by Tl Reeve
I needed this dose of reality to ground me. Give me something else to think about other than my crazy life. Methodically, I combed through the evidence. When I glanced down at my phone, so I could write the time on the incident report I’d been working on, it showed a little after eleven. Traffic cops worked to direct the congested lanes into single file bypass around the accident while keeping the exit shut down.
The mother of three who’d been transported to the hospital in grave condition had also passed away. There were some days I loved my job, and others when I hated it. Today, I wished everyone had wolf genetics.
“I think we’re done here.” My friend came up beside me. “The transportation department will get us traffic cam footage by this afternoon along with any glitches in the system. A chaplain and another officer have been sent to see the deceased’s families and we’re keeping the media at bay.”
“Sounds like we’ve got it under control.” I glanced at her, and she still looked like shit. If anything, her jawline appeared tinged with green. “What’s going on?”
Silvi blushed. “No one knows yet.”
Okay. I wasn’t demanding an answer. I was more concerned she’d gotten hurt or seeing the dead bodies had affected her adversely. “Knows what?” Then it donned on me. “Holy shit.”
She covered my mouth with her hand. “I don’t want people to know yet. They’ll try to pull me out of the field.”
“How far?”
She gave a small smile, and for a second, her skin glowed. “Nine weeks. Tommy and I found out two weeks ago.”
“Amazing. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. I think all the blood and gore got to me today.” She rolled her shoulders. “Plus, I think I’ve been in shock, too.” She glanced around the scene. “I honestly didn’t think this would happen. This baby is the proverbial one-in-a-million.”
I tsked her. She shouldn’t have worked the scene. She was a witness and had seen a man lose his life. Unlike us wolves, she was human. I could have children well into my seventies and it’d never affect me, but humans were delicate. Deep grooves of exhaustion bracketed her mouth, and worry filled her dark-brown eyes. She didn’t need this. She needed to go home and relax. Take it easy. “Why don’t we go to the diner in town and grab a drink. It’ll give you some time to gather yourself.”
Silvi nodded. “Yeah, I’d appreciate it.”
“Great. Get into my car. I’ll drive us. We can swing back to your vehicle when we’re done.” My phone chimed for an incoming text and I glanced at my phone.
Hope all is going well. See you tonight. ~Benning.
Shit. I’d totally forgotten he was coming to get me. Even though we were almost done, we’d have to type up our reports and make sure we got the information from the state and the hospital. I’d be lucky to get home by eight. If then.
Might need a rain check. Bad accident. Still on scene. I’ll let you know. Sorry. ~Jupiter.
“Who are you texting?” My friend got a mischievous glint in her eyes. No way I could tell her the truth.
“It’s a long, confusing story.” I urged her towards the car. “One better told over drinks and since you can’t drink…”
“Spit it out. You’ve got me curious.”
“Perhaps. As long as you’re buying.” I winked after sliding into the driver’s seat. “It was my birthday yesterday.”
“Then drive on. I want to hear about everything.”
Chapter Three
Lunch with Silvi had been cut short. Like, we sat down in the booth and another call came in, cut short. Not only had the traffic lights been tampered with, but it matched another incident a few months ago in Los Angeles. The reports were waiting on us when we returned to the station.
A disgruntled employee had switched out the codes for light timers. Instead of the traffic lights being on three-minute intervals, they were synced to change together. In the Los Angeles accident, fifteen cars were involved. Six died, the other injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to breaks and severed limbs. The person was never caught, and now, the case lay on our desk.
Silvi and I spent the rest of the day sorting through every bit of evidence contained within the California case. None of it made sense. Why would someone deliberately want to cause these types of horrific accidents? What could have happened to create this kind of psychotic break? Everything the suspect did had been deliberate, which begged the question even more, was he insane, or just vindictive? I glanced at the clock and stretched. Jesus, where had the time gone?
“You should go home. Tommy is probably waiting on you.” I flipped through the crime scene photos from Los Angeles, and stared at the internal components of the signal’s electric box one more time. I missed something. Had to have.
“Weren’t you supposed to go on a date?”
At least I told her that much before we were rudely interrupted. “I texted him. Told him what happened.”
She sighed and shook her head. “As much as I should go home, you should, too. It’s not like we’ll solve this in one night. It’s ten p.m.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, already the beginnings of a tension headache formed at my temples. Silvi had a point. “I’ll go if you go.”
“Fine.” She closed the case files, then placed them in her side drawer. “It’s been a long-ass day.” She locked it, then grabbed her coffee mug. “We’ll be able to glean more from this case with a fresh set of eyes.”
“You’re right.” I shoved the files in the drawer and locked it. “I also have some apologizing to do. I honestly thought we’d be out of here before now.”
Silvi nodded. “It’s okay. We still have traffic cam data and recordings to fish through, plus the ever-looming possibility this is bigger than Los Angeles or us. The case has national implications and we could be the epicenter for something bigger. Wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI didn’t show up soon and take it over.”
My stomach knotted at the idea. “Hope not.”
“Me, too,” Silvi agreed. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yeah, see you.”
