“Aye, aye, Captain.” Jesse saluted.
“Do you really think Rhett and his minions would come all this way to get back at us?” Jimmy asked.
“We’re trying to destroy him,” Howard replied. “This is war, and he’ll fight back. Remember what he did to Harry.”
The twins grew pale.
“We’ll be careful.” Jimmy headed for the door.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday,” Jesse said. “No one works on Sunday. We’ll stay here.”
Howard watched them go, wondering if he was being too lenient. If things worsened, he might make them quit on Monday. Hell, even the school might be at risk now. He’d ask Angus for more guards.
He turned back to his computer to finish checking e-mails. Mr. West had sent several messages the day before, and one included a link he wanted Howard to see.
It was an article written by a mainstream paper that employed a lot of werewolf reporters who protected Rhett and the Lycan community.
The headline read “Madman Attacks Bleddyn.” Beneath it, there was a large photo in color, shot at Harry’s memorial service, showing Howard gripping Rhett by the tie.
Howard winced. Apparently he was the madman. The article reported that Rhett Bleddyn had gone to a memorial service to pay his respects when a madman had attacked him. The madman was identified as Howard Barr, formerly arrested for murder.
He snorted. So Rhett was fighting back, using his reporters to make Howard sound like the enemy.
He exited the article and read the latest e-mail from Mr. West. Stockholders in Rhett’s company were throwing fits, demanding that he be investigated for embezzlement. The police had not been able to find him. Rhett had gone into hiding.
Howard nodded. Alaska was an easy place to hide in. Especially for a werewolf with hundreds of minions sworn to protect him.
A new e-mail appeared from Mr. West. A link to an article published this morning. “Rhett Bleddyn Missing.” The report stated that Rhett had been missing for two days, and authorities wanted to question Howard Barr, who had attacked Rhett at a memorial service.
“Holy crap,” Howard muttered. Was Rhett going to pretend to be dead again, and make everyone believe Howard had killed him?
He called his grandfather. Walter might have heard some news through the shifter grapevine, news that never appeared in papers.
“How are the boys?” Walter asked. “Your aunt Judy is hounding me every day. She wants to know how they’re doing.”
“The twins are fine,” Howard replied. “Have you heard anything about Rhett?”
Walter snorted. “You did it. You broke the bastard. I heard his minions rebelled and kicked him out as their Pack Master.”
A surge of victory swept through Howard. “We destroyed him!”
Walter chuckled. “Yeah. There’s been some celebrating on this island, I can tell you. We don’t have to worry any more about Rhett ordering his minions to attack us.”
Howard smiled. “That’s good.”
“Yep. Of course, your aunt Judy is insisting the boys come home now. I tried to tell her they’re safe with you, but she didn’t listen. You know how she is.”
“Yes.” Howard hesitated. “About the curse; I thought you should know that the story is true.”
“Of course it’s true,” Walter huffed. “You think I’ve been lying to you all these years?”
“I met the Guardian of the Forest.”
“Hot damn! Are you serious?”
“I’m in love with her.”
“What?” Walter sounded shocked. “When did this happen?”
“The last few weeks.”
“Damn, boy. You work fast.”
Howard grinned. “I just wanted you to know that I intend to marry her. That should put an end to the curse, don’t you think?”
“Well . . .” Walter paused. “I’d be kinda worried about the curse repeating itself.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
“I don’t mean that. The first guardian betrayed us.”
“Elsa would never betray me,” Howard insisted. “She loves me.”
“Well . . .” Walter hesitated again. “I think you’d better be careful. You still have an enemy out there. You know Rhett has to be furious.”
“I know.”
“He’s lost most of his minions and his power,” Walter continued. “He’s going to blame you for that.”
Howard swallowed hard. He’d been so busy avenging Harry’s death that he hadn’t thought about the consequences. Now Rhett would be seeking vengeance. “I heard he’s disappeared.”
Walter sighed. “It’s worse than that. Rumor has it that Rhett has left the state. Watch your back, son.”
Elsa was finishing supper with her aunts at the diner when her cell phone dinged, signaling a text.
“Is that him?” Greta grumbled.
“He’s a good guy,” Elsa insisted, although she knew her aunts didn’t believe her. She read the message.
What? She read the message again. A target for what? A target like Harry? She gulped and dropped her phone into her handbag.
“Are you all right?” Ula sat across the table, finishing a piece of apple pie. “You look a little pale.”
“I just hope she isn’t pregnant,” Greta muttered.
Elsa stiffened. She certainly wasn’t pale now. Her cheeks burned as she wondered about the possibility. She was on the pill, but she’d gone to the cabin without them, so she’d missed a day.
Baby were-bears? Her hand pressed instinctively on her stomach.
“Well, hello there.” A man stopped by their table and smiled at Greta. “We meet again.”
“Mr. Pelton.” Greta smiled at him, then leaned close to Elsa. “This is the reporter I told you about. From Alaska.”
“And you must be Miss Bjornberg, the niece Greta was telling me about.” Mr. Pelton gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but I’m afraid Howard Barr is a dangerous person to associate with.”
“We’ve been telling her that,” Greta said.
Elsa winced. “He’s done nothing wrong.”
“I see.” The reporter removed a pen and pad of paper from his briefcase. “Then perhaps you can tell me where I can reach him? I’d like to interview him and get his side of the story. That seems only fair, don’t you think?”
Howard’s text ran through Elsa’s mind. “I don’t know where he lives.”
“What?” Greta gave her an incredulous look.
Elsa lifted her chin. “We meet at my place of work.”
The reporter checked his notes. “And that would be the gatehouse down the road that’s being renovated?”
Elsa’s heart raced. What was this reporter up to?
“Yes, that’s it,” Greta answered.
Elsa nudged her aunt with her foot.
Greta leaned close and whispered, “He’s trying to help you.”
With a frown, Mr. Pelton dropped his pad of paper into his portfolio and removed a few pages of paper. “I can see you need further convincing.” He set the papers on the table. “This one is a copy of yesterday’s paper, and this
