A Scent of Murder

by Cara Carnes

“Only yours.”

  “No one else ever tasted these. Sucked them till they ached.” His teeth grazed her nipple and she gasped.

  “Only yours.”

  He growled and fucked her harder. Sensation crawled beneath her skin, molten lava drifting deep within. Her nails sank into his skin, and she bit his neck, marking him as hers. Only hers.

  “I’m planting my babe in your belly the second you’re in cycle.”

  She shivered in anticipation. He pinched her nipple.

  “You like that idea? Your belly filled with my babe again and again and again?”

  “Yes,” she moaned as he thrust into her slower. “Always imagined six, at least.”

  “Guess we’d better get busy then.” He kissed her slowly. She chased his tongue in a languid kiss which belied the frantic thrust of his cock into her. The ravaging claim left her breathless, panting for more.

  She screamed her release as the sensations burst within her. Clinging to Thane, her muscles clenched. He roared his own release and collapsed against her.

  They clung to one another long enough for the pleasurable bliss to cede to the cool breeze lapping along her skin. She shivered and burrowed deeper into Thane’s warm arms. “I forgot how beautiful it is out here.”

  “We’re moving into your old homestead. I’ll find a couple of guys to help me fix a few things, but we’re back in there by week’s end. Warn Charles he’s staying with us until his head’s cleared.” Thane’s words warmed her insides. Plans. Intentions. The future.

  “Someone bought it, remember?”

  “Yeah. I did. You asked why I was back. That’s why. Gee tracked me down, told me you’d moved out and expressed a desire to sell it, so someone in the pack could raise the family you’d never have in there.”

  Damn meddling bear.

  “You weren’t supposed to find out,” she whispered.

  “Figured that out, but I’ve gotta say it was one hell of a wakeup call, one I should’ve gotten before I left probably.”

  “Will you be okay here? Safe?”

  “I’ve got to formalize things with Drew once the current situation is settled.”

  Thoughts of the alpha engulfed Dani in a wave of dread. “What if he doesn’t make it, Thane? What will the pack do? And God, poor Betty. I can’t imagine being pregnant and….”

  “Dani, don’t,” Thane chided. Settling her head against his chest, he stroked her hair. “She’ll be okay because he’ll be okay. If anyone can come out of this, it’s Drew. He’s already performed the impossible and salvaged the pack. Besides, no way in hell is Ryker letting anything happen to either Drew or his mate.”

  “Not many mates survive the loss of their other half.”

  As if sensing she no longer thought of Drew, Thane’s voice lowered. “He’ll be okay, Dani, because you’re here with him. So am I. We’ll make him okay. It’s what family does.”

  “I saw Betty’s dad in town, in front of Gee’s Bar earlier. I think he and Mags are back.”

  “Lots of people I didn’t expect are back, like Brogan.”

  “He left after you. I’m surprised you even knew about that.”

  “He needed time away to heal, deal with the things he’d done for Magnum. Drew’s takeover was difficult for some of the old regime who’d done things they’d never wanted to survive.” Thane kissed her temple. “I hope he gets a second chance with her, like I did with you.”

  Dani’s heart swelled. “Me, too.”

  “I love you, Dani. Always have. Always will.”

  “I love you, too, Thane.” As they sealed the confessions with a soft kiss, Dani accepted the radical shift her life had just taken. Thane was back. Charles was broken. The pack was in danger. Drew’s life was in peril. Somehow they’d all endure. That’s what family did.

  ***

  Charles has been cleared, but the hunt for a killer continues in Scent of the Hunt by Cam Cassidy.

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  A Wolf’s Promise by Cara Carnes

  Chapter One

  As far as the middle of nowhere went, Los Lobos proved as difficult to locate as the man Kinsey Jamison sought in many ways—impossible, dangerous, and mysterious. Huh. She paused to massage her weary thighs. A weaker woman would’ve given up on Drayce Freeman long ago.

