Cry Wolf (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 4)

by Leighann Dobbs

  “Mr. Roberti,” the guy said, shaking Caine’s hand with a surprisingly firm grip. Then he narrowed his gaze. “She carries a gun and a Taser, you know, and she’s not afraid to use them. You mess with her, you’ll regret it.”

  “Understood, sir.” Caine bit back a smile. DeeDee’s courage was one of the things he admired most about her. “Do you know where she went?”

  The old man sighed and turned back to his tangled Christmas lights. “The Tribunal Restaurant,” he said. “Seemed in an awful hurry to get there too.”

  “Thanks.” Caine walked back to his car then waved. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Roberti.”

  “You too,” the old guy called.

  Caine got back into his car then gave the driver the location. It seemed an odd place for DeeDee to go this late. He’d driven by the restaurant several times but hadn’t ever gone inside. It looked a bit run-down, to be honest.

  His cell phone rang, and Caine glanced at the small screen, seeing an incoming call from the detective who worked with DeeDee.

  “This is Dex Nolan. Is DeeDee with you?”

  “No.” He frowned, his concern growing. “I stopped by her house, and her neighbor said she was on her way to a place called The Tribunal. I’m going there now to talk to her.”

  “Great. Listen, I know we don’t know each other that well, but DeeDee seems to care for you a lot, and I don’t want her getting hurt.”

  “What are you talking about?” Caine gripped his phone tighter. The longer the conversation went on, the more his agitation grew. He had a bad feeling about all this. “Is there something going on I should know about?”

  “I don’t know,” Dex said. “You know I’m an FBPI agent. I know you’re paranormal, a werewolf, and so is DeeDee. Anyway, my fiancée’s a witch. She got a call from one of her cousins asking her to get over to this Tribunal Bar place quickly. Now, like I said, I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but whenever those cousins get together, mayhem usually ensues.”

  “Mayhem?” Caine scowled.

  “She mentioned something about a mustard seed locket and a spell. Does that mean anything to you?”

  His pulse stumbled, stopped, then restarted triple time. His mother had told him the legend when they were kids. Mustard seeds could be used to plant doubt in someone’s mind or make them change their decision. If DeeDee had one and was desperate enough to get out of marrying him, she could use it to erase their marriage contract from her father’s mind… but if she got caught doing that, the consequences could be unthinkable.

  “Can you go any faster?” he urged the driver then returned to his conversation with Dex. “These cousins of your fiancée’s. Do they form a coven of their own?”

  “Yep.” Dex sighed. “Like I said, I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t want to interfere, but DeeDee cares for you. I know she does. She’s scared, though. She told me once her mom gave her that mustard seed locket. I always thought she wore it as a memento, but now, I don’t know. I thought maybe you should know, in case you’re involved in this somehow. If you care about DeeDee too, you should tell her. She’s a good woman and a great cop. But if you hurt her, I swear—”

  “I won’t hurt her. Ever,” Caine said. Dex was the second man who’d defended DeeDee to him that night. He was well aware of how awesome his soul mate was. Now if only he had a chance to tell her, he’d be all set. “I need to go.”

  He ended the call and leaned forward as the Mercedes raced toward the middle of Silver Hollow. He had no idea what he’d find when he got to this Tribunal place, but he intended to let DeeDee know how he felt before it was too late.

  Minutes later, the driver pulled up in front of a small, dark bar. A red neon sign buzzed and crackled atop the worn steel entrance door, and a rusted-out brown pickup truck was parked near the curb. He got out and told the driver to wait then headed inside, determined to win the woman he loved, no matter the cost.

  CHAPTER 24

  DeeDee sat in the back room of the seedy restaurant and stared at the stained red carpet beneath her feet. Folding chairs were stacked against the walls, making it look as if it was used more for storage than anything else. The front area hadn’t been much better—old maple tables, water-marked tile ceiling, the smell of sauerkraut and musty gym shoes. There was a small bar to one side, dimly lit, with three old patrons nursing their whiskeys on a long sticky bar top. They must have been owners, she assumed. Yeah. The Tribunal might be a so-called high-energy zone, as Gray had said, but it wouldn’t be ranking on the Michelin Star registry any time soon.

