Wrangled Fate: Book One: Black Claw Ranch

by Lane, Cecilia

  She opened her mouth to tell him that she was perfectly capable of opening her own doors, thank you very much, and stopped. He’d taken time out of his day to see her into town and make sure someone would talk to her. “Thank you,” she said graciously and brushed past him.

  She was almost certain he leaned forward and sniffed her hair.

  The lobby wasn’t much bigger than a handful of plastic chairs in front of a receptionist. A half-wall separated visitors from the desks of officers, with the entrance being a swinging door guarded by a bored gatekeeper.

  Ethan leaned against the counter and drummed his fingers. “Jenny, is Judah around? We’re here for our meeting.”

  “Sure is. Let me buzz him for you,” she said.

  Before she pressed a single button, a man appeared in the doorway of an office. “Ethan,” he called, then strode forward. He smiled broadly and offered his hand. “Nice to see you without one of yours sitting in the drunk tank.”

  “We’re working on it, Chief. Told Hunter he’s on his own next time he’s brawling over Joyce, so I think that’ll buy us a week or two.”

  “That woman is pure trouble.” Judah shook his head. “Who do you have for me here?”

  Tansey straightened under the scrutiny and offered her hand. She felt so small in comparison to the tall duo. The police chief had a firm grip, but not overly so. He minded his extra strength. “Tansey Nichols. My brother Rylan is missing.”

  “He’s a shifter. Wolf, two months out,” Ethan added.

  Judah nodded sagely, then motioned them further into the station. They filed into an office, where Judah waved them into seats as he took his behind the desk. He wasted no time getting to the point. “What brings you to Bearden, Miss Nichols?”

  Tansey took a deep breath and launched into her tale again. She started with knowing Rye’s patterns, and getting worried when he abruptly stopped answering her calls and texts. She laid out her problems with the local police refusing to get involved with shifter problems, and how she came to employ Viho when all other options dwindled to nothing. She took Judah through the slow crawl out of Minnesota and all the way to Montana, one tiny clue or bit of scent at a time.

  At the end of it, after taking the picture she passed across the desk, Judah leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. He looked from her to Ethan, who nodded once.

  “Doubt Viho would willingly get near a police station. The whole pack is banned from the enclave for picking pockets and fights, and that’s just what we can pin on him.” Judah punched a button on his desk phone. “Jenny, can you check the logs and see if Viho Valdana or any of his pack have contacted us? Or if anyone has reported a lone wolf on their territory?”

  “Will do,” Jenny answered through the intercom.

  Relief tingled her scalp and worked through her tense muscles. Finally, someone was willing to do something. Actionable moves were being made. Maybe, just maybe, she’d find Rye and put an end to the most miserable chapter of her life.

  Judah consulted the notes he’d jotted down while she spoke. “You arrived four days ago, correct? But your brother has been missing for a month?”

  “I filed the missing person’s paperwork like the local cops told me, but as soon as I mentioned he was a shifter they blew me off.”

  “Not the first time we’ve heard of that happening. I’m sorry you felt you were out of options.” Judah made a face. “Did Rye give you any indication he had someone, or someones, he was planning to meet?”

  Tansey stared at him for a long moment. The question was more polite than Hunter’s the day before, but the meaning was just the same. “Why does everyone insist he’s acting like some horny teenager?”

  “Because, ma’am, he’s a newly bitten shifter with instincts outside of his control. In essence, he is a horny teenager, and possibly one with an anger problem. If you do find him, you need to be careful. He needs our people right now to help him manage.”

  “I know Rye. He wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “Tansey…” Ethan reached forward and squeezed her knee. “The man you know has a whole other entity inside him now. It can take months or years for a bitten shifter to gain full control. Rye might not hurt you, but his wolf is entirely capable of it.”

  Tansey sank into the comfort he offered her. His eyes didn’t hold pity, just understanding. He didn’t give her false condolences. Ethan gave her the facts without any sugar coating or unnecessary harshness. She appreciated his honesty.

