Aspen Valley Wolf Pack (The Complete Series)

by Amber Ella Monroe

  "Thank you. I didn't know you were a runner," she said.

  "Well, I'm not officially a runner. I prefer getting around on my own feet rather than the truck. Sometimes it’s faster. But when I need my tools, I take my truck."

  "Did you get the garbage disposal fixed?"

  "Sure did. It took less than thirty minutes. Luckily, I was able to free the bottle caps stuck inside and get it running again."

  "Bottle caps? Wow, that's certainly not a food item."

  "Tell me about it." Luke shrugged. "It happens though. I don't think they did it intentionally. They're a bunch of college seniors just having a good time is all."

  "Ohhh." Cassie rolled her eyes. "I hope you fished out their brains too because clearly, they left those behind at the college campus if they were throwing bottle caps down the drain."

  Luke laughed. "I think they left their brains on the campus intentionally."

  "Must be nice. I'm glad those days are behind me now. You must be exhausted," she said. "You know, if there's anything else you need me to do around here besides filing paperwork let me know. I'm handy with tools too. I have my dad to thank for that. And plus my brother and I couldn't always afford a repairman when things broke down in the house so I binged on YouTube a lot."

  Luke grinned. "The best way to learn is by doing. I do this all the time. It's just the routine…not exhausting. I ran into my neighbor Mrs. Lee on the way back which is why I was late. She had a list of stuff for me to fix. I didn't want to leave her out in the dark with a broken porch lamp, so I went ahead and took care of it for her along with the other things she insisted was urgent. I was praying that you wouldn't get mad or anything."

  "Of course I wouldn't get mad. Not at all. That's so sweet of you to make sure she's not in the dark."

  "She's a widow who's been living out here for the past decade or so. She used to help me take care of Nessa and Henry when I had to leave out of town on business. Plus I get most of my vegetables straight from her garden. It's a win-win."

  "You have a really closely knit community here. I'm beginning to see why it's so safe out here."

  Luke nodded. "I keep telling myself that once my niece and nephew are old enough to make a decision about what to do with this business, I'd hand everything over to them and head out west. But I don't think I could do it. I'd be leaving too much behind."

  "I'm sure everyone you know would miss you."

  "Maybe." Luke sighed and leaned back, resting his arm on the back of the sofa. "I've been meaning to ask you more about the research you did on the murders."

  She curled her feet up under her and gave Luke her full attention.

  "I don't want to press the issue too much so if you'd prefer not to talk, I would understand," he said.

  "No, it's fine. I want to talk. It's just that no one seems to want me involved in any of it, is all. I was kind of used to keeping it all to myself."

  "And I agree with that one hundred percent. You need to stay uninvolved with this. Your safety is important. Remember when you questioned me about shifters and about if they lived here?"

  "I do."

  "You were right. There aren't any natural wolves here. Only shifters. I…uh…" He cleared his throat. "I've known the Alpha of the Aspen Valley Pack for years. As you'd guess, he wants to nail the killer just as much as anyone else."

  "Killers," Cassie corrected.

  Luke looked at her questioningly.

  "Killers…," she repeated. "As in more than one of them. The threatening note that was left in my apartment stated quote if you don't like how we protest, get out of town unquote.

  "That only confirms the Pack's suspicions about a group being lead by one or two powerful individuals," Luke replied.

  "What did you want to ask me about my research?"

  "Didn't you mention that you were close to connecting the murders to someone or something?"

  She nodded. "At first I didn't think the connection was legit, but after the threat, I'm almost certain there's some validity in what I found."

  "That's interesting. We've been trying to connect the dots for months." His arm came down off the back of the sofa and he scooted to the edge of his seat. "What did you find?"

  Cassie looked toward the door as if one of the investigators who told her to lay off the case would barge through at any moment to witness her reneging on the deal. She wasn't supposed to be speaking to anyone about this.

