Page 24 of Daddy Wolf’s Secret Baby (Fated To The Wolf #10)

23

Zahra

Z ahra was relieved when she made it to work without seeing Elias or any of his goons. Smiling, she grabbed her purse, locked her car, and strolled toward the office. Suddenly, she stopped.

A chill went through her body and she looked around. Something’s not right.

Pulling out her phone, she pressed the speed dial button for Josiah’s number and her finger hovered on the send button.

Cautiously, she walked inside. The place was a mess. Papers were thrown everywhere and the front desk was overturned. She hit send.

“Good morning.”

“You need to get to my work, now. Something bad has happened. It’s a mess.” Her voice shook.

“On my way.”

She held her breath as she looked into all the offices, but they were empty – until she got to Jeff Watson’s office. Her boss was lying on the floor. He was ghostly pale and his lips were blue. His neck looked like it had been shredded. She ran over to him and knelt beside him.

“Oh, my lord. It looks like he’s been attacked by vampires,” she whispered into the phone.

Jeff moaned.

Her breath caught in her throat and she felt lightheaded. “He’s still alive. Hurry. I’m going to hang up and call Zac.”

Zahra ended the call and called her brother to report what happened. “He has a pulse, but it’s weak. He won’t make it much longer if we don’t get him some help.”

“I’m on my way. Call Beth.”

Zahra did and Beth said she and Taryn would be there in ten minutes or less. Isobel had come early that morning to have coffee with her, so she could watch the babies.

She put her hand on his arm. “Jeff. It’s Zahra. I need you to hang in there. Help is on the way. I just need you to listen to me and stay awake. You’ve done it so far. You can keep doing it.” She tried to keep her voice calm, but she was certain that she was about to have a heart attack.

“I…didn’t see…them. I was about…to leave when… they came… out of nowhere. They bit me.”

“They were vampires, but my friend knows how to help you.”

A sound like someone was wrenching the door off of the hinges caught her attention.

“Zahra,” Josiah bellowed.

“In here.”

He rushed in, surveyed the scene, and looked at Jeff’s neck. “Vampires.”

“Jeff said he was about to leave when they came in and attacked.”

Beth, Taryn, and Zack arrived at the same time a minute later. Beth rushed over to him and put her hands out, just above his body, without touching him. She changed and Zahra thought she could actually see a putrid green essence coming out of his body.

“Taryn,” Beth said simply.

Zahra watched in awe as the thirteen-year-old touched Jeff’s body and chanted. After half an hour, the color returned to Jeff’s face and the marks on his neck healed.

Somewhere during the process, Conner had arrived and stood watching Taryn work with his arm around Beth’s shoulder.

“He had started the process of turning,” Beth whispered. “If Zahra hadn’t found him when she did, we would have lost him. He’ll be okay now.”

Taryn sat back, exhausted. Conner and Beth rushed to her side, and Conner gathered her up in his arms. “I’m taking her home.”

“I’ll meet you there,” Beth said.

Jeff sat up and accepted a bottle of water from Zac. “Vampires? And you and the little girl came to heal me?”

“We would appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone about that part of it,” Beth said. She pulled a plastic baggie out of her pocket. “This is nettle, yarrow, and burdock root. Fill a tea strainer with it and make some tea. You can sweeten it with honey if you want. Each tea strainer full will make two cups of tea. Drink at least one cup every hour until it’s gone. This will help fortify your blood and cleanse your system.”

“Thank you,” Jeff said. “I swear I won’t tell a soul. Who would believe me, anyway?”

“You’d be surprised,” Beth said. She hugged Zac, Zahra, and Josiah and left.

A few minutes later, a loud gasp was heard and several people started talking at once.

Zahra rushed out of Jeff’s office. “Someone came in here last night and attacked Jeff. It was probably an unhappy client, but he didn’t see who it was. He’s okay, but everyone should go home today.”

She knew that she was babbling and gave more details since she was lying, but she couldn’t seem to stop the words from coming out of her mouth. Zahra grabbed his keys and locked the door after she finally managed to shoo everyone out.

Jeff was sitting in his chair when she walked back in. “Now, what do I do?” He sounded lost.

“Live your life. Tell the people you care about how much you love them. Do things that you’ve always wanted to do,” Zahra said.

“I can’t forget that I got attacked by vampires and that witches saved me,” he protested.

“No. They’ve always existed and you lived your life. You’ll keep doing that. The world is full of amazing people and creatures. There are some really good people in the world who are vampires, too. These guys just happen to be the bad guys,” Zac said.

“Where are Sam and Dean when you need them?” he muttered.

Zahra grinned. “You love Supernatural , too?”

Jeff nodded.

“Sam and Dean are off chasing a wendigo in Montana, but they sent Zac and Josiah instead. They’ll catch the vampires. Don’t worry. Do you need someone to drive you home?”

Jeff stood and looked around his office. It looked like a tornado had devastated it. He shook his head. “No. I’ll be fine. I think I’ll go home, take a shower, eat, drink tea, and sit on the couch all day. There’s no point in going to the doctor.”

“No,” Zac said.

“There’s no point in going to the police.”

“Nope,” Josiah said.

Jeff put his hand on Zahra’s arm. “Remind me to give you a raise. Thanks, guys. I owe you one. I’ll do your taxes for free and get you a maximum refund.” Then, he walked out the door without another word.

