by Jami Gray
“She had nothing to do with those who attacked our pack,” Dmitri argued. “You have no more proof now than you did all those years ago.”
“How would you know? You disappeared!” Warrick snapped. “You chose her over our family. Our parents’ blood is the only proof I’ve ever needed.”
Dmitri spun away from him, muttering Russian oaths under his breath. He stalked to the windows, his shoulders rising and falling as he visibly fought for calm.
There was an ache in Warrick’s chest and it took him a moment to recognize it—the urge to comfort. It was startling to find the need to reach out still existed. But then he remembered the brutally butchered bodies of his parents awash in the rivers of blood from fallen wolves and squashed it relentlessly.
“It was a mistake to come here,” Dmitri said, his back still to Warrick.
Blowing out a breath, Warrick tried to reclaim the impartiality of being an alpha. If they had been human, the past would remain the past. But they weren’t. They were Kyn and sixty-five plus years wasn’t as long as it sounded. Old suspicions and simmering resentments lingered, and he didn’t think Dmitri’s sudden reappearance would bring the answers any closer.
If he couldn’t let this go, Warrick would lose the last member of his family. Again. They might never be close—there was too much between them for that—but perhaps a truce of sorts would work. The image of his mother’s face swam before him, her voice chiding, “You are brothers, moy volk, never forget that.”
“We’ll agree to disagree,” Warrick repeated his brother’s earlier words.
Dmitri turned from the window, wary suspicion narrowing his eyes. “The petition?”
“I’ll consider it.” He held up a hand when Dmitri opened his mouth. “I’ll need to run it by the other alphas to get their input. Then we’ll have to decide where a possible territory can be created.”
Dmitri shut his mouth and gave him a short nod. “How long before we would have an answer?”
“A week, maybe a little longer.”
“Thank you.” The words were gruff. Dimitri made his way back to the front of Warrick’s desk. They eyed each other over the wide surface as the silence stretched. “I was surprised to find out you had taken this position.”
Warrick didn’t respond, uncertain where his brother was going.
A wry smile played along Dmitri’s lips. “Do the other leaders know they’ve asked the wolf to guard the henhouse?”
“Is that how you see it?” Warrick asked.
A short laugh escaped Dmitri. “You never had the patience to deal with fools or the subtleties of politics. How did you end up the public face of the Northwest packs?”
“No one else wanted the job,” Warrick answered dryly.
His brother laughed, stepped back, then inclined his head. “I’ll wait to hear from you. I’ll leave my number with your receptionist.”
Warrick watched his brother open the heavy door and walk out. Sebastian, who was waiting in the hall, slipped inside and leaned against the doorjamb, enabling him to see both the hallway and the office.
He waited until they could no longer hear Dmitri’s footsteps. “Is everything okay, Vidis?”
Since the office was soundproof, Warrick could keep his unexpected family reunion a secret. At least for now. He considered Sebastian’s question. Was he all right? If his chaotic emotions were anything to go by, the answer was definite no. He couldn’t tell if his wariness was a result of Dmitri’s sudden reappearance or a warning.
“I’m fine,” he answered absently, knowing his Third would likely see through the lie.
Sebastian didn’t say anything, just waited.
“I’ll be fine,” he growled. The walls of his office seem to close in as his wolf pushed against the confines of his skin. He needed space to unravel his emotions from his logic.
“You’ve got another meeting,” Sebastian said, his tone deferential, a reminder that other responsibilities required his attention.
Later, Warrick soothed his wolf. The beast paced, then sent the image of Xander, running in wolf form next to them, in silent demand.
The reminder of his mate had him checking the bond. He winced. It was shut down tight. She was going to be beyond pissed. He relaxed his psychic hold and his jumbled emotions filled the bond. He felt her pause and he waited, unconsciously holding his breath. A second ticked by. Then another. Air shuddered out of his lungs as warm tendrils of acceptance echoed back, calming his heart and mind.
Warrick’s shoulders relaxed and his wolf settled.
