Carnal: A Dark Shifter Romance

by Piper Stone

  “Kelly!” the deep voice boomed from the trees, creating a wave of relief.

  I’d been found.

  “Over here, Captain,” I called.

  “Captain?” Max asked, lifting his eyebrows. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  “I don’t owe you a thing. Why did you lie to me?”

  “I didn’t lie,” he insisted.

  I huffed, disgusted with the entire situation. “Uh-huh. Like I said, you’re nobody. I doubt your name is even Max.”

  “Jesus Christ, Detective Kelly. What the hell do you think you were doing? Going off on your own without your partner is against protocol. I should stick your ass behind a desk until you turn fifty for this shit.” Captain Walters was a by-the-book kind of man and it was obvious I’d broken just about every rule in the book.

  I stood my ground, the Beretta still pointed at Max’s chest as the captain, my partner, and several police officers barreled through the trees.

  “Detective Kelly?” Max asked, laughing before mumbling under his breath, “You’re a damn cop.”

  “Kathleen, are you all right?” Mark’s voice held worry.

  I’d worked with Mark Chevis for almost two years. He was an excellent partner, a man of true integrity who kept me on the grid more often than not. Sadly, he looked like shit, dark rings surrounding his eyes.

  “I’m just fine, but the killer is still on the loose. We need to establish a perimeter around the park. He could still be in close proximity. I got off several rounds, two that I know hit the target.” I could tell by the way the police officers looked at each other they were buying into the animal story. Then there was the curiosity Max had regarding the fact I’d managed to shoot the bastard.

  “We have a team collecting evidence and we’ll talk about the case later, Detective Kelly.” My captain’s answer was canned, his meaning clear. I wasn’t supposed to say jack shit at this point for fear of shoving my foot into my mouth even further.

  When Captain Walters flanked my side, he stared up at Max, absolute recognition crossing his face. The shake of his head was telling. They knew each other fairly well. “I’m surprised to see you working this case, Cordero. Aren’t you a little out of your league?”

  Was there discord in my captain’s voice or respect? That I wasn’t able to tell, but it was clear I’d been wrong.

  Dead wrong.

  “Just in the area working a case and heard a scream. I have my own fugitive on the run. Any of your boys run into Brody Miller in the last few hours?” Max kept his tone light and his eyes locked onto me.

  I’d never felt so stupid in my life. I was a trained detective, a woman with two commendations. Right now? I was acting like nothing but a rookie.

  “Brody Miller? Sounds like you’re the one with your hands full. A truly sick bastard. We’ll keep an eye out for him. Hang around for just a second and before I forget, make certain and say hello to your father for me, will you?” The captain grinned before turning his attention back in my direction, his expression hardening. “And what the hell, Kelly? I told you to wait for backup,” the captain snapped. “You’ve gone off the rails a few times before, but this shit isn’t going to fly any longer. Do you know how many manpower hours have been used on hunting down whatever kind of animal did this sick shit?”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but I was only three blocks from here. Thought I might be able to track the bastard down.” My answer wasn’t going to fly and I knew it. However, it did seem to amuse Max. Hearing him chuckle fueled my increasing anger. “Who are you again?” I demanded, glaring at Max.

  “As I tried to tell you earlier, Detective Kelly, I am a cop. You couldn’t find me in any normal database because I work for the Justice Department. I’m an agent with the ATF.” Damn, he was amused at my misgivings.

  I accepted his credentials, staring down at them as I chastised myself for the fifth time. Since I’d run into him at the coffee shop, I’d lost all common sense. “Special Agent Maximillian Cordero.”

  “That would be me,” he said, grinning.

  “I can see you two know each other but that shit doesn’t matter right now. We have a murder investigation to work and in case you haven’t noticed, Chevis is under the damn weather. Get to know each other better on your own time. And take a damn shower, Kelly. You stink,” the captain huffed between clenched teeth. “Since you’re here, Cordero, I need to know everything you might have seen in these woods. We have one fresh dead body and from the looks of it, the poor bastard was eviscerated at minimum. Same shit as the others—torn apart.”

  “Torn apart?” Max asked, narrowing his eyes.

  I could swear the man was hiding something and fairly significant given his intense stare. For even the hardest cops, hearing that a victim had been ripped apart usually brought surprise. Max’s reaction was fake as shit. “You might have seen on the news recently? Two dead bodies before tonight, both ripped to shreds?” I snapped.

  He took a step back, rubbing his jaw and darting more than one glance into the forest. The man knew something all right. “I admit I’ve had my head stuck in hunting the fugitive the majority of the time. I wasn’t paying attention to some glorified news program.”

  Or your head in something else. “Maybe I should ask you a few questions about anything you could have possibly seen.” I spit out the words.

  Max sighed and I noticed that he’d fisted both hands. I took the time to glance at the wound on his neck. I could have sworn it was much worse before. Barely a damn scratch now. I definitely needed a strong cup of coffee.

  “Anything I can do to help, I’m happy to, Detective Kelly.”

  “Fine. Then we’ll talk later. Why don’t you give me your card?” I held out my hand, refusing to take no for an answer. The asshole would talk to me one way or the other. If my instincts were correct, he’d not only seen the killer but knew him.

