“Finding her has made you focus on the dangers of our lives.” Red shook his head. “If that’s mating, I want nothing to do with it.”
“Boy, you don’t know what you’re missing.” Tad glanced over at his brother. “There’s nothing better, is there, Taber?”
“Not in this life and I’m stuck with my twin as part of the deal. There are days I want to kick his ass, but Kallie brought us closer than we’ve ever been.” Taber’s smile stretched across his face as he spoke about his mates. “Go to Brooklynn. Let her know what’s happening. I’d say mark your claim, but you don’t have the time. We’ll get through this and Theodore can fly all of our asses out of here in the morning.”
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes and then I’ll come back. It would be best if you introduced us before you left. Ambrose is the only one she’s actually met and he’s tied up with Kyra.” Tad pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat. “You’re wasting time. Go to her.”
Carran nodded. He needed to do this and hopefully when he made it back, he’d be able to tell Brooklynn that she no longer had to worry. Mate, I’ll keep you safe. You have my word.
Chapter Ten
Surrounded by the darkness, Brooklynn stretched out on the bed with her heart slamming against her chest. She strained to hear any movement in the house. Carran’s words had her at ease but now she was apprehensive. Even if he was able to fix the trouble she seemed to be in with the local wolf pack, she wasn’t sure she could stay in the city. Once he left, there was no certainty the wolves would stick to the agreement, and how could she trust the people she had to work with daily? A cop who couldn’t trust their partner had their back was useless.
“Dad, I wanted to follow in your footsteps.” She fingered the Saint Michael pendant on her necklace. It had been her father’s and now she wore it. Her finger rubbed across the jagged edge, a wound left on the pendant from where the first bullet tore through him. Four bullets had stolen her father from her.
At eleven, she worked hard all summer doing odd jobs around the neighborhood to earn enough money to buy her father the pendant. It was in honor of his fifteenth year on the force. He never saw his sixteenth. The day of the funeral, her father’s partner took her aside and gave her the pendant. It was cleaned, leaving no traces of the blood that had spilled on it, but nothing could hide the ragged edges left by the bullet. She slipped it around her neck and with that she was given part of her father back.
From that day on, she wore the necklace. Her mother tried to forbid it, and her sister Abagail found the idea of wearing the necklace morbid, but Brooklynn never let that stop her. A criminal had taken her father, but she’d hold on to this last piece of him with her dying breath. She had always been a daddy’s girl and Abagail was just like her mother. They were different as night and day.
“Brooklynn?” Carran’s soft voice called to her from the doorway. “Are you still awake?”
“Everything okay?” She scooted up in bed and focused on the doorway.
“I wanted to talk to you for a moment.” He came farther into the room.
“First, I have a question.” She shifted and turned on the bedside lamp. “Earlier, how did you know where I was?”
“This.” He grabbed her jacket from the top of the dresser and reached into her pocket to pull out a small black square. “It’s a tracker.”
“What?” She stared at it, wide eyed and full of disbelieve. “You’ve got to be kidding. You tagged me!”
“It’s a long story, one I don’t have time to tell you now, but yes.” He tossed the jacket on the foot of the bed and came around to stand next to her. “I slipped it into your pocket at Reaper’s. You were in danger and I wanted to ensure you were safe.”
“That’s illegal.”
“When I get back, you can arrest me if you’d like.” He took her hand into his and sat down beside her. “Until then, I need you to keep this with you. If I’m not back by the time you get up, cut a couple stitches in the waistband of your jeans and slip it in there. That way you won’t lose it.”
“No.” Even as she said it, he pressed it into her hand and closed her fingers around it. “Carran? What’s going on?”
“I have to leave for a bit.”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to meet with the wolves.” His thumb caressed over her knuckles. “I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“I should go with you.” She shoved the covers down so she could climb out of bed and get dressed. “I can tell them what happened. Maybe I can make them see…” She didn’t know what she’d make them see or even what she’d say. This was a side of Donovick that he kept from her. Would his wife be there? Did she even know he was a shifter?
“You’re going to stay here where you’re safe. Tad is going to be in charge of your safety while I’m gone. Five others from my team are staying with you and Ambrose will be here. You’ll be safe.”
“Why now?” She glanced over at the wall clock. “It’s nearly three in the morning. Why an urgent meeting in the middle of the night, after you said arrangements had been made for in the morning? This can’t be good. You can’t go alone. Take your backup. I’ll stay here.”
“Red and Taber will be with me.” He gave her hand another squeeze. “Promise me you’ll keep that on you.”
“You think they’ll come back while you’re gone.” Her gun was in the holster next to the lamp and this time she wasn’t going to have a problem using it. She’d hesitated in grabbing her gun last time, because it was Donovick, but not this time.
“No, but even so, Tad and the others will be ready. I…” He let go of her hand and stood. “Scoot over.”
“You’re not seriously trying to crawl into bed with me now, are you?”