  The Quinn cousins were currently bickering about spells and rituals and bad juju.

  She already felt hesitant enough about what she was about to do. She didn’t need the wrath of the Quinns to crash down upon her too.

  Finally, Issy came over and took a seat. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.” What other choice did she have, really? None that she could see.

  “Do you know anything about this man you’re pledged to marry? Maybe you should at least meet him first. He could be really nice, and once we do this spell, we can’t take it back. And from what I hear, it could be something you want to take back.”

  DeeDee didn't disagree on that, but she had no choice. She didn’t relish what would happen to her once she refused to marry MacPherson after using the mustard seed to plant the idea not to marry Nia off to the MacPherson clan in her father’s head. She would be ostracized. Her family and wolf friends would shun her, and she’d be destined to run alone and not frolic with the pack ever again. At least she would save Nia—that was one saving grace. “No, I’ve not met him. I’ve tried contacting my dad so many times I’ve lost count, but he’s on his honeymoon and won’t answer my calls or texts, so I’m desperate. All I know is his last name is MacPherson and he’s due to become alpha once his father passes. From what I’ve heard through werewolf channels, his pack is pretty prominent and—”

  “Ah!” One of the three older men from out front entered the back room from the long dark hallway. The other two elders walked in behind him, one smoking a large cigar. The first elder turned and spoke to another figure approaching down the hall. “Is this the one you’re willing to sacrifice for?”

  Caine walked into the room, and the world seemed to come to a standstill. “Yes,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers as he bowed before the three elders. “I will take her under my protection and take the punishment for her actions.”

  Stunned, DeeDee pushed to her feet. “Caine, what are you doing here?”

  He’d already sacrificed himself for her once, by tackling Gina to the ground in the RV. She couldn’t let him do it again. It went against everything she stood for. She was a law enforcement officer, the protector of the people, the one who’d sworn to put her life on the line for others. Still, she could not stop the tiny spark of hope that he was willing to go that far to win her love. Unfortunately, fear soon doused it. Fear he would be punished for his bravery. After all, she was destined to marry a MacPherson. If word got out about what Caine was doing, it could cause severe repercussions for Caine, and she’d hate to see him hurt because of her.

  A voice from behind her jarred her from her whirling thoughts. “DeeDee?”

  She spun fast to see her father. Her already racing pulse zoomed faster. She took a step back. Something was wrong. “Dad?”

  “I’m sorry it took me so long to answer.” He stepped out of the shadows along the wall. “I’ve been trying to text you, but service was spotty.”

  “I don’t understand.” She clutched the edge of a nearby table to steady her trembling hands, the weird tingle of destiny rushing over DeeDee like a tsunami. “I thought you were still on your honeymoon.”

  “I was. But when I realized I’d forgotten to set up an introductory meeting between you and your new husband, I rushed home to remedy the situation.” He winced. “With all my own wedding preparations, I forgot. Looks like I didn’t have to worry, thoug
h, since he’s already here.”

  “Huh?” A quick glance around the room showed all the same occupants as before—the Quinns, the Tribunal, her, Caine, her dad. “I’m sorry, I don’t get it. My mate can’t be here. I know all these people and…” Her voice trailed off as realization dawned. Breath hitched, DeeDee turned slowly to face Caine Hunter. “It’s you. You’re the man I’m supposed to marry.”

  Caine at least had the decency to look sheepish. Her father, on the other hand, sounded quite pleased with himself. “Yep. He’s Caine MacPherson. He’s due to inherit leadership from his father someday. What a fine pair you two will make.”

  The adrenaline sizzling in her blood slowly ignited into pure anger. Her dad talked about them as though they were nothing but livestock, nothing but playing chips to be bartered and traded at his will and discretion.

  She shifted her glare from her father back to Caine again.

