My father gave me a hard look and answered me briskly. “James will stay at the Safe House. If you are in danger, he can be there in less than two minutes. If you’re on an assignment, I expect you to let James or your brother know. If you’re not with Nicolas, you will take one of them with you. No exceptions. Tyler will be in charge of all security operations and will be your link back to us. You will keep in contact with him throughout your day. This is the only option, so I’d suggest you take it.”
I took it.
4
Tyler was in the kitchen. A stack of sandwiches waited neatly on the counter, along with some coffee to go. I’d never gotten my cup from the good Doctor before the meeting had started. Nick and I picked up the drinks and snatched a few sandwiches and followed Tyler out the door. My father and James had already gone to deal with the other wolves, and our plan was to get out of here as quickly as possible.
I licked my lips. “I’m hungry every five seconds, is this normal?” I took a huge bite. Jesus. Ham and cheese had never tasted this good. It was like it was laced with some kind of supernatural MSG.
“Get used to having an appetite.” Tyler chuckled. “Wolves eat a lot.”
“I can get down with eating a lot,” I mumbled around a full mouth. “But it’s not that—it’s like superfood. It tastes so much better. The cheese is actually … cheesier.”
Nick laughed, but it sounded more like a snort. “Those are your new and improved taste buds in action. Not only do they work better, but now you have more of them. But be careful, because when you bite into something nasty, it’s like licking the bottom of a garbage pail.”
We headed toward the main driveway. I had nothing to pack, since my departure had been a tad unplanned. We rounded the final curve in the lawn, and to my surprise a couple of wolves, in human form, were waiting for us at the edge of the lawn, where the parking lot started.
Tyler’s voice rang in my brain. Hold tight. That’s Hank and Stuart. He slowed his pace, and Nick and I followed his lead. What the hell are they doing out here? They’re supposed to stay in the commons until after you leave. Those two have been the most suspicious since everyone learned you were back.
That’s hardly a shocker, I replied. My main enemies-at-camp are suspicious? I wonder why? Hank Lauder and his son Stuart had been against me since day one. Hank was nearly as old as my father, but he’d only been a member of this Pack for the last twenty years. Before that he’d been a Pack wolf in the Southern Territories, but had been expelled for some reason unknown to me. Hank was strong and loud, and had led the biggest initiative against me when I’d lived on Compound, riling up the younger wolves and maneuvering them in line to do his dirty work, which ranged from foul taunts to fist throwing. If anyone would be pointing the finger, it would naturally be Hank.
My brother’s voice filtered into my mind again. None of the wolves are sure what’s going on, including these two, but they aren’t as stupid as they look.
There’s no one on earth I despise more than Hank Lauder. He made my life a living hell while I was here. As we closed the gap, I could tell by their dour faces they weren’t going to buy any of our excuses. We’re going to have to be careful not to give anything away.
Hank’s nostrils flared as we came to a stop. “You smell different,” he accused, not wasting any time. The charming southern drawl should’ve sounded like a good ol’ boy full of apple pie, but instead it was like a pie full of buzzing wasps. “Kinda like a werewolf, but somehow off”—he inhaled again, tasting—“more like a mongrel bitch in heat.”
Well, that was a pretty picture.
Without my consent, my fight-or-flight response flew to the surface as adrenaline rushed through me, spurred on by the strong scent of Hank’s aggression. My muscles began to twitch inside the tight wrapper of my skin and my nerve impulses sparked like a million tiny fireworks. Shit. I had no idea if I’d be able to stay in control or if my wolf would fight me for it. I couldn’t handle a battle for Dominion right now, not to mention I wasn’t supposed to give myself away to these two losers.
I forced myself to take a step backward.
Fight. My wolf flexed in my mind, pushing for control.
I curled my fingers into fists, crushing the empty foam coffee cup into tiny bits. With effort I steeled away the urge to hand Hank his ass on a platter. My nails dug into my palms. It was all I could do to keep myself under control. Down, girl, I hissed. This isn’t the time or the place. If we fight Hank, we lose everything. I stood my ground, but the power was dizzying. She pushed back with the force of a tornado.
