by Beth Alvarez
His expression darkened, angry fire flashing in his blue eyes. “Come on, Colton, that’s not funny!”
“Oh yes it is.” Chuckling to himself, Kade stepped back. “C’mon in. Filly, this is Cole.”
Cole eyed Kade distrustfully, his brows lifting in mild surprise when he stepped into the house. “This is your house?”
Hooking an arm around Felicity’s waist, Kade pulled her close. “Hers, technically, but she puts up with me.”
She swatted the brim of his hat, slipping out of his grasp to close the door. “I’m not going to for much longer. What is going on?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Cole muttered, giving Kade a suspicious side-eye. He tilted his head toward Felicity as if asking a question. Kade gave a single nod in silent answer, making her bristle.
A second later, Kade shot her an apologetic glance. “Cole, this is Felicity, my fiancée. Filly, Cole Richter. We used to work together.” He looked up the stairs as he spoke and she knew he was minding his words, lest her father or Owen overhear.
She snorted. “Kade Colton and Cole Richter. Sounds like you two belong together.”
“Doesn’t it? I always said we should do a buddy cop comedy, but he didn’t like the idea.” Cole grinned, and Felicity couldn’t help catching sight of his fangs. They were a shade longer than Kade’s, more noticeable, but also brandished without shame. Until now, she’d never wondered how many of Kade’s mannerisms were affected by what he was, but his lopsided grins hid just enough tooth to keep his too-sharp canines from showing. Either he’d trained himself into it, or he was incredibly fortunate.
“Jag’s not outside. Where’s Owen?” Kade looked toward the door as if he expected his brother to appear at any second.
“He went out. He said he wanted a drink, and you know how Dad feels about keeping alcohol in the house.” Felicity tended to agree; whether or not it was open now, the Hilltop House was still a business. It would have been unprofessional. She lowered her voice. “Dad’s in the kitchen, by the way. If you need to talk business, you should go upstairs.”
“Good idea.” Kade took her by the arm and gently urged her toward the staircase. She glided ahead of him without much encouragement.
“You’re sneaking around in your own house?” Cole’s disapproval was crystal clear.
“I’ll take care of it when the time is right,” Kade said. “That ain’t right now.”
“Besides,” Felicity added, crossing the landing to open the door to the master suite. “It’s a risky secret to share in a small town.” That they had to work out the issue with Nick was proof of that.
Cole crossed his arms as he followed them inside. “They’re going to have to know, Colton. Sooner or later, they’re going to notice you’re different. That’s why we don’t stay in one place.”
Kade ignored it, but the truth of the matter tore at Felicity’s heart. It was a fear she’d always known would become reality. No matter what, they’d eventually have to leave Holly Hill.
Stepping close, Kade snared her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed back. The fact he could hear what she was thinking weighed heavily on her, but right now, she was grateful he already knew.
“Like I said, I’ll take care of that. It’s none of your concern, anyway.” Kade’s face darkened. “What is your concern is this contract.”
Cole flicked a hand in gesture for him to go on.
“Believe me when I say I know what this job is,” Kade began, sliding away from Felicity and pacing toward his bed. “I was the one who reported it. Accidentally. I actually asked Birch for my gear. He refused.”
“So you are trying to snipe my kill,” Cole muttered.
“I ain’t out to kill it because it doesn’t need to be killed,” Kade said. “Like I told you, it ain’t feral. It’s someone I know. One of the cowboys from the ranch. I just don’t know which one, yet.”
Felicity’s throat tightened. “Oh, Kade.” She’d grown up with some of the cowboys. How could this have happened?
“I’m with these boys every day,” Kade continued. “Every single day. They’re normal. Happy. What that wolf needs is a pack, not put down.”
“Why would the Keepers issue the order for elimination, then?” Cole shook his head. “The Keepers don’t make mistakes.”
Kade and Felicity exchanged glances.
“I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Richter,” Felicity began, “but how much do you know about the job that sent Kade out here last fall?”
Cole’s eyes darted between them. “The chupacabra?”
