Dianthe Rising (6 page)

“It doesn’t matter how big it is, Matthew. She’s still in this city and I have to do everything I can to find her. It doesn’t matter how unlikely it is. I’ve found her once, damn it. I’ll do it again.”

“Okay, Kale, I’ve texted four of our guys. They should be with you in the next quarter hour or so.”

“Who are you sending?”

“Jake, Randolph, Lee, and David,” Matt replied. “They were the closest trackers on hand, Alpha”

“Good,” I said. "Randolph is probably the best in the country. If he cannot get a scent, no one can."
Fuck, I just hope the scent is strong enough for them to get a trace
. “Is there any sign of the pups,” I remembered to ask.

My hands ran through my hair as I started thinking about my original goals. I couldn’t do anything more until the trackers showed up. At least I could investigate if those little bastards had made it back safe.

“It’s after two, unless they got into trouble they should be heading home or there. Hold on for a sec, boss man, and let me check with security at the gate.”

I could hear him typing on his keyboard and swearing in several languages at the same time. A couple of minutes had passed when he came back on the line.

“Some good news, boss, they got back about fifteen minutes ago. Charlie said they were all pissed but in one piece. He sent them up to the main house to pass out until morning.”

“Good, wake them up at dawn and put them on patrol with the early team. Make sure that every one of them is out busting their asses running the borders.”

“No problem, Kale. Hey, just got a text from Randolph, ETA in less than four minutes. Is there anything else you want me to do, before I go?”

“Yeah, run a profile check for me. I’m sure you can get into the police data base right?" A muffled snort answered my question.

“Ummm…yeah, I should be able to do that. Hit me with the details.”

“She’s about five foot six or so, black hair with blonde streaks. It’s long, like to her ass long. Her hair has natural curl to it, wavy but not kinky. She’s Caucasian but with a light golden tan. Looked natural, none of that spray-on crap. I didn’t get a good look at her eyes. However, they appeared dark, maybe brown. In her twenties I would say.”
God, I hope she is not a teen. That would be all kinds of fucked up.
“See what you can find and get back with me.”

“Sure thing, Alpha, I’ll let you know if I find anything. But just so you’re aware, it’s a long shot.”

“Understood,” I said before I hung up to greet my men. I met them at the end of the alley.

They were heading toward me from the car park at the pub.

“Randolph, it’s good to see you.” I shook his hand and turned to the three other males waiting. Nodding in their direction, I cut to the chase. “I’ve called you tonight because I’ve found my mate.”

Four sets of eyes lit up and joy crossed their stoic faces. “Congratulations, Alpha. But what do you need us for?"

They looked confused and I couldn’t fault them for it. They had no idea why they were here. "More than likely to go on a wild goose chase," I told them.

My hand rubbed the back of my neck, and I felt more like a pup than the seasoned wolf I was. A nod of my head motioned to the alley I had just left.

“I found her and lost her. A vamp was after her and while I dealt with him, she ran. There’s a trace of her scent left and I want you four to try to get it, so we can hunt for her.”

Faces appeared solemn when the four of them walked past me into the alley. Their minds turned to the business at hand. They spread out across the entrance and separated into two groups. Two from the back and two from the front, they worked their way inward toward the center.

“You’re right, Alpha, it’s faint with a lot of outside interference but we should be able to get her base scent.”

They inhaled as they started to break down her scent. I knew it by heart and could pick her out of a crowd of hundreds of women blindfolded. But the more wolves that had her scent the better the chance of finding her.

“Warm honey,” whispered Jake.

“Heather,” murmured Lee.

“Sunshine,” David intoned.

“All that is spring," with a grave nod from Randolph. "We have her, Alpha. There are no perfumes or chemicals covering her scent. We got lucky tonight. Do you want us to try to track her?" Randolph asked and I nodded.

“Yes, see what you can do but I’m not holding out much hope. Canvas the area, and see if we can find anything. You know what to look for, get back with me if you find anything. If not, we will meet in the morning with the rest of the pack. I’m going back toward the pub. That’s where she was heading before the vamp grabbed her, so with any luck I’ll pick something up.”