Hank’s eyes widened with a hint of surprise, but he recovered quickly. “Yep, just like a dog in heat.” He forced a chuckle through his clenched teeth. “But not a true werewolf, because no self-respecting wolf would stink like that.”
He was playing me for dominance.
It was his wolf’s natural instinct. I knew it. He knew it. We all knew it. Whether or not he thought I was a wolf at this point didn’t matter. This was a stressful situation, and a wolf like Hank emitted dominance constantly, always fearful of losing his place in the pecking order. Unlike James and Tyler, who had solidified their dominance by sheer force, earning respect and ensuring other wolves were wary of a fight they weren’t likely to win. A wolf could sense power, and the rites of passage in this race were fierce. Fighting for status happened on a regular basis. Pack dynamics were fluid and only one constant remained: the weak fell below and the strong rose above.
I exhaled on a shallow breath and clarity struck like an arrow. If Hank and I fought right now, I would win. No contest. It didn’t matter if Hank was older and stronger. It didn’t matter if his status was rightfully above mine.
I knew.
The rush of the knowledge tipped the emotional scales to my wolf and a slow smile crept over my face before I could stop it. Without being totally aware of what I was doing, I brought my head up, my eyes at half-mast as I let the ecstasy of my new wolf wash over me.
The power was a drug. And I liked it.
My eyes pinned Hank’s shit-eating grin with a glare, and as the smirk fell from his face it sent a new jolt of adrenaline racing though my veins, the impact hitting me so hard my fingers exploded in sensation, my nails expanding to sharp points in the time it took to take a breath. For a wolf, holding eye contact was the ultimate challenge.
My gaze didn’t falter.
Something brushed against my brain and my brother’s voice held mild panic. Hey, eeeasy there, Bonnie. No need to start slinging your guns just yet. You need to back the fuck down right now. Do you hear what I’m telling you? This has already gone way too far. You’re not even supposed to be a full-blooded wolf, remember? You need to back off!
Says who? I half slurred.
Hank held my stare with defiance, his eyes flashing amber. Half a beat later they blazed full yellow.
My brother stepped into my shoulder, jostling me. Snap out of it! Drop your stare. Let him be. You’re not supposed to be a wolf! This is typical status behavior, and if Hank pulls you in, you can kiss your freedom goodbye. Lower your goddamn gaze! Act like it’s a mistake and you have no idea what you’re doing.
I tore my eyes from Hank.
My wolf howled inside my mind and I quaked with the need to finish the fight, but there was no other choice, it had to end. Tyler was right, fighting now would be like showing my royal flush before everyone had a chance to place their bets.
I took another step backward, trying hard to fasten a chastened look on my face. I kept my eyes averted, skittering over Hank’s smug smile and over to Stuart, Hank’s only son, looking positively gleeful at my sudden withdrawal. Breaking eye contact first suggested a weakness that went against every grain in my new body.
My wolf snarled in my mind.
Not here, I scolded. We can’t fight. It was totally crazy, but I could hear her in my mind clearly, separate from me, yet the same.
Out of the corner of my eye, Hank crossed his arms, m
enace emanating off him in noxious waves.
Now what? I asked my brother. My fingers twitched as the smell of a challenge hung in the air. It had a sharp tang to it, like something bitter mixed with smoke. My nails slid back to normal. My wolf was holding back, but just by a hair. She was taut, ready to pounce, still itching for a fight.
“See you later, bitch,” Hank said, turning abruptly on his heel and starting up the hill, Stuart following behind like a puppy.
Way to go, Jess. Tyler sighed once they were gone. You did a superb job of riling up the natives, just like we said we weren’t going to do. God only knows what they’re going to think. There’s no way Hank doesn’t suspect you’re a wolf now. But at least he thinks you’re weak.
I expelled a long frustrated breath, still trying to calm my wolf. I know. I totally blew it. Damn it. I just couldn’t get a hold of it. This crazy emotion shot up out of nowhere. Then there were all these smells and it was confusing. I wanted to fight. It took everything I had to rein her in. Next time I’m not even sure I’ll be able to. It made me nervous to think of having something inside me I couldn’t control, some sort of loose cannon that could go off at any moment. I hoped my father wasn’t making a mistake not chaining me to the bed.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, it took me a hell of a lot longer to control my own wolf. It was a bastard of a fight and still can be. Given the circumstances, I guess I can say you did a better job than I would’ve in your position. Hell, I wanted to rip Hank’s head off.
