by Lyla Oweds
I glanced toward Michael, willing him not to bring up stalking again, but he remained silent. Watching me, as if he wanted me to take the lead from here on out.
Only I had no idea what he expected from me.
“I’m not sure…” I bit my lip, cursing Michael in my head. “I had come to turn in an application earlier, and then—”
“So it was you who punched Mr. Scott?” Mr. Kohler interrupted, his voice heavy with disbelief.
Oh no, the office rumors had already begun to make their rounds. And I didn’t even work here.
I didn’t think.
The way he looked at me was almost horrifying, and I knew that I was going to dread his next question. Probably something about my mission here or to remark on my audacity to hang around Michael. What could I say? I still had no idea why Michael had dragged me down here to begin with.
“Mr. Abernathy had not mentioned this, but seeing you, it’s obvious. You’re a shifter,” he said, instead of everything else I’d expected. His dark-eyed gaze trailed over my form now—appraising. “What is your animal form? Where do you rank?”
I’d been about to protest, to try to explain something about my presence. His unexpected query made my mind turn blank for a moment. But as his questioning eyes held mine, my heart began to race. I realized that, somehow, this might turn out better than expected.
“I’m a wolf, from the Dark Creek Pack.” My words stumbled out in a rush, and I fought to keep my thoughts at bay. It wouldn’t do well to make assumptions, only to be turned down in the end. He might only be curious. “My position is of no consequence. I don’t rank highly enough to matter. But not low enough to draw attention. And my Alpha doesn’t care what I do.”
“You’re unmated?” His head tilted, and even though his words caused my heart to pound, I knew he hadn’t meant to be unkind.
But still it stung.
“I don’t have a mate.” Which was for the best. It was, technically, possible to marry and have children, and have a career. But none in my pack would sit idly by and let me do what I needed without argument. The men were too aggressive, and traditional.
Yet, I couldn’t deny the small pang of disappointment that not one person in my pack understood me. And at my age, the chances of me finding a mate elsewhere was almost impossible.
At the thought, Michael’s presence brushed my senses. And my desire to ever procreate died a quick death.
“It’s all right.” I could ignore all the rumors. “It doesn’t happen for everyone. That means that I’ll be able to work longer hours, since I’ve no distractions.”
Mr. Kohler raised his eyebrow, and my heart sank at the look on his face. “Work?”
I had assumed wrong? But then why did he ask? “I…”
“You’re in luck. I’ve returned from visiting with Chief Conner. And he’s approved this department one internship position,” Mr. Kohler said. “It’s unpaid, and the term is only for a month. After that, employment might be extended. But I cannot guarantee—”
“I’ll take it.” Without even thinking, I rushed forward and grasped his hand. “I’ll be the greatest intern the Department of Forgotten Mysteries has ever seen.”
“You’re our first and only intern.” Mr. Kohler shook my hand even as his disapproving glance snapped toward Michael. “And will you stop calling it that. You’re giving us a terrible reputation.”
Chapter Three
“Now that business has been taken care of, we’re ready to continue with our investigation.” Mr. Kohler straightened his tie as he walked past me, headed toward the third desk in the room. He glanced at Michael, who was leaning on said desk. “You might as well fill her in. She’ll be joining you and Gregory for this next part.”
Gregory glanced up from his desk, and the faux-hurt dissolved from Michael’s expression. It was replaced with a seriousness that didn’t become him.
“Right,” he replied, meeting my eyes. “Well, you’re in luck. For your debut into the Department of Forgotten Mysteries, you get to work a homicide case.”
My curiosity piqued.
Very rarely were cold cases solved. The public interest and funding wasn’t there. It was difficult to convince investors that the effort was worth the risk. But even with the newest technology, the likelihood of us discovering usable evidence was low.
If I helped solve a homicide… There would be no way that Chief Conner would be able to refuse to bring me on full time.