  It could jeopardize the investigation…

  You don't know who's in on it…

  This isn't your job. We're trained professionals. Let us do our jobs…

  She could hear them now as she tried to get it through their thick skulls that her research was legit. That she just wasn't some stupid girl trying to fill her dead father's boots.

  But she trusted Luke like her own brother. And it meant the world to her that Neil and Luke were on very good terms with each other.

  She exhaled, pushing aside all her reservations and then asked, "Have you ever heard of Midway Industries?"

  "I have…"

  "Several months ago, this company and a few others were behind the eminent domain agenda that was the talk of this town. Some were opposed to this idea because they didn't want big corporations setting up shop in Aspen Valley and putting all the little guys out of business. And others supported the agenda because they saw this as a chance to decrease the unemployment rate," she said. "I read into it a little further and realized that most of the lots that were marked for the eminent domain process were areas known to be populated by shifter families. Some of the areas were even deemed as deserted or uninhabited by humans, but the reports failed to mention the presence of shifters on the land."

  "Yes, that's correct."

  Luke seemed in awe of just how much information she possessed on the subject. She had to admit that she'd taken the research far but if she hadn't done so, she never would have made the break in the case.

  "I was curious about why a public company like Midway Industries would choose a town like Aspen Valley to further expand their operations. Gaining a hundred or so acres of land here and there throughout the county and surrounding areas didn't seem like it was going to boost the company's bottom line any higher than it already was. I was stuck and dumbfounded. My colleagues were turning in their news articles left and right, but I was just stuck on this one story…spending so much time on it. To keep my job, I pushed it to the backburner for the longest until a guy in my department asked me to read something he had written for the newspaper. It was about how Teddy Ammo & Sons, one of the oldest privately owned companies in Aspen Valley, prematurely shut down all manufacturing activities. Mind you, this shutdown happened just under a month after Teddy Ammo miraculously pulled themselves out of bankruptcy. Why climb out of bankruptcy if you're going to shut down anyway? Something wasn't adding up." She shook her head. "According to my colleague's article, Teddy Ammo was literally on the brink of total destruction until a private investor swooped in and saved them. Then, after getting out of the bankruptcy and restructuring, the company was able to temporarily save face by ensuring that no one would lose their jobs. Well, what he failed to mention in his article was that Teddy Ammo cried poor once again around the time the eminent domain proceedings were halted—and that's when they shut down."

  "Teddy Ammo & Sons…," Luke exclaimed, quietly. "I vaguely remember them being a major player in every state and county election."

  "With their industry being regulated so heavily, I'm willing to bet they would put money behind any candidate they wanted to win. But I believe these murders have more to do with gaining power and money than with politics," she offered. "I found out who the last investigator was on the case involving the shifter murders. His sixty-year-old dad used to work for Teddy Ammo. It turned out that the investigator was working to get the case closed claiming that there was insufficient evidence to prove that any of the shifter deaths were connected. Luckily, he was fired for inappropriate conduct on government
property before his last push to get the case closed. I can't really confirm since my research was cut short, but I'm willing to bet that someone—a lot of someones have been taking their anger out on shifters and retaliating against them."

  "And the timing is right. The first set of murders started happening right around the time the County started pushing for eminent domain after land owners wouldn't sell."

  "Right," Cassie agreed. "The way I see it, the killers had anticipated that they'd most likely have to eliminate some threats to reduce opposition…which goes back to the documents I found that proved that every lot held up in the eminent domain proceedings were deemed shifter territory. I think this is a case of premeditated systematic execution of the shifter population in Aspen Valley and surrounding areas simply because they were on the land and would not move."

  "You're brilliant, you know that."

  "Why thank you. No one has told me that since…well…my dad died."

  "That's unfortunate. You should be reminded of this every day. You could be a private investigator if you wanted to.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not that good.”

  “Yes…you are,” he urged.

