The Patient Wolf (Wicked Urban Fantasy #1)

by Karen Hodges Miller

  “I’ve been so busy with my classes, Miss Marianne. And living in town, it would be such a late night for Sophie. I don’t want her to miss school.”

  “There’s more to learnin’ than just what’s in books, my dear. Sophie needs to learn about her heritage, too.”

  Alexander followed the conversation with interest. “I take it Sophie is your daughter?” he said when Mrs. Fletcher left. “You never mentioned you had a child. Tell me about her.”

  That, of course, was all the opening any mother ever needs. Ana launched into a long discourse on Sophie.

  “She must be charming,” Alexander said after a few minutes, and Ana sighed in relief. He didn’t seem put off by the fact she had a child. She’d seen many a man run away almost as fast as Alexander’s car could go when he realized he was dating a single mom.

  When it came time to order, the waitress recommended the special salad of Bibb lettuce, fresh strawberries, pomegranate, toasted pecans, and white chocolate Balsamic vinaigrette. They followed the delicious salad with a creamy lobster bisque, then an entrée of filet mignon with white asparagus. After lingering over coffee and a decadent dark chocolate mousse garnished with raspberries, they headed back to Rivelou through the now-dark countryside.

  The farmlands spreading out along the river made the two-lane road feel closed in, the lights of the car illuminated the narrow path as they sped silently along in the dark. The dry corn stalks, still mostly unharvested, hovered over the narrow road, constricted the view and contracted it to only the dark pavement ahead of them.

  Ana began to feel a bit claustrophobic and glanced over at Alexander. He had become unusually quiet as they drove, and she wondered if he felt the change in mood also. Finally, the fields finally gave way to the woods and she began to feel better, and breathed a little more easily.

  “I almost forgot to mention it. I had a call from a reporter at The Standard yesterday after I left you. They want to do a feature on the seminar,” Alexander cut across her thoughts.

  “That’s fabulous, Alexander. I’m not surprised. We are a small city. It’s fairly easy to get a little media attention.

  “Oh, that didn’t sound quite right, did it?” She put her hand to her mouth, worried Alexander would be offended or consider her comment to mean she thought his work was unimportant. A statement like that could have had serious consequences when she was married to Jonathan. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that your seminar wasn’t newsworthy.”

  “I understand what you meant,” Alexander said easily, and Ana breathed a sigh of relief. “And yes, it is….”

  Alexander braked suddenly as something cut in front of the car. There was a “clunk, clunk” sound as the anti-lock brakes kicked in and slowed the powerful vehicle. “Whew. That was close. Did you see what it was?”

  “No, I didn’t.” Ana found she had her hand to her mouth again, this time covering the urge to scream. She was glad she hadn’t. The incident had been startling, but she was sure it was just a deer…or something.

  “It seemed too small for a deer,” Alexander echoed her thoughts. “The eyes were too close to the ground.”

  “I don’t know what else it could be,” Ana said, hesitantly. Even though she was sure she knew exactly what—or who—had jumped in front of the car. “It’s a good thing this car has such excellent brakes,” she added.

  “Hmm. Well, I’ll just have to keep my eyes on the road. Sorry if I scared you.”

  “No, that’s okay. You’re obviously an excellent driver.”

  “Well, let’s talk about something else. Take your mind off of close encounters,” he said, glancing over at her.

  “You were just saying The Standard is going to give you a feature on the…”

  “Did you see that?” Alexander cut in.

  Another animal stood at the side of the road, eyes glowing as the headlights hit it.

  “It isn’t a deer. It isn’t the right shape,” he added as the car continued to glide along the road at top speed. He looked over at her, as if to see how she reacted to his statement.

  “There’s another one.” He pointed ahead to the drivers’ side of the road. “They seem to be watching us closely,” Alexander said as he glanced at her again. “You know what they are, of course. Wolves.”