“Ready?” Sebastian asked.
He gave his waiting Third a nod and followed him out the door.
Chapter Fifteen
Xander pulled onto the dirt drive and parked next to the mud-splattered green SUV in front of Neil Eilers’s trailer in Holbrook. She shut the Ducati’s engine off, removed her helmet, and waited for Raine to make her way over. The taller woman stood next to her as Xander straddled her bike. Together, they studied the structure in front of them.
“Not quite what I expected,” Xander commented.
The trailer tried to hide its age behind artfully arranged flowerbeds and a relatively new layer of siding. The yard was neatly tended, indicating someone tried hard to make it a home. There was a small sitting area tucked next to the tiny porch. A potted flower nestled in the middle of a round metal table. Similar trailers sat on either side, showing the same care and pride.
Raine cocked her head. “Didn’t he just move here?”
“Yeah.” Xander got off her bike. “The information I had said he was working construction and moved in about seven months ago. Before that, he bounced around.”
Raine glanced around as they moved toward the door. “We have a lookie-loo on the left.”
Xander let Raine get a step ahead, just in case. The squeak of a screen door cut through the quiet morning. Xander turned and watched a little blue-haired old woman purposefully make her way down her steps. Dressed in dark slacks and a delicately patterned shirt, she walked across her lawn until she stood at the edge where grass met gravel.
“Young ladies,” she called.
Raine’s quiet snicker as she continued to work on the door lock made Xander grin.
“Yes, ma’am?” Xander answered. Her mother would have been so proud of her manners.
“Mr. Eilers isn’t at home. Is there something I can help you with?” The older woman’s gaze switched between Xander and Raine.
“No, ma’am.” Xander kept her tone respectful as she faced the elderly neighbor. “I’m sorry, Ms…”
“Mrs. Peterson.”
“Mrs. Peterson,” Xander repeated. “Unfortunately, Neil’s not coming back.”
Mrs. Peterson’s face paled, her lips thinning as she brought her hands up to press against her stomach. “What happened?”
Xander reached out to lay a gentle hand over Mrs. Peterson’s tightly laced fingers. There was no mistaking her worry as anything but genuine. “Have the police stopped by to speak to you yet?” She felt the tremor that ran through the papery skin under her hands, spreading until Mrs. Peterson began to shake. “Come on,” Xander urged, wrapping her arm around the frail shoulders. “Let’s sit down.” She guided the older woman to one of the chairs beside the metal table.
On the porch, Raine got the door open and now paused. Xander looked up and gave a short shake of her head. She could hear Raine’s sigh as she leaned against the doorjamb. It was probably a bit over cautious, but she didn’t want her friend going inside alone.
With Mrs. Peterson safely ensconced in the chair, Xander sank into a crouch in front of her. The older woman tightened her grip on Xander’s hands, effectively trapping her.
“What happened to Mr. Eilers?” Mrs. Peterson asked shakily.
“He was involved in a bar fight last night.” Xander stuck as close to the truth as she could knowing Division would spin the entire incident. “Unfortunately, he was killed.”
Mrs. Peterson sucked in an audible breath. “O
h no, that poor boy.” Tears swam in her faded eyes as she searched Xander’s face.
“Were you two close?” Xander kept her voice gentle. Although not evident, Xander couldn’t miss Raine’s impatience. It rode the air like an impending electrical storm, setting her wolf on edge. When Mrs. Peterson dropped her head and pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket to dab her eyes, Xander sent Raine a quelling glance. The uncomfortable sensation backed off and Xander returned her attention to the older woman.
“He was always doing little things for me,” Mrs. Peterson said. “He spent the winter clearing my steps and driveway when it snowed. He even offered to do my shopping when it was so cold out.” She sniffed. “Are you family?”
“Friends,” Xander answered. “I’m Xander, and that’s Raine. Neil didn’t have any family.”
