Rescuing His Heart [Wolves of Desire 13] (The Lynn Hagen ManLove Collection) Read online

  And his vigilance had paid off. Xander had known the minute Sylvester had come downstairs because his scent had wafted to him. The smell of jasmine was soft and light, pulling Xander from his bed and drawing him to his mate.

  Now Xander sat there, nodding at two passing sentries. The wolf shifters nodded back as they kept going. Morning couldn’t come fast enough. Xander needed Aldrich to keep Sario occupied so he could get Sylvester to confide in him.

  But the moment was gone and Xander wasn’t sure if Sylvester would open up to him again. With a sigh, he got up and started down the sidewalk. Maybe a run would help ease the tension gripping his shoulders. But that would mean leaving his mate unprotected. Xander might’ve taken the chance if that demon hadn’t come by earlier.

  He’d wandered to the side of the bed-and-breakfast, trying to figure out why a demon would come in search of his mate when he saw a shadow duck behind a tree.

  Xander started to let his wolf free, then realized that if the person was human, he couldn’t make the mistake of exposing what he was. Sebastian had warned the pack to keep a low profile ever since some scumbag named Etienne had sent files on hundreds of nonhumans to a reporter. In addition to that, a preternatural fight had been recorded and no one knew if it would surface on the internet or the news.

  Scanning the area to make sure this wasn’t a setup, Xander said, “Come from behind that tree.”

  Nothing.

  As Xander moved closer, the clouds drifted over the moon, casting darker shadows. If he didn’t have exceptional night vision, he might’ve lost sight of the person hurrying away.

  With a growl, Xander went after the stranger. When he caught up to the guy, he grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to a stop.

  “Get off me!”

  Xander froze. Why hadn’t he scented jasmine? How had his mate gotten away from the room without Sario following? And why on earth had he been hiding at the side of the house?

  “Didn’t I tell you that it wasn’t safe out here at night?” Xander let his hand fall away, even though he wanted to pull Sylvester into his arms.

  “I needed some air.” Sylvester gazed up at him and Xander became lost in his mate’s eyes.

  The ringing of a phone in the quiet night made Xander slightly jerk. He growled at how unnerved he was. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was in the air, something dark and dangerous, and he felt exposed standing there with his mate.

  “Aren’t you gonna answer it?” Xander asked.

  Sylvester pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen. Blood fled his knuckles as he gripped the phone tighter, silenced the ring, and tucked it back into his pocket.

  The fear in Sylvester’s eyes made Xander want to solve the mystery surrounding his mate. He also wanted to take Sylvester home where the human would be safe, but since Sylvester didn’t trust him, Xander had no other choice than to stay in Brac Village.

  “I just want to take a walk.” Sylvester headed toward the front of the house. “I think better at night.”

  “Where’s Sario?” Xander caught up to him as they rounded the white picket fence and started down the sidewalk.

  Sylvester gave him a sideways glance before looking away. “We got into an argument.”

  “About me?”

  “I just want to walk in silence.” Sylvester tried to move faster, but Xander kept pace.

  He grabbed Sylvester’s arm when a car pulled to the curb ahead of them and parked. “Wait.”

  Sylvester opened his mouth, then closed it as his gaze slid to the car.

  The demon from earlier stepped out, smoothed his hand down the front of his suit jacket, and looked right at them, a lecherous smile curling the side of his mouth.

  Chapter Five

  One moment Sylvester was standing on the sidewalk next to Xander, and the next a large wolf was at his side, snarling and snapping his jaws. The creature backed up, placing Sylvester behind him.

  Sylvester couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe as his jaw dropped. This was no ordinary wolf. He was three times the size of a normal one. Sylvester should know. Leo kept two wolves as pets. Sylvester had been terrified of them whenever Leo had them in the house.

  The wolf’s hindquarters reached Sylvester’s stomach as he stood there, too paralyzed to move. Witnessing Xander change was easily the most terrifying thing Sylvester had experienced. It even trumped the dead guy. Murder was as old as time—even though Sylvester had never seen it firsthand until the motel room. But it was explainable. A man changing into an animal defied the laws of physics.

