by Kali Harper
Now Lance did laugh, a belly laugh strong enough to warm my heart. His eyes shined with mirth, and as he rubbed under his glasses, he said, “Thanks for that. Things were getting way too intense.”
“Always happy to help.” This time I returned his smile, immediately looking away from him when my face warmed.
“As much as I love seeing you two lovebirds go back and forth,” Felix said loud enough for us to hear over the whistling wind outside, “I’m not terribly fond of my current company.”
“Okay, okay,” Lance laughed. “We’re going.” To me, he said, “You and I can continue this… discussion, later.”
I shivered under his gaze and hoped it was all in my head, but I couldn’t stand the thought of him seeing me so stupidly giddy over his adorable smile. Now I knew what girls meant when they went on about being head over heels for someone.
Lance could be annoying and downright infuriating at times, but then there were times like this when he reminded me of a young boy enjoying life without a care in the world. That too, was short-lived when the wolf in the bed of the truck howled.
My blood ran cold. It wasn’t just any howl. It sounded sad, almost painful, and as we rolled into town, another wolf answered with a very similar cry.
“Are they… talking to one another?” I asked Lance, not sure if I actually wanted to know the answer.
“Yes.” He gripped the steering wheel with his good hand, his face growing pale as the truck jerked to a stop.
“Uh, Lance…” Felix said, “I’m a sitting duck back here.”
Other wolves neared the truck, but whatever kept Lance from driving, he was stilling looking at it.
Leaning forward so I could see over the dash, I squinted at something not far from where we were. Not something, I corrected myself. Someone. I stroked Sammy hard enough for him to sit up, pointing at what I saw.
“We can’t stay here,” I said, surprised when my voice actually worked.
“Get this one to Max,” Lance said, letting the truck idle as he got out.
“Where are you going?” I called after him, taking my place in the driver’s seat as Felix quickly jumped up front with me.
“I can’t leave him here,” Lance said, making his way over to the lifeless body.
“And you can’t shift, remember?”
Lance’s eyes went wide. Apparently not.
“Felix, will you be okay if—”
“Go,” he said with a nod. “I can take him the rest of the way.”
After passing Felix a withering glance, I took Sammy in my arms and got out of the truck, immediately summoning my broom.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Lance said when I finally joined him.
I didn’t say anything, my mind reeling as I studied the body in front of us. A man lay face-down on the sidewalk, his clothes practically torn away from him. His shirt was ripped in three places, the fabric stained with blood.
When Lance knelt down to inspect the body and identify who it was, I turned away. Up until this point, the worst thing these wolves had killed were two of Kyle’s cows.
“Is he…” My throat clamped shut as tears stung at the backs of my eyes.
“Yes,” came Lance’s solemn reply.
“Do we… do you know who it is?” I was going to be sick.
“Davy Mills.”
I frowned. Where had I heard that name before? “The animal control guy?” I took a steadying breath. “Max said they called him earlier but he never showed.”
“It looks like he did and was overwhelmed.”
“Did the wolves—”
“Not another word,” Lance said, cutting me off. “Can you fly?” He asked a moment later, blocking my view completely.
“I—I think so.” My hands shook so much, I had to hold my breath in order to get them to stop.
“You remember the panic attack you had a few weeks back?” When I nodded, he said, “Focus on your breathing. Slow it down.”
“That’s kind of hard to do when my heart’s going a mile a minute.”
He placed his good hand on my shoulder and held my gaze. “Try.”
How could he be so calm about this? I wanted to scream, cry… hurl. The world spun around me, so I closed my eyes, opening them a second later once I remembered where we were. We weren’t in my kitchen. We weren’t in his office or anywhere remotely safe. The wolves were still out there, their pitiful whines grating on the few nerves I had left.
“Ignore them,” Lance said. “They’re following Felix’s truck.”
That didn’t make me feel any better.
“Breathe, Astrid. In and out. Good. Again.”
Every breath shook when I exhaled until they didn’t. Lightheaded and a little disoriented, I got on my broom with Sammy occupying the space in front of me. Once Lance got on, I flew back toward our town hall and hoped to never see a dead body ever again.
Chapter Twelve
Normally, I would’ve been thrilled with Lance sitting so close to me, but his immediate proximity was a serious distraction, even after I touched down in front of our town hall and had him dismount beside me. Felix’s truck sat out front, the wolf still trapped inside the metal cage. The other wolves were calling more often now, but for whatever reason, they kept their distance.
As though he could read my mind, Lance said, “They probably won’t come to spring him out until after dusk. They may be human, but newly shifted, their wolves have more say in their actions than they do.”
“Is that how it was with you?” I asked, wanting to take it back as soon as the words passed over my lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”
Lance shrugged, but I could see my question bothered him. “I’m going to report the body to Max, then I’ll probably have to go out with him to retrieve it.”
I nodded, feeling completely numb as we walked into the hall where everyone was still gathered. Ida was the first to notice us, tears filling her eyes as she ran in Lance’s direction. Her happy face was shattered, however, when she scowled and hit him in the arm.
“Ow,” Lance said, holding his injured arm away from himself so she wouldn’t hit it by mistake.
