“I don’t know. He’s never been this close. This is the first time I’ve felt it like this.” Logan pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight.
“Why the tears, Princess?” Logan kissed her cheeks, holding her tight.
“If he is this close, he’s on your property which means…” her gaze turned to him.
“That either some of my men are dead or somebody here is working with him,” R.D. growled, and stood so fast his chair went flying backwards.
“Daman, have we heard from all the sentry posts?” he shouted, moving towards the security room. Just as he stepped foot into the room, all the power went out in the house. He could hear his wolves howling, the fight was on.
R.D. ran back towards the room, but already Logan was moving towards him with Jasmine in his arms and his father carried Katherine. “Maddy!” he screamed, but didn’t have to. She met them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Safe room now! Daman, you and Grandfather will stay with the women,” R.D. ordered hoping his grandfather wouldn’t argue as he met them at the room.
“I will make sure that they stay. Take care of this threat, R.D.,” his grandfather said, taking Jasmine from Logan’s arms and heading into the room. He turned and met R.D.’s gaze. “Use the power that was given to you at birth, you know you can do it,” Hendrick said as the door to the room closed and locked.
“What did he mean by that?” Cole asked as they ran towards the front where R.D. knew their target was fighting to enter the building. The two elders followed them to the front hallway.
R.D. reached the front door and glanced at his father. “I need to do this, father.” He flung open the door and was the first to step outside, followed by his brother, father, and the elders. As soon he moved out of the house all fighting stopped.
A tall bloodsucker stepped out into the open.
“That is Hisao and that is part of his flock on either side of him. I don’t know who the puny human is behind him or why Hisao even has him here. If you will allow me?” Malik Doux stated, staring at the men across the drive border by the tree line.
Behind them R.D. knew his men were slowly moving into position, but he also knew Hisao was aware of this. “Does he actually believe we’ll just hand her over?” Logan asked next to him.
“Yes,” Malik said and stepped forward with his partner, but R.D. reached out and grabbed his arm.
“No, this is mine, but by any chance if he gets by me…” R.D. stated.
Malik stopped and nodded. “He won’t get by us. Your women will be safe,” Malik stated as R.D. moved forward. Muscles stretched, bones cracked as he became the beast that only a few of his kind were born to be.
Over seven feet tall, with a black pelt, R.D. knew he was impressive to see. “You and I are having a talk young man when this mess is over,” his father snarled, stalking their prey next to Logan. He recognized the human from Katherine’s memories. He was Jasmine’s father. “The father is mine.”
“The one on the right of Hisao is mine,” Logan stated, moving off to face his foe.
“I guess that leaves the one on the left for me. I haven’t fought anyone in a long time,” Daman snarled, changing halfway between beast and man. “Let’s do this,” he snapped, moving to the left.
“This could all be avoided if you just hand over Jasmine. She is meant to be at my side, not yours. I paid for the child a long time ago and I’ve come to collect what is mine.” Hisao glanced at Cole.
“So how is your old man? I’m surprised he’s not out here…” That was the last words he said before his grandfather came rushing out from the side of the mansion.
***
Jasmine stood on the upstairs balcony looking out over the property as she watched R.D. and Logan cleaning up the mess that she had brought upon to their family. The nightmare was dead, but so were a lot of other people. And so was her pet, Norman.
One of the ranch hands had come over from the other house a couple of hours ago, to inform Cole that something had killed every single gopher on their property and that gopher blood had been smeared throughout the house including in her room. She overheard that Norman had been nailed to her headboard.
With shaky legs, Jasmine had slipped away to where she stood now with tears rolling down her face. The past was dead along with the one reminder of that night so long ago. Her pet gone. It was time to grow up. She would miss the little guy. The threat to her was gone thanks to Cole’s father and R.D. It had taken the two of them to kill the Nightmare Man, but he was gone along with the man who had helped create her. She wouldn’t call him her father, no Cole was her father and had been since the day she had moved into his home.
Jasmine turned and sat down on the chair before she fell. Her legs still were unstable and hurting a little. She had taken the bandage off of her neck, too. All that was there now were three little cuts. Her life was upside down, her belongings ruined and her pet dead, but even with all the bad, Jasmine felt free for the first time. There was nothing stopping her. Well, there was still the mess her presence had caused, but Jasmine didn’t have to look over her shoulder any more.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” her mother said, taking the chair next to her. “How are you doing?” She handed her another protein drink and Jasmine groaned.
“I’ll be happy when I don’t have to drink these things, that’s for sure. So how bad was the house?”