  “Wolves!” Ana tried to sound surprised. Yes, she knew they were wolves, and she knew exactly where they came from and why they were here. But old habits die hard. She had learned at an early age never to talk about what she was. About what everyone in the family was. Even though she was now almost certain her grandfather had been right that this man was like them, it was still difficult for her to admit what they both knew. “Yes, there are still a few in this area, and people do see them occasionally,” she prevaricated.

  Alexander pulled the car over to the side of the road, shut off the motor, and turned to face her, his expression serious. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what they are—or why they are here. It is obvious, is it not? They are sending me a message.”

  Alexander’s voice and expression had suddenly turned harsh. It was the first time he had spoken to her in anything less than a genial tone. And suddenly Ana knew this man who always seemed so charming, even a little frivolous, could really be the very thing her grandfather thought he was: a rogue shapeshifter.

  “Alexander, that’s crazy!” But Ana didn’t sound sincere, not even to herself. Perhaps, she thought, the time had come for her to quit hiding.

  “The message is from your grandfather. I take it he doesn’t approve of me seeing you.” Alexander still sounded so cold; Ana shivered when she heard him

  “No. That’s not it at all. I mean…I…I… I’m not very good at this you know,” Ana stuttered. “I’m used to hiding what I am. What we are. I’m not used to talking about it outside the family.”

  “Ana,” Alexander demanded. “Out with it. What does your grandfather want from me?”

  Ana took a deep breath. “He wants to meet with you. Tonight.”

  Chapter 16

  Ana was surprised. When she told Alexander he was essentially being summoned before her grandfather, he only nodded his head, started the car again, and asked for directions. This wasn’t the reaction she had expected from someone who was so obviously used to being in charge. Once again she was confronted by the power of her grandfather—the power of her family. Maybe she could learn to take a little of that power for herself?

  Hank and Ida Bertrand lived in a hundred-year-old farmhouse on the west side of Rivelou. The property, which touched the river on its southern boundary, was reached by a long, winding dirt lane, past a pond and several fields of rich bottom land where corn and soybeans were grown. Now mostly harvested, the view of the old home was unobstructed as they drove up. The large, welcoming front porch held several rocking chairs and a few small tables; the railing was decorated with flower boxes filled with cheerful yellow chrysanthemums.

  Her grandmother opened the door almost as soon as they knocked; she’d obviously been waiting—hovering near the door—for Ana to arrive.

  “Honey, it’s so good to see you,” she said, giving her granddaughter a big hug. “We just don’t get enough of you and Sophie lately.”

  Ana had heard it many times from her grandfather, and she when she did, she felt as if he was trying to control her. But when Grandma said it, she just felt guilt. Her grandmother only wanted to see her family; there were no ulterior motives or attempts to coerce her.

  “I promise I’ll be better about bringing Sophie out, Grandma,” she said, then introduced her to Alexander.

  “It’s very nice to meet you. You are as beautiful as your granddaughter,” Alexander said as he took her hand.

  Ida sniffed. “I’ve heard you have pretty manners. Are you treating my granddaughter right?”

  “Grandma! I’ve told everyone I’m just working with Alexander on a project at work,” Ana protested.

  But Alexander ignored Ana’s protests. “Yes, Mrs. Bertrand. I will alway
s treat your granddaughter in the way in which she should be treated.”

  “Well, see that you do. My husband wants to speak with you. They are in the family room,” she said, leading the way through the center hall of the house, toward the basement stairs.

  The basement had been made into a surprisingly bright family room that included a comfortable sectional and several recliners placed strategically around a very big screen TV. Her grandfather and her brother Danny were watching the Colts play the Titans.

  They both looked up as Ana and Alexander arrived, but no move was made to greet them until Hank got slowly up from his chair, his hand outstretched.

  “Alexander. It’s good to see you again. I’m glad you accepted our invitation.”

  “Ana made it clear I did not have a lot of choice in the matter.”

