Page 39 of Forbidden Daddy Mate

“Malcolm, be reasonable,” Tannen said. “You can’t actually believe they’ll keep their word and let her go if you give yourself up.”

“Possibly,” I acknowledged. “But it’s the only way to get Freya out of wherever they’re keeping her. Even if there’s the slimmest chance that it all backfires, I don’t see another way.”

“This is suicide,” Rand added.

“There’s something else you need to consider,” Tannen said, licking his lips as he looked from me to the rest of the Silver Wolves. “There’s a chance they’ve turned her. Or are planning to.”

I slammed him against the wall, hand going to his throat. The room went still as everyone watched in stunned silence.

“Don’t you dare suggest that,” I snarled. “If you say anything like that again, you’ll be talking through a hole in your throat.”

“Malcolm,” Jameson barked, “get a hold of yourself. You’re not doing anyone any favors right now. Including Freya.”

I exhaled, then stepped back, releasing Tannen’s throat. “Sorry,” I muttered as he rubbed his neck.

Mark cleared his throat. “I do have an idea,” he said. “If you pretend to agree to their demands, to show up alone and all that fun stuff, instead of you nobly sacrificing yourself almost certainly for nothing, we can set up an ambush. We know where the rendezvous is.”

“If they find out it’s an ambush, they’ll kill her,” I said, shaking my head.

“Then we’ll make sure they don’t find out,” Mark said.

“How?” I snarled.

He shrugged. “No idea at the moment. But we have two days before the meeting to figure it out.”

“Two days,” I barked. “We should be going now. She’s in trouble, and who knows what could happen in the next two days? She might be dead by then. Or turned.”

“They’ll keep her safe, at least through the rendezvous,” Tannen said. “They’ll know you’ll want to see her unharmed.”

I wanted that to be true. Only, they hadn’t seen the way Tyr had looked at her like she was his next meal. Vampires weren’t known for their restraint. If he wanted her, I had no doubt it wouldn’t take much for him to act on impulse, regardless of any order from Varin to keep her safe.

Jameson regarded my obvious unhappiness, and I had to wonder if he knew what I was thinking. What was really going on in my head and why this situation bothered me so much.

“It’s the best plan we have at the moment,” Jameson said, trying to soothe me. “Let’s roll with it.”

I growled, but I knew when I was outnumbered. It was risky, and I didn’t like it. But behind the rage, I knew there was some sense to his statement. If we could pull it off, it was her best chance of survival. The only problem was that if we failed, she was dead. We probably all were, in fact.

We discussed our plans. The entire time, it was still a struggle not to go out that very minute and turn over every stone to find her. I’d already raced through the woods between our houses, searching for her scent, but I hadn’t been able to find a trace of her. Probably for the best, otherwise I would already be going after her, logic and common sense be damned.

The debate on best tactics seemed to circle and get nowhere, even though I knew that was only in my head. My wolf snarled and paced, as impatient as me. But we couldn’t do anything for three nights.

Eventually, though, the plan came into place. The Silver Wolves would come with me, save a couple—including Jenn—to stay behind and ensure Brixton was safe. Those who were with me would hide as I pretended to be alone. At some point, when the time was right—preferably when Freya was safe—we’d start the ambush.

I hated it. It seemed too simple. There were too many ways it could go wrong. But despite that, I knew it was the best option.

Eventually, the conversation died down, most people—not me—satisfied with the plan. We’d go over the final preparations in a couple of days. I showed them out, slamming the door after them.

“Dad, are you okay?” Jenn asked after the rest of the Silver Wolves were gone.

“I’m just worried about Freya,” I said.

“I could tell.” She looked at me inquisitively. I waited for her to ask the question I’d been anticipating, but instead, she said. “You’ll get her back, Dad.”

“I hope so.” I paced back and forth. How the hell was I supposed to wait another two and a half days to go after this fucker? Every time I thought about it, I pictured her dead. Or with puncture wounds in her neck and that beautiful rosiness in her cheeks replaced by alabaster white. I couldn’t let it happen. I wouldn’t.

But the rest of the group was right. Going alone or going early risked even more than waiting, including Freya’s life.

I just had to be patient.

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