  The thought produced a wave of chills settling into my system. As he walked away, I could swear I heard him mutter a word under his breath that made me shiver to my core.

  “Wolfen.”

  Chapter Five

  Max

  Ravenous hunger.

  Only this time, the feeling wasn’t mine.

  A wolf.

  I’d been inside the beast’s mind for a brief moment but enough time that my blood still ran cold. The desire to kill was strong, yet the actions had been controlled. The need to hunt was innate. I closed my eyes briefly, images of the forest floating in the periphery of my vision. Even my heart continued to race the same way as the creature’s had as he’d run, free of the constraints of being a human. Jesus.

  I’d chased the bastard through the woods, tangling with him seconds before he’d reached the abandoned building. I reached toward my neck for the fourth time, thankful my healing powers were phenomenal, although Kathleen had noticed the slight injury.

  I could tell the bastard wolf had been hurt as well by the stench he’d emitted, only his injuries would take additional time to heal. If only I could find him quickly. The fact Kathleen had wounded him was extraordinary, which also troubled me. The bastard would likely hunt her down.

  What I hadn’t been able to confirm was whether the animalistic smell was coming from the Wolfen or from another prominent pack of wolves, including the Nightwalkers. They were particularly difficult, running their organization more like a biker club than a civilized community. I wouldn’t put anything past them, including hunting for leisure.

  Since the mandate almost twenty years before that they were our sworn enemy, peace had been kept between the two packs. While a few of the pack members had been involved in petty crimes and skirmishes, none had ever performed such a heinous act. Had something changed in their organization or was I grasping at straws, praying to God the attacks hadn’t been done by a Wolfen?

  Stone Keeler was by any term a true barbarian, although I still found it difficult to believe the various stories I’d heard since his return. What I did know for certain w
as that he was slick and highly respected, his pack more like lapdogs than associates. The pack believed he was a true leader. I loathed that kind of power.

  Or maybe a small portion hungered for the exact same thing. There were those in my community who would agree.

  I’d curtailed my anger while protecting Kathleen, but whoever the wolf was, he’d certainly gathered her scent on my body. That and her attack on him placed a target on her back. Now I wasn’t certain if she was the intended victim or if the attacks were a complete loss of his control. Either way, I would be required to hunt him down and kill him prior to any additional attacks occurring.

  That meant I needed to speak to my father, and perhaps the other elders or the city councilmembers. They would know how best to handle this. That would come later and after my discussion with Kathleen.

  God damn it, the stench of the beast remained. I’d smelled it on her, much like my own, almost like an indelible ink. The asshole had gotten too close, even before I’d found her, although I hadn’t noticed any wounds or scratch marks. Perhaps the wolf still had some level of rationality left. If his killing spree had more to do with a disease that had fully taken over, he would kill indiscriminately without allowing any of his humanity to interfere.

  If this rogue asshole was simply a murderer, he would likely alter his killing grounds and his methods.

  Jesus, I was beginning to sound like my father and a believer in the old ways.

  Hissing, I stared at the information on the damn fugitive, barely able to concentrate. I’d been fucking careless in taking her so soon, putting her life in danger. I should have followed my instinct instead of my cock. Even now my balls were tight as drums, desire spilling into every synapse. I hadn’t simply happened on the park in the middle of the freaking night. I’d gathered a whiff of her from miles away and followed her to the kill zone.

  Like some wayward fool.

  Now everything had changed. I’d been tossed into the middle of a nightmare.

  While I wanted nothing to do with the Denver Police Department, I would remain close. I needed to make certain none of the detectives pointed a finger toward the Wolfen or another pack, including Kathleen. Christ. What a freaking mess. Her curiosity was keen, her attention to detail spectacular.

  She was like a dog with a bone with regard to the case. That much I could already tell. After checking her out, I realized I had my hands full on several levels. And I still had my own job to do. I refused to back away from my assignment, even as my mind drifted to the old ways and teachings of our kind. The aging stories had been shoved down my throat as a child, something I’d balked against like any teenager and young man would do. My father had been so patient.

  I’d spent the previous two days doing my job, tracking Brody with my partner of three years, hunting down what had ended up being unreliable sources. The last tip we’d received indicated Brody had skipped town, which wouldn’t bode well with the brass. So far, there’d been no communication between Brody and Stone.

  Still, something didn’t smell right.

  As a fugitive, Brody was considered armed and dangerous, in a league all his own. But he was somewhat predictable in his actions, which meant he’d be forced to secure some kind of help. The fucker would be caught eventually. Humans were careless in their actions.

  A rogue wolf was something else entirely. Intelligent and cunning, they were considered one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, their capabilities and skills unequaled. Only humans had no idea how close in proximity they lived, performing the same jobs, children going to the same schools. There would always be myths about the existence of what the fables called werewolves, only Wolfen were far superior.

  Wolves in general were exceptional in every manner.

  There hadn’t been a story of a rogue attack in almost three decades, even though the pack elders continued to insist that any day the disease could begin to take over. I’d heard nothing about the murders from any member of the pack, although having refused to live close to any of them, I was often kept out of the loop. The attacks were something I couldn’t ignore, even if it meant placing my job in jeopardy.