  Fortunately, no one ever described her as weak. Head strong, unrepentantly goofy, impulsive, and too trusting. She’d heard those descriptors a lot. Sure, she’d loaded her lone suitcase and trekked across the country chasing a man she’d spent one glorious, life-altering night wrapped around.

  Okay, the decision may seem impulsive to some people, but Kinsey considered it confident. There’d been chemistry between them, and she didn’t appreciate him turning tail—no pun intended—and running in the heat of the morning after. The damn chicken owed her more than two world-shattering orgasms. If Drayce thought she’d simply shrug her shoulders and move on, the foolish wolf had a hell of a lot to learn about her.

  Hence, her trudge down the cattle-trail-sized road leading into Los Lobos. The not-so-friendly man with the four-wheel-drive truck hadn’t even stopped long enough for her to thank him. Jerk. Whatever. Half dragging, half carrying the rickety-wheeled suitcase, she sighed her gratitude as a small cropping of rooftops winked at her from over the steep hill.

  Almost there. The sun began its decent from the sky, flashing its brilliant heat across her face. At least she’d make it before nightfall.

  Sweat dampened her normally fine limp hair into a moppish mess that battered her cheeks and shoulders. Maybe renewing her gym membership should make it to the top of her to-do list. Her stomach grumbled, adding its protest to the cacophony of aches battering her confidence. Maybe she should’ve thought this admittedly rash decision through a bit more. What if he didn’t want to see her again? What if he hadn’t experienced the zing of chemical need to permanently meld the way she had?

  Nans had said the zing would happen—when she met the man who’d own her heart and soul. Nans knew many things, most of which she’d whispered to Kinsey when her time came. Those shared secrets had helped her know what he was. A shifter, like those Kinsey’s family had helped protect for over a century.

  People who could shift into an animal form needed to be protected. Not everyone would understand their existence. Fear ran rampant in fools, Nans said. She wasn’t wrong.

  Kinsey had her first bit of evidence the morning after he’d left. Her best friend, Lauren Jago, had walked into her living room, kinked up her nose, and hissed. Straight up, Jaguar hissy growled. Wolf.

  The declaration provided explanations. Of course he’d run. She was human. Packs were very reclusive. Lauren had said so—and she would know since her dad led their den. She hadn’t been pleased with Kinsey’s decision, but she’d helped round up what funds they could.

  The small town of Los Lobos was in a state of disrepair, and that was being generous. New wood intermingled with its ancient predecessors on a few of the sparse buildings. Unused boards sat beside the structures, as though itching for their chance to help. Few of the buildings offered clues to the secrets they contained. They loomed on the dilapidated roadside, warning passers with their unnamed status—visitors weren’t welcome.

  Damn it, I wasn’t expecting a welcoming parade, but a hint of civility would’ve been nice. Drayce’s pack resembled the Jago Den more than she’d hoped. Fine. Totally manageable. Wolves couldn’t be much different than Jaguars. Right? Besides, she’d come armed with everything she’d need to vet herself.

  Opting
for the largest building, she lugged her suitcase through the door and halted as her gaze swept across the interior. Clean. Quaint. Just about what you’d expect from a small, turn-of-the-previous-century bar. She met the gazes of a few of the unwelcoming inhabitants with a knowing smile. Yeah, they totally hated her.

  The dying castor on her suitcase squeaked and squalled across the wooden floor as she made her way to the massive man behind the bar. She flashed a smile she hoped said, “Relax, I know what you are and I am your friend.” She doubted it worked since the man had yet to smile or acknowledge her presence beyond a blank stare.

  She blinked and waited.

  Nothing.

  He crossed his arms. She crossed hers.

  The secret to garnering respect from shifters was to stand your ground. A lesson Nans schooled her in and Lauren reinforced. She should’ve probably sat before the stare down began. Her feet throbbed, and her legs burned. Her throat squeezed, desperate for water. Her belly growled for food. Maybe grabbing something to eat before finding Drayce would be a good idea.

