Page 51 of Loup Garou

My father clasped his hands together and drew in another sharp breath. “Exavier, your word my child shall suffer no more. That regardless what has transpired in her past you will accept and love her for her and hold nothing against her? She too had been told you were wed and starting a family. I believe her choices would have differed greatly had she known the truth, but I refuse to allow her to regret certain aspects, regardless.”

Hearing my father say he wouldn’t let me regret having been with Eion and pregnant meant the world to me. I’d always valued his opinion. His strength, love and support of me was never ending.

“You have my word, Tiennot. I will handle the reason for the misconceptions. You have my word on that as well.”

I glanced at my father. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

He shook his head, sending waves of black hair spilling about. “My only regret is you did not trust in my ability to both accept and protect you, regardless of what decisions you made. I do not have to lecture you on what one will do to protect their children, do I?”

No. He didn’t. I knew the extremes. I’d gone to them but still failed.

My mother made a disgusted sound. “Look, she actually responded to Exavier. How the man could stand being around her after she has continued to assault him is a mystery. I never thought I’d say this but I am glad it happened. Had the accident not occurred—”

My father growled. “Had it not occurred, Olivia, we would be sitting here celebrating our granddaughter’s second—”

I put my hand up. “No! I can’t do this. It doesn’t matter what Mom or anyone thinks of me, Daddy. It doesn’t. Let her believe what she wants. I can’t do this anymore.” I stood quickly and stared down at my mother. “You are never to interfere in my life again. You will never speak of theaccidentagain. Understand me? Never!”

My father tried to come to me. I gave him a firm look. “No. I’ll be okay. I need to go clear my head.”

“I’ll come with you,” Exavier said, rising and sliding his arm around my waist. “Just give me a minute with your parents, okay? Wait for me in the main entrance. I’ll be right there.”

I nodded.

He hugged me to him. “Do not leave without me. There is something your parents,” he glanced down at my mother, “and I need to discuss.”

Again, I nodded, knowing I wasn’t going to wait for him. I wanted to be alone. Nothing I had to think about concerned Exavier. I could almost feel the center calling to me. It was the place I poured myself into in an attempt to forget my past. It’s where I wanted to be.

Chapter Ten

I rushedtowards the recreation center doors, not caring that my feet were getting dirty with my heels off. The feel of evil was all around me. That was no surprise. This area of the city was well known in the underground supernatural community as a hot bed for paranormal activity. That’s why I had the center built there. The kids needed a safe place to play and be kids. And the adults needed the safety of that as well.

A stone rolled past my foot and I knew then that the evil was with me, following me. I tried to reach out and sense how many and what exactly was there. A powerful magik pummeled me, knocking me down. Crying out, I tried to scramble to my feet, only to feel another wave of magik hit me.

“You dared to think you could take on someone my age, Lindsay. Your foolishness has earned you a long, painful death. I have brought many, many more than three shifters with me this time.”

The vampire slammed another hefty load of power into me, making me scream. I thrust out hard with my power, knocking his magik free of me long enough to run toward the center doors with keys in hand. Something slammed into me, taking me down face first. White-hot pain shot through my leg as fangs sank deep into it. Kicking out, I drove my foot into my attacker’s head. It let go and hissed. Chancing a peek at it, I found a second vampire there, blood dripping freely from his chin while his eyes swirled with red and black.

“Ah, your fear is intoxicating, Lindsay. Are you willing to turn your prince over to us yet?”

The vampire near my legs slashed his dagger-like fingernails out and caught hold of my dress. He slit it from my waist down and went to slice my leg wide open. I threw power out in the form of fire. It hit his eyes. Hissing, he lurched backwards.

I pushed to my feet and ran full force at the center’s front doors. I hit them hard and tried to find the right key. Giving up, I thrashed power out and shattered the glass. Pushing through the opening, I cried out asthe glass sliced my arms, sides, legs, feet. I didn’t stop to examine how bad my injuries were. No. I needed to get to my office and call for help.

“Give us the prince!”

I ignored the vampire and ran into the lobby. I heard the shifter coming a half-second before it actually arrived. Dropping down, I narrowly missed taking a direct hit from the were-wolf. It flew over my head and crashed into the cinderblock wall.

I used my power and retrieved the cordless phone from its base. I hit the button for Gina’s cell phone. It ran twice before it beeped. Her voice mail picked up. “Gina! Center, I’m at the center. Lots of baddies! Help!”

Power slammed into my hand, sending the phone crashing into the wall. It shattered and I ran. Almost instantly, I found my body being lifted high into the air.

“I want the princenow, Lindsay. I am tired of playing your games.”

I stared down at him and laughed. “Then kill me because you can’t have him. He’s mine.”

Mine? Why the hell am I claiming a man who doesn’t exist?

“You cannot win this, Lindsay. There are too many of us. You are bleeding so we can follow your scent anywhere you try to hide and you aren’t powerful enough to stop us all. Give me the prince and I will kill you quickly.”

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