Fated for Forever(48)

that the door was ajar. He felt his heart rate pick up.

It’s nothing. I just forgot to latch it properly when I left last week. I had Gabriel on the brain.

Shaking his head he pushed the door open and walked inside. When he looked around he felt his

insides turn to ice. Every glass toppings canister had been smashed and lay in pieces on the floor. The glass

of his ice cream case was shattered and all of the tables and chairs had been thrown about. But what made

him feel sick was the message spray painted on the wall.

Die! Whore! Die!

Shaking he backed out of the shop and stood on the sidewalk.

“Ashby! Ashby!” He hadn’t even noticed Nic running up to him. He felt Nic shaking his upper arms.

“What’s wrong with him?” Rebecca demanded.

Kate, Rex, Kent and Talon stood behind her as Sebastian rubbed his head against Ashby’s legs as if he

knew Ashby needed the comfort.

“He’s shaking and not talking,” Nic said before turning back to Ashby.

“Ashby, what is the matter? You’re freaking us out buddy.” Nic said, wrapping an arm around his

shoulders. Ashby turned and buried his face into his friend’s chest.

“My s–s–shop.” He finally got out. Talon and Rex immediately went into the shop. It was only seconds

later before they walked out, carefully shaking their shoes free of glass pieces.

“Alpha Mother, I think you better call your husband. Someone trashed his store,” Talon said, frowning.

“Oh my God.” Rebecca turned and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. Ashby shook his head.

Visions of broken glass and scattered candies filled his eyes and shattered his heart.

“Call Gabriel,” Nic’s voice said softly in his ear. Ashby nodded and stared at Nic, temporarily forgetting

how to use his cell phone. He held it out to Nic who looked at him with sadness in his eyes. Nic took the

phone and scrolled through the contacts before pressing a button.

“No, this isn’t Ashby, it’s his friend Nic. Listen Ashby’s shop has been trashed and he really needs to

hear your voice right now. I am handing the phone back to him…OK.” Nic handed the phone back to

Ashby.

“Gabriel.” The one word was spoken brokenly.

“Mon ange, are you all right? Are you safe?” Gabriel said speaking slowly. Ashby nodded.

“Ash, he can’t see you nodding,” Nic said, rubbing his hands up and down Ashby’s arms.

“I’m no expert, but I think he’s in shock,” Kent said, eyeing Ashby closely.

“Shit! I think you’re right,” Nic said, looking around frantically for Rebecca.

“Ashby, hand the phone back to your friend Nic. Everything will be OK, my love,” Gabriel said gently.

Ashby nodded and handed the phone to Nic who looked down at it confused. He brought it up to his ear.

“Yes?” he asked

“Take Ashby to the clinic of that sardonic asshole you have for a doctor. Keep him warm. He has had

enough shocks in the past few days to break down the strongest of men. Then I want you to put me

through to Aleksander Arkadion,” Gabriel said softly, but firmly.

“Rebecca, we have to get Ashby over to Doc’s clinic,” he said, steering Ashby to where Rebecca stood.

“Rebecca, what’s this about a break in?” Aleks asked, jogging up to them in his sheriff’s uniform.

“Aleks, someone has trashed Ashby’s store,” she said, pointing at the door.

“You didn’t go inside, did you?” he demanded.

“No, just Ashby, Rex and Talon,” she explained.

“We’re taking Ashby to the clinic Aleks,” she said, taking Ashby’s other side.

“Here Aleks. Gabriel wants to talk to you,” Nic said, passing off Ashby’s cell. Aleks nodded and took

the phone.

“You three go to the clinic and stay there until I come for you.” Rebecca nodded and she and Nic

walked slowly down the street with Ashby heading toward the clinic, Sebastian trotting along behind them.

Aleks turned to Rex, Talon and Kent.

“Can one of you go with them and guard the clinic? I’ll need the other two to contact Liam and Bran to

start patrols through town,” Aleks said.

“I’ll go with them to the clinic,” Rex said and jogged after the three.

“I’ll contact Liam and head west,” Kent said.

“I guess that leaves me calling the wolves and heading east.” Talon nodded to Aleks and the two took

off. Aleks raised the phone to his ear.

“Gabriel, who wants Ashby dead and how did they get into Arkadia?” Aleks asked.

“I’ve been getting death threats against Ashby from the drug ring I’m trying to take down. If vampires