Wyatt's Mate (Shifter Nation: Werebears Of Big Bend)

by Meg Ripley

  I answered the phone in my hotel room, unsure of who it might be, but when I heard Wyatt’s voice, the tension dissipated in an instant.

  “I couldn’t hold Brady any longer,” he confessed.

  “Did you get anything from him?”

  “Nothing at all, except that he’s hiding something. Maybe he worked with Martin to kill Uncle Keith.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised. Martin probably thinks Brady will be content to be his second in command and believes he’s loyal.”

  “He’s loyal enough not to give out any details on him.”

  “Hmm,” I pondered. “Probably more to save his own ass than anything. If he was involved, he probably can’t give up Martin without implicating himself.”

  “Good point. You should really switch to law enforcement, you know.”

  I chuckled. “Well, I was hoping I could come and join the investigation. I am a Ranger, after all.”

  “Sure, but there’s not much going on with it. We have no leads on anything. I’m not sure what to do next. If you have any ideas…”

  “I plan to talk to the members of my clan one by one to see what I get from them.”

  “Your clan? Have you decided?”

  I hated to crush the hope in his voice. “I mean my old clan. Well, while I’m here, they’re my clan, sort of.”

  “Just give me fair warning before you go.” His voice took on a slightly harsh tone.

  I swallowed hard. I could understand his frustration; I was just as angry with myself for not being able to make this decision. It should have been easy, like I’d told him. Of course I’d pick him and stay to defend my clan. But defending my clan meant putting myself in danger. Not only that, I did a lot to help my parents with my dad being ill. What would my mom do without me?

  The turmoil made me sick to my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  He sighed. “I have a few more hours of work here. Can I see you after that?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “I’ll call you when I’m done.”

  I hung up and stared at the wall, the anguish burning in my chest. If only my dad would come back. Let go of the feud and come back to where he belongs. Where we all belong.

  A loud banging on my hotel room door startled me. I’d just hung up with Wyatt, so it couldn’t have been him. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but there were several people I most definitely wouldn’t have welcomed in.

  Squinting through the peephole, recognized Terri, saw no one else in the hall with her, and relaxed as I opened the door to let her in.

  “Glory!” Terri looked frantic and frazzled. Near hysteria. She dropped an overnight bag at her feet and grabbed me with both hands. “Martin…Martin is dead. They just found his body and—” She choked on sobs and tried to talk.

  “Okay, hold on.” I ran to get her a bottle of water and made her drink some. “Where was he found?”

  “Somewhere in the park. I don’t know where.”

  “Is this another ‘animal attack’?”

  She gulped more water and then nodded. “He was murdered, too. I guess he didn’t kill my dad after all.”

  “Not necessarily. If he and Brady were working together, Martin still might’ve killed Uncle Keith. Maybe someone killed Martin because they suspected he killed Uncle Keith.”

  “I don’t know, but I’m freaked out,” Terri said. “And you—you’ve got to be in danger! My mom told me to stay with you here so we’d both be safe.”

  I pressed my lips together and considered. How hard would it really be to find me here at the hotel? The reservation is under my name and everything.

  I picked up the phone and dialed the Ranger station where Wyatt was, but the line was busy. I hung up, waited a few moments, and tried again. Still busy.

  “I don’t know if this is a safe place,” I admitted. “It doesn’t seem like it’d be too hard to find me. All he’d have to do is wait for me to walk to my car. I need to get a hold of Wyatt.” I tried the line again and slammed the phone in frustration when it beeped busy.

  Grabbing my bag, I started stuffing it with items as I thought. Where’s a safe place for us? One place came to mind. A place very much like home.

  “We need to get out of here,” I said.

  “But you just said he could be waiting for you to walk to your car!”

  “That’s why we have to hurry and go now.”

  Terri picked up her bag and stood by the door, a stunned expression on her face. I sucked in a breath, crossed my fingers, then tried calling the Ranger station again. Busy.

  Growling under my breath, I snatched my bag from the floor, and before I headed out, I peeked through the curtains to see if anyone was outside the hotel, lurking. A few cars sat in parking spots, but no person was visible.

  I deeply regretted the decision to only take a carry-on bag and leave my gun at home. All I had now was instinct and senses to go on. If it came to a fight, I’d have to shift to have a fair chance.

  “Okay. Let’s do this,” I said to Terri. “If you see anything suspicious, tell me.”

  “Are you sure about this?” she whispered as we left the room.

  “No. But I’m less sure about staying. Come on.”

  I hurried down the hall and took the stairs instead of the elevator. In the stairwell, an emergency door was on the ground level. I saw no warning of an alarm, so I pressed the door’s bar and stepped out into the heat.

  I looked left and right and focused on what I was hearing. Everything seemed to be in order, so I grabbed Terri’s hand and ran to my rental car. I tossed our bags in the back and took off in a hurry, but not so fast as to draw unwanted attention.

  “Where are we going?” Terri asked.

  “The only place I can think to go. The Montgomery ranch.”

  16

  Wyatt

  I set my phone down after my call with Glory, and before I even removed my hand, it rang.

