Gregory wasn't working with a full deck, not where she was concerned. He'd already proven that when he burned down her hair shop back home. Kira didn't care what the fire marshal claimed. Rats chewing on the wiring my ass.
Would her ex-boyfriend resort to the same trick twice? She couldn't bear it if her granddad lost the shop he'd worked in for forty years because of her. But with Gregory, anything was possible.
What's his plan? What does he want?
He knew she didn't want him, so why wouldn't he leave her alone? What would he do next? He'd left a message, but she doubted he was done. The question was, would he let her stew in fear before making his next move, or was he already implementing the next step in his plot for revenge?
I'm an idiot for staying here. She should have gone to a hotel for the night. Too late now. She didn't dare leave the relative safety of her apartment.
Fear kept her awake for a while. She watched the window that had access to the fire escape, but the bright lights in her apartment didn't let her see much but a reflection of her apartment. For all she knew, he was crouched out there, watching. Waiting for her to fall asleep. To be vulnerable.
She flinched at every sound the old building made as it creaked through the night. Fatigue tried to claim her. She nodded off in spurts, only to startle awake, certain he'd come for her.
Morning couldn't come soon enough. And then she had some decisions to make.
Chapter Eleven
Protect.
That was Arik's second instinct after he managed to control his first one, which roared Kill!
Satisfying, but also against human laws. Spoilsports.
Still, something needed to be done. It didn't take a finely honed sense of smell to perceive the terror emanating from Kira. A simple act of graffiti shouldn't have been enough to terrorize his fearless mouse. But when she'd divulged the possibility the threat was left by an ex-suitor, he started to form a picture.
A picture that required more information. But he couldn't exactly demand it from her, which was the only reason why he let her flee to her apartment alone. It went against his better judgment, but he allowed it, having to content himself with the knowledge he wasn't far.
Logic, however, didn't soothe his inner savage beast. The scent of blood, and not just blood, but the blood of a wolf, drove him to the brink. Whoever had left the message was a Lycan. An enemy. One who'd not just dared to threaten his woman, but dared to come into his territory.
While Arik might not rule this city's wolf pack, the canine group, few in number because not many took to city life, knew better than to cross him.
Rules stated all Lycans coming into his city had to report in to the pack leader. The leader, in turn, then notified Arik, who, being a gracious feline king, allowed the visitor to stay, so long as he or she behaved. But cross the line and …
Let's just say Arik enforced his laws, which had been created to protect them all from discovery. The fact that someone dared to show up to cause mischief didn't sit well at all. Especially since it meant Kira was dealing with more than just an ordinary ex-boyfriend who refused to let go.
Another tries to claim her. But would fail. He'd make sure of that.
Arik had to ignore his lion, which chuffed and chafed, demanding they follow her and stay close to her side. An instinct honed over the years said she was safe in her apartment. The lock showed no signs of tampering, and a quick check of the alleyway didn't reveal any recent scent of anyone trying to climb the fire escape. The wolf had left his message and left.
But where Kira was concerned, assumptions weren't enough. He needed to be sure. To see her safe for himself.
For that end, he clambered up the rickety metal structure the fire code demanded, staying out of sight of the well-lit window on the second floor. A quick peek inside showed a small, plainly furnished place. He noted no signs of violence and heard nothing but soft, gut-wrenching sobs.
She cries. A silent roar of frustration.
How he fought hard not to barrel into Kira's place and sweep her into his arms, promise her she had nothing to fear. However, she'd made it clear she wanted to be alone, and breaking in now would do nothing to ease her trepidation. And given she clutched a can of pepper mace, any attempt to get at her might prove unpleasant for them both.
Instead, he would be her hidden protector, standing guard from outside. Don't fear, mouse. I'll watch over you. You won't come to harm. He couldn't promise the same for the guy scaring her.
A guy who needed a full name and a face. Arik made some phone calls, and no, he didn't care that it was late and people might be abed.
If they worked for him, then they were fair game.
"Hayder." He didn't bother with niceties when his second answered. "I need you to find out what you can about Kira … " He paused as he realized he didn't even know her last name. Dammit.
"Kira who?"
"I don't know her last name, but it shouldn't be too hard to find out. She's Dominic's granddaughter, recently moved here from out west."
"Can I ask why you're requesting a background check on the girl?"
"Because I said so."
"Excuse me, Mr. High and Mighty for daring to ask a question."
"You're not excused, but I'll tell you why I want the info since it might help. It looks like her ex-boyfriend has shown up to stalk her. From the sounds of it, he's a piece of work. Thinks terrorizing women is acceptable. I'd like to find him and show him why that's a bad idea." Show him in slow, agonizing detail why no one threatened those he considered his.
"You know murder is against the law," Hayder reminded.
"Only if they find a body."
"Good point. Do you have any kind of clue about this guy?"
"Not much. She used the name Gregory and said they used to date when she lived out west. Oh, and she's got some kind of restraining order against him. He's also a wolf."
"A Lycan daring to come into our territory?" Hayder's tone changed. Arik wasn't the only one who didn't like encroachers.
"Daring and now threatening a woman. I want him found. I've given you enough details that you should be able to dig up some dirt. I want a picture of the asshole and more details."
"I'll have something on your desk in the morning."
Morning was too far away. "You'll have something for me in the next hour."
"You don't pay me enough for this," Hayder grumbled.
"I let you live. That's reward enough."
With Hayder's task set, and his anger still simmering, next Arik called Leo. "If you don't want the news to have a report of a lion running wild in the city, get your ass over here. And bring a bottle of cleaner and some rags." He rattled off the address before hanging up on his omega.
While he waited for Leo, he did his best to control his raging beast. But while he kept the lion contained, the man was pretty damned agitated too.
Someone had threatened Kira. She could tell him it was none of his business until the cows came to the kitchen door and offered themselves for dinner. Right now, she was upstairs. Crying. His feisty, outspoken mouse crying.
Like. Hell.
He'd respect her wishes to be alone tonight because he had work to do, such as making sure he didn't go on a beastly rampage-and peeing on every goddamn wall he could find so that if the wolf returned he'd know he'd incurred this alpha's displeasure. However, this was the last night they'd spend apart.
I've found my mate. And from here on out, she would never be alone again.
As soon as she'd come on his fingers, he was a goner. Human or not, Kira belonged to him, which would cause a shitload of problems, especially with the females in his pride. But he'd handle them. He was, after all, the boss-even if they tended to forget that at times.
Pacing the sidewalk in front of her building, he heard the hum before he saw Leo arrive on his fully decked out Honda Goldwing. Harley owners might stick their noses in the air at his choice in bikes, but only once had a pair of morons said something to Leo's face. Funny how the legend of him tying their beards in a knot traveled. Leo's version of poetic justice.
The big man got off his bike and strolled over to Arik, who had stopped to stare at the offensive door.
"That's not very nice," his omega remarked.
"Care to state something more obvious?" was Arik's snapped reply.
"Do I know who lives here?"
"Not quite, but you've heard of her and her cutting skills."
"I assume you mean the hairdresser. This is her door?"
"Yes, this is her door. She's upstairs right now crying because of the asshole who left this." Arik slammed his fist into the palm of his other hand.