by Vella Day
Loving Their Vixen Mate
Pack Wars (Book 4)
Vella Day
www.velladay.com
Copyright © 2014 Vella Day
Loving Their Vixen Mate
Copyright © 2014 by Vella Day
Kindle Edition
www.velladay.com
[email protected]
Cover Art by Sloan Winters
Edited by Rebecca Cartee and Carol Adcock-Bezzo
Published in the United States of America
E-book ISBN: 978-1-941835-02-9
Print edition ISBN: 978-1-941835-03-6
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief questions embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Dedication
To Vella’s Vixens! You are the best street team ever.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Epilogue
About the Author
Other Books by the Author
Chapter One
Mackenzie Wagner waved her cell in frustration then set it on the kitchen counter. “Ugh. Cheryl’s still not answering. It’s been a freaking week since she called.” Mac’s gut soured. She wasn’t psychic, but her sixth sense told her that something bad had happened to her cousin.
Her mother tilted her head in sympathy. “Maybe the law firm offered her that job, and she had to start immediately. If that was the case, she’d have to find a place to stay, which would keep her busy. Or she could have left her charger at home and can’t call. It’s happened before, you know.” Her mother poured the freshly brewed tea over ice cubes and handed Mac a glass.
“I’m not buying it. She could have borrowed someone’s phone or bought a charger. She texted me when she arrived in Florida, and since then she’s called only once. If she landed the job, she’d have squealed with delight.”
“Didn’t you say she was staying at a Holiday Inn? Can’t you call and see if she’s still there?”
Mac picked up her glass and took a sip, hoping the cool drink would calm her nerves. “Good thought, but I already did that. She checked out already.” Mac set the glass back down.
Her mom pulled out the stool at the center island and sat. “That could be a good thing. She might have found an apartment already. You could always call the airline to see if she cancelled her flight home. Then you’d know if she’d landed the job.”
Mac twisted her glass on the counter, leaving wet streaks. “I checked that, too. She hasn’t. Here’s the thing. People always leave a paper trail. Unfortunately, Cheryl seems to be the one exception, and that’s what worries me the most. Since we last spoke, there hasn’t been any credit card charges or outgoing phone calls.”
“You hacked into her account?”
“Yes. Cheryl wouldn’t mind. Besides, it’s what I do for a living.” Mac worked for a PI firm finding people. When she was on a case, she did things by the book. But this was Cheryl, and there were no rules. “It’s as if the Bermuda Triangle has swallowed her whole.” Mac pulled out a stool at the island and sat across from her mom. She stabbed a hand through her long hair, hoping the tension would help her think.
Her mom sipped her tea. “There has to be some explanation.”
“I know, but what? What does Aunt Hannah think?”
Her mom looked away. “She doesn’t know.”
“Isn’t she worried?” The two sisters didn’t get along all that well, but if her aunt reached out, she, too, must have thought something bad had happened.
“Yes, but Hannah thinks this is her daughter’s rebellious streak showing up. You know that Cheryl wanted to move away from here. If she gets a good job offer, she’ll take it.”
Cheryl didn’t have a rebellious bone in her body, but it was true, her cousin was unhappy in Indiana. “She still would have called to tell us she was staying. What do you think we should do? I’m out of options.”
“I’d give her a little more time. I looked up the weather for Gulfside, Florida. It’s been around seventy and sunny every day since Cheryl flew down there. Hell, given the dingy, cold weather we’ve been having, I’m half tempted to visit there myself.”
Mom would never leave Muncie, but it gave Mac an idea. “You know, work’s been slow, and I’m due a vacation. Perhaps I should fly down there and check on her.” Mac stretched out her arms. “I could use a tan, and if Cheryl does have her own place, I could help her decorate.”
Her mother placed her glass on the counter. “Mackenzie. Cheryl’s a grown woman. She can handle herself. You ever think she just might want a little family distance?”
That was her mom’s way of saying that Mac should stay put. She leaned forward. “Cheryl’s a bit naïve. She could be lying in the street bleeding to death. We need to help her.”
Her mom chuckled. “Oh, honey. She’s probably enjoying her freedom. I bet she’s on some sandy beach drinking mimosas. The first interview might not have panned out, and she’s probably embarrassed to call you. Hopefully, she has another one lined up and wants to wait before breaking the good news.”
“Maybe.” Mac tapped her fingers on the Formica countertop. “There has to be some way to get a hold of her to find out what’s going on.”
Going to the police was never an option for her family; closets might be opened—skeletons revealed. Even though Cheryl and her family had no idea Mom had married a werewolf, it didn’t mean someone wouldn’t let it slip during an investigation.
“I’m sure she’ll call when she can.” Her mom’s voice was full of concern.
