Chapter Five

The sounds of her stirring woke him. He was shocked to learn he’d fallen asleep outside her window. Morning’s sun had barely begun to creep over the horizon. Wonder why she’s up.

He moved away from her window and went to watch the door. Sure enough, ten minutes later, she walked outside. The bow she held in her hand grabbed his attention. She limped past him, adjusting the music in her ears.

He trailed her, noticing the limp as she walked. It didn’t fade but if definitely lessened. When they came to an archery set up, he backed off even more and headed for his hotel, not wanting—or needing—to be naked in public when the sun came up.

He showered and dressed in swift fashion. The morning was cooler and he remembered she’d been without a jacket. Casimir went to his car and drove to her place, the convertible still there. He could sense no movement inside.

He took the trail, he’d done once today already as a wolf and came upon her as she yanked arrows from a target. She wasn’t pleased with herself, he knew that much.

“Morning, Dyana.”

She whirled toward him, eyes wide. He caught a whiff of fear before anger took over.

“You! What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I told you we need to talk.”

Had he blinked, he would have missed it. She had an arrow notched and aimed at him. Unerringly at his head.

Impressive.

“What part of I’m not going with you didn’t you understand?” Her gaze unwavering.

“Do you think that will stop me?”

Her grin, feral. “Come closer and find out.”

His wolf perked up again. “Talk,” he said. “That’s it.”

“So talk.” Her posture didn’t relax any.

“I know this is a lot for you.”

“A stalker? Yes, it’s a bit new for me.”

“I. Am. Not. A. Stalker.”

“Of course not. I gave you my address. Oh, wait…no I didn’t.”

He clenched his jaw. “Listen to me. I don’t know”—he gestured at her—“can you lower that?”

“Sure can.”

He waited and she didn’t move. “Well?”

“I said I could, not that I would.”

He ground his teeth and dug for the patience he wasn’t known for. “Would you?”

She mulled it over. “You stay over there.”

“Fine.” He breathed easier when she lowered it. Casimir knew he could always use wolf speed to get to her.

Dyana finished gathering her arrows, and making a wide berth around him, went back to the position he’d left her at. He took a step toward her only to pause when she flexed her fingers on the bow and reached for an arrow in the quiver on her leg. He held still and she breathed easier.

His wolf showed he was impressed with her not willing to back down.

“We were married twenty-five years ago.” She rolled her eyes. “We were, our grandparents did this.” He sensed the change in her attention.

Having gone through all he did to become his pack’s Alpha, Casimir had gone through quite a bit. Her response wasn’t what he’d expected. Not in any way.

The arrow she loosed at his head took him by complete surprise. Only because of his supernatural speed did the razor-sharp point sink into the tree bark trunk behind him. Refocusing his attention back on her, he saw another in the bow, ready to be released.

At my head.

“What the fuck?” He forced himself to remain still.

“You have two minutes. Don’t mention my grandparents again.”

His wolf bared its teeth and rumbled as he paced within.

“You want me to explain without using an integral part of my explanation?”

“One-thirty and counting.” She lowered the bow from shooting position but he wasn’t fooled. She was wicked fast.

“Ours was an arranged marriage.” No word from her. “Between my grandparents and yours.”

Again, she barely even blinked. His wolf growled again, this time because of danger. Casimir scented and bared his teeth. The same odor from before in town. The air was still and he stared at her.

Dyana watched him through narrowed eyes. Her mistrust and suspicion positively blatant.

“Go home.”

“Fuck you. You go. This is my home.”

“Go!” He snapped the order, expecting to be obeyed.

She yawned and walked toward him. Distracted by her disobedience and her nearness he almost missed the glint. Almost. Even as he moved, Casimir was pissed. Who the fuck was shooting at them? Slugs burrowed into the trees around them.

“What the fuck! Get off me!”

“Shh!”

She stiffened beneath him but he stayed focused on their surroundings. Whomever it was, had vanished. Casimir rolled to his feet and offered a hand—one she ignored—to Dyana. He watched her get to her own feet. Twigs and a few leaves dangled from her hair and shirt.

“Are you alright?” He had this overwhelming need to inspect her from head to toe and ensure her complete wellness.

“Don’t ever do that again,” she snapped.

He snarled. “You’re welcome. I saved your life.”

“Nobody was after me until you showed.”

She readjusted her bow. Her words gave him pause and he frowned. What reason would someone be after him for? Aside from the obvious. A twig snapped and he thrust her behind him, again, a nearly overwhelming need to protect her coursed through him. Nothing was there. He reached behind for her only to grasp air.

Dyana stood off to his left, head raised to the south. A breeze blew, ruffling her hair and carrying with it the scent—one he couldn’t identify—of hers. The sun gleamed off the gold streaks in her hair. Her bow prepped to be drawn.

For a moment, he stood there and ogled her. Despising his attraction, he stepped toward her when the entire area rocked with an explosion.

“Shyla! Regina!” She ran toward her house, bow discarded on the ground.

Casimir ran before her, still needing to protect. The destruction that they came upon—hideous. The corvette convertible smoldered in pieces and the house burned.

“No!” Dyana moved by him and he snagged an arm around her waist. Her curves pressed tight to him. “I have to—”

“Stay put. I will go. You stay here.” No room for argument in his mind.

Without waiting to see if she obeyed he ran toward the burning home. Kicking aside the remnants of the charred door, he utilized all his senses to find her friends. His wolf—alert—snarled low as they searched.

“No!”

The cry spurred him to an immediate sprint. He bolted into the sunlight searching for Dyana. By the vehicle, she knelt on the ground by the bloody body of Regina. The woman was dead, he could see that from his distance. Dyana still placed her fingers on the neck, checking for a pulse. He knew she wouldn’t locate one.