First Draft

Rowan's POV

We pulled into the circular driveway in front of our grand, expansive house, and I glanced at Fiona to gauge her reaction. To my surprise, I saw none. Instead, she asked, "Are you sure Kat will be okay?"

"Besides a horrible hangover, she'll be fine. But let's get her inside," Rian said from the back seat.

"Do you have her, bro?" I asked, holding the car door open.

"Just help me get out without banging her head."

We maneuvered the groaning young woman from the car and Rian carried her to the door. I unlocked it, standing out of the way, and glanced back at Fiona. She looked uncertain, walking with slow, measured steps, eyeing me with wariness. "Come on in. I promise we don't bite." I grinned.

Fiona faltered and a look of shock widened her eyes. "Oh, you are kidding. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. That was too soon."

"Yes, after what I witnessed tonight with that... whatever it was."

"Vampire," I told her, placing my palm on her back and guiding her inside.

Rian stood in the foyer, still cradling Katrina. "Where should we put her?"

"I think, under the circumstances, we should take her to Mom's room since it's on the ground floor." I looked toward Fiona and asked, "Would you feel more comfortable staying overnight in the same room? You know... so you can watch over her."

"I'm not comfortable staying here at all, but since you've given me little choice in the matter... it's fine." She stood with her arms crossed and lips in a firm, straight line.

"If you guys are done... Kat needs to be cleaned up," Rian said, giving us a sharp look.

"Are you sure your mom won't mind? I mean, as big as this house is, I'm assuming you have guest rooms," Fiona said while she followed us down the long hallway.

"Mother is on an extended holiday in London and wouldn't mind if she were here," I assured her.

Rian laid the girl on the bed and I said, "Go grab Kyra. She's about their size or close enough. Tell her to bring something comfortable for them to sleep in. Fiona may need her help with Kat." Rian left to do his brother's bidding.

"I'm going into Mother's bathroom for some supplies to clean and bandage her neck," I told Fiona and smiled. She nodded her head, keeping her eyes on Katrina, who lay motionless on the bed.

She had taken a seat on the edge of the mattress and was holding Kat's hand as I stepped back into the room. I stood for a moment, taking in the scene and Fiona's beauty. I studied her profile from the side and grinned at her perfectly small, pert nose. Her hair was a sight to behold as it flowed over her shoulder in waves to her lower back. I wondered if it was natural. I'd never seen hair that black or shiny. It was gorgeous and so was she.

I cleared my throat, and she looked at me and smiled before saying, "I'm sorry for being so... so..."

"Difficult... distrusting..." I ventured with a grin.

She stood. "Yes, but... it's not wise to leave a club with strangers. So, I hope you can understand where I'm coming from." Fiona arched her brows, waiting for a response.

"I understand, but this isn't an ordinary situation."

"Indeed," she agreed. "Now, let's check out this wound on her neck, shall we? What did you bring?"

I moved to the bedside table and placed bandages, a wet cloth, alcohol, and a secret serum from my mother's collection. She's a healer in our pack, and I learned a few tricks from her over the years. I knew this concoction would pull any impurities or poisons from the wound.

"What's that?" Fiona asked, pointing to the jar containing the golden-flaked serum.

"It's a natural remedy my mom uses. It will pull out any infection or poison from her wound."

"That's great. Just let me unzip her dress so we can have room to clean and bandage it. She will have my head if we mess up this designer dress."

I decided not to mention the blood speckles on the minidress. The top part wasn't tall enough to cover her neck, but it zipped from the bottom all the way up in the front, leaving a round silver circle dangling. I watched as Fiona placed her finger in the loop and unzipped the dress past Katrina's strapless bra. Out of respect, I turned my head and busied myself by handing her the wet cloth and then I applied alcohol to a sterilized pad.

"How bad is this?" Fiona asked. "I'm not gonna accuse you of being a perv for seeing Kat's bra, I promise. Please, you seem to know a hell of a lot more about this than me."

Before I could oblige, my brother and sister burst through the door, bickering as usual about something.

"Quiet, you two," I whispered, piercing them with a look they knew well. "Lay the clothes on the foot of the bed, Kyra. Fiona, this is my little sister, Kyra. Kyra, this is Fiona and her friend, Katrina."

"She prefers Kat," Fiona said with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Kyra. I'm sorry it's under such bizarre circumstances, and thank you for the clothes."

"Nice to meet you. I hope Kat is okay. When Rian told me there were actual females here, I was so excited. At home, I'm surrounded by guys and-"

"Kyra!" I warned and shook my head. I felt guilty because we kept her pretty isolated, but it was for her own good. I would protect her with my life. But at fifteen, it had to be this way. She was young and too enthusiastic. Times were dangerous for our pack right now.