  Gone was the easy-going atmosphere of the day before, when her grandfather had seemed to be just an avid fan of Alexander’s books on the supernatural. This was a side of him Ana had seen only a few times in her life. The last time was when she had brought Jonathan to meet the family and announce that not only had they eloped, they were expecting a baby.

  It wasn’t a scene she wanted to remember.

  After introducing Alexander to Danny, Hank said, “We need to talk, Fontaine. Ida, why don’t you and Ana go upstairs for a while.”

  “Grandpa! I’m not….”

  But her grandfather cut her off with a quick motion of his hand.

  “This is my home, Ana, and you will do as I say. You and your grandmother go upstairs while we discuss some things with Alexander.

  “Don’t worry,” he added in a softer voice. “My bark is bigger than my bite tonight.”

  “It will be fine, Ana,” Alexander said, giving her a reassuring pat on the arm. “I think your grandfather and I have a lot we need to talk about.”

  Ana allowed herself to be led upstairs by her grandmother, where she nervously paced the kitchen. She couldn’t decide what she was angrier about: That her grandfather was questioning Alexander, that he hadn’t allowed her to stay, that he had allowed Danny—only two years older than she was for god’s sake—to stay, or that Alexander had become complicit with the “men’s club,” patting her on the arm, and dismissing her

  “Ana, have a seat, for god’s sake. You grandfather isn’t going challenge your boyfriend to a fight tonight. He just wants to talk to him. Let me get you something to eat while we wait, honey.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend, Grandma. He’s actually my boss, at least for this one project. He just wants my help on his seminar for the university,” she said. She sat down at the table as her grandmother had asked, but waved away the cookies she brought out from the cupboard. “No, I couldn’t. Alexander took me to the Strawberry Moon. We ate until we were stuffed. Miss Marianne says hello, by the way.”

  “Yes, we know. Marianne called here when you left to say you were on your way. And she was quite impressed with your date, by the way.”

  “She called. Really!” Ana asked incredulously, ignoring the “date” comment. Once again she thought that one of the worst things about being a part of the Bertrand family of Rivelou was she just couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without someone noticing.”

  “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised, should I? I can’t sneeze within three counties of you and grandpa without someone reporting back to you that I have a cold.”

  “You know how it is. We watch out for our own,” Grandma said.

  Ana sighed. She’d heard that phrase so often in life. “But when does ‘watching out for’ become smothering?” It wasn’t a thought she’d ever dared to mention before.

  “Only if you think of it that way, honey. But tell me more about this Alexander. Obviously the man is interested in you,” her grandmother continued relentlessly. “He’s taken you out for a fancy dinner at Strawberry Moon and…”

  “Grandma, I told you, he is not my date. He is my boss. We spoke more about his work at dinner tonight than we talked anything else.” Well, that wasn’t strictly the truth, she thought. They’d spoken about Sophie, about where Alexander had traveled, about Ana’s plans for her career… Her grandmother didn’t need to know; it would only encourage her.

  Always a peacemaker, her grandmother patted her hand. “Well, that’s as it may be. The most important reason your grandfather wanted to see him isn’t because he is dating you. It’s because he’s been here for months and has never checked in with the family. You know he should have done that if he had any manners at all. It’s a sign of respect.”

  “I don’t think Alexander is used to following old school protocols,” said Ana.

  “Well, he needs to get used to them if he plans to stay in Rivelou. We follow traditional ways here.”

  At this point her brother Danny, stuck his head into the kitchen. “Grandpa wants you down here, sis,” he said.

  Ana gave him a hard stare as she got up to follow him. “You and I are going to have words, Dan.”

  “This isn’t the time, sis.”

  “No, it’s not. But we will talk soon.”

  “Hey, I was just looking out for you.”

  Ana rolled her eyes. Would there ever be a time when everyone in the family wasn’t sticking their nose in her business in the name of “looking out for her?”

  But Danny was right. This wasn’t the time. She kept her thoughts to herself as she and Ida followed him back to the basement family room.

