Caleb locked his jaw. At that time Tess had been driving down the highway, not very far away. Alone and in the fading light. His blood boiled, knowing his mate could have been hurt, even killed if her vehicle had broken down or if she'd come into contact with whoever got a hold of Collins. Then his cop instinct kicked in. He'd have to question her. Ask if she saw not only the blue Camry on the side of the road, but if anything or anyone appeared. Christ. His stomach tightened in knots. She'd just become a possible witness.
He looked over his shoulder at his deputy. Phil stood straight, hands clenching and unclenching, fidgeting. The kid looked ashen in the dark, his eyes wide and not a bit frightened. At twenty-four, the Woodcliff native was smart, friendly, ambitious and a shifter. And right now, by the way he kept glancing from one side to the other as if expecting an attack, the rookie deputy was a bit overwhelmed by the current situation.
“You smell something?” Caleb asked him.
Phil shook his head. “No, sir, and that's just plain weird. I should be able to smell something, but other than…” Phil swallowed and waved a shaking hand at the body. “I just smell normal forest scents. I mean, we're still a few days away from the full moon. Other than the alpha, you and some of the other sub-leaders in the pack, I don't know of anyone else who can shift without the draw of the full moon. ”
Caleb arched a brow. “So you're saying either Dean or I did this?”
“God no!” Phil's Adam's apple bobbled wildly. “Never.”
Caleb stood and turned to face Phil fully, the look in the sheriff's eye cold enough to cause Phil to take two steps back before he came to an abrupt halt.
Good for him. Though Caleb approved the kid's resolve, Phil had more to learn about law enforcement. “Always use your brain, Phil. We shifters have complicated lives. Not only do we have to adjust to being half-human and half-wolf, we have allegiances to our pack, alpha, family and profession. Just because you've sworn an oath to Dean doesn't necessarily take him off the suspicion list.”
Phil sucked in a breath. ‘You think he might have done this?” His voice was low, his eyes wide as saucers.
Caleb's face twisted as he smelled something rank. “Hell no. But that's because I know the man, not because of some damn allegiance or oath.” He slanted his eyes to the body on the ground, the claw marks on the torso, the torn out throat. “You look at the evidence, investigate and re-check everything. Never assume. You doand someone else could die.”
“And you don't want to live with that kind of guilt,” the new male voice was raspy and low. Caleb had heard Brandon Dermot sneak up and the resulting startled yelp from Phil had him shaking his head in amusement.
“Jesus, Brandon. What'd ya do that for?” Phil gasped at the other deputy.
Brandon narrowed his dark eyes. “Learn to use all your senses, kid, or you'll get yourself killed.” Brandon turned his back on Phil so only Caleb could see the pleased look in the big man's black eyes. At six-four, Brandon was built like a line-backer, broad shoulders, thick chest, huge arms and thighs. His military short black hair was only a few shades darker than his skin, making it damn near impossible to see his expression, but the rolling of his eyes said it all.
Caleb manly held back a grin. “What can you tell me?”
“Single wolf attack, went straight for the jugular.” Brandon was all business now. “Claw marks on the torso suggest a big wolf as the kid was tall, nearly my height but a hell of a lot skinnier. They grappled a bit before the wolf got the upper hand. Deliberate or defensive attack on the wolf's part. A shifter wolf and definitely not from our pack.” The last was said with deliberate intent at Phil.
“Really?” Phil took a few steps closer. “How do you know?”
Brandon grabbed him by the back of the neck and thrust him over the body. “Take a big whiff, cub. What do you smell?”
Caleb rubbed a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. Brandon was third in the pack, tough-as-nails, rough around the edges and had been heading straight towards self-destruction before coming across his mate in St. Louis, Missouri. Both Caleb and Brandon had been on the police force when a beautiful reporter got caught between them and a bad guy. After a short hostage situation, in which the feisty brunette had done more damage to her captor then he to her, Tia made the decision to return to her hometown and take over the Woodcliff Press from her uncle. Brandon had, of course, followed. Not six months later Brandon had convinced Caleb to do the same and he'd never regretted it. Especially since the move brought him into contact with Tess.
