The Lost Wolf's Destiny

Only partially mollified, Hailey nodded.

Later, after they were both clean and dressed in brand-new, soft cotton pajamas in exactly the right sizes, Blythe located a small refrigerator, partially hidden underneath the desk with a curiously lightweight chair. Inside she found juice, water and diet cola, as well as various healthy snacks. She grabbed a roll of string cheese and a bottle of water and carried it to Hailey.

While her daughter ate her snack, Blythe turned down the bed. The sheets appeared to be of a good quality and looked as though they’d been pressed.

Impressed, she shook her head. This place could pass for a hotel or resort, if not for the weird attitudes.

“Is it dark outside, Mommy?” Hailey asked, stifling a yawn.

“Yes, baby.” Blythe answered automatically, turning back the comforter and patting the bed. “Let’s try to get some sleep so we’re rested in the morning. We’ve got to be wide-awake so the nice man can try and help you.”

Hailey’s eyelids were already drooping. “Okay,” she murmured, crawling up and laying her head on the pillow. “Cover me up, please,” she ordered.

Climbing in beside her daughter, Blythe smiled. “I’ll cover us both.” She leaned over and kissed Hailey’s baby-soft cheek. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

Heart full, vowing to dream of hope, Blythe clicked off the light.

* * *

Damn. Guilt and shock and yes, the ever-present simmering flame of anger filled Lucas. The place still looked the same, he thought, coasting slowly past the immense wrought iron gates as though he was merely a curious biker, riding the back roads on his Harley. Pushing away the instinctive dread that coalesced in his gut, he studied the deceptively peaceful house through the black iron fence.

And he forced himself to remember the exact layout of Sanctuary. As if he could ever forget. That particular image was burned in his brain.

The urge struck him, hard and fast and furious, to give his bike the gas, spinning the wheels, and roar off into the sunset. Of course, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. It was time he paid back the debt he’d incurred fifteen years ago by failing his sister.

Continuing on, his powerful motorcycle rumbling beneath him, he circled the western edge of the property. Either Jacob had gotten careless, or he truly wasn’t worried about intruders, because here the fence was gone. From the looks of the deteriorating rubble, it had come down years ago.

Once, there had been perimeter cameras, and barbed wire, and patrolling guards. Despite all that, Lucas had managed to escape, his desperation and sorrow fueling him.

Then, the place had been a veritable fortress. Now, fifteen years later, apparently Jacob had no such worries, whether about people escaping or breaking in. Which meant either he had all of his followers completely brainwashed or he hadn’t managed to snag another abomination, as he’d called Lucas.

Until now. Until the little girl and her beautiful mother. They were like him, which was why they were in such grave danger.

He sighed. Somehow, Jacob had convinced them to come willingly, unaware of what kind of a monster the publicly pious man truly was. Lucas could well imagine the spiel, the honeyed lies flowing freely as Jacob promised healing and hope for the clearly exhausted mother and her seriously ill child.

Again, Lucas saw the woman’s face, as clear in his mind as if he knew her. Once more, his wolf came alert, the strong tug of something—attraction?—apparently affecting not only the man, but the beast, as well. Not good. And not only irrelevant to his mission, but a distraction he didn’t need or want. He had revenge on his mind, not lust.

Shaking his head, he forced his thoughts back to Jacob Gideon, the devil incarnate. Who knew what Jacob really meant to do, what experiments and torture he planned to inflict on the helpless small child, all in the guise of healing? If they were anything like what he’d done to Lucas, his own son, and to Lilly, his own daughter, they would be brutal. Truth be told, after seeing how delicate and weak the little girl appeared to be, Lucas doubted she’d be able to survive. His sister certainly hadn’t.

Pushing away the still-raw wound, he wondered what Jacob planned to do with the mother once he killed her child? A grieving mother would not only understand the depths of his betrayal, but would crave vengeance, no matter what the cost. Grimacing, he didn’t want to imagine the special something Jacob had planned for her, as well. No matter what she was, Jacob couldn’t help but notice her startling beauty.

Growling low in his throat, Lucas again pushed back his wolf. He had a job to do, and perhaps his wolf self would be helpful in that. Either way, no matter what, Lucas knew he had to get them out. As quickly as possible.

He made one more slow circle around the ranch, just to make sure. Sanctuary was unguarded. Good for him, bad for Jacob. But then again, he reminded himself, who the hell would really want to break in to Sanctuary? Especially if they’d never been given a reason?

Again Lucas pictured the small girl’s wan face and her mother’s tired, hopeful beauty. His fists clenched. He had to save them. He would save them, no matter what the personal cost.

