The Call of Her Heart (Whiskey Springs Pack Book 2)

by Stella Night

  Logan took the cup of coffee and thanked Josh. He nodded and said, “Just about. I’ve got a couple of questions for you. But I need to talk to you about something else first.”

  Josh arched one eyebrow as he sipped the hot brew in his mug. He nodded and said, “Okay. Shoot.”

  Logan shifted in his chair. He settled for resting his arms on his thighs, hands clasped before him. “I’d like to talk to you about Celia.”

  Josh closed his eyes and sighed. “Well, I would have bet money on this.”

  “Excuse me?” Logan was pretty sure Josh heard him when he gulped.

  “What has she done now? I can tell her to stay away from you and the restaurant. She really shouldn’t have a lot of time to bother you right now. Her hands should be full with the day care thing. I mean, I’m glad she’s found something she loves and we miss having her with us in the store but—”

  “No, no. You misunderstood.” Logan interrupted Josh. He felt the color leave his face in a rush when Josh raised that eyebrow again. Josh cleared his throat. “I have feelings for your sister.” The words came out in a rush.

  Josh’s smile deepened his dimples. When that happened, the resemblance to Celia caused Logan’s heart to skip a beat. “Go on,” the Alpha said.

  “Well, the truth is, I’m in love with her.” Logan glanced at Josh then continued. “I’d like to make a life with her, I mean, I intend to relocate to Whiskey Springs, that is, if you approve—”

  Josh’s laughter rang through the kitchen. He stopped when he looked at Logan’s face. “I’m not laughing at you, Nilsson. I’m just happy for the both of you.”

  “Well, don’t be too happy. She’s not exactly sure yet.” That damned eyebrow rose again. “I mean, I’ve made my feelings clear to her, but she hasn’t exactly said she returns them.” Logan threw himself out of the chair and started pacing around the small room. “I love her so much, you know? And I know I’m not a shifter but I don’t care. I want her to be my wife.” He stopped and looked a Josh. “If you’ll give your blessing.”

  Josh crossed one arm over his chest. He rested the other elbow on it and cupped his chin. One finger curled over his upper lip. “I know you understand pack life. But you should talk to Ella about being married to a shifter.” He pinned Logan with his gaze. “And I’m not totally comfortable giving my blessing until you know for sure Celia feels the same way.”

  Logan gulped again and nodded. “I was actually hoping you could help me out in that area.”

  Josh’s laugh was close to a bark. “You should now that anything I suggest to my sister will have a disastrous effect. Like you said the first week she worked with you - if we say stop, she says go. If we say don’t, she does. You don’t want me chasing her away from you. You’re on your own in that area.”

  Logan dropped into his chair. “She’s driving me crazy, Josh. Seriously crazy. She admitted she has feelings for me but that’s it.”

  “Give her time. In the meantime, spend some time with Ella and pick her brain.” He stood and refilled his coffee cup. He offered to fill Logan’s but returned the pot to the coffee maker when Logan shook his head. Josh sat back down and took a sip.

  Logan watched as the Alpha’s eyes grew hard. “Tell me where we are with finding the son of a bitch who killed the Geralds. Tonight is the run and the pack elders are looking for answers. I am looking for answers. I need to make sure my people are safe.” His finger punched the table top, emphasizing each word of his last statement.

  Logan opened his laptop and pulled up the photos he and Celia had gone through the night before. “The arson specialists in San Antonio agree with my findings on ignition points. They are sure gasoline was used, but we’re not sure that will matter. The bigger issue is the murders.”

  “I’m listening,” Josh said as he clicked through the photos. He stopped on the same image that Celia had seen. “Do you know this guy?” He peered at it, tapping the screen. “It looks like he’s with the Oklahoma brothers and Joe Easton.”

  Logan shook his head. “No, but Celia said he’s been in town since around the time of the restaurant fire. She also noticed that he’s always been with those guys when she’s spotted him. You don’t know him?”

