by Cecilia Lane
The sound of an explosion was familiar to Callum’s ears and entirely unexpected. In the middle of the town? Inside town hall? He pushed away from the desk immediately and crossed the room.
The fire alarms inside the building shouted with warning and flashed their emergency lights. The lobby outside was a scramble of confused activity.
He hurried forward. Most everyone on this side of the building appeared uninjured, though they all had wide eyes and stank of fear. His bear rumbled in his chest. Fear made him angry. Fear made him want to attack whatever caused it in others.
He grabbed Allison by her shoulders and shook her hard enough to stop her panicked yammering. “Get everyone outside. Now!”
There was no telling where the explosion centered or what the damage on the rest of the building would be. It was fortified beyond anything else in town because of the Broken sleeping underneath, but he couldn’t be too careful. Whatever caused the first blast could cause more.
Instincts honed over the years took control. He shouted for everyone still hovering in the lobby to follow Allison out of the building. A steady stream of activity followed by Allison taking command of the evacuation assured him enough to keep moving through the building.
He needed to clear as many rooms as possible. Fire could spread and trap others before the fire crew could arrive and find them. Cole would have a problem with it; Callum was technically a civilian. But he’d rather throw down with his brother than lose a single life. Old habits died hard.
The doors nearest his office were all open and people streamed out. He still stuck his head in and visually cleared the room before hitting the next one, then the next.
The crowd thinned as he strode further through the building. Damage showed along the walls and ceiling. Cracks appeared, and bits of ceiling tiles lay broken on the ground or littered the corridors with dust. The air grew thick and hazy with smoke, making his eyes water and his bear growl.
Callum jogged forward and ripped a fire extinguisher from its place in the wall. The crackle of flames eating through wood reached his ears. He kicked open a door with smoke snaking out from the bottom. Fire ate up the side of the building and licked through the open window. He sprayed foam to contain most of it, but like some monster lizard, more spread to the ceiling tiles. Charred pieces rained down on his head even as he was forced from the fight with one final squeeze of the extinguisher.
“Callum!”
He whirled at the sound of his name and found his brother striding toward him. Even hidden behind his mask and geared to the teeth, he’d recognize the way his body moved. Familiarity forged in the heat of working fires.
“Where’s Pop?” Cole asked sharply.
“Should be home. He hasn’t stopped in today.” Relief slumped his brother’s shoulders.
“Get out of here,” Cole ordered. “You’re not in proper gear. I can’t lose you to this.”
A soft cry for help reached their ears at the same time. They hustled forward and turned into the stairwell. At the bottom of the landing was a man bleeding from a gash on his forehead. The smoke thickened at the next landing until Callum could barely see the next steps.
“Fire,” the man whispered weakly and pointed.
“Fuck,” Cole muttered. “He must have come from the epicenter of this. We lost the east wall.”
Callum didn’t know how many others would be on the lower level. The man’s jumpsuit labeled him a janitor, so there was a chance that he was the only one still trapped. The Broken were deep underground, and no other guests were sitting in the cells. Bile churned in his stomach and the smoke itched at his eyes and throat.
Cole shoved the man toward him. “Get the fuck out of here before you can’t breathe. I’m not carrying you out.”
He was right. He hated it, but Cole was right. “Work the problem, Cole. One room at a time.” It was damn difficult to send his brother back into the thick of it. “And get someone in touch with the vampires below! Make sure the coven hasn’t been breached.”
He slung his arm around the man and helped him limp around the nearest corner. Smoke rose fast from whatever burned nearby. Entire east wall gone, Cole said. He was too close. The sharp crackle of fire eating everything in its path never left his ears. He needed the next safe exit, both for himself and the man he carried.
Bruce stood there, hacking away at a window for ventilation. Glass littered the ground at his feet and smoke was sucked out into the fresh air. He paused and turned, ax still raised. Hatred glinted in his eyes.
Callum thought he’d bury the ax in his chest, then and there. His inner bear rose up with a growl for the perceived threat. But then Bruce blinked and dropped the tool turned weapon to his side.
“By the Broken, Callum. You gave me a shock. Get the hell out of here!”
“Trying,” he wheezed. He jerked his chin in the direction he came. “Cole went that way. He might need help getting others out.”
“Shit, man. Let me get you out first. Cole has gear. What the fuck are you still doing inside? Everyone else was cleared out already,” Bruce continued muttering even as he escorted Callum and the janitor to the nearest set of doors propped open for more airways. The smoke thinned as he stepped out into the nearby street and into the activity there. Electricians scrambled to cut the power in case of an electrical fire. Gas would have been turned off, too, he knew.
Bruce disappeared back into the building as Callum handed over the janitor to the nearest paramedic. What the fuck happened? Bruce wouldn’t try to kill him outright. Would he? Callum shook his head and tried to put down the unease.
Other people were gathered around ambulances and being treated for cuts and burns. The scent of blood or burned flesh wasn’t too thick, thankfully. Most everyone would heal on their own.
Except the town’s new human.