  Chapter 17

  The atmosphere in the room was obviously more relaxed than it had been when they first arrived, Ana noted as she entered. Alexander had removed his jacket and was drinking a beer as he sat in an armchair facing the television.

  “We need to talk,” Hank said. “Obviously, I didn’t want everyone here tonight. We’ll have a meeting later in the week to fill in the rest of the pack. For now, Ana, you and Ida need to hear what Alexander has had to tell us. Alexander, please go ahead and fill them in.”

  “Mrs. Bertrand,” Alexander began, nodding to her. “You have heard about the wolf attack in Mitchell Park last week, I know. And you also know that Ana, herself, was attacked, probably by the same animal,” said Alexander.

  There were nods of agreement from the two other men, even though they had obviously just heard this story a few moments before. Ana’s grandmother put her arm around her and led her over to a seat on the sofa.

  “I’m sure, Mr. Bertrand, that you have your sources,” Alexander began. “I have also made friends with some of the local constabulary and they have assured me that, although they are telling the public this was just a stray dog, they are sure there is more going on.”

  Hank bristled a little at the thought that some of “his” people might have been speaking out of turn to Alexander.

  “Well, that is obvious, isn’t it? We didn’t have to come out here for Alexander to tell you this, Grandpa.” Ana was suddenly feeling a lot less sympathetic to Alexander, who had obviously been let into the boys’ club in a way she knew she never would.

  “Let him speak, Ana,” was all her grandfather said.

  “The police believe that someone is controlling this animal. It has been seen before around the town and has acted in a threatening manner: growling, snarling, chasing people. But never before has it actually attacked someone. The theory that the police have…”

  “You mean that you gave them,” Ana muttered, only to receive a stern look from her grandfather and a shushing sound from her grandmother.

  “…is that someone is keeping the animal hidden away and only letting it out at certain times of the month, with the goal to make people who are in the know blame the werewolf community. Another obvious theory, however, is that this is actually a rogue werewolf—or shapeshifter, if you prefer.” Alexander raised his beer toward Hank in acknowledgement of his preference. “Someone who is not part of a pack, possibly someone newly turned who cannot control himself when he changes.

  “Personally, I find myself in favor of the first theo
ry. That this is not one of us,” Alexander threw out his arm inclusively. “But a large dog, or a wolf, that someone is controlling. This person is letting the animal loose only at the full moon in order to make people believe that there is a rogue shapeshifter on the loose in Rivelou.”

  “The police are keeping it fairly quiet,” added Hank. “We certainly don’t need everyone in town hearing theories about shapeshifters. Luckily, I’ve still got some influence with Chief Anderson and the Mayor,” said Hank. “What they haven’t told anyone is that something was taken from the victim. His watch. He apparently had a pretty nice watch. No animal would have taken a watch. There’s a human involved in this.”

  “I think I see where this is heading,” said Ana. “You all think Chris Spier is the man controlling the animal. You think he is purposely setting this animal on people to drum up business or something equally sinister.”

  “Exactly,” said Alexander.

  “And you’ve told the police this?”

  “Yes, they have heard my suspicions about Spier.”

  “But it doesn’t make sense! Chris told me himself his brother-in-law had been killed in a similar attack. And how did you justify your knowledge that Chris is a Hunter if you are on the down low about who you are?” she added sarcastically.

  “I asked him the same questions, Ana,” put in Danny. “He has some good answers.”

  “Let him speak, Ana,” her grandmother said, and Ana quieted.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Bertrand. Let me explain. One possibility is that Spier’s brother-in-law found out what he was doing, confronted, him, and was killed. If it was Spier’s animal that killed his brother-in-law, what better way to throw off suspicion than to ‘save’ someone from a similar attack?”

  “But why, then, would he come here and set up another attack?”

  “Who can understand why a deranged person acts the way he does? The man has been chasing shapeshifters and other paranormal beings for years. Obviously he gains pleasure from it. Rumor has it he has powers of his own, but is denying them.”