“I know that but–”
“What do you think that means?”
Serena sighed. Did he forget that I study wolves? “Mate also means sex.”
A laugh burst from him. “Well, in our case it means both. You’re my life-mate, Serena, which means there won’t be anyone else for me, even if you don’t want this union.”
She felt her heart in her throat. “You mean I have a choice?”
A tick appeared in Connor’s taut jaw. It was clear he didn’t like her question. She chewed on her bottom lip as the silence stretched between them. He kept his gaze on the road. He had to know she was staring at him and waiting for an answer.
Connor finally looked at her. “I took that choice away from you when I mated with you.” Serena could only stare at him, stunned by his admission.
“Oh.” She thought back to the first time that they’d made love. She’d been burning up inside, and consumed with an inexplicable sexual hunger that had bordered on pain. She’d needed relief fast, and he’d given it to her. A warm blush spread over her when she recalled how good a lover Connor had been, and how sated and pleasant she’d felt after.
She glanced outside her window in time to see them pass Connor’s rustic cabin. Not long after that a building came into view, identified by the large wood sign that read “Savage Hills Wolf Sanctuary.” Unlike any sterile looking clinic she’d ever worked at, the knotty pine boards were natural, revealing the grain and other imperfections in the wood. The roof was a dark green metal with an overhang along the front, the color matching the wood on the framed windows.
Serena liked it. “It’s beautiful, Connor.” She couldn’t wait to see what the inside looked like.
He parked in front of the entrance doorway. There was no need for a parking lot. A wildlife facility in the mountains wasn’t anything like a veterinarian clinic elsewhere, yet she could tell when he pulled up that other vehicles had recently parked there. Tire tread marked the damp ground.
“It doesn’t look like anyone else is here,” she said, noticing that theirs was the only vehicle present.
“They could have parked around back where the kennels are kept.”
Connor opened his door and exited the truck, and Serena followed suit. She met him at the front of the truck and they walked together toward the entrance door. Connor reached around her to open it for her. A short alarm went off as they entered the building. The room was set up so that when you entered through the front door you could see straight through to the back door, which was made of glass. She could see movement outside.
Before Serena could say anything to Connor the back door opened and two people walked through. The young man of about twenty-five glanced up as he was wiping his feet on the mat. “Well, hello! Ellie and I were wondering when you were going to bring Miss James by.”
Serena was met with two smiles as he and a woman of about the same age walked forward.
“Serena, this is Patrick and Ellie, the assistants I mentioned earlier.”
Serena held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you both.” They reciprocated.
“What do you think of the facility?” Patrick asked enthusiastically. It was clear by his boyish zeal that he was proud of the place.
“I like what I’ve seen so far.”
“It’s so much nicer than the old place,” Ellie added. “And not as smelly.” She wrinkled her nose.
Serena couldn’t help laughing. Wild animals had a different, more pungent odor than domesticated animals. Once one or two bears and a few wolves came through the facility the scented pine she smelled now would quickly vanish.
“I understand all we have right now is an eagle?” Serena was eager to meet the magnificent bird and see its progress.
Patrick and Ellie’s welcoming expressions sobered immediately, and they shifted their gazes away from Serena. She glanced at Connor, who frowned at them.
“What is it?” His tone was demanding.
“We lost her,” Ellie said sadly.
“What? I thought her injuries were minor and she was mending and almost ready to be set free?” Connor stated.
“Did infection set in?” Serena asked softly.
Patrick took a big breath. “No. Something got to her.”
“We left her outside over night because she was doing so good, and had planned to set her free this morning. She should have been safe in her cage.” Ellie’s bottom lip quivered slightly, and there was no denying the sheen in her eyes.
Connor said nothing but began stomping down the short hallway toward the back door. Serena decided to follow, vaguely aware that Patrick and Ellie were right behind her. Her mind was racing at the tragedy. When they stepped outside Serena took a moment to take in the scene.
Feathers, body parts, and blood were everywhere, making it obvious that whatever had attacked the eagle hadn’t meant to eat it. The way the bird had been torn apart implied mindless rage. A rabid animal, maybe?
“Are you sure the cage was latched?” Connor asked. He was examining the door and latch as he spoke.
“Positive,” they replied in unison and with total conviction.
Patrick joined Connor. “It must have happened shortly after we left, because her food and water dish are still full.”
“Well, the latch is okay so we can’t blame it on a defect.” Connor released a heavy sigh, scouring the ground around the cage. He looked off into the distance, and it was clear to Serena that he was contemplating what could have happened. By the look in his eye it seemed that he had come to a quick conclusion.
“She was beautiful,” Ellie spoke softly next to Serena.
Serena offered her a small smile, understanding Ellie’s sadness. Having loved animals all her life she knew that losing one was always difficult. Unfortunately, it went with the territory of working with them, and Serena knew she didn’t have to remind Ellie of that. She began to walk around and examine the remains more closely.
“This isn’t how we wanted to welcome you, Miss James.”
Serena, hunched over the headless body of the eagle, looked up at Patrick. “Please, I want you both to call me Serena.” He nodded.
