by Bianca D'Arc
Serena growled in frustration this time, taking a moment to calm herself.
“I relent,” she spit out finally. The word was so formal and spoken with such simmering hatred, Sally believed it was genuine.
Easing her grip on the woman’s arm, Sally stepped back and let her go. Serena straightened immediately and stormed out of the room, past the astonished faces of Kathy and Josepha and the hardened mask of disapproval on Jason’s normally friendly visage.
Damn. All three of them had been watching from the doorway. They must have come in sometime during the middle of the confrontation, when Sally’s attention was focused solely on her opponent. It was bad form to allow someone—much less three individuals—to sneak up on you during a fight, but Sally cut herself some slack considering they were werewolves and had the ability to move silently.
She was somewhat embarrassed they had seen the altercation. She had wanted to settle things quietly between Serena and herself. There was no reason to embarrass the woman in front of her Pack. She might be a bitch, but all she’d done was growl. She hadn’t managed to actually lay a finger on Sally, so it wasn’t really a big deal. The audience probably made it into one, at least for Serena. Sally would have spared her that, if possible. It was no fun at all to be a laughingstock, or to lose face in front of your peers.
“I apologize on behalf of the Pack for her behavior,” Josepha was quick to say. “You’re our guest. She should not have pushed a challenge tonight. It’s not polite.”
“It’s all right,” Sally assured her. “I’ve dealt with worse than her.” But not often, she added silently to herself.
“You acquitted yourself well.” Josepha was hard pressed to hide the surprise in her tone. Sally could almost hear the unspoken for a human, tacked on the end of her statement. Sally tried not to let it irritate her. The wolves were clearly unused to having a human in their midst. Especially not a woman who’d just had sex in the office with their beloved Alpha.
“I should be getting you back to the Master’s house.” Jason stepped in to save her from answering.
The women said their goodbyes and took over the mop-up in the kitchen. Jason led her back through the house on a different route than they’d come in. They passed through a big living room where a familiar teenager was sitting on the couch with one leg elevated on a bunch of pillows.
“How are you feeling, Colleen?” Sally asked as they passed.
The girl’s eyes widened and she got to her feet unsteadily. Jason stopped, allowing the girl time to say what she so obviously wanted to say.
“I’ll be okay. I wanted to thank you, Detective, for helping me get away. You walked into serious danger in my place and I owe you a debt.”
The words and the girl’s tone were so serious it made Sally uncomfortable.
“It’s my job, kid.” She tried to keep her response easy and nonchalant. “I’m just glad I was in the right place at the right time to be able to help.”
Colleen responded by touching her arm and moving close for a small hug. It hit home in that moment just how young the girl really was. She may be almost as tall as Sally, but she was more than a decade younger, in that tricky time of life where you weren’t quite a child but not quite an adult yet either. Sally returned the hug, putting her arms loosely around the girl’s shoulders. She looked up at Jason for guidance, a little surprised that Colleen would turn to her—a relative stranger—for comfort. Jason only nodded, approval in his gaze as he patted Colleen’s shoulder.
Sally realized something in that instant. These people were also wolves. No doubt, physical contact meant a great deal in their society. From what little she knew of dogs and wolf Pack behavior, touching was a form of communication that was vital in their society. By giving a youngster a hug of reassurance, the stronger, more dominant members of the Pack surrounded the traumatized teen with their strength and unspoken promise of protection.
Sally was both surprised and honored to be part of that behavior. Colleen stood between her and Jason, no doubt feeling enclosed by his height even though he was at least a foot away from the teen. His presence was undeniable. And his hand on her shoulder was a silent indicator of his support. Sally understood the fear and pain the girl had been through. She’d been shot, for goodness’ sake. Only her shifter heritage allowed her to walk away without serious physical injury. Emotionally, the teenager still had to deal with the trauma of strangers in the woods with rifles, trying to kill her. Or maybe worse—capture her.
Colleen had been the victim of a violent crime. It would take time for her to heal on all levels and Sally knew that the internal emotional scars were often the hardest to deal with. It said something for the youngster that she was still able to reach out to a stranger.
When the girl’s trembling had eased, she stepped back, out of the hug. “I’ll never forget what you did for me.”
Sally brushed Colleen’s hair out of her eyes. “That’s all right. Just promise me you’ll be more careful from now on. It was in no way your fault that those idiots were out there, but everyone has some responsibility for their own safety. Idiots exist. We all have to be vigilant to protect ourselves from them. Even strong people like you can get into trouble if you aren’t aware of your surroundings and the dangers that might be nearby.”
Colleen looked surprised by the advice coming from a human, but nodded seriously. “I wasn't smart about where I was going,” she admitted. “I won’t let it happen again.”
“Good.” Sally stepped away from the girl, dropping her hand to her side. Colleen looked as if she were finding her own strength once more. Sally was glad.
As the teen hobbled back to the couch with Jason’s assistance, Sally noticed a man and woman watching from the background that she hadn’t noticed before. Sally nodded to them cautiously, wanting to be polite and acknowledge their presence. Seeing that they’d been spotted, the woman led the way over to Sally, reaching out her hand. Sally took the offered hand but was a little confused by it until the woman started speaking.