Fuck. Leah had still been at Mug Shot when he left her. She didn’t have any reason to be near town hall or the explosion. That didn’t mean shit with a woman like Leah, though. Strong-headed was a mild description.
His bear snarled in his chest. The creature wouldn’t be happy until he laid eyes on the little woman.
Then he saw her and the air left his lungs. The paramedic shouted something at him, but he didn’t hear the words. He didn’t see anyone that dashed out of his way in his need to get to her.
She rounded the table where Faith and Tommy were handing out water as quick as they could pour it. The purple in her hair bounced around her shoulders and mixed with the rest of the brown strands.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her off her feet. His lips crashed against hers.
There was nothing gentle about the kiss. Pure need rode him, fueled by his inner bear. Touch, scent, taste… those were the things he needed at that moment to stay steady and in his human form.
They’d been attacked and he needed to work the problem. But right then, he needed to feel the little human that twisted his world into chaos.
She groaned against his lips and he pressed forward, swiping his tongue against hers. He swept a hand up her back and into her hair, twisting the strands and angling her exactly where he wanted her. She was so willing, chasing him when he pulled back. Fuck, he was going to throw her down in the middle of the square. Needed to feel the rest of her. Needed to mark her.
His bear rumbled softly. She was the one. No one else would come before her.
Mate.
No.
She had a life outside of Bearden that she wanted to return to. Humans didn’t settle well inside the enclave. He couldn’t trust she would want to stay.
And Bruce wanted her badly enough to snipe at everything. Poison, the man was. He’d only poison Leah, along with the rest of them.
His bear wouldn’t allow it. The beast wouldn’t allow anyone to take Leah away. She belonged in Bearden, and she belonged with Callum. The animal writhed at the thought of anything else.
He set her down on her feet and smoothed back her hair. Soot from his h
ands left trails of black on her cheeks. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she repeated, nearly laughing. Her hazel eyes blinked rapidly and the sweet scent of her arousal hung in the air.
Fuck, she was gorgeous. And so entirely human.
That fact never stood more clear than in that moment. Something seared his shoulder in the middle of it all and he walked it off with only a sting of pain. She’d be down for weeks. Hell, he bet her bruises hadn’t entirely faded.
He pulled her close to his chest and rumbled with relief when her arms wrapped around his waist. Fuck the murmuring gossips nearby. Screw the sidelong glances from those who were wise enough to remain quiet.
He failed the town and allowed an attack within the enclave. He failed them by wanting to keep Leah for himself.
One tore at him and the other pieced him back together.
Humans were forbidden, and he welcomed her into the town. She was his responsibility just as much as the rest of them.
He had to find a way to balance both.
Chapter 12
“You’re not supposed to be here today,” Gideon shouted over the noise of the crowded bar.
Leah glided past him and pulled a beer from the fridge for one of the many customers lining up for beverages. After a popped cap and an exchange of cash for bottle, she answered him. “Since everyone in town is here, thought you could use the help.”
“Nothing like a tragedy to bring everyone out,” Gideon grimaced.
It was hardly an exaggeration. Faces she hadn’t seen before were in the crowd, some giving her welcoming smiles and others joining the anti-Leah fan club. The bright spot took up one corner of the bar. Bearden’s daytime fire crew crowded around a pool table and gave each other shit between swigs of drinks and taking turns making shots.
But it was Callum that caught her eye. Unconsciously, she raised a hand to her lips. She imagined she could still taste him.
The man was a force to be reckoned with, that was sure. She thought he had zero interest in her beyond keeping her safe, and then he surprised her with a kiss that curled her toes.
He raised his glass in her direction and gave her a small smile, but didn’t take a step toward her. Oh, he wanted to play the bad boy? She could hold out and force him to chase her.
A chill ran through her. Chase her where? Into the ground, maybe, once he found out her involvement in the explosion. She was playing with fire by getting closer to him. But like a moth, she couldn’t help but get closer.
She threw herself into the bustle of bartending. It was amazing to see the level of support all of Bearden’s citizens had for each other. The firefighters, especially, were treated to hands clapped against backs and drinks sent their way as thanks for their duty.
But even the average shifter man or woman had reassurances flung their way. They’d experienced a tragedy that day, and they all needed extra support. A quiet word or a quick embrace were just as common as a loud eruption and declaration of violence against whoever was found to have hit the town right in their center.
And there were more than a few darting dark looks her way. Trent wasn’t the only person in Bearden that had a problem with her being there. After Callum’s stunt in the town square, he earned plenty of glances, too. It’d be easy enough for a mob to form against her.
They wouldn’t be wrong. She gave Jamin the information he needed to go after Bearden. The why eluded her and the how had multiple theories. The one that ate at her most was a traitor in their midst. Other than her, anyway. Leah eyed the crowd from under her lashes. One of Bearden’s citizens may have set the explosion into motion on behalf of Jamin. Which meant one of them could expose her at any moment.
Whatever Jamin’s reasonings, he was responsible. The timing was too much of a coincidence. She gave him information, then the explosion hit days later. Jamin was at the center of the plot and the guilt of her part would ride her until her last breath.