Mrs. Peterson nodded. “I remember he mentioned that once.” She paused, twisting her handkerchief. “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t want to pry.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”
Something in her voice had Xander and her wolf coming on point. There was something here, some clue. “But you have an idea,” she guessed softly.
Mrs. Peterson nodded. “It was those boys who were coming over.” Fear tightened her skin, lending her a pinched look. “They scared me,” she whispered. “I could never put my finger on it, but they made me so uneasy.”
It amazed Xander how often humans failed to listen to their instincts. Kyn or human, that personal warning system was a gift from Mother Nature. She was grateful her own nature didn’t allow her to ignore such signs. “Do you remember their names?”
Mrs. Peterson shook her head. “I was coming over to ask Mr. Eilers for help moving a mirror, but when I went to knock on his door, I could hear voices arguing inside. They were quite loud and I wasn’t comfortable interrupting.”
“When was this?”
“About two weeks ago,” she said. “After that, I didn’t see much of him.” She studied Xander. “You should let the authorities handle this, dear.”
Xander smiled. “We’re just here to check on his things.”
Mrs. Peterson patted her hands. “Good.” Her gaze dropped to Xander’s tattoo. She leaned forward and dropped her voice. “You know, I don’t know why you chose to cover such a lovely face.”
“It’s a family tradition.” She ignored Raine’s snort.
Mrs. Peterson blinked at her, too polite to say anything more. “Well then, I should leave you to it.” She got to her feet. Xander wrapped a hand under the older woman’s elbow and helped her to her door. As Mrs. Peterson opened her door, she turned. “Thank you for being honest with me.”
“Of course.” She paused. “Mrs. Peterson?”
“Yes, dear.”
Xander pulled out a card and held it out. “If those boys come back, will you let me know?”
The older woman nodded and took the card. “Taliesin Security?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m a private investigator.”
“Are you sure you’ll leave this to the authorities?”
“I’ll be careful. Promise.”
“See that you do, dear.” She closed her door and Xander turned to make her way back to Neil’s place.
She jogged through the yard and up the steps as Raine straightened and opened the door. “I’m wondering how a nice young man, who helps his elderly neighbor, suddenly decides to indulge in a headline inducing bloodbath.” She stepped inside, Xander on her heels.
“It’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Xander shut the door behind them.
The curtains were drawn, leaving the interior in shades of gray. A small ball of light popped into existence, hovering behind Raine’s shoulder.
Its sudden appearance tripped Xander’s pulse. “Nice trick,” she muttered.
Raine slanted a mocking look over her shoulder. “Better than leaving our prints all over the light switches.”
Xander stepped up beside her, scanning the room. The trailer was fairly straightforward. An open living room, set apart from a small kitchen and dining area by a waist high wall and broken by a wide entryway. To their left, the shadows disappeared into a narrow hallway, no doubt leading to the bedrooms since the kitchen and living room took up the remaining space.
There was a leather couch to Xander’s right, some of the cushions slightly askew. A hand-crocheted blanket in shades of brown lay across one arm. A scarred wooden coffee table supported a large flat screen TV. There were two bookcases on the back wall.
Xander walked over to them. The books were lined along the shelves, one or two slightly out of place. A pile of magazines rested on top of the books on the third shelf. The top one had to do with woodworking. On the other bookcase, CDs were stacked three deep. There were a couple of framed photos. A young Neil with a surfboard in one hand, his other wrapped around the waist of a tall, laughing woman. In the next photo, a smiling Sara beamed from the safety of Neil’s arms, snow skis poking up behind them like bunny ears.
Those happy snapshots added fuel to the simmering anger Xander held deep inside. Someone had destroyed Neil’s life. And for what? It was such a waste. She straightened the picture of the young couple so it lined up with the older photo.
“What’re we looking for exactly?” Raine asked from behind her.
“I don’t know.” Xander frowned and stepped back from the bookcases. Something was off. She did a slow turn, taking in the living room once more. “Raine, is it my imagination or does it look like someone’s done a thorough search?”