“I’m Colleen’s mum, Laura and this is her pa, Jacob. Thank you for helping the Alpha get her to safety.”
Now Sally understood. She’d dealt with parents a time or two in her work. It was good to be able to give them good news whenever possible. The alternative was always heart wrenching for all concerned.
“I’m just glad I was there and able to help,” Sally replied quietly. She had always been a little uneasy with expressions of gratitude. She’d just been doing her job. Doing the job well and helping to protect innocent people was satisfaction enough for her.
Jacob moved closer and took her hand when his wife released it. His grip was strong and his gaze was direct.
“We’ve already spoken to Colleen about going out alone. We’re grateful beyond words that you and the Alpha were there to save her from worse injury.” Unspoken was the knowledge she saw in his eyes that his little girl could easily have been killed or captured by those jerks in the woods.
Colleen had been in real danger and only Jason’s protective instincts that prodded him to check on the cougar’s report of hunters in the area had put Sally and him in the right place at the right time. Jason was the real hero here. He was the Alpha who put his Pack’s welfare above his own plans. A lesser man would have gone on with his afternoon of seduction and let the reports of possible danger slide until he was done with his personal desires and had spare time to check. Or not check at all and wait until someone was hurt or killed to act.
Not Jason. He’d put aside his own wishes. Sally knew good and well, though he hadn’t really spoken of it, that he’d planned to fuck her in the woods earlier that afternoon when he’d taken her to that gorgeous spot by the waterfall. Meeting up with Steve Redstone had altered his plans and he hadn’t complained. Even a vague report of possible danger to his Pack had sent him off to check, his own pleasure denied.
Sally had felt the urgency. Her instincts had kicked in too, but she couldn’t be certain whether
it was Steve’s words that had set her on edge or if she was merely picking up on Jason’s mood. She was sensitive to him in ways that surprised her. Usually, it took her a while to warm up to people. With Jason, she’d been able to gauge his moods with ease since they’d first met. His open manner hid a deep thinking, deep feeling man. She saw under the devil-may-care façade and had gained insights into the man beneath.
For certain, she’d never slept with anyone she’d only met the day before. Sally wasn’t that kind of girl. It took her weeks to get to know a man well enough to want to risk herself that way. Sex was an emotional thing for her and she’d been hurt in the past by trusting the wrong man. With Jason, she’d thrown caution to the wind. She still didn’t understand what it was about him that called to her on some basic level. Some cavewoman sort of level that didn’t need pretty words or wine and roses. It only needed him. Naked, preferably.
Sally laughed inwardly at her own thoughts. Here she was, faced with thankful parents and her mind was wandering all over the place. Probably because she was incredibly uncomfortable with all the praise and thanks being heaped upon her.
“Like I said, Jacob, I was happy to help. Colleen is a special girl and you can be proud of the way she handled herself. I’ve never seen someone pop a bullet out of their leg and then manage to get themselves home.”
That comment brought the other couple up short. It was as if they suddenly remembered they weren’t talking to another werewolf. Laura’s eyes widened and Sally could see the sparkle of tears forming in them. Jacob’s grip tightened slightly before he released Sally’s hand.
Chapter Seven
“That a human would come to the aid of one of our kind is something we never expected,” he said gravely. “You’ve made us think, detective. Frankly, we’ve grown so fond of thinking we’re the next best thing to invincible, that many of us underestimate your people. We don’t consider your strength a match for our own—either your fighting abilities or your emotional depth. In one day, you’ve managed to turn all that conceit on its ear.” Jacob grinned at her, showing sharp teeth and a twinkle of respect in his gaze. “I never thought I would ever meet a true female Alpha who wasn’t a shifter. I stand corrected.” Jacob put his hand over his heart in a small salute that touched Sally deeply.
“You saved our little girl,” Laura added. “We can never repay you.”
Sally stilled her words by putting one hand on Laura’s arm. “I don’t do what I do for fame or fortune. Being a cop is who I am. Doing the job and helping people—humans or shifters or whoever—is my reward. It was my honor to be able to help. Truly.”
“You’re a special lady, detective.” Colleen’s mother was tearful when she leaned in and gave Sally a grateful kiss on the cheek.
The couple turned away and went to their daughter, helping her settle comfortably back on the couch. Jason stood a few feet away, an expression of pride mixed with affection on his handsome face. It made her heart clench a bit to see. She thought she knew him well enough—even on such short acquaintance—that she could read the truth behind his eyes. That he should feel such things about her so quickly, meant more than she could say.
Despite the almost animal lust she felt for him, his opinion mattered. The sex was great and she didn’t want to deny its power, but the man himself made her want more. She knew she couldn’t have it, of course. She was human. He was the Alpha wolf of his Pack. They came from two totally different worlds and she was scheduled to go back to her regular life in a handful of days. Now was all they had and she planned to make the most of it.
She took his arm when he offered it, and went with him outside, claiming her temporary space behind him on the giant motorcycle. After only a few hours, she felt comfortable there. Almost like she belonged. But she knew that could never be.
