Scent Of Uncertainty (The Venus Pack Series Book 1)

by Riley Cross

  Taking a seat at the table across from the Alpha, Enzo stays by the door, leaving us to speak alone.

  “I’m told that you have made contact with your target.” Greyson smile turns feral. No doubt salivating at the thought of getting his hands-on Rachael. Think again, buddy.

  “Have you now.” He’s had someone watching me. Just how much does this asshole know.

  “When can I expect you to deliver her?” Greyson’s voice is calm, eager.

  Either he is a world class liar. Or he doesn’t know a damn thing.

  Well, might as well ruin his good mood. No point in keeping up pretenses.

  “Here’s the-”

  “Oh, hello. Apologies Alpha, I hadn’t realized you had company.”

  Turning around, I spot the softly spoken female by a door leading to the rest of the house.

  “Elise, what is it?” Greyson growls, causing the petite female to jump. “N-N-nothing Alpha. It is unimportant. I’m S-sorry for disturbing you.” Elise is a stuttering, skittish mess by the door. Her skin is dry and caked in what looks like dirt. Scratching her neck nervously, Elise backs up back into the opposite room. What the hell does Greyson do to his females? The she-wolf looked nothing like the ones Rae had taken me to see within her pack. As she turns to make her escape, my eyes zero in on the angry-looking skin around her collar.

  “Ignore her, she will be dealt with.”

  Turning my attention back to Greyson, I lift a brow.

  “She sick?” Shocked by my question, I school my features. Making sure to stay looking relaxed and not like I want to bag up the female and run her back to Rachael.

  “Allergies.” Enzo pipes up. Allergies? The fuck kinda answer is that. Shifters don’t have allerg- Shit.

  Wolfsbane.

  Merely touching the damned stuff would cause a rash and sickness.

  Why in the fuck would Greyson’s pack mate be messing around with Wolfsbane?

  Greyson waves away his Beta. “Unimportant. Now, when can I expect my package?” He repeats.

  Rae’s friend had said she picked up on a Beta’s aura back at her house. We immediately suspected Dorian. But what if-

  “Ripper.” Greyson growls, dropping the friendly act once and for all. “How long until you deliver the she-wolf to me?”

  Slipping my hand into my pocket, I type out a message to Rae, hoping like fuck she will make sense of it.

  ME: Wolfsbane. Greyson.

  Send.

  Once the device gives a small vibrate indicating the message has been sent. I return my full attention to the male in front of me.

  “I’m not.”

  “Excuse me?” The Alpha’s eyes darken.

  “I said. I’m not.”

  “We have a deal, Warlock.”

  “Had.” I correct. “But the plans changed. Rae is mine.” This time it’s my turn to smile. Turning my neck slightly to the side, giving the male a good look at the bite marks I’m sporting.

  Instead of looking surprised, Greyson sighed. “You were right.”

  “Now what are you talking about?” I question.

  His eyes lock with mine, hardening. Not a good sign.

  “I didn’t believe Enzo when he told me you and the female had bonded. But you just confirmed his words.”

  Enzo had known about me and Rae. Shitfuck!

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. She won’t even have time to morn you.” Greyson gives a subtle nod. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end before I can register what was happening. A heavy arm wraps around my neck at the same time a revolting smelling cloth covers my mouth and nose. Lifting my hands, I try wrenching the meaty hand holding the cloth away from my mouth. But the longer Enzo holds it there, the darker my vision becomes.

  The lack of oxygen getting to my lungs helps whatever drugs are soaking the fabric. All I need is a second. One word is all it would take to lock down the males in the room. My hands fall at the same time the kitchen around us falls out of my vision and into darkness. My last thought is of my beautiful mate. I promised I’d never abandon her again. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.

  CHAPTER Eighteen

  Can someone please explain this shit to me?!

  My wolf has been agitated for the past hour. Pacing back and forth behind my eyes, as me and my brothers turn over everything, we know about the murders so far.

  “Dorian said the day he sent me to shift, he never left the house. You guys had eyes on him the entire time?” Please say yes, please say yes.

  “Yeah? But what’s that got to do with the price of beef?”

  Cam’s words are like a ray of fucking sunshine.

  “The phone has pictures of my wolf and Dominic in the woods that day! If Dorian were at the house, and you guys had an eye on him the entire time, then he couldn’t possibly have snapped those shots.”

  “This proves it.” Liam says, sounding relieved. “He’s innocent!” Kye jumps up from the table, knocking down his chair.

  “Alpha.” At Cam’s voice, I turn. “I ask permission to release our Beta and ask that you reinstate his position.”

  “Granted.” I smile, the relief in the room washes over me like a soothing balm. “Go and get our Beta.” I order the already retreating back of the Enforcer.

  “Where’s Dom?” Kye asks, looking around the room.

  “He was in the guest room on the phone.” I answer, the uncomfortable feeling turning my stomach.

  “Huh.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t hear anyone else in the house.”

  My anxiety spikes at my brother’s words. Concentrating on the sounds around the house.

  He’s right. I can only hear the sounds of a retreating vehicle, signaling Cam has already left to get Dorian from the cabin.

