The Finding

by Nicky Charles

  “But—”

  His protest was cut off by a knock on the door. A feeling of horror washed over her. They were too late. Bryan was already here. She turned towards Kellen who was looking at her with an equally stricken look about him, though she wasn’t sure why.

  “Don’t answer the door!’ They both said simultaneously.

  Chapter 11

  Kellen gulped as a knock sounded on the front door again. For some reason Sandy...er...Cassandra—he’d have trouble calling her that after all this time—looked frightened as well. He wondered why, but didn’t have time to ponder the fact as the sound of cracking wood came from the general area of the front door.

  “Damn!” He spat the word out angrily. The goon from Dollar Niche was early and obviously not feeling patient; the strength of his knocking was splintering their old front door. He turned to go head the fellow off, not wanting Hugh to get a glimpse of Sandy; the guy had slimeball written all over him. Kellen didn’t trust the man to behave himself.

  “Sandy, you stay here. I’ll see what’s going on.” He didn’t even manage to take one step, when she grabbed his arm and tried to thrust herself in front of him.

  “No. It’s too dangerous. You don’t know what you’re dealing with!”

  Her fingers clutched his arm tightly and her obvious concern warmed him. It was good to know she still cared.

  “Anderson! Get your ass out here.” A deep voice called from the living room; obviously the door hadn’t been latched or perhaps it had given way. Kellen winced. Hugh appeared to be in a bad mood.

  “I’ll be fine.” He pried her fingers from his arm. They weren’t as tight as they had been and she looked rather surprised as if she’d expected to hear someone else. He didn’t have time to consider the point though. “Stay here. I’ll deal with the guy in the other room.”

  Kellen took a deep breath and walked to meet the beefy blond giant he knew was waiting for him.

  “Anderson.” Hugh nodded at him as he stepped into the room. “Eddie sent me to make sure the money is delivered on time.”

  “You’re early. It’s not due for a few more hours.”

  Hugh grinned and cracked his knuckles. “I’m just here to help you get it and to make sure you don’t skip town.”

  Kellen laughed, all the while thinking that Cassie was busy packing her bags in the next room. He hoped Hugh didn’t take it into his head to go snooping through the house. “Me? Leave town? I wouldn’t think of it.” He leaned casually against the wall and crossed his legs.

  “You wouldn’t be the first guy to try and get out of paying up. Not that I’d mind exactly. Tracking you down and reminding you of your obligations would be kind of fun. I haven’t broken any kneecaps in ages.”

  Taking in the guy’s thick arms, broken nose and scarred knuckles, Kellen could only imagine the kind of fun he was referring to and gulped. The paper in his hand crinkled as his fingers twitched—he’d forgotten he was still holding it.

  Damn! He bit his lip wondering what to do. The reward money for revealing where Sandy was would pay off his debt to Dollar Niche and there’d be a tidy sum left over. But Sandy hadn’t seemed overly happy when talking about her former life. He wished he’d had more time to discuss this with her, to see if she wanted to go back. This had seemed like such a good idea at two in the morning, but now...? Maybe he shouldn’t...

  Hugh settled his large body in a chair and folded his hands behind his head. His legs stuck out halfway across the small room. Shifting into a more comfortable position, the furniture creaked under the man’s weight. “So where’s all this money suddenly coming from?”

  Kellen frowned. Suddenly Hugh seemed a lot more intelligent than he had a few minutes ago. There was a calculating gleam in his eye. Was the ‘tough guy act’ just that? An act to throw him off? But if so, why?

  “Er...about that—” He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but a voice behind him made it a moot point anyway.

  “Money? What money?” Sandy’s voice suddenly spoke from behind him and Kellen swore under his breath.

  “I thought I told you to stay in the bedroom.” He whispered harshly, glaring at her and trying to block her entrance into the room. Of course, it had no effect. Sandy could be quite headstrong when she had a bee in her bonnet.

  “What money is he talking about Kellen?” She stepped into the room, a strained look about her face and her voice seemed higher pitched than normal. A knot formed in Kellen’s stomach knowing Sandy must be drawing some of her own conclusions. She wasn’t slow. She’d have seen the reward printed on the flier and connected it to Hugh’s talk of sudden money.