The warm thought of his mate was interrupted by Phil's gurgling. The kid barely made it out of Brandon's hold before he ran a short distance away and lost his dinner.
“Damn,” Brandon said. “Probably screwed up some evidence.”
“Serves you right for screwing with his head.”
Caleb and Brandon whirled as one to see their alpha, Dean Kinigos, leaning with casual indifference against a tree not ten feet from them. His dark hair was long and caught at the nape of his neck by a leather thong, bringing his high cheek bones and full lips into stark relief. His skin, bronzed by his Greek heritage, seemed to glow from an inner light. At six-feet even with a lithely muscled body, and dressed much like Caleb in jeans and flannel shirt, their alpha may not be as tall or as thickly built as most wolves, but the man simply radiated strength, predatory grace and menace.
If Caleb had once thought Brandon on the road to self-destruction than their alpha was at the final T-junction. The alpha of any pack had a tough enough job and when combined with the additional responsibilities of a town mayor, the stress became two-fold. Only the toughest and most controlled of individuals could handle that kind of pressure. Dean was only thirty-six, really in the prime of his life, but Caleb sensed that in his alpha's case, it was the mileage rather than the years that counted. Adding to his tension was the fact that he was a virile, handsome and single man and thus, to his eternal irritation, women flocked to his side…his home…his office. It was enough to make any man insane from the lack of privacy.
And right now, that man was not happy. Power surged from Dean in a hair-raising rush, similar to sticking a wet finger in a light socket and having the resulting electric jolt slam through your body. The force behind it told the two cops that their alpha was not pleased by their antics.
Brandon coughed, masking a groan of pain. “I'm sure you're right.”
“I know I'm right.” The power surge shut off like a switch, allowing the men to suck in relieved breathes. “So what do you smell, Brandon?”
Caleb was quick to note the subtle relaxing of Brandon's muscles. “Single wolf attacker. The scent isn't familiar but that doesn't mean we can rule out every Woodcliff shifter. Jumped Collins straight up, not a rear attack. In fact,” Brandon nodded to Dean's left, “tracks indicated he came at Collins at a full run, no hint of hesitation. Collins was dead in seconds.”
“Anything else?” Dean wanted to know.
Caleb squatted and inhaled. “Smells almost sweet, but not from the human.” He pushed to his feet and followed the tracks a few steps. Took in another breathe and drew in his brows. “Very distinctive, but not familiar. I can only separate it from the scent of death because of the light breeze heading in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, it suddenly disappears about ten feet from the body. I'd think the killer got into a vehicle, but there is no scent of exhaust, oil or gas. And unless he flew away, I just don't have an answer. Yet.”
Brandon shrugged. “Easy. All we have to do is sniff every shifter in town and in the surrounding counties. Should only take two or three months.”
“If he hasn't already left the state,” Dean said drily.
“Yeah,” Brandon's nostrils flared again. “Wait a minute.” He closed his eyes and turned in a slow circle. “He was also…aroused? That's odd. Unless.” His eyes popped open and he stared straight at Caleb. “It's you. Christ, Caleb. You're messing with my nose.”
Caleb involuntarily winced. “Hell.
It's not like I planned this. I had to leave Tess before we could, well, you know.”
Brandon smirked.. “Fuck her?”
Caleb's mouth parted to reveal teeth that quickly lengthened into deadly points. “Watch it.”
The growl that emanated from the sheriff's chest warned Brandon to cease and desist his joking. The deputy just grinned. “Thanks. I look forward to it.”
Caleb's hand fisted and he took a deliberate step forward to knock the mischievous glint out of his former best friend's eye.
Dean sighed gustily. “I think one dead body is enough, don't you?”
Ignoring their alpha, Caleb and Brandon squared off. Caleb with deadly intent in his eye while Brandon's was full of wicked amusement
“What?” Brandon waved a hand in the air, egging Caleb on. “Can't handle a little ribbing when it comes to your mate? How did you think I felt back in St. Louis?”
