The Wolf Siren

by Karen Whiddon

  “Good.” Kane sighed. “I’m trying to decide if I should just take Lilly and get the hell out of here.”

  Both Sly and Bronwyn protested. “You can’t. Not when we’re so close. They took a huge risk today, sending one of their people out here. Sounds to me like they’re getting desperate.”

  “Desperate?” Kane’s short bark of laughter contained not one iota of humor. “You’ve been here a while. What’s the status? Have any of your team even been able to locate where they’re staying?”

  Sly shook his head. “No. I’m not sure what’s going on, but no one has seen those three since the desk clerk told them she had no room at her motel. They haven’t shown up in town at all.”

  “Except today.”

  “Yeah.” Grimacing, Sly and Bronwyn exchanged a glance. “If they hadn’t made that move today, we were about to believe they might have moved on.”

  “Moved on?” This time, Kane didn’t bother to hide his disdain. “Not likely. I don’t think they’d give up so easily.”

  “I agree.” Bronwyn cast a sidelong look at Sly. “We’re thinking since they sent that one to question your mother, they know she’s with you.”

  Crossing his arms, he waited her out.

  After a second or two, she continued. “We’re hoping they’ll eventually start canvassing the town. They’ve got to. They’re here for a reason. For them to just go underground like this makes no sense.”

  “Unless they know you’re on to them.” Kane kicked at a rock with the toe of his boot. “We need to find out what brought them to Leaning Tree in the first place. They have no reason to suspect Lilly would be here. Lucas and Blythe, her brother and his wife, have no ties to this place. I’m thinking someone must have tipped them off.”

  This time Sly responded. “Maybe. It’s possible. But who?”

  Jamming his hands in his pockets, Kane paced. “I don’t know. My family are the only ones who know Lilly’s true identity, and they wouldn’t betray my trust. As far as the missing Sanctuary people know, she could be anywhere in the U.S. So why have they come here? What brought them to our small town here in the Catskills?”

  Again Sly and Bronwyn exchanged a look.

  “What?” Kane stopped, glancing from one to the other. “What are you not telling me?”

  Sly stepped forward. “I’m going to venture a guess, even though I know you’re not going to like it.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Sly nodded. “I figure you’ve probably already thought this through, so it won’t come as a total surprise. We’re thinking they tracked you.”

  Kane blinked. “Dammit.”

  “We’re checking in to that now.”

  “It’s possible since I worked undercover at Sanctuary,” Kane said.

  “And were instrumental at bringing down Jacob Gideon,” Sly reminded him. “It could be you’re high on their list of targets.”

  “If they even have one, which I doubt.” Staring off into the distance, Kane tried to think. “I swear, if I find out that I’m responsible for leading them to her...” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. Sly and Bronwyn completely understood.

  “Look.” Sly clapped him on the shoulder. “They aren’t professionals. They’ve got to make a mistake. When they do, we’ll be there to grab them.”

  * * *

  Lilly went silent as Kyle drove her to the same general area where Kane had let her out of the car earlier. He was talkative, full of questions, but after receiving several monosyllabic responses, he stopped asking.

  “You can walk to the caves from here.” He pointed. “I’ll wait. It should only take you a minute.”

  Though she knew Kane would have wanted Kyle to stay with her for safety reasons, glad of the chance for solitude, she simply nodded and got out of the car.

  She couldn’t remember how far she’d gone before she’d disrobed and changed. Either way, tromping through the woods would help her mood. She needed to purge her body of this insane desire for a man who clearly didn’t want her.

  Kane. She didn’t want to need him, especially since she’d decided she had to be strong and learn how to make it on her own. When this was over, she had no plans to go back to live with her brother and his wife. She wanted to find a job, doing what, she didn’t know exactly, and she wanted to experience the joys and the terrors of a self-sufficient life.

  She thought. She wasn’t sure she had it entirely right, assuming it would be a weakness to need or rely on anyone else.

