by Cathy Clamp
“I thought you were leaving,” he said quietly.
“Big happenings in the last ten seconds,” she replied. All three of them crouched down so they could see into the living room, through the door near the fireplace, without being noticed.
The alpha for the Kasun family spoke from the big chair by the window. “There is nothing to listen to. Footrace is not combat.”
A snort from the other side of the room. “Is not footrace. Obstacle course is like Olympics. You do not believe your omega can win, so you refuse. I have pride in my daughter. So much, in fact, that I would let entire dispute be settled this way. Is interesting game, this Ascension.”
The whole room turned to him, and Anica gasped.
“Papa?”
Zarko Petrovic smiled, his gaze fixed on Mustafa Kasun. “Your omega is taller, but my little bear is slim and quick. Obstacle course is not for big bulky bears. It is for little sleek bears who are fast and agile. Anica is also excellent climber with a nose that can find a single ripe raspberry in a whole field.”
Anica made a small whimpering sound that Rachel had heard often enough coming from her own mouth. It was the what-the-hell-is-he-getting-me-into? sound.
Iva Kasun touched her husband’s shoulder as if to calm him, and spoke to Zarko. “You would give up your claim on our land if Larissa wins?”
The Petrovic Alpha nodded. “But if Anica wins, you remove your fence and put it back to where it is before the war.”
Mustafa Kasun let out a low, rumbling growl. His wife nudged him several times without getting a response; finally, she leaned over and whispered to him. He must not have liked what he heard, because he frowned before pushing her away. “They have full day to train on course?”
Petrovic nodded. “Agreed.”
Rabi Kuric stepped forward, extending a hand toward each of the alphas. “Let me understand. You are agreeing to have your omegas compete in Luna Lake’s Ascension course, not just to settle their personal blood feud but also to decide the entire border dispute?” He sounded incredulous.
“Yes,” said Mustafa with a nod. He smashed his fist onto the arm of the chair with a sharp thwack.
The head of the Petrovic family waved off his wife and son, who were frantically trying to get his attention. “I decide for this family,” he said, looking at them with narrowed eyes. “My word alone. And I say yes.”
“Excellent!” said Rabi. “Alphas and omegas, if you please? We’ll travel to the town hall to review the maps and discuss the course.”
The alpha males stood and herded Larissa and Anica out of the house. Both young women were talking to their leaders. Rachel saw fear in their eyes and posture, smelled it in their scents. The men ignored them and kept moving.
Rachel and Dani each let out a slow breath, settling back on their heels at nearly the same moment.
“Wow. This just went to a whole new level,” Rachel said. Dani nodded in agreement, but Scott looked confused. Rachel quietly explained what Dani had overheard earlier in the day.
“Dani, you need to tell someone,” he said insistently.
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. You want to tell, go ahead. I’ll back you up if I’m asked. But no way am I going to be the one to raise the alarm. What if I’m wrong?”
“Do you think you are?” Rachel asked. Below them, Liz and Amber ushered the Kasun family toward the door.
“No. But I’m still not telling,” she said in a determined tone. Rachel knew how stubborn Dani could be; she decided not to push her on this.
Scott shrugged. “I’m at the I-heard-it-from-a-friend-who-heard-it-from-a-friend level. I’m out.”
“Fine,” Rachel said to her two cowardly friends, “then I will.” She slid out of the narrow hallway and sprinted for the front door.
Behind her, she heard Dani say, “Girl’s nuts.”
Scott replied, with a note of admiration in his voice, “Did you say, ‘nuts’ or ‘guts’? I vote for guts.”
She smiled at Scott’s assessment, but the smile fell off her face and she nearly skidded to a stop at the sight of Dalvin getting into the front of the SUV with Amber. Damn it! She didn’t want to deal with him now. But this was important.
“Amber? I really need to talk to you. Like right this second.”
“Rachel, I’m sorry, but it’ll have to wait. We have to get the sloth back to their cabin.”
She tried to telegraph her urgency by scent and expression, but Amber just looked confused, even when Rachel nodded toward the backseat of the car.
