Alpha's Thief

Chapter 5

***

~Vita~

Maid of Honor

The title swam through my head. I couldn’t even believe she was getting married to her boyfriend of four years. Not only was Anastasia getting married, but she also wanted me in the wedding as the maid of honor. I didn’t believe there was anything honorable about me.

“Earth to Melody, where’d you go?” Harvey asked pulling me out of my thoughts. I stared up at him as he leaned over me resting on his elbows.

“Nowhere,” I reached up patting his cheek before turning away to sit up. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Care to share?” he kissed my shoulder sliding he hand along my bare waist.

“So, we’re sharing thoughts and feelings now?” I scoffed gently pushing him away from me. When I tried to get up he wrapped an arm around me pulling me back down into him.

“Why don’t you stay?” he smiled down at me.

“That’s not the relationship we have.” I flipped us so I was on top of him. I cupped his face. “You and I are like a Carnival. We have fun. We enjoy the ride. We even eat sometimes.” I patted his cheek “But you don’t live at the Carnival.” I was tempted to go another round, but with him acting weird I let it go. I sighed deeply and crawled off the bed. I started looking for my clothes scattered around the floor.

“I’d be a carney for you.” He pushed up to his elbows.

“The shows exciting when you don’t have to clean up after the elephants.”

“What do you say to actually trying to date?” He followed me off the bed. I didn’t even acknowledge his stupid words with an answer. I continued my scavenger hunt. He sighed turning to head into the shower.

“Time to find a new one.” I mumbled pulling on my panties listening to the water run. I snagged my dress from where it lay in the doorway. I pulled my dress on over my head. I walked to the door figuring my shoes would be there somewhere. I spotted the shoe down the hall. As reached down to grab it I froze spotting something odd siting motionless at the end of the hall. I stood still waiting for my eyes to adjust, but from what I could make out it was the shape of a dog.

“Harvey, you should really warn a person. Your dog nearly gave me a heart attack.” I yelled snatching the shoe off the floor before the dog decided it was a toy. I combed my fingers through my hair watching the dog slowly stand.

“I don’t have one.” My fingers halted in my hair.

“Come again?” I heard the water turn off.

“I don’t have a dog.” My eyes adjusted to the darkness. I looked at what I originally thought to be a dog. The dog was not a dog at all it was, in fact, a wolf. I took a slow step back. It snarled and charged at me. I took off full speed to the side toward the kitchen. I slammed the door close locking it, before running to the cabinet and throwing it open. I sifted through the different small containers as the scratching on the door grew louder. There was a loud thump then a cracking sound. I looked back at the door and saw a big split forming down the middle. I looked back at the cabinet searching faster. Just as I laid my hand on the container I was after, I heard the wood splitting. I spun around container in hand staring down the wolf. It walked through the now broken door. It bared its teeth growling louder before it darted forward. With shaking hands, I raised the container and threw it down as hard as I could between us. The red top flew off as a cloud of Cayenne pepper exploded out of the container.

The wolf yelped as the cloud of spice engulfed it. While it swung its head wildly side to side trying to shake off the irritation, I took my chances. I pulled my dress up over my mouth and nose dashing through the cloud out the broken door. I dodged around Harvey narrowly avoiding running into him. He shouted something after me, probably some stupid question instead of running.

“No questions, shut up and run.” I called quickly over my shoulder running for the front door. I was almost to the door just as a loud snarl ripped through the air. I spun around to look for Harvey. He had turn toward the wolf. I watched in horror as the large brown wolf slammed into Harvey knocking him down onto his back. I heard the hard woosh of air leaving him. Harvey wheezed painfully trying to get air into his lungs. He stared up at the towering wolf in terror.

Suddenly, as if it was no longer interested in Harvey, the wolf’s eyes snapped to me. It wasted no time charging toward me. Every Wolf documentary I’d ever watched on The Animal Channel flashed through my mind. Instead of going for my neck like in the documentaries it barreled into me knocking me to the floor. The massive paw spanned my chest holding me down. It stood on my chest growling in my face. As I tried to suck in gasping breaths my flailing arms reached around for anything. Eventually my hand landed on my abandoned shoe. I grabbed it whipping it forward sending the heel into the wolf’s already irritated eye. The wolf roared in pain raring back pawing at the shoe. While it wailed Harvey was able to get to his feet. He kicked the wolf forcing it farther back. Before it could come for us again Harvey helped me scramble to my feet. He sprinted, half dragging me to the door. He flung the door opened and we both tumbled out. When he had the door slammed closed to his apartment I backed away from it. I stared at the door as the wolf thrashed against it. Harvey struggled to keep the door shut as the scratching continued. One of his neighbors opened their door and stared at the scene.