  A large body appeared in her peripheral vision, but she maintained the intimidating lock of gazes with the giant. His unexpressive face remained locked. Silence descended in the room. Wait. Was this their Alpha? Surely not. He was behind a bar. Wouldn’t an Alpha be doing leadership stuff?

  “Enough, little girl.” The man grasped her upper arm and shoved her onto a stool. “You don’t have the teeth for the fight you want.”

  He stepped back and crossed his arms. She shut up. The newest entrant projected the don’t-fuck-with-me-or-else tone she’d learned long ago. Everything about him screamed enforcer—the right hand to the Alpha, the protector of the den, or pack in this case. Of course he would show up the moment she hit town.

  Her stare nemesis grunted and filled a glass with ice. She tracked the flow of water over the cool chunks. Licking her lips, she eyed the man skeptically. A peace offering perhaps? When it landed in front of her with a hard thud, she smiled her gratitude.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the self-appointed referee stated.

  “I’m here to visit a friend.” She slammed the water with unladylike voracity. Amusement flickered in the enforcer’s gaze as he watched. He was handsome, Native American ancestry of some type. Studying the other people in the bar, she noted their wary gazes. “Perhaps you could help me locate him, and then I’d be out of your way quicker.”

  “People around here value their privacy.”

  “I get that. Really, I do.” She eyed her empty glass longingly. “Tell me where I can find Drayce Freeman.”

  “People around here value their privacy.”

  Well. He had the line down pat. She sighed, too exhausted for the battle she saw in his stance. Tension thickened in the room, a palatable unease she’d seen before when Lauren’s den was around her father or Jadrien, the enforcer for their group. Knowing her luck, it was probably the latter. It would make sense they’d send their protector to shove a stranger from their midst.

  The bartender refilled her glass. “You walked.”

  “Finding a ride here was challenging. Apparently not many people make it this far into nowhere.” She kept her gaze on the younger man. “I’m Kinsey, but my friends call me Kins.”

  When no one offered their names, she took a sip of her water and set the glass down. “I should probably warn you. People say I’m real stubborn when I want something. I never give up. Ever. It’s a flaw, really.”

  “A deadly one.” No mistaking the warning in his statement. He glanced at the bartender. “Gee will feed you, give you a room, and then tomorrow, I’ll escort you out.”

  “Out? To where Drayce is?”

  “No.” The man’s jaw twitched.

  Well okay. Unsure what to do with the ultimatum, she kept silent as he left. The bartender, a.k.a. Gee, glared at her. He clearly hadn’t taken his directives happily. Deciding to leap into the list of things to do, she cleared her throat and asked, “You have a menu?”

  “Fried pickles, steamed broccoli, hamburger.”

  “Um. The burger, please. With fries.”

  “No fries. Just the burger.”

  Okay then. She nodded her assent, and he disappeared into the back.

  Ignoring the prying eyes of the other bar inhabitants, she pulled out her trusty notebook and settled on the list she’d made.

  Get to Los Lobos. Check.

  Find Drayce. Question mark.

  Secure housing. Half a check.

  The question mark annoyed her inner perfectionist. She hadn’t come this far to turn around like an obedient trespasser and go home. No way.

  Gee set a plate and a key down and walked off. To call the plate’s fare a hamburger was generous. Meat on a bun. Nothing else. Downing the dry meal with generous gulps of water, she decided the fried pickles might be a better option next time.

  Food stored away, she left money for the meal and wandered until she found the stairs. The room was in the center on the left. A couple of nightstands bookended a double-sized bed covered with a beige bedspread. A four-drawer dresser rested against the wall opposite a window overlooking the road. Everything in the room screamed, “You’re here, but please go away.”

  The bathroom accomplished its purpose without flair. After attending her needs, she rinsed her hands and face off. No wonder they hadn’t told her where Drayce was. She resembled a sweaty, deranged sewer mop. Hastily showering, she discovered humanity afterward. She should’ve done that the moment she got into the room.