I chuckled, feeling slightly relieved. Thanks, little brother.
Harrumph.
It was more than time to get the hell out of here.
“Man, Jess,” Nick said as we took off in his Honda. “The smell coming off of you back there was toxic. It was like pure adrenaline mixed with rage. I’ve never smelled anything so strange in my life.” He shook his head and glanced at me from behind the wheel. “I honestly didn’t think we were going to make it out of there in one piece. Did you see the look on Hank’s face?”
“I know.” I laid my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes. “Honestly, if it’d come to blows, Hank would’ve torn my head off and asked questions later. I have no idea what I was thinking. For a moment there my wolf thought she’d win, but he’s hundreds of years my senior. I didn’t have a chance of winning, even though my wolf was absolutely positive we would.” I rubbed my hands over my face. “Ugh, how is he not going to think I’m a wolf now? Apparently I stink like one—or at least stink like something awful—and we both know no human can rile up a wolf like that on their own. I’m so screwed.”
“It’s true, you smell, but you don’t exactly smell like a wolf. That works in your favor. Hank won’t know for sure based on smell alone. And, on a positive note, at least you’re not going to be some loser werewolf,” Nick mused. “Going head-to-head with Hank Lauder takes some serious gonads. If he faced me like that, I’d likely just piss myself and run away.”
“We can pick you up some Depends on the way home.” I chuckled, turning to check the backseat. Someone had placed a small tent, a sleeping bag, and a backpack, along with a back-country pass, on the seat. I turned to Nick. “Do you think whoever’s in charge of my apartment investigation will buy the whole last-minute camping story?”
“It depends on who’s assigned to the case.”
I was not a fan favorite on the police force by any means. “God, I hope it’s not Ray.” I ran my hands down my legs. I was fidgeting with a nervous energy, coming down from my adrenaline high. The twitchiness was bugging me, but I couldn’t help it. “That would be the single worst thing that could happen. We don’t need to pile any more stress on top of this already stressful situation.” I was starved again and felt like I could sleep for a week. My stomach let out an embarrassing howl.
Time to focus on something else.
I fished my phone out of my pajama waistband, where I’d stashed it back at the meeting. Then I stopped, glancing down at my lap, phone in hand.
And I started to laugh.
Before this very second I hadn’t realized I’d just had a show-down with an extremely dominant wolf in faded pink plaid pajama pants. “Aarrrgghh,” I sputtered between breaths, my laughs sounding like manic hiccups. I clutched my stomach, bending forward. I’d just gone up against a powerful werewolf in grungy pajama pants and an old ripped T-shirt. “Oh … my gods … oh … my …” I hacked between gasps.
“You going to let me in on the joke?” Nick glanced at me from the driver’s seat. “It looks awfully funny.”
“There’s … no … joke,” I managed. “I promise. The insanity of the whole situation finally … just got to me.” I laughed again. “Whew, I feel better now. I had to release it somehow, or it was going to eat me alive.” I wheezed. “And speaking of eating, can we please pull over and grab some takeout? I’m freaking starving.” More giggles.
“Anything you need, Jess.” Nick grinned. “Wouldn’t want you to crack too soon, because whether you like it or not, this is just the beginning.”
That was comforting.
It took me well over an hour and several Big Macs to fully calm myself. I’d dug a pair of jean shorts out of the backpack and managed to squeeze myself into them in the bathroom. It was a damn good thing Daisy Dukes were back in. The shorts were old and tight, but at least they weren’t plaid. I’d happily dumped my pajamas in the garbage can on the way out and prayed my hairy legs weren’t going to overly offend anyone’s delicate sensibilities in the restaurant. The crowd inside hadn’t appeared to be overly grossed out and I’d made double sure I didn’t stick out by ordering my food in an affected European accent. My talents were vast, and Europeans loved their hair.