  "I'm just glad that my research might help the new investigator. If it took some lunatic scaring the shit out of me for people to pay attention and to get more eyes on the case, I can truly say that I did my job. When I took the case, I expected validation from my boss once I cracked it, but as I got further into my research, I knew that this couldn't just be about validation. This was a serious matter. Innocent lives were being lost and shifters were gunned down for no reason."

  "And someone is covering something up. You've stated all the facts clearly. If you were able to access this level of information as a journalist, why couldn't these investigators do the same?"

  A strange ominous feeling hung over Cassie and she experienced a sharp pang of anxiety deep in the pit of her stomach.

  "I think the shifters should know about this. Maybe this was what I was meant to do all along. If someone higher up is covering something up about these murders, that's not good at all." She leaned in and grasped him by the forearm eagerly. "You know the Alpha of this pack, right? Can you convince him to speak with me?"

  Luke looked downward at something on the couch, avoiding her gaze. He almost looked remorseful and unsure.

  "If you can't do that because of this code or whatever then maybe you can get the message to him for me."

  "It's not that, Cassie," he said, finally looking up to meet her gaze. "The Alpha isn't the one concealing his true nature."

  His enchanting eyes nearly hypnotized her as peered into them. Now that she was so close to him with not even an inch to spare, his irises appeared more golden than brown. The shape of his eyes changed, widening and then narrowing as he stared at her with discord swirling in them. Something was different about him now. She sensed it, yet she was too distracted by the rising heat between them to further speculate.

  "Then what is it?" she asked.

  He wanted to tell her something. She had conducted far too many interviews to know when someone was holding back something.

  "It's nothing," he said. "I haven't talked to the Alpha in months, but I'll take you to him. I agree. He needs to hear this from the source itself."

  Chapter 15

  "So what did he say?" Cassie asked, flipping the grilled cheese sandwich over in the pan.

  "His voicemail said that he was currently out of town on business," Luke said.

  He bent his head under the door frame to enter the galley kitchen. He practically filled the small space with his thick shoulders and broad build.

  "He generally calls back within the hour. If push comes to shove, I can always give one of his brothers a ring. They usually know where he's at."

  "He sounds like a busy man," she said, scooping up the sandwiches with a spatula and putting them on plates.

  "Just like you said. Being the Alpha of the Pack is sort of like being the Mayor of the Town of Aspen Valley."

  When she tossed the spatula and pan inside the soapy dish water, he gently grabbed her forearm. "I want to thank you for wanting to do this. It means a lot to me and I'm sure it'll mean a lot to our Alpha as well."

  She swallowed, focusing on his eyes and on the statement he just made.

  "I want to do it because I feel this is the right thing to do. If the cops of Aspen Valley can't or won't, perhaps the shifters of Aspen Valley will…with the right information."

  Luke closed the distance between them. Virtually nothing was stopping them from coming together. Attraction sizzled in the air around them and the blinding heat between them seemed to draw them closer.

  "I always thought you had the most perfect set of lips," he whispered. "Even now, they're the most beautiful I've ever seen."

  She blushed. "I always wondered what happened to you after the graduation. I imagined that you were living the perfect life with the perfect wife. I was so sure of it. All I could do was hope that I could replicate a real life based on what I imagined for you. Too bad my happily ever after hasn't come true."

  "It will," he reassured her.

  "The chances seem slim. Most of the women I went to high school with are already engaged or married with kids. Maybe I'll be waiting forever. Maybe I'm only deserving of temporary happiness, " she said.

  "And maybe your perfect guy hasn't yet revealed himself," he added.

  Cassie didn't know what came over her. She only gave herself up to the moment. She pulled herself up on her toes, grabbed hold of both of his forearms with her hands, and kissed him. A hot surge of electricity shot up through her spine and fanned out across her body. Their lips parted slightly and she reveled in the gentle, but needy way in which he kissed her back. She was swooning, for sure, until he wrapped his big arms around her and held her to him.

