chapter Twelve
“You knew if you stayed here I’d come back for you.” William had entered the ruined mansion seconds ago. James stood amongst his pack looking calm and relaxed.
“Actually, I figured you’d still be paying respect to the dead witch,” James said, stopping one of his wolves from lunging for William. “Or are you intending to join her?”
“I’m taking you with me,” William announced.
“Just so you know, Emma fooled me as well. I thought Katie was meant for me and my pack but the prophecy didn’t say anything about a witch. I was too impatient. I didn’t want Katie—Emma did.”
James was trying to soothe him. William was not in the mood to be soothed.
“If it wasn’t for you, Katie would still be with me. When you realised what Emma had done you could have sent her back to me. You didn’t. Now you’ll pay the price.” William removed his shirt.
James started laughing. “What are you—”
James was cut off as William went at him, taking him down in a heap. The wolves around them turned, circling their master, waiting for the opportunity to take the vampire out.
William didn’t care. He wanted this wolf’s head.
He kept Katie in his mind. Thinking about her kept her real to him. He was doing this for her.
William struck first, pummelling James’s face with his fist. James reared back, instantly bloody.
William kept hitting the beast until James lunged, his teeth piercing the skin, the deadly strike of animal’s canines going through the flesh to the bone.
The death strike, between wolf and vampire.
William howled in pain but nothing more. He knew he would die soon anyway and the attack had put James at a bad angle.
He sank his teeth into the wolf’s neck, tasting his blood.
What the f*ck?
James wasn’t Alpha. James was a f*cking half-breed.
Before William could understand what he’d found out, the wolves around them growled, ready to lunge.
“Quiet!” The yell echoed through the hall.
He knew that voice. Moving away from James, he got to his feet and turned to see Katie standing in the doorway.
“You’re dead,” he said.
“Well, I love you too, sweetheart.”
James cursed, obviously knowing his secret had just been discovered. He staggered to his feet, retreat the only thing on his mind.
“This isn’t over Valentine,” he growled, moving away and towards the door.
William scarcely noticed James running away. He only had eyes for Katie.
“Have I died and gone to heaven?” he asked, walking over the smashed glass to her.
Katie snorted. “That is such a bad line.”
“Forgive me, but wherever you are, it feels like heaven.” He stopped before her and just stood there, looking at her.
Katie smiled at him, taking his hand in her own and pressing it against her cheek. “I’m here and alive.”
He moved to surround her with his arms. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of him against her. He smelt so good. She never wanted to leave the comfort of his embrace.
“How can this be possible?” he whispered against her temple, kissing her hair. He ran his hands up and down her back.
“A second chance and a wish from an angel.” She looked up at him, wondering how he would take it.
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll tell you later. You going to kiss me, sugar plum?” she teased.
He chuckled, moving to take possession of her lips. Katie moaned as he invaded her senses and loved her with his lips and tongue. She opened her mouth slightly, giving him sweet possession of her mouth.
“You taste so good.” He pulled back for long enough to speak to her.
Katie smiled, weaving her hands into his hair to pull him down for more.
“I’ve been kidnapped, tortured, attacked and killed by your ex-mate and gone to heaven to be reborn and save you. Don’t stop kissing me,” she ordered before he took control with his lips, showing her how much he missed and loved her.
William moaned as he moved his hand from her face, down her neck, to cover one smooth, firm breast. Katie moaned, thrusting against his mouth. She wanted to feel him on her naked skin, loving her.
A cough interrupted their sweeping passion. Katie buried her head against his chest, her cheeks flushed and red.
“I take it Katie got to you in time,” she heard Robert say.
She knew William was smiling even before she looked up.
“She certainly did.”
“We’ve got much to discuss,” Robert said to them both.
William and Katie shook their heads.
“Not tonight. I’ve got plans tonight,” William said, never taking his eyes from her. Her heart stopped in her chest. Was he going to…?
“What are your plans?” One of the men at the doorway asked.
“I’m going to mate the woman I love with all of my heart and soul.”
Katie smiled and went up on her tiptoes to kiss him. He was the first and only man she would ever love, in all of her life.
Everything else could wait. They would face it together as a team.
* * * *
Tara watched the happy couple. The battle had worked in their favour. They were in love and walking out of what was left of the wolf house, about to start their new life. She breathed a sigh of relief. At least she’d been able to help. She was so pleased she’d been able to keep up the attitude with Katie. When she’d watched the scene play out she’d had to look away, or she knew she would have broken down. She loved happy endings and knew that sending Katie back would do much more good than harm.
After all, William would have been dead and unable to relay his discovery that James was a mongrel to the others. Sighing, she wondered how things were going to turn out. Even an angel couldn’t change anything until it had taken place.
“So, you interfered with the natural order of things. That witch was supposed to stay dead.”
Tara glanced over at Limbo. He controlled the places between heaven and hell.
“You know I didn’t have a choice. I had to help.” Tara pulled herself up to her full height, which was nothing compared to his full six foot six.
“You had a choice but you refuse to allow this miserable planet to go.”
It was common knowledge that Limbo wanted humans and immortals wiped from the earth.
“You will be punished for this,” he said.
“Until then, get out of my room,” she told him, turning her back on him.