by Lia Davis
Her parents nodded in unison as their gazes settled on her. They leaned forward, their forearms resting on the table, and waited for her to continue.
“Do you remember reading in the paper awhile ago about the exotic animals being found in random communities throughout the country?” She asked, recalling the discussion she had had with her father about it. How she thought everything the news reported was odd, and she figured they were covering something up. When they both nodded, she continued, “Well, he said they were shifters. He’s been sent to investigate the murders because the evidence leads to Blackford.” Her mother gasped and dropped her fork to her plate.
“What kind of evidence?” Her father reached for his wife’s hand, offering her comfort.
“They found Paula Campbell’s car at the scene and suspected it’d been stolen, but they found some receipts that led them back here.” Jess tried to remember the whole conversation, not wanting to miss anything. “I explained to him that Paula and Todd have been on vacation.”
“What else does he have to say?” Her father’s usual happy demeanor disappeared and he became all business. “What does he need from us?”
“He has requested to sit down with some of the local shifters. Only the ones you trust the most. He wants to know if any of them have seen any suspicious activity, and he also wants to talk to Paula when she gets back.” She purposely left out the most concerning part of the conversation. Her chest squeezed. She did not want to startle them anymore than they already were.
“Paula’s plane lands at noon tomorrow. I’m picking them up at the airport.” Worry etched her mother’s face.
“Okay, I’ll let him know.” Jess paused, trying to word the most important part correctly. “Caleb has suspicions the people responsible are human hunters, but the part that concerns him most is that he thinks they have shifters working for them. Sniffing out certain species.” Her father let out a feral growl.
“What kind of filthy cowards would stoop so low? Helping humans hunt their own kind. That’s disgusting.” He pushed his plate aside and stood up, then paced the kitchen in hurried strides.
“I haven’t told you the worst part.” He came to a dead stop and turned to face her. “He said the hunters seem intent on big cats at the moment.” The thought of being hunted scared the bejesus out of her. Helplessness hung above her like a storm cloud ready to burst.
“I want you to move back home until this is settled.” He resumed his pacing. His hands clenched and unclenched with unspent rage.
Jess could only remember her father being angry a handful of times in her life, but she remembered each time vividly. He might be a quiet man most of the time, but if anyone threatened his family—watch out.
“I want to meet with this Caleb right away. I have to figure out what we need to do to keep everyone safe.”
“I’ll let him know, but I can’t just move back home, Dad.” Jess admired his need to protect his family, but if Caleb was right, then taking any drastic measures would warn the people responsible.
“How ’bout this,” she started, hoping to appease him, “I get ahold of Caleb and set up a meeting between you two. Then once you talk to him and get all the facts, we decide what needs to be done.”
Her father stopped pacing, rested his hands on his hips, and sighed.
“Fine. But I want to talk to him as soon as possible.”
Jess nodded. She would talk to Caleb when he came to the shelter with Luna.
The silence hung awkwardly for long moments. She shifted anxiously in her chair.
“Stews getting cold; eat up,” her mother ordered. Once her father sat back down, his bowl was placed back in front of him.
“Yes, ma’am.” He added a salute, which earned him a slap on the arm from her mother. The tension drained from the room, leaving only worry. She hoped Caleb could dispel any worries plaguing her parents. Fingers crossed.
Jess cranked her music as she drove up to the shelter the next morning, singing and tapping her thumbs in time to the music. She was determined to shake the feeling of anticipation. In only an hour, Caleb would arrive with Luna for the dog’s day at the spa, and she needed to get a ton of stuff ready before they arrived.
She buzzed the intercom and waited for Carol to let her in. The older woman worked the front desk and was a major figurehead at the shelter. She’d become the den mother to not only the volunteers and employees but also to each and every animal at the shelter. Her compassion showed in everything she did.
When the buzzer sounded, she pulled the door open, then headed to the front desk to sign in.
“Jess. It’s so good to see you,” Carol greeted her warmly as she cradled a sleeping Chihuahua in her arms.
“Good to see you too. I see Taco is still here.” Jess motioned to the pup lying in her arms. For over a year Taco had waited to be adopted out, but never seemed to be the perfect fit for a forever home. There were a few special cases like his, but it never made it easier to see them live their life in kennels.
“Actually, I adopted him last week,” she said proudly. “I couldn’t take watching him waste away in that small kennel anymore. He’s such a good boy. Everyone wants a puppy, but this old boy needed someone to take care of him.” Taco was eleven, blind, and deaf in one ear. Even the most experienced dog owner veered away from adopting him.
“That’s awesome.” Jess’s voice held a happy ring. She moved around the desk and gave Carol a quick hug. With a smile, she headed back into the grooming area to get ready for the day ahead. Maybe it would keep her busy enough to stop thinking about Caleb. Not likely, but it would be worth a try.
She must have glanced at the clock a hundred times in the last fifteen minutes as she prayed Caleb would take her up on her offer. Jess shouldn’t be interested in someone who’d been sent to investigate shifter murders. Drama and stress would be unavoidable. But there was something about Caleb she couldn’t help but be attracted to.