At least no one had died. There were small mercies in the world. She didn’t need to add another red name to her list.
Callum tracked her from one end of the bar to the other. Did he know? Did he suspect something? The wink he tossed her and his wicked smile hinted at something else entirely and had her blood boiling in her veins.
She wanted nothing to do with Jamin or his ways of extracting her from Bearden. He’d attacked innocent people, and for reasons she didn’t understand. There would be a price to pay for his help, anyway.
Jamin could send her all the messages he wanted. She was done letting him prey on her weaknesses. She wouldn’t pass him any information ever again. If he had an insider willing to plant explosive devices, he could use that person as his mole. If he was somehow able to cross the borders himself, he could do his own dirty work.
She was less concerned with leaving than ever. Bearden was beginning to feel like home. She’d been welcomed by many. She couldn’t abandon them. Not to Jamin.
In a momentary lull, she glanced at her phone. One new message, but the sender wasn’t who she hoped. She opened the conversation with Jamin. New dread ate at her.
Did you like the fireworks?
She shook as she deleted the message and stuffed the phone back into her pocket. Fuck.
She suspected—no, she knew. He just offered her confirmation.
She glanced up at the firefighters, Callum included. She should clean her slate and tell them everything.
Another darting glance brought her gaze over the ones who shot her loaded looks all night. If they found out her involvement, if they knew she breathed a word to an outsider like herself, they’d press for Callum’s ultimate threat.
They used to kill trespassers, after all.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Good news?”
Leah jumped at Gideon’s voice. “No news at all. Need another keg?”
He shook his head. “You’ve done enough tonight and we’re slowing down. Get on out of here before you get dragged into the next rush.”
As if summoned by the whiff of fun, the firefighters trudged up from their place at the corner pool table. Varying degrees of inebriation were written across their grinning faces.
Cole politely coughed and held up a hand for attention. “In honor of my brother pulling the stick from his ass, we would love for you to have drinks with us.”
Leah covered her laugh with a hand over her mouth. “I’m working, but thank you. Maybe another night.”
But they wouldn’t accept her answer. Callum lurked behind them all with an indulgent expression. He knew what they were doing, and he wasn’t going to put a stop to it. He let them pressure her into shirking her responsibilities.
“Come on, Leah!”
“Have drinks with us!”
“They need to blow off some steam. They wind up here after every fire,” Gideon explained. “Go on. Keep them from getting completely sloshed.”
“Too late for that, I think,” she snorted. “Are you sure?”
“Go get your man,” he urged.
Her man. Laying claim to him seemed premature, more than a little dangerous, and entirely right. She found him staring at her again and couldn’t help but give him a once over. Dark shirt clung to his chest and she could see his abs flexing with each breath. His over shirt hung open, and the sleeves were rolled back to show off his forearms. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark attitude with a shining streak of responsibility, Callum Strathorn was irresistible. He confused her in a single minute and pissed her off the very next moment. He made her feel alive.
Her man.
She liked the feel of the words in her head. Uttering them in the open, with the secrets in her past, present, and future, was something else entirely.
Still, Leah tried to push her unease and guilt to the side. Tonight, she could join them. She could be part of their brotherhood and tease the hell out of them. The rest of the world could wait until morning.
Leah walked around the bar to the sound of cheers.
&nbs
p; Callum watched Leah closely, unable to do anything else. She was stiff and smelled uncertain when the clan swarmed around her. Then she pushed through and stopped right in front of him.
“Did you plan this?”
He pasted on an innocent expression. “I would never do such a thing. Especially after you stood me up tonight.”
Her eyes laughed at him, but she kept her face blank. She couldn’t hide the amusement entering her scent, though. That smelled fizzy and light and utterly enchanting.
“You had to go get yourself almost blown to pieces. There are easier ways to get out of a dinner date,” she said, deadpan.
“Maybe. But then you’d question where we stood. Go big or go home with that rejection.”
Bruce stepped forward and flashed her a charming, slimy smile. Her lips tightened slightly. “Let’s celebrate your freedom with a dance. I got skills to show off.”
Irritation burned through him and Callum barely kept his snarl contained. Not in the bar. Gideon didn’t allow brawling in the bar. They’d all be kicked out, and he might lose the chance to stay near Leah.
His bear roared at the idea. It’d been a close day already. He could have been in the wrong part of the building and died. She could have vanished during the commotion. The hours he spent going over what little the various clans and crews knew and ordering them to work the investigation and plan for repairs were hours he should have spent reassuring her.
No, he had to ease into whatever might happen between them. She was human. She didn’t understand how his world worked. Hell, he didn’t understand how he could bond so strongly to a human woman. She was dangerous. For him, and to herself. He wasn’t blind to the dark looks from some of the others in town. He’d seen the stack of complaints in Allison’s folders.
She was an outsider, he reminded himself. Outsiders didn’t stay. Outsiders couldn’t be trusted.
Oh, his bear had a solution for that. The maddening creature put images of Leah in his head, wearing a mark on her shoulder, and another on her arm. One sported the silvery color of a bitten shifter.