But, I had grown up here. To my knowledge, there were very few open, notable, homicide cases. I found myself watching Michael in suspicion, hoping that my instincts were wrong. “What case is this?”
“Fifty years ago, newlywed Stacy DuClaw of the Silver Moon pack went missing. Two days later, her mutilated body was washed ashore from the river. Her husband, Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, Oscar DuClaw, has been searching for answers since.
“However, due to a lack of evidence, our local office abandoned the case. When he heard rumors of our department opening, Mr. DuClaw financed our operation. His only stipulation was that we took on his wife’s case.”
My worst fear was coming true, and my heart sank. All my hopes and dreams for the future faded from my mind. I turned to leave. “Goodbye.”
“Gloria!” I hadn’t made it two steps before Michael’s hand closed over my elbow. “Why are you leaving?”
I turned, narrowing my eyes at him. “You’re seriously asking me why?” My gaze flickered toward Mr. Kohler, who watched the two of us over his folded hands. “Is that why you were interested in me joining? Because I’m a shifter?”
“No!” Michael protested, tugging on my arm. His voice was strained. “Well, maybe one reason. But there’s others, too.”
As much as it hurt that I had been sought out because of my animal counterpart, at least he was being honest. Besides, even I had to admit I made an excellent asset.
“And there’s the added perk that I’d get to spend time with you,” he added, a spark of hope kindling in his eyes.
Gregory covered his face with his hand, but I ignored him. “I’m part of the Dark Creek pack.” Mr. Kohler knew this from our conversation earlier. “I cannot work a case to benefit the Silver Moon pack.”
Mr. Kohler didn’t respond as his gaze remained on me, unmoved. It almost felt as though he was judging me. It hurt.
It was one thing to be a working woman. I was used to people seeing me as an oddity, or someone who was touched in the head. I had gotten used to ignoring it.
But defying my Alpha was something entirely different.
“I can’t take this job,” I said again, pulling myself away from Michael’s touch. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
I was nearly to the door when Mr. Kohler’s words stopped me in my tracks. “If you want to work for the police—any police—you cannot choose the cases you accept.” His voice was calm. “A true professional would never discriminate.”
He sounded so sure, so judgmental, that my temper flared. I’d never felt more self-conscious about anything in my life. Heat washed over me as I spun back around. “I’m not discriminating at all! I have nothing against them, but surely I cannot be expected to disobey my Alpha—”
“Your Alpha was aware of the risks when he allowed you to attend college and to major in Criminal Justice. If he expected you to succeed in the workforce, he is well aware of the governing rules set by the council.”
“What are you saying?” My heart raced as trepidation filled me. “What rules?”
“If a pack member joins a public service field, they are required to work outside of pack politics,” Mr. Kohler said mildly, not seeming to understand the implications of his words. “Have you not noticed how few of you are in any sort of law enforcement role? How few peers you had among your classmates?”
I’d never thought about it before.
I’d been so caught up on my mission, myself, that I hadn’t paid attention to what everyone else was doing. “No.” Anxiety and despair
warred for dominance inside my mind.
Everything—all of my hard work—had been for nothing. How could Alpha MacClure never have warned me?
“There’s not many options for how you’ve made it this far.” Mr. Kohler’s voice sounded so far away. “I’m no pack member, but I know potential when I see it. There’s no reason why you’d not be a ranking member if you put your mind to it. Now, I don’t know Alpha McClure, but I cannot imagine he is a stupid man.”
Instinctively, my hackles rose. My loyalty toward Alpha MacClure made it offensive for the word ‘stupid’ to be in the same sentence as his name.
But Mr. Kohler didn’t seem to notice. “Your Alpha could be trying to get you out of his hair. He’s been keeping you busy and away from the pack. He never expected anyone to actually hire you, so the subject of your loyalty wouldn’t come up. If that’s the case, he’s underestimated your perseverance.”
Michael’s grip was tight around my elbow. His touch kept me centered, but I barely paid him any mind. Instead, I focused on my breathing—and Mr. Kohler’s words. My stomach churned, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to kill something or throw up.
