated and loved her like a granddaughter.

“Taylor is going to stay with me, tonight. After that, I might be taking you up on that offer, though. It depends on how long Alexander will be gone.”

“You're always welcome, dear,” Elena responded with a smile. Although she was Alexander's

grandmother, she only looked a few years older than the younger women. Werewolves were just one step shy of being immortal, and the aging process, at least physically, was almost non-existent.

The group of four weary werewolves moved toward the empty jeep that would return them to