Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Ayla We asked Randy a few more questions but didn’t get through nearly as many as I had. But he needed rest. Theo and I both could tell he was barely holding on to consciousness. Theo had a cot and bedding brought down to him and actual IV fluids to help flush the wolfsbane from this system.

As we left the utility room, Theo stopped me.

“Why didn’t you tell me Dasha came back?” he asked shyly.

I could tell he was hurt about finding out that way. I grabbed his hands and leaned into him.

“I wasn’t sure if she would go away again,” I told him. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed if she did.”

“I hope she never has a reason to leave again.”

Dasha made a smart–ass comment, making me laugh.

“What?” Theo asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” I replied, kissing him.

“We need to have a meeting,” he said. “Our inner circle needs to be filled in on everything so we can get a better game plan in place.”

“Okay,” I said. “But... we also need to talk.”

“About?”

“What I did in there,” I said. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Theo leaned in and kissed me. “I know, sweetheart. I’m not sure either, but I have some theories. I think Randy can help us with that, too, once he’s rested up.”

“You trust him?” I asked.

Theo smiled at me. “What are you feeling about him?” he asked. “What are your instincts telling you?”

I thought for a long moment. “I believe him.”

“You commanded him, Ayla,” Theo reiterated. “You commanded him in a way no one else could. Even I could feel it. I don’t know what that all means or if what he will tell us is true, but I think he believes it is. And if he believes someone is after you, I’m not taking chances with that.”

He put an arm around my waist and led me back to the packhouse entrance. When we turned the corner, we were surprised to see a flurry of activity. People going in and out of the packhouse. There were several trucks parked in the front.

“The party,” I grimaced. “They’re getting things ready for tomorrow night.”

Theo ran a hand over his face with a sigh. “I completely forgot about that. Babe, I don’t think it’s going to happen. That’s too many people in and out. We don’t have the extra security for that right now.

“No, I agree,” I said. “I’m not worried about that right now, either. The question is, which of us is going to tell your mother?”

Theo groaned. “I’ll go,” he volunteered. “She’s used to me disappointing her these days. But you owe me.

”

“You go break the news to her, and I’ll start rangling the help,” I said.

“Let them know the event is off.”

“Okay,” he said. His eyes glazed over for a second while he was mind- linking with someone. “Jimmy’s on his way down to help.

Stay close to him, okay?”

I nodded, and we headed inside. Jimmy was already coming down the stairs as we came in.

“Alright, Luna, you tell me who needs kicking out, and I’ll make it happen.” he said.

“Hopefully, we can just ask them to leave politely, big guy,” I said.

“Where’s the fun it?” he replied, feigning dejection.

“I better go bite the bullet and find Mom,” Theo said, kissing my cheek. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

Jimmy and I got to work, figuring out who was who and what was what. For the most part, we were dealing with rental furniture and décor that were being stored inside until the setup. So it was mostly having to get anything already unloaded reloaded without getting any mixups.

I was opening a crate to see where it was meant to be when I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck, followed by an arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders.

“Don’t call out,” a voice said in my ear. “And don’t bother trying to mind–link anyone, Luna. It won’t work.”

I felt the blade in my side without needing to see it. I tried to reach out, but the voice was correct. I couldn’t connect with anyone.

Not even Theo. I quickly pushed my panic down. It wouldn’t help me now. I started to turn my head to look at my captor but he stopped me.

“Don’t look at me,” he hissed, pulling me toward the hall. “Just come with me quietly, and this doesn’t have to get ugly.”

“What do you want with me?” I said, keeping my voice calm.

“For you to cooperate,” he replied. “There’s no reason this should be difficult.”

“What is this?” I asked. “If I knew, I may be able to help things go more smoothly.”

“Just shut up and walk, and there will be nothing to worry about.”

I looked around as best I could. Most of the delivery workers had already finished packing up and left. The only ones left were too far away to notice what was happening. I would have to figure something out because I was not leaving the packhouse with this male.

The commands.

Theo had said I could do it. Apparently, that’s what I had done to Randy to allow him to speak to us. But I wasn’t sure I could do it again.

We were heading toward a doorway. There would be no way he could fit both of us through the way we were walking side by side. He would have to change positions to get passed. That was my opportunity. I’d have to figure out how to command him fast.

We came to the threshold, and he turned slightly to guide me through the door. I took my shot.

“Stop,” I commanded.

He paused. I took the window to spin my upper body, hooking his arm beneath the shoulder and striking up into his face, breaking his nose.

My command must not have been that strong because I felt a piercing pain shoot through my side.

The man stumbled back as I cried out. He no longer held me, so I backed away as far as I could, just in time for a flash of fur to rip my attacker out of my line of sight. I turned to see a wolf tear into him, the sound of his neck breaking echoing through the hall. Holding my side, I felt the warm liquid oozing between my fingers.

“Shit,” I said, looking down at my side. I leaned forward, resting my other hand on my knee as I composed myself.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Jimmy swore as he shifted back and ran to my side. He helped apply pressure to the wound. “I’m so sorry, Luna. Goddess, fuck.”

“It’s fine, Jimmy,” I said, working to steady my breathing. “It’s not that bad.”

I didn’t listen to what he was yelling down the hall. I breathed in through my nose. Blowing out through my mouth. Trying to ease the lightheadedness. I looked down again. There was a lot more blood than I thought there should have been.

“It was a sliver blade, wasn’t it, big guy?” I asked calmly.

“I have to get you to the hospital,” Jimmy insisted.

I swayed. “Yeah, you may be right.”

The most intoxicating scent hit me as my vision went black.

“Theo.”