  “I’m so sorry, DeeDee.” He held his hands up in surrender. “I wanted to tell you who I was right away. But then we got off on the wrong foot because my movie set kept getting reported and you came out to investigate and—”

  “Just save it, okay?” She stepped forward, poking him in the chest with her finger. “This whole time, you could’ve pulled me aside and told me the truth about who you were and why you were here, but you didn’t. Instead, you lied.” She advanced again, taking a step forward for every one he took backward until he smacked into the wall. “Forget it. I’m done listening to you, Caine Hunter or MacPherson or whatever the heck your name is.” She rose on tiptoe, putting them nose to nose. “And I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last werewolf on earth!”

  With that, DeeDee stormed out of The Tribunal. She was through with love, through with lies, and most of all—through with Caine MacPherson.

  CHAPTER 25

  DeeDee sat in the comfy chair in her living room, doing her best to finish a particularly intricate section of her appaloosa embroidery pattern. Two days had passed since the blowout with Caine at the Tribunal. Two depressing, confusing, thoroughly vexing days.

  She tried yet again to make a French knot, failed completely, and ended up tearing the whole stitch out and starting again. It didn’t help that her vision kept blurring, not because of tears, because she refused to cry about what had happened with her father and Caine and all the lies and deception. Nope. She most definitely wasn’t crying. It was eyestrain. That was all.

  Sniffling, DeeDee tried to start a new stitch, but her heart just wasn’t in it.

  With a sigh, she set the embroidery piece aside and leaned her head back against the chair. Christmas was just a few days away, and crime was even slower than usual in Silver Hollow. Because of that, and because Owen said she deserved a break after solving the Tucker Rockwood case, he’d given her the holidays off. Normally, DeeDee would’ve been thrilled to sleep in and get stuff done around her house, but now all she could seem to do was sit around and brood about how screwed up her life was at present.

  She’d run through that final confrontation with Caine in her mind until she felt sick, and yet she still couldn’t stop thinking about him. Worst of all, she couldn’t even get online and discuss her miserable situation with her best friend, Threads99, because yeah—Threads was Caine. Talk about a mess.

  Then there was the undeniable ache around her heart that had only intensified since she’d walked out on Caine. She’d long since admitted to herself she loved him, regardless of him not telling her the truth about who he was. The problem was, she wasn’t sure she could forgive and forget his betrayal. And once she officially refused to marry him, things would get a lot worse for her.

  A knock at the front door jolted her out of her pity party, and DeeDee got up to see who it was. Peeking out the curtains of a nearby window, she spotted Caine’s sister, Carletta, on the porch. Oh, crap. Of course, the woman looked immaculate as usual, while she looked like a hot mess. She did her best to straighten her rumpled sweatpants and T-shirt then wiped her face and pinched her cheeks to give them some color. Finally, she straightened her ponytail then took a deep breath for courage before opening the door a crack.

  Carletta gave her a kind smile. “Hello, DeeDee.”

  “If you’re here because Caine sent you to persuade me to marry him, don’t bother.” She rubbed her hand under her nose. “I’m through listening to his lies.”

  “My brother doesn’t know I came,” she said, peering through the two-inch-wide opening. “Caine would be extremely upset if he knew I was here, but there’s something I need to show you.”

  Curiosity got the better of her, and slowly, DeeDee opened the door. Her small home wasn’t nearly as grand as Caine’s enormous estate, and she hadn’t exactly felt like cleaning the past couple of days. She cleared mail and newspapers off the sofa and stacked them on the nearby coffee table so her guest would have somewhere to sit. “Sorry it’s such a mess.”

  Carletta perched with regal grace on the edge of a sofa cushion then removed a document from her expensive designer handbag. “Here. This is what I wanted you to see.”

  It looked like a letter.

  DeeDee took it over to her comfy chair and held it beneath the lamp. Yep. It was handwritten in Caine’s distinctive scrawl. The date on the top was several months prior, shortly after he’d first come to Silver Hollow. Down near the bottom was another date, stamped this time, along with a notary mark and initials. She met Carletta’s gaze. “This is to the Canine Convention.”

