Dark Protector

by Katie Reus

  “It wasn’t her,” he growled, more animal than human.

  “Then my talking to her won’t change that.” He kept his voice calm but didn’t back down. One of the reasons he was so good at his job was because he was able to keep a level head, and he didn’t have that compulsion to avert his eyes when dealing with Alphas. Jayce didn’t either. They were both apex predators and even if neither of them wanted to run their own pack, they had Alpha blood.

  “I won’t let you take her,” Craig growled, his canines descending.

  Aldric allowed his wolf to show in his eyes, releasing his canines. “I talk to her now. Unless you want to go to war with not only the Clifton coven, but the Brethren. And probably The Council. Don’t be fucking stupid.”

  The male struggled to contain his wolf for a long few moments before his canines retracted. He nodded. “You can speak to her. In my territory.”

  Aldric nodded. “I’m bringing my people with me. We’ll need to confirm her scent.”

  The Alpha clearly wanted to slash out at Aldric, but he nodded. Because once they confirmed Constance’s scent as the same fresh one from the crime scene, it would be a shit show.

  And at this point Aldric didn’t think there would be an issue confirming her scent. He knew what he’d smelled in there.

  He had to bring the killer to justice if he wanted to stop a war from breaking out.

  Chapter 14

  Aldric nodded once at Craig, who stood by Constance in the Alpha’s kitchen. Her scent was unmistakable. It reminded him of the desert at night, of sand and a blanket of stars across the sky. It was unique, as with all shifters.

  The auburn-haired female stood with her legs spread a foot apart, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared in defiance at Aldric and Natalia. Jayce and Kat had already verified her scent and had left, going to hunt down another lead. “I don’t give a shit if an entire squadron of trackers says my scent is at the Dawson house, I’ve never fucking been there.” Her words were a snarl.

  From what Aldric knew of her, the show of temper was rare. But she was being accused of murder. The penalty for which was death for their kind. If it was proved she was behind the murder of Leigh Dawson, she’d be executed. And if the Kinley Alpha refused to give her up to face her punishment, there would definitely be a war.

  Blood would be shed and potentially hundreds would die.

  “Maybe you weren’t there, but your scent is.” Natalia’s voice was soft, calming. “Scenting out individuals is one of my gifts. Even your own father scented you there.” There was no anger in her words, just truth.

  Constance’s jaw tightened, her body vibrating with rage. “My mate is missing and now someone’s trying to frame me for murder. This is insanity,” she rasped out.

  “Why would someone want to frame you for murder?” Aldric asked, pulling out a seat at the kitchen island.

  Natalia did the same.

  Both Constance and Craig relaxed the slightest fraction. It wasn’t so much their body language but the change in their scents. Though Craig was difficult to read completely since he was an Alpha. He had to be more than worried about his daughter.

  “The peace treaty seems like the most obvious reason. There are a few females in Darius’s coven who would likely want to shred me to ribbons if they knew I was about to mate with him. But…killing me or framing me won’t get them him. He loves me.”

  Aldric knew logic didn’t often come into play with matters of the heart. Especially if a narcissistic, crazy vampire wanted Darius and couldn’t have him. Getting rid of Constance would be all that mattered to her. But…it seemed off for what had happened so far. Two vampire males were missing and now one had been murdered. And what, all to frame Constance? When killing her would have been an easier option? Not that he thought killing the female would be easy, but it made more sense than framing her. This felt personal.

  “Let’s say I believe you’re innocent.” Because Aldric didn’t think this female had killed Leigh Dawson.

  He knew that some individuals could cover up the scent of their lies. It was extremely difficult, but not an impossibility. Sociopaths didn’t give off a scent when they lied, and others with inborn gifts, usually Alphas, could actually cover certain scents.

  From Constance’s reputation, she wouldn’t hide killing someone. She’d come out and do it so everyone knew. She didn’t seem like a coward. And killing this vampire would only hurt her relationship with her almost-mate. There was no motive.

  Her eyes went golden lupine. “I am innocent!”

  He continued. “You’re going to have to stay on lockdown here at your Alpha’s home while we find out who’s behind Dawson’s murder. And,” he added, looking at Craig, “you’ll have to agree to keep two of Elian’s representatives here as well at all times. If this is the beginning of something bigger, she has to be under surveillance 24/7.” If there were future murders, it would prove she wasn’t behind them. And it would keep the vampires relatively calm that their number one suspect wasn’t trying to escape the country.

  Constance opened her mouth, clearly to argue, but her Alpha held up a hand. He looked at Aldric for a long moment, assessing him with eyes turned that same familial golden lupine. Finally he nodded. “I agree to this.”

  Aldric hadn’t doubted the male would. This was beyond fair. “I’ve already discussed my terms with Elian, of keeping Constance locked down here. He’s agreed.” Aldric had called the vampire leader and gone over everything with him on the drive here. He’d needed to make sure Elian was on board with this. Because the male had every right to insist that Constance be kept prisoner in his own territory.

  Craig’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, clearly surprised the male had agreed to the terms.