It had taken him three days to make the drive. But then, he didn’t know exactly when the woman and her child had arrived here. If it had been directly after the newscast, that would mean they’d been under Jacob’s roof for seventy-two hours. Who knew what had already happened to them? He’d seen the look of desperation in the mother’s eyes. She’d obviously tried everything and was now reduced to grasping at straws. Jacob Gideon’s blatant brand of faith healing drew only the truly hopeless or the truly lost.

He wondered if she’d yet begun to figure out how things went. They’d probably had enough time to realize they weren’t exactly guests, but prisoners. And that Jacob might not be the benevolent prophet of God that he claimed to be.

He had one plan. Break in. Find the woman and her child. Get them out. And annihilate anyone who stood in his way.

Savagely, he realized he actually hoped that Jacob decided to stand in his way.

The woman might not believe him, but he’d have to take that chance.

His motorcycle, which had long been his primary form of transportation, wouldn’t work for getting them out. He’d need something larger, a car or truck or van.

He’d deal with that later. Right now, he’d gotten the lay of the land.

Driving past the gate for the last time, he gunned the motor and headed into town and the motel room he’d reserved by phone. He’d come back tonight under cover of darkness, go in and take a closer look.

Briefly, it occurred to Lucas that Jacob might have set a trap for him, using the woman and child as a lure to bring in his prodigal son. But as soon as he had this thought, he dismissed it. Too many years had passed and for all Jacob knew, Lucas was dead. Not once in all that time had Lucas attempted to make contact with the man who’d raised him. Despite the evidence of his bruised and battered young body, he hadn’t even gone to the authorities and reported Jacob for child abuse. He’d suspected they wouldn’t believe him or, if they did, Jacob’s silver tongue and powerful influence would convince them otherwise.

Full of guilt and sorrow, all Lucas had cared about was putting as much distance as possible between himself and Sanctuary and the man who had killed his twin sister.

After parking in front of his rustic motel room, he checked in and received his key. Next to the motel, a flashing neon sign advertised a café. His stomach growled. He needed meat, lots of it, red beef, hamburger or steaks, something with lots of protein to feed the animal inside him.

Using his key, he unlocked his room door and went inside. The musty odor of stale cigarette smoke mingled with the lingering smell of bleach. The scents, no matter how offensive, barely registered.

Because he suddenly realized he did have an amendment to his plan. Pretty much foolproof. Because no matter what Jacob might or might not expect from Lucas, he wouldn’t expect him to return as a wolf, the very thing that made him a demon in Jacob’s eyes.

Inside, Lucas’s wolf growled with approval. Decision made, he turned around and left the room to head toward the café. Now he would eat to make sure he was strong enough for the change. After, he might try to catch a few hours of shut-eye before nightfall.

Tonight, he’d return to the place that haunted his nightmares. Tonight, he would change and let his inner beast free. And this time, he would succeed.

He nearly laughed out loud. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him. It was fitting he go there as wolf. With his amplified senses—especially scent and night vision—he’d have the advantage. Jacob might have put the woman and her daughter out there as bait, using them to lure his son back. Or he might not. Either way, Lucas would find them and set them free. And in the process, he’d find a way to expose Jacob Gideon for what he truly was.

Once Lucas was done, once he got the woman and her daughter out, he’d make sure Jacob never hurt anyone else ever again.

Chapter 3

The next morning, after a fitful night trying to sleep, Blythe rose before dawn, craving coffee. The nightstand clock showed it was a little after five. A search of the room revealed no small coffeepot, like the ones in some hotels, so she reluctantly gave up on that idea.

Since Hailey was still sleeping, she moved quietly, aware her daughter needed all the rest she could get. The bad heart made Hailey tire quickly and suddenly. She’d collapsed a few times, unable to catch her breath. Each time that had happened, Blythe felt her own chest constrict, the horrible aching fear for Hailey, her frustration that she could do nothing to help her baby girl.

Crossing to the dresser, she took a T-shirt and undergarments, plus a pair of jeans. The idea that the clothing—all exactly the right size—had been purchased with her in mind, made her wonder. What if Jacob didn’t want guests to have their own things because he was trying to break the guests’ connections to the outside world?

As soon as she had the thought, she shied away from it. Her only concern had to be for any chance to heal Hailey.

Ah, well. She supposed this was their way of attempting to make her feel welcome.

Once inside the bathroom, she quietly closed the door and located a fluffy white towel. One thing she was learning about Jacob Gideon’s Sanctuary was that he didn’t skimp on luxuries.

Turning on the shower, she stepped under the hot spray with a sigh. The water felt good and she let herself relax.