Dalvin got it, though. He leaned over and whispered to Amber, “I think it’s about the sloth.”
Rachel hoped mightily that the backseat was vacuum-sealed, like when she had been back there with the Council.
Amber sighed and got out of the SUV. She took Rachel by the elbow and quickly moved her toward the trees, putting a thick trunk between them and the car so nobody could try to read their lips.
“Okay, make it fast. What’s the problem?”
“My foster sister, Dani, overheard Larissa on the phone, maybe attempting to sabotage the contest.”
Amber frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. The twin scents of suspicion and curiosity warred in Rachel’s nose. “And why isn’t Dani telling me this?”
“Because Dani doesn’t think it’s a big deal and I think it is.”
The cat shifter tapped her foot on the ground, crunching fallen leaves under her boot. “I think it is too. But I’m going to have to talk to Dani.”
“Unfortunately, what she overheard was in French.”
Now Amber smiled. “That’s my native tongue. I think I can handle it.” She leaned out from behind the tree and called to Dalvin, “Go on to the house. I need to finish something here.”
His eyes narrowed, but he scooted into the driver’s seat as Rachel and Amber started for the house.
CHAPTER 8
What the hell was so important that the two of them had to hide behind a freaking tree and whisper like schoolgirls? Dalvin thought as he drove the Bosnian bears away. He was getting sick of being treated like an errand boy instead of a Wolven agent. Hell, Alek had less than a month on the force and was getting more respect than he was right now.
It took a whopping two minutes to reach the other end of town. That was another thing! The whole place wasn’t more than a quarter mile long—why were they driving everywhere? All the townspeople walked, and now he understood why. Granted, the SUVs had bulletproof glass, but what was the likelihood that someone would take a shot at any of the delegates?
Trying for calm, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly before opening the door for the Kasuns. Apparently, he wasn’t successful at concealing his feelings, because the alpha female wrinkled her nose, then stepped back like he was a hot flame. And maybe he shut the car door a little too firmly, because the alpha male’s brows raised and he muttered something into Tamir’s ear when the big bear shifter approached from the other side. The senior Wolven agent flicked his attention sharply to Dalvin. Great. Another strip of hide. Just thinking about it made his side hurt, which made him even more pissed off.
Once the family was inside, Tamir crooked a finger at Dalvin, who stepped forward, his gaze averted. “Are you having a problem today, Agent Adway?”
“No, sir.” The words were flat and hollow. Even he didn’t believe them.
“Look,” the word was softer than he expected. Suspicious, he looked at Tamir and was surprised to see sympathy in his eyes. “Claire told me what happened with the local girl. I didn’t realize you had history with her. I know you’re upset. Why don’t you go over to the school and help with the cooking? Might take your mind off problems for a while.”
“What?” Tamir had been such an asshole until now. Why the change?
The big bear shrugged one shoulder; he smelled uncomfortable to be talking about anything personal. “My oldest brother ran away when I was ten. Wanted become a big star in Bollywood. He never came home, and my father felt …
so much pain. For years, all the time I was growing up. I do not know what I would say to him if I found him and he dared to be happy. I think I would punch him. Maybe many times.” He shrugged again. “You only yelled. I was impressed.”
Dalvin nodded. “I was raised not to slug girls.” Although he recalled in vivid detail that the reverse wasn’t true for Rachel. She’d clobbered him nearly as often as her brothers. “I’ll be at the school if you want me,” he said with a nod. He wasn’t going to ask Tamir anything about his brother—he didn’t want to get involved with the bear’s personal demons—but he did have a question. “Hey, what do you know about three-day shifters?”
Tamir shrugged. “That they turn every night of the moon. Why?”
So it wasn’t just him. “Nothing. Never mind.”
He could smell the Russian agent’s confusion and frustration as he walked away.
The trip to the school took longer than it should have because Dalvin kept stopping to think. Good thing there was no traffic.