  Pushing hard and fast away from the table, I sprint to the guest room, the uneasy feeling in my chest pushing me faster.

  The sight of the empty room as I round the corner, knocks the breath out of me. Where the fuck has my mate gone?

  Liam and Kye are hot on my heels, confusion at my increasing panic.

  “What’s going on, Rae?” Liam asks, looking around the empty room.

  “Window’s open.” Kye points out. Your fucking kidding me. Did he honestly go out the window like a teenager sneaking out to a party? Why?

  The vibrating in my pocket snaps me out of my sinking mood. Pulling out the device, I check the sender. Dominic.

  Quickly unlocking the cell, I read his message. But it only brings up more questions than answers.

  Dominic: Wolfsbane. Greyson.

  “The fuck?”

  “Did Eric get anywhere with the burner phone?” I question, rereading the message on my phone.

  “Annoyingly no. Why?” Liam questions, easily leaning` over my shoulder to read the message.

  “Wolfsbane, Greyson. What’s he talking about?”

  Shaking my head. I have no idea.

  “You think he figured something out?” Kye offers.

  “Why would he leave if he thought Greyson had anything to do with the murders? He doesn’t look like the sacrificial sort.” Liam responds.

  That unease, that sickening feeling in my chest intensifies tenfold. Knocking the wind out of me, I collapse to my knees, shocking the shit out of my brothers.

  This is not normal. My wolf turns wild. Thrashing her head, demanding freedom.

  Calm down, talk to me. What the hell is going on?! I beg.

  Mate! Danger! She snarls.

  Dominic. This sinking feeling in my chest. It’s coming through the bond!

  “Dominic’s in trouble!” Surging to my feet, I bound through the house, determined to track down my wayward mate and bring his ass home.

  “Rae, slow down!” Kye yells after me.

  Both he and Liam chase me out of the house. Moving as fast as my legs will carry me, throwing open the door to the garage, almost ripping the damn thing off the wall as I go.

  “Sonofabitch.”


  “Rachael, what is happening?” Liam asks, concerned as he closes the gap.

  Twisting on the spot, I turn to face my brother in a military like move. “My mate happened.” I growl, barely able to control my wolf’s rage.

  A deep line creases between my brother’s eyes as he looks beyond me. “He took your truck?” Astonishment in his voice.

  “Hell yes, he’s taken my fucking truck.” Does he have a deathwish? Once I bring his butt home, I’m going to kick it myself.

  “Why the hell would Dominic have taken the truck? Are we sure he hasn’t just driven into town?” Kye says, like he’s the new voice of fucking reason.

  “At a time like this without telling anyone? I hope he’s not that stupid. Not to mention why not leave out the front door?” Liam answers, eyeing me warily. “What’s the bond telling you?”

  “That my mate is in danger and I need to get to him. Save him. Then kick his ass myself for being such an-”

  “What are you all doing out here? Having a mother’s meeting?”

  Turning at the familiar voice, I almost cry when I spot Dorian and Cam filling the doorway. The memory of Dorian chained down in that god-forsaken hole fills my mind. I did that. I put him there.

  “Rach.” Dorian wears a soft smile that has me launching myself at him. Catching me, he pulls me into his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I know the law. We’re good.” He whispers his reassurances, keeping his words private. I shake my head on his shoulder. “No, its not okay. Everything is going wrong and I don’t know what to do.” I choke as the raging emotions threaten to take me under.

  Releasing me from his hold, worry clouds his once smiling face.

  “What have I missed?”

  Cam and the others come to make a circle around us. Instinctively protecting us from any unseen threats.

  “He’s gone.” I whisper, letting the fear flooding my body have a way out. “My mate has vanished, and something is wrong with the bond.” And it’s killing me.

  “Wrong? How is it wrong, Rach?”

  “Its- it’s gone silent.” Maybe he’s –

  My wolf doesn’t let me finish the thought. She lunges for the surface, faster and stronger than she’s ever attempted before. Baring her teeth in an angry snarl, she rakes her claws down my insides. Demanding freedom.

  Falling to my knees in the circle my brothers have created, my fingers turn to claws as I attempt to fight the shift.

  “Alpha!”

  “Rach!”

  Everything becomes background noise. Growls rumble up my throat, fury, rage, fear. Gold burns in my eyes, as my bones attempted to shift and break.

  No. No, no, no.

  Hands, two, three, four. They settle on the parts of me that are still human. My forearms, face, neck. Skin on skin. Somewhere in the background of my animal’s rage, I feel an anchor. My pack. Using all of my concentration, I home in on that feeling, opening myself up to it.

  In my mind’s eye I spot Liam’s animal ahead of me. Cam and Kye’s wolf stand shoulder to shoulder with our brother. Something grazes the side of my mind. Swinging my attention to it, I see my Beta. He’s clearer than the others, closer. He’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.

  “We will bring our Alpha home.” His voice echoes in my head. Surrounding me. “We will bring him home alive.” Alive. Yes. I need my mate. Want to make him safe.