Clearing his throat, Kade turned away and adjusted his hat.
“So the organization never let anything slip about Drake du Coudray, huh?” Felicity crept to the bedside, sitting down. Kade stayed on his feet.
“Drake do what?” Cole’s frown twitched.
“A rogue vampire running a rustling ring. He killed his Keeper. Chupacabra was his pet.” Kade paced the width of the room, resembling a stalking cat. His tense muscles and slow, deliberate footsteps gave Felicity chills.
This time, their guest didn’t have anything to say.
“According to Birch, they had no record on him,” Kade continued. “It had been conveniently misplaced. We hunted him down and took him out, but Birch admitted Drake had a Keeper on his side. I thought it was a fluke. Now, I ain’t so sure.”
“Come on, Colton. One bad Keeper doesn’t mean-”
Kade cut him short. “Is it one bad Keeper? How do you know? We’ve both been playing this game a long time, you longer than me. Have you ever...” He raised a finger. “Ever heard of the Keepers making a mistake? Losing files? Issuing incorrect orders?”
Cole took a half step backwards. “Wait a second. You said we hunted him down. Who?”
“The two of us,” Felicity supplied.
The hunter clearly didn’t believe it.
“Don’t let her skirts fool you,” Kade said. “She’s a mean little thing. Knock you sideways if you ain’t lookin’.”
Her cheeks heated, but she smiled. “And Thaddeus allowed it, so you know it was all above board. He’d never allow Kade to do anything that didn’t meet some kind of regulation or guideline.”
Cole sighed. “Fair enough. But when you’re saying the orders I got might’ve been wrong, orders that came directly from my Keeper...”
Kade shook his head. “I got no reason to suspect it was anything she did. If you can feel her out, maybe we can figure out if she’s runnin’ as blind as the rest of us. We could use a Keeper like Justine on our side.”
“What about Thaddeus?” Felicity asked, her voice small.
The way Kade hesitated frightened her more than it should have. “I’ll do the same with Birch. He took care of du Coudray. No reason to think he can’t take care of this, too.”
Cole didn’t like that at all, but he rubbed his chin and trained his eyes on the floor. “More importantly, what about the wolf?”
“What about the wolf?” Shrugging, Kade stalked back to the bed. “Don’t shoot it, that much should be obvious. I don’t intend to see him killed, so you can quit thinkin’ I’m tryin’ to rob you. I’d hope you’d know I wouldn’t do that, besides. Not to someone I know.”
Felicity knew from hunting the chupacabra that there was a strong rivalry between most hunters. Their contracts didn’t mean the monsters were exclusive, they just meant the contractor was devoted to seeing that particular monster eliminated. There were more than enough small contracts to go around, but the larger ones bore fierce competition. It seemed aggressive ambition was a popular trait among hunters. She would have just as soon taken a dozen smaller contracts for easy-to-hunt beasts, raking in the same amount of money without the hefty dose of danger.
“Okay, but what am I supposed to do while we’re ironing this out? We’ve got two days of full moon left and I need a resolution by the end of it, one way or another.” Cole unbuttoned his jacket, wiping the back of his hand across his brow. “It�
�s like an oven in here, how are you not dying?”
“I thought vampires didn’t sweat,” Felicity said.
He snorted. “Doesn’t mean we don’t bake.”
Kade tried to pace the other way, but Felicity caught his arm and pulled him down to the bedside with her. He sat with a heavy sigh. “You worry about Justine tomorrow. I’ll take care of proving the wolf’s not up for slaughter. Trap him, wait for daybreak. If he’s mad or doesn’t change back at all, he’s yours.”
Cole’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you get to trap him?”
Felicity laced her fingers with Kade’s, stroking his hand. “If the wolf is one of the cowboys from the McCullough ranch, don’t you think he’d feel safer waking to find a friend watching over him instead of a stranger with a gun?”
He squeezed her fingers in response. “Filly’s right. On top of that, if he’s sane, he’s a lot less likely to maul me than you.”