“Fuck.” He dragged his hand through his hair, pulling the strands away from his face and let out a deep sigh. “I know you don’t understand, but I crave your touch. I want to hold you in my arms, that’s all. I’ll stay above the blanket.”
She pulled the pillow out from under the blanket on the other side of her and slid over. He thought she didn’t understand, and maybe she didn’t completely, but she understood what he meant about craving her touch because she yearned for his, too. This longing for him concerned her. She was strong and independent and this felt unnerving. Worse yet, his life was across the country. Eventually, he’d leave.
Staying on top of the blanket, he sat down next to her, his back against the headboard, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. Her worries popped like balloons, once again reminding her of the effect his touch had on her. It dulled the fears within her, while at the same time heightening other senses and made her want him even more.
“Maybe we should go to the police,” she said. “If we go to the station, maybe you can sense who’s part of the pack and I don’t know…” Going to the police was out of the question and she knew it. They were too deep into this. She didn’t know what happened to Donovick and Dixon’s bodies, but she knew they’d cleaned the scene. They’d all end up in jail.
“That’s your natural instinct, but you need to let me handle this. Doing it your way will only make things worse.”
“How?” She settled into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Connor heads ups the Nerd Crew back in Alaska, and he found information connecting the Chief of Police to the Donovick pack. Anything you take to them will work its way to him. The shifter secret is something we’ve all have to work to hide, but even if it wasn’t, he doesn’t want anyone to know this happened under his command.” His finger teased along the curve of her shoulder, playing lightly along it. “You’ll be labeled as a troublemaker and your career would be over.”
“It already is.” A halfhearted laugh escaped before she could stop it. “Even if this gets resolved, I can’t go back to the department and they’re not going to give me a reference. I don’t know what’s next, but my days in this city are numbered. I think that’s the t
oughest blow from all of this. That and my partner’s betrayal.”
“There are always places looking for good officers. You’ll land on your feet when this is over and you’ll be stronger for it.”
“How am I supposed to trust my next partner? In the back of my mind I’ll always wonder if they’re a shifter. If they aren’t, I might put them at risk if the wolves end up coming after me again in the future.” There were too many variables in her life now. Too much risk. What about her family? Were they targets because of her new knowledge?
“If you let me claim you as my mate, you’ll know a shifter on sight and you’ll know if they’re a danger to you. They’ll know what you are, too.”
“What I am?” She tipped her head to look up at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“To other shifters, you’ll smell like me. They’ll know you’re my mate.” He pressed his finger under her chin and shook his head. “Don’t. It’s not meant as property, it’s protection. It means you have a mate and a clan behind you. If they mess with you, they’re taking on a bigger battle than they’re prepared for. Let’s just say my clan is making a name for themselves. Everyone knows about us.”
“Which means the enemies are multiplying quickly.”
“I won’t deny we have enemies, but it’s all worth it, and we’ll come out of it better than before.”
Tonight made it seem like nothing was worth it, but she stifled a yawn and didn’t argue. “Your life is in Alaska and you obviously have a commitment to your clan. Even if I was okay with being your mate…it’s not going to work.”
“Why? You’ve said it yourself your days here are numbered. Why not start over?” He cupped the side of her face, bringing it to an angle so she was looking up at him. “Just think about it. Okay? We’re about to have company.”
“Who?” The question barely left her lips when Carran’s gaze shifted from her to the door.
“Me.” A deep voice answered.
Carran pulled her closer, his other arm coming around to take her hand into his. “Thaddeus Brown. He’s going to be your protection detail while I’m gone. Whatever he says, you’ll do.”
“Call me Tad.” He gave her a slight nod and added, “We’re not going to have any problems, but if you need anything, I’ve switched rooms with Theodore so I’m next door. I’ll know if anything happens.”
“He’s trying to say if someone were to gain entry to the house, you don’t have to call out for him and alert the intruder. He’ll know and he’ll come.” He glared over at Tad, his lip curled into a snarl. “Anything happens—”
“It’s going to be fine.” She opened her hand to reveal the tracker she still held. “I’ll have this. No matter what happens, I know you’ll find me.”
“Damn right.”
“Two minutes, Carran,” Tad interrupted. “I’ll give you time alone. Brooklynn, if you need anything, let me know.”
“Thank you,” she called to him as he strolled out of the room, and then she turned back to Carran. “Are you going to parade the rest of your men in one at a time?”
“No, time is limited. I should have done it earlier, but you wanted to be alone, and then I wanted you to myself. They’re around the house if you want to meet them. Tad will introduce them. They’re good men and I’m leaving you in the best hands I can.”
“It’s going to be fine.” She smirked as she reassured him, when minutes before he was the one doing the comforting. “I don’t understand everything that’s happening, but I trust you. I’ll stay here and listen to your guys, but I want you to promise me that you’ll be safe.”
“You have my word. I just found you. I’m not going to do something stupid now.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Try to rest. I’ll be back soon.” He slipped his arm from around her and got off the bed.