  Changing into a spaghetti-strapped top and yoga pants, she padded to the window and regarded her surroundings. She was low on options. She could wander door-to-door and hope to run across him, but he probably lived on the outskirts of town. Lone, dominant men loved privacy.

  A shrill of pleasure streamed through her. He was definitely dominant. Her nipples hardened, and moisture pooled between her legs. She longed for his calloused hands along her body, his hot mouth on hers, claiming and demanding her surrender. Heat suffused her skin. Leaning her weight into the window, she managed to pry it open. A cool breeze swept through the room.

  The flat rooftop along the sides called to her. She’d spent countless hours on top of things with her friend Lauren. Height appeased Lauren’s inner animal’s primal need to climb. Hunt.

  Kinsey shimmied out onto the ledge and shuffled to the side until she could sit with her legs crossed and stare out into the forested terrain snuggling the quaint town. Ah. This was much better. The exhaustion and stress of the day slid into the ensuing darkness. The wilderness area reminded her of the hometown she’d grown up in, the gateway to the Jago Den within the Appalachian Mountains.

  “Get off the roof.” The thundered order startled her.

  Great. The enforcer. He’d probably mandated visitors weren’t allowed to breathe their air. Ignoring his existence, she took a few deep breaths and contemplated her options once again. The vile man intended to boot her from town in the morning. A clawing need rose within her. She wasn’t about to let some odious stranger dictate her future. Drayce meant something to her. She didn’t fully understand what yet, which was all the more reason for her to dig her heels in and fight.

  “Get off the roof.” The repeated command came across as more of a plea.

  She looked down and saw another man standing beside the enforcer. The newcomer seemed worried. Interesting. Were these Wolves as protective as the men in Lauren’s pack? The females in the den couldn’t even sneeze without half the males worrying.

  “Where’s Drayce?”

  Silence. A couple of men flanked the barky man who’d yet to share his name.

  “Think about it.” She settled her hands on her crossed legs in a shaky meditation pose. “Perhaps remember what I said earlier about my stubbornness. I assure you I wasn’t lying.”

  “While I find all this amusing, Ryker’s right. The roof is unstable. You could fall.” The new entrant to the co
nversation stepped forward and looked up at her. Longer than average brown hair covered his ears and fell along his face to partially obscure the gaze she suspected focused on her. “I’m Eldan.”

  “Wow, someone who shared their name. What a novelty.”

  “You are a little spitfire.” He chuckled for a moment and looked around at the gathering crowd. She really should’ve brushed her hair. “Ryker here didn’t share why you want to see Drayce, but I’m thinking this isn’t a good method to get your way. Why don’t I head up and help you off?”

  “Well, as nice as it has been to meet you, Eldan, I must respectfully disagree and decline your offer.” She glared down at Ryker. The name suited him. Strong, mysterious, sexy as hell. “Drayce. Now.”

  Ryker growled and charged a couple of steps forward. She gulped air for a few moments. Okay, he wasn’t Jadrien. She might know how far she could press the Jago Den’s enforcer, but she didn’t know this man. Enforcers had short fuses by nature. They were not to be fucked with by anyone. Many were more feared than the Alpha’s they obeyed. The last thing she wanted on this roof was a lethal, pissed off wolf.

  But she wanted Drayce. For him, she’d take this terrifying risk and wait a few more minutes before obeying. She leaned back until her head pressed against the roof. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but she wasn’t about to let them know. A crowd of people loomed behind the two men. Nervousness beaded along Kinsey’s brow. This was a bad idea.

  “Are you going up to toss her off?” Eldan asked Ryker.

  Ryker folded his arms. “I have my orders.”

  A murmur echoed through the crowd. Kinsey sat up and looked down at the group.

  Eldan put distance between himself and the enforcer. “Orders?”

  One nod. “I only pick up Saja. My mate is particular.”

  Something in Kinsey snapped to attention. This rugged, lethal immovable force was mated. The knowledge strengthened her resolve. If a woman had fought her way into Ryker’s heart, Kinsey could do the same with Drayce.