A considerable weight lifts off my chest, but it’s hard to get too excited. If I don’t get back to my vineyards, I’ll lose everything, even if we acquire significant clients. I can’t be a prisoner and run my business. Everything I’ve worked for will be lost.
“That’s amazing,” I say, trying to sound upbeat.
“They are really interested in the new merlot we released on New Year’s Day. It’s been a huge hit. I’m surprised you haven’t said anything about it. Your name has been all over the internet.”
Unfortunately, I’ve been under a sleeping spell. I could just imagine the expression on Brooke’s face if I said that. I should be elated that my name’s being spread far and wide but there’s no joy in my heart. My time of fame in the wine business has finally come, and it’s going to go away just as quickly.
“I’ve been without internet in these mountains,” I end up saying. “As soon as I’m back in the land of the living, I’ll catch up on everything.”
“Sounds good. When you come back home, we’ll have to celebrate.”
“We will do that. I’ll talk to you soon. But, for now, just do what you’re doing and keep everything afloat for me.”
She giggles. “You know I will.”
We hang up, and my stomach growls with a vengeance. I’ve been asleep for almost a month and haven’t eaten or drank a single thing in that time. Obviously, the sleeping spell protected my body. Otherwise, I’d be dead from dehydration. Getting up, I stop at the bedroom door and listen. I can’t hear a damn thing other than my breathing and gurgling stomach. Slowly, I open the door and tiptoe out into the hall, looking all around me. No one is there. Surely, Chase has someone watching me from somewhere. I walk downstairs, and I can smell food coming from the kitchen. Stopping at the swinging door that leads inside, I pause for a second. Do I really want to go in? I’m not in the mood to see Chase or anyone else in his pack.
My stomach rumbles again, and I huff. I may not have my wolf powers right now, but being hangry will make me even more miserable. Placing my hands on the door, I push gently and peek inside. On the kitchen table is a covered plate with a bottle of water to the side. I could use a glass of wine … or twelve.
No one is in the kitchen, so I hurry over to the table and grasp the handle on the cover. With my luck, there’s going to be nothing underneath. I can see Chase and the Royal pack wanting to starve me as punishment.
I lift the cover, and relief settles in my chest. There is food underneath. Grilled pork chops, macaroni salad, and Brussel sprouts. Grabbing the fork, I cut into the pork chop and stuff it into my mouth. I thought I was hungry before, but I find myself ravenous with just one taste of the tender meat. It takes me all of two minutes to finish the plate of food.
With my belly full, I have more energy. I feel as if I can run ten miles and not stop. A few minutes pass, and I don’t hear a peep in the house. There has to be someone watching me. I slowly walk down the hallway to the living room and peek around the corner. No one is there. The front door is, though. I think it’s time I test my boundaries.
I head straight for the door and open it wide. Before I can even take a step outside, Chase is right behind me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Snarling, I spin around. “Out. Got a problem with that?”
He replies with a smug grin, and my fury comes back. My hand flies on its own, and I want to feel the joy of connecting to his face, but alas, I don’t move fast enough. His laugh echoes in the night air, and his hand closes around my arm. “That’s the second time you’ve tried to hit me tonight.”
“Yeah, well, one of these days I’ll actually hit you,” I snap. “You’re the most infuriating man I know.”
Still holding my arm, he chuckles again. “Where exactly were you planning on going off to?”
I glare at him. “Anywhere but here.” With all my strength, I jerk my arm out of his hold just as he decides to let me go. Everything moves in slow motion as I fall backward, knowing I can’t move fast enough to soften the fall. The concrete hits my back with sickening force, and it knocks the breath out of my lungs. I suck in a breath and curl into a ball, hoping I don’t throw up everything I just ate. The pain is excruciating. Is this how humans feel when they get hurt? If so, it must be miserable, and I’m glad I’m not one of them.
I can feel the burn slide up my throat, but I force myself to swallow a few times to force my dinner back down. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Chase’s hand as he extends it to me.
“Seriously?” I snap, glaring up at him. Then, finally, I smack his hand away. “I don’t need your help.”
He brings his hand back. “You should be thankful. Without me, there’s no telling where you’d be right now. You’re vulnerable, and you need protection.”
Vulnerable. I hate the word. I’ve been able to protect myself since the second I learned to walk. Still on the ground, I huff. “Move your hand, or I’ll rip off your arm. I can take care of myself.”
Chase holds up his hands and backs away.
When I get to my feet, I brush off my clothes and bite back a hiss as my hands run over the tender spot on my backside where I fell. “I have to get back to Virginia. My vineyard is all I have. I can’t let it go downhill.”
“That’s fine. You can go back there,” Chase says, shrugging as if it’s no big deal. A spark of hope vibrates through me, but it diminishes with his next words. “But I have to go with you.”
“Hell no,” I snap. “You’re my biggest competitor. I can’t let you see what I do.”
His smirk comes back. “Take it or leave it, princess. Those are my terms.” He turns for the door and walks inside. “Be sure to shut and lock the door when you come in.”
The man is infuriating. I quickly look around for something to throw at him, but there’s nothing. So instead, I watch him disappear down the hallway, strutting as if he’s the Great Luna’s gift to all women. Huffing, I step inside and blow out a frustrated breath. I glance back at the open door and leave it exactly the way it is.
With a smile on my face, I stomp up the stairs to my room, knowing Chase can hear me. “You can close your own damn door, you smug bastard.”
5
CHASE
I love getting under Kara’s skin. She’s even sexier when she’s pissed, especially when she pierces me with those stormy blue eyes of hers. As soon as she’s up in her room, I leave my office and shut the front door. No one else knows she’s awake, but it’s probably time I inform the Royal pack. I reach into my back pocket, pull out my phone, and scroll through my contacts as I walk down the hall back to my office. The second I see Zayne’s name, I walk into the room and shut the door. With Kara’s hearing no better than a human’s, I don’t have to worry about her listening in.
The line rings a couple of times, but then Zayne picks up. “Maheegan. I figured you’d be calling soon.”
“She’s awake,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I thought so. Any problems?”
I fight the urge to laugh. Kara’s been a spitfire, that’s for sure. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I say.