He drove slowly down the lane to the road and then back toward Carly and Dmitri’s farm. It wasn’t far as the crow flies, but by road it took almost half an hour. Night had fallen by the time they arrived and Sally could feel Jason’s reluctance to let her go. She felt the same pull toward him, but she had come here to see her friend and get to know Carly’s new husband. It would be selfish in the extreme to spend all her time with Jason. She should be glad he would occupy her days while her friends slept.
It had actually worked out pretty well for her. If not for Jason, Sally wouldn’t have much to do all day. If not for the fact that her friends were—incredibly—vampires, she probably wouldn’t have any daylight hours to herself. A normal human visit usually involved lots of sightseeing, eating out, and talking. There would still be talking and Jason would take care of the sightseeing, but food would no doubt be scarce in a house owned by vampires. There was a lot Sally had to learn about Carly’s new life.
Carly met Sally at the door, having heard the motorcycle rumble up the drive. Dmitri was behind her, his gaze scanning the horizon in case of trouble. His vigilance put Sally on edge and the events of the afternoon came rushing back.
“Are you all right?” Carly asked, concern in her voice as Sally walked up to the door. Jason was a warm presence behind her. “We heard about what happened with those hunters.”
“I’m fine, Carl. Please remember I do stuff like that for a living.” She did her best to make light of the situation. It had been kind of tense for a few moments, but as far as she was concerned, it was part of the job. Even if she wasn’t technically working, or even eligible to work as a detective in this state.
“Do you expect further trouble?” Dmitri demanded of Jason in a low voice as they were ushered inside the house.
Jason’s expression was hard to read but Sally saw his tension. “Hard to say.”
“Come in and sit down. I had some of the kids go out and stock the kitchen, so there’s dessert and wine. I heard you were having dinner at the Pack house.” Carly winked at her with a sly grin. No doubt she already knew about her tryst in the office with Jason too.
True to her word, there was a pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream set out on the coffee table. A bottle of deep red wine sat beside it, already open and being allowed to breathe. Dmitri poured for all of them while Carly sliced up two servings of cake. One was gigantic, which she set in front of Jason, and one was more normal-sized, created especially for Sally. The disparity brought a smile to her lips as Carly winked again.
Oh yeah, Carly knew all about the afternoon and there’d be hell to pay later. She’d want details. Sally wasn’t even sure how she felt about the day herself just yet. Carly would make her talk. And talk. And talk. She’d be lucky if she got any sleep at all.
In a way, she looked forward to it. It had been far too long since she’d shared girl talk about men with one of her best friends. Far too long.
When they’d all been served, Dmitri got down to business. “Now, what can you tell me about these hunters?”
“Two were arrested,” Jason reported. “The local cops are going to keep them overnight because of Sally’s involvement and willingness to press charges. That’s something we never had before.”
Sally was confused. “Why wouldn’t the police help if your people were being threatened?”
“It’s not that they wouldn’t. It’s more the fact that we’ve never really asked them,” Jason admitted, scratching the back of his neck as if uncomfortable with the idea. “Our society has survived mostly by separating ourselves from humans.”
Hmm. She hadn’t thought of that.
“I guess I can understand. But in this case, I’m here and I was a witness to a crime. I won’t get Colleen or any of your people involved, of course. My testimony should be enough.” She looked worried as she realized that Jason had been involved as well. There was no avoiding the fact that he needed to give a statement if her charges were to proceed. “And yours. Sorry, Jason.” She bit her lip as she looked at him.
His thumb reached out and released her lower lip gently, lingering for a moment until she remembered that they weren’t alone. Clearing her throat
, she leaned away from him. His pull was almost magnetic. She had to find the strength of will to resist. At least in public. A knowing smile greeted her when her gaze shifted nervously to Carly. Damn. The interplay hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“It’s okay. I know those officers. Believe it or not, I joined the Chamber of Commerce in town a few years ago. I thought it would help us expand our businesses so we could keep more of our young people employed locally. The Pack had been losing young members for a long time before I took over. I’ve been working at changing all of that. Part of my strategy has been to mix more with the local population, whether it be human or vampire or whatever.”
“Who were the officers?” Dmitri asked.
“Bell and Horace. Both good men, in my opinion. They’ll be on duty tomorrow when I take Sally in to make her formal statement. I asked.”
“Good.” Dmitri nodded, his expression concerned. “I’ve met both of them during safety briefings at the university.” He turned his attention back to Sally. She felt the impact of his dark gaze as if it were some kind of laser beam, pinning her in place. “What did these hunters look like?”
“There were four of them, but only two actually discharged their weapons.” Sally went on to describe the two younger men who hadn’t fired, then went into more detail about the two shooters. “There was one funny thing that I saw as they were loading the guy who’d been up in the tree. He had a tattoo on his wrist. I think.”
“What kind of tattoo?” Dmitri demanded, his tone eager.
“I can’t be certain, but it looked familiar.” Sally turned to Carly. “Remember a couple of years ago, I got into trouble for making a mistake on one of my reports? It was back when I was doing a stint with the hate crimes unit.”