Apart from Daniel and Bryn, the only other notable absences were Claire and Rob. It didn’t sound like she was too pleased with him after the run, but I haven’t heard anything from her since.
I’m surprised to see most of the members that are new to the pack since Daniel took over. After what Claire had told me about what Rob had been saying, I would have assumed that there would have been no way in hell that they would have wanted to spend any more time with us than absolutely necessary. Whilst I’m quietly watching Callum with the other pack members that he was obviously close to, Phillip, Nick, Louise and Beth take the opportunity to wander over to me.
Beth is the first one to speak; she’s one of the new wolves that has been here the longest and stands out as one of the stronger ones, but not quite up to Phillip’s speed.
“Hi Rebecca, we just wanted to say thank you for inviting us. This is the first time we’ve seen the rest of the pack outside of full moon.”
“Call me Becca, please. It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you came. Donna told me that there used to be a lot of get-togethers like this, but I’ve never been to one either since I’ve been in the pack.”
“Becca, I don’t know how else to say this, so I’m sort of going to get straight to the point. We’ve heard rumours about your attack. And, well, from what we’ve heard, it’s come as a bit of a surprise to see that you’re with Callum now. The two of you are obviously... well, close.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard about the stories that have been doing the rounds. I’ve got to say Beth, they’re all bullshit. I didn’t know any better myself until after Callum was released. I’m not going to go into detail, but I didn’t see who it was that attacked me. Since Callum pleaded guilty, I was never called to give evidence.”
“Becca, you can tell me to keep my nose out, but do you know now who it was? If it was one of the pack that’s going around doing things like that and it’s been kept hidden, I think we have a right to know. If it was a wolf from another pack it would be comforting to know it had been dealt with.”
Initially I’m not sure how to answer. I know Callum’s going to challenge Daniel at the next full moon, and that in the end will take care of Bryn; but I don’t want to set hares running around the pack before then. In the end, I decide she’s right, they’re right, they should know. This is their pack, it’s supposed to be their family, their support. I won’t be the one to keep that from them, I’d rather do the opposite.
“It was Bryn.”
“Really, I didn’t see that coming.” Phillip deadpans.
Nick has his arm around Louise, he pulls her a little closer. “That guy has always given us the heebie jeebies.”
“Yeah,” Louise adds. “The way he looks at us sometimes before we change...” She tails off and shivers.
“He’s obviously got some unfinished business with you.” Beth states.
“Yeah, it’s going to get messy at the next full moon. It’s only fair to give you guys a heads up.”
“This is my first pack, Becca, I have no idea how this shit is supposed to work, I don’t think any of us do.” Beth motions around the group and the other three all shake their heads. “But we are all agreed that it doesn’t feel right, or rather, hasn’t felt right. We don’t know any wolves outside this pack, and we’ve never felt able to talk to anyone else. But it’s never really been comfortable, everyone being so, so, separate. This, tonight, this feels right.”
“Good. I’m in the same boat as you, this feels right to me too. I‘m hoping we’ll be able to do more of this.”
Phillip looks around the room and then back at me. “If you need us Becca, you or Callum, just howl yeah? If this is what the pack should be like, then we’re with you.”
“Thanks guys. I really appreciate that, we both do.” It’s hugs all round before they head off to refill their drinks.
When I look around the room again, Callum is walking over to me, smiling broadly.
“You make some new friends, lass?”
“Aye, I mean, yes. You’re a bad influence!” I slap him on the shoulder.
He leans down and whispers in my ear, “Aye, but that’s just the way you like me.”
I have to kiss him, it’s the closest contact I can get in room full of people, but it does nothing to quench the feelings he’s stirred. I wonder if anyone will notice if we disappear for half an hour.
Having the kids around meant the party was never going to be too much of a raucous affair. I feel a little sorry for the boys. They’re the only children here, and with only one other mate pair in the pack there isn’t a great deal of chance that they’re going to have any playmates at pack get-togethers for a while. The upside for them is that they’re spoilt rotten by the rest of the pack. Anyone would think it was their party and not their mother’s. Donna doesn’t even get a look in when it comes to blowing out the candle on her own cake.
Everything only starts to really wind down when the boys crash out on the sofa and the conversation levels drop for everyone’s fear of waking them up. Between us, Donna and I get them into the bedroom, and undressed and tucked into bed, without waking them. That’s definitely a sign that they’ve enjoyed their night.
As people leave, all of them find time to say a word of thanks to either Callum or me or both of us. There’s been a fantastic atmosphere in the room, relaxed and enjoyable. I’ve never seen the pack interact like this. There have been groups of people chatting that I swear I have never seen speak two words to each other in six years of full moons.