  “Back the fuck off, doggy,” the stranger warned as he moved to the back of his car. “You’re not the one I’m after, but if you interfere, I’ll gut you where you stand.”

  Sylvester’s attention snapped to the stranger. He gasped when he saw the red glow of the man’s eyes. A memory flashed through his mind. Only, that wasn’t the face he’d seen. The eyes had been glowing, but the stranger had had horns on his head, and his skin had been the color of blood.

  The motel room.

  Sylvester was pulled from the memory when the wolf lunged toward the stranger, growling as the hairs along his spine stood on end. The stranger backed away, a menacing scowl etched on his face.

  “I’ll rip your fucking heart out,” he warned the wolf.

  Sylvester screamed when his hand was grabbed. He snapped his head around and saw Sario behind him.

  “Run!” Sario two took off, pulling Sylvester along behind him. They raced toward Sario’s car, but before they could reach it, Sylvester was lifted off his feet and went flying toward the bed-and-breakfast, slamming into the side of the house. Pain exploded on his right side as he hit the ground.

  “Sylvester!” Sario ran to him and dropped to his knees. “Sylvester, are you all right?”

  Sylvester shoved to his feet as loud howls and vicious barks filled the air behind him. He spun and saw the wolf clamping his sharp teeth clamping down on the stranger’s arm.

  The guy swung the wolf around and slammed him against the trunk of his car. Sylvester started forward, but Sario grabbed him. “Don’t you dare go back there. You saw what just happened to you.” Sario tugged on his arm. “Though I’m still having a hard time believing this shit. Did you just go flying magically through the air?”

  “I have to help him.” Sylvester shoved Sario off. “He’s fighting that guy for me. I can’t just leave him.”

  “That’s exactly what you’re gonna do.” Sario grabbed him again. “We’re getting the fuck out of this crazy town.”

  They stilled when two newcomers joined the fight, helping the wolf fight off the stranger. Hadn’t Xander called the guy a demon earlier? Sylvester didn’t want to believe that was true, but those glowing eyes made him doubt Xander was lying.

  Demons. Wolves. Sylvester’s stomach rolled as he took a step forward, unable to leave Xander while the wolf was in trouble.

  “Damn it, Sylvester.” Sario jumped in front of him. “What the hell is wrong with you? We’ve got problems of our own.” He pulled his phone out and tapped the screen a few times before turning the device toward Sylvester. “Look.”

  It was Channel Five’s website. The news had a picture of the motel, and the headline read that police had found another dead body. The photo snapped Sylvester back to reality. He grabbed the phone and read the article, his heart racing.

  The cops didn’t have a suspect yet, but they would if they found Sylvester’s prints.

  “We need to keep moving,” Sario said. “If they figure out you were there, the cops’ll be the least of our worries. Leo will send Duke and Riley after us, Sylvester. He’ll punish you for this.”

  Sylvester shook as he handed Sario back his phone. He glanced toward the fight, which had ended while his attention had been elsewhere. The stranger was nowhere in sight, and the two newcomers were talking with Xander.

  Sylvester’s eyes bugged. “Why is Xander naked?”

  “Good God,” Sario said. “He’s hot!”

  “Seriously?” Sylvester glared at his brother. “We just saw some shit that can’t be real, and you’re in lust?”

  Jealousy gripped Sylvester and shook him hard. He wanted to slap his hand over Sario’s eyes and punch him at the same time.

  One of the men handed Xander a backpack. Right there on the street, Xander pulled some clothing from the bag and dressed. Where had the backpack come from? And how did Xander…Sylvester shook his head. This was too much for him.

  “Let’s go.”

  They hurried to their car. Sylvester grabbed the handle, but a hand curled around his wrist.

  “Don’t,” Xander said.

  Sylvester snatched his hand away and backed up. The newcomers watched them for a moment before they headed down the street and disappeared around a corner. A shiny, black Lexus pulled in behind Sario’s Camaro.

  Sario came around the Camaro and joined Sylvester on the sidewalk. He and Sylvester backed toward the bed-and-breakfast when the tallest man Sylvester had ever seen got out of the car.