“Don’t you ever, ever do that to me again!” Ida cried, collapsing in Lance’s arms when he pulled her into his embrace. “I was worried sick. I worried, I thought—” A sob broke through her lips, her last words lost behind a wave of tears.
Kat was in the middle of talking to Mr. Clark when she met my gaze, her own tears causing new ones to form in my eyes. “You’re back,” she croaked, taking me in her arms. “I tried calling you, and when you didn’t answer—”
“I missed you too.” Telling her about Davy Mills would’ve done more harm than good so I kept it to myself.
Lance calmed Ida down enough to step away and have a private conversation with Max, emerging from the room he’d walked into a moment later with the rest of the force behind him. “Keep an eye on things for me.” He looked right at me. “I’m counting on you, Deputy.”
Doing my best to hide the stupid grin on my face, I offered him a nod, then watched him, Max, and the other officers file back outside. It was then I realized Ivan hadn’t come back, and even more surprising, I was actually worried about him.
“Did Ivan ever come back?” I asked Kat once Lance and the others had gone.
“I thought he left with you,” she said, keeping her voice low so no one would overhear.
“He did, but… he wandered off once we saw the other wolves acting strange around town.”
“Oh,” Kat’s face fell. “I hope he’s okay.”
“Me too.” And I meant every word. “Hey, is it okay if I use your phone? Lance borrowed mine and never gave it back.”
“Sure.” Kat removed the cell from her purse, then busied herself with the book she’d already read through earlier.
Not wanting to disturb Lance on the job, I sent him a quick text, alerting him of Ivan’s absence. It might not have been a big deal, but because Max and t
he other officers were already out there, they’d have a better chance of finding Ivan than I would.
Kat’s phone chirped almost immediately with a simple affirmative from Lance. Without another reason to check in on him, I handed the phone back to her and found an empty space toward the end of the hall, sliding with my back to the wall until I was on the floor.
“What happened out there?” Kat asked as she crouched in front of me. “I’d offer you some water or a snack, but… well, you know.”
I nodded my understanding, but whatever I was about to say came out as a tired groan.
Being more awake and not nearly as drained as I was, Sammy explained everything, including what had happened when we were separated. I hadn’t told him about my small moment with Lance’s wolf or how badly I’d wanted to run my hands through his dark fur, but he got everything else right.
“What about his arm?” Ida asked, listening to our conversation.
I shook my head. “He must’ve hurt it on the run. He had the limp before I spotted him outside Felix’s shop.”
“I always feared this would happen,” she said, taking a tissue from her purse before dabbing her eyes. “Ivan warned me years ago about Lance’s condition. As a mother, it was my right to know, just as it’s my right to worry.”
“You knew he was a shifter?” I asked with disbelief.
“Yes, and I’ve kept it quiet all these years because I saw how much pain he was in. He lost someone, did Ivan tell you?” When I nodded, she continued. “It changed him. Not the wolf, but the loss. He went into training for this sort of thing, sure, but he… you never expect to need that training.”
“He thinks we found Davy Mills,” I told her, my blood running cold as I recounted our discovery. “He coached me on how to breathe until I calmed down. How does it not bother him?”
“It does, dear, in his own way. Maggie’s death wasn’t his first, as I’m sure you’re aware, but when she passed, he held it together until he came to see me. It comes with the territory—seeing what he sees—but never mistake his silence for being heartless. He cares a great deal, more than most will ever understand. He may have walked away from his pack, but he’s made one here. He protects his own, including you.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it. It just caught me off guard,” I explained, feeling more sick than ever before as I considered the pain Lance must’ve been going through as the rest of us waited for his return.
“I know you didn’t, but try to understand what he’s going through. You asked me before how I could see him off and not worry, but I do. Every day he puts on his blazer is the same as Max putting on his uniform. They made an oath to protect us in any way they can, even if it means with their own lives.
Lance is special, and I don’t say that as a mother but as someone who’s seen things. If you do date my son, know there will be times he has to step away. There will be things you’ll never understand and times when he can’t tell you why he’s quiet. The best you can do during those times is be supportive. Never question what he does, or ask him to stop. I understand the pain of seeing him off, sending him into danger, but it’s his choice. He’s too proud to walk away from his job, even if doing so would keep him safe.”
Ida walked away before I could form a reply. Taken aback by her words, I wasn’t sure if I was thankful for them or mortified with the possibility of letting Lance down.
“That was… intense,” Kat said, sitting beside me on the floor. “Who knew Ida cared so much.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said, tilting my head to the side so I could meet her gaze. “She may have a strange gift and be a Seer, but she isn’t evil.”
“You thought as much, once upon a time.”
“No,” I corrected her, “I thought she was a nosy Nelly. I still do, but now I know why.”
Granted, after the speech Ida gave me, I was at a loss for words on what to call her let alone much else. Her passion for the safety of her son was painfully obvious, but if she was schooling me on how to act and not act, did that mean she was really okay with us dating? Sure, I may have saved his life once before, which she thanked me for, but that didn’t mean we had to date.