  Either way, she owed Kane an apology. She might not have much experience at life, but even she knew it was wrong to use someone physically.

  The sad thing was, if Kane would let it, she knew their relationship had the potential of being so much more.

  But she didn’t want his pity. Not that, never that. She wished she could have met him as his equal, someone to be admired rather than one who evoked sympathy.

  Sighing, she spotted the bright patterned material of her dress and hurried toward it. Once she had it in hand, she hurried back to where Kyle waited and climbed in his car.

  “Good job,” he said, smiling at her. He was handsome, too, she noted dispassionately, but without the touch of rugged masculinity that made Kane so attractive.

  “Thanks.” She smiled back. “I’m glad nothing happened to this dress. Today was the first time I’ve worn it.”

  He nodded. “Where to?”

  The question surprised her. “I guess I’ll go back to the cabin. I need to talk to Kane when he returns.”

  Again the nod. Shifting into Drive, he turned them around and they headed back to Wolf Hollow.

  When they reached the cabin, Kyle parked. This time, he got out of the car.

  “No need,” she said, waving him back.

  “I want to make sure Kane’s here before I go. He’d have a fit if I left you here unattended.”

  She began to wish she’d taken a bit longer in the woods. Solitude had become a rare commodity in her life these days.

  As they stepped on to the porch, the front door opened and Kane came out. Her stomach did its usual dip and swoop at the sight of him.

  “You found it?” he asked, his shuttered gaze going to the dress. When Lilly nodded, he strode to his brother and gripped his shoulder in a man hug. “I appreciate it,” he said.

  “No problem.” Dipping his head in a nod, Kyle took off.

  Lilly stood outside until the sight and sound of his vehicle had completely disappeared. Finally, aware she could put it off no longer, she squared her shoulders and faced Kane.

  “I’m sorry,” she began.

  “Don’t worry,” he said at the same time. One corner of his mouth quirked in a smile. “Go ahead.”

  “You first.” Moving past him into the house, she took a seat on the couch.

  “I met with Sly and Bronwyn,” he told her. “Four men are out looking for the guy who was here today.”

  “Do you really think they’ll find him?” She didn’t mean to sound skeptical.

  “I hope so. Especially since it’s Sly’s opinion that I’m the way they tracked here.”

  “Because you helped take down Sanctuary.”

  “Yes. And because your brother and I became good friends.”

  She made a sound of dismay.

  “It’s okay. We’re prepared,” he reassured her. “The Protectors are going to be staying here awhile. At least until they’ve caught those three.”

  Awhile. She tried not to show her dismay. More time while she felt increasingly like a lightning bug, trapped inside a jar. “And then what?”

  “And then you can go on with your life.”

  She winced, then immediately tried to hide it. She didn’t want him to realize how his words brought her pain. While she pretended to consider, she attempted to keep from staring at the way his muscles rippled when he moved his arm.

  When his gaze met hers again, the intensity blazing from his made her inhale sharply. “That is what you want, isn’t it?
”

  With him near, she no longer knew what she wanted. With one exception. Him. She wanted him.

  All the logic she’d worked out while in the woods disappeared. She’d planned to apologize, to make promises she couldn’t keep. In the end, she’d let him choose. She craved him, the same way she craved air to breathe. She’d let him know and allow him to make the choice. When...if she found enough courage to do so.

  “Lilly?” His tone sounded savage. “Are you going to answer me?”

  Pushing to her feet, she crossed to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, curling her body into his. Her mouth found his and this one touch was all it took.

  Passion instantly blazed between them. Familiar and exhilarating. And welcome. When they were together, she didn’t have to think about anything other than how good he felt.

  Another way of running from reality? Maybe. But she truly didn’t care.

  Suddenly, the words Kane had said once came back to haunt her. She lifted her mouth from his, breathing hard. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running from them.”

  “You won’t,” he hastened to reassure her. “We’ll apprehend them soon.”

  “Will you?” Restless again, she twisted out of his arms. “What if you don’t?”