“I was jealous.” Caleb snarled, bending his knees. “You found your woman and you weren't even looking for her. All I ever wanted was to find a mate and raise a family, but I didn't know it would be like this.” His voice rose in frustration. “You never told me it was like this.”
“Like men share feelings,” Brandon sneered.
“Friends do! You could have told me.”
“You should have guessed!”
Seeming to have had it with the two snarling shifters, Dean rolled his head on his shoulders, the stiff muscles popping from constant tension, and let loose an attention-grabbing roar with more force then necessary. Tree limbs shuddered from the powerful sound wave and both men whipped around to instant attention, their expressions briefly showing their shock and not a little alarm. “Since I'm the only one that seems to be able to think properly at the moment, might I suggest one of you find out where Dave's next of kin is and let them know their son is dead?”
Caleb scrubbed his face with both hands. This mate thing sucked. He lacked control over his libido, his emotions were strung tighter than a drum, his professionalism was shot to hell and he'd nearly pounded his best friend in the dirt. All in all, he felt like a damn cub going through puberty. Again. “Sorry, Dean,” he gave his alpha his full attention. “It won't happen again.”
Dean pursed his lips and shot a warning frown to Brandon who lifted his massive shoulders in a shrug. “We're done.”
Dean grunted and then slanted his startling emerald green eyes to the left, sending Phil, who had slowly crept up, an indecipherable look. “Phillip?”
Phil nearly tumbled to the ground in submission. “Yes, sir?”
“Feeling better?”
“Y-yes, sir,” Phil stammered, face flushing with mortification for tossing his cookies.. “Thank you.”
Dean nodded once. “Unless any of you have anything further to say, I need to get back and start damage control.”
“We may have a witness.” Caleb said, his heart twisting at the thought of bringing his mate into any of this ugliness. “Tess was driving back from the hospital about the same time this happened. If she remembers seeing Collins’ car and what time that was, it would give us a better timeframe of the murder. She may have also unwittingly seen something else that may be helpful to the investigation.”
Dean's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “If she did see something you may need to keep a close eye on her. Let me know if we need to provide additional protection.”
Caleb nodded gratefully, knowing Dean meant shifter rather than official protection. “I'd appreciate that.”
“Good. Now that you two are back to normal, I'll let you continue your work.” Dean started through the forest, his steps as silent as a ghost, and glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, and Caleb. When you go talk with Tess, take care of that… problem you're having before you hamper the investigation any further.”
Gritting his teeth, Caleb refused to follow Dean's gaze to his groin where he knew an erection was sporting hard, heavy, and very inappropriately, against his jeans. “Yes, sir.” Caleb glared at a smirking Brandon from the corner of his eyes. “Don't say a fucking word.”
Brandon raised his hands in a defensive gesture and then made a zipping motion over his mouth with his hand.
Cursing silently, Caleb yanked out his cell phone. “I'll make the trip to Collins’ parents and let them know what happened. Then I'll check in on Tess and find out if she remembers anything. In the meantime Brandon, start on the crime scene photos and begin bagging and tagging. Phil, head back to the road to show the doc the way in. Derek's stuck out there directing traffic and deflecting any nosy civilians. Jason will be here shortly to help, but you'll need to guide the doc here and back. Damn human losses his way out of the grocery store parking lot.”
As the two deputies started on their assignments, Caleb looked down at Dave Collins and shook his head. “Damn Dave. What were you doing way the hell out here and who did you piss off?”
Chapter Eleven
Tess slid aside the small, blue-checkered curtain from the kitchen door window and looked out past her reflection into the moonlit night. With her cell phone clutched in her hand, and a frown marring her brow, she mulled over Caleb's brief instructions. Lock the doors, don't go outside and think about her drive both to and back from visiting her mother at the hospital. He'd come by later tonight to talk with her more formally, but he wanted to give her ample opportunity to create a timeline. Her memories could help catch a killer.