“Don’t think on it too much,” Mr. Clark said, joining us along with Felix. “Ida isn’t a puzzle you can solve. If she sings praise, thank her. If she judges you, ignore it. That’s what I would do.”
“Are you looking out for me, Ronan?” I asked with a smile.
He pulled on his imaginary suspenders. “Maggie’s asked me to keep an eye on you once or twice. I’m just saying how it is. Ida doesn’t give out compliments unless you’ve earned it, and if she’s offering advice, well then, you’ve made yourself a friend worth keeping. The woman may be maddening at times, but she’s also smart. Smarter than most. She’d be a good ally.”
“You need to tell Maggie she needs to stop planning my wedding. I haven’t even gone on a date… not one worth writing home about, anyway.”
“And with Lance, there’s a chance you never will. He’s married to the job,” Ronan said.
“Okay, now I can’t tell if you’re asking me to date him or telling me to walk away.”
Mr. Clark shrugged. “That’s entirely up to you, but your love life isn’t the reason I came over here. I’m worried about Maggie. She hasn’t come down.”
“I left without her,” I told him, already feeling guilty because of it.
“But she’s a ghost. She can go whenever she likes.”
“Unless she hopes to talk to anyone. She’d never risk Ginger like that.” The wolves would jump on her before she stepped off the front porch.
“Could we please go and check on her?” he asked hopefully. “Felix told me you fly a wicked broom.”
“Ah, Felix is singing high praise, is he?” I gave Felix an incredulous look. To Ronan, I said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Clark, but Lance asked me to stay here. I’m worried about Maggie as well, but so long as she stays at the house, everything will be fine.”
“I hate keeping her out of the loop like this.” Sometimes it was disgustingly sweet how those two were, especially when Ronan invited Maggie over for the weekends… or the entire week. I swear, there was only so much those two could talk about, but they filled hours upon hours of time with one another.
I was pretty sure they were having strange staring contests or worse—Ronan piling things on the table so Maggie could knock them off in pure feline fashion.
“And there’s still the matter of our trip,” Mr. Clark went on, oblivious to my thoughts. Rummaging in his pocket, he presented me with a simple gold band. His cheeks were so red, I thought he might faint.
“Oh, Ronan, it’s lovely, but I don’t think—”
“Quiet, you,” he teased, batting at my hand. “Do you think she’ll like it?”
“Ronan, you could offer her a bread tie and she’d probably be over the moon about it. In fact, I know she would because she chases them around the kitchen all the time.” Maggie had taken a real liking to her feline life, even if the body wasn’t hers. “This is why you wanted to take her away for a few days?”
He nodded. “Can I?”
“Can you what?” Was he asking for Maggie’s hand, err, paw in marriage, or if he could take her out sightseeing? I was honestly okay with either one.
“You don’t think it’s weird, proposing to a ghost?”
“Mr. Clark,” I said, standing so I could place a hand on his shoulder, “that’s the most normal thing I think I’ve ever witnessed in Emberdale ever since my awakening. It’s perfect.”
“No, it’s purrrfect,” Kat said, giggling as she did.
“Ignore her,” I told Mr. Clark, giving him a hug. “It’s lovely, and I can’t wait to get my invitation in the mail.”
Clearly pleased with my approval of his upcoming proposal, he and Felix walked away to discuss the particulars, one of which probably included a supernatural bachelor party. I shook my head to rid myself of the image, but really, I was happy for him. F
or both of them. I’d never known Maggie’s first husband, but I also hadn’t seen her as happy as she was with Ronan around.
“Two new in-laws in one day,” Kat said once the others were gone. “Sometimes I worry about you.” My upcoming in-law possibilities being Ida and Ronan. I might not have been related to Maggie, but she was the closest thing I had to family, including my distant aunt who only showed up when she wanted me to further my education.
“Three if you count Aunt Lucy’s finance,” I said.
“Oh, yeah. How are things going for them?”
“It’s only been a week,” I reminded her. “I’m sure we have time before the big day.” Then again, my aunt did like to move fast.
Dating wasn’t really her thing. She’d gone right from quiet conversation to being in a relationship, followed by a very sudden proposal which she accepted. Mark was okay, I suppose, though he was completely MIA when Lucy was looking for him. Then again, I did like his niece, so I was at a loss on how I felt about the whole thing.
“They could elope,” Kat said, drawing me from my thoughts.
“Which probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.” In fact, it suited Lucy.
“And you’re seriously okay with Ronan and Maggie?” By the look of things, Kat wasn’t.
“They’re grown-ups. I have no say in—”
“But you have her house, her cats, her yard, and her store. What if they want those things back?”
Those things didn’t really bother me. “I still have the old inn. Besides, Ronan has his own shop to run.”
“Maggie could educate him about charms.”
I shook my head, excusing her last comment completely. “If Maggie felt the need to leave me everything, including her magic, then I’m sure we’re fine.”
“A star pupil can’t compete with new love.”
“It’ll be fine,” I told her, and if not for the quake in my voice, she might’ve believed it.
I wasn’t worried, honest. Not really.
What if they take Sammy back? the small voice in the back of my mind asked.
Yup, not worried at all.