Long-ago memories colliding with today’s. A mischievous pixie smile in a mouth that was too wide for her small face; now that face was all grown up but lacked a smile. A skinny kid running beside him in her brother’s rolled up pants, constantly tugging them up because she had no hips; now her jeans hugged her hips and stayed taut against the curve of her waist.
He found himself at the school. The chili cooking inside smelled really good, and he suddenly realized he hadn’t eaten all day. He was about to open the door when he heard voices behind him and turned to see the two male bear alphas, plus Councilman Kuric, Larissa, and Anica, leaving the town hall. Alek was locking the door behind them.
Larissa was rubbing her shoulder and moving it around like it hurt. Turning to look at her, Mustafa Kasun noticed Dalvin standing at the school entrance and smiled thinly. He spoke to Larissa and pointed at Dalvin. The young woman nodded and began to walk toward the school.
Seeing that she was limping, Dalvin stepped forward to meet her.
“You okay?” he asked.”You’re looking a little banged up.”
She shrugged, then winced. “I should not have turned my back on that woman … the one who yelled at you.”
Frowning, Dalvin asked, “Why? What did Rachel do?”
“Tried to push me down staircase.” She tried to wave it off as though it didn’t matter, but her arm was obviously not working well. “She did not succeed, thanks to heavens. But I am sure it was to slow me down in race. Anica has likely bought her loyalty.”
Rachel sabotaging the race? While he wouldn’t have thought that possible of the Rachel he’d grown up with, it seemed he didn’t know the adult Rachel at all. Who knew what she might be capable of? She had demonstrated that she didn’t like Larissa one bit, and she had been the one to suggest the race in the first place. He picked up Larissa’s good hand and raised it to his lips.
“I’m reviewing the course tomorrow. I’ll make sure Anica doesn’t have an unfair advantage.”
Larissa smiled and ran the back of her fingernails down his cheek. “You are sweet. The only thing I worry of is that Anica is smaller than me in animal form. I will be able to run, but I worry of crouching or crawling in places where she can slip under. My shoulder, it will be difficult.”
He squeezed her hand. “Clearing brush should be no problem at all. You just head back to your quarters and rest. You told your Alphas about this, right?”
She nodded but smelled of deceit. “Of course.”
His face dropped into stern lines. “Larissa, I’m not kidding. You can’t let something like this go. Tell your Alphas or I will.” It wasn’t his decision about what to do about sabotage, if there was any being planned. Especially if it was a third party like a town resident.
But it’s not just any town resident. It’s Rachel. She wouldn’t—
He put the thought aside. He couldn’t know that. He watched Larissa struggle with her dilemma—he knew her Alphas could be moody, and there were disadvantages to telling a disgruntled leader about problems. Finally, she sighed and her scent shifted to the wet mop of resignation and defeat. “I will tell my Alpha female. This is a womanly matter.”
He nodded. If it made her feel better to talk to the female, he was fine with that.
Her head tipped flirtatiously. “Would you walk me home? There could be dangerous things in the woods.” She walked two of those red-tipped fingernails up his arm.
Tempting …
His chuckle was automatic. It didn’t say no, just not now, you little flirt. “Sorry, but I have duties. Maybe tomorrow we can walk down to the lake.” A chilly wind brushed the back of his neck; the hairs there stood up, trying to be feathers.
Her voice lowered and her lips puckered. Sexy. “Mmm … cold water on bare skin. Delicious. No need to bring swim shorts, I think.”
He gently pulled her hand off his arm and laughed. “I have to go now. Duty calls.” Skinny dipping with a woman like Larissa would be something a man would never forget.
What does Rachel look like naked?
The stray thought took him by surprise and made him shake his head, but it was like trying to wipe the image of pink polka-dotted elephant from his mind. Larissa thought she had caused the distraction and smiled broadly.
Suddenly angry, Dalvin turned away, his voice harsh when he said, “Get some rest, Larissa. It’s going to be a long few days.”
The sudden change of attitude confused her, he could tell, but he didn’t turn back. It had been a very strange day and he needed a chance to get his head together.
A chance he apparently wasn’t going to get, at least not yet, because Scott was jogging toward him with a concerned look on his face. Would this day never end?
