by DJ Phoenix
Standing up to pace his office, his thoughts began to make him grow uneasy. His brain told him he owed Layla for the time he had used her, but his heart and his wolf told him Layla needed to pay for all the pain she had cost their mate. He wasn’t sure he could stand in front of Layla and not spill her blood. As Alpha, how would he deal with Layla back in the pack? He had given her a just sentence, and he had to stand by its outcome, that was his duty as Alpha. He would have to deal with her as minimally and as strictly needed. He just hoped this all didn’t come back to bite him in the ass and that his four would continue to be patient with him.
Cynthia walked into his office and pulled him from his thoughts.
He wrapped her in his arms and breathed in her sweet scent. “Mmm, I love it when you visit.”
She giggled and hugged him tighter. “This is the first time I’ve visited you in your office.”
He kissed her lips, then tucked her close, resting his chin on her head. His thoughts going back to the fact that he still hadn’t told Cynthia about Layla or Mindy. Though he didn’t think it was truly relevant, since he had ended those arrangements before he and Cynthia began a relationship. He still couldn’t decide if he should tell her or not.
She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “I came to steal you away for lunch.”
“Lunch sounds great. What do you have in mind?”
Cynthia smiled mischievously “I thought we could eat upstairs in your suite. I had Lucy send us lunch.” Her eyes flashed with desire, and he all but pushed her out of his office and toward the elevator that lead to his suite. Her giggles were like music to his ears as they both rushed down the hall like two love-struck teenagers. And just like that, his brain seized worrying for the time being.
Chapter 21
Cynthia
The day was unusually sunny for Clear Creek, and Cynthia felt exhilarated to be out in the warm sun. She drove up to a parking spot on Main Street and walked down the sidewalk. The smiles of friendly shopkeepers greeted her as she walked past their windows. She couldn’t believe how lucky she had been to find such a small, quaint town to call her home. It had become dear to her in a short amount of time, and she was looking forward to her life here.
She stopped to buy a cup of coffee at the only coffee shop in town, then made her way to the town square and sat on a bench to ponder the events of the last three weeks. It had been a week since her impromptu surprise visit to her mate’s office. The thought of that day made her smile. She caught herself in time to keep her goofy smile from the people walking around; she didn’t want them thinking she was addled. It had been an amazing afternoon, though.
They had spent so much time making love all over the cabin mansion, as she named it, that she was honestly embarrassed to see any of the pack members. She was sure they knew exactly why their Alpha had been so busy these past weeks. A blush covered her face as she thought of all the ways her mate had shown her how much he loved and needed her, and she absently fanned herself. He was truly gifted in that department; so gifted, sometimes she felt inadequate from her lack of experience. Her past love life consisted of one boyfriend turned husband who stopped showing any sexual interest in her only six months into their marriage. Before any negative thoughts could take root in her head, Cynthia shook her head. Her ex was in the past, and she intended to never look back. Her small notebook was tucked into her purse and she pulled it out, straightening herself. She took pen to paper and became engrossed in her writing.
The call of a raven pulled her from her deep thoughts. She looked up and a chill ran down her spine. A big black raven perched on the armrest of the bench she was currently occupying. She stared at the animal, perplexed by its lack of concern over being so close to a human; well, she guessed as human as she could be considered anyway.
The too big for its kind bird looked at her, tilting its head to the side like it was studying her. Then he squawked, turned its head toward the street and turned back toward her, squawking one last time before it took off.
Cynthia looked around, making sure she hadn’t imagined it, but everything and everyone around her seemed to be oblivious to the bird’s odd behavior. She looked toward the street where the bird had looked, and another chill ran down her spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Thrown off by the raven and the unexpected chill, she tucked her notebook back into her purse and made her way to the diner. As she walked down the sidewalk, the feeling of being watched made her want to run, but she kept her composure, not wanting to attract any attention from the seemingly oblivious town folk. She hurried her steps as she searched her surroundings, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. The last thing she wanted was for the town people to think she was some paranoid crazy person.
She made it to the diner and hurried inside. Kristy was standing behind the register, tending a customer. The bell dangling above the door chimed as Cynthia made her way inside, and Kristy looked up, smiling warmly at her. Cynthia waited patiently for the customer to walk out and then asked Kristy to call her grandmother.
Lucy walked out of the kitchen cleaning her hands on a dish towel. “Cynthia.” A motherly smile grew on her lips. “I’m so glad you came down. Come, let me get you some food and we can talk while you eat.” Lucy ushered her toward the back, away from the main dining room and all the patrons.
Cynthia thought of a way to ask about the raven’s odd behavior as she followed Lucy to a table. It seemed like only she had witnessed the event, and she really didn’t want to come out looking like a nut. But she didn’t know much about being a shifter, and Lucy had been one all her life. Lucy would know if there was some kind of animal communication between species. Maybe the raven somehow knew she had an animal side.