"Are you going to help or tell me what to do?" Fiona asked me.

"Yes, sorry. Here," I said, handing her the pad saturated with alcohol. "Just clean the blood from her neck and I'll apply the serum when you're done."

"Thanks." Fiona took the pad and, with caution, cleaned the area. "I need another one. The blood is dry."

I handed her another pad and when she was done, she got up from the bed. "Okay, use your magical healing stuff. I hope it works."

I sat beside Kat with the serum ready. She turned her head, moaning, causing her long golden hair to fall over the wound. As gently as possible, I pushed the hair away from her neck. "Dammit," I yelled, jerking my hand away.

"What's wrong?" Fiona asked, confused.

I stood up and shook my hand. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Oh no," Rian said as he raced to my side.

"What is going on?" Fiona screamed, backing away from us.

"Her necklace!" I declared.

"What about it? It's just a silver necklace my father gave her." Fiona looked at me like I'd grown three heads and rolled her eyes.

"Take it off of her or I can't help." I narrowed my gaze at Fiona, and she did my bidding with no further questions. It was silver all right, but not just any silver. It had to be the purest form of silver to burn my skin.

"Fine!" Fiona muttered something under her breath and unhooked the offending chain. "See! Just a harmless and pretty necklace," she said, letting it swing back and forth on her finger.

"Holy shit!" Rian whispered.

"Is that Wolfsbain?" Kyra shrieked, running around the bed to get a better look.

"Kyra, stay back," I roared while keeping my eyes trained on Fiona and wondering who-or what-were these women.

Fiona looked taken aback as I continued to glare at her. "Wolfsbane? What is Wolfsbane? This is just a necklace that my-"

"No!" I shouted as I stepped closer and watched her eyes widen. I didn't care if she was my fated mate or not. "It's not just some pretty silver necklace from your father!" I grabbed it from her hand, gritting my teeth to keep from crying out in pain. "Do you see the pretty purple liquid inside the clear flower?"

Fiona stood like a statue etched with fear. "Answer me, dammit!"

She stepped backward until her legs hit the bed. "Y... yes."

"That's Wolfsbane! This isn't just some pretty gift from your father! It's a weapon our enemies use against us," I bellowed as the pure silver continued to scorch me. "Who is your father?" I dropped the poisonous necklace and stalked toward her.

Fiona looked at me with tears and terror in her eyes. I grabbed her upper arms and shook her for good measure. "Who is he?"

"Let her go!" Kyra screamed, pounding me in the back with her small fists.

"Who is he?" I snarled, my nose touching hers. My insides were churning with wanting and fear. Her smell tantalized my wolf senses while my logic screamed at the danger she presented.

"Unhand her, Rowen! It's obvious she doesn't have a clue what's going on and you're scaring her." My brother grabbed my arm, but I shrugged him off.

"Not until she answers me! You will answer me or I'll let your friend die," I told her in a menacing whisper. The odds of Katrina dying were slim to none, but Fiona didn't know that and I'd use whatever means necessary to get answers.

Without warning, Fiona kicked my shin and pushed me. "Let me go, asshole! You're hurting me!" She stood panting and rubbing her upper arms. "I'm leaving and taking Kat to the hospital! You are fucking crazy!" she screamed.

"You're going nowhere, lass! Answer my question now!" My inner wolf was close to exploding, and I could feel the hair sprouting along my spine.

"His name is Cormac Quinn, you prick. Ireland's renowned scientist! Now, get outta my way. I'm calling for a ride. You can't keep us here!"

I shoved her onto the bed. "Rian, lock that door. Kyra, apply Mom's serum to her friend's neck," I ordered while keeping my steel gaze on Fiona, who glared daggers back at me. She was feisty. I'd give her that.

Rian started toward the door and said, "I don't think this is wise, bro."

"Just do it now! Both of you know why. So, the famous Cormac Quinn," I said, and smiled down at Fiona without mirth.

"Yes, and I'm Fiona Quinn. When my father and The Gardaí find out that you've kidnapped me and Kat, they'll be hell to pay for you!" she spat, glaring at me with evil intent in her orbs.

"Blimey! This is terrible. Shit, shit, shit," Rian said as he stood guarding the bedroom door.

My stomach churned at the thought of being paired with the daughter of Cormac Quinn. While most knew him as a brilliant scientist, the supernatural world knew him as one of Ireland's renowned hunters. He was a fearless killer known to the creatures of every race. He was a bloody monster. And his daughter, my fated mate.

How's that for irony?

As much as it would have hurt, I should have let Fiona and her foolish friend die at the hands of that vampire tonight.

***

Whew! This was an intense chapter to write. I do hope you all liked it.

xxxooo