  “Yes.” She nodded, her platinum-blond hair shimmering in the light. “My brother doesn’t know I asked for a copy of the official document.”

  The contents of the letter were even more surprising. In fact, the longer DeeDee read, the more her disbelief grew. “I don’t understand. This says Caine took full responsibility for the marriage treaty failing. But how could he have known that would happen all those months before?”

  “He didn’t.” Carletta’s smile turned sad. “He wanted to give you a way out, DeeDee, in case things didn’t go as planned. You see, despite my brother’s polished, tough exterior, he’s quite gentle and kind and thoughtful on the inside. In fact, he’s fought against his playboy image his whole life. Especially after what happened with Brenda, his first girlfriend.”

  “What happened?” DeeDee asked, unable to help herself.

  “She treated him horribly, very selfish and greedy. Turns out she only wanted him because he was going to be pack alpha someday.” Carletta shook her head and frowned. “She never deserved my brother. When she left him, Caine was heartbroken and didn’t trust anyone again for a very long time. He thought the only reason a woman would want to be with him was for his money, his power, his prestige.” She shrugged. “Then he met you and found out you were to be his mate. My brother wrote that letter so you would never be forced to marry him. He only wants a mate who will be his true love.” Carletta leaned forward. “He only wants you, DeeDee.”

  More tears blurred DeeDee’s vision, but she blinked them away. “You can’t know that.”

  “Oh, but I do.” Carletta smiled. “I know my brother better than anyone in the world. From the first time he laid eyes on you, he changed. He’s happier, more content, more trusting, and ready to open his heart to his one true mate. Please consider forgiving him, DeeDee. He’s been miserable without you. If you feel for him even half of what he feels for you, please go to him and tell him. I’m not sure he’ll make it anymore without you.”

  There was no keeping the tears at bay any longer after that. They streamed down her cheeks as she stared at the letter in her hands. By taking responsibility for the marriage not going, Caine had risked being ostracized from the pack, because the rule was that anyone who refused an arranged marriage could be ostracized. He’d done this for her. In case she didn’t want to marry him, so that she wouldn’t be punished. Caine MacPherson loved her. He really, truly loved her. And against all odds, against all the crazy reasons why she shouldn’t, DeeDee loved him too. With all her hear
t and soul.

  “Where is he?” she asked, pushing to her stockinged feet.

  “He’s going to the Promising Tree tonight.” Carletta stood too. “Will you go too?”

  “Absolutely.” She pulled the other woman into a hug then laughed. “I better tidy myself up first, though. This probably isn’t the best look to meet my new mate, huh?”

  Carletta pulled away and looked DeeDee up and down. “Maybe not, but I don’t think Caine would mind at all.” She tugged her from the room. “C’mon. I’ll help you get ready.”

  CHAPTER 26

  C aine stood beneath the gnarled pine tree in his wolf form, his thick fur keeping the bitter cold away. He’d run for miles and miles, trying to burn the memory of what had happened at The Tribunal from his mind, but nothing worked. Now, panting, he stood alone in the spot where couples came to confess their true love to their fated mates.

  Man, I’m such a screwup.

  With a whimper, wolf Caine lay down atop the snow and covered his muzzle with his front paws. Flakes shimmered in the air, falling softly all around him, clinging to his fur and face. Stars twinkled brightly in the plush black sky, and through the thick forest, glimmers of the warm holiday lights flickered from the village of Silver Hollow beyond.

  The whole scene was magical.

  Too bad he’d lost his one shot to be with the true love of his life.

  He rolled onto his side, burying his nose in the snow, running through all the mistakes he’d made with DeeDee in his mind. Why hadn’t he been honest with her from the start? Why had he kept his identity hidden when telling her the truth would’ve been so much simpler?

  Because he was scared, that was why. Carletta had been right, as always. Scared of getting hurt again, scared of losing his heart to a woman who might only want him for who he was, not for what he was inside. Never mind the fact DeeDee had been nothing like Brenda.