“What’s up?” Dalvin asked his new roommate.
Scott offered him a phone—the one Dalvin kept in the side pocket of his duffel—and said, “This rang like twenty times. The display says it’s your mother. I know you’re technically on duty, but when a mom calls that many times—”
Yeah, that was weird. He took the phone and flipped it open. Twenty-two missed calls. While his work phone was state of the art, his personal line was whatever crappy prepaid one he could find, so there was no voice mail. But the prepaid ones seemed to have the best coverage in the middle of nowhere because they piggybacked on whatever wireless carrier was in the area. “Thanks. I appreciate it. I’ll give her a call.”
Scott got the hint and waved farewell. “No problem. Just thought you’d want to know.” Then he snapped his fingers. “Oh, and I found the spare apartment key.”
“Great. Do you have it with you?” God only knew when he’d make it back to the apartment complex. It would probably be late.
Scott shook his head, his long mane of hair blowing in the breeze as if he were a cover model in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. In fact, several of the women in last year’s issue didn’t have hair nearly as nice. “Sorry, I should have grabbed it, just didn’t think. You’ll probably be working weird hours, but don’t worry about disturbing me when you get back. I’ll probably be up. I’m a night owl.”
That made Dalvin chuckle. Scott grinned and trotted off.
Dalvin raised his finger to return his mother’s call, then hesitated. Could he handle any more news today? Everyone was healthy when he left, and it would take a lot to hurt either his mother or father. As alphas go, Dalvin’s father could still wipe up the floor with him, and his mother was flat-out vicious. Probably everything was fine and she was just returning his call. He pressed the button.
His mother picked up before he heard a second ring. “Dalvin?”
“Hey, Mom. What’s up? The guy I’m rooming with said you’ve been burning up the phone line trying to reach me. Is something wrong?”
Her voice took on the same note as when he was a kid and his room was a pit. “Dalvin Clarence Adway. You promised me you would call as soon as you got back to the States. Here I find out you’re on the West Coast already and not a word.”
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What? “I did call you. I left a message yesterday. And how did you hear I was on the West Coast?”
Now her voice took on an I’m-so-innocent-that-if-I-walk-past-a-lemon-stand-I-sweeten-the-fruit tone. “Oh, here and there. You know how family is.”
Except he hadn’t told a soul in the family that the peace talks were moving. “Look, Mom. I have to get back to work. Why did you really call me?” If he sounded a little short, he didn’t care.
And now the pout. “I’m your mother, Dalvin. I get worried.”
He heard a click and then his father’s voice. “Quit upsetting your mother, Dalvin.”
Goddamn it! He wanted to yell, but he kept his voice low so the whole town didn’t hear—like they had when he’d argued with Rachel. “Dad, I work for Wolven. You know the drill. I can’t talk about stuff. I can’t call you every day. You aren’t supposed to be tracking my every movement. It’s a security breach and I’m going to get fired! Or worse!” Every word was staccato, a tiny verbal dagger. He heard sighs on the phone, one deep and one delicate. He wanted to scream. “Okay?”
His dad spoke first. “The boy’s right, Maggie. He’s not a teenager anymore. Wolven doesn’t play games.”
His mother responded, but to her husband, not Dalvin. “Oh, I know he’s not a teenager anymore, Robert. But he’s still acting like one. The only thing that gets him riled up enough to yell at us is women. You had a fight with your girlfriend, didn’t you?”
Now he did scream … silently. “Okay, yeah, Mom. I had a fight with Ra—” With the word halfway out of his mouth, his whole body froze up. Holy God! What had he nearly said? Part of his brain was stupid and the other part was seriously messed up.
“Rae?” his mother asked. “Another one? I swear, Son, you need to slow down a little. Women aren’t toys.”
He tried to respond, but his jaw wouldn’t move. Literally wouldn’t. He couldn’t move a single inch of his body except his eyes. It was even hard to breathe, and a stinging sensation enveloped him like he was being stung by a thousand bees. He felt the phone being plucked from his hand.