  “No offense intended,” Judah said. “I’ll make calls to the other enclaves and send them this picture. We’ll do our best to find him. For you, it might be better to just head home and let the professionals do our jobs.”

  She jerked straight in her seat and brushed away Ethan’s hand. “Fuck, no. I’m not leaving until I know Rye isn’t here.”

  Judah and Ethan both sighed.

  “No,” she repeated fiercely. “I’ll admit you’re right that his wolf side could be a problem. But we’ve been each other’s support for our entire lives. If there’s even the slightest possibility that I can help him, I’m sticking around. I’ll discuss the next steps when I know for sure he isn’t in your town.”

  “Your choice, Miss Nichols. Leave your contact information with Jenny at the desk.” Judah dismissed her and switched his focus. “Ethan?”

  “I know. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

  Tansey shot him a glare. She wasn’t some little doll that needed tending.

  “I think this one’s capable of watching herself. No, I was going to say don’t go starting trouble with the Valdanas.”

  An innocent look blossomed on Ethan’s face. “Chief, you know I’d never do that. Finishing it is a whole other matter.”

  “Don’t I know it.” His eyes took on a hooded look. “Take care of yourselves. I’ll be in touch.”

  The station door hadn’t even fully closed behind her before her frustration burst out of her. “Well, that was as unproductive as anything else. At least Viho gave me an idea of where to look.”

  Ethan snorted. “Which was the wrong location, and then he shot at you.”

  “Or at you,” she insisted.

  “So he gave you wrong information and also failed at murder. Is that who you want working for you? Not the most reliable guy.” He leaned against the front of his truck and watched her pace in front of him.

  Despite herself, she chuckled. She dropped her head back with a heavy sigh and another bark of laughter. “No, I guess you’re right. Not the most reliable of employees. Who can’t get murder right?”

  “Exactly. You’d think the alpha of a wolf pack motorcycle gang could at least do that correctly,” Ethan deadpanned. His eyes softened and he reached forward to squeeze her shoulder. “Let Judah talk to his people and see what he can find. He’s a good man. He won’t take advantage of you.”

  Tansey pressed her lips together as a shiver worked its way down her spine. Ethan stroked his fingers in a gentle circle. Warmth spread through her, eating away at all the worry and frustration she’d carried for a month.

  She wanted to believe him. She wanted to forget the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. How he swept away her concerns and replaced them with a bit of hope, she didn’t know. Magic, maybe. She could use a little pixie dust and an afternoon of zero trouble.

  She peeked up to find impossibly bright blue eyes watching her. The color slowly faded into gorgeous silver with a hint of hungry promise. Tansey’s heart thudded against her ribcage as her gaze remained locked with the handsome cowboy’s.

  Maybe there was one man she did want taking advantage.

  The roar of a motorcycle engine reached her ears just before Viho swung into the parking lot with his hair streaming behind him.

  Tansey jumped back like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Guilt swelled to life. She blinked once, twice, her head clearing of whatever bad ideas Ethan planted there.

  Her brother was missing. She didn’t have time for anyth
ing else.

  Viho killed the rumbling bike and kicked down the stand. “Girl, if you wanted to slum it, you didn’t need to sink this low.”

  Ethan growled and stepped in front of her. “Turn around and get out of town, wolf,” he ordered.

  “Or what, bear? You going to turn your territory red with blood?” Viho grinned. “Red enough as it is with all your cows dying, ain’t it?”

  The growls from both men cranked up by the second. Tansey thought she could feel the noise vibrating in her chest. Even the air grew heavier the longer they stared one another down.

  Ethan told her Viho wanted his land, but the hatred bubbling between them spoke of many more issues than that. The two had obvious beef with one another and were just looking for an excuse to let fists and fangs fly.

  Every instinct screamed danger in big, bright, neon letters. She didn’t want to be anywhere near them when they finally boiled over.

