Embracing the Wolf

I was supposed to be leaving for New Mexico tomorrow, but I couldn’t until we caught this person. Just thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t gotten to Adam in time caused my stomach to twist with pain.

“There’s one good thing that will come out of this,” Adam said. At our questioning looks, he said, “They will never ask me to host a conference again.” We all laughed and nodded.

“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s almost like a murder mystery dinner party.”

“Yeah, where the attendees could literally die,” Elle said.

We all nodded in agreement, silence settling around the table as each person thought. I rested my head in my hand and rubbed my forehead, closing my eyes. I tried to think of a logical suspect, someone other than Adam’s parents, but the only thing I saw was Adam’s bleeding body in the forest. I had a feeling I would be seeing it for a while. I thought about the vision I had and the shadowed figure that shot him. From what I remembered the few times I’d seen Taren, the shooter was shorter than him. Was it another vampire or the employer?

“Maybe we should tell everyone to go home,” I said and everyone looked at me. “I know the conference has another week, but I’m tired of worrying every time we go outside that another arrow is going to find its way into one of our hearts. If the person responsible is from one of the visiting packs, then maybe they’ll take their vendetta home with them.” Even as I said it, I knew I was wrong. Someone that twisted wouldn’t just up and forget about wanting me dead.

Adam rubbed my back, his fingers coming up and squeezing my shoulder. “I think it’s best everyone remain here until we catch whoever is doing this. Maybe tomorrow you can start reading people.” At my frown, he smiled. “You can read Chloe first. Just think of all the dirt she’s hiding. You could own her with it.”

I admit that did make this whole ordeal a little more bearable. Then again, I didn’t want to spend an entire day seeing the history of the visiting wolves. I wanted my mountain back and everyone to leave, like now.

“I think I’ll start tonight,” I said, standing up.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I knocked on the door to Adam’s old house where Chloe and Cadie were staying. The interior was dark behind the windows, and I smiled at the thought of pissing them off by waking them up. Lights flipped on, illuminating the house, and footsteps echoed as someone headed toward the door. I silently prayed that I would find incriminating information by reading Chloe. Other than Adam’s parents, she was my only other suspect.

The door swung open to reveal Cadie. As soon as she saw me, a scowl distorted her pretty face. “What do you want?”

I smiled brightly. “I thought we girls could have a slumber party,” I told her sarcastically. She rolled her eyes and began to slam the door in my face, but I shot out my hand and stopped it from closing. I ignored the huff coming from her lips and stepped inside.

“That was very rude,” I told her. “Especially since this is not your home. You are a guest here. I expect for you to show some respect.” I was not in the mood to deal with a snotty werewolf ho. One wrong word and I was afraid I would kill them both. Adam’s near brush with death had me tiptoeing between the edge of sanity and insanity. My wolf bristled beneath my skin, agitated and ready to break free, and I was tempted to let her.

“I—” Cadie’s face changed from annoyed to afraid. Her lips parted, and she stared at the ground, giving me a wide berth as I moved farther into the house. I hadn’t been in here since I came looking for information on Eve. Her decorating touches still remained in the house, reminding me she was still here in a way.

“Where’s Chloe?” I spun around and faced Cadie. Her long brown hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail. I flicked a glance at her tank top that had a picture of a silhouetted wolf and the words Trophy Wife scrawled across the top. I quirked an eyebrow in disgust.

“Nothing like advertising your gold-digger-ness,” I muttered.

“She’s sleeping,” Cadie said, pressing her body against the wall as though the space between us still wasn’t enough. I smiled, taking a step closer. I had felt the effects of a powerful wolf and knew how suffocating it could be. I moved so close to her that she had to turn her face so that our lips didn’t meet.

“Then go wake her up,” I said slowly.

Cadie didn’t waste any time; she slid away from me and scurried down the hall. A wide smile bent my lips upward. Having this odd power might not be so bad.

Five minutes later, I heard Cadie and Chloe down the hall.

“Why didn’t you just tell her to leave?” Chloe asked.

“Because,” Cadie said. “She’s different now, powerful.”

“So they say,” Chloe murmured. “But I doubt she’s changed that much.”

When they rounded the corner, I was leaning against the wall, my arms crossed over my chest. My eyes instantly connected with Chloe’s, and I grinned.

