by Meg Ripley
“What have you got?”
“A collar.”
“A collar? Like, a dog collar?”
“Yes. An electric dog collar. With your sister’s name on it.”
“What? Let me see that. Why on earth...what would she have this for?” Sera physically recoiled at the thought of her sister wearing that thing, using it, being punished with it. “It’s probably not just a sex thing, is it?”
“We won’t know until after we do the wolfsbane test. But if I were a betting man, I’d say it probably wasn’t a sex thing.” At her inquiring look, he added, “A human that’s turned into a werewolf lacks the instinct to shift from their wolf form to their human form, but a good shock to the system, like from this collar, will do the trick.” He paused, tilting his head. His nostrils flared. “Stephanie is here.”
“What? How do—” The chime of the doorbell halted her question. “Who’s Stephanie?”
“She’s the female alpha of my pack. I hope you don’t mind, I called and gave her the address when we got here.”
Sera shook off the pang of disappointment. Of course he’d call for a ride at the first opportunity. “As long as she wasn’t followed, I don’t mind. Hey, did you tell her how we met?”
“I told her you helped me get away from the Brotherhood. That’s all she needs to know.”
The doorbell chimed again and Seth hurried to the front of the house. Sera’s attention shifted back to the collar, her active imagination easily conjuring a thousand scenarios linking Aiza’s death to the darker implications of the electrified leather. She frowned, studying the leather closer. It was clearly hand stitched, made to order and personalized. Somebody poured effort and love into its creation.
“Sera? Do you mind coming out here for a minute?”
Sera stashed the collar in the drawer. “Coming.” Maybe he wanted to say goodbye. Or maybe this Stephanie wanted to get a good look at her. Sera knew nothing about the hierarchy of wolf packs, and she wasn’t sure if being the alpha female meant she was also involved in some way with Seth.
The first thing that struck Sera was the other woman’s height—she was easily six feet tall, and she was not wearing heels. Her tall frame was well-muscled and nicely curved, and her almond-shaped eyes and pointed nose gave her a distinctively pretty face.
Her light brown hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun and she wore ratty gray sweatpants and an oversized sweater. A duffel bag sat on the floor at Seth’s feet, and she was looking him over with thin-lipped concern and more than a hint of exasperation.
“Stephanie Tanner, this is Sera Simpson.”
Stephanie’s grip was firm but her smile was friendly as they shook hands, and it was clear her exasperation was reserved for Seth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said. “And thanks for helping this idiot avoid a broken neck.”
“Um, well, it was the least I could do,” Sera said, finding herself warming to the other woman.
“Yeah. Seth told me you’ve got your own unfinished business with the Brotherhood. Don’t worry, he didn’t go into any details, but you should avoid those guys if you can. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told him: go home. Where it’s safe.”
“Well, thanks for the warning, but I can’t go anywhere. Not until I find out what they did to my sister.”
Stephanie studied her for a moment and then offered an understanding nod. “I get it.” She looked back to Seth. “I brought everything you asked for. Is there anything else I can do?”
Seth took one of the pictures of Dwight from his shirt pocket. “See what you can find out about this man. His name is Dwight and he may have been the last one to see Aiza alive.”
“Brotherhood scum?”
“The sort you find at the bottom of a swamp, I’d imagine.”
“On it. Any word on Tony or Chen?”
Seth shook his head with a grim frown. “Not yet, but the trail isn’t cold.”
“I’ll call you when I know anything.” She turned to Sera, surprising her with a quick, tight hug. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Seth said. He was outside with Stephanie for a long time—long enough that Sera had enough time to start cooking breakfast and drive herself crazy with all the images of what they might have been doing outside—but she played that off as he entered the kitchen. “I hope you like eggs.”
“Even if I didn’t, I’m starving. Can I do anything to help?”
“You can grate that cheese. I thought she was coming to pick you up.”
“Did you want me to leave? I can call her.”
“No,” Sera answered quickly. “No, I...I’d like you to stay. But I thought maybe you’d want to go.”
“I want to help you.”
“And Stephanie? She wants to help me, too?”
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one who’s lost someone to the Brotherhood. Now, let’s figure out what we’re going to need tonight—besides no rain and a lot of luck.”
****
Sera helped Seth excavate the dirt, but when it came time to desecrate her sister’s grave, she had to excuse herself. Seth nodded and helped boost her to the surface. She shined the flashlight down into the hole, turning her head as Seth broke the coffin open. He coughed with surprise as the smell of death and rot exploded from the broken latch. Sera kept her eyes averted until he shouted her name.
“What? What is it?”
“Lower the rope.”
She dropped the end of the thick rope down and helped pull him out of the hole. “Well? What happened? Is she…?”
“Her skin definitely reacted. I think it’s safe to say she’d been turned into a werewolf.”
“And the Brotherhood killed her because of it?”
“Maybe. They’ve been known to kill for less. Look, why don’t you head on home and I’ll finish up here?”
“No, I can’t leave you to deal with this by yourself.”
“The sun will be up soon.”
“All the more reason I should help.”