  “We’ll deal with that if it happens.” He reached for her. She sidestepped, biting back her frustration, pushing away her desire.

  “No.” The fierceness in her voice finally reached him. Crossing his arms, he waited.

  “I want to go after them,” she said. “I’ve put a lot of thought into it, and that’s the only way we can catch them.”

  “What do you mean, exactly?” He spoke carefully, making her aware he already knew what she was going to say.

  “They want me. We want them. It’s pointless for those Protectors to hang around waiting for them to put in an appearance and you know it.”

  He took a deep breath, bringing his breathing down to match hers. “True, but we have no other options.”

  She smiled sadly. “But we do. We can make it look as if they’re going to get me. I’ve got you and six well-trained Protectors to keep me safe. Put me out there for them to try and grab. Instead, we’ll set a trap.”

  “Bait.” A warning settled over his rugged face. He reached out to her, gripping her upper arms. “You want me to allow you to be used as bait.”

  Allow?

  “Yes.” Gently, she pried his fingers loose, so he could see the faint red marks on her pale skin. “It’s the only way. I want this over with.”

  She thought he’d refuse, expected the next words out of his mouth to be “absolutely not.” Instead, he cocked his head, staring off into the distance, as though giving her suggestion careful consideration. Meanwhile, the scent and power of their mutual desire lingered, swirling around them like a potent smoke.

  Her body wanted him. Only her body. This wasn’t what mattered right now, she told herself fiercely. He had to see the logic in her words.

  “You know, you might be on to something,” Kane finally said, studying her with a critical, narrow gaze. “As long as the proper safeguards are in place so you’re not at risk. I’ll take it up with the others.”

  “When?” she pressed. “I’ll go with you.” She wasn’t going to give him a chance to stall. “Let’s talk to them now.”

  Again he surprised her. “Okay. But let me lay the ground rules.”

  He held out his hand and she took it, without hesitation. Each day she grew stronger and more self-confident. Rather than holding her back, Kane appeared to have stepped back, giving her the necessary room to spread her newfound wings. A firefly, about to escape from the jar.

  She almost grinned at the corny analogy.

  Chapter 16

  Watching Lilly, so full of newfound bravado, Kane felt a flush of pride combined with a grim sort of panic. It took every instinct he had not to sit her down and caution her about the reality of life. Though she’d emerged alive from fifteen years in hell, she hadn’t been unscathed. Damned if he’d stand by and let her take a chance of getting hurt again.

  Yet as she stared at him with that self-assured smile, her blue eyes bright with confidence, he hadn’t the heart.

  “Well?” She all but tapped her foot. “Let’s put this thing in motion.”

  “Someone’s been watching too many TV movies.” Somehow he managed to tease her. He’d wanted to swear when she came up with her plan, wanted to grab her and hold her close and tell her absolutely not, no way in hell.

  “Nope. I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers and romantic suspense books,” she said. “Come on, tell me. What do you think?”

  “Give me a minute.” He looked down, holding his tongue while he pretended to consider her idea, which he hated. There was no real choice and she probably knew it. He’d realized she was right. They had to use her as bait. It was the only way. Simple and exactly the opposite of what the cultists would expect them to do. After all, they were Protectors. Their job was to protect, to keep Lilly safe.

  Not to put her up for target practice.

  If he believed they wanted her dead, he never would have agreed to her plan. But since they both knew the remaining doctors from Sanctuary wanted to capture her alive, so they could continue their horrible experiments, that was one risk they didn’t have to worry about.

  “We can try it,” he said, keeping his tone cautious.

  She met his gaze and dipped her chin. “Thank you.”

  They decided to walk over to the Protectors’ cabin. Sly, Bronwyn and two other members of his team were gathered around the kitchen table having a quick meal.

  “Come on in.” Sly stepped aside, motioning them past. “I reheated some barbecued beef we picked up in town and we’re having sandwiches. You’re welcome to eat with us.”