  “No.” Josh leaned in closer to the screen. “Why don’t you send that to Jack and ask him. Tell him to keep it confidential just in case this is a member of the Boerne pack. And tell him we need an answer yesterday.” He glanced up at Logan. “I realize you would probably know, but sometimes there are members who aren’t always in the vicinity.”

  Logan nodded. “I understand that you have one of those yourself. A woman—”

  “Liza Anderson.” Josh’s answer was quick, terse. “I’ve got several people looking for her, too. So, in my case, there are seven pack members that you haven’t met simply because of that particular situation. It could be the same for your pack.” He sat back in his chair. “What did your background checks give you?”

  “The OK boys are clean. Both their alibis check out. Joe Easton, volunteer fire fighter here, trouble maker in Boerne, but nothing illegal. The other guy? I have no idea. But I went back and he’s in every photo you’ve taken.” Logan gazed at the screen, trying to remember if he had seen the mystery man near the fires. “I’ll send it off to Jack as soon as we finish up here.” He paused for a moment. “You don’t want to check with Axe?”

  Josh shook his head and looked away. When he turned back to Logan, his jaw was clenched. “I’ve been hearing some…disconcerting things. Let’s just say it might be a good thing that you are here right now.”

  Logan’s mouth had dropped open. He closed it and nodded.

  “Yoo hoo! Where are you, my love?”

  Both men turned toward the door at the sound of Ella’s voice. She rushed in, eyes bright, gave Josh a kiss and handed him the baby. “Wait until you hear … Oh. Logan. You’re here.”

  Logan stood and nodded at her. “Ella. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, thanks.” She turned toward Josh.

  Josh smiled. “It seems that Logan has declared his love for Celia.” Ella whipped back around to face Logan. “And I’ve given my provisional blessing.”

  Ella’s smile lit up the room. “Celia confided in me. I hope you don’t mind. And I’m supposed to keep it hush-hush…but I’m so happy for both of you!” She threw her arms around Logan and hugged him.

  “But…”

  “Oh, Josh. Why does there have to be a ‘but’”?

  Josh took his wife’s hand and pulled her closer to him. “But I want you to talk to him about living with a pack as a spouse. More specifically, as the spouse of the Alpha.” He held up a hand when she started to protest. “I know Celia is not an Alpha, but she is the sister of the Alpha and because of that, some members, especially members of other packs, may try to cause problems.”

  Ella stood, lost in thought, for just a moment. “Okay. I think I can give Logan a few pointers.” She turned back to Logan and gave him another megawatt smile. “But it will probably have to wait until after the run tonight. Is that okay?”

  Logan nodded. He stood and rinsed the coffee mug in the sink, then turned back to Josh and Ella. Now, more than ever, his heart cried out to have what he saw before him. He hugged Ella and shook Josh’s hand. “Thank you both. I really hope things work out. It would be an honor to be part of your family.”

  Ella hugged him again. She glanced at Josh, then turned back to Logan. “I think things are going to be just fine.”

  Chapter 20

  At one o’clock, Logan knocked at the front door of Celia’s day care center. When she looked up, he let himself in. She gave herself a moment to drink in his image - arctic blue eyes that twinkled when he smiled at her, silver blond hair set off by the black t-shirt, and jeans that hugged his ass and thighs just right.

  She gave herself a mental shake as he walked over to where she stood. She made sure he was introduced to the two pack members who had dropped their toddlers off. She certainly
didn’t miss the gleam in their eyes as they got a good look at Logan.

  As soon as the two women left, Celia turned back to Logan. She put her arms around his waist and turned her face up to him. Her reward was a slow, lingering kiss that was full of promises.

  “Hey. I thought you said no PDAs.” He hugged her tight then crouched down to play with one of the toddlers surrounding them.

  Celia laughed. “Just not in front of the more impressionable kids.” She set up the baby corral and added some toys. She nuzzled each of the two toddlers then placed them inside it. “I just have to wait for the older kids to get here. Then we can head down to the river. Ella’s going to come help with the babies for the day. She considers it a play date for Eli.”