Nick eyed my legs as I climbed back into the car, his one eyebrow arching perfectly above a dark golden eye. “Forgot to pack your razor?”
“Shut it.” I plucked my phone from the center console where I’d left it. “Hey, do you have a phone charger in here? This thing is dead.”
Nick pointed to the glove box and I fished out a charger. We always bought the cheapest phones at Hannon & Michaels, since we tended to break them on a monthly basis. The bad guys never cared if your pockets were full when they trounced you.
I plugged my phone in, gave it a quick moment to gather some charge, and powered it on.
“Are you going to call the PD now?” Nick asked as he nosed us back onto the highway. “Or wait until you see the damage for yourself first?”
“I’m actually hoping there’s a call from Pete on here. I’m sure word spread through the precinct once my address came through, and Pete should’ve noticed fairly quickly. I definitely want a heads-up to who’s in charge of the case before we get back, and I’m still crossing my fingers like crazy it isn’t Ray Hart.”
Pete Spencer was the only supe I knew of on the human police force. Or at least the only one I’d ever detected. I’d never been very good at picking out other supernaturals when I hadn’t been one; they were good at blending in. Pete was an avian shifter and a damn good beat cop. He knew me as Molly Hannon, a human Essential who used to be a cop who now worked for a supe. He’d kept his distance from me on the force, but once Nick and I had started our P.I. firm, we’d set up an information swap to benefit both of us. I’d just helped him on a case, providing him with information on a group of pain-in-the-ass juvenile sorcerers who’d been causing trouble around town. He owed me, and if he had information, I knew it would already be on my phone.
Once I got a signal, I keyed in voicemail and punched in my codes. I had seven new messages. The first one was from my building super, Jeff Arnold, a low-budget guy who got by without doing much of anything. “Um, hi, Molly, this is Jeff. Just wanted to tell you your apartment is kind of trashed. There was some kind of break-in. So call me if you need anything …” Click.
The next message was from Nick, who did a great job sounding alarmed and worried. I glanced at him with the phone pressed to my ear and gave him the thumbs-
up, knowing he could hear every word.
“I know I’m the bomb.” Nick grinned. “How many times can I save your ass? Lemme count the ways. One …”
I rolled my eyes.
The next call came from my landlord, Nathan Dunn, which surprised me. I’d only met him once about a year after I’d moved in. I guess if your apartment gets ransacked, you have a vested interest, but I was still surprised by a personal call. “Hello, Ms. Hannon, this is Nathan Dunn, the owner of your building. I’m calling regarding your break-in last night, and am hoping this message finds you in good health. The police have informed me that you were out of your apartment at the time of the burglary.” They were calling it a burglary. My first piece of good news. “That was very fortunate. The damage seems to be … in the extreme. Please let me know when the apartment will be available for cleanup. I’ll send my carpenters over at your first convenience. I am anxious to get this fixed, as I’m sure you are as well.”
I raised my brows. Nick shrugged.
The next call was from Marcy. She sounded panicked, which was likely genuine. Marcy Talbot loved her routine more than the Queen loved her tea, and even the smallest upset put a serious wrinkle in her demeanor. She was the only gal pal I’d ever had—or even toyed with having. We didn’t do sleepovers or get pedicures, but there was a connection there. She ended her call with, “… and if you ever scare me like that again, I’ll make your life a living hell. You can count on it, princess.” Click.
The next call was from my neighbor Juanita Perez, a fifty-something Latina divorcée who’d never quite gotten the hint, like everyone else in my apartment building, that I despised small talk. Instead, she behaved quite the opposite. “Hola, Chica,” her heavily accented Spanish stretched across the phone line, then dropped to a rough whisper. “Dees is Juanita Perez, jour neighbor here. Somteen baaad has happened. The police, they tell me you are not at home when the crashing and the banging start, but I know you are still in there. I hear you come home in the night, but I weel not tell. I weel keep it quiet from them. Since they did not find you in there, I theenk you must get away anyway. I keep jour secret, but oh, Chica, the damage, it es sooo much. I weel pray for you.” Click.
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