The guys she had dated in the past were all human. She always felt like she needed to hold back from them, physically and emotionally. Not only was she keeping a huge secret, but she couldn’t forget they were humans, and had to keep her strength at bay for fear of hurting them. Every relationship ended because she couldn’t be herself. The guys always knew she wasn’t quite right, and she didn’t blame them for one minute. Her attraction to Caleb could be described as purely primal. Nothing more than animal instinct. The cat she kept at bay called to her, demanding she be herself and take what she wanted. Even now, her stomach twisted with anticipation at the thought of his large hands on her skin. A shiver of attraction ran through her and she bit her lip, trying not to think about him.
“Jess?” The deep, gravelly voice brought her back to the present and made her jump. “Sorry, I seem to do that a lot. Hey—”
“No, that’s totally fine.” She laughed it off, walked over to him, and knelt down in front of Luna. “Ready for a day at the spa, pup?”
Luna’s tail slapped the ground and Jess received a sloppy kiss in greeting. The complete turnaround amazed her. Luna’s scrawny body quivered in excitement, unlike the day before when she’d been unsure of everything around her. The change in demeanor gave her hope that Luna’s future would be another success story. It was one more reason for her to like Caleb. He didn’t have to help Luna, but he took the responsibility upon himself to bring her in and claim her as his. And by the way Luna leaned against Caleb, she’d definitely claimed him. “Do you want to come and help?” Jess asked as she brought her attention back to him.
He nodded and followed her to the bathing room. Luna walked with her head slightly bowed and ears pressed back against her head. All the smells and sounds seemed to be getting to her. Her muscles danced with evident agitation. Jess glanced quickly over her shoulder to make sure Caleb and Luna were still close behind. Caleb cradled Luna in between his legs, then picked her up and walked toward Jess. The complete trust she saw in Luna’s face melted her right there. “Should I ju
st put her in the tub?”
“Yes, please.” Caleb placed her in the tub and Jess started the water. As soon as she made sure Luna was as comfortable as she could be, Jess started rinsing her coat. She watched the dirt and grime run from Luna’s fur and slip down the drain. What a perfect way to wash Luna’s old life away and get her ready for her new adventure.
After she’d been washed and rinsed, Jess let her out of the tub and towel-dried her. Luna let out a big shake, then gave the full body wiggle pit bulls were so known for. A grin spread across Jess’s face at the sight. Luna seemed to understand her life might have taken a turn for the better. Because of Caleb.
“Well aren’t you just the prettiest pup I’ve ever seen.” Caleb grinned at Luna.
Jess could tell by the excitement in his voice he was just as happy as Luna. “Thanks, Jess, we both really appreciate this.”
She couldn’t believe the difference in Luna. Her dingy, dull coat was now glossy black. She looked like a completely different dog. “Anytime.”
Caleb scratched the back of his neck again and cleared his throat. “I’d like to ask you a question”—he met her gaze—“would you like to do something, sometime?”
“I’d love to. Do you have anything in mind?” Jess reeled in her response. She didn’t want to sound too desperate.
“I was hoping you would have an idea since you live around here.”
“I might.” Jess had been dying to get out to her parents’ farm to run for weeks. She needed to stretch her legs and this seemed like the perfect excuse. She stepped closer so anyone within earshot couldn’t make out what she said. “Would you like to go running? My parents’ farm is huge. There’s plenty of space to exercise and hunt.” She didn’t want to admit how anxious she was, but she really wanted to see his cat.
“That would be amazing. I can pick you up at eight if you’d like?”
Jess’s heart skipped a beat with anticipation. “That sounds great.” She found a scrap piece of paper and wrote her address down, then handed the note to him. “If you want, you can bring Luna. My parents and sisters can watch her while we run.”
He grinned before he turned to leave with Luna prancing right behind him. “All right, I’ll see you at eight.” He glanced back over his shoulder and gave a final wave.
She studied him as he and Luna walked out the door. Once they were out of sight, she returned to work feeling like a giddy schoolgirl. She had a date with a sexy jaguar.
Chapter 5
Caleb pulled up in front of Riverside Apartments, cracked a window for Luna, then ambled to the door. He hit the buzzer and waited for Jess to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Caleb.” His voice cracked mid-greeting, making him cringe in embarrassment. He sounded like a teenager who’d never been on a date. Smooth Caleb, real smooth.
“Come on up.”
With the buzz of the door, he entered and took the stairs up to the third floor. Finding her door propped open, he knocked and peeked his head in.
“I’ll be right out,” she called from the opposite end of apartment.
He entered the living room and discovered she was eclectic in style. Her couch must have been from the seventies and her dining room seemed more modern. It suited her. He made his way over to the couch, sat down, and noticed a haggard-looking cat on a perch near the balcony doors. She had told him about her cat, Roscoe. He appeared as if he’d been through a war. Roscoe stretched, then jumped down from his post and approached Caleb cautiously. He jumped up onto the couch beside him, then stared for a long moment before Caleb reached out and rubbed his cheeks and chin. The cat crawled onto Caleb’s lap and began to purr.
Jess appeared from the hallway and rested her shoulder against the wall. Roscoe lay sprawled on his back, demanding Caleb to rub his belly. The shock on her face was comical.