* * *
I drove home on auto-pilot. The whole way there, no matter how much I tried not to think about the case, my mind drifted. I’d been looking forwards to spending time with Benning, and now I let him down. Guilt ate at me. Why? No clue. My job wasn’t a normal nine to five type deal. I had weird hours and I never made plans because cases could happen at a moment’s notice.
Pulling into the driveway, I sat for a minute. Three vehicles sat along the curb, two trucks and a sedan. They were practical considering we all lived out in the middle of nowhere. The sedan could only belong to Scout and Bowie while the lifted truck with knobby tires and running boards had to be Mace’s. The other was Benning’s.
The door opened and Dax stood there. His features were pulled tightly, and even from where I was sat, I could feel the tension radiating from him. Shit. I didn’t have the strength or wherewithal to deal with some male egotistical contest. All I wanted was my bed, pillow, and a few hours of sleep. Thinking right now, or answering questions, wouldn’t be high on my to-do list. After sitting there for another minute, I got out. I didn’t need the confrontation I knew was coming. I grabbed my bag off the back seat, then closed the door, stalling for another second. Whatever happened, he didn’t look happy.
“Hey.” I lifted my hand in greeting.
“Hey, yourself.” The rough edge of his voice had my hackles up.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?” I shoved past him into the house.
“It’s not going to work. You’ve been gone all day and this…” He ran his fingers through his hair.
“It’s my job, Dax. I’m sorry I can’t sit on my ass and service you and them.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me back outside. “It’s a pissing contest in there. I swear they’re measuring their dicks every five minutes.”
Somehow, I wasn’t buying it. Mace hated everyone. Benning wanted to have dinn
er with me, and Bowie, lunch. If anyone were doing as he said, it would be him. Pushing his weight around since he’d known me the longest. “Really?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Yes. For the last three hours, Benning has been pacing and Mace has been surly. The twins have disappeared for the evening and I’m…”
Bingo. I figured as much. “You’re feeling left out? Because I didn’t wake you this morning? Because I left for work without a backwards glance? Or perhaps it’s because I agreed to go on a dinner date with Benning and a lunch date with Bowie?”
“You have dates with them?”
“Well, I did, until work got in the way. I had to cancel on Benning and I probably won’t be able to go with Bowie tomorrow.” I turned the knob on the door to step back inside. “I need a shower, food, and to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”
“Want to talk about it?” He wrapped his arms around me. I breathed in the subtle, familiar scent of oak and pine, and relaxed marginally. It would be so easy for me to pick Dax. I wouldn’t have to explain my life to him. I wouldn’t have to explain why I stayed gone for so many hours at a time. It’d make my life so much easier, right now. Yet, I couldn’t say yes to him, either. I didn’t want to walk away from the others. I’d barely gotten to know them.
“Not especially. It changed two families’ lives forever and a third is dealing with the fact they were stuck in it.”
His gaze softened as he released me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laid all this at your feet. Come on. I’ll make you something to eat and some of the tea you love.”
I pulled a face. “You mean the tea I haven’t drank since I was sixteen?”
“That would be the one.” He placed his arm around my shoulder and guided me inside.
“Hey, you’re home.” Benning reached for me in greeting. “How did it go?”
“Horrible.” Accustomed to walking into my quiet, empty home, I wasn’t sure about playing hostess to a houseful instead. The guys staying there turned everything upside down. However, I’d been so tired, I didn’t care. I waited for the spark of irritation with having my space invaded to rear its ugly head, but it never came.
“Are your days always like this one?” Benning followed us into the kitchen. A few seconds later, the rest of the guys joined us—including Bowie and Scout, who’d apparently been away all day.
Note to self, get a set of bell collars for those two.
“Not always.” I shrugged, taking a seat at the kitchen island. “Most of the time I deal with breaking and entries. A few home robberies with an occasional death.”
“Can you tell us what happened today?” Scout sat beside me, and placed his hand on mine.
“No, idiot,” Mace huffed. “If it’s a murder, she can’t say shit.” He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “Right?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re going to hear about it anyway. It’s on the news. This morning, there was an accident. Three cars, two have died, and one is in fair condition. It’s suspicious.”
“Suspicious how?” Dax placed the tea ball infuser into a cup and poured hot water over it.
“Not at liberty to discuss the hows. We’re still in the evidence gathering stage and taking witness statements.” The scent of chamomile and lavender wafted from the cup, soothing some of my frayed nerves. “I can say, it’s been exhausting.”
Once the tea steeped to a nice dandelion color—not too weak nor too strong, I took a sip. “This is really good, thank you, Dax.” The gentle blend hit the anxious knot in my stomach and unfurled it. I glanced into the soothing liquid and questioned why I’d stopped drinking it to begin with. I guess I could blame it on work, or not wanting to spend the funds on pampering myself. Looks like I’ll be drinking it from now on.
“Did you catch a break at all while you were working?” Benning crowded into my side.
I took another swallow. I hadn’t, unless by break he meant a stale doughnut and shitty coffee from the breakroom. “Is there any food to eat or did you raid my kitchen, too?” I stood, and crossed to the fridge. “I thought about eating at lunch time. Sat down in a diner with my partner, and got called away.”