Cynthia thought about how to broach the subject, but came up with nothing she could ask that wouldn’t make her seem like a mental patient. Absolutely nothing occurred to her at the moment. For considering herself a writer, she was really lacking in the imagination department. Letting out a long breath, she gave up for the moment, promising herself to think of a way to ask someone about the bird’s behavior later.
With that thought tucked away, she made small talk with the older woman. “So, Lucy, what is on the menu for today’s dinner selection?”
Lucy let out a loud laugh as she took the seat across from her. “Now, honey, you must give this old woman a little more credit. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the thoughtful look in your eyes and the slight frown of your forehead. Something’s got you really thinking. Now, are you going to willingly tell me, or am I gonna have to pry it out of you?”
Cynthia sat back in her chair and laughed a little. How did she ever think this wise woman wouldn’t notice she was a bit shaken up? She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as she figured out how to word her question. “Lucy ... I ... Well, I had a really rare occurrence just a while ago at the park, and it shook me up a bit. Nothing like it has ever happened before, so I don’t know if I imagined it.” She let out another breath that came out more like a snort. “I just don’t want you to think I’m crazy.”
Lucy reached across the table and took her hands, squeezing reassuringly. “Honey, I would never think of such a thing. You are a very intelligent woman. If something seemed amiss, then there’s most likely a good explanation for it. Now, what is it?”
“Okay … You see, I was sitting on a bench at the park when a raven squawked really loud. I looked up at the sound, and the bird, which was way bigger than I had ever seen a raven before, was perched on the armrest of the bench. I swear the bird looked right at me and then turned toward the street, squawked again, and then flew away. The whole thing was bizarre. I got up and walked over here as fast as I could without running. But that wasn’t the only thing, I had the feeling of being watched until I entered the diner.”
Lucy remained pensive for a minute before her comment rattled Cynthia to her core. “We shifters communicate with each other to a sense, and we can influence natura
l wolves and canines. I guess it’s very possible for the Fae to communicate with ravens, any animal, really. They became the keepers and protectors of nature when the portals closed. They have the strongest magic of us all. They prefer to keep to themselves, though. They have kept to their roots, not allowing their kind to take any other races as mates. I haven’t scented one here in decades. You’d know when one is around, their scent is unique to their kind.”
Cynthia puffed out an exasperated breath. “Great! With my luck, I probably just found one, and who knows what it wants. I had the creepy feeling of being watched all the way here. Would a Fae be dangerous?”
Lucy sat back in her chair and was pensive for a minute before she answered. “They are peaceful, but they are powerful enough to be an extraordinary adversary. They don’t travel out of their territory often, so if it is a Fae you’ve encountered, there is a good reason for it. We just have to wait and see why it’s here.”
Cynthia sat up straighter, not understanding why they would have to wait. “What do you mean we have to wait?”
“Fae are not easily found. We will have to wait for them to come to us. If that was, in fact, what you encountered earlier. For now, we’ll let the Alpha know about it, and we’ll have no choice but to wait.”
Luke
Luke paced their living room as his mate, his four, Lucy, Jack and Joe sat gathered around the fireplace. His mate had just informed them that she thought someone had been watching her earlier in town. To top it all off, Lucy and Jack agreed that it was possible a Fae was in town. Possibly the one who had been watching his mate. If he were in wolf form, his hackles would be raised and his teeth bared.
Why would anyone be watching his mate?
He raked a hand through his hair and continued to pace. He had never met a Fae, but had heard his father talk about them and how finicky they were. Though, the Fae didn’t usually leave their home or seek out other paranormal races. If one was in town, that meant there was a reason for it. They just had to figure out who, and why they were here.
Taking a deep breath, Luke stopped pacing. “I want surveillance twenty-four seven around the cabin.” He addressed his four. “Evan and Dan, you two set up schedules for the males in the pack. I want perimeter runs like clockwork. Make sure every square mile is covered once an hour. We don’t know what this Fae wants or if it’s even a Fae, but it’s better to be prepared.” He took a seat beside his mate and draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her snug against his side. “Matt and James, I want you two to look around town. Check the inn and the bed and breakfast, check the resort, anywhere someone new to town could have found lodging. I want names and photos of anyone that came into town in the past two weeks and is still here. Someone saw or heard something, they just don’t know that they did.”
He turned his attention to Jack next. “Jack, please let the council know we will be running surveillance and that the entire pack is to be on alert. Anything odd or unusual happens, I want to know immediately.”
He turned his steely gaze to Cynthia. He knew she wouldn’t like what he had to say, that’s why he had sat next to her and pulled her into his side; hopefully it would lessen her ire. “Cynthia, I can’t let you run around town knowing you might be in danger. Until we find out what is going on or we catch whoever this Fae is, there will be a guard appointed to be with you at all times. I will be with you most of the time, but I know pack business will inevitably require me to leave your side; though, I promise I will make those situations as short and as few as possible. I will not allow anyone to hurt you, but you have to promise that until the threat is neutralized, you will not run off unprotected under any circumstances.”