Donna and Michael are the last to leave. They help us to do most of the clearing up before they fall into their taxi. Not that there’s much to do. The bottles and cans are all lined up on the kitchen counter ready for the recycling bin. I had only put plastic cups and cutlery out and paper plates, and since there’s been a pack of werewolves in the place, there’s hardly any food left, so everything just gets tipped into bin sacks. A quick sweep of the brush over the floor and everything looks almost back to rights.
Callum and I are both well on the other side of tipsy and falling down tired when we finally make it to bed. I fall asleep with my head on Callum’s chest, listening to the sound of his heart and feeling his palm rubbing lazy circles over my back. If this is what we’re fighting for, if this is the pack we’re trying to save, it’s worth the effort; but a dark voice is asking me just what price I’m willing to pay.
Chapter Twenty Six
I can hear music, which is odd because I’m on the moors running with Callum and there’s no music on the moors. On the tail of that thought, I realise that I’m dreaming and that my phone is ringing. I fumble around on the bedside table trying to turn the damn thing off before it wakes Callum, but I can already feel him stirring behind me.
The name on the screen is what makes me press ‘answer’. I have no idea why Michael’s ringing me in the dead of night, but it’s not going to be for anything good.
“’Lo.”
“Becca, thank God at least one of you has your phone turned on. I’m coming round.”
The adrenaline surge wakes me up quickly and I sit up. “What’s happened? Is it Donna or the kids?”
“No. I’m on my way home from work. As far as I know they should all be tucked up in bed. But I need to speak to Callum, and you. It’s urgent.”
“Okay. How long will you be?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Alright, we’ll be waiting.”
I cut the call and check the time. Ten minutes past midnight. Michael must just have finished a late shift. I turn and find Callum watching me.
“What’s up, lass?”
“Michael’s coming over on his way home. Says he needs to speak to us. Whatever it is can’t wait.”
Callum reaches for me and pulls me into his arms. He’s not trying to start anything, just offering comfort from the worry of whatever it is that Michael’s about to drop on us. We don’t speak as we roll out of the bed and find something to wear. By the time Michael buz
zes the intercom we’re settled on the sofa with a mug of coffee each, and one ready and waiting for him.
He doesn’t look happy when he follows Callum into the room.
“I’m really sorry about this guys, but the sooner you know, the better.”
“Whatever it is lad, park your arse and get some coffee intae you.”
Michael sheds his coat and gratefully accepts the steaming mug. We give him chance to take a couple of sips, we know he’ll tell us what’s going on soon enough.
“I could get in real trouble for telling you what I’m about to. Most of it is confidential at the moment, but you’ll understand.”
He pauses, but we don’t rush him.
“When I got in tonight, I got called straight into a meeting. I’ve been assigned to a new task force. The purpose of the task force is to investigate the disappearance of some of the girls working Chorlton Street.”
I can see where this is going, I see that Callum can as well. Chorlton Street is notorious in Manchester for being the place to pick up prostitutes, particularly the cheap ones looking to feed a habit.
“Apparently girls have been going missing for a while. Maybe one every couple of months that couldn’t be traced. No one was too arsed at first. The vast majority of them have some sort of habit, drink or drugs. No one pays much attention when they drop off the radar, they just figure they’ve OD’d, got a new fella, moved on, whatever. There’s a few volunteers staffing projects that try to keep track of them, but it’s like herding cats. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we hear about them popping up in another area on a warrant.
“That went out of the window as of this morning. They’re keeping it away from the press for now, but very early this morning, a body was pulled out of the Manchester Ship Canal. It was the daughter of one of the more prominent local authority figures in the city. It was sort of an open secret that she had a smack habit and was working Chorlton Street. Her parents had semi-washed their hands of her, at least until she turned up dead. Now they’re demanding to know what happened to their little girl.”
“I take it she didnae OD?” Callum asks.
“No.” Michael’s sigh is heavy. “Her throat was torn out. They’ve found evidence of sexual assault. Tears, lacerations. Nothing conclusive DNA-wise since she’d been in the water awhile, maybe a day or more.”
Despite the hot drink I’ve just finished I feel like ice. “It’s Bryn. He must have been taking these girls for years. Christ only knows what he’s been doing with the bodies.”
“Yep, I agree. I think it’s him too. Obviously I can’t say that to the task force because I have zero proof. But there’s another problem in this.”
“Aye, it’s only a matter of time before someone starts lookin’ in my direction, given what I got sent down for.”
Michael meets Callum’s look and nods.
“Yes, that worries me. If we don’t find any bodies for any of the other girls that are unaccounted for, they’ll most likely treat this as the only confirmed case. That means you don’t have the luxury of the alibi that you were in jail when the majority of the crimes were committed. It’ll look like you got out and started back doing what got you sent away in the first place.”
