Page 16 of The Werewolf Cowboy
He tucked the box into his jacket pocket. “I’ll find her and bring her home safe. I promise.”
He was the only one who could, though they did not know. If they discovered what he really was, they would join together as a pack, panic, and try to tear him apart. That was what Lupine wolves did. Normal wolves.
Grayson would never be normal.
But Aiden Mitchell was not ruler for nothing. The alpha gently detached his arm from his mate and approached Grayson near the door, blocking him from leaving.
“A word, Moore.” Aiden opened the door and gestured to the hallway.
Once they were outside his office, Aiden closed the door and leaned against it, arms folded. “Level with me.”
Grayson didn’t have to tell the alpha anything. He could simply leave the ranch, do what was necessary to save Katy. But he had too much respect for the Mitchell alpha. Grayson had seen how Aiden worked with his people, how protective and fierce he was with the pack.
He withdrew the small wood box. “This gemstone that was hanging on her neck is a protective amulet. If you or any of your pack touched it, it would have burned you. One reason why Dave removed it from his adoptive daughter.”
Aiden blinked fast. “Son of a bitch. What do you know?”
He could give the alpha answers without revealing too much. “Reckon Charles probably is using a Dark Fae to teleport him to the closest, most stationary portal entrance into the Dark Kingdom. Those portals are mirror doorways in places that have counterparts here in this world. The closest one is the Dark Wing Gentlemen’s Club outside Las Vegas. It’s a brothel.”
“I heard of it,” Aiden said dryly. “It’s owned by Jaeden, father to Emma, the dragon princess of Clan Drakon. He’s a Dark Fae.”
Grayson tucked the box back into his jacket pocket. “If he owns the club, then he knows it’s a mirror doorway to go back and forth between worlds. There is a replica of that club in the Dark Kingdom. Only it’s…much worse.”
“Katy, trapped in a brothel. Damn it. What can we do?” Aiden asked.
Words wouldn’t find Katy, only action. If Charles had taken Katy to a Dark Kingdom brothel, she didn’t have much time. Grayson knew those places liked fresh, young flesh.
“You can’t. All you can do is stay here, keep them…” he pointed to the doorway, “calm and stop them from asking too many questions. Let me do my job.”
“I’ll send someone with you,” Aiden decided. “She’s pack. Kyle can help you, track her down.”
“I go alone. Too dangerous to risk anyone else.”
“And it’s not for you?” the alpha asked.
“No.”
No ordinary Lupine could battle with the evil forces in the parallel universe of the Dark Kingdom. A normal Lupine without protection would be dog meat.
He aimed a level look at the alpha. Not daring to say more. Not needing to say more. If Aiden was half the wolf he suspected, the leader wouldn’t hesitate if he thought Grayson was a threat.
Suspicions were confirmed when the alpha drew himself up and bristled.
“I don’t know what you are, Grayson. I’ve called you friend for nearly a year. But if you are hiding anything that can hurt my mate, my pack, know this.” Aiden took a step forward, jabbing a finger in his direction. “I will break your damn neck to protect my own. Get it?”
The other male’s bristling testosterone triggered his defenses. If Grayson’s wolf came out now, there would be utter hell. No way could he control it, not after he hadn’t shifted in years.
With all his might, he leashed the beast that struggled to be free. Grayson fisted his hands so hard, he felt blood warm his palms.
“Understood, Mitchell. My concern is Katy.” As Aiden gave a brief nod, Grayson went for the kill. “I’m not doing this out of the goodness of my heart, Mitchell.”
The alpha frowned. “What do you want in return? Money? Cattle? Land? Name it, it’s yours. She’s one of ours.”
No, she is not.
“Name your price, damn it,” Aiden ordered.
Grayson slowly unclenched his fists and looked the alpha straight in the eye. “Katy. As my mate.”