  Logan was playing peek-a-boo with one of the little ones as Celia talked. Her heart melted as she watched him. Her wolf sat up and whined, then yipped. There was no question as to what the beast had said.

  Mate!

  “Celia?”

  “Hm? What?” She shook her head and turned toward Ella.

  Her sister-in-law stood next to her. “You were miles away. What were you thinking about?”

  Celia smiled and looked down at the babies playing on the floor. “Nothing. Did you see where Logan went?”

  Ella’s blue eyes sparkled. “Oh, I bet I know what you were thinking.” She put Eli in the baby corral and put her bag on the counter.

  Celia’s eyes narrowed. “How would you know what I was thinking.”

  Ella laughed. “It’s written all over your face, Celia. You’re in love.”

  Celia felt the color drain from her face. “You mean, it’s that obvious? Oh crap!”

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. He really cares for you, you know.”

  Celia looked around, making sure Logan was not within earshot. “I know. But I haven’t said anything to him yet. Please keep it between us?”

  Ella made a crossing motion with her finger over her chest. “Cross my heart. And he’s out back, talking to some of the older kids about being a fire fighter.”

  Celia hugged her sister-in-law. “Thanks, Ella.”

  She hurried to the back door, her steps slowing as she got to the doorway where she stood and listened to Logan. He was explaining to three of the older boys and one of the girls what went into becoming a fire fighter. When he saw Celia, he cut the discussion short with promises to follow up with each of them in a couple of days.

  As he neared her, Celia asked “Recruiting?”

  Logan smiled. “Maybe. There are worse things they could want to do.”

  Celia took his hand and pulled him into the mud room. Winding her arms behind his neck, she pulled him down for a kiss.

  “Hm. What did I do to deserve that?”

  She tilted her head and glanced up at him. “Nothing in particular. I need to give last minute instructions to those kids and to the ones helping Ella today.” In the kitchen, she grabbed a roster of names. “Will you be ready to go in about ten minutes?”

  “Yep.” He gave her another quick kiss. “Right behind you, boss.” He followed her into the room where Ella sat, surrounded by babies.

  “Okay Ella, here is a list of everyone who is dropping off today —” Celia’s words were cut off by a shout from the back of the house.

  Logan took off for the back door with Celia on his heels. She could hear the babies as they all began wailing, joined by some of the toddlers. The grade schoolers stood with the teenagers, eyes huge in their little faces.

  When she rounded the doorway, she smelled smoke. That could only mean a fire nearby.

  She rushed to the corner of the house. Two of the boys were putting out a fire in the trash can next to the side of the house, using their beach towels. Logan was already running toward the woods. Celia saw someone disappear in the trees, headed away from the river. She saw two pack members pass Logan as they sped after the person who had run. They shifted mid-stride.

  Logan turned back toward the little house where Celia stood waiting in the backyard. “I’m sorry, darlin’. Duty calls. I’ve got to make sure this isn’t linked to the other fires.”

  “Okay. Just come find us when you finish up.” She lifted her chin toward the teenagers who stood watching. “Go grab some towels from the cabinet. Round up your charges and meet me at the trail head.” She turned back to Logan. “You go do what you need to. Find me when you’re finished.” She pulled him to her for a quick kiss.

  Logan took off at a run after the men running through the trees. Her wolf howled its displeasure and disappointment. She agreed with it as he rounded a bend in the trail and faded from sight.

  Chapter 21

  Logan gave up trying to keep up with the shifters who chased after the two men he had seen running from the house. The only saving grace was that they headed in the opposite direction of where the wolves gave chase. He could hear their howls as they chased their quarry. He reluctantly turned back to see if he could find any evidence that linked this fire to the others.

  For a moment, he wondered what the tourists must be thinking. Then he realized he hadn’t seen many people on the streets this morning.

  His phone chimed and he looked down to read the message.

  “Logan, what’s going on?” Josh and a group of older pack members, including Gemma Gilbert, approached him.