  Hugh took Sandy’s appearance in the room in his stride, answering her question before Kellen could think of what to say. “Your friend here claims to have some quick cash coming his way. Lucky thing too since Eddie wants to make an example of someone and Anderson here was his first pick.”

  Sandy looked at Hugh and then back at Kellen, anger sparking in her eyes. “Kellen. Explain.”

  “It’s not what you think—”

  “Not what I think? How can it not be? You start asking me about my past for the first time in three years. Then you have this poster, saying there’s a reward for information about me.” She pulled the paper from his hand and jabbed at it with her finger. “Then lunk-head over there says you’re talking about coming into a large sum of money. How can it not be what I think?” Her voice rose in volume as she spoke and she waved her arm wildly. Kellen winced, knowing it looked bad.

  Hugh had stood up as she was talking and wandered over to where they were. “Don’t call me lunk-head, kid.” He glowered at Sandy who merely looked at him in annoyance, most likely too perturbed to perceive the threat Hugh imposed.

  Kellen watched in dread as Hugh plucked the paper from Sandy’s hand. He tried to snatch it back, but Hugh held it out of reach, his gaze shifting from the picture to Sandy then back before understanding dawned. “Hey! You’re the girl in this picture.” A grin spread over the man’s broad face and he reached out and punched Kellen in the arm. “You did good, boy. She’s worth a hundred grand at least. Maybe even more. I’ve got to tell Eddie about this.”

  Kellen made another grab for the paper, but Hugh was already moving away, pulling out his cell phone. When he would have followed, Sandy grabbed at him. “And where do you think you’re going? We need to talk about this!”

  “Sandy, I—” He cast an agonized look at her and then at Hugh who was already talking to someone, no doubt Eddie. His gaze swung back to Sandy who was looking hurt, angry, betrayed...

  She poked him in the chest with her finger. “You were basically going to sell me out, weren’t you? You were gambling again, ended up in debt, and decided I was your cash cow.”

  “No! I wasn’t going to... I mean at first maybe the idea crossed my mind, but then I decided—” He sputtered, trying to explain that he’d been having second thoughts, but she wasn’t listening.

  “God, and to think I was worried about saving you from the—” She suddenly stopped and clamped her lips tightly shut.

  “Saving me from what?” What was Sandy talking about? Surely she hadn’t known that Eddie Perini was threatening him with bodily harm?

  “Nothing, I—”

  “Hey, Anderson!” Hugh’s booming voice cut into their conversation. “Eddie says to bring her over to Dollar Niche. We’ll split the reward money and he’ll cancel out your debt.”

  Shock washed over Sandy’s face and he was sure it was mirrored in his own as he protested the plan. “No! That wasn’t part of the deal.”

  Hugh laughed derisively. “You guys always think you have more options. Sorry. New deal. Eddie’s in charge of this now. Behave before he cuts you out completely.”

  The giant of a man grabbed Sandy’s arm and she yelped in protest before starting to struggle. Kellen stepped forward and gripped Hugh’s other arm.

  “Let her go!”

  With a simple shrug, Hugh shook him loose,
and Kellen stumbled backwards, hitting the wall. “Come on. We’re all going to visit Eddie.”

  Sandy reacted wildly, kicking and yelling as Hugh began to drag her towards the door.

  Kellen regained his footing and rushed forward, launching himself at Hugh. “No!”

  The thug fell backwards at the sudden addition of Kellen’s weight hanging off his arm. He let go of Sandy and she landed on the coffee table.

  There was a crashing sound and Kellen had a vague impression of Sandy sitting on the floor surrounded by bits of wood, but most of his attention was focussed on Hugh. He gripped the man’s wrist with both of his, but it made little impression. Hugh had him by the throat and merely laughed, wrapped his fingers more tightly and began to squeeze.

