Chapter 9: Chase Probes Her

Helina knew as soon as they climbed into the limousine that Chase had something on his mind. She didn’t know him well, but in some instances, he was easy to read. Right now he was broadcasting that he wanted to talk to her about something.

She searched her mind for what it could be, but she couldn’t come up with anything. The day had been busy and she was getting the hang of the phone system and some of the computer programs. He hadn’t been upset with any of her work today. In fact, he’d been more than patient with her.

Chase had a folder of work, but he put it on the seat next to him when the car began to move.

She stared out the window for a moment then turned her gaze to him. “What?”

“I understand you had an altercation with someone today,” he said.

Crap. “Just someone I once knew.”

She hoped her act of brushing it off made him think it was nothing. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about Kurt. Did he know where she was staying? She doubted he had that much reach. Had finding her on the street been by chance or had he known where she was? Did he have spies in the city?

Now she was a little worried as she thought more about it. The busy day had had her pushing all thoughts of it aside. Now it was front and center and Helina was a little afraid of the idea that Kurt might know where she lived. The security in the building was great, at least according to Chase. She’d assumed he would know, but she hadn’t paid much attention to it. Before Kurt’s appearance on the street, she didn't realize that security would be important.

“Colt mentioned it. He said you looked scared.”

“I was surprised.”

“Helina, please don’t brush this off. If you’re afraid of this person, please let me know.”

She looked out the window, formulating a story. The idea that Kurt was the Alpha of her wolf pack wouldn’t go over well with a human. That much she knew. “He’s my ex.”

That was sort of true. She wasn’t completely lying by saying that.

“I got that impression from your reaction. You told me that you came from a bad situation. I haven’t probed, but if it is now going to put you in danger then I want to know. At least as much as you’re willing to tell me, Helina.”

She studied him. “I don’t know how he found me.”

“You didn’t leave some kind of trail?”

The scented kind probably. She had assumed that because it was the city her scent would get lost among the others. That meant that Kurt might know what building she lives in. Her heart stopped for a moment. “What kind of trail would I leave?”

“A paper trail? Does he have access to your accounts?”

“Uh, no.”

She didn’t have any bank accounts.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure. We didn’t live together,” Helina said.

“But he found you somehow,” Chase said.

She bit her lip. He had to have followed her scent. Which meant he did it at night when he could be in wolf form. Had he been in the park when she was there or had he found her later? She shuddered that he might have been there and Chase would have had no idea where she’d disappeared to. She would have to be more careful.

Even if Kurt couldn’t stay in the city full time since he had a pack to run, he might have friends stalking her.

This was all getting complicated. “He did. I don’t know how.”

She did know how, but that explanation wouldn’t sit right with Chase. Was she going to have to leave him? Kurt would find her anywhere she went. She hadn’t thought of that when she left the woods. She’d assumed that the scents of the city would cover hers. She’d been wrong. There was no other explanation.

“Well, we need to keep you safe. You can’t go anywhere alone.”

Her gaze snapped to him. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know exactly. I’ve never dealt with a stalker before. I’ll have to figure this out.”

“Why you?”

“Because Helina if you haven’t noticed I hired you.”

“You could fire me.”

“I’m not going to do that. I was raised to take care of women,” Chase said.

She bristled at the idea that Chase was going to take care of her. “I can take care of myself. I’m not some shrinking violet.”

Chase squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Helina, men don’t take care of women because they are weak. You can push a human out of your body. That’s impressive. Men take care of women because women are important. We are nothing without you.”

Her mouth fell open at this speech. She’d never thought of that way. She knew that mates instinctively took care of each other, but she-wolves were almost as strong as the males. Chase might laugh to know that she could probably hurt him far more than he could hurt her. Still, she was touched that she had become important to him in a short time. “Okay, fine.”

“You agree to never leave the office or penthouse alone?”

She frowned. “Yes.”

What if she wanted to run free? She’d have to figure something else out. Her wolf would long to be let loose at some point in time. What a mess she was in because of Kurt’s actions. The mess wouldn't be any less if she’d stayed with her pack, but then Kurt wouldn’t be able to get away with hurting her. Maybe.

She sighed. Her life had just become more complicated than she ever knew it could be. She had a human who wanted to protect her and a wolf that wanted to drag her back to the pack. Kurt had to know that she’d seen what he’d done or he wouldn't have tried to find her.

Crap.

“Good. If you need to go somewhere you can take my driver any time. He’s former Secret Service.”

“What?”

“I know it seems overkill for an executive, but sometimes I piss people off and need protection,” Chase said.

The Secret Service protected the human president. That was a big deal.

Chase touched her hand. “It’ll be okay. We’ll document anything he does and we’ll get him arrested.”

She wanted to laugh at that idea. Kurt would have to be caught and as a wolf, he’d be too fierce. Then again, the human cops had bullets. Didn’t matter. She doubted he would return that quickly. He had a pack to run. Then again, he was a hunter. He would stalk his prey until he caught it.

She should just leave and keep Chase safe. It was suddenly important to her, but where would she go? She would be vulnerable no matter where she went.

“Don’t overthink this, Helina. I’ll keep you safe.”

When Helina looked into Chase’s eyes, she knew he would.