“I asked her not to go with him. But she left anyway.”
“She’s a strong, independent woman. She doesn’t take well to orders. You must know that by now.”
“Aye. But I sensed danger for her. I asked her to stay.”
“Did you tell her there was danger?”
“I told her it didn’t feel right. But I couldn’t tell her anything else because I didn’t know anything else. She left anyway.”
“She’s known the other lad for years. Sure and she didn’t think there was any danger.”
“She should have trusted me.”
“Aye. Perhaps. But Damian lad, you haven’t trusted her.”
“I trust her.”
“Not with your darkest secret.”
Damian raked his fingers through his tousled hair. Dougal was right. And the full moon was only days away. He hadn’t forgotten. He had just chosen to ignore it for as long as he could. With Suzanne, he had almost felt normal. Whole. A man, instead of a beast.
“Do you really think there’s danger?” Dougal asked.
“Aye. I was right the last time.”
“Then, lad, why are you still here?”
Right. Damian nodded. Suzanne may not love him, but he loved her. More than his own life. And he sensed something off with Wade. He turned to speak to his father, but then doubled over, and a gnashing pain sliced through his side. In his mind, Suzanne screamed for him.
“Lad!” Dougal rushed toward him.
“She’s in trouble. She needs me. Auugh!” The pain sliced into him again. “Just like that first night.” His eyes prickled as his irises swirled. The change always began in his eyes.
“Lad—” Dougal brushed his son’s arm. Damian looked down at the thickening hair. “Concentrate. Don’t let the animal take you. You’ve been here before. She needs you. Damian?the man.”
“Aye.”
“Come on. I’ll take you.”
“No, Da. I have to go to her myself. She’s mine to care for. I’ve let her down. But never again, Da. Never again.”
“I want to help you, son.”
“No!” Damian roared, and the wolf fought to escape the confines of his skin. He backed off. “I’m sorry, Da. But I can’t be worried about you and her. Please, stay here.”
Damian closed his eyes and tried desperately to keep the wolf at bay. He had never changed without a full moon, but since Suzanne had come into his life, it had almost happened twice now. She needed him whole. She may not love him, but she was still his. And he would protect her.
He raced upstairs and outside and revved up his Harley. As the first night, he sensed her presence and her fear. It exploded in the depths of his bowels, his marrow. He kicked the engine into gear, and the bike screamed into the afternoon.
38
Isabella was surprised to find the Lunar Eclipse vacant when she walked in for her afternoon shift. “Rex?”
No response.
The store was clearly open for business, and several customers browsed. She answered a few questions for them and rang up some purchases. When the store emptied, she went to look for Rex. She hadn’t known him long, but he seemed a serious businessman who wouldn’t leave his store wide open and unattended without a good reason.
She searched the back and the storeroom.
No Rex.
One door remained closed. The door that led to his basement flat.
She took a deep breath and knocked. When no response came, she opened the door.
Slowly, she walked down the winding stairs. At the bottom was another door. She knocked again.
Nothing.
Tentatively, she opened the door. “Rex?” She walked into a short hallway. “Rex? It’s me. Isabella. Where are you?”
“I’m in here, lass,” he said. “My study.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to bother you, but why did you leave the store? Can I come in?”
“Sure. Second door on the right.”
He sat before a computer, busily tapping on the keyboard. Boxes of files littered the room, and papers lay scattered everywhere. Only inches of the beige carpeting were visible.
“Is everything okay?” Isabella asked.
“No, lass, I’m afraid not. My nephew, you see. He’s missing.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Is he quite young?”
“No. A grown man. But my sister and I are very close, and she’s beside herself. I’ve quite a bad feeling myself.”
“Why?”
“It seems he has the strange idea that—” Rex stopped in mid-sentence. “I cannot really talk about it. Family confidences, you know.”
Isabella nodded. “I understand. I’ll just get back up to the store. Unless…” She eyed the mess. “You’d like some help down here?”
“Ah, lass.” Rex stretched his arms over his head. “It’s been a long day for me. Would it trouble you very much if I asked you to mind the store yourself this afternoon?”
“No. I don’t mind.”
“You’re a fine lass, Isabella. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He stretched again, yawning this time. “I could use a stiff Guinness.”
“I’ll get it for you,” Isabella said. She walked to the kitchen, which she had noticed on her way in.
As Isabella opened the refrigerator, Rex came running out of the office.