“Aw, come on,” I goaded. “I must have changed enough to scare you. You did retract your challenge, didn’t you? I’m more than willing to meet you in the field if you’ve changed your mind.”

Chloe eyed Cadie, and then they both stared at the wall in front of them. Having people avoiding my eyes was still awkward as hell, but I didn’t mind scaring these two.

“I didn’t want to upset Adam,” Chloe said.

“How would you do that?”

Her eyes flicked to mine and then away. “By winning the challenge.”

I full out laughed, almost to the point of tears. My wolf’s amusement bled through me and intensified my merriment. After a few seconds, I got myself under control, but still smiled.

“I would love for you to prove that,” I said. “All of a sudden I’m in the mood for a good fight. What do you say?” My smile disappeared, and I moved toward the two women, my fingers curled into a fist. Knowing Chloe’s sole purpose of wanting to fight me was so she could claim Adam amplified my seriousness and anger. I wanted nothing more than to soak the earth with her blood. Then again, maybe that was my wolf’s thoughts coming through. It was difficult to separate the two.

“Uh … is that why … you came here?” Chloe asked, her voice shaky.

I was silent for a while, enough to scare her. “No, I’m here to read you.”

Cadie and Chloe looked at each other nervously and then at the floor. Interesting. Without warning, I grabbed her arm and waited for my mind to be filled with her history. Only, nothing happened. I frowned, gripping her arm tighter. Chloe let out a painful moan as my nails dug into her skin. Small rivulets of blood seeped from the broken skin, and my mind and vision blurred.

Chloe and Cadie were standing on a path in the forest, another person in front of them. The stranger had a sweatshirt on, the hoodie up to cover his or her features.

“Wow,” Chloe said. “So you’re the one who hired the vampires?”

The stranger didn’t say a word as they raised the crossbow out in front of them, aimed right for Chloe’s heart. Chloe held up her hands and took a step back. Cadie’s forehead wrinkled as she moved with her friend. It was obvious who the boss was in their friendship.

“No need to get violent,” Chloe said. “I’m on your side. Once Anna is out of the picture, Adam will be mine. You’re doing me a favor.”

The stranger tilted his or her head to the side and lowered the crossbow. “If you tell anyone, you’re next.” Though the person spoke just above a whisper, the voice had been female. That would help narrow down our search.

I blinked, fighting off the effects of the vision, and stared at the two women. I didn’t let go of Chloe’s arm. Instead, I dug my nails in deeper.

“You knew the entire time, and you didn’t say anything?”

Chloe let out a whimper, sliding down the wall as I twisted her arm. “Not the entire time,” she stammered. “We just found out two days ago.”

“Who is it?” I yelled, digging my fingernails in deeper. Cadie started to inch away, and I shot out my other hand and grabbed a handful of her shirt, slamming her against the wall. Her head bounced off the logs, and tears began falling against her cheeks.

When neither of them spoke, I released them both and took a step away. I knew how difficult it was to think while in the presence of a more powerful wolf. Hoping my distance helped clear their minds, I crossed my arms and waited for either of them to confess.

“Did you know they almost killed Adam tonight? If I hadn’t gotten there in time, he would be dead. You let them go because you wanted him, right? You could have been the reason he died.” I paused and looked between the two women. “It’s funny you pretend to care about him.”

Chloe snickered, standing up. “I never said I cared about him. You should know by now that the pairing of werewolves does not include feelings. He’s an olde blood—a social status—and that’s it.”

Revulsion filled my stomach at how cavalier her remark was. “So why not go after Anthony? He’s an olde blood, too, and looks exactly like Adam.”

Chloe and Cadie shared a look, a small laugh falling from their lips as though I just suggested they date the band geek.

“Because Adam has a pack,” Chloe said simply.

“That’s the only reason you wanted him, because he has a pack?” Now was my turn to laugh. “So hook up with Anthony, and create a pack.”

Chloe let out a heavy breath, followed by the roll of her eyes. “One cannot simply start a pack, Anna. It has to be sanctioned by the Leaders, and no Leader in their right mind would allow Anthony to create a pack.”

A silent, “why not” filled my head but after seeing what he and Eve did with their little band of followers I had a good idea. Even after everything Anthony did, I still couldn’t look down my nose at him like the others. That bothered me, a lot. I didn’t want to have a soft spot for my fiancé’s rebel brother.