“Why didn’t you call?” Dax slammed his hand on the counter. “I could have had something made.”
“Yes, between combing files and going over evidence, I could just call!” I snapped. Granted, I was probably hangry—hungry and angry. I lashed out at the guys for no reason…well I had reasons. They were suffocating me. Wanting too much from me.
“Look, I think we need to take a breath and step back.” Bowie placed his hands on my shoulders.
“I need a hot shower and sleep.” Even though my stomach was touching my backbone, figuratively, of course. “Goodnight.” I couldn’t deal with them. If I had known how stressful it’d be to come home, I would’ve stayed at work. At least evidence didn’t argue with me.
“They’re being assholes. You should have stayed.” Scout came up behind me and placed his hand on my arm as I headed for my room.
I stopped inches away from my sanctuary. “I don’t have the wherewithal to deal with them tonight. I’m hungry, tired, and honestly, I need sleep. I stared at photos and write ups until everything went blurry.”
“Then you get a shower and I’ll bring you something to eat. I’ll keep the assholes at bay.” He grinned and took a step into my room. “Nice digs. Redo this yourself, too?” He motioned to my room.
“Sucking up?” I arched a brow.
“No. I like it.”
I grabbed some pajamas out of my dresser. “Thanks. Now, shoo. Shower time.”
“Right, sorry. I’ll bring you some dinner.” He backed out of the room. “Enjoy.”
I planned on it.
The shower had been exactly what I needed and when I walked out of the bathroom, a tray with a bowl of soup and crackers sat on my bedside table along with another cup of tea. Under the package of saltines sat a note. Dax.
This was killing me. I didn’t do well with people. Packmates. I did what I had to with the pack and kept everything on the straight and narrow. My father dealt with the rest of it. I sat on my bed, then grabbed the bowl. The contents were still warm. The first bite had been decadent. Even though it was a warmed can of vegetable beef, it tasted like a porterhouse steak, rare, with a side of steamed veggies and a baked potato. I savored each bite until nothing was left.
A knock at the door had me growling. It was almost midnight, and I had to be at the station at eight.
“Pip, you awake still?” Dax called out. “Jessy’s here to see you.”
Jessy? “Yeah, give me a minute.” I grabbed the tray with my now empty dishes and carried it out of my room.
The men casting curious stares at poor Jessy while she fidgeted under their scrutiny pulled at my heart. She twisted her fingers into the hem of her shirt. Something was wrong. Though, she might not have much experience with men, but this was more.
“Jupiter,” she said standing. “I’m glad I caught you.” Jessy had her quirks. The little omega suffered from social anxieties, exacerbated when people she didn’t know crowded her. It screwed with her ability to speak, and made her say off the wall stuff, but it was also what made her endearing and adorable to me.
“What’s wrong?” I glanced at the guys. “Can you give us a few?”
“Sure.” Benning waved the guys out of the room. “Call if you need us.”
“I will.” I turned my attention back to Jessy. “What’s going on?”
She wouldn’t hold my gaze, which on a normal day wouldn’t be a problem. She was shy. Quiet. She loved her job and was great at it, so she expressed herself through her work. “Your father came by to see me this evening.”
“Oh?” As the alpha, seeing members of the pack without notice, happened. “Why?”
She squirmed and swallowed hard. “It seems none of the men from our pack have made a move on the females from the other packs. So, if they don’t do this…experiment, your father is prepared to
send me to their males. Five of us to be exact.”
I jerked back as though she hit me. “Excuse me?”
“I said—”
“No, I heard you. I just don’t understand. What brought this up?”
She gave me this shrugging shake thing. “Something about the other alphas weren’t happy. He—they thought sex…m-mating would have happened by now.”
“It’s been twenty-four hours.”
“Mates know mates.” Benning joined us, causing Jessy to shrink back into the couch. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have been listening. It’s rude and a breach of trust. This isn’t a typical situation, and I usually keep out of other people’s business. Unfortunately, this concerns all of us though, don’t you think?”
“I’m at a loss here,” I answered. Not because Benning eavesdropped on us, but because my father’s ideas were so screwed up. So much so, I worried about his sanity, however, I realized there were three other alphas included in this crazy scheme.
Benning knelt in front of Jessy and placed his hands on hers, stilling her twitchy movements. “How many of you will be going?”
She bit her lip, and when she looked up at me, tears brimmed in her eyes. “Five, for one man.” A whimper fell from her lips. “I don’t want to.”
Benning glanced at me. “We won’t allow it.” He squeezed her hands. “I promise. Did he tell you anything else?”
“No,” she sobbed.
“So, we have twenty-nine days to reset everything?” Bowie asked, stepping into the room.
I smacked my thighs. “All of you, come on. Get in here.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’ll stay in here,” Mace answered. “Weepy women aren’t my thing.”
Such a dick. “Fine.”
“We didn’t realize when we signed up for this…” Scout shook his head.
“We didn’t,” Bowie added. “We were thrust into this situation like all of you. Well, not Dax.”
“I did it because I couldn’t sit back and allow this to happen—”