  He had black hair that brushed his shoulders, deep gray eyes that slid toward them, and he wore a scowl that scared the life out of Sylvester.

  “What the hell is going on?” the guy barked at Xander. “Shifting in full view is not lying low.”

  “We need to talk in private.” Xander glanced from the stranger to Sylvester. “A demon came after my mate, Sebastian.”

  Sebastian slowed his long strides as his attention shot to Sylvester. “A demon?”

  “That’s why I couldn’t run your errand earlier. I was on my way to The Lucky Clover when I ran across him and his brother.”

  “I figured that much when I stopped you early,” Sebastian said as he eyed Sylvester. “At least he’s not run
ning any longer.”

  “What’re you talking about?” Sario demanded. “Are you saying my brother is your mate?”

  Sylvester eyed Sario. “Do you know what he means?”

  Sario glanced away, which told Sylvester that he was hiding something. Sario had never kept secrets from him before, and Sylvester didn’t like the feeling settling in his gut. “Sario?”

  Xander pointed at Sario. “You ride with Sebastian. I’ll drive your car to my pack house with Sylvester.”

  “Whoa.” Sylvester waved his hand back and forth. “I’m not going anywhere with you, and my brother isn’t going with him.”

  Sylvester’s heart lodged in his throat when Xander closed the distance. “You saw what I saw. Those glowing red eyes. I told you earlier that a demon was looking for you. I also told you it wasn’t safe out here at night. You’re coming with me even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming.”

  Sylvester’s gaze flashed to Sario. Why wasn’t he pitching a fit? Why was he simply standing there with his hands in his pockets and staring at the ground?

  “I’m going upstairs.” Sylvester gave Xander a look that dared him to stop him.

  “Then I’m coming with you.” Xander turned and said to Sebastian, “Would you mind taking Sario home?”

  “I’m not leaving my brother,” Sario argued.

  “He’s safe,” Sebastian said. “Xander won’t let anything happen to him.”

  “I don’t know either of you.” Sario glared at Sebastian. Sylvester had to give his brother props because there was no way in hell Sylvester would be bold enough to defy the big bastard.

  “Fine,” Sebastian said. “We’ll hang out here while Xander talks with your brother.”

  “But you said it wasn’t safe out here at night,” Sylvester reminded Xander.

  “Trust me,” Xander said. “With Sebastian watching over your brother, not even a demon would be dumb enough to mess with him.”

  Xander’s statement didn’t comfort him, but Sylvester led the way inside the house. They climbed the steps in silence until they reached the honeymoon suite.

  Xander arched a dark brow as he stared at the placard on the door. “Something you need to tell me?”

  Sylvester scowled. “It was the only room available.”

  Xander smiled. “A befitting room for us.”

  After opening the door and stepping inside, Sylvester turned toward Xander. “Look, we’re here to talk, nothing else. So get those ideas out of your head.”

  Xander closed the door behind him and went straight to the window and glanced outside. “Fine, then talk. Tell me everything from start to finish, and don’t leave anything out.”

  “I could say the same thing to you,” Sylvester countered. “How can you change into a wolf? That shouldn’t even be possible.”

  Xander looked over his shoulder. “One thing at a time. You first since you’re the one being hunted.”

  Sylvester stood by the dresser and explained what happened that morning and how he and Sario had ended up in Brac Village.

  “You have no memory of how you got there or how that guy was murdered?”

  “You think I’m lying,” Sylvester spat. “I can tell by your tone. See, this is why I didn’t want to say anything. How do I know you won’t go to the cops?”

  “Calm down.” Xander sighed. “I’m not handing you over. I’m just trying to understand this.”

  Sylvester snorted. “Good luck. So far, I don’t understand a damn thing about it.”

  “After you left the party, where did you go?”

  “That’s just it.” Sylvester threw his hands up. “I remember walking down the street. I made it a block, then my memory just vanishes.”

  “Did you drink anything at the party?”

  “Sario asked the same thing,” Sylvester said. “I’m not dumb enough to leave my drink unattended or accept an open one.”