  Fuck. Fuck!

  I checked my watch, thankful the second team had taken over the hunt for Brody. I was bone weary but had far too much work left to do.

  Given her obvious distrust of me, I hadn’t expected a call from Kathleen, but she’d established a meeting at her convenience, the call short and efficient. She’d been convinced I was lying to her. I should have known she was a member of law enforcement. Her manner of speaking and a few of the words she’d said should have led me to the correct conclusion.

  If I hadn’t been thinking so damn irrationally, my desire blinding me from almost anything else, I wouldn’t be in this position. While the hunger continued to burn deep within, my reason for taking her once again tonight would be more about protection and little to do with sexual gratification.

  Or so I wanted to tell myself.

  I found it humbling being forced to return to the community, four thousand plus acres owned by the Wolfen. As far as anyone who knew about the area, the families were considered ranchers and nothing more, providing for their families off cattle and sheep. Over the decades, the beautiful location had been turned into a rather bustling small town, even drawing in tourists who provided needed income. The return would be bittersweet.

  However, I needed information and the best source was my father and the elder members who ran the city council. If anyone knew what was going on, they would. Now I had to file a damn report, and I loathed being stuck in the office for any length of time.

  “Hot date?” Logan asked, grinning as he grabbed his jacket.

  I gave my partner the middle finger before rolling my eyes. “Maybe.”

  “Woo-hoo. About damn time. I kinda thought you were going to enter the ministry.” He laughed heartily. I could feel his weighted gaze as he glanced over my shoulder at a picture of Brody. “We’ll catch the asshole. He’ll be back in his locked cage in no time.”

  “If he doesn’t end up with one of my bullets between his eyes.”

  “Always the lone wolf, aren’t you?” Logan chastised.

  I shot him a nasty look before turning off my computer. “I have my reasons.”

  “Last time I checked, you had a partner. I know you think you’re better than me, but Jesus, Max.”

  “That’s not what I think, and you know it. I’m just... This case is bugging the shit out of me. Okay? This has nothing to do with your skills.”

  “When are you going to tell me how you know Stone Keeler?” he asked, lifting a single eyebrow.

  “Nothing to tell. I went to school with him a hell of a long time ago. I don’t know jack shit about him now.” Logan knew my tone. Back the fuck off.

  He backed away, hissing under his breath. “Have it your way but that lone wolf shit is going to get you killed one day.”

  I bristled hearing the truth, the tension between us something I hated.

  “Don’t look now but the wicked witch of the West is headed in our direction,” Logan muttered a minute or two later.

  Great, just what I needed. I grabbed my keys, anxious to get the visit over with so I could leave. I noticed she was already standing in the doorway with a pensive look on her face. Sheila Finley, the director of field operations, was tough as nails, considered on the fast track for the director of the ATF. Her assignment to the Denver field office hadn’t set well with her plans. And she absolutely hated me.

  “Cordero. Parker. I need to see you both in my office before you head out for the night.” Sheila turned on her heel, keeping her head high as she headed back to her office.

  Logan whistled. “She’s in a mood today. Bet she’s getting heat that we haven’t located the fugitive.”

  “Yeah, well, we’ve done everything we could to track the bastard.” My anger roared to the surface.

  He gripped my arm before walking by. “Just play it cool, my friend
. I don’t know what’s going on with you lately, but this surly attitude of yours is going to get you canned one day.”

  Surly attitude. He had no idea what the hell he was even talking about. While we were partners, had even shared a few six-packs of beer and several games of pool at the local dive, he could never be my friend. There was far too much danger surrounding maintaining a friendship of any kind.

  He’d never survive the aftermath.

  I waited for a few seconds before following behind him. I’d never been good at playing politics and as with any organization, there was the importance of numbers. While our field office had outperformed a huge percentage of others, Denver wasn’t considered a huge player in the game of numbers—at least as far as promotions went.

  Sheila stood at her window, her arms crossed. “Close the door.”

  Logan lifted his eyebrows and performed the task, both of us moving toward her desk. We knew better than to open our mouths before she began the conversation.

  “The Brody Miller case is out of your hands,” she said casually.

  “Wait a minute,” Logan started. “We’re making headway.”

  “Don’t bother. It’s in the hands of the Feds now. He was seen late last night in Montana,” she answered, still not bothering to turn in our direction.

  “Then what case are we being assigned?” I asked, almost grateful the case had been ripped from our hands.

  Sheila finally turned, locking eyes with me and I could tell she was attempting to garner a read of my mood. What was she looking for? She leaned over her desk, placing her fisted hands on the surface. “Parker, you’ve been assigned to work on an evolving case with several of the local bars. Seems like they’re running some pretty terrifying things through them. I’ve sent all the information to you. You start right away and you’re going undercover.”

  This was unusual.

  “You’re splitting us up?” he asked, darting a glance in my direction.

  She exhaled, half chuckling. “It would seem that Agent Cordero has been asked for specifically to work with the Denver Police Department on a particularly gruesome case they have.”