  Soaking in the scents of my pack, my wolf allows me to pull her back from the brink. She remains alert, tense and very much on edge. Her fear for our mate's safety clings to her fur like a second skin. But she gives me back the reins, allowing me to shift back to being fully human. We all sit there for a moment longer, making sure I definitely got my shit together. The guys are breathing hard. Like they have just run a marathon. While Dorians breaths match my own.

  Forcing a connection through the pack link is no easy feat. It takes very dominant wolves to reach an Alpha like that. I doubt my brothers would have been able to do it without my Beta with them. My wolf was on the verge of feral, on the warpath that would have turned us rogue. It would have been a death sentence.

  “Thank you.”

  One by one they remove their hands from my skin, apart from Dorian. He keeps his contact to me a little longer.

  “I mean it, Rach. He’s coming home.” I can only nod my agreement. Scared to say anything that will trigger my animal’s desperation again.

  “You don’t suppose our friendly neighborhood Alpha has him. Do you?” Kye speaks slowly, testing how the words sound.

  “What’s he talking about?” Cam asks, looking between us.

  While Liam fill him and Dorian in on the message Dominic had sent me, I pull myself up and straighten my clothes, trying in vain to righten where the shift had ripped them. I look like I’ve had a date with Edward Scissorhands.

  “Hold up. Are we really thinking Greyson has been killing off members of our pack? What the hell would he gain from that?”

  “Me.”

  Watching as four sets of eyes land on me, I carry on where my thoughts were taking me.

  “What if the murders were all a ploy to make me need him? He knows the truth about what happened to our parents. The MO the asshole used. He also wants his claws in Venus pack. Our territory at the least.” The more I speak, the more things begin to make more terrifying sense. “Guess he got sick of waiting for me to stop laughing at his proposal and made plans to take things to the next step.”

  “Makes sense. But why Dominic?” Dorian questions.

  “The pictures.” Liam answers. “He would have seen Rae’s reaction to him. Maybe he saw Dominic as a threat that needed taking care of.” If he touches one hair on his head. I’ll rip him apart with my bare hands.

  “Cam.” My gaze turns sharp, golden. If Dominic is with the Bloodmaw pack. This is war.

  “Yes, Alpha?”

  “Gather the Enforcers and meet us at Bloodmaw. I want my mate and I want justice for our pack.” Cam bares his neck at my orders. “The rest of you are coming with me. We are leaving. Now.” My wolf snaps her jaws.

  ~*~

  What the-

  Cracking my eyes open, the light blinds me. Fuck, I feel like I’m having the world’s worst hangover. My head is heavy and pounding, my throat burns. What the fuck happened? The last thing I remember is speaking with Greyson. A woman?

  Reaching up, I try to rub my hands over my face. Only, I can’t. Awareness snaps me to attention. I have a rope around my arms strapping them to me, while someone had bound my wrists to an old ass wooden chair. I try to kick out my legs, but they also bound my ankles. A thick rope is tied round my mouth, keeping my jaw locked. As my situation slowly comes into focus, I realize just how fucked I am. Then a memory of a thick arm around my neck, and a rag over my mouth and nose. Then nothing.

  That sonofabitch drugged me.

  Cracking my eyes open, carefully this time. I’m alone. Well, we have to pray for small mercies.

  Pulling against my bindings, I test the rope. Nothing. Up shit’s creek without a fucking paddle right now. Where the hell was Greyson and that asshole Beta of his? And why does this place look like a really crap drug den?

  The lights above are giving off a shit ton of heat and the room is filled with bright green bushes tipped with purple flowers. Oh, fuck me. Wolfsbane? Is this asshole really growing this shit?

  “Well, well. This is a lovely surprise.” Greyson’s voice booms above me. His obvious delight has my gut clenching. Don’t let it be her. Fuck. Don’t let it be her. But the awareness in my chest tells me all I need to know before she even opens her mouth.

  “Greyson.” Rae’s voice fills my ears, causing me to struggle against my bindings with renewed vigor.

  “Have you come to discuss my proposal?” Greyson’s voice turns husky. I’m going to enjoy killing this asshole.

  “You can keep fighting against them. But I knotted em myself. You’re not going anywhere.” Enzo’s voice comes from somewhere behind me, halting my escape attempts.


  “I expected more from you.” He purposefully keeps his voice low, not wanting to attract any attention from those above us.

  “You were meant to be this big, bad warlock. Feared by many. Fuck, when we were searching for you, people made you sound like a legend.” Rounding me, Enzo stops in front of my chair, his arms crossed over his chest. “Now look at you. I’m disappointed. One glimpse of paradise and you turned soft.” Kneeling, Enzo doesn’t hide the desire in his gaze from me. “Tell me. Does Rae taste as good as she smells?” Jealousy and rage flood my body at the thought of Enzo touching my perfect mate. The male only laughs as I attempt to surge forward, wanting to hurt the bastard. Bad.

  “Hardly.” Rae scoffs. “I’m here to talk about some of your extracurricular activities.”

  Enzo smiles, listening intently to the female above us.

  “Oh? And what would they be?” Greyson ponders, as calm as you fucking like.

  “The murders of Samantha and Michael Lane, and the attack on Maddison.” Rae’s voice turns lethal.

  “Are you accusing me?”