Chapter 9: 9: A Bittersweet Exchange

Fiona

I tried hard to focus on what Rowan was saying because I knew we had to get this right. We needed all the information he could give us before the exchange, but my mind drifted back to his lips on mine. He had kissed me. Out of the blue, he locked his mouth on mine and something inside me changed. Yeah, I knew how silly and cliché it sounded, but there was no other way to describe it. I had experienced plenty of kisses before, but this one was different. Perhaps it was a ‘love at first kiss’ type of thing… another cliché, but I knew what I felt.

His kiss was home mixed with passion, love, and forever. Now I sounded corny, too. I was a proper mess. The craziest part was something I couldn’t bring myself to think about or analyze, yet. Last night I’d come face to face with a vampire, and the following day I realized Rowan was a werewolf... I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. Yesterday, I would have bet my life that vampires and werewolves didn’t exist, though here we were. And I felt like I was in some alternate universe. I’d not seen Rowan in werewolf form, but I watched as his hand sizzled when he held Kat’s necklace, and that had to account for something.

The ringing sound from a cell phone brought me back to reality, and I listened to Rowan’s warm, deep voice speaking to someone. A smile split his face, and I figured it wasn’t my evil father on the other end. “That’s excellent news, Dermot. Yes, I’ll call him now.” He hung up and clapped his hands. “Listen up, guys. Excellent news. Quinn has turned over all our people.”

I observed Rian reaching over to hug his brother while Kyra cried, covering her face. “Oh, I’m so happy!” She ran and threw her small arms around her large brothers. I felt like an outsider and glanced at a still-pale Kat, who shrugged and gave me a tight-lipped smile.

I felt uncomfortable but thought I should say something. “That is terrific news!” They all turned to me, and the resemblance was uncanny. I couldn’t believe that Rowan and Rian were not twins, and Kyra was a smaller, female version of the handsome brothers.

“I have to contact Quinn and let him know when the drop-off happens and where.” Rowan stared at me, holding my gaze for what felt like an eternity. His brow furrowed as he regarded me and a sick feeling formed in my stomach, cold and resentful. “Would it help if I proved it to you?”

“Prove what? I told you I believe you about my fa… I mean Cormac,” I said with confusion, wondering what was he talking about.

“If I prove we are werewolves. I know you are... let’s say, curious.” He stood leaning back on his desk in light, ripped jeans and a tight V-neck pink t-shirt. I loved when a man wasn’t afraid to wear pink.

But how did he know I found the whole idea hard to accept? “I suppose it would make it easier to believe, but I’m...” I gulped, hesitating. “Afraid.”

“You should be afraid!” Kyra giggled. “They are naked when they shift back into human form.”

My eyes widened, and I laughed, thankful for the feisty teen. Kyra knew how to break the ice. “I’m not sure we have time for all of that.” Honestly, I wasn’t ready to see anyone in werewolf form, let alone Rowan. I feared it might change how I felt about him and if I were honest, I knew that would be for the best. Fancy being attracted to a werewolf! It was pure insanity.

“How long does it take?” Kat asked, and we all turned to stare at her. She had been silent or crying during the entire ordeal, so it was a shock hearing her speak. “What? I’m human and wouldn’t mind seeing these two...” She nodded in their direction, winking, and continued, “In their birthday suit.”

There was the Kat I knew and loved… man crazy!

“As much as I’d like to oblige the ladies.” Rowan crossed his arms over his chest, grinning. “We don’t have enough time. I don’t want Quinn to think I’ve gone back on my word. He would declare an all-out war…”

“It’s fine. I trust you, but it’s just hard to imagine,” I said, attempting to sound casual. “Just call Mr. Quinn and let’s do this.” It would take some time for me to get used to calling him by his name.

In just three quick strides, Rowan stood before us, startling me and Kat. His ocean-green eyes sharpened into slits, his body went rigid, and I watched with fascination. With a shudder, he dropped his head and shoulders before raising his gaze, pinning us with a glowing orange glare. Kat let out a strangled cry while I stood paralyzed by the incredible yet terrifying spectacle.

The intensity of his look faded, and he grinned before clearing his throat. I smothered the shock with the back of my hand, hiding my expression as the room remained silent. Rowan spun on his heel and strode back to the desk and his phone.

Rian cleared his throat. “Well… not how I would have done it, bro, but you got your point across. Are you two all right?” He glanced between me and Kat, his brows raised.

Kat nodded, and I managed a whispered, “Yes.”

“They need to get used to it,” Rowan said in a grim, mocking tone and I wondered what prompted this change and decided I better get used to this moody man. I still had to help Rowan, for him to hide us from my wicked father.

“So you’re leaving,” Kyra stated, a frown pulling down the corners of her mouth. “Will I ever see you again?”

Before I could respond, Rowan said, “They have to go back, Ky. It’s part of the deal with Quinn, but no worries lass, we will return for them this weekend when the bastard is away.”

“But will I ever see them again?” Kyra tugged on the sleeves of her hoodie, looking at the carpet.

“No!” Rowan grabbed the cell phone without looking in his sister’s direction.

“Of course,” Rian said, confusing everyone.

I stood examining the siblings, feeling embarrassed and exasperated. So, Rowan would rescue us from his enemy, but he wanted nothing more to do with me. It was obvious he couldn’t get past my parentage, regardless of my innocence. My ire rose like acid reflux in my throat and I could taste the sharp bitterness. I wanted the fury to engulf me and take over, otherwise, sadness would descend upon me like lashing rain and I much preferred being pissed off. There was power in rage, and confidence like you could do anything, whereas grief consumed you, drowning you in its misery.