  Kellen thrashed and struggled, but the man was no match for him. He fought to breathe, spots beginning to dance before his eyes. His fingers clawed at Hugh’s hands, but to no avail. The world started to turn grey and a growling sound filled his ears. Strange... Wasn’t it supposed to be a roaring sound?

  *****

  Cassie looked up from where she lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. Her whole body ached from its impact with the coffee table and her vision seemed blurred. Shaking her head she tried to focus on what was going on around her. The sound of grunts and heavy breathing met her ears. She blinked and the blurred images before her became clearer. The huge blond thug had Kellen by the throat! Kellen was fighting back, but it seemed useless, his blows having no impact on the man’s mammoth body. Hugh’s face had a wild look about it, his lips drawn back, his eyes over bright. It was almost as if he relished squeezing the life out of someone.

  She struggled to her feet, not sure what to do, but knowing she had to try to save Kellen. Staggering, Cassie made her way over to where the two men were fighting and pounded on Hugh’s back, yelling for him to let go. Her blows were ineffectual. Kellen’s face was turning colour; deep red, purple, blue...

  Icy fear washed through her veins and there was a buzzing in her ears. Oh God, Kellen was going to die! Her mind flashed back to that night three years ago; the sight of her uncle falling to the ground, a bullet hole in his forehead. She saw Mr. Aldrich fighting against the werewolf, blood running from his throat. Now another person was going to die in front of her!

  “No!” A scream ripped from her throat. The air around her shimmered. Her skin crawled. It was just like when Bryan had caught her this morning, only worse. She gripped her head with her hands, trying to fight the feeling, but it overwhelmed her. Her muscles contracted, an unbelievable tension filling her, squeezing her until she was gasping. Half pain, half pleasure she hovered on the edge of something, fearful to take the final plunge yet knowing it was inevitable. Something called to her, urging her to move forward. She hesitated, fearful, but unable to resist the pull. A flash of light seemed to explode behind her eyes, the bubble of tension finally bursting and she found herself plummeting back to earth.

  She was on the ground, the world around her seeming inexplicably strange. The images were sharper; the scents and sounds more acute. Sounds! Kellen was still struggling with the man, though his arms were only moving feebly now. A horrible rasping noise came from him as he fought for air. Hugh was laughing... She rushed to her feet and lunged forward, feeling clumsy as if her body wasn’t her own, but intent on doing whatever she could to save Kellen.

  A strange sound—a snarl—erupted from her throat and she found herself clinging to the man’s back. Digging her fingers in so she wouldn’t fall, she bit at the back of his neck, only vaguely wondering why such an action would seem natural to her. Hugh screamed and released Kellen.

  Blood gushed into her mouth and she gagged, but bit down again intent on ensuring the man didn’t resume his attack on Kellen. Vaguely she was aware that Kellen was free now, lying on the ground, gasping for air.

  The man hit and kicked at her. She yelped in pain. Yelped? What...? Looking down she saw that she wasn’t on her hands and knees as she supposed. Thin legs covered in brown fur were where her arms should be.

  Panic washed over her. It had happened! Despite her years of precaution, she’d turned into a wolf! A gurgling sound caught her attention and she realised she was looming over the thug, his blood dripping onto the floor.

  Oh God! Oh God! She was just like the beast that killed her uncle’s lawyer! Horrified by her actions, she backed away. Her claws made scratching sounds on the floor, reinforcing the fact that she was an animal, a ravaging beast and she’d just attacked someone.

  With a whimper she turned and tried to run, but stumbled, her legs uncoordinated. Uncaring that her movements were less than graceful, she pulled herself up and out of the house, staggering and weaving until she eventually found her stride.

  How could she have done that? How could she ever face herself again? Horrified and ashamed she retreated from the reality of what she was while the beast inside surged to the foreground. It was taking over, exultant at finally being free. Cassie briefly struggled to regain control, but then gave up; what did it matter now? She’d lost the battle; her life was over...

  *****

  Bryan parked his rented car a block away from Cassandra Greyson’s house and turned off the engine. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, pondering what approach he should take this time.

