Fated for Forever(51)

before heading toward the door. He paused, turned back around and his eyes narrowed at Rebecca.

“Stay out of trouble, I mean it.” He turned back and the door shut behind him. Rebecca rolled her eyes.

“OK, boys, time to boogie,” Rebecca said as Connor handed her a box full of muffins and a small box

of bacon for Sebastian.

They waved good-bye to Ma and Connor before heading to the ice cream parlor. When they walked in

Rebecca looked around, her eyes sad. She passed Nic the muffins and immediately scooped Sebastian up.

“We have to be careful Sebastian, we don’t want glass in your wittle paws.” She kissed the top of

Sebastian’s head as he settled down in her arms purring. Nic wiped down one of the few unbroken chairs

and held it out for Rebecca.

“OK, missy. Park it,” he said and placed the box of muffins on one of the tables. He turned and looked

at their pitiful inventory of cleaning supplies.

“Ash do you have any more bags? This lot isn’t going to cover it.” Nic pointed to the single box of lawn

and leaf bags they had brought from the ranch.

“I have some more upstairs, be back in a second,” Ashby said as he ran up the stairs.

When he got to the landing he saw that Aleks had left the door open. Shaking his head, he pushed open

the door and headed to the kitchen. He got down on his knees, rummaging around under his sink. Finally

he found the two boxes of bags he had been looking for. As he stood, he looked up, and clear as crystal he

saw the reflection of someone standing behind him in the polished metal of the refrigerator. He spun

around and dropped the boxes he hand been holding. A vaguely familiar man stood in front of him holding

a gun tipped with a silencer. He felt his heart try to climb out of his body through his throat.

“What do you want?” he demanded. The man was about to answer when Rebecca and Nic burst

through the apartment door skidding to a stop when they saw the stranger with the gun.

“You two, over there, next to him! Now!” the man screamed as spit flew from his lips. Nic edged in

front of Rebecca and they walked over to where Ashby stood. Both men took defensive positions in front

of their Alpha Mother.

“Why are you here?” Ashby asked.

“As if you didn’t know!” the man screamed. Ashby shook his head.

“I don’t know, really I don’t. I don’t even know you.”

“He is mine. He was going to talk to me that night, I just know it. Then you came along in your tight

jeans, tempting him. Swaying him to you. We are destined to be together.” The man’s voice rose to a fanatic

crescendo. Ashby gaped at the man.

“Oh my God, I remember you! You stood in front of me in line at Purgatory the night Gabriel claimed

me. You were the raccoon with the cologne,” Ashby exclaimed.

“I sent him a love letter, on special pretty paper. I told him you would die. I just knew he was waiting

for me.” The man walked back and forth in front of them waving the gun. Nic turned his head a fraction

caught Ashby’s eye and both turned to look at Rebecca, who mouthed a single word.

Kate.

Both men nodded and concentrated on connecting through to the missing fourth member of their Inner

Court.

“If you wanted me dead, why did you attack Gabriel?” Ashby asked, trying to stall for time.

The man turned his faced crazed.

“I didn’t! I didn’t! I didn’t! You were supposed to die, not him. I have a secret. Yes a secret. I’m only

half shifter. The other half is witch. I was raised by my witch grandmother who taught me things. I used a

spell to break your mating bond. It should have killed you! Why aren’t you dead? Poison didn’t work, the

spell didn’t work. But I know what will work. My gun will work. Then he will be mine,” he said in an

insane singsong childlike voice.

“Mating bonds are built into shifters, you can’t break them in us. All you did was drive Gabriel feral,

you son of a bitch,” Ashby said furiously. This man was responsible for all of the pain he experienced in

the past week and had made his mating with Gabriel miserable.

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” The man pointed the gun at Ashby.

“Don’t piss off the crazy man with the gun Ashers,” Rebecca whispered.

“I’m not crazy! Step out in front, bitch!” he said, leveling the gun at Ashby.

“No!” Both Ashby and Nic protested. The man started to squeeze the trigger slowly with the gun pointed

at Ashby’s head.

“Wait! I’m stepping forward,” Rebecca said, easing forward until she stood in front of Ashby and Nic.

Sebastian jumped in front of Rebecca and arched his back hissing at the crazed half shifter.