Chapter 29
Victor lay in the bed, his mate content and sleeping in his arms. The scent of sex hung heavy in the air and he should be sleeping as deeply as his mate but he couldn't. Something was bothering him, something he could not put a finger on. It was like knowing a storm was coming even though the sky was a clear blue or knowing an enemy is following you even if you can't see them. He knew something was not quite right but he could not figure out what.
Slipping out of bed silently, he moved around the room, double checking the locks, searching for any unaccounted for scent. There was nothing.
He growled low in frustration and slipped on a pair of sweats. Securing the door behind him, he moved restlessly through the dark halls. There were no scents that should not be there, not on the lower floors. Stopping at each door, he listened carefully. Rachel was sleeping fitfully. Kurt had fallen asleep with the TV on. Kitty was working on the computer in her room, the keys clicking rapidly. Meggan was watching TV in her room, she smelled sad and he snarled silently. Everything was quiet and no intruder's presence was anywhere to be found.
Slipping out of his sweats, he climbed back into the bed, growling softly in frustration as he pulled his mate tight against him, wrapping his body around her protectively. He didn't know what was coming but it would not hurt her, not while he lived.
It was early morning and Victor dozed fitfully, his senses searching for any threat when he heard a heavy tread on the stairs outside the room accompanied by smell of liquor and sex. His mind identified the scent as non-enemy so he did not fully rouse.
The next morning, the women had decided to go shopping for the wedding and Victor was determined to accompany them. Betsy looked at him suspiciously knowing his dislike of shopping in general and women's stores in particular, but she did not question him in front of the others and he did not explain. How could he? All he knew was the feeling that something wasn't right was stronger this morning and he wasn't letting his mate or his baby sister out of his sight. Speaking of which, "Where's the pup?"
"Who?" Rachel asked confused.
Betsy smiled. "He means Meggan. Did you tell her about our plans?"
"Yes, I told her at dinner. She was supposed to come, Brian even said it sounded like fun."
"Hmm, maybe she overslept. She was probably overly tired from yesterday."
Rachel gave her a sly wink. "Are you sure you aren't overly tired from last night?" Betsy looked at her in surprise and the redhead openly laughed. "You two weren't exactly quiet."
The girls laughed. "Anyway, I think we should go up and wake her." The other two nodded agreement and the four of them walked up the stairs to the top level of the lighthouse to knock on Brian and Meggan's door. Victor could hear hurried movements on the other side of the door but they were too soft for the others to notice.
A few minutes later, Meggan opened the door, looking as beautiful as always, her shifting powers making bed hair and such nonexistent for her. She blinked in surprise at the others. "Am I late? I am sorry."
Betsy smiled to reassure her. "It is fine. We thought you must have overslept. Now, go get dressed so we can leave."
The blonde woman practically flew across the room to a large walk-in closet and the other three followed her, already making a list of places they needed to go. Victor also stepped into the room but remained by the door. His nose was immediately assaulted by several unwelcome odors and he growled deep in his chest. Listening to the women for a moment, he figured they would be at least 15 minutes since they were taking time to primp as well as catch up on gossip, so Victor used the time to prowl around the room quickly, seeking the sources of the odors that were troubling him.
There was the faint scent of blood against two of the walls and the floor, his lips pulled back from his teeth in a murderous snarl. Near the bed, he could smell Meggan's scent tinged with sadness and fear. Brian still lay under the covers snoring. He had a shower recently, the smell of soap strong but underneath it, Victor could detect liquor and perfume. Victor's teeth clenched in hate. Meggan did not wear perfume. His first instinct was to grab the blonde man and throw him out a window or simply gut him, but the sounds of the women laughing made him force his blood lust down. His family would not understand if they came out and found Victor covered in blood and Brian dismembered. He had to wait.
Moving quickly back to the door, he focused on his mate's scent and sound, using it to restrain his need to taste Brian's blood and she hurried out of the bathroom in concern. She could feel his bloodlust rising and quickly grabbed his hand, pulling him down the stairs away from the others.
"Victor, calm down." He stared down into her loving eyes and tried to obey. "I know you have been under stress and have not been able to take it out in a job but please, just hold on for a little while. I promise, I will find you something to hunt."
He nodded, letting her believe it was just his instincts in overdrive. In a way, she was right but she could not know what he believed he knew. Worse, he couldn't tell her. She loved her brother, looked up to him. She always said he was the upstanding, quiet one. No, he would protect her from what he knew, leave her with an untarnished image of her brother but he would also protect his baby sister. Meggan had accepted him sight unseen and meeting him had changed nothing for her and nobody was gonna hurt her. "Ok, just find me somethin' soon." She promised she would, kissing him quickly. "Oh, 'nd I think I should stay home today. Me 'nd salespeople don't mix too well on good days."
Betsy nodded gratefully and kissed him again as the others came down the stairs. "Oh, come on, guys, get a room." Kitty smiled good-naturedly.
Betsy was also smiling as she shot back, "Get your own."
Victor watched them drive off and waited until they were out of sight before turning his eyes back to the lighthouse. Time him and the little punk had a talk.