“Carran.” She rose up onto her knees and crawled to the edge of the bed. “One last thing.” She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him toward her. When he neared, she pressed her lips to his and the sizzle that had been running through her whenever they touched exploded into a burning heat. A soft moan escaped her throat as she slipped her other hand under his shirt and slid it up his chest. Using the situation to meet his own desires, he slid his tongue into her mouth, exploring it as if it would be the last time. Their kiss was full of urgency and desire, making her want him more. His arms came around her, pressing her against his chest.
“Carran.” Red’s voice traveled toward them and with one last kiss, Carran pulled back.
“I’ve got to go.”
“I know.” Sadness coated her words and she slid her hand out from under his shirt. “Come back to me.”
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Without another word, he walked out of the bedroom leaving her alone again. She hadn’t even known him a day, but watching him leave felt worse than her last breakup. That relationship had lasted two years and she’d never felt the things she felt with Carran.
He claimed she was his mate, the woman he was destined to spend his life with, and when she’d first heard it, that word had scared her. The very idea made her want to run in the opposite direction. Now, something felt right about being with him. In his embrace, she had this overwhelming sense of belonging, and a reassurance that everything would be fine. Maybe he was right that they were meant to be together. Was she ready for that? There were too many uncertainties in her life and no easy answers. When it came to Carran, there was more that she needed to know before an answer would come. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for the answers he’d give her.
Chapter Eleven
The meeting with the wolves was less than a mile from the barn where Carran rescued Brooklynn. This time, instead of a barn, they’d meet at the Alpha’s home. They were in fact walking into the wolves’ den, but Ty had negotiated safe passage for them that night. There was a possibility of a war brewing between them, but the treaty meant unless the pack wanted to be marked and hunted down, they’d let Carran, Red, and Taber leave the meeting unscathed. Once they arrived back at the safe house, they’d be fair game and the wolves could attack. It also meant they had to keep their end of the deal. Hurting one of the wolves without them first making a move would void the treaty, leaving their lives in the balance.
“I’ve seen two guards. Where are the others? Surely they have more than two guarding the den.” Red continued to scan the grounds as Carran pulled the SUV into the driveway.
“Doesn’t matter now. We’re in their den.” Taber glanced in the back at Red. “You ready for this?”
“I’m fine.” But there was an uncertainty in his voice that had Carran and Taber exchanging a glance. “Wolves are unpredictable and they make me uneasy.”
“Let’s do this.” Carran took the keys from the ignition and opened his door as a young man came toward their vehicle.
“Randolf is waiting.” He tipped his head to the front door. “If you’ll follow me.”
The light from the house was enough for Carran to get a good look. Their escort was a teenager and if his guess was correct, the boy wasn’t even driving yet. Carran didn’t have time to question him before the front door opened and a man stepped out. His long smoky gray hair brushed along his shoulders, framing his face, and drawing attention to his dark eyes. Carran wasn’t sure who the power display was for, but it was clear from the power vibrating off him that he was Alpha there.
“I told you to go home,” the older man hollered at the kid, his voice deep and rough.
“Sir—”
With a shake of his head, Randolf cut the young man off. “Now.”
The boy glared at Carran, his fists balled, and the wolf was pushing toward wanting a fight. Having enough sense not to disobey his Alpha, he turned and quickly scurried off, leaving Carran with questions. While he wasn’t sure who the boy was, it was obvious he didn’t want them there.
“Come in.” Not waiting for them, Randolf stepped farther into the house.
Scan
ning the area again, Carran walked toward the house. His tiger was on full alert, scanning every window for possible movement but finding nothing. They were in the wolves’ den and the pack’s sense of ease didn’t sit well with him. Maybe he had been on alert so long he’d forgotten what their clan had once been. Before their lives changed and their battles started, they had been similar to this. There had always been guards on duty, but they were vigilant for humans overstepping the bounds. Now they were up against deadlier things. Rogues and Tabitha’s enemies were their new concern, while humans catching them in their animal form had dropped lower on the list.
Inside, the man led the way past a living room and into an office. While the rest of the house had been sparely furnished, the office was centered around a large red oak desk. The two high back chairs in front of it were deep red, and the atmosphere seemed formal and strictly business. This was where Randolf conducted business and he wanted them to know they were on his turf now.
“This is Claw and Steven, they’ll be joining us.” Randolf stood behind the desk, introducing the other men, and tipped his head enough for them to get the idea. “Take a seat.”
“Not you,” Steven told Red before he could take a seat. “I’ll question you across the hall.”
“No.” Taber stepped in front of Steven who moved toward Red, but his gaze was on Randolf. “There’s an agreement in place clearly stating we’d come here but we’d stick together. You’re not going to divide and try to conquer, are you?”
“They’ll be through the adjoining doorway in Claw’s office. Steven can get his story without influence.” Randolf laid a hand on the back of his chair.
“Voiding an agreement between two Alphas could cause a war.” Carran kept his senses open as they pressed through this battlefield. “We agreed to come to your land with certain conditions in place. Are you going back on your word to our Alpha?”
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