With that, we all went our separate ways and the hunt began.

*****

Dia…

Vaguely I heard voices but I just didn’t have the energy to lift my head from the desk. I was done in for the night. Honestly, I just didn’t have it in me to care. So I just kind of let the world drift in and out around me.

Snippets of conversation penetrated the fog that seemed to want to reach up and pull me back down into the oblivion of sleep.

“How long has she been like this…?”

“Only a few…”

“Did she hit…head?”

“Don’t…think…no…”

“I’ll take…”

“Want…help…”

“No, get her home…”

I cracked an eyelid and mumbled up at them. "I can hear you, but I'm freaking tired, Sean. Be kind and let me sleep.” I didn’t bother to look at them before grumbling. "I didn’t hit my head, I'm knackered."

That was the last I remembered before it felt like the world had become weightless and I was floating. A deep voice giving soothing reassurance blanketed me and the world just slipped away.

*****

Sean…

“Thank you, Rosie for taking care of her until I got here.” Sean looked into the kind eyes of the manageress. “You have my card, so if you hear anything about what happened tonight please give me a ring.”

“Sure thing, love,” Rosie replied. “Poor dear, she has been through the wringer. I hope you find who did such a number on her, but I won’t be holding my breath. You see what it's like, love. So much goes unpunished.”

“Yeah,” I said gruffly. “I see it a lot. It’s nice to know there’s a few good people like you left in the world,” I replied while I looked down at the bundle in my arms.

“Oh hush, and get that sister of yours outta my pub so I can close up and get myself home.”

After saying good-by to Rosie, I gazed down with fondness while carrying my burden out the door. I walked through the door and made my way toward the Range Rover.

With the remote key in my hand, I maneuvered Dia up into my arms as I clicked the button to unlock the 4x4. Opening the back door was not so easy. This was not such a pain in my ass to do when she was five. I looked down at the young woman in my arms and saw the angel faced little girl that used to follow me everywhere I went.
What happened to that precocious child?
I mused.

It seemed it was yesterday she was leaving milk and honey on her windowsill for the fairies. I could hear her keen little voice rising in anger when I made fun of her silliness.

“Shaw,” she would shout. Tiny fists on her hips and foot tapping in anger just like mum. She would lisp though her missing teeth.

“The fawries hafta eat too yeh know.”

God, I miss that precious little girl at times. I smiled fondly at the memories as I settled my bundle into the back seat. I eased the seatbelt around her and clicked it into place. My favorite Chelsea hoodie supported her head. I wedged it tight between her and the window, so it wouldn’t move. After making her as comfortable as I could, I pulled back and closed the door. I stood back and looked out at the night around me. My copper’s nose was going crazy. It was making me feel like we were not alone, but I couldn’t see anyone to prove that feeling. What I wanted to do was case the area where the bastard attacked her. With a shake of my head, I vetoed that idea. I wouldn’t leave her on her own while I searched for evidence. I went around to the driver’s side before taking one last sweep, then jumped into the car and headed back toward Dia’s flat.

*****

Kale…

I walked back to the car park where I had left my bike. My senses swept the area, looking for clues of where she went. A movement near the doors of the pub caught my eyes. I watched as a dark haired male put my mate into the back seat of a black SUV. A smile curved my lips when the wind brought me his scent. Her scent covered him.

"Gotcha," I whispered to myself.

I refused to allow anger and jealousy to rise up at the thought of another male touching my soon-to-be mate. With the way he held her, she was dear to him. The only thing that kept me from ripping him to shreds where he stood was one truth. He wasn't looking at her as a lover would. It was time to wait, watch, and learn.

She was mine—she just didn't know it yet. Lifting my mobile, I took a photo of the plates. I quickly sent the photo with directions of what I wanted done to Matt. By this time tomorrow, I planned to know everything there was to know about my female and the male driving her away from me. With a feral smile, I melted back into the shadows sending texts to my men as I started to plan my next step in the acquisition of my mate. I would follow them to make sure she arrived safely where she was going. Tomorrow, well the hunt would continue.