“Really, I think it would be best if you went home,” Seth said.
“Well, I think it’ll be best for me to stay.” She passed him the shovel. She needed time to process her emotions and she needed time to think. Since she couldn’t go to her gym, she’d stay right there at the gravesite. “Let’s get to work before somebody calls the cops.”
They worked in silence only punctuated by the dull thud of dirt being returned to the grave. How long had her sister been living her life as a wolf? Had she told anybody about her secret? Had she lived, would she have confided in anybody? Sera felt strangely hurt that even this sort of metamorphosis hadn’t prompted Aiza to pick up the phone.
They finished just as the approaching sun colored the sky flannel gray and pink. She let Seth drive them home, half asleep for the ride. She didn’t remember getting home or how she made it from the car to the bedroom, but once she was under the covers, she fell into a deep, dreamless slumber. Her body was eager to catch up on all the sleep she’d lost since that first call from her parents, and nothing disturbed her for a solid twelve hours. When she finally woke again, it was to the smell of bacon and pancakes and the sounds of Seth knocking around in the kitchen.
He’s still here? How is he still here?
Right on the heels of that surprise was another stunning revelation: she was actually very glad he hadn’t left while she was zonked out. If they’d met under any other circumstances, she would have already made a move and asked him out on a date. Maybe under other circumstances, he would have accepted the invitation. He certainly seemed to like her.
Or maybe he saw her the same way she claimed to view him—as a means to an end. Nothing more or less than that.
Sera didn’t realize how stiff she was from their grave-digging adventure until she stood and tried to stretch. Her shoulders pulled tight and her arms ached so much she could barely lift them over her head. She hadn’t felt th
at exhausted and sore after a workout in years, and she had to admit, a part of her welcomed the pain. It meant she’d done hard work. It meant she was alive.
But it also meant she would kill for a good massage.
She shuffled into the kitchen, her pain forgotten when Seth smiled at her. “Good morning. Well, actually, good evening.” He gestured at the stove. “I hoped your nose would wake you.”
“Where did you get all this food?” Bacon, sausage, ham, eggs, pancakes, toast, oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, coffee, and orange juice waited for her.
“I had plenty of time to go shopping.”
“Why is there so much?”
“After all that work and sleep, I thought you might be as hungry as I am,” Seth explained as he poured the coffee.
“You thought right.” Her stomach felt hollow, though she didn’t really have an appetite. The food looked great but didn’t appeal to her at all. Still, she accepted the heaping plate and the coffee, determined to finish off both. She needed the calories and the nutrients if she was going to see this through to the end.
Once she was done, Seth took the plate and refilled her mug of coffee. “Stephanie called me earlier. She doesn’t have any new information about our friend Dwight, but she found somebody who knew your sister.”
Sera’s eyes widened. “Who? What did they say?”
“Stephanie didn’t go into the details, but if we want to talk to her, she said she’s at the park every day, around noon.”
“Weird. Why not just give you her number?”
“Apparently, she’s willing to talk, but not over the phone, and she won’t give her name.”
“How did Stephanie find her?”
“Stephanie knows a lot of people and most of the wolves in the state.” Seth downed a glass of orange juice before adding, “I’m not surprised she was able to track down a lead.”
“She seems pretty cool. How long have you known her?” Sera asked, hoping she didn’t sound too interested in the answer.
“She seems pretty cool because she is pretty cool. We’ve been pack mates all our lives. We worked our way up to alpha together and the pack has never been stronger.”
“So, are there any little pups in the pack?”
“Sure, but none of them are ours.” He met her eyes and added, “Stephanie and I are not together, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I...no...that’s not any of my business, is it?”
“It could be your business.”
Sera’s mouth felt dry. “How?”
“You could make it your business to know. Like this. Do you have a boyfriend?”
Sera shook her head.
“A lover? A suitor? Anybody who would mind if I did this?”
Seth took her hand and brought it up to his lips. She expected a courtly kiss, but instead he caressed her knuckles with his lips, his tongue darting out to trace her skin. It was brief but strangely obscene and undeniably sexy. Her throat tightened and all she could do was shake her head.
“So?” Seth prompted. “Make it your business, if that’s what you want to do.”
“Do you have a girlfriend? A lover?” She threaded her fingers through his and pulled his large hand to within kissing distance. She mimicked him, thrilled by the clean, salty taste of his skin. “Anybody who will mind if I do this?”
“No, not at all.”
Sera didn’t release his hand. She couldn’t stop kissing the smooth skin. Nothing had ever felt so good against her lips, and she wanted more. She wanted to feel the velvety texture against her entire body, wanted to lose hours exploring the rich, silky planes of his body. He didn’t seem to have a problem with that, as he did nothing to break contact with her questing mouth.
It’d only been a few months since Sera had sex, but it seemed like a lifetime since she’d been sensual with a man. Her desire was a slow burn, glowing a little hotter each time she got a taste of him.
She pulled his index finger between her teeth, gently biting the pad as she swirled her tongue over the tip. He watched her with hooded eyes and she couldn’t resist smiling back. His fingers curled beneath her chin and he pulled her closer, tilting his head towards her. His finger slid from between her lips, freeing her mouth to be claimed by his.