Raine flicked a finger against one of the misaligned couch cushions. “It’s possible.” She paused. “On the other hand, it’s just as possible that the kid wasn’t completely anal about housekeeping.”
“Maybe,” Xander muttered.
Narrowing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath, dragging in the scents of the room. She sorted out Raine’s unique blend of trees and wind, tinged with a faint feline musk. Under that was a very faint trace of rose water, as if the one it belonged to hadn’t been there recently. Mrs. Peterson. Over it all was the scent of chipped wood, tinged with a curl of smoke and something wild, something not right. Neil’s.
Deep inside, her wolf came to attention, ears perked. She wanted Xander to move forward. Not catching whatever it was that was triggering her wolf, Xander began quartering the room. It took her a few minutes but she finally realized what was wrong. There were blank spaces by the couch, bookcases, and leading down the hall. “What the hell?”
The absent of a scent was disturbing. How would someone erase their scent? She had never run across such a situation. She’d tracked those who had masked their scent, but erased it? It just shouldn’t be possible.
“What?” Raine asked, dragging her attention back to Xander.
“There’s a trail, but there’s no scent to go with it.”
Raine tilted her head. “Is that even possible?”
“I didn’t think so,” she answered.
Whatever Raine said next was washed away in a sharp, bright blast of pain. Xander sucked in her breath and reached out blindly, her hand finding the edge of the low wall between the living and dining rooms. Starbursts exploded across her vision. Warrick. Something was wrong with Warrick.
Frantic, she and her wolf raced down their psychic connection, only to slam against a solid wall. Damn him! Hurt and bitter disappointment rose, choking her. She could feel the press of carpet under her knees and knew she had fallen to the floor in the real world. Hands were on her shoulders, as Raine tried to figure out what was happening.
As the piercing needles from the abrupt closure of the bond receded, Xander dragged in a deep breath, forcing air into her lungs. She had to think past her emotions. Warrick was many things but he wouldn’t deliberately go back on his word. If he shut down the bond, there was a reason. She just had to find it. She reached for calm and shared it with her wolf until both of them could think.
“Xander, damn it! What the h
ell’s going on?” Raine’s voice was tight with tension.
“Warrick,” she croaked. “Something’s going on with Warrick.”
Hands fumbled at her pockets and she slapped them away.
“Knock it off,” Raine snarled. “I need your phone to call Taliesin.”
Grateful, she closed her eyes and let Raine pull out her cell phone while she concentrated on breathing. She could hear Raine talking, probably to Rachel.
“Xander.”
She blinked her eyes open to find Raine crouched in front of her, her silver eyes worried. “Rachel says he’s in a meeting with a client and Sebastian. She was told not to disturb him.”
“Okay,” she said. “Okay.” Some of the dread pulled back. She could feel her wolf prowling back and forth. “Give me a second.”
She raised her knees, folded her arms on top of them then laid her head down and closed her eyes. With her panic pushed back and the shock of the unexpected disconnect, she took her time trying to figure out what was going on. As her mind quieted, she and her wolf were able to sense the faint tendrils of anger, shock, and hurt seeping from Warrick.
Relief flowed thick and hot through her veins. He was okay, physically. Emotionally, she wasn’t so sure. She pushed against the bond and felt it loosen. The faint brush of Warrick’s wolf against her hip nudged her back and helped settle her stomach. She stopped pushing, opened her eyes, and raised her head.
Raine sat in front of her, a small frown creasing her forehead and Xander was caught by the molten quality of her eyes. Normally, they were a cool silver, but she could swear there was a slight glow going on now.
Raine blinked and the weirdness disappeared. “Welcome back.”
Xander’s legs shook and she wrapped her arms around them. “Thanks.” She rubbed her chin on her knees.
Raine inclined her head. “You okay?”
Xander nodded.
“And Vidis?”
“For the most part.” Xander released her grip on her legs, and let her head thump back against the wall behind her. “He should be okay, but…”
“But?”
Xander sighed and got to her feet. “Do you still have my cell?” She held her hand out.