“It started when she arrived at the University of Arkansas. She went to the campus police, but they said they couldn’t do anything, since they don’t know who it is. I sent a couple of Guardians down to Louisiana to investigate the ex-boyfriend.”
“Ex?” Jayden knew she had a boyfriend. The night she was kidnapped she was on her way to visit him. She’d left LSU to go visit him at his home in Lafayette.
Barrett seared him with a glare. “Apparently mommy and daddy aren’t the only assholes concerned about damaged goods. That little prick dumped her the second he found out what happened.”
Anger surged through his entire system making him wish he had a bad guy, drug dealer, kidnapper—any would do—in front of him so he could rip them apart with his teeth.
“My money is on the boyfriend. He might be regretting what he lost and is now making her pay for it.” Jayden looked away before Barrett could see the yellow orange tint to his pupils, signaling the shift into wolf. He needed to get it together. He didn’t need to be out of control in front of his new Pack Master.
The last thing he needed was to shift in front of Barrett. Being a Guardian meant being in control of yourself at all times. Humans, except for the government, didn’t know werewolves existed outside of novels and movies. Hell, humans had enough to keep them fearful: global warming, sucky economy, and episodes of reality TV.
“Okay, so what do you need from me? Gathering Intel? Asking around at the college? Surveillance?” Every muscle in his body trembled with the urge to find whoever was scaring Haley and make them pay in blood. He could most certainly make it look like an accident, or at least an animal attack.
“All of the above. I have a house in Fayetteville. I stay there when the Razorbacks are playing. You’ll stay there. I’ve talked to Haley and told her I will have someone in place protecting her while she goes to her classes.”
“Have you told her she will have to stop going to parties with her friends at night?”
Barrett arched a brow. “What parties? She gave me her daily schedule and the only time she leaves her room is to go to class. Her roommate, Dana, is the only friend she’s made since moving to Fayetteville. Hell, she doesn’t even go out to eat. She eats every meal in her room.”
Jayden scowled. Was she as fucked up as him over what had happened? Had he done this to her by not being able to save her?
“You okay with this assignment?” Barrett gave him a long assessing look.
“Yeah.” Jayden gave a quick nod.
“Good. I’m counting on you to keep that girl safe. God knows we’re the only family she’s got now.”
Jayden swallowed.
He had failed Haley once.
Whatever it took, he wasn’t going to fail her again.
#
“Holy shit, here comes Barrett Middleton.” Dana spoke out of the side of her mouth, as they stood on the sidewalk outside the boutique in the town square. “I wonder if he caught me trying to sneak a peek at him in the Guardian’s gym?”
Haley almost stopped breathing when she spotted Barrett Middleton headed straight for her. She had come to him under the cover of night to explain her situation and show him the letters. As her new Pack Master, Barrett was her last resort for protection.
She had screwed up every last ounce of courage to actually walk into the Guardian building. When a large werewolf with a scar across his cheek had stepped in front of her, she was sure her heart had stopped. For a brief second she had wondered if her parents would even come to her funeral.
His name was Damon and he’d pierced her with a glare before leading her to Barrett’s office.
While Dana knew about the first few notes she’d gotten, she didn’t know about the latest one, the ones that had her lying awake all night wondering if she was going to live another day. Even though Dana was a werewolf, Haley hadn’t told her what had happened in Louisiana or the real reason behind why she transferred colleges. She didn’t want her friend to disappear like her family had.
“Hello, ladies.” Barrett nodded and turned his gaze on her friend. “Dana, how is college going? Not partying too much are you?”
Dana blushed. “It’s going good. Keeping my grades up and staying out of trouble.”
“Good, good.” Barrett turned back to Haley. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Oh, shoot, of course.” Dana laughed. “This is Haley Guthrie. She just transferred to the university from LSU.”
Barrett stuck out his hand and Haley blinked. Of course Dana wouldn’t have a clue that she’d already met the Pack Master.
Haley accepted his outstretched hand.
“Nice to meet you, Haley. I think you will find the Weres in Arkansas welcoming and very protective of their own,” Barrett said.
Haley’s heart hitched at his underlying meaning. She’d lived in Louisiana all her life, but her own family had failed to protect her or even accept her after she had been hurt. Even the Pack Master of Louisiana had refused to see her when she went to him about what had happened the night of her kidnapping.