“We’ll put you up here while we’re working this out,” she said. “There aren’t any hotels or anything too close to Holly Hill, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“You can have the suite, here,” Kade added. “It’s my room, so you should be comfortable. Filly sleeps downstairs, and I’m staying in the bunkhouse at the ranch right now.”
“Thanks,” Cole said, and it was genuine and appreciative. “That’ll certainly be easier than trying to double back to one of the lodging options my Keeper gave me. I’d hoped to knock out the contract and head home by morning. Guess that’s not happening, huh?”
Chuckling, Kade thumbed the brim of his black Stetson. “Sorry to disappoint.”
Shrugging out of his camouflage jacket, Cole weighed the garment in his hand before laying it atop Kade’s dresser. “I won’t say no to an easy kill, but if I’m honest, I hope you’re wrong about all of this.”
Felicity almost agreed. Discovering Kade was wrong about the wolf’s identity and state of mind wouldn’t be a pleasant outcome, but it was—in some ways—better than if he was right. If the wolf turned out to be deranged, it would only delay Cole’s mission by a few days. If the Keepers and their organization were issuing wrong information, whether deliberate or otherwise, things wouldn’t be so easy.
“I guess we’ll know soon enough,” she said. “If there’s anything I can do for you while you’re here, let me know. But my father does live here, and Kade’s brother is staying with us, so please mind what you say.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The nod Cole gave her was cordial, if nothing else. “With that in mind, I’ll slip downstairs and get my things out of my truck before it gets too late.”
“And you and I will discuss one more thing while he’s gone,” Felicity murmured by Kade’s ear as Cole departed.
“Something good?” Kade asked, hopeful.
“I doubt it.” Squeezing his arm, she made herself go on. “It’s about Penny.”
TWELVE
* * *
CHIRRUPING INSECTS AND the quiet hoot of an owl were the only sounds in the night, neither one promising. Kade wasn’t thrilled about going right back to the hunt, even if he knew it was best. The wolf would be wary now, and it could be miles away. But the tracks leading away from the grove where he had his little scuffle with Cole were his best chance of finding the beast, so he followed them anyway. This time, instead of the rifle, he kept his pistol in hand.
He hadn’t worked out what exactly he was going to do if he found the thing. He could shoot to scare it in the direction he wanted, but he also didn’t want to rile it more than necessary. The more agitated the lycanthrope got, the more likely it was to try to rip out Kade’s throat. The possibility didn’t sound pleasant.
Felicity had expressed her worry about just that outcome when he’d gone to leave, but she’d accepted that he had to go. The look on her face had given him the worst kind of guilt.
She’d been so relieved when he’d returned to Holly Hill to tell her he’d given it up; he’d never imagined he’d be right back into the fray six months later. No woman dreamed of ending up with a man who consistently put himself in danger. It was a wonder she didn’t wring his neck. But that was just the way Felicity was. Gentle, accepting, reassuring, and kinder than most people deserved. Her endless patience meant he owed her more than she probably realized.
The least he could do was make it home without getting himself killed.
“Easier said than done,” he grumbled, making himself focus on the tracks.
After they’d spooked it, the wolf had loped across the open field in an irregular pattern. That showed enough presence of mind to know someone might have followed it. Most lycans Kade had hunted retained enough of their senses to know they should zig-zag when running, but they also abandoned it as soon as they could no longer hear, see, or smell their enemy. This was different. He’d continued for some time, eventually stopping behind a large, lonely oak in the pasture. It looked like the beast had waited there a while, then trekked out farther in a straight line.
Seeking cover from rifle fire. Deeming himself safe after enough time had elapsed. Those were rational human actions, not those of a crazed beast.
But which rational human, now? He hadn’t seen anything to indicate who the wolf might be. The only one he could be sure of was Charlie, and only then because he’d thought to swing by the herd before heading back out to find the wolf. The rest of the men were out in town. He assumed Marshall was in bed, since there were lights on at the house, but he wasn’t going to rule out his employer until he was certain.