  Aldric was always objective in his investigations but he could admit that he didn’t want these two factions to go to war. It would be shitty for everyone, could affect many other packs and the supernaturals’ relationship with humans. There would be no winners. So he added, “He told me that if he’s going to sign a treaty with you, he would trust you with this. Trust you not to betray his coven, him.” Because if Craig did betray the vampires, there was no going back for the pack and the coven. There would be no peace. Elian was making a big concession by allowing Constance to remain in her pack’s territory while she was a murder suspect.

  Craig only nodded. After speaking to Constance for another fifteen minutes, Aldric and Natalia left.

  “The Alpha, he won’t hand his daughter over for death,” Natalia said quietly as Aldric steered out of the driveway. The pack’s land was different than the vampires. It was more similar to where Natalia lived, out in the country with a big spread of houses and cabins so that the pack was all close together. “Even if it goes against his honor code, and even if he doesn’t want to betray the trust of Elian…he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her alive. He’s her father.”

  Aldric nodded, knowing it was pure truth. “Let’s find out who the fuck is behind all this, then.”

  Once this investigation was over all his focus was going to be on Natalia. He wouldn’t rest until she was his. She already owned him even if she didn’t realize it.

  Chapter 15

  “Omari and Cyrus don’t know you’re coming, but they will let you into their home.” Elian’s biting voice came over the phone line. Aldric had the coven leader on speaker, wanted Natalia to hear everything clearly. “If they don’t, contact me.”

  Aldric wouldn’t bother, he’d just incapacitate the two males, but he kept his voice civil. “I will. Thank you for being so accommodating with the Constance situation.”

  The polished male cursed. “I truly don’t think she did this but her scent…”

  The male didn’t need to finish. In the end it wouldn’t matter what even the coven leader thought. The evidence was all that mattered. And Elian’s coven would demand blood once it was determined the shifter female was behind the murder. He could let her go, declare her innocent, but it sti
ll wouldn’t matter. The peace treaty wouldn’t go through and there would continue to be bad blood between the two factions until more blood was spilled.

  After they disconnected, Natalia said, “So who are these two males we’re going to talk to? They weren’t on our list of suspects.”

  “I overheard them talking at the party the other night. Their topic of conversation was masking scents and duplicating them.”

  Natalia’s eyebrows raised. “Interesting conversation.”

  “They haven’t been part of the coven long enough to have any ill will toward the Kinley pack, which is why they weren’t on the list.” And their conversation could be nothing, but after this murder and a suspect he didn’t think was guilty, these two males were getting an unexpected visit from him. Aldric just hoped Elian was telling him the truth, that they truly didn’t know of his arrival. Questioning a suspect when they weren’t expecting him made it easier to gauge the truth from people.

  “Are they mates?”

  Aldric nodded. “And they don’t have an open relationship.”

  “Rare for vampires apparently.” Her voice was dry.

  No kidding.

  It didn’t take long to reach the mated pair’s home. Much like the rest of the coven, these two had a monstrous residence as well.

  Aldric had his weapons visibly strapped to his thighs, wanting these males to know exactly why he was here. After they rang the doorbell, the door opened almost two full minutes later to reveal both men, impeccably dressed in dark slacks and different colored cashmere sweaters—but their faces were flushed and the scent of mating was thick in the air.

  Omari, the older male by about two years, stood half in front of Cyrus, his body language protective. “Yes?” His accent was faint, but even if Aldric didn’t have a very thin file on the male, he would have known he was from Egypt after having spent a decade there.

  “We need to speak with you.”

  The male lifted an eyebrow. “About?”

  “Murder.”

  Without blinking, Omari stepped back, still half-blocking Cyrus who simply sighed. “You’re working for our Brethren.” Not a question.

  Who he was, was common knowledge and by now the coven and pack all knew why he was here. “I overheard you talking the other night about masking scents and duplicating scents. I also know that you,” he said to Cyrus, “have a chemistry background.”

  The male with the olive skin gave a half-nod. “I do.”

  “And I have multiple degrees in biology. What do you want with us?” Omari demanded. He crossed his arms over his broad chest.

  “One of your coven members was murdered tonight,” Natalia said quietly.

  They both looked at her, the surprise that rolled off both of them real even if their expressions didn’t change much.

  Omari spoke again, clearly the alpha of the relationship. “Who? How? Ah… Do you want to come in and sit?”

  Aldric ignored the questions. “What are your thoughts on the peace treaty?”

  Both men shrugged. “It is a good thing,” Omari said as Cyrus nodded, nudging his mate aside so he could stand next to him.

  “We have friends within the Kinley pack, as do many of the newer coven members. We joined with Elian because of his reputation as a fair leader, but we don’t want to go to war with anyone.”

  Aldric had heard much the same from other newer coven members. “Why were you talking about masking scents or duplicating scents?”

  Both men blinked at him.

  This time Cyrus spoke first. “Why wouldn’t we? It’s fascinating to think we will get there one day.”

  “One day?” Natalia asked.

  The male nodded. “Shifters and vampires have such acute senses, it’s pretty much impossible to fake scents. The thought of being able to truly duplicate something, an inborn scent of say, a vampire…it’s fascinating.” His green eyes glowed slightly at the thought.