“Can you tell what did it?” Connor asked.
A strange question, considering Serena was pretty sure that he’d already guessed what had happened. Was he trying to protect her by keeping her from the truth? She shook her head. “It’s going to be hard to determine. Any predator, a bear or mountain lion, could have done this. But why didn’t they eat it? Whatever did this,” Serena indicated the scattered remains with a sweep of her arm, “seemed to be angry, and that doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, we better get this cleaned up.” Patrick gave Ellie a meaningful look.
“Please package the remains so I can examine them more thoroughly,” Serena said, rising to her feet.
“Will do.”
Serena went to Connor after Patrick and Ellie left. “What are you thinking?”
He glanced down at her. “I’m wondering how a bear or a mountain lion opened the cage door.”
“You know what happened, don’t you,” she accused softly.
Connor nodded, but remained silent, and he wasn’t sharing. She would examine the remains on Monday and know more. All at once something caught Serena’s attention, something light carried in the air, and not something she was growing familiar with. It wasn’t the fresh scent of the pine or birch trees surrounding them, or the wild flowers growing on the slight hill leading into the woods beside the clinic. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant scent, and she couldn’t begin to identify what it was. She raised her face toward the source and frowned, inhaling deeply.
Her gaze flew to Connor, who was watching her closely. “You know, don’t you,” he said in a deep voice. “I can tell you’ve picked up the scent.”
Yes, she knew. Something, someone, was out there, watching them. It was something evil.
It was death.
Chapter 14
Once Connor had picked
up the scent of his brother, he knew what had killed the bald eagle. Coupled with the fact there were impressions of a wolf’s paw in the mix of mud and footprints around the bird’s cage, his first suspicion had been confirmed. He didn’t understand what Clive had hoped to gain by killing the bird, unless it was to leave a message that he hadn’t left the area.
Serena had picked up on Clive’s scent, too. Her wolf’s senses were sharpening and mingling with her human instincts. Soon they would be one, and intensified. He couldn’t wait for her to shift into her she-wolf for the first time. Once she accepted her fate, the rest would be easy. She would meet the elders and be officially received into the pack, and as his life-mate.
As far as Connor was concerned, there wasn’t anything for Serena to prove. The elders in any pack rarely refused the joining of an alpha and his natural born mate. It was only upon the death of an alpha’s mate, when he chose another, that there would be cause for concern. As far as Connor was concerned, the only issue Serena had to overcome was her vegetarian status.
He grinned, watching as she stabbed at the greens in her spring salad mix. He’d just finished a huge rare hamburger and was washing it down with a beer. Sitting back in the booth, his gaze ran over Serena with growing awareness. She was concentrating on her salad, and caught his stare as she was bringing a forkful up to her parted lips.
She stopped the fork just as it was about to enter her mouth. “What?”
Her smile took his breath away. Connor shrugged. “A wolf doesn’t eat rabbit food,” he teased. Serena glanced around nervously as if afraid that someone would hear his comment. “Relax, honey, I know everyone in here and remember, we’re all wolves.”
“You might as well get used to it, because I don’t eat anything with a face,” she teased right back.
Get used to it, a good sign. Connor lifted a brow at her slightly haughty comment. “We’ll have to wait and see about that,” he said in response to her challenge. “It will be fun seeing how you control your she-wolf’s ravenous hunger for red meat.”
Serena visibly shuddered. “Not going to happen.”
Connor threw back his head and laughed, drawing the attention of some of the other diners. He should remind her that she’d eyed his hamburger with growing hunger while he was enjoying it. She was picking at her salad like a child being forced to eat their veggies.
“Do you mind if I begin work officially on Monday? I’m anxious to examine the eagle.”
It didn’t surprise Connor that Serena wanted to start work a week early. He knew the only reason she’d come to Savage Hills early was to get a feel for the area and to get settled into a new place before her job began. Staying with him took care of that problem.
“Sure, start whenever you like.” Her face lit up, bringing brightness into her eyes. He leaned forward. “And make that the last time you ask me for permission to do anything that concerns the clinic, honey. You’re the boss, and that’s your baby.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, holding Connor’s gaze almost shyly. “Thank you, for everything.”
When she looked at him like that all he could think about was kissing her pretty mouth until they were both burning up. Her meaning wasn’t lost on him. Hell, I’ve taken so much from her, her home, her virginity, her livelihood–
And you’ve given me so much more. A new home, the sanctuary, the freedom to do the work I love, protection, love–
Suddenly shock and surprise filled Serena’s rounding eyes, and she sat back. “What, what just happened? Did we, did we just?” She couldn’t seem to put her thoughts into words.
Connor couldn’t stop the huge grin from spreading on his face.
“Telepathy?” Confusion, disbelief, and awe all fought for first place on her lovely face. “Yes,” Connor began. “One of the perks of being a werewolf, though it usually only happens when we’re in wolf form.”
“So we’re special?” He nodded. “Does this mean you’ll be able to know all of my thoughts?"
“When I’m tuned in. Does that bother you?” He smiled in the face of her mild irritation.