  Xander ran a hand over his head, sighing. “I have a way we can unlock your memories, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”

  Sylvester’s guard slammed into place. After the things he’d witnessed, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear Xander’s idea. Still, he warily said, “Go on.”

  “I told you that you didn’t know the real world, the true world lurking all around you. You now know that shifters exist, and even demons, but…”

  Sylvester’s chest tightened as his anxiety skyrocketed. “There’s more.”

  Xander nodded. “A lot more. I know an ancient vampire who can retrieve your—”

  Sylvester backpedaled so fast, he crashed into the dresser. “No, no way! I’m still dizzy over seeing you change, over seeing that man’s eyes glow red. You’re not taking me anywhere near a vampire.”

  He suddenly found it hard to breathe. Vampires? Seriously? He pressed his hands against his knees and tried to suck enough air into his lungs, but his head swam as the room swayed.

  “Easy.” Xander led him to the bed and made him sit. “Take slow, steady breaths.”

  Sylvester wasn’t sure how or why, but Xander’s touch lessened his panic. He managed to return his breathing to normal, though he still felt dizzy. “What in the fuck is going on?” he shouted as he shot from the bed, nearly falling over. Maybe he shouldn’t have moved so quickly. “A dead body with a hole in his chest, shifters, demons, and now vampires? What the hell kind of rabbit hole did I fall into?”

  When Xander yanked Sylvester to him, curling his arms around his body and holding him tight, Sylvester struggled to get free. But no matter how hard he fought, Xander wouldn’t let him go. He kept petting Sylvester’s back while making shushing sounds.

  Finally, Sylvester collapsed against him. He hadn’t realized just how much he needed a hug, needed someone to make him feel safe in a world that had gone totally insane.

  Slowly, Sylvester slid his arms around Xander, tucking his face into the man’s neck. He inhaled Xander’s natural, masculine scent, sucking the smell into his lungs as inch by inch the tension in his body drained.

  “That’s it,” Xander murmured. “Lean into me. You’re safe, Sylvester. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Hadn’t Xander called them soul mates? Sylvester wasn’t sure if he believed in that stuff, but he couldn’t deny the connection he felt as he sagged against Xander.

  “We need to talk to Sebastian,” Xander said. “He can help us solve this. From what you’ve described, it sounds as though that man was killed by something nonhuman.”

  Sylvester stiffened. “Please don’t tell me that.”

  “That might not be the case.” Xander kept rubbing his back as he held Sylvester close. “But we can’t rule it out, either. Sebastian knows some pretty powerful people in the city. They could help us get answers.”

  Sylvester confessed his biggest worry as he closed his eyes. “What if I was the one to kill that guy? What if I’m the murderer?”

  Xander leaned back, running his hands up and down Sylvester’s arms as Sylvester opened his eyes. “You’re not a murderer.”

  “But how can you be sure?”

  His features darkened as his hands tightened on Sylvester’s arms. “Because I’ve looked into the eyes of monsters and you’re not one of them.”

  Sylvester still wasn’t convinced. Not every person who killed was evil. Some did it in self-defense, others because they felt as though they had no other choice. Not everyone had a black heart. What if Sylvester had killed out of self-preservation?

  Xander slid his finger under Sylvester’s chin and made them lock gazes. “You’re not a killer, Sylvester.”

  Sylvester tensed when a knock sounded on the door. Had the demon come back? He glanced at the glowing clock on the nightstand. It was after midnight. Who would be at his door this late?

  “It’s Sebastian.”

  Sylvester sagged with relief as Xander went to the door and opened it. Sario and Sebastian entered, and Sylvester frowned when Sario wouldn’t look his way.

  “Unless I wanted to stuff him in my trunk, Sario was determined to wait in the hallway,” Sebastian said as he closed the door. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what Sylvester said.”

  Sebastian pulled an envelope from inside his leather jacket and emptied its contents on the dresser. Glossy photos spilled out, and Sylvester’s throat grew dry when he noticed the man in the top picture. His gaze shot to Sebastian as he took a wary step back.