Chapter 95

It was morning and I felt heavy. Strangely heavy. I forced my eyes open and saw Rodger sleeping in front of me. There was a snuffle at my legs and a massive ball of black fur gently breathed as Oscar slept over my legs and hips. I looked around and realized that someone had pushed the two sofas together to form a strange double bed. Slowly I shifted and regretted it immediately. It was like someone had nailed a board of pain to my back.

"Do you need something?" Enoch's voice came down from the air vent. I hesitated.

"Water." He lowered himself into the room only wearing boxers, which was better than last night when he walked around naked. He gave me a straw then cracked open a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Slowly he placed it in front of me and guided the straw into the end. I took a few sips feeling my parched throat slowly wash away.

I watched as he pulled out some of the leftovers from the fridge and placed them on a paper plate before coming over again and placing them in front of me.

"Food is good for healing… although I don't know how to make them hot." I smiled.

"It's fine. I like this stuff cold too." He nodded then scuttled away to the balcony as a noise drifted up.

"What was that?" I ate a few of the Dim Sim as he continued to stare out.

"Vox's men are doing something to the remains." I frowned.

"Remains?" He nodded.

"The Gatekeeper was so charred he was stuck to part of the ring. They had to replace the floor to put on the death match… the last money match was cancelled… Now they seem to be picking what's left apart." I took a sip of water, and I ate some more.

"Why?" Rodger chuckled as he shifted then ran his fingers lightly across my skin.

"To get the heart of the Minotaur." I looked to his sleepy face.

"Why?" He rolled onto his back.

"Why else? To either resurrect him or consume his power." I blinked and he saw the look on my face. "It's an obscure legend, that you can take someone's power and add it to your own if you eat a part of them. Either the blood, brain or heart…" He stretched. "It doesn't work with Humans and everything on the mortal level but it's true when dealing with the mythic races or god strand races." He gave me a sleepy look. "It's like an ultimate power up but can corrupt the person consuming it if too much power is taken in at once." I frowned.

"And Vox is wanting it back?" He nodded.

"Wouldn't you? I mean he's lost one of his top fighters and needs to get his power built up again somehow." I nodded slowly and looked to where Enoch stood. "But they won't find it." He giggled and snuggled into me gently.

"Why?" He pointed to Enoch.

"I had Enoch snatch it just after I made sure you were safe with the paramedics." He giggled. "It's way too easy for him to move around the place." I looked to Enoch.

"What are you going to do with it?" Rodger shrugged.

"Probably eat it. But it's too big for one person and is worth millions. I'm not going to pass up this opportunity." I nodded.

"That sounds gross." He smirked.

"But so beneficial." I rolled my eyes as Enoch began to squat down and backed away from the balcony "What happened?" Enoch shrugged.

"They know the heart is gone…" He came back into the office and sighed. Rodger nodded but remained lounging on the sofa.

Oscar stirred and looked around. He let a large yawn out then began to lick at a wound on my leg and I gasped as a strange sensation buzzed up my leg.

"What the fuck?" I began then heard Rodger giggle.

"In wolf form we have a stronger healing ability in our spit… depending on your relationship to the person the feeling of your healing power will vary drastically. When biting enemies this healing effect is nullified and actually causes damage." I lay motionless trying not to moan as it was like waves of pleasure buzzing up my leg to my core. With a smirk Roger transformed and his wolf nuzzled to the cut on my face and licked. I clenched my jaw and tried to push him back but he just moved to another wounded area and licked over the bruises.

It was lunchtime and my stomach was growling. Oscar grinned at me as he finished applying make-up to my black eye and discolored cheek. Although all my wounds were nearly all closed, thanks to their healing attempts and the regenerate poisons, I still looked like a very spotty dalmatian.

"Better." He grinned and helped me to stand. I winced feeling bones pop and muscles protest.

"Let's get food." We looked around as Rodger came in. He sighed and shook his head but still helped me to walk to the door. After a few stiff steps I began to look more normal.

"You do know I can order food in. As much as you want." I nodded.

"Yeah, but I want a change of scenery." He gave up with a smile as we headed out into the mall and rounded a corner going to an all you can eat Chinese buffet. We were seated near a large fish tank and I grinned as Oscar and Rodger went over to the buffet. Shortly they returned with plates laden with food.

I had finished my seventh plate and eyed up my eighth, when a familiar voice called my name. I looked around and saw Mathew. He held two plates piled high in his hands and grinned.

"Hi, I was just about to call you." Rodger shifted around giving him space at the table. He sat with a grin then sniffed as he looked around. "I smell blood…" Oscar nodded.

"Yeah, I was working security at the ring side when all hell broke loose." He placed a hand to his stomach. "Some fuckwit got a cheap shot in." Mathew nodded.

"Man... that was some fight last night." Rodger nodded and growled.

"Except that I nearly lost one of my best." I ate my way through the plate full of food as they began gossiping about the match.