“Is this Bryn being sloppy, or is this deliberate?”
“You think Daniel’s tryin’ tae set me up tae avoid a fight, lass?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. The only thing is, you probably do have an alibi. Me.”
“Aye, that’s true. But it’s no’ goin’ tae be fun explainin’ that tae anyone.”
“It wouldn’t hold up. No way is anyone going to believe that you’re shacked up with the girl you spent time in jail for attacking, and that she isn’t suffering from some sort of Stockholm Syndrome, or that your just plain bullying her into covering you. We’re a cynical lot.”
Michael has a wry grin, but it looks a little on the bitter side. It’s understandable that he feels caught between a rock and a hard place. He knows that they’re going to come looking for Callum eventually, even if it’s just routine questioning of local men with records that fit the crime. Unfortunately, he also knows exactly who they should be questioning.
“Is there no way we could tip them off to Bryn at all?”
“Not unless he’s we find him some evidence at all of him ever having been in the area. The girls can be helpful sometimes when something like this happens. They’ll give some descriptions of anyone strange they’re seen around. Unfortunately, that covers most of their client base, and since they’re all out of their heads half the time, they’re not exactly reliable witnesses.”
“So we’re screwed if they decide to look at Callum seriously for it?”
“It’s a possibility. Who knows what or who they’ll dig up. I’m sorry to drop this on you both tonight, this late. I know you’ve both got work tomorrow, but you especially Callum, you need to be looking over your shoulder.”
“Aye, thanks mate. I know it could cost you you’re job tellin’ us what you have.”
Callum lets Michael out of the building. I’m in bed when he gets back, but not asleep.
“It’d be daft tae ask if you’re okay, lass.”
I answer by holding my arms out. He strips and climbs into bed. We hold each other for a long time, without speaking, until we both fall asleep. We’re in an impossible situation. There’s a very good chance that Callum could be questioned about this. The only saving grace is that the lack of evidence tying Bryn to the crime, may make it difficult to charge Callum with it. That doesn’t mean that having the police poking around isn’t going to make life extremely difficult.
When I wake, I feel like a zombie. I don’t feel at all rested. Callum and I are both quieter, more subdued this morning. We’re both still trying to wrap our heads around the implications of what Michael told us last night. We get ready for work and head out without any of the usual light-heartedness that usually frames our mornings.
The ordinary, mundane progress of the day seems to take the edge off my apprehension. By the time I get home, I’m more confident that we’re going to be able to figure out some way around this, but I still have zero idea what way that will be. I take comfort in following our everyday routine, but I still feel uncomfortable until I see Callum walk through the door. He’s barely had time to shut the door behind him before I’m there, twinning myself around him. I feel an insane need to be as close to him as possible. I don’t know if this is a side effect of being mated, whether someone threatening him makes me react this way, or whether it’s just me over-reacting, or a combination of both.
We don’t speak. The kiss is deep, demanding on both sides. When I bite his bottom lip, he rumbles low in his throat. I haven’t changed from my work clothes yet. Callum smoothes his palm over my thigh, and I’m reminded of that phone conversation that seems as though it was an age away. When he passes over the tops of my stockings through the material, he growls again. He drops to his knees at my feet and runs both palms up the sides of my thighs, pushing my skirt up to my waist as he goes.
He gazes up at me, his eyes burning, as he hooks his fingers into my underwear and pulls the thong down until it’s around my feet and I can step out of it. I step back, out of his reach, until my backside hits the kitchen counter. I’m not tying to get away from him, but I know I’m going to need some help staying upright. He stalks after me on all fours. There is something liquid and feral in that crawl that makes my body clench with need, and just a hint of fear. When he reaches me, he stays on his knees. I feel him nipping the tender skin over my hips as he holds my skirt up and out of the way with his hands. Then he’s tracing a path to more delicate flesh. I lean back on the counter, elbows bent, forearms resting on the worktop. It’s the only way I can keep from falling, and it enables me to open up to him a little more, something he takes full advantage of.
I feel my orgasm cresting, and I know he does, too, because he pulls away and stands. I’m about to curse him, but he sto
ps me with another deep kiss. I can taste myself in his mouth, feel the moisture from my body on his beard. There’s something about smelling and tasting my own scent on him that makes me frenzied.
Callum spins me around and pushes me down over the counter. I arch my back, offering myself to him. My actions elicit another deep animal sound. I can hear him undo his jeans. I feel the heat of his cock moments before he’s buried it inside me. I try to push back against him, but he stills my hips, gripping me tightly. He starts to move with urgent, deep thrusts. He’s hitting a spot inside me that feels sublime. I can’t help but fight his grasp more and more as he speeds up.
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