by Terry Spear
"You didn't answer me, Rourke. Did you get permission from her family first, or not?"
"They want this resolved one way or another. Got the key right here." Rourke dangled it from a heart-shaped key chain.
With his head turned slightly south, Hunter listened for Ashton. He better be in a dead run, heading straight back to Tessa's place.
"That's good. Then I'll call the sheriff and have him verify with her family that you had permission and you can run along." The deputy glanced around. "Where's your vehicle?"
Rourke shoved the key in his pocket. "We walked from Tessa's house, looking for any clues on the way over and by the cliff where she fell."
"In this weather? It's only going to get worse. After I clear this matter up, I'll drop you off at Tessa's place."
"Why don't you take us back to Tessa's house while you're verifying this?" Hunter asked. "The winds are whipping up more, and we don't want to get stuck here in whiteout conditions."
The deputy held the phone to his ear and he nodded at Hunter, but then turned his attention to the phone. "Hello, Katie. Is the sheriff there? Where?" He laughed. "Tell him to call me when he has a chance." The deputy shook his head and pocketed his phone. "Sheriff's seeing some new woman. After all those years of pining over his two-timing ex-wife, it's about time, but he's trying unsuccessfully to keep it under wraps. Climb in. I'll get you back to Tessa's."
The road conditions worsened by the mile. A violent gust of wind blew the deputy's car to the other side of the road. Between the slick conditions and the increasing wind, Hunter was surprised they weren't blown off the cliff.
"The sheriff will probably issue an evacuation order soon. We've never had winds this high. And waves cresting forty-five feet? Unheard of. Some fool kids were even trying to surf. If you can imagine," the deputy said.
"William and I played soccer together on the high school team," Rourke explained to Hunter. "We always said we'd blow this town when we graduated."
The deputy chuckled. "Yeah, look at us now."
The two continued to talk about old school days while Hunter watched out the window, hoping Ashton would get to Tessa's place and that Hunter's worries about the grays were unfounded. But he could still thrash Ashton for leaving the women alone.
At one point, he had to fight the urge to take over the deputy's driving, they were inching along so slowly. Hell, at this rate, Hunter could jog faster.
As soon as the house came into view, Hunter grabbed hold of the door handle. Once the deputy stopped the vehicle, Hunter threw open the door and bolted for the house.
"He's worried about Tessa," Rourke explained to the deputy. "Sheriff probably mentioned to you that she's had a couple of break-ins. You drive safe."
"Will do. I'll let you know if the sheriff issues an evac order."
Rourke waved good-bye and the deputy drove off. Hunter tried the front door. Locked. He rang the doorbell. No answer. He and Rourke raced to the back of the house. Ashton's clothes were sitting half-buried in snow on the patio. Hunter stared at the kitchen window. If Tessa had been at the sink, she could have seen Ashton shapeshift.
Hunter bolted to the back door and tried the doorknob. Locked. He pounded hard enough he figured he'd break the door down.
"Coming!" Meara yelled.
He released the breath he had been holding. Everything sounded fine. But when Meara let him in, he sensed the tension in the air. Meara was the only one of the three women who hid her fear well. Cara reeked of it and he figured it had to do with the fact Ashton was still missing. Tessa stared at Hunter as if he had sprouted devil's horns, her back rigid against the dining room chair.
Ashton's disappearance was probably the reason why all of them were so fearful. Unless something else was wrong, like Tessa had seen Ashton change into the wolf.
"Have you seen Ashton?" Cara asked, her voice wobbly.
"He's coming." At least he hoped he was. Despite being angry over Ashton's actions, Hunter still felt responsible for him.
Rourke patted the snow off his gloves. "I'll take a look to see how far behind us he was."
Hunter nodded and Rourke exited the house, seized Ashton's clothes from the patio, and headed for the woods.
Cara grabbed her coat and gloves. "I'll go with him." She slammed the door shut behind her.