  It wasn't long before he took control, sliding his tongue against the seam of her lips and then further still until their tongues were entwined as they embraced. He was a great kisser. Very attentive and very thorough.

  She pressed her breasts to his chest and slipped a thigh between his strong legs. She heard a deep rumble—a mix between a growl and a moan—erupt from him. The sound of it caused her nipples to pebble instantly.

  When she parted a moment to catch her breath, he caught her by surprise by backing her up swiftly and pushing her back against the wall. When his moist lips connected with the delicate skin on her throat, she moaned wantonly. She pulled on the collar of his shirt and gripped the back of his neck, pulling him securely to her body.

  He sucked and licked at her neck until she was trembling and writhing against him, practically begging for more. His beard felt surprisingly soft as it rubbed against her skin. Almost like downy smooth fur. His lips were agile and cool against her as he worked to caress and please her. Something tingled along her collarbone—in the exact same spot where he focused most of his attention.

  "Oh God…Luke."

  He growled into her throat, lapping at the throbbing vein on her neck.

  "I was right," he moaned. "You taste like honeysuckles."

  "Mmmm," she moaned, closing her eyes and relishing in the way he made love to her lips, face, neck, and throat by showering kisses all over her and using his gentle tongue to stroke and taste.

  His cock was big and hard against her. She wanted to do nothing more than yank those pants down his hips and see all of him in the flesh. Her fingers slid under the seam of his belt and along his lower abdomen before swooping lower. His muscles were taut and hard as a rock against her roving hands.

  Suddenly, he broke the kiss and took a couple steps back. A chill swept in between them to fill the void, but her body still craved him like a raging hunger.

  "I can't. We can't. You're Neil's little si—”

  "Don't say it." She held up her hand. "Don't use that as an excuse. I want this. I kissed you because I want you.”

  He swallowed visibly and parted his lips. That's when
she saw a flash of something long and sharp that couldn't have been regular teeth. Fangs? Canines? They looked oddly out of place.

  Cassie stepped forward, taking a closer look.

  She placed her hand on the side of his face and he pressed his cheek against her palm and then turned his face inside, breathing in and out deeply.

  "You want this too, don't you?"

  His only reply was a low, deep growl of confirmation. The feral reaction sent warm chills up her spine. She wanted to embrace him again. She wanted him to hold her tightly and kiss her all night long.

  He opened his eyes and caught her gaze. "Yes, I do. I think about you…I know I shouldn't."

  At that moment, she saw an image of them on his bed in the throes of passion. She wanted him badly. The sight of his canines slightly piercing the skin on his bottom lip made her think of his thick, hard cock plunging into her pussy.

  "Your teeth…Luke. Your teeth are different."

  His aroused expression faded, turning into one of shock and revelation. He covered his mouth with his palm and looked away.

  "I shouldn't have," he commented. "I'm going to leave now, Cassie. You're not here for me to ruin. I'm certain of that."

  "But—”

  "Please Cassie. Don't make me break my promise to your brother."

  Her shoulders slumped and she frowned as she watched him rush off toward the door. He opened the door and before passing through it, he gave her one last lingering long look before shutting himself out and leaving her behind. Wanting. Needing.

  She had suspected something was different about him before. Now she knew the truth. She was her father daughter's, who had been one of the best detectives in the state of Tennessee before he and the love of his life perished in a plane crash. He'd taught her to pick up on subtle, hidden clues well. And the truth didn't bother her. Didn't scare her. She already knew the man inside was more honorable than any other man she'd ever met. That's what mattered.

  Luke Lombardi was a shifter.

  She wanted him with the passion of a thousand burning suns.

  Cassie's fingers went to her bruised lips and then trailed down to the spot right over her collarbone where he had paid the most attention. She concluded that he had kissed her so firmly there that he'd left a lasting mark on her skin. There was no pain. Just a sweet sensation which would remind her that Luke had once touched her the way she'd wanted him to.