  She reached forward and grabbed Ethan’s forearm. His eyes didn’t leave Viho, nor did his growl cease. He shook her off, so she tugged on him. “Ethan,” she whispered harshly. “Let’s just go.”

  “Go?” Viho snapped. “You’re not going anywhere until I get my cut.”

  “Your cut for what?” Tansey hissed and rounded on him. “Ethan didn’t know where my brother was. He’s given me more help in a day than your entire month.”

  “This your new scam, Viho? Make someone disappear and then charge the family a finder’s fee for the location of the body?” Ethan added.

  “You’d know about making someone disappear, wouldn’t you?” Viho snarled. “You Ashfords are all the same breed of traitor.”

  Ethan’s fists balled up tight. His lips raised with a snarl. “Same can be said of the Valdana infestation.”

  Whoo, boy. Those words were laced with an unfathomable amount of hatred. Viho’s answering growl rippled fear down her spine and she was reminded—again—that she was a human and both men had beasts under their skin.

  Tansey tugged on Ethan’s arm again. One more try, then she was retreating into the police station and letting them brawl it out. She wasn’t afraid of a fight, but she was fond of her limbs remaining attached to her body.

  Viho glanced over their shoulders and toward the door of the station. He fired up his bike again, then pointed at her. “Your new man can’t be trusted. Remember that. It’s in his fucking blood.”

  Chapter 10

  Ethan laced his fingers behind his neck and glared after the asshole on the bike. He hadn’t allowed his bear to taste the fucker’s blood, so he hoped Viho would wipe out and feel the horrors of road rash before slamming face first into a tree.

  At least he had confirmation the pack was behind picking off his herd. He had the scents, and now he had the words. They’d pay for his loss, one way or another.

  Viho’s final jab enraged him even more than the unnecessary death of his cattle. In his blood? Fuck that. A fresh growl rolled through him, along with the need to fight. His skin prickled with the brush of fur.

  He wasn’t his old man, and he certainly wasn’t living his life stuck in the past or according to old rules. His father’s mistakes and habits were dead and buried.

  Ethan worked his ass off to keep his word to his people. Viho wasn’t one of them and he needed to clear out and wreck someone else’s life. Traitor? Never. Defender of his fucking clan and land to the death.

  Tansey pressed a palm to his chest. Concern covered over the honey of her scent. “Are you okay?”

  Damn her, he wasn’t the one needing that question. She had a missing brother to worry about. His troubles weren’t hers.

  “Fine,” he said between gritted teeth. His bear still slashed at him, but her hand on his chest took the edge off the beast’s rage.

  The touch came with an unwanted side effect. He itched to wrapped his hand around her wrist and hold her there forever.

  Or in her hair as he guided her lower.

  “You’re still growling.”

  Ethan’s bear cut the noise so sharply that he felt like a rubber band snapped inside him. The animal even had the gall to chuff at him for making their mate worried.

  Worse still, all Ethan wanted to do was soothe the worry from Tansey’s expression. He wanted to provide for her, ease her mind, make sure she never had an unpleasant day ever again. Her big, whiskey-brown eyes shining up at him only made him want it more.

  He scrubbed a hand down his face and blew out a heavy breath. Quirking an eyebrow at her, he said, “I need a drink. How about you?”

  “Don’t you need to get back to the ranch? You made it sound super important this morning.”

  “The others can handle repairing a fence and tracking down some missing cows.” And he didn’t want to let her out of his sight when the wolf knew who had her.

  How had she done that? She’d triggered his need to protect what he deemed his. Hell, underneath the disappointment of her sticking around, his bear had cheered.

  Her hand still burned against his chest. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, as delicate as a bird compared to his. “One drink. We’ll toast the start of a real search.”

  Tansey dropped her hand and searched the sky for an answer. “One drink,” she conceded. “That’s all I’ll let you talk me into. I’ve taken up enough of your time today as it is.”

  “This coming from the woman who practically bit my head off when I left this morning.”

  “I have the right to change my mind after watching the clock tick by slowly. You didn’t need to hold my hand and wait with me.”