“That would be nice.” Mac leaned back. “Duh. I’ll call Jay. Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? He lives in Gulfside.”
“Jay? I didn’t know you spoke with your cousin.”
Here we go again. Family feuds sucked. “Not every week, but we talk on a regular basis.” Jay came from her father’s werewolf side of the family.
Her mom shook her head. “Your father wouldn’t like it.”
“What are you talking about? Remember, Jay flew up from Florida to attend Dad’s funeral. Jay isn’t like his dad. Uncle George was a criminal, which was why Dad always looked out for Jay.”
Her mother wrapped her hands around the glass, acting as if she
needed a moment to think of something else that might convince Mac to keep from running down to Florida. “What makes you think Jay will help? I don’t think he’s met Cheryl more than a handful of times.”
“He’s family.” Mac pushed back her stool, stepped to the other side of the counter, and kissed her mom’s cheek. “I’ve got to go. If I find out anything from Jay, I’ll let you know, okay?”
“Be careful.”
“Always am.”
She prayed her mom was right about Cheryl enjoying a few days of sun and fun. For her cousin’s sake, Mac hoped she had stumbled on some hot guy who owned a yacht, and he’d invited her on a cruise-for-two—a cruise without cell phone service. If that were true, more power to her. Cheryl deserved some happiness.
Mac bundled up to head home. As soon as she arrived, she looked up Jay’s number and called him. The phone rang—and rang. She was about to hang up when he answered.
“Kenzie? That you?” He was the only person she allowed to call her that name. It was her dad’s pet name for her.
“Hey, Jaybird.” It might be a stupid juvenile nickname, but one time when they were playing in the woods long ago, a jay crapped on his head. From then on, the name stuck.
“What’s up? You freezing up there?”
“Go ahead and rub it in.” As much as she loved to hear about another big fish he’d caught, or how great it was to be outside in shorts in December, right now she couldn’t afford the small talk. “Listen, I’m worried about my cousin Cheryl.”
“Your mom’s sister’s kid?”
“Yes. She was headed to Gulfside two weeks ago for a job interview, and I haven’t heard from her in close to a week. She normally calls me every day.”
“What can I do?”
“Do you think you could ask around about her? She was headed down there to interview for a paralegal position.”
“Do you know the name of the law firm? Maybe I could find out if she ever showed.”
“I’m afraid I don’t. My last contact with her was a text that said she’d called a cab to take her to an office on Seaside Drive for her interview. Could you do a quiet search for me?” Jay was a werewolf and understood the need for discretion.
“Ah, sure. Give me a few days. My boss is going out of town, and I’m in charge of the garage. We’ve got cars lined up.”
A few days was a long time. Cheryl had been gone two weeks already. “Listen. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got some vacation time coming so I’ll take the next available flight down there and look myself.” Or was she using that as an excuse for some much needed R&R on a beach somewhere? “Would it be cool if I crashed at your place?” Her finances weren’t in the best shape.
“That’s not a good idea.”
Shit. Last time they’d spoken, he hadn’t been dating anyone. “I can stay in a hotel. No biggie.”
“It’s not that. It’s dangerous down here.”
Her pulse soared. “Dangerous?”
“There are Colters here. Lots of them.”
Dread poured through her. The Colters were werewolves who’d taken to crime more than two hundred years ago. They were the ones who’d killed her dad. She didn’t realize they were more prevalent in Florida than in Indiana.
“I doubt this is about the Colters. Cheryl has no werewolf blood in her. They’d have no reason to harm her.”
“I wasn’t worried about her. I was worried about you.”
He was overreacting because she was half werewolf. “I’ll be fine. You know I can shoot a gun better than any civilian, and I can open most locked doors.” Her dad had taught both of them how to shoot, as well as how to outwit the criminal element.
“You don’t get it, do you? You know a woman can’t defend herself against one of our kind.”
That always stuck in her craw. The men could shift at will, while the only thing a female werewolf possessed was speed and agility. Unless she could get her hands on some poison bullets, they could kill her with little work.
“I’ll be careful.” She wasn’t totally defenseless. She could sense a werewolf if she was near him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t detect if he was good or bad. Damn, but this wasn’t going to be easy.
“What do you think you can do that I can’t?” Jay asked.
Why was he being so stubborn? “You just said you didn’t have the time. I do. Besides, this is what I do for a living.”
“I get it, but since it’ll probably take you a few days to get a flight, I’ll ask around and see what I can find out. Maybe I can save you a trip.”
“I appreciate it. So can I stay with you? I can sleep on the sofa. We really need to catch up.”
He chuckled. “I forgot how stubborn you were. If I don’t find anything, then sure, come on down. If you stay here, at least I can keep my eye on you.”