Meara looked like she wanted to search for Ashton also, but it wasn't in her nature. She was more the wait-and-see kind of woman. Except in Hunter's case when he disappeared. He figured she knew he would go after her "friends" when he discovered her missing and wanted to stop him from killing them. They were lucky Hunter didn't find them with her still.
Then he wondered if something else was going on with Tessa. "We didn't find anything incriminating, I'm sorry to say, that would automatically clear your brother of the crime, Tessa."
Her shoulders slumped and her jaw tightened.
He drew close and ran his hand over her arm, the muscle tensing. "We'll keep looking. I need to speak to Michael. When the weather clears up, I'll see him."
Her teeth were so tightly clenched, he assumed she was fighting tears. "Tessa, maybe we could--"
"No!" she snapped.
Meara grabbed her coat and gloves. "Maybe you could fix Hunter some cocoa? Warm him up a bit? I'll see what's happening with the others." She threw on her coat and hat and bolted outside.
Hunter stared after his sister. What the hell was up? Meara didn't want him to make anything of a relationship with Tessa, yet her actions were tantamount to proving otherwise. She wouldn't have cared about Ashton's welfare when the others were handling it.
Hunter crouched next to Tessa, lowered himself to her level so he wouldn't appear so imposing like a wolf who lay down before one who was standing--a non-threatening posture.
She wouldn't look at him, but toyed with the full mug of cocoa, cold now.
"Tessa, I know you're disappointed that we couldn't find evidence to support your brother's case of innocence, but I've only begun to look into Bethany's murder."
Still, she refused to look at him. He wouldn't press the issue.
"When Ashton returns, will you take a nap with me?"
Her gaze shot up and he sensed her fear--the look in her eyes, the smell of it on her skin, the hint of perspiration on her brow, the tension in every muscle returning. He reached for her hand, but she pulled away from him. She remained seated as if the chair and table shielded her from his getting too close.
"What's wrong? Is it something other than Michael's situation that distresses you? My sister? Did she upset you in some way? She can be pretty unconventional at times."
Tessa choked on a laugh. "Unconventional." But the way she said the word was bitter, not with humor.
"Yes," Hunter said softly. He reached for her hand again and this time she didn't avoid him, but she didn't respond with tenderness either as if he had captured her, the reluctant victim, and held her hostage. "Tell me what's wrong. Did Cara upset you? Or did Ashton's actions worry you when he left the three of you alone?"
"I can shoot, Hunter. You know that already." Her eyes flashed annoyance.
Something else then. "Yes, you're a damned good shot."
"Yes." She looked like she wanted to say something more, but clammed up.
He rubbed his thumb over her hand, wanting to set her at ease, but she didn't relax. "So what's wrong? I promise I'm not going anywhere until I discover who murdered Michael's girlfriend."
The back door opened and Meara entered first. "You didn't say how bad the storm was getting. Jeesh, the winds must be topping one hundred miles per hour."
Cara and Ashton both entered after that, Ashton's arm around her shoulders, neither of them looking very happy. "Sorry," Ashton said to Hunter, slouching as if he thought he was about to be whipped.
"I'll have a word with you later." Hunter would not accept this kind of insubordination, not when it endangered others' lives.
Rourke closed the door behind him. "That shed's about ready to
--"
A grinding metal sound and then a scrunching noise and a bang followed. Everyone went to the window to see what happened.
"Hell, there goes the shed," Rourke said. "We saw several trees uprooted when we located Ashton and if this weather keeps up, we're bound to lose the--"
The kitchen light flickered and died.
"Electricity," Rourke finished.
"The beach will be flooded so we can't get any more firewood," Hunter said.
"Makes for good snuggling weather." Cara tugged at Ashton's arm. "Right?"
"We've got enough firewood for a couple of days, if we conserve," Ashton said.
Hunter turned to speak to Tessa about the candles and flashlights for when it got dark, but she had left the dining room.
"What happened while we were gone?" Hunter asked his sister.
She shrugged. "Ashton left. Tessa wrote a list of suspects. We had cocoa. That's about it."
He didn't think that was all of it. "Where's the list?"
"Living room. Coffee table, I think."
