And so they continued living together, but it was a strange platonic relationship. She loved Kellen and was sure he loved her. There were moments of fun and laughter, companionable time watching movies, grocery shopping or painting a room, but there was a certain hollowness as well; an emptiness and sense of despair that seemed to be growing ever larger. Lately, the creature inside her had started pacing and panting; searching, as if it knew something important was coming. Cassie raked her hands through her hair, wishing she knew what was going on inside her and how to fix it.
Her most recent attempt—the anniversary dinner—certainly hadn’t worked. The animal within was no closer to accepting Kellen. Sadly, she suspected it would never accept any human and she mourned the loss of her dream. There’d be no family, no ‘happily-ever-after’ for her. Her fate was sealed; she was destined to live her life alone.
Cassie tried to look at the fact philosophically, to see that perhaps it was for the best. In reality, who could she burden with her strange life style? Even Kellen questioned her monthly seclusion, no longer believing the ‘migraine’ story. He too had done some research on her pills once she had to start buying them on the street. Kellen’s conclusion was that she was a closet drug addict, but, at least beyond a few initial speeches, he left her to make her own decisions on the matter. She doubted others would be as tolerant.
She shook her head. The poor guy put up with so much from her, and here she was planning on chastising him about his gambling. Of course, his addiction was real while hers wasn’t, but Kellen didn’t know that.
Climbing out of bed, she wandered through the silent house—Kellen was still sleeping—and prepared the coffee pot before stepping out back. Leaning on the deck railing, she absorbed the new day. Dawn was just breaking, streaks of yellow breaking through the purple and pink clouds. The darkness slowly seeped away revealing the outline of buildings and shrubs. There was a slight chill to the desert air that would soon disappear as the sun rose to its zenith. Faint sounds of birds and insect life mixed with the stirring of the human inhabitants of the neighbourhood; a door slammed, a car started, a baby cried. Normal life.
The beast inside raised its head, whining and prancing like a puppy wanting to go for a walk. Morning is the perfect time to run, to hunt...
Cassie frowned. Normal people didn’t have animals talking to them inside their heads. She tried to ignore it, but found herself shifting back and forth on her feet, fighting the urge to step into the backyard, to give in to the call of nature.
Just for a while. To feel the wind against our face, our muscles stretching and straining, the ground racing by...” The creature quivered in excitement. “It would be such fun to answer the call, to be what we truly are just this once...”
No! She jerked herself back into her human mind, realizing she was actually standing in the middle of the yard and... Oh God, her fingernails! The air around them seemed to shimmer and for a moment they appeared longer, thicker, almost like claws. Then the air quivered again and they were back to normal. That had never happened before!
Horrified, she glanced around, fearful someone had observed what had just happened. Of course, at such an early hour there was no one about. Relieved, she stumbled back into the house ignoring the smell of freshly made coffee and rushing to the calendar. Frantically she searched the date and slumped in relief when she realized it was still almost a week until the full moon.
Then she stiffened again. If that was the case, then why...? Cassie pushed down the panic that tightened her throat. The creature within her was getting so much stronger. What was she going to do? What would happen when she could no longer keep the animal suppressed? She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as possible scenarios played out in her head.
Images of herself transforming into a werewolf filled her mind. She envisioned herself as a snarling, snapping animal, attacking everyone in sight, blood dripping from her jaws as she left a path of destruction in her wake. First Kellen, then the neighbourhood children...
Clamping a hand to her mouth, she held back the cry that threatened to burst from her. How long until that fateful day came? Until she became an uncontrollable beast? And what could she do about it?
Cassie braced herself against the kitchen counter, her gaze flashing around the room. She couldn’t stay here. It was too dangerous to those around her, but where could she go? Was there any place far enough away from other humans where she wouldn’t be a threat? Shivers wracked her as she contemplated her future; alone, always running and hiding, fearful of what she might do...
A tear slid down her face at the bleak life she saw ahead of her. She’d never be able to have a home or a family, never fall in love, never be able to relax or let her guard down. God, what had she done to have such a fate thrust upon her? First she lost her mother before she was even able to remember her, then her uncle was shot in front of her and now she lived in constant fear of discovery... All she wanted was a simple, ordinary life! Was that really too much to ask?
The beast inside whined pitifully, but she didn’t care. She hated the creature. Hated herself! Turning, she caught sight of her reflection in the glass door of the microwave. Her face looked distorted. Gasping, she touched her cheeks, her nose. Had the change already started?
She hurried to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, then slumped in relief. No. It was her usual image that greeted her, though her eyes were wide and her nose was pink. Lines of tension bracketed her mouth and even her hair was sticking out all over. She did look rather wild; a short dry laugh escaped her.
Smoothing her hair with her hands, she tried to force herself to relax, to think rationally rather than panicking. She inhaled deeply, and then exhaled slowly. Once she felt calmer, she headed back to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee.
All right. Perhaps she was over reacting. This morning was just one little slip; a...a warning that she needed to be more cautious. Yes, that was it! She just had to guard her thoughts more, and not get too caught up in the creature’s thinking. There was still time to find a solution rather than running away. Maybe if she played with her medication; increased the dosage slightly. It might only put off the inevitable, but it would buy her some time at least.