  Aldric didn’t think it was fascinating so much as terrifying. Being able to distinguish various scents was part of what helped their kind to survive. He needed to be able to trust his senses. All shifters did. His wolf’s hackles raised at the thought of not being able to trust that intrinsic part of him. “Are either of you working on a project related to modulating scents?” Aldric had learned from Elian that both males had labs, worked independently on various things he wouldn’t understand. They each had various patents as well.

  “No, but what is this about?” Omari demanded.

  The news of Leigh’s death would spread to the rest of the coven and likely the Kinley pack in a few hours. Of that, Aldric had no doubt. There was no reason to hold back information the two males would soon find out. “Is there somewhere we can sit and speak?”

  Omari nodded. “This way. We don’t have any staff on site currently but if you’d like refreshments—”

  “We’re okay.” They needed to talk so he and Natalia could get out of here. The clock was ticking down and they needed to find whoever had murdered Leigh Dawson.

  After a lengthy conversation with the two males, Natalia and Aldric let Omari escort them to the front door.

  As they were leaving, Omari said, “Truly, the only tried and true way to make sure a person’s scent is somewhere they’re not is to use that person’s clothing or belongings. But it should be something they’ve worn on their body.”

  Aldric simply nodded politely, because yeah, he’d already thought of that. So had Natalia.

  Once in the truck, Natalia let out a growl of frustration. “That was freaking pointless.”

  He shoved out a breath, as frustrated as she was.

  She turned to look at him as he steered out of the driveway. “You think they were lying?”

  “No, and I believed them when they said the science for duplicating scents isn’t there yet.”

  “Thank God. How messed up would that be?”

  He didn’t even want to imagine.

  “I feel like we’re back to square one,” she muttered, looking out the passenger window as they headed down the street.

  “At least we’ve eliminated two potential suspects.” He had to look at any investigations like that. And his gut told him those two males weren’t involved.

  “Still frustrating,” she grumbled.

  He started to remind her that once upon a time she’d begged to come on investigations with him. Before the words could form, he clenched his jaw shut tight. Oh yeah, reminding her of the way he’d fucked up, of the last time she’d asked him to go on a hunt and he’d shut her down, would be real smart.

  Against his will, in his head he replayed that last day he’d seen her. He’d only meant to get some distance from her, not cut and run completely. But after that morning, after he’d been ready to take her right up against the front door of her home, he’d run like a coward.

  Rolling his shoulders once, he tried to lock up the memory but it was no use.

  He stood outside the home Natalia shared with her sisters, stared at his phone for a long moment. He didn’t want to want her as much as he did, but he craved being around her.

  Which was why he’d agreed to this recent job from the Brethren. A simple bounty hunting thing, but it would take him away from here. From her.

  He needed space from her for his sanity.

  But he also had to tell her he was leaving, even if it was close to dawn. Trying not to think about what she looked like upstairs in her bed, her sheets all tangled around her, he texted her. Downstairs, didn’t want to knock and wake everyone. Can you come down?

  Be right down.

  A couple minutes later she stepped outside wearing long-sleeved pink and black pajamas. When she stepped onto the porch, his breath caught in his throat as it always did around her. A faint minty scent teased the air, telling him she’d brushed her teeth.

  She smiled at him, the sight a kick to his senses, but it faded as her gaze landed on his duffel bag. “Is everything okay?” She pulled the door shut behind her.

&nb
sp; A cool breeze kicked up but he barely felt it, not for the heat humming through his blood as he watched the petite female who’d come to mean way too much to him in recent months.

  He rubbed a hand over his buzz cut, nodded, even as he ignored the way her eyes tracked the muscles of his forearm. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, got called away for a bounty hunting job. Last minute thing and the money’s good.” Truth was, he didn’t need the money, even if it was a nice paycheck.

  Disappointment flickered in her espresso eyes. “How long will you be gone?”

  He was far too pleased that she cared he was leaving. Part of him wanted to ask her to come with him, knew she would if he asked. He lifted a shoulder instead. “Week, probably. Two at the most. The Brethren hired me for this one.”

  “Take me with you.”

  Despite the spring month, another cold breeze kicked up. His wolf snarled at him, telling him to say yes, but he forced his expression to remain neutral. His hunger for Natalia was growing every day, with a vengeance he couldn’t control. “I…can’t.”

  Now pure hurt filled her expression as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Why not?”

  “It’s too dangerous.” Words that weren’t exactly a lie, since the mission was dangerous. But he could still take her. He couldn’t bring her with him on another mission, however, for a totally different reason. He no longer trusted himself around her.

  “I’m a shifter, I can take care of myself.” Heat laced her words. “Come on, you know we’ll have fun together.” Smiling, she stepped closer to him, the grin on her lips hinting at flirting.

  Her scent wrapped around him, made him lightheaded for a moment. “No.” He tightened his jaw, solidifying his resolve. “I just came by to tell you, but I can’t waste any more time.” Liar, liar, his wolf snarled.

  She stilled, hurt bleeding into her dark gaze. “You’ve taken me in the past. Is this job different?” Her voice sounded small.