“Or there’s the second option,” Mr. Kohler continued. “He wants you to succeed. For some reason, he doesn’t want you involved in the hierarchy. Instead, he wants you outside of the pack, in law enforcement. Why, I’m not certain. He might be using you as a way to challenge the council. Or maybe you’re an example for the others: What will happen to those who step outside of your communities.”
My breath caught in the lump in my throat as I held his gaze. “What will happen to me?” What would happen if I went against everything I knew?
“I could be wrong,” Mr. Kohler calmly continued. “There might be another reason entirely. Perhaps he, too, is challenging pack law. But the way I see it, you only have two choices. And both will change the direction that your life takes.”
The world seemed to shrink around us, and his knowing eyes held mine. “You can leave now. Knowing that you cannot refuse a case anywhere based on pack politics, you give up. Go back home and live the life that is expected of you. Or, you remember why you were drawn to this field, recall what you hoped to accomplish with it, and use that dedication to make a stand.”
I wanted to, I wanted to so badly. But I’d worked my entire life to stay out of the spotlight in my homegroup. I’d had enough to deal with outside. The last thing I wanted was for Alpha to turn his attention to me. I didn’t even consider that he cared.
What would happen to my family, especially after they’d been through so much already?
“He might kill me for helping them,” I told him. Guilt ate away at me, because I actually felt bad for Alpha DuClaw. I’d never heard what happened to his mate, but we all knew that he had been alone for an eternity.
And after all that time, he hadn’t given up.
So yes, my stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought of walking away. Michael and Gregory watched me cautiously, and I could almost taste the disappointment in the air.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Mr. Kohler said, confidence lacing his tone. “He can’t actually kill you over this.”
I didn’t understand where his self-assured manner came from. The sick feeling in my stomach continued to take over. “I don’t—”
“He’s made his move by not stopping you before. It’s too late for him to do anything now. By joining this department, you’ve become public. People are going to wonder who you are, follow your progress. By doing nothing, he’s given you his approval to disregard the pack—whether he meant to or not. Now if he steps in, he will look like a man who can’t keep his word,” Mr. Kohler said. “The council generally stays out of shifter politics. But if he does anything to harm you now, it will not go unnoticed.”
Oh, that was a comfort. When I died, they’d notice.
“It is doubtful that he would do anything,” Mr. Kohler repeated, seeming to read my expression. “The last thing any Alpha wants is for the council to investigate his business. The only thing more frightening is for the Xing himself to get involved.”
It almost seemed like Mr. Kohler really wanted me to stay now. And for someone who hadn’t seemed thrilled to see me, his demeanor was suspicious. “I basically had to beg your Chief for the opportunity to work with you not twenty minutes ago. Now you’re stopping me from leaving. Why do you care so much if I help your investigation?”
“In the past, the only shifters on the investigation were pack members. None of them had training for our sort of work, nor could they look at the evidence objectively. The first desire of any wolf is to protect the pack, even if evidence points to something rotten inside. This case needed people trained in investigative thought. Now more so than ever, considering the time that has passed.” He paused, contemplative. “And we also could use the funding and the exposure. And closing a higher profile case of this nature would be the first step in making a name for yourself. There was a reason why you wanted to be a detective, yes?”
My heart pounded as the reminder washed over me. That was enough to give me the courage I needed. “Yes…”
He raised one of his dark, bushy eyebrows, and the scent of satisfaction was heady in the air. Michael had let go of my arm some time ago, retreating to stand near the desk he’d seated me at earlier. Meanwhile, Gregory watched me as if he found the entire conversation fascinating. But their look of curiosity faded at Mr. Kohler’s next words. “So, we have an agreement?”
“If I die, I’m haunting you,” I told him, frowning.
“Feel free to do so,” he retorted, a slight grin touching his lips. “But since I cannot see spirits, it’s irrelevant.”