He held his breath and waited for her to fight him on this. Thankfully, Cynthia was reasonable and didn’t put up a fight. He hated limiting her independence, but there was nothing else he could do. At least not until he found the wolf that had been lurking around in his town with gods knew what motives.
Matt stayed behind after everyone left his home. Cynthia had gone into the kitchen to make tea, so Luke motioned for Matt to follow him to his home office. He knew Matt enough to know that he had something important to share. “What is it, Matt?”
Matt pulled out an envelope from his back pocket. “The information you asked me to find came in today.” Matt handed him the envelope and took a seat on one of the leather arm chairs in the room.
Luke tore the envelope open and pulled out the documents inside. He read the marriage certificate and his blood ran cold, his knuckles white as he gripped the paper. The name of the groom stood out like an omen: Dylan Lacroix. Could it be possible it was the same man?
“Did you read these before coming over?”
Matt knew the effect the information on those documents was going to have on his Alpha. He didn’t want to upset his already tense friend, so he kept his voice even and his demeanor calm. “As soon as the documents were delivered, I went through the information then came to see you. I know how sensitive this is, and if it is in fact our ex pack member, then we have a problem.”
Luke sat on his desk chair and looked at his friend. “The man Cynthia married three years ago is one Dylan Lacroix. If this is the same man I exiled, he had to have known Cynthia was half shifter.”
Matt nodded his agreement and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “It also means that Cynthia’s father and mother had to have known he was a shifter. Why would they let their daughter marry a wolf that wasn’t her true mate? It doesn’t add up. If anything, after their struggle to be together, they would advocate for their daughters to wait for their one true mate.”
Luke stood and paced the room. There were too many unknowns, and it was making his wolf restless. “Did you look into this Dylan Lacroix?”
Matt remained in his seat while his Alpha paced the room. He knew Luke’s wolf was at the wheel, and he didn’t want to challenge the beast. “There is a possibility this could be someone else. There’s so many people on this planet that multiple people having the same name is not unheard of. First thing tomorrow, I’ll start digging. I’ll find the guy.”
Luke stopped pacing and fixed Matt with his stare. “I want to know where he lives, what he does for a living, does he own any property or businesses, who are his closest friends, family and associates. But most importantly, where is he now? Has he traveled to California in the past two years? Has he come near Clear Creek in the past couple months? And I want it done yesterday.”
Matt showed his neck in show of submission and honor to his Alpha. He understood his Alpha’s innate need to protect his mate. It was built into the DNA of every male wolf, and it was even stronger in a dominant male. “I’ll try to be as thorough and quick as possible, but I can’t assure you I’ll find him before your bonding ceremony. If he is the Dylan you exiled, he knows how to disappear. We all learn how to do that because of our long lives.”
Luke placed his hand on Matt’s shoulder, a sign that he appreciated his friend. “If you need the others to help, get them on task. This takes priority over any other business.”
Matt nodded and stood to leave. “I will let you know as soon as I find anything.”
Cynthia
When everyone had left and Cynthia finally had her mate all to herself, she made up her mind to tell him just how much she disliked being told what she could or could not do. She had fought off and freed herself from a man that had ruled her every move, and she had promised herself it would never happen again. No one had the right to accost her or spy on her, or whatever this situation was.
Anger at the injustice of being threatened boiled through her veins. She had to fight her wolf to keep from growling. She had made this town her home, and neither she nor her wolf would stand by and let anyone take away the peace they had found here.
She looked into her mate’s eyes and put as much conviction as she could in her voice. “I know you mean well, and I understand the need for everyone to be on the alert. I don’t like it, but I
will go with it because we don’t have a clue what we’re up against. However, when we do, we will revisit this whole guard thing. I like my independence, and I will not just sit idle while someone attempts to rob me of it.”
Luke’s fingers caressed her cheek as he spoke. “I know it seems unfair, or even unreasonable, but even though your wolf has made itself known to you, you can’t shift, and that puts you at a disadvantage. Once we complete the bonding ceremony, you will be able to shift, and there’s no doubt in my mind you will be very capable of protecting yourself.” He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips and pulled back to look at her. “Though, I will always do everything in my power to protect you, and even then, I will take any needed precautions to keep you safe.”
Cynthia tried not to glower at her mate; the unsaid fact that he would continue to want her to have a guard making her core heat with annoyance. She would just have to wait and see how this unfolded, and what her new wolf abilities were like. She would insist on her independence, just not at the cost of anyone else’s safety.
For now, she couldn’t do anything about her current situation, so decided to do something she could control. Her wolf perked up at the thoughts skidding through her mind, and the anticipation almost made her howl. Cynthia smiled seductively and ran her fingernails from Luke’s belt to his chest. She worked her hands down his torso and back up, eliciting a growl from him. As her hands ran up his chest, she pulled his t-shirt along and over his head. She tossed the cotton piece across the room and ran her hand back down his chest, her mouth watering at the sight of his defined abs. She could never get enough of him. She felt like an addict waiting for their next fix.