“Call animal control!” I ordered. The neighbor scurried inside then the door suddenly stopped shaking. Everything was eerily quiet. After a moment of staring at each other he released the door. He cautiously pushed it open.

“Come on.” He whispered.

“Are you nuts?” I folded my arms across my chest. “I don’t want to be any closer to that wolf unless it’s sedated.”

“Where’s your nerve?”

‘You’re on it.’ I wanted to say as my eyes narrowed.

“I’ll stay out here.”

He shrugged pushing open the door and walked in closing it behind him. After a moment I pressed my ear against it. There were no screams, I took that as a good sign. The door opened and Harvey stared at me in confusion.

“It’s not here.”

“What do you mean it’s not there?” I asked incredulously.

“I mean not here, as in gone, vanished.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I checked. The place isn’t very big. There aren’t many places to hide.” I wanted to stay outside, but curiosity got the better of me. I slowly made my way into the apartment. As he said, there was no wolf. The blood on the floor and scratch marks on ruined doors said we weren’t going crazy. “Where did it go?”

I walked through the house wearily expecting the wolf to pop out of some corner. As I checked around, I felt a breeze. I looked over at the open window that faced the street.

“Do you think it climbed out of the window? You are on the first floor.” I asked sticking my head out and searched the sidewalk below for any sign of a wild wolf.

“I don’t know how that’s possible the window wasn’t open…” Harvey told me as he came over to where I stood next to the window.

“You had to have because I didn’t. The wolf sure didn’t open it.”

“Maybe…” he trailed off deep in thought.

“Harvey, get real. You’re going to tell me the wolf opened the window?” I gave him a doubtful look.

“It’s possible, I mean they have the dogs who can switch on lights and things.” He defended folding his arms across his chest.

“First, there is a big difference between a light and a window with a lock. Second, those dogs are trained to do that. Who would train a wolf to open a window? Let’s just say that the wolf did open it and climb out.” I closed my eyes pinching the bridge of my nose. “What your theory lacks is how did the wolf get in the apartment? If the window wasn’t open for him to climb in, how is it the wolf appeared in the apartment? Either it’s a teleporting wolf or the wolf picked the lock on the front door. So did it twist the nob and walk in all by himself?”

“I… I guess I did leave it open.” He answered thoughtfully. “But I don’t remember opening the window.” I shrugged when he looked at me.

“This has been fun, but I must go. I have a big day tomorrow.” I patted his cheek.

“Stay, I’ll set an alarm.” He beseeched grabbing my wrist.

“I will only stay for a little while, not the night. Make sure all your windows are closed and locked.” I pulled my hand away and started toward the room.

***

Carter splashed his face for the fiftieth time and blew his nose for the hundredth time since he’d made it back to the bank. His eye had healed quickly on the way back thanks to his wolf. He still felt the lingering bite of pain where the heel had connected. The memory of the pain sent chills down his spine. He never knew in his lifetime he would become weary of woman's heels. She had caught him by surprise not once but twice. Had he not had his healing ability Carter most likely would have lost his eye. He reached up and touch the still tinder eye.

“At least you would have had a cool eyepatch,” Stephan offered.

The two wolves, Lucas and Stephan snickered from where they stood by the door.

“Shut it!” Carter growled before blowing his nose once more.

“Grouchy.” Lucas the shorter and louder of the two grumbled.

“You try getting a cloud of pepper to the nose and see how you feel.” Carter snapped and both wolves winced. He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled down an address. “Go to this address, follow the scent to the owner and bring them to me.” he growled, throwing the paper “Go!” The wolves scrabbled to grab the paper and rushed out the door.

The thief would be his soon. He would also have to tell Julian as soon as he was back. He was debating if he should call Julian to tell him about the thief. Carter decided it was best if he just waited for the two wolves. It would be a welcomed surprise for his Alpha if he was able to have the jewel back before the day was out. Carter just hoped the capture went smoothly.

She did have one more shoe after all.