I frowned, I hadn’t expected any sort of humor to come from this serious-looking man. But he was right, if he couldn’t see spirits, the full effect of my revenge would be lost.
My eyes sought out Gregory, and I pointed at him. “Then I’ll haunt him instead!”
Gregory’s mouth twitched in humor, but it was Michael who responded, offended. “You’ll haunt Gregory? Why not me?”
“As good as an onmyoji you are, you do not have a shikigami.” I didn’t even move my eyes from Gregory. “So, as Mr. Kohler reminded me, haunting you would be useless.”
“So you would have considered staying with me for eternity otherwise?” His tone was hopeful. Michael grinned.
“Why are you asking?” I slowly responded as trepidation filled me once again. “Have you seen something? I thought you said it was unreliable.”
“No, it’s not unreliable. It needs to be used cautiously, and never as a reason to abandon common sense. Don’t fret, I already looked into your future a long time ago.” Michael waved his hand, nonchalant. “It is likely you’re gonna live to be quite old. So feisty too.”
“Oh…” My heart steadied as my sudden fear dissolved. But then it hit me. “You saw me upset for the last ten minutes and didn’t think to let me know that I wouldn’t die?”
Michael raised his eyebrow. A cryptic look taking over his features. It was the same expression fortunetellers were wont to have when issuing a prophecy… And asking for more money. “Nothing is set in stone.”
“I hate you.” Seers were the worst. I glowered and turned toward Mr. Kohler. “What is everyone’s role on this team? I assume that Mr. Abernathy is the comedic relief?”
“Actually, Mr. Abernathy is prone to displays of angst,” Mr. Kohler replied dryly. “But”—he nodded in Michael’s direction—“they can tell you themselves.”
Michael pushed to his full height, his eyes gleaming. “I’m the muscle. It’s my job to apprehend subjects and protect the rest of us. I use my ability to foresee the future as a way to deflect and defend.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. The thought of Michael Abernathy defeating anyone was unimaginable. Especially considering our self-defense classes. “You’ve never been able to beat me.”
Gregory made a choked sound, and he stared at Michael in dis
belief. “You’ve lost to our rookie?”
“Oh, shut up, Gregory.” Michael frowned at him, the happiness seeping from his expression. “Don’t talk about things that you don’t understand.”
“Oh.” Gregory’s mouth curled up. “I understand perfectly. You’ve lost to…” He trailed off as my narrow-eyed gaze met his. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m certain you’d best me. Fighting isn’t my strength.”
“Is that so?” I took in his strong, square frame once. His body was large and muscular. So it was surprising to me that he didn’t excel in the arts. “What do you do then?”
“I’m a psychologist,” Gregory responded. “My background is in forensic psychology. But as for my ability, I can communicate with spirits.”
My curiosity about this man began to swell. As Mr. Kohler had pointed out, there was a lack of shifters in public works. However, even more rare than my kind, was a fae working outside of their community. No one, besides them, knew the extent of their ability. It was only known that they could see and communicate with spirits, and that information was murky at best. They were secretive by nature, and most fae would rather die than tell the full truth.
Besides me, there had been less than a handful of shifters in my major. But I hadn’t seen a fae in my department at all.
But if he could communicate with spirits…
“Isn’t it cheating to be able to speak to the spirit of the victim? It’s not like you’re doing any sort of investigative work at all.”
“No.” Gregory’s expression, which had been slightly more approachable, suddenly closed. His eyes were dark on mine. “It is not cheating.”
My throat closed as it felt like awkwardness had taken over my body. I hadn’t meant to offend… “I—”
“First of all, a spirit cannot divulge information regarding their death. They can only provide hints,” Gregory explained, tapping his pen against the table. “And secondly, the deceased do not always haunt the area in which they have died. Nor is it common to even locate the victim’s spirit, such as in a case like ours. Only the most highly ranked of us are able to call spirits from their home.”