“I think he handled that really well,” Zahra said.

“Why did they come in here? Were they in the area looking for an easy target?” Zac asked.

“Likely,” Josiah replied.

“I guess I have the day off. You guys do your investigation. You don’t need me. I think I’m going home to eat and take a nap,” Zahra said. “All the excitement and adrenaline has me starving and tired.”

Josiah hugged her and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Be careful.”

“Of course.” She hugged her brother and left, surveying the parking lot.

“It would just be too damned convenient if those vampires happened to find Elias and his men and take care of that little problem for me. It’s likely evil can sense evil and they’ll avoid each other.”

As she drove, she thought about the fact that she had been feeling a little off lately. She had been hungry, tired, and a little moody. She was also feeling sick in the mornings.

“I can’t be pregnant, can I? Of course, I can. Josiah and I’ve been together several times. That’s how people get pregnant.”

Instead of going home, she visited the clan doctor, who confirmed her suspicions.

“Congrats. You are going to have a pup in about five and a half months,” the clan doctor said with a huge smile.

Zahra could hardly believe her ears. Her heart leaped and she grinned from ear to ear. “Thanks, Doc.”

He told her what herbs to take that would help ensure the baby’s healthy growth and told her to come back in a month.

She was excited and couldn’t wait to tell Josiah. “This time, I know he loves me, and he’ll love the baby every bit as much as he loves Jace. He’s such a great father.”

Jace was the love of her life and there was no way she would trade him for the world, but she couldn’t help but compare the way she felt about learning she was pregnant this time to last time. Before, she was terrified but determined to love the baby and make it on her own. This time, she was elated and excited about sharing the news with Josiah and Jace.

“He’ll be the best big brother in the world.”

Zahra had a late lunch and a quick nap before she needed to pick up Jace.

As she drove to the school, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She checked her rearview mirror and saw the dark blue pickup trailing her a few cars back. “Either they don’t care that I know they are there, or they’re very bad at secret surveillance.”

She started to shake and her heart pounded in her chest. No. They don’t get to make you feel that way. Go get Jace and go home. Josiah will be there soon.

Regardless of what she tried to tell herself, she couldn’t stop the anxiety. It was a weird feeling, almost like the inside of her body was trembling. She had never felt this way before.

Jace was waiting out front. As soon as he was in the car, she quickly locked the doors, checked for oncoming traffic and people, and floored it.

“What’s wrong, Mom?”

“I thought someone was following me earlier. I just want to get home.”

Jace turned around and looked behind them. “Like the big blue truck? I’ve seen that outside the house before.”

“Yeah, just like that.”

Zahra was pretty sure she didn’t breathe until the garage door came down behind them. She grabbed her purse and practically dragged Jace into the house, shutting the door and locking it. For good measure, she pushed a chair under the doorknob.

“Are you going to call Dad?”

“No. He should be home soon. Them following me is old news. Even though it’s unsettling, they aren’t hurting us.”

“I guess,” Jace said.

They went into the kitchen and she started to make Jace a snack. Someone knocked on the door, and she cautiously went into the living room to check it out.

Suddenly, the door splintered. Elias and four other men rushed into the room.

“Run, Jace. Go to Grandma’s.”

She backed up and threw a couple of lamps at them. “Get out of my house.”

Zahra felt for her phone but realized it was in the kitchen. She backed up and tipped her couch over.

Elias laughed. “There is no need for this. All you’re doing is destroying your stuff. You can’t escape.”

In answer, she picked up her flatscreen television and threw it at him.”

Elias growled. “I’m getting tired of this, bitch. Grab her.”

Dwayne and another of his men jumped over the couch and ran toward her. She pulled out her bear spray and nailed them in the eyes. They screamed with pain.

“It’s stupid of you to fight. I always get what I want,” Elias said.

“Not this time. Being mated with me would be miserable for you. I loathe you and want nothing to do with you,” Zahra spat at him.

“Breaking you is going to be the best part of this. Little by little, I will break you and make you mine. You’ll see.”

Two of them shifted. She shifted, too, and they started fighting. They were bigger and stronger than she was, and she knew she couldn’t win, but she hoped to give Jace enough time to get to her parents’ house.

“Mom,” Jace screamed.

She looked up and her heart dropped into her feet. Her stomach knotted and she was certain she was about to throw up.

Elias was holding Jace, one hand around his throat. “I’ll kill the boy right here, right now, unless you stop this nonsense. If you come back, willingly, right now, I’ll even let him live. I’ll treat him like he’s my own dear boy, except that he won’t be my heir.”

All the fight left her. “Fine. If you give me your word that Jace will be safe, I’ll go. Instead of taking him with us, though, you can leave him here.”

“No, I don’t think so. He makes a nice little insurance policy. As long as I have him, you’ll behave. Now, put on some clothes. Although I love seeing you standing there in shredded clothes, it would be weird driving home with you like that.”

She complied, her mind racing, trying to figure out a way to save her and Jace. Zahra quickly packed a bag for Jace. Elias shoved Jace toward her and pushed them both outside and into the truck.

The sun was setting and darkness settled over the land and her heart. She sent out a frantic telepathic message, hoping against hope that Josiah would hear it.

Elias has Jace and me. Please help us.