  He realized these must be the elders. He nodded to each one in turn, then gave his attention to Josh. “Trash can fire. It was right up against the house. If one of the older boys hadn’t spotted it, well, I don’t want to think about what might have happened.”

  “Do you think it’s connected to the other fires?”

  “No. It doesn’t feel the same.” Logan noticed Josh’s frown. “As an inspector, you get a feel for things. I’ve been studying this guy for weeks now. I know what his ‘scenes’ feel like.” He shrugged. “This just doesn’t feel quite right.”

  Josh crossed his arms over his chest. His breath huffed out. “What do you think?”

  Logan shrugged again. He glanced around the yard where they stood. “I think it might have been a warning.”

  “A warning for what, Logan dear?” Mrs. Gilbert’s voice was quiet but Logan could hear the worry.

  “I’m not sure.” He turned to Josh. “Is your full moon run still scheduled for tonight?” Josh nodded. “Any way to postpone it?”

  Josh shook his head. “Not really. And even if I did, certain members would still run on their own.” He turned and looked around. “Where is Celia?”

  “She took the kids down to the river to play in the water.” He could see the question on Josh’s face. “I stayed here because I have a gut feeling this fire is connected to the others.”

  “Did anyone see who was around?” Josh asked.

  Logan shook his head. “The kids didn’t see anything. I saw a guy with a thin build and dirty blond hair, t-shirt, jeans, boots take off for the trees. That’s probably a good portion of the county described right there.”

  Josh stopped and sniffed the air. Logan watched as the elders did the same. They conferred quietly as the two pack members who had given chase returned and approached the group. The men were barefoot and clad only in jeans. Logan saw them shake their heads and walk back toward town.

  “Josh, Jack just sent this. That guy in the photos? Name’s Fred Smith and, yeah, that’s his real name. Not a shifter. Been arrested three times in San Antonio for arson. Nothing’s ever been proved. Not sure what his connection to Joe Easton is though.

  And Joe? Jack said Easton tried to assault a couple of the women in the Boerne pack. They didn’t let him leave, he was under house arrest. He went rogue and it looks like Axe helped him.” Logan understood pack law enough to know that members didn’t just up and leave. There had to be good reason like marriage or family. The pack needed as many members as the area could sustain. “How did Easton explain his relocation?”

  “He told me he had Axe’s okay. When I check with Axe, he was vague and I just chalked
it up to other problems he was having.” Josh looked toward the river again, then turned back to Logan. “To say I’m pissed about that is an understatement. If I get my hands on any one of the three of them? I. Will. End. Them.”

  Josh’s face was tight. “I’m going to go check on Ella and the baby, let her know everything is alright for the time being.” He turned to the elders. “We might go ahead and start seeing what we can do to postpone tonight’s run.” The six shifters nodded their agreement and left the yard of the little house.

  Turning to the men who had just returned, Josh instructed them to find more pack members. “I want you to quietly see if you can find that guy. No howls, nothing. Just spread out and search.”

  He turned and faced Logan. “I need for you to go after my sister. I don’t care if you have to knock her out and drag her back, I need to know she and those kids are safe.

  ***

  “Hey, Miss Celia!”

  She glanced at one of the girls who was pointing to a spot behind Celia. A column of smoke was clearly visible against the bright blue sky. Celia felt her wolf’s panic. It fed off the panicky cries of the children as they realized there was a fire nearby.

  “Charlie,” she spoke to the girl that had pointed out the smoke. “Round up the kids and their stuff. Quickly please.” She started gathering up towels and tshirts, keeping an eye on the smoke.

  She helped get tshirts on the younger children. A stiff breeze kicked up. Now she could smell the wood smoke. She prayed she had time to get the kids back to the house.

  She turned back to pick up her bag and was stopped in her tracks by a low wolf whistle.

  ***

  “Listen. Celia mentioned something in passing to Ella this morning that I think you should know about. I didn’t want to say anything in front of the elders but I think you should know.”

  Logan stopped what he was doing and gave Josh his full attention. “Oh?”