I had taken a rest from eating after my ninth plate. Shawn and Jeff had also joined us and the five fellows had analyzed every aspect of the match. Once I had been announced the winner I had won a lot of people a lot of money, Shawn included.

"But how could he force this wildcard?" That was the topic we had been stuck on. Rodger shrugged.

"It's happened before. Wildcards are rarely played as they can vary greatly." He shrugged. "Fighters are the ones who normally request them and Vox paid a large fee to have his wildcard inserted into my match… especially since this was all planned out." Mathew nodded.

"It seemed like a vendetta to me." Rodger nodded.

"He knew beforehand what the card would entail so yes. He's also trying to collect the strongest fighters and eliminate loose ends. It's beginning to feel like there's more to it than just what happens in the ring." I saw the concern on their faces and changed the subject.

"So, Shawn. What are you going to do now you're rich?" He laughed and shrugged.

"I'd buy the Banshee a drink or two too start with." Rodger chuckled.

"That's not going to happen, the Banshee is in a rather delicate condition at the moment and she's a rather private person. It's nearly impossible to get her to meet with platinum members." Shawn nodded.

"Yeah, I thought as much. But a man can dream. I'll probably have to do something responsible then… like pay off my credit cards and student loans." Jeff laughed and shook his head.

"Didn't get that attitude from me." He sighed. "But I don't have a student loan." He looked to the trays of food as they were being refilled.

"Don't think about it dad." Jeff grinned.

"Oh, I'm not just thinking. I'm doing!" He darted up and scurried to the food as Shawn failed to stop him in time. I smiled and shook my head.

"So, where's the others?" Mathew grinned.

"Missing your two shadows?" he sighed. "They went to get a few things with their dad then went for pizza." He smirked "They'll be pissed when they find out we found you here. Chad and Dean went to the Mexican place a few streets over." I nodded and saw him narrow his eyes slightly. "Are you alright? You seem kind of puffy to one side." I grinned.

"Yeah, there's just a lot of work at the moment." I nodded to Rodger as he sat his arm around the back of my seat. "... and he doesn't help." Rodger grinned.

"I am terrible, I won't deny it." Shawn shook his head as he and Jeff returned then looked to his phone.

"Well, we better get a move on, or we'll be late." He waved his phone at Mathew. He nodded then looked back to me.

"So, are you coming back tonight?" He asked as the others shoveled food into their mouth as quickly as they could, nearly looking like actual wolves as they did so.

"Are you kidding? I have work to do tonight. There's a huge mess up with the betting booths and I'll be up all night figuring it out. Also… I'll be bringing a friend with me…" He grinned.

"Someone we know?" I nodded and glanced to the others as they finished up.

"One of those lucky single males might have a mate. She got his sent in Rodger's office and went nuts. So, I agreed to bring her to the pack." Jeff looked up grinning like a madman. Mathew smirked.

"You want me to bring the guys over now? I'm sure they'll want to meet her as soon as possible." Rodger's phone rang and he answered after a few moments he nodded and thanked the man for telling him then hung up.

"Right now isn't the best." He looked to us. "Someone broke into my office." With a shake of his head he scooted around the table as the others stood up. "We'll need to get back, see if they have taken anything or if they were just looking." Mathew frowned as he shepherded the others towards the door.

"Sounds serious." Rodger shrugged.

"Lots of money exchanged hands last night I wouldn't be surprised if more offices were broken into." Mathew looked around as the others waved him over.

"Ok," He clapped his hands and skipped back a little. "Send a message when you're coming back, or Jenny will come here looking for you." I nodded and waved as they left.

Once we were sure that the others had left, I got up. Rodger helped me stand then frowned as I hobbled on my feet. He looked to Oscar who then picked me up.

"I can walk…" Rodger nodded.

"Yeah, but you make me hurt watching you." We left the restaurant and quickly walked across the main hall to the other side where Rodger opened the side door and we slipped through. Coming to the end of the main hallways we reached the security doors. Rodger swiped his key card through the lock by the security door and we entered into the Phantom Plaza corridors.

Outside in the hallway by Rodger's office stood several security officers and his own personal section guards. The door to the hall had been forced open and pieces of it littered the carpet. I cased my gaze further down the corridor and another office door was splintered and groups of security were standing.

Rodger approached first and began to talk to the guards as Oscar placed me to my feet. With a nod the men stepped aside to allow Oscar to escort me inside. I sat in one of the surviving chairs and listened to the report.

"Well, that was an interesting talk." Rodger said after the security left. I frowned, I hadn't been paying much attention and zoned out feeling a hazy fog of sleep settling over me.

"What? Why?" Rodger stretched.

"Because they noticed something off too. All the offices were broken into, but nothing was taken. Someone was looking for something but couldn't find it." He grinned. "Turns out Vox also lost a large… large sum on the bets and there's massive backlash for the wildcard." We entered his back office and it was in a state just like the front, everything had been turned out or pulled apart. Rodger waved his hand. "You take a nap and I'll sort this mess out." I nodded and watched as Oscar sorted out the sofa for me and gathered the pillows.