  No. She wasn’t one to let others wait on her. She did the caring on her terms, like hauling around with Viho in search of her closest relation.

  The silence on the short drive to The Roost took on a different note than leaving the ranch. Then, she’d been all agitation and tension. The tension still hung heavy around her, but there were notes of hope in her scent. She didn’t fidget as much, either, which made the air easier to breathe. His fault, that. His bear didn’t like seeing her in such a state. The creature wanted to bite everything that moved.

  Just like before, Tansey jumped out of the truck before he could round the hood and escort her down properly. She didn’t beat him to the door, though, which let him inhale her honeyed scent. He stuffed that victory in his pocket. His mother taught him to be a gentleman, even if he had a monster growling in his middle.

  The place was almost a home away from home. There was a shittier bar closer to Black Claw that would do in a pinch if he needed to wet his throat or throw something back to take the edge off from some dumb stunt one of his clan pulled. The Roost was where the tourists and most of the locals went to get their fun and drinks.

  Tansey’s eyes adjusted while he zeroed in on the woman behind the bar. Leah leaned against the counter, one hand casually rubbing her huge stomach and eyes carefully watching one of the regulars start his afternoon of drinking.

  “Aren’t you supposed to pop soon?” He impressed himself with keeping the strangled notes out of his voice.

  His bear ran full steam ahead with his sendings. Image after image was shoved into Ethan’s head because of the stupid creature under his skin. Every last one of them were of Tansey with a belly as big as Leah’s and a smile just for him.

  Fucking instincts.

  Leah eyed him sharply. “I’m not a balloon, and now your drinks cost double.”

  “Worth every penny to be served by the best bartender in town.” He flashed her his second best smile.

  “You’re back to regular price, but you’re tipping for two so make it good.” Leah rubbed a hand over her stomach, then turned her attention to Tansey. “And who’s your date?”

  “It’s not a date,” they both said, entirely too quickly.

  “Tansey,” he introduced right on the heels of his fuck up. “This is Leah. The usual for me, and whatever the lady is having.”

  “Your best stout,” Tansey answered. She turned to him, her eyes dancing. “What
? Expected some fancy girly drink?”

  “I honestly don’t know what to expect with you.”

  Her head cocked to the side and her lips pursed together like she didn’t know what to make of his comment. That made two of them.

  Leah’s lips hitched into a grin as she pushed pints across the bar. “Yeah, okay, not-daters. What brings you to town, Tansey?”

  “Missing brother. Ethan offered to help.”

  “Did he?” Leah arched an eyebrow. “Well, good luck. I hope he’s not missing for long.”

  A pang of sadness wafted off Tansey. Ethan ripped the little cocktail napkin under his pint to shreds.

  Tansey ran a finger around the edge of her glass as the foam head dissolved down. She cast a quick glance his way under her thick eyelashes. “Have you always lived in Bearden?”

  Tension tightened his chest, different than being locked in a truck with her scent in his nose. They were treading into new territory. His bear wanted to dive right in and figure out every piece of the puzzle that was Tansey Nichols. He wanted to hold back.

  Not answering her was impolite. The question wasn’t more than surface. Ask anyone he grew up with, and they could give her the answer. “Born and raised out on the ranch. Cow and horses have been in my family since my great-grandfather put up fences and called some land his. Black Claw was my father’s, and now it’s mine.”

  “It’s a huge house for that many people.”

  “Wasn’t always just us. My father’s clan was bigger, and my mother rented out rooms for a little while. What about you? What did you do in the big city?”

  “Whatever I needed to get by. My family struggled, and I vowed as soon as I turned eighteen I’d make the load lighter for my mom. So I hightailed it out of our tiny little town and got a job waitressing. Then there was housekeeping at a motel. More diner work, where I had the pleasure of managing the kitchen. Last gig was catering events for a hoity-toity country club.”

  Once again, he found himself impressed with her. She wasn’t afraid of hard work to help out someone else. The quality was one he needed in a mate.