But the kiss didn’t come.
Instead, his ringing phone split the silence and drove them apart.
“Sorry.” He snatched the phone up from the counter. “I’ve got to take this. It’s Stephanie.”
Sera nodded and stifled the flare of disappointment. Of course he had to take it. His pack mates were missing. Her sister was dead. They didn’t have time to make out like teenagers in the kitchen.
“I’ll be right there. Don’t move.” He put the phone in his pocket. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.”
“What’s wrong?” Sera asked.
“It’s Chen. He was found wandering in the woods. The police have him now. I need to go and get him.”
“I’ll come with you,” Sera said.
“No,” Seth said sharply. He took a deep breath and softened his tone. “This is pack business.”
Her first impulse was to argue her case, but she conceded with a small nod. He was right, of course. Just because she invited him into her personal matters didn’t mean she had a right to tag along to his.
“You go take care of that. I’ve got some things to pack.” She fled the room, and a moment later, she heard the front door open and close behind him.
****
Sera’s car was back in the morning, but Seth was nowhere to be found. By noon, she felt a twinge of worry for him. What if the Brotherhood had tracked him down? It was hard to believe they’d attack him in broad daylight in the middle of Portland, but Sera had believed stranger things.
But when the sun sank and he hadn’t returned, she was forced to admit that he probably wouldn’t be returning. He’d only been in Portland to track down his pack mates, and now that they’d been found, he likely took them home.
Sera couldn’t deny her disappointment. She never got his number and he was unlikely to have hers. When she wasn’t thinking of Seth, her mind went to the man who’d tried to kill her only two nights before. She hadn’t been afraid as long as Seth was there, but she hated being alone. Especially in a strange house, with a strange kitchen and a strange bed.
Not to mention the strange reminders of her sister’s secret life.
She’d found a large, rawhide bone tucked under the bed, half of it gnawed away. This would be a perfectly normal thing to have in a home with a dog the size of a German Shepherd, but Aiza didn’t have a dog.
There was another, smaller shock collar in the guest bedroom—or what Sera had assumed was the guest bedroom. As she went through the drawers and closet, it became clear that a man had lived there—or at least slept there regularly—but none of the clothes bore the sign of the Brotherhood or any other clue.
Looking for a distraction, she went to the kitchen and said a quick prayer of thanks for Seth’s earlier trip to the grocery store. Sera grabbed the eggs, cheese and bacon, her mouth watering for an omelet, and the lights flashed out. A split second later, thunder boomed, close enough to rattle the windows and send Sera’s heart to her throat, and the eggs fell forgotten from her fingers.
“Woo, okay, calm down. It’s just thunder. No reason to be all jumpy.” She took a deep breath, grabbed her phone for its light and left the kitchen, seeking the comfort of Aiza’s plush couch and cozy afghan. She sank into the deep cushions and tried to tell herself that the rain was soothing and the lightning was just a free fireworks show, but her nerves were raw and a tension headache began to develop behind her eyes.
Just then, a loud crash that had nothing to do with thunder jarred her to her feet.
It came from the back of the house. It might have been the storm blowing over the garbage cans, but Sera wasn’t taking any chances. She detoured to the kitchen for a knife and made her way to the back of the house.
“Who’s out th
ere?” she shouted over the fury of the storm. “I have a gun, asshole!”
“Don’t shoot! It’s just me.”
“Seth? What are you doing here? Why are you slinking around the back?” She flung the door open. “Get in here, get in here.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He slammed the door behind him and removed his hood; she was struck again by how gorgeous he was. Somehow, she’d forgotten just how unbelievable his cheekbones, strong nose, full lips and gray eyes were. “Do you really have a gun?”
She shook her head, showing him the knife.
“Well, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to get you one.”
“What? Why? What’s going on? Was there somebody out there?”
“I didn’t see anybody, but I think I caught the scent of two different wolves. Don’t worry, if they come around again, they’ll have to deal with me.”
“What are you doing here?”
He frowned down at her. “Do you want me to go?”
“No, of course not. I thought...I didn’t think you’d be coming back.”
Seth tilted his head, still considering her. “I didn’t think I’d be coming back, either. But once I got Chen home, all I could think about was getting back here to you.”
“Do you...do you want to get out of those wet clothes?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
She took him by the hand and led him down the hallway to the bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind him and Sera hesitated for a moment—until he took her other hand and guided it to his belt. She reacted automatically, pulling the leather strap free and popping the top button of his jeans.
After that, everything seemed so easy. She unzipped his pants and pushed them down while he toed off his boots. His shirt followed, and though it was almost completely dark in the room, she knew his body well enough to see every inch of him clearly.
Once his clothes were gone, he began undressing her. As soon as she felt the brush of his fingers against her skin, shivers went down her back and goosebumps erupted across her chest. The pads of his fingers were a little rough, but his blunt nails were as smooth as polished stone. Standing toe to toe, she realized just how tall he was, and she had to tilt her head back to angle her mouth for his kiss.