Hunter headed into the living room and grabbed up the piece of paper. "As soon as the weather clears, I want every one of these men checked out. In the meantime, Ashton, Rourke, see if you can salvage anything from the shed before everything blows away."
"Will do." They headed out the back door.
Meara looked guilty as hell. Cara did, too, although he didn't know her that well, but in the short time he had been with her, he hadn't seen her so nervous--the way she avoided looking at him and chewed her bottom lip instead of challenging him like she usually did. Ashton was back safe and sound. So what was the problem? The storm?
"What's the matter, Meara?"
"Nothing. I thought you were going to take a nap with Tessa." She motioned to the kitchen. "I'm going to clean the cocoa mugs."
"I'll help you." Cara vamoosed to the kitchen.
A strange noise sounded in Tessa's bedroom. He listened, trying to discern what it was. A grating sound? A window opening?
He raced down the hall and grabbed Tessa's doorknob. Locked.
His blood chilled. "Tessa! Open up!"
No response, but the wind was blowing into the room, papers fluttering, curtains flapping, the frigid air seeping under the bottom edge of the door. "Tessa!"
Turning, he saw Meara watching him, wringing her hands. He didn't even want to know why at this point. He made a dead run for the front door and threw it wide open.
Tessa struggled with the key in her car door lock. His heart beat out of bounds, the thrill of the chase deeply ingrained in him.
She wasn't leaving him. Not unless he chose for her to do so.
He glanced at the key. Not making any headway on the lock. Frozen?
He stalked toward her, his footfall crunching on the glazed snow. She glanced up at him, held herself rigid, testing him with an icy gaze, but she shivered and looked like a rabbit caught in a trap. He gave her credit for not running away.
"Let's go inside and discuss this, Tessa."
"Like two human beings?" she asked, her eyes narrowed.
He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips, but then he frowned at her. "If you stay out here, you're going to catch pneumonia."
"But you won't?"
"We can discuss this inside, now."
Her brows knit together, and she stormed past him. Meara and Cara watched from the front entrance, but quickly moved out of Tessa's path. Hunter gave Meara a look that meant he would have a word with her later. Cara closed and locked the door behind him. Ashton and Rourke came inside from the back way.
"Not much worth saving at this point." Ashton shook snow off his parka.
Everyone was glowering at Ashton, except for Tessa. Trembling, she knelt before the fire, her hands spread over the flames.
Hunter crouched beside her. "Ask me what you will."
She glanced at the others and then focused on Hunter. "You have two options as far as taking care of me. Make me one of you, or kill me."
Chapter 12
HUNTER SUSPECTED THE WORST--THAT ASHTON HAD shapeshifted in plain view of Tessa and now he was faced with a new dilemma.
Rourke swore under his breath.
Hunter clenched and unclenched his hands. Damn Ashton. "Ashton, the window's open in the master bedroom. The door is locked. Go around the front and climb in, shut the window, and unlock the door, why don't you?"
"I'll go with him," Rourke hastily said.
When the men left, Hunter pulled off one of Tessa's cold wet gloves and then the other.
Meara said, "I'll make lunch."
"I'll help her," Cara quickly added, and the two disappeared into the kitchen.
"Tessa, what did you see?" Hunter's gut clenched with concern for what she was feeling.
If he could undo the last few days in a heartbeat to save her from what now had to be done, he would. He couldn't believe Ashton had caused so much trouble. No wonder changing humans wasn't a good policy.
Tessa swallowed hard and stared at the fire while Hunter rubbed her cold fingers. "Ashton was acting crazy, pacing all over the place, and then he went outside and stripped off his clothes in the snow. I thought he was rabid, and I was afraid he would hurt Cara. Instead he... he changed. Transformed into a wolf. Cara wasn't surprised. Your sister told me nothing had happened. And if neither of them was shocked, it meant they were whatever he was also. And you, too."
Wanting her, despite everything--her cousin, his own feelings about changing a human, the fact she had a brother, which would cause even more problems-- Hunter unbuttoned her coat, knowing now he had no choice but to explain his world. "I'm sorry."