The tracks in front of him disappeared, snapping his attention back to the task at hand. Kade let out a low, long hiss, backtracking until he found the trail again.
He needed to pay attention. Whether or not it was unlikely he’d find the creature, letting his thoughts distract him would only put him further at risk. There would be plenty of time to think when he was in the saddle tomorrow. Like it or not, he could only escape work so often. His best hope of getting out of work a second night in a row was convincing Cole to ride in his place, and Kade knew that wasn’t going to happen.
The wolf’s trail led past the few coppices scattered across the range, eventually curving around and heading back toward the ranch house.
That was a development Kade hadn’t expected. More often than not, Lycanthropes avoided people. Even the feral ones shied away from civilization. So why would this beast arc back toward it? Unless he was trying to find the people who’d frightened him.
Kade caught the inside of his cheek between his molars, tracing the path ahead with his eyes. Did he follow it, or did he warn Charlie? If the wolf happened across a normal person...
No. He couldn’t risk the conversations that would spawn, or the time he’d lose in the process. Besides, he was supposed to be at the Hilltop House working things out with his brother. Instead, he hadn’t even seen Owen. Though Kade supposed if the other cowboys saw his brother out in town, that would put a wrench in his story anyway. Or maybe they’d assume Owen’s trip into town was because of his efforts to work things out, considering he’d gone for liquor. That made Kade snort. One of the last times he’d seen Owen, he’d gotten an earful about a couple cans of beer. Funny how things went full circle.
It wasn’t the ranch house the wolf had headed toward, Kade discovered when the trail turned again. Instead, the trail wound outward, parallel to the fence line nearest the house and cattle shelter. The ground was hard packed here from bearing the weight of tractors and other machinery, as well as the comings and goings of cattle, ranch hands, and horses. The wolf’s tracks vanished, but he already had a rough idea of where to find it.
Close enough to slink home at moonset without being noticed. Far enough that his scent wouldn’t spook the horses. And again, that showed rationality and conscious decision making, both promising signs. But promising wasn’t a guarantee, and Kade shifted from casual tracking to a stealthy prowl as his new target came into view.
Now that he looked at it, he didn’t know why the ol
d barn hadn’t crossed his mind sooner. It was a perfect hiding place. Especially now that it was in disarray, half-emptied while Marshall and the others moved things to make space for the wedding Kade and Felicity planned to hold there.
Gripping his pistol in both hands, Kade stalked into the shadow of the barn, pausing and listening. The old structure looked rickety, with occasional gaps between boards, but Marshall would have torn it down if it weren’t solid. It stood to reason he would see or hear if anything moved inside. But there was only silence, and not a hint of anything living.
He waited longer. If he could hear it, it could hear him. But wolves had to breathe. He grew still. Sooner or later, he’d catch the sound of something inside.
If there was anything to hear, that was. The night sounds carried on as if he didn’t exist, but all around him, oppressive silence bred and strengthened.
If the wolf hadn’t taken shelter inside the barn, then at least he was sure it looped around it. There was a path in the grasses where something had walked, recently enough that the grass was still bowed.
Step by step, Kade inched along, following the creature’s footsteps. For a second, he thought he had it wrong—maybe the wolf had come from the barn, instead. It made a logical place for the change to happen; if it had been a few months since the change started, maybe the wolf already knew it was best to shed clothing before the moon rose. But the grasses were bent the wrong direction for that, consistent with the rest of the trail he’d followed across the range.
The moon was low in the sky now; it would set a while before sunrise. Maybe the wolf coming back this direction had nothing to do with being hunted at all. Being caught outdoors when the moon went down wouldn’t be pleasant. Even if any of the cowboys were brazen enough to march across the range in the nude, nobody wanted to see that.
Fighting a chagrined smirk, Kade stopped at the door. Normally, Marshall kept the old barn locked, though all the ranch hands had access to the keys. The door was almost completely shut, but it wasn’t latched. The padlock hung open with the key still in it. Either one of the cowboys would be in trouble for forgetfulness tomorrow, or a return to the barn had been premeditated.