Chapter Five

Dia…

“Ungghh…” I moaned. My arms stretched out as far as I could make them. I rolled over and threw an arm over my face.

I lay there with my mind blessedly blank for a moment before I focused on the sun pouring into the window. I swear it was giving the evil little drumming men in my head more power to torture me.

Why in the hell was the curtain open anyway? Was karma out to get me?

I swear to God if I survived my first hangover, I would never endure another one. Why? Because I would never let Annie convince me to drink—e
ver
again
.

Another consideration crossed my mind. Note to self, stop making so many promises to God, I had to keep those suckers. I groaned once again at the idea of going to confession.

I finally screwed up my courage and gave into the incredible urge to pee. I rolled out of bed and fell onto all fours. With a groan, I laid my head against the cool hard wood floor. Man, the floor felt so good. I wondered if it was possible to stay here today. My bladder chose that moment to let me know it was still waiting. No, the bathroom came first. I tried hard not to move my poor abused body any more than necessary. With consternation, I looked across the endless miles of space to my bathroom door.

I nearly peed myself then and there when instead of a clear path to my destination I saw two large black boots attached to denim covered legs. Blearily, I stared, confused for a moment, before squealing and backtracking as fast as I was able. I only made it a couple of inches before my back came up against the bed.

Afraid to look up but knowing I had to. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and raised my head. With a squint, I opened one eye to look into the face of my doom. Awww hell, I opened both eyes, reckoning I would have preferred the serial killer I had imagined. My brother stood in front of me with his arms crossed over a muscled chest. Unfortunately for me, he looked to be firmly in full-on cop mode.

"Crap, crap, and crap," I swore. “Hiya, Sean.” I tried to smile at him but failed miserably as the miniature horrific men in my head took up the hammer swinging once again. Sean glared down at me and began to speak in his best superior than thou voice.

“Really, Dia, if I were going to kill you, do you think I would make sure you had the time to check me out?”

Man, you could cut that sarcasm with a knife.

“Ummm…maybe?” I whined. “You might have been one of those guys who like to play with their victims before doing horrible things to them.”

“Yeah, let’s talk about that for a moment.” He scowled down at me. “Want to tell me how you ended up in the situation you did last night? Why, at two a.m., on a Thursday morning I had to come and haul you home. Drunk, battered, and bruised? In fact, do you have any idea how it felt to walk into that pub to see my baby sister filthy and bleeding. Not to mention unconscious?”

With a sigh, he sat on the floor beside me and reached an arm around to pull me closer.

“Baby girl, I’ve seen so many young women like you. All of them full of life and innocent to the horrors of this world. I have watched their bodies pulled from the river or found them sliced up and left in a skip. I don’t want that to be you, Dia.

"I wasn’t happy when you decided to move to London on your own in the first place. However, I said she is a grown woman. She’s sensible and knows how to take care of herself. Where’s that girl, Dia? The responsible sister that I promised mum and dad you were and would grasp how to take care of herself and stay out of trouble.”

Swallowing hard, I looked up at Sean. It was amazing how he had the ability to make me feel like I was ten again. At that moment, I wanted to break down and cry.

Damn it, I am not a child
, I thought.
It’s time to stop acting like the little girl my family obviously believed I was.
They will never treat me like the adult I am if I keep giving into them.
A deep breath later, I looked at Sean and got ready to tell him that I had to live my own life.

“I’m sorry, Sean. I honestly did not go out looking for trouble. Annie and I went out for my birthday last night. It was supposed to be a quiet night
because
it was a weeknight. We managed to get separated.” No way was I going to tell him about Annie abandoning me in the hope that Daniel would take me home.

“I couldn’t find her so I decided to grab a taxi home.” Again, so not admitting I was really going to grab the tube. He would have a heart attack. “When I left the club, I was attacked around the corner by some druggy. He must have been on drugs because he was talking up some major crazy. Then this other bloke came to my rescue and rushed the guy who had grabbed me. I didn’t stick around but ran to the pub and called you.”