“Wow.”
“What?” He glanced around, suddenly self-conscious. She walked over and sat down beside them. She reached out and scrubbed Roscoe under the chin.
“It’s just—he doesn’t like anyone but me. He usually watches everyone from his cat post and if they come near him he will either hiss or swat at them.”
“Maybe he smells my cat?”
“That can’t be it. He absolutely hates my family. Every single one of them. Once he chased my sister Harper through the apartment and cornered her in the bathroom.” She laughed and got up, leaving him with a huge drooling mass of cat on his lap. “He must trust you. He’s baring his belly to you.” She tossed the words over her shoulder.
The sounds of Jess tinkering in the kitchen made him pick Roscoe up and place him on the couch. She beamed up at him when he entered. Her kitchen appliances were stainless steel and cabinets were a bright whitewash. The counters had minimal decoration other than the coffee pot and an owl cookie jar. He appreciated the lack of clutter. “So, do you want to eat before we head to my parents’, or do you want to hunt for supper? Your choice.”
“I’d like to hunt. It’s been too long.” A smile lit her face. He liked being the one to make her happy. “Do your parents know I’m coming? Not a lot of shifters are good with sharing territory.”
“Yeah. My parents’ land is kinda like neutral territory. Anyone can use it, but if you start a fight then you’re no longer welcome. My father is the enforcer of the rule.”
Roscoe rubbed up against his legs and meowed.
“Yes, sir.” She reached under the sink, pulled out his kibble, and filled his bowl.
“Ready?”
“You bet.” Jess grabbed her keys and headed to the door.
Caleb glanced around. “Is your balcony door locked?”
“I think so, but I’ll double-check.” She strode back into the living room, tried the door, and cringed when she found it unlocked. Jess flipped the lock and turned back to him, a slight grin pulling at her mouth. “I guess I should be a little more careful. Especially now. You know, small-town living kinda numbs you to the dangers of the real world.”
“Now that it’s locked I feel much better.” Caleb made a mental note to check the rest of her apartment for other possible entry points. He didn’t want to chance the possibility of someone getting in.
“All right, let’s head out.” She pulled the door open.
He followed her out into the hallway, then watched as she turned and locked her door.
A faint scent of a fox shifter hung in the air as they started down the narrow corridor. The shifter must have come in shortly after Caleb because the odor hadn’t been present when he’d arrived moments earlier. He stopped and gave another quick sniff. It had already begun to fade.
“Did you smell that?” Jess asked.
“Yeah, have you smelled it before?”
“No, I know all the foxes in town and I couldn’t tell you who that scent belonged to. There are also no other shifters in this apartment building.” Her shoulders tensed, which set his teeth on edge. “It seems like they are gone now, but I’ll definitely let you know if I catch the scent again.”
Maybe he should track the shifter? Without sufficient evidence there would be no way to know if the fox was the accomplice they were searching for. He would have to leave it alone, for now.
When Caleb pulled onto her parents’ long winding driveway, Jess opened the window and took a deep breath of the fresh night air. There was nothing better than coming home for a run. She’d never asked someone other than family to join her, not once in her twenty-six years. Her pulse sped up. She couldn’t wait.
After what seemed like forever, her parents’ house came into view. There was a total of one hundred fifty acres of forest for them to run. It was the perfect location for the shifters of Blackford, far enough from town to shift and not worry about passersby seeing them. If anyone heard animal sounds, they passed them off as local wildlife. She had grown up on this property and the memories made her smile. It was here she’d taken down her first buck at the age of fourteen. Even now it ranked as one of the
greatest days of her life. Now she’d get to show someone else the beauty of her childhood home, someone who could really appreciate it.
She fed off of the adrenaline that flowed through her veins when she hunted, becoming more adventurous than her sisters, and constantly pushed herself a little farther than they were comfortable with. Harper and Emma always hunted in pairs, but she loved the feeling of triumph when she brought prey down on her own. She hoped Caleb would feel the same way.
“Your parents have a perfect spot out here.”
Power surged within the cab of the truck, causing the hair on the backs of her arms to stand on end. She sensed his excitement. He probably yearned to get out and stretch his legs. By the way he watched her out of the corner of his eye, he could sense how anxious she’d become as well.
Caleb pulled up in front of the garage and put the truck in park. “Do you mind if I talk to your parents before we head out?”
“My dad wanted to have a bit of a chat with you; it’s probably better to get that out of the way before we head out.” She glanced over to the large bay window of the house. Every family member stood there, watching. “By the look of it, they have been waiting less than patiently.”
Luna raced from one side of the truck to other. She seemed eager to get out and investigate. Jess didn’t even have enough time to get out of the truck before the dog launched herself out the door and began sniffing everything, her tail wagging. She laughed as she got out and headed toward the porch. Daddy stood ready at the door, cautiously guarding his pack. His mate and cubs wouldn’t come out until he gave them the okay. This initial meeting would set the tone for the whole situation.
“Hi, Daddy.”
With a welcoming smile, he reached out and pulled her into a bear hug. She gave him a kiss on his bristly cheek. He ruffled her hair affectionately before he let her go.