  Walking up to her with a friendly ‘hello’ hadn’t worked and the scene at his motel... Well, that had proven to be a fiasco. He reached up and touched the spot on his head where she’d whacked him with the lamp. It was a bit tender, but healing rapidly. Feisty little rogue. If he wasn’t so exasperated with the girl, he’d applaud her ingenuity. She’d played her cards perfectly, allowing him to think she was subdued by his authority and then attacking when he turned his back.

  No, it wasn’t the accepted way to treat your Beta, but then again, she didn’t seem to recognize that he was her Beta. Her inner wolf was aware of the fact, but as for her human half... There was some sort of block there, though he couldn’t put his finger on it. It was as if the two halves of her weren’t communicating. They were aware of each other, but functioning at cross-purposes. Well, from the little he had gleaned of her early life, she’d been raised exclusively among humans, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she had a few quirks.

  Rubbing his chin, he considered the situation. It could prove interesting, trying to integrate her into a pack. Mel would be of some help, having only discovered her own werewolf heritage a few years ago. She’d be able to relate to the girl and offer some tips on pack life. That is provided she ever forgave Cassandra for scaring her half to death in the middle of that phone call.

  When he’d come to on the floor of the motel room, Mel had been shouting into the phone, wondering what had happened to him. Upon learning that the Greyson girl had knocked him out when he turned his back, Mel had been both furious and remorseful; mad at the girl for hurting him and angry with herself for interrupting.

  Finally, she’d calmed down and he’d discovered why she’d called. The news had come as a shock and he hadn’t been able to offer as much help as he’d like to. Something was off with the situation and he’d told her as much which seemed to assuage the worst of her fears; further investigation was definitely needed before she did anything drastic. He pointed out that Ryne was the one she should really be talking to, but she’d protested that until she knew more, she didn’t feel able to broach the subject with her mate.

  Bryan could understand her point of view, even if he didn’t totally agree. And after all, who knew what he’d do in a similar situation, not that it could ever happen of course. Finally, he’d suggested talking to Daniel since he’d have more background knowledge about the subject. Reluctantly, Mel had agreed to involve another pack member and they’d ended the conversation with her promising to keep him abreast of the situation as more information became available. As he hung up, he wondered how Ryne would take the news and was half-glad, half-disappointed he probably wouldn’t be there. His Alpha’s reaction would
be something to see.

  Putting the matter aside, he concentrated on the Greyson situation. According to the Finding clause, she was the pack’s responsibility. Should she ever reveal herself to a human or attack someone, the blame would be directly on their heads for not controlling her. Left alone, who knew how long she’d manage to control her wolf before a situation arose. If one did, all hell could break loose. An untrained werewolf could unknowingly do a lot of damage in a short period of time.

  With a weary sigh, he got out of the car, and began walking towards her house, idly noticing the changes wrought by last night’s rain. The smell of the soil was different, richer and more pervasive, and splashes of colour were starting to appear as the desert plants that dotted the front yards sent out blooms. If he wasn’t so busy thinking about Cassandra it would have been interesting to study the changes a rain could bring about. However, he had more important things on his mind than desert flora.

  This whole situation wasn’t turning out at all the way he’d planned. He’d been enticed by the idea of the ‘thrill of the hunt,’ but instead it was turning out to be more of a ‘pain in the rear.’ She was afraid of him, but somehow he had to make her listen. Maybe if he approached her at her own house, in broad daylight...

  A blur of chocolate brown fur ran past him and he spun around, stunned at the sight. Was that a...? Dammit, it was!

  A quick glance around revealed that there was no one on the street, but just in case, he ducked down behind a car to shift into his wolf form. Once he transformed, he took off after the little female werewolf. She was running as if the demons of Hell were chasing her. He sent up a quick prayer that no animal control officers were around and that she didn’t run across the road and get hit by a car!

  He raced after her, his longer legs quickly eating up the distance between them. They were coming to the end of the road, a playground was straight ahead. Bryan scanned the area, thankful no children were about, then put on a burst of speed. He was almost upon her when she started to veer to the left. Quickly calculating her path, he cut across at an angle and leapt, slamming into her as she ran in front of him.