  Though the aroma wafting from the table made Kane’s stomach rumble, he shook his head. “No, thank you. I wanted to run something by you. Lilly’s come up with a plan and, as much as I hate it, I think it might work.”

  Briefly, he outlined Lilly’s suggestion that they use her as a lure to trap the cultists.

  After a moment of silence, Bronwyn jumped to her feet. “I like it,” she said. “And I really think it has a viable chance.”

  Sly and the others seconded her comment.

  “Great.” Lilly greeted their acceptance with a shy smile. “Now all we need to do is work out the details.”

  “We will.” Sly gave her a high five.

  The way the Protectors greeted the idea disturbed the hell out of Kane. He’d expected some reservations at the very least, not this outright enthusiastic response.

  He glanced at Sly, trying to catch the other man’s eye, but the team leader was busy giving Lilly a quick bear hug. “Quite the little she-wolf you’ve turned out to be.”

  Kane barely suppressed an instinctive growl. While Lilly had no way of knowing this was the highest compliment a male Shifter could give a female, Kane did. As his wolf self tried to protest, he realized he also didn’t appreciate the way the other man was eyeing Lilly. Every instinct within Kane had him wanting to grab Sly and inform him in no uncertain terms that Lilly was his. His.

  Except she wasn’t. Never would be. And Protectors never lied to their teams.

  “We’ve got to plan this carefully,” Sly said, indicating Kane and Lilly should both take a seat. “I’m expecting the two remaining team members any minute, so we’ll wait for them before we get started. Several of us have started working in town, so we’re making contacts there. Still no sign of the cultists, though.”

  “That’s what Kane was telling me,” Lilly murmured, dropping into an empty seat next to Bronwyn.

  As Sly made his way back to his chair at the head of the table, Kane remained standing. Seeing this, Sly stood also.

  A sound outside had Kane’s hand going instinctively to his weapon. Sly strode over to the window and peered out. “Stand down, man. It’s just Drake and Stu.”

  He’
d barely finished his statement when the last two Protectors stomped inside. “I can smell that barbeque outside,” one of them said. “We’re starving.”

  Sly jerked his thumb toward Kane. “We’ve got company.”

  “They can eat,” Kane put in. “Hell, everyone go ahead and have your sandwiches. Everyone thinks better on a full stomach anyway.”

  No one needed a second urging. Even Sly resumed his interrupted meal. “You might as well grab a bite,” Sly told him.

  About to shake his head, Kane’s stomach chose that moment to protest. Loudly. Grimacing, he snagged a seat on Lilly’s other side and loaded up one of the paper plates.

  Silence fell while they all ate. Lilly made quick work of polishing off her single sandwich and then she watched quietly while the rest of them had seconds and even thirds.

  Once everyone had pushed their paper plate away, Sly leaned forward. “Here’s what I’m thinking. We’ve got to orchestrate this carefully. We’ll figure out a way to put the word out that you’re going to be in town. First up, we need to create a ‘leak’ as to who you actually are.”

  Kane glanced at Lilly. From her weak nod and queasy expression, he could tell she didn’t like this, even though it had been her idea. Neither did he, but they’d both already committed.

  “You can always change your mind and back out,” Kane murmured.

  “But you won’t, because it’s necessary,” Sly said, apparently also correctly interpreting her expression.

  Glancing from Kane to Sly and then back again, Lilly slowly nodded. “I won’t back out. Your plan makes sense.”

  “How will we keep them from coming to Wolf Hollow to try and get her?” Kane asked, his tone a bit more savage than he’d intended. “I do not want to put my family at risk in any way, shape or form.”

  “Timing, my man.” Clearly unfazed by Kane’s tone, Sly continued. “We leak the info in the morning, and then have Lilly go into town in the afternoon. I’m going to arrange to make this a big deal. I have contacts at the local news station from Albany. I’ll arrange for a live interview. We’ll get newspaper coverage, and put the word out on social media.”