“Look…” Rowan scowled, but the intensity wavered when his gaze met mine. “I will make sure Fiona and Kat are safe from Quinn, Ky. You won’t have to worry, but he would find them here, and I can’t put our pack in that kind of danger.” He turned to Kyra with a softened expression. “They are human, love... they don’t belong in our world.” He grabbed the phone and made the arrangements.

“It’s time...” Rowan looked everywhere but at me, searching his desk for keys and wallet.

I rushed to Kyra and threw my arms around her. She cried into my shoulder and guilt ate at me, even though I knew she would be fine. Kyra was a lonely teenager in desperate need of female friends and I prayed Rowan would soon realize that.

“I’ll go with you,” Rian said, placing his arm around me and Kyra.

“No!” Rowan shook his head. “I need you here. I don’t trust that bastard, Quinn, and I don’t want Kyra left alone. The guards are watching the perimeter, but I’d feel better knowing you were inside with her.”

I observed Rian suppress a frown before agreeing to his brother’s—and alpha’s-wishes. “You are right. Kyra’s safety is more important, but I will see you two again.” Rian hugged Kat and then me.

“I’ll miss you both,” Kyra said with a sniffle before fleeing from the room. I wanted to run after her, but I knew it was time to go. Rowan was ready to get me out of his hair and life.

We walked out to the driveway, and it was a cold, icy day even with the jackets Rian loaned us. “Where’s your coat? Are you not freezing?” I watched Rowan hit the alarm button on an all-black Hummer parked right up front and wondered where the sports car was we rode in last night. I figured he had guards and people who worked for him, but I had seen no one besides the family.

He remained mute until we were inside the vehicle, buckled in, and the automatic locks sounded. “We don’t get cold like humans do.” Rowan took off down the long driveway lined with tall trees and spoke no more.

Well, this is going to be a long ride, I thought and sighed.

“You must burn up in the summer,” Kat piped up from behind, and I was glad to have her with me. It was clear she was oblivious to the tension between Rowan and me. Or, perhaps she felt it and was doing what she could to make things easier for me. Whatever the case, it pleased me we were in this together.

“We prefer colder temperatures but adapt better to the weather than say you guys do.”

“I get it,” Kat said. “Kind of like animals or dogs...”

Rowan laughed, a deep baritone sound that rumbled throughout the large vehicle, and I found myself jealous of my best friend. I wanted to make him laugh and smile. Instead, he frowned or glared at me most of the time.

“Kat!” I covered my mouth in shock at her audacity. He was a werewolf and a grumpy one at that. She had gotten very brave.

“She’s just slagging me, but, aye, Kat. Kind of like animals.” He smiled at her through the rearview mirror, and my envy grew in leaps and bounds.

There was so much I wanted to say, to ask, but I couldn’t. Everything remained jumbled up inside me. Why did he kiss me and was it the same for him? Did he feel what I did, or was it just an ordinary kiss stolen in a moment of regret? I stared out the window at the passing scenery to take my mind off the hollow feeling in my gut. We were in what appeared as a normal complex of expensive homes, but I noticed in the distance a vast wall behind the dwellings and wondered if they all housed werewolf families.

The silence was stifling, the air thick, so I said, “And you promise to come this weekend, right?” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.

He sighed like my question was an aggravation. “Yes, Fiona. You know how important it is for me to find out more about Sexflex.”

What a fool I was. He didn’t care about saving us; Rowan only cared about the stupid drug and his long-standing fight with his nemesis, my father. His words cut me deep and I felt like crying, but why should I care? He had been cruel to me since finding out I was Cormac Quinn’s daughter, and I should be glad to get away from him. Why did I want this rude, moody man? But he wasn’t a man at all, not really. He was a bloody werewolf, a beast! It was official. I’d lost my mind and gone barmy! Well, he’d never know, and I’d get over him.

“Wait just a minute. I’ve never seen this culchie before,” I said, watching the changing landscape. We’d driven through a small, unfamiliar area until I saw the familiar sights of Dublin. “What was that place?” I turned in my seat, searching behind me.

Rowen sighed and sped up.

“Well?” I glared at him, crossing my arms and waiting for him to answer my simple question. Why was he acting so dodgy?

He cut his eyes at me before returning them to the road. “It’s nowhere and doesn’t exist for you.”

“Blimey!” breathed Kat. “That’s unreal.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion.

“Let’s just say it’s not an actual place.” He shrugged. “You girls would never find it on your own, even if you retraced our route because you’re human.”

Within ten minutes, we pulled into an abandoned parking lot and I recognized one of my father’s drivers standing beside a gray Rolls-Royce. “Well, here we are…” Rowan stared straight ahead. I told myself he was watching to make sure my father wasn’t around, to stay safe. “Make sure you find that necklace and give it to Kat to keep her protected from Quinn until the weekend.” He thrummed his thumbs on the steering wheel, still looking straight ahead.

I heard Kat open her door to get out, but I couldn’t make myself exit without saying something. I turned to stare at Rowan and glimpsed a muscle flinch in his jaw before he glanced at me, and I felt like my heart might burst. Rowan opened his mouth to speak, his bright green eyes searing mine, and I held my breath in anticipation.

“Fiona!” Kat screamed from across the parking lot. “Come on!”

Rowan closed his mouth and gestured toward the door, signaling for me to get out. “Be safe,” he said, throwing me a tight smile. “I’ll see you soon.”

Without a word, I nodded and climbed down from the Hummer with my heart, breaking into a million pieces.