  “Hello, is this the Ranger station?” asked the shaky voice of an older woman.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Oh good. I wanted to ask some questions about the park.”

  These sorts of calls were usually fun, getting to talk about all the best parts of the park and what a visitor might expect. But it wasn’t the time for that.

  I tried my best to answer her questions concisely, but she threw them at me left and right, wanting to know about the wildlife and if many people got lost on the trails, if she could ride horseback or go bird watching.

  After I’d given her nearly every detail there was to know about the park—for over 30 minutes—she was finally satisfied. When I finally pulled the phone from my ear, it was hot. I set the phone on the receiver and it rang again.

  Growling under my breath, I answered.

  “Just got a call,” Sawyer said. “There’s another body.”

  “Who is it? A shifter?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’m heading there now.”

  Dread filled my chest. “Another animal attack?”

  “I think so.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Before I left the station, I picked up the phone one more time, dialing Glory’s hotel room number and begged her to pick up. When she didn’t, I rushed from the station and hopped in the Jeep, driving much too fast to the newest murder scene.

  As soon as my feet hit the ground, I headed right for Sawyer.

  “What do you know?” I demanded.

  “It’s Martin.”

  “The suspect or the victim?”

  “The victim.”

  I breathed out a sigh of relief, but the dread only moved in my chest. If Martin had been killed, Glory was most definitely the next target.

  I saw that Eric was on the scene again. He walked toward us, shaking his head.

  “Someone tried to mask their scent,” he explained. “I can’t be positive, but I reckon I picked up Brady.”

  “Not surprised,” I said. “Do we have any evidence at all?”

 
Sawyer shook his head.

  “I’m done playing games,” I announced. “It’s time to take him out. I think being on the scene of two murders and having an entire clan think you’re guilty is enough for an execution.”

  Sawyer gave me a warning look. “Just don’t act on your own. You know how that could end up. Wait for the order.”

  I narrowed my eyes in challenge. “If it’s self-defense, it’s self-defense. No execution needed.”

  Sawyer nodded. “Do what you have to do, just don’t do anything stupid.”

  I quirked an eyebrow at him. “Who, me?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Especially you.”

  “I could really use some help finding him.”

  “I figured. I’ll call for the clan to go on a hunt. Better protection for Glory if we’re all shifted and on the move, anyhow.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “But before I do anything else, I have to find Glory and know that she’s okay.”

  “Let me know when you do.”

  The drive to the hotel took ages. By the time I finally got there, it felt like hours had passed. I bolted up several flights of stairs to her floor, found her room and pounded on the door.

  “Glory?” I called out.

  When she didn’t come to the door after several knocks, the panic grew. I picked out her freshest scent and tried to follow it. In human form, it was more challenging, and she’d come and gone many times from this room recently.

  When her trail led me back downstairs, I walked to the reception desk. A short, dark-haired woman smiled at me.

  “Can you tell me if room 352 left any messages?” I asked.

  She turned to her computer and typed a few things. “I don’t have anyone in room 352 at the moment.”

  “Do you have a reservation for Glory Thomas?”

  She looked at her screen again. “It looks like she checked out today.”

  I closed my eyes in despair. “Thank you.”

  I returned to the parking lot, only then realizing that I hadn’t bothered to look for her car. Checking the lot once, I confirmed what I already knew. She was gone.

  My stomach clenched and I almost lost my lunch. I sped home and barely made it into my backyard before I tore off my clothing and shifted to bear form, sensing the presence of most of my clan.

  I can’t find Glory, I told them. I went to her hotel and she checked out. Can someone run by her aunt’s to see if her car is there or if you can pick up her scent?

  Sawyer commanded, Elijah, Alex, you’re close. Go together.

  On it, Elijah said.

  Right behind him, Alex confirmed.

  Any news? I asked.

  No one’s got anything on Brady, Sawyer said.

  Damn. Where could he be? Where could Glory be?

  We’ll find them, Elijah promised.

  We’re almost at her aunt’s, Alex said.

  The rest of us are spread out over Big Bend, searching for any hint of a scent, Sawyer said. A lot of clans are out there tonight.

  Thanks guys. With all this help, we’ve got to find them. And as long as we find Glory before he does, everything will be fine.

  17

  Glory

  I pulled up to the Montgomerys’ place and Terri drew in a wary breath.

  “It’ll be fine,” I said. “You’re with me. Just don’t be mean.”

  “I don’t care about the stupid feud any more than you do,” she protested. “I’ve always been Team Wyatt.”

  I chuckled. “Thanks. We just need to find Wyatt and make sure Brady doesn’t find us.”

  I knocked on the front door and waited. This time, Wyatt’s dad came to the door. I didn’t expect as warm a reception from him.

  “Hi there, Mr. Montgomery. Remember me?” I asked timidly.

  “Don’t be silly, Glory. Come on in.” He nodded to Terri as she passed him.

  Mrs. Montgomery appeared around the corner, having come from the kitchen. “I thought I heard you! You came for a visit?”

  I gave her a quick hug. “I wish that’s all it were. The Alpha of my clan was just found dead. I really need to get a hold of Wyatt, but every time I call the station, it’s busy.”