Needless to say, dinner sat like lead in her belly.
She was positive she hadn't seen any wolves or humans mulling around. Though a car parked on the shoulder on the opposite side of the highway had caught her attention, she'd just assumed someone was either off on a stroll through the trees or, more likely, taking a leak. There was absolutely nothing on that stretch of road other than trees for nearly thirty miles.
What really bothered her was the fact she didn't remember the young man that was killed, and presumably the driver of the parkedvehicle. Granted, Dave was years younger than she was, but Tess felt she should have at least heard about the man, if not known him personally. In a town of less than two thousand residents, most everyone heard, saw or gossiped about everyone else.
Then again, being away for ten years with fewvisits no doubt worked against not only her memory of people, but also contributed to dissolving old relationships. Since she'd been back, Tess almost felt as if she were starting over in a new place. Acquaintances of her youth had either moved away or were busy running their own businesses and raising children. Many of the shifters had fled the small town in search of a mate or because of the man who'd declared himself alpha after her father took off after his mate. Frank Kolter was a sadistic and controlling alpha and had made many a shifter's life miserable. How the man had kept his title was still a mystery. Then one day, Dean challenged Frank and within seconds became the new alpha. Since Dean's reign, the Woodcliff pack had been turned back into the welcoming shifter community, like it was in the days when her father ruled..
All in all, Woodcliff was both the same and different from a decade ago.
The phone suddenly rang in her hand, the jarring tone loud in the quiet house. She jumped a foot in the air, dropping the curtain in the process. With a hand over her racing heart Tess glanced at the screen. Her sister. “Hey, Kaylie.”
“Hey yourself. I just got off the phone with mom. She sounds good and said she'd be going home tomorrow.”
“As long as nothing else happens. Her blood pressure's back to normal, her incision is healing nicely and she doesn't appear to have any lasting effects from her stroke.” Tess walked into the living room and settled onto the over-stuffed couch where she proceeded to toe off her shoes so she could tuck her long legs under her. “All in all, she's doing very well.”
Kaylie let out a huge sigh. “God it's making me nuts that I wasn't there. I should have been there. A good daughter would have been.”
“Kaylie, you have finals. Mom knew that. She wanted the whole thing done and over with before you came hom
e for the holidays.”
“Moved back home you mean.”
Tess blinked. “Excuse me?”
After a moment of silence Kaylie said quietly, “You do know I'm moving back permanently when my exams are over, don't you?”
No, she hadn't known that. “Don't you have some sort of residency or intern thing first?”
“Are you trying to tell me not to come home?” Dry amusement filled her sister's tone.
“No, not at all,” Tess protested, though silently she worried how soon disaster would result when three totally different and completely independent women suddenly began living in the same house. Lord knew she and Kaylie had more than their share of sisterly squabbles growing up.
Though both had a temper, Tess rarely lost hers while Kaylie let hers free range, loud and frequently. Tomboyish and mischievous, Kaylie loved to play and laugh as hard as she worked. She never hid her feelings or bit her tongue. One always knew where they stood with the younger Gentry sister, whether it was as friend or foe.
On the other hand, and about the time of her parent's divorce, Tess learned to hide her fear behind a mask of ultra feminine cool disdain, which resulted in smothering an outgoing nature. Not a fear of shifters per say, but of what they represented; virile males on the hunt for females to provide sex and babies. Sex to sooth their constant hunger and cubs to ensure their lineage.
As Tess wasn't interested in either, she went against her own nature and ended up turning into a creature she'd begun to lose respect for. But she knew, damn well knew, if she gave her own dark desires an inch of freedom she'd never be the same, never be free to make her own choices or make her own way in life. The idea of being stuck in a loveless marriage, all for the sake of producing a new generation, terrified her. And after years of preventative measures and painful cages, here she was. Mated to one of the very creatures she'd taken such pains to avoid. She'd lost her tight hold on her control and, within days, given in to both temper and temptation. Her mom was right, as usual. Fate had snuck up and given her one swift kick in the ass.
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