Cassie held onto the idea like a drowning woman. She wasn’t ready to leave her present life. Staring around her tiny kitchen, she took in the crocheted potholder one of her customers had made her, the lace curtains she’d bought just a month ago, the ugly picture on the wall that Kellen had given her...
Ah, Kellen... What would happen to him once she left? They had their rough patches, but there were good times too and really, they only had each other. She didn’t dare let anyone else get too close, and Kellen only had his gambling buddies who came and went with the tides of fortune, leading him into scrapes and then walking away. She would battle the beast within as long as possible so she could stick around and take care of Kellen. He was her family now and that’s what family did.
A queasy feeling stirred in her stomach as she wondered how long she’d be able to keep control. Another month? Another year? She pushed the thought aside, and wiped the dampness from her cheeks. Enough of the melancholy. It wouldn’t help anything and besides, it was time to get dressed for work. “Just like a normal person.” She spoke the words firmly to the empty room as if saying them out loud would somehow make them true.
*****
The garbled sound of flight announcements washed over the buzz of hundreds of voices and the distant drone of jets landing at the McCarren International Airport in Las Vegas. Throngs of people pushed and shoved, children cried, happy vacationers enthused. Bryan did his best to ignore them as he made his way to the car rental agency. It had been two days since he’d received the e-mail about a supposed sighting of Cassandra Greyson and he was eager to discover if the information was correct.
He smiled when he arrived at his destination. Only one person was ahead of him in line at the car rental desk so he’d be able to get on his
way quickly. Approaching the desk, he stood patiently waiting his turn. The female attendant glanced up casually from her computer, then gave him a second look over the shoulder of her current customer. Her eyes brightened with obvious interest as she took in his appearance. Bryan smiled to himself. While not conceited, he knew the effect he had on women and at times used it to his advantage. This might be one of those occasions.
Minutes later he was casually leaning against the counter, chatting to the girl as she processed his request. As usual, he’d managed to charm his way into a nicer vehicle and a better deal than most customers could manage.
“So, Bryan, how long will you be in Vegas?” The redheaded woman looked up at him through her lashes as she filled out the required forms.
“A week, maybe longer.” He smiled at her, slowly letting his eyes move over her body. She blushed, but smiled back at him.
“Well, if you’re bored or have some free time—”
“I’ll think of you.” Bryan grinned, finishing the phrase for her. As he reached out to take the keys, her fingers entangled with his and a bit of paper poked at his palm. He withdrew his hand and noted that a sticky note accompanied the keys. Carefully he read the paper, the corners of his mouth curving slightly; as he suspected it was her name and number. He folded it and tucked it into his pocket, giving her a knowing wink before walking away. She was easy on the eyes, so maybe...
Bryan stepped out of the terminal and was immediately hit by a wave of heat. God, how did people manage to live in a place like this all year round? The pilot had warned them just before landing that Vegas was in the middle of an unseasonal hot spell. Apparently the man hadn’t been lying.
Longingly, Bryan thought of the cooler air and shadowy depths of the forest back in Canada. Hopefully, he’d find the Greyson girl quickly and be able to head back home before he died from the temperature. Sweat was already forming on his brow just standing there, so he hurried down the sidewalk, eager to find his car and put on the air conditioning.
In a matter of hours, he was settled in a motel room; not one of the large casinos, but a smaller establishment closer to the suburbs. If Cassandra Greyson was working in a grocery store, she probably lived near the place so it made sense for him to be close his quarry.
Kicking off his shoes and removing his shirt, he dropped onto the bed, resting against the pillows. He sighed as his body relaxed for a moment, enjoying the feel of the cool sheets and the quiet of the room before pulling his cell phone from his pocket. He’d check in with Ryne first. Folding one arm behind his head, he propped the phone between his shoulder and ear, absentmindedly scratching his chest while waiting for someone to pick up.
“Hello?” A breathless Mel answered.
“Hey, Mel! It’s Bryan. How are you doing?” He shifted his arms and grabbed the phone securely.
“Uh...fine...I guess.”
“You guess?” He frowned. Something must be wrong. Mel wasn’t usually that tentative when she spoke.
“Yeah...” Her voice lowered to a whisper and he mentally pictured her turning her back to the room and cupping her hand over her mouth so her voice didn’t project anywhere, but into the receiver. “Can I tell you something? Something you have to promise not to share with Ryne?”
“Well... That depends what it is. He is our Alpha.” Bryan hedged his answer and sat up straighter, wondering what information she felt she could share with him, but not her mate.
“Right.” He could hear her breathing heavily, maybe even sniffing a bit as if she’d been crying. Bryan waited patiently for her to continue. After a moment, she must have made up her mind, for she started to talk again. “Okay. Here’s the thing... I had a message from the Lycan Link. You know how they’ve been looking into my background, trying to figure out who my father might be?”
“Uh-huh. Do they have a lead?” He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he tried to guess what she might have found out.
“Maybe...”
“Then why not tell Ryne? He’d be happy for you.”