  Mrs. Montgomery drew her eyebrows together and picked up the phone. After a moment, she said, “Wyatt or Sawyer Montgomery, please.”

  Had she finally gotten through? Hope flared within me.

  “When you hear from either of them, tell them to call their mother.” She set the phone back down. “Neither of them are at the station.”

  My shoulders slumped.

  “Now, don’t give up yet, dear.” Mrs. Montgomery dialed another number. “Maddy, sweetheart, do you know where that husband of yours is by any chance? Call me back as soon as you can.”

  “That’s strange,” Mr. Montgomery said. “I thought she was home with Caiden today.”

  “She was,” Mrs. Montgomery confirmed. “I guess we’ll just call everyone.”

  She picked the phone back up and dialed several numbers, leaving one more message but hung up looking defeated and worried. “Something’s not right, John.”

  He looked concerned as well and took a moment to answer. “If no one is answering, they’ve all got to be in their bear forms.”

  “All of them at once?” Mrs. Montgomery asked.

  “We’ve been trying to find a murderer,” I piped up. “Maybe they’re out searching.”

  Mr. Montgomery nodded. “That would make sense. I’m going to shift to see what’s going on.”

  “Hurry back, dear,” Mrs. Montgomery said.

  He kissed the top of her head and headed out the back door.

  The anxiety started to eat at me. What could I do? There had to be something. I couldn’t just sit and wait for Wyatt to call. I couldn’t exactly go out on my own to find Brady, either.

  Then, it hit me, and I felt stupid once it did. I hadn’t shifted since I’d been in Big Bend. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I did. Would the ties to my clan allow me to join their mental link? And what would that mean for my clan back home? Whatever the outcome, I did have one way to do something. If I could talk to my clan, I might be able to find Brady.

  “I’m going to shift, too.” I stood.

  “Well, then so am I,” Terri added.

  “Good,” I said. “Because I don’t even know for sure if I’ll be able to communicate with the clan.”

  “What should I tell Wyatt?” Mrs. Montgomery asked.

  “I’ll come back in a few minutes, but if he calls, have him come here immediately.”

  Terri and I made our way out back to the junipers. I heard Mr. Montgomery in the distance and wondered if he was talking to Wyatt at that very moment.

  Undressing, we set our things in a pile and shifted, stretching our sleek, gray fox forms. I rarely went so long without shifting, and I felt strange at first. But then I felt a thrum in my veins.

  I sat on my haunches and looked at Terri, who sat across from me and lowered her head, casting her eyes to the ground in deference.

  I could sense the presence of many others with me. I was back in my old clan, only now, it was my clan. I sat up straighter, my chest puffing out, and the feeling that washed over me was like liquid strength. I was instantly tougher, braver, stronger, and wiser. More powerful.

  The clan’s mental link was silent, though. Everyone seemed to be trying to figure out what had just happened.

  Hey all, I said. It seems that Martin’s death and my presence here was enough for me to become the new Alpha by default.

  Thank God, Terri said.

  Several others joined in and then a cheer of celebration carried through them. I could feel their realization, knowing they were no longer under Martin’s control.

  I hate to get right to business, I told them, but we have to locate Brady as soon as possible. He still needs to answer for what he did.

  We’ve been hunting for him, Eric said. I reckon Wyatt has his clan out, too.

  That’s what I thought. Does a
nyone have any leads?

  Not so far. He masked his scent at the scene. Or tried to. I was still able to ID him, though.

  Glory, we’ve got to stop him, Terri said. He’s going after you next and then who knows what he’ll do.

  I could feel the fear within her and several others.

  I think it would be better if we were in pairs or teams, I said. Safety in numbers, right? We feel pretty spread out, so let’s meet up. Do you still have the cabin we used to meet in?

  Yes, several of them confirmed.

  Meet there. Wait for me. I have to shift back momentarily. When I return, I’ll be on my way, and we can go from there. But then something hit me. Brady was still part of my clan. Be very careful with your thoughts, I warned them. Brady could shift in at any time.

  I shifted back and pulled my clothes on, then ran to the house.

  “Mrs. Montgomery,” I called, entering through the back door.

  She still sat in the living room.

  “I’m going to meet my clan, and we’re going to divide up to search for Brady.”

  Her face crumpled. “Oh, no. That sounds much too dangerous.”

  “There are a lot of us. We’ll be okay. But that’s why I have to go. I need to be there to protect them.” The sense of duty in me had multiplied as well. It felt like a physical need to be there with them.

  “Won’t you at least wait for Wyatt or Sawyer? Or for John to come back. Where is he?” She looked to the back door, but it remained closed.

  “I have to go. I—I’m Alpha now.” It felt strange to say it for the first time.

  She hugged me tight. “Please be careful. I can’t imagine what Wyatt would do if anything happened to you now. Goodness. He might flip his lid, he’s so crazy over you.”

  She grinned at me, and I couldn’t help beaming back.

  “Thank you for welcoming me. With everything that happened between our families, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been wonderful to see you again.”