"That you have to terminate me now? I won't tell anyone." Her eyes glistened with tears. "How could I? They'd lock me away."
He let out his breath, unsure how to approach the problem. He didn't want to upset her any further, but he couldn't be dishonest with her at this point. "Letting you go, isn't one of our options." Their laws had kept them alive and their secret intact for this long, he wasn't about to break one of the most important rules they lived by.
She blinked away tears and looked back at the fire. "Will you at least help my brother get his release?"
Her tearfulness cut straight through to his soul. "Changing you was the other choice." Or giving her up to Devlyn Greystoke.
"Your sister said it wasn't an option for you."
He shook his head. Leave it up to his sister to be truthful at the most inopportune times.
Tessa's bedroom door opened, and Rourke stomped back down the hall. "What else did you need done?"
Ashton slinked in behind him.
"Rourke, why don't you take a nap in the guest room? Ashton, you take one in Michael's room. We'll need some sleep so we can pull guard duty tonight."
Rourke cast a sympathetic look Tessa's way and gave Hunter a hard look. Then he and Ashton headed down the hall.
"If I turned you..." Hunter said.
"I don't want to be crazy like Ashton."
"You'll be the same person you are now even after the change. Maybe he was already a little crazy." Hunter stroked Tessa's hand. "There are benefits for being what we are."
"What exactly are you?"
"Shapeshifters. Lupus garous. Werewolves. We normally don't associate much with humans, and we don't normally change them."
Tessa's eyes were so big, Hunter knew telling her the facts of life wasn't going to be any easier than it had been when he told the guys.
"You can't have been born this way."
"Yes, we're born this way. Normally, it's much easier to stay with our kind since we've grown up this way. Teaching a newly turned human can be a real trial. Both Rourke and Ashton have already made innumerable mistakes. If I could, I'd take them to my home and keep them there, isolated from humans until they more thoroughly understood how dangerous it is for us to let down our guard."
"Dangerous?"
"Yes. Can you imagine if people knew of our existence, what
would happen? DNA testing, for one, to learn why we heal so quickly, how we can shapeshift, what makes us age so slowly."
"You... you don't have the life span of a human?"
"No. Although we can die." He pulled off her coat. She looked so petite sitting there, he again wondered if she could handle being his mate. "Think on it, Tessa. I won't pressure you into making a decision."
She snorted. "Death or life as a werewolf. No pressure. Right." She took a ragged breath and stared at the floor. "You wanted to take a nap."
And the fact she wouldn't look at him made him worry she was intending on trying to slip out while everyone was napping. "With you."
She looked so damned vulnerable, he didn't want to push her into accepting any of this until she could handle it. What was he supposed to do? Letting her know their secrets, but allowing her to live on her own as a human was not an option. But killing her wasn't either.
He ran his hands through her silky hair, wanting to bury his face in the sweet peach-scented strands. "In part, you and your brother are already one of us, if it helps any. It seems Jeremiah Cramer, your great-grandfather, was Seth Greystoke, a friend of my great-grandfather's. One of his great grandsons still lives. Which creates another situation. Maybe the solution, or not. Once Devlyn Greystoke learns of your existence, I'd be willing to bet, he'll want you to join his pack."
Tessa looked so distraught, Hunter took her hand and kissed it, and he noted how small her fingers were compared to his, just like the rest of her--petite, delicate, not tall like his sister or Cara, which meant she'd be a small wolf when she shapeshifted, and most likely unable to deal with the heftier grays if one of them tried her. But touching her turned his body into a torrent of need--the desire to claim her overcoming any rational judgment.
Trying to get his mind off what Tessa's sweet body did to his, he considered the matter of turning her further. He didn't object to making her one of their own for the same reason Leidolf did because of his roots, even though he and Meara were of royal lineage also, but having offspring who were not, didn't matter to him. Turning a reluctant woman did. But if she had wolf roots already and she was willing... "You have a choice, Tessa." As much as he hated to admit it.