“I don’t need you to babysit me. You have a day job to attend to.”
“I give. Just so you know, my roommate’s away on business for another week. You can stay in his room. Call me when you get in.”
* * *
“We could have trouble, sir.” Jay stood at attention in front of Paul Statler’s desk, the man who now ran the Colter organization. He wasn’t sure coming here was wise, but he figured it might be the fastest way to find Cheryl, and stop Kenzie from getting in trouble.
Dressed in an impeccably tailored blue pinstripe suit, Statler had silver gray hair and a calm demeanor. To the outside world, he was a top defense attorney. To other werewolves, he was their new leader. “Explain.”
“I have a cousin, Mackenzie Wagner, who’s a hafling. She has a human cousin who seems to have gone missing in Gulfside, and Kenzi is flying down to investigate.”
Statler waved a dismissive hand. “A woman can’t cause us much trouble.”
“This woman can. She’s an expert marksman and used to brag she could hack into the most secure computers.”
Statler shrugged. He might appear to be Mr. Cool, but Jay knew the signs of stress. His new boss’s jaw always twitched when he didn’t like something. Right now, it looked as if he were having an epileptic fit. “If you’re worried about her then make sure she doesn’t find out anything.”
Damn. Jay had come here for information. “She already knows too much. Apparently, she’s aware of her cousin’s last known location—Seaside Drive.”
“Fuck. What’s this missing woman’s name?” His words came out hard and demanding.
Now he was getting someplace. “Cheryl Johnson.”
Statler glanced out the office window that overlooked the bay. “John Hood sold her a few weeks ago.” He returned his gaze to Jay. “You need to make sure this cousin of yours finds out nothing.”
“Do you know the name of the man who has Mackenzie’s cousin? I’ll make sure we stay clear of him.” Actually, he’d do more than that.
“It’s not important. I’ve heard she’s well hidden. If this Mackenzie woman sticks her neck where it doesn’t belong, take care of her. Tell me now if you aren’t up to the task, and I’ll have someone else make sure she meets with an accident.”
His boss didn’t need to tell him that any kind of failure in this organization meant certain death. “I’ll handle her.” Fuck. Him and his big mouth.
Chapter Two
When the plane touched down in Florida, Mac let out a big breath, happy that the ride had been smooth, and that they’d landed on time. She didn’t want Jay to have to wait around for a delay. He’d been right about one thing. It had taken her a few days to book a flight. Right before she purchased the ticket, she’d called him to see what he’d learned. When he told her he was at a dead end, another wave of depression hit her. So here she was, ready to focus on finding Cheryl.
When she stepped into the terminal, Jay was there. He waved, rushed up to her, and hugged her. “Hey, Kenzie. Looking good.”
That was a lie. She hadn’t slept in days and had bags under her bloodshot eyes. “Thanks.” Jay on the other hand was tanned and fit.
He
nodded to her one bag. “That all you brought?”
“Yes. I don’t imagine I’ll be staying for too long.”
“Good. I mean, that’s probably wise. Come on. We’ll get you settled.”
As much as she wanted to sleep for a hundred years, she needed to check out Cheryl’s last known location. “Can we go to Seaside Drive?”
He cocked a brow. “If you want, but there’s not much there.” He lifted the suitcase from her fingers. “Your boss is okay with you coming down?”
“He wasn’t all that happy with my impromptu vacation, but he understood why I needed the time off. So as not to leave him in the lurch, I promised to do whatever computer work he needed from here.”
Jay led her down the escalator and out to the covered parking. “I haven’t seen Cheryl since your dad’s funeral. What’s she been up to?”
He probably wanted to get a feel for where she might have gone. Was she a late night party girl or more of the relax-on-the-beach and read-a-book type? Cheryl was definitely the latter. “Let me see. She seems to be the unluckiest person alive. Do you remember when she got real sick during her second year in college?”
“Yeah. She had to drop out.”
“We all thought she’d go back the following year, but she didn’t have the tuition and refused to go into debt.”
Jay cocked a brow. “You mean she didn’t want to be like her older cousin.”
“Watch it.” Mac had almost finished paying back her loans. “So, she got a job instead.”
“At the pound if I recall.”
“Right. Cheryl never met a dog she didn’t like.” Mac smiled. “I can still remember her trying to convince me to adopt every one of the animals. Cheryl couldn’t stand to think one of them might be put to sleep. But the biggest dog of them all was Ricky Salvares.”
Jay found his car and placed her case in back. Mac slid in the passenger seat.
He started the engine. “I remember him. Tall, scuzzy, needed acne medication real bad. But he needed a bath even more. If I recall, she brought him to your dad’s funeral.” Jay winced and glanced away. The pain from her father’s death had affected him almost as much as it had her.