The waitress came up to their table. Connor had introduced Serena to Trina when they’d first sat down, commenting that it wouldn’t take long before she knew everyone in the area. Like most small towns, everyone knew everyone, and there were no secrets.
“Would either of you like anything else?” she asked with a friendly smile. Without waiting for a response, she began stacking up their discarded dishes.
Connor noted the fading bruise on Trina’s cheek, compliments of Clive. He glanced at Serena, and she indicated with a slight movement of her head that she didn’t want anything. “Just the check, please.”
He waited until Trina walked away before saying, “There’s a few mom and pop stores here in town, a bar, and a grocery store. Do you want to stop anywhere before we go home?”
Serena laughed softly. “No mall?”
Connor shook his head. “Not here in Savage Hills. The closest one is about thirty miles away. I’ll take you one day soon.”
He paid the tab and they headed out to his Hummer. Just as he was getting Serena settled into the passenger side, movement from across the street caught his attention. He glanced over, his gaze scanning the vehicles parked in front of the hardware store. He recognized all of them. In spite of that, Connor frowned. Something was off, he sensed it.
“Is something wrong?”
Connor returned his gaze to Serena. Damn, she’s beautiful. He leaned in and covered her mouth with his. Like always, as soon as he touched her he got lost and his brief kiss turned into something deeper. He had to force himself to break contact, leaving them both a little out of breath. As he pulled back, something again drew his attention across the street. Someone was watching them.
“Stay here and lock the doors, I’ll be right back.”
He could feel Serena’s gaze on him as he crossed the quiet street. The hardware store was his destination. He was certain someone inside had been watching them, and as soon as he opened the door he picked up on the scent. Connor realized immediately that it was a wolf from a different area, probably someone just passing through. So why had he been watching them, and where was he now?
The one and only cash register stand was empty. Connor knew Stan, the owner, rarely left the front of the store area, especially when he was alone. Where is he? The store seemed too quiet. Connor began to walk toward the back.
“Stan? You around?” he called out.
Connor was surprised when he heard, “Yep! Coming!” Stan turned the corner of one of the isles almost immediately. “Connor! How’s it going?”
“Good. What’s going on?” Connor frowned as the two of them started back toward the storefront. “Someone else is here.”
“Yeah, a guy from the Riverview pack came in. The strangest thing though, he walked around a little, looked out the window a few times, did some more walking, and then went straight to the back.”
Connor frowned. “The back?”
“Yeah, left through the back door. I followed him to make sure he was gone.” Stan shook his head. “Weird.”
They’d reached the register area when a squeal of tires had them both glancing up. A car had come to a screeching halt across the street, directly behind Connor’s Hummer. He didn’t think anything of it until the passenger side door opened and Clive emerged. He slammed the door and went directly to the driver’s side door of the Hummer. At the same time, the car spun away.
Swearing, Connor rushed from the store in time to see Clive hop into the Hummer, start it, and back out of the spot without even looking to see if anyone was coming. He swung the Hummer around right in the middle of the street, and then sped the other way out of town.
Connor ran as fast and as far as he could before forcing himself to stop. He’d never catch them on foot, or even in wolf form. He needed a vehicle. He turned back, seeing Stan on the sidewalk, watching with his mouth hanging open.
“I need your ca
r!” Connor rasped. Stan dug out his keys and tossed them to Connor as he reached for the door handle to his old green Volvo. “Call the sheriff and tell him what happened!”
Connor’s heart was pounding like a drum as he started up the car and tore out of the parking spot. His only thought was on Serena, and of how frightened she must be. He’d watched her open the passenger side door to get out, but Clive had reached over, grabbed her by the hair, and hauled her back to his side of the Hummer.
The last thing Connor had seen was Serena’s frightened face when she turned back to look for him.
Chapter 15
Why didn’t I lock the doors? Why didn’t I lock the doors? Serena kept repeating to herself after the man closed the driver’s side door and locked them inside. She’d attempted to escape by exiting her side of the Hummer, only to find her hair being snatched by a rough hand. She was soon hauled back, and promptly ordered not to do it again.
As they sped down the street she glanced out the back window, looking for Connor, locking gazes with him just as he stopped running. At least he knew what had happened. He would come after them. She reminded herself of that each time panic began to swell out of control, threatening to paralyze her.
She cast a sideways glance at the man, who was driving as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. His hands were gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white, and Serena knew that if she tried to jump from the Hummer now she’d probably be killed.
He was young and handsome, yet the twisted expression on his face was a mask of hatred, rage, or both. Serena sensed that he had an agenda and that taking her wasn’t an accident. Something about him struck a cord of familiarity, and then it hit her, producing a sick feeling in her stomach.
“You’re Clive.” His evil laughter was all the answer Serena needed to confirm it. The sound made her skin crawl. Someone in her situation might ask why he was doing this, but she already knew the answer to that. She was the means to hurting Connor.
“You must hate Connor very much,” she said evenly, knowing the importance of remaining calm. Maybe if she could draw him into a conversation she could make him re-think what he was doing.
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