“Well... It’s just that... Oh damn! Here he comes. Please, Bryan! Promise not to say anything to him, please?”
Bryan exhaled gustily, feeling torn, but deciding once again to placate her. He didn’t like this business of keeping secrets from his Alpha, but Mel’s parentage wasn’t life and death news; he supposed her could cut her a bit more slack. “Okay. But I want an explanation next time we talk, all right?” His voice held a bit of added sternness as he uttered the last phrase.
He could hear her breathing a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Bryan. You’ll understand when I tell you.” Muffled sounds followed, then Ryne came on the line.
“Bryan? Are you making Melody cry?” The Alpha’s voice was suspicious.
“Who? Me? No! I just started talking to her a minute ago.” Bryan didn’t have to feign his nervousness. He didn’t want Ryne angry at him; the guy was pretty laid back unless someone pissed him off or upset his mate. Bryan had no desire to be that person.
“Huh.” Ryne sounded puzzled and more than a bit frustrated. “It must be those damned pregnancy hormones. Melody’s moods are all over the place lately. I can’t keep up.”
Bryan laughed softly imagining the man running agitated hands through his hair. Ryne didn’t do female emotions very well which was why it was a good thing Mel wasn’t like this all the time. “Maybe you should talk to Kane? Elise has been pregnant twice. He might be able to give you a few pointers.”
“Yeah, maybe I’ll do that.” He sighed heavily before changing the topic. “So you made it to Vegas all right?”
“Yep. Just checked in. I’ll grab a bite to eat and then see if I can find the grocery store where the girl in the picture works. With any luck she’ll be there. If not, I’ll ask one of the other employees when she’ll be in.”
“Be careful you don’t sound too interested or they’ll think you’re some type of stalker.”
“Hey, remember who you’re talking to. I’m great at subtle.”
Ryne grunted in acknowledgement. “Right. Give me a call tomorrow and let me know how you made out. If it’s her, I’ll start to work on getting her into Canada. And remember to be careful; rogues can be unpredictable.”
Bryan rolled his eyes. Ryne was really stuck on this rogue business for some reason. Cassandra Greyson was just a kid. Handling her would be easy. He kept his thoughts to himself however; he’d prove Ryne wrong once Cassandra was part of the pack.
They continued to talk for a few more minutes, going over the technicalities of transporting a werewolf across the border then ended the conversation.
As he hung up, Bryan felt guilty for not telling Ryne why Mel was upset, but reasoned that he didn’t really know for sure. Finding her father was no big deal. Ryne was probably right; pregnancy hormones were throwing her off kilter. Besides, she’d likely break down and explain it to Ryne herself, long before he next spoke to her.
Putting the matter aside as just another of the weird little interludes that Ryne and Mel shared, he headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. Travelling always made him feel grubby. Adjusting the water temperature, he stripped and stepped under the pounding stream.
At first he closed his eyes, revelling in the sensation of the hot water as it pounded his shoulders and ran down his body. Steam rose around him and he rolled his shoulders to ease the tension in them.
Shaking his head to clear the water from his eyes, he grabbed the soap and began to lather up. He was here to do a job, after all. Washing automatically, he pondered how to proceed in his search. They didn’t have a clear picture of Greyson, just Ryne’s description of her and, if the girl had any measure of sense, she wasn’t using her real name. So how to establish her identity?
A good sniff would determine if she was a werewolf, but other than that, all he had was a vague memory of her scent, which he’d detected in the motel room in Kansas. Would it be enough? His inner wolf rumbled in the affirmative. It hadn’t forgotten the girl�
�s unique essence.
Bryan shifted uncomfortably as his body stirred to life. The beast inside seemed to have developed an exceptionally keen interest in the girl. It was more than the thrill of the hunt; for some reason the animal was eager to mate her, sight unseen. Down boy, he scolded. A sexual encounter was a possibility if the girl was willing, but don’t start planning anything permanent, okay?
An inner silence greeted his warning. He frowned; the wolf hadn’t automatically agreed which was odd. Usually they were of one accord. Bryan hoped it wasn’t going to prove difficult. He’d have enough to deal with once he found Cassandra Greyson. A contrary inner-wolf would just complicate matters further.
Shutting off the water, he grabbed a towel and quickly dried off before donning clean clothes. It was just past noon. He’d grab a bite to eat, then search out the grocery store. If luck was on his side, the girl would be working and he could check her out. Should she prove to be Cassandra Greyson, he’d make contact and...
His thinking screeched to a halt as he pondered what to say to the girl.
‘Hi! I’m Bryan, a fellow werewolf. The Finding clause means you’re part of my pack, so come along quietly...’ Shaking his head, he chuckled imagining how well that would go over. He considered the situation for a few more moments, then shrugged. Nothing else came to mind, so he’d just have to play it by ear. Talking to women had never been a problem for him. The Greyson girl probably wouldn’t prove any different.
*****
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A....
Marla stepped into the Aldrich’s office and sat down in a seat near his desk. The man was still with his nurse—Sylvia Robinson—whom he employed to help deal with his trach tube. It required some daily maintenance and the man preferred to have a ‘professional’ deal with it, even though most individuals managed fine on their own.
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