A growl tore from my throat as my eyes shot open. I was swinging the ax before I realized it. The impact had me tensing a little too late as I sliced through the trunk of a smaller tree not two feet away. The crack exploded in my ears, but my mind hadn’t quite caught up to sound. The second it took me to process what I’d done gave me enough time to curse in my mind. But it was too late. The ax fell from my hands and I reached out just as the fifty foot tall tree leaned and began to fall, right toward my house.
“Shit. Shit!” My voice grew louder as I raced forward. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, or could do. I was stronger than an average human, but I wasn’t superman. I couldn’t fly the tree away moments before it hit my house. And it would from the looks of it. What I was doing was pointless and I knew that as I dove forward, feeling my fingertips push at the wood. The tree moved over the slightest amount, but I hadn’t been able to put enough strength behind the connection before I hit the ground.
Bark shot out in all directions and the loud bang had my eyes closing through the rage that festered. Caleb. He was making her more suspicious of me. The realization made the blistering anger worse. My stare connected with the edge of my damaged porch and my head lowered to the ground just before my fist connected with the earth.
Erin would surely come after me with everything she had. From curiosity to solve the case, or suspicion that I was guilty, it didn’t matter. She’d pry and try to claw her way into my world. Little did she know, if she broke through my walls, she might never escape from the hell within them. The draw she held wouldn’t save her then.
Chapter 7
Erin
Chills raced up my spine and it had nothing to do with the lack of sun under the canopy of thick trees. Something wasn’t right with Detective Perkins, or with the scene before me. Everything felt off kilter and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.
I crouched, taking in the different angles of the twigs that were positioned where I was told Kelly’s body was located. The sun shone over the area, peeking from the clouds for only seconds before everything dimmed again. The amount of darkness I stood in was unsettling for it being so early in the day. I didn’t like it. I constantly checked behind me due to the invisible pressure of eyes on my back. The impression that someone was watching just wouldn’t leave me. I tried to ignore it as I focused on the overgrown foliage around the perimeter. There were plenty of places for someone or something to hide if they wanted to stalk their victim. But where exactly did they come out from?
“See. Nothing here.”
My stare rose to the detective for only a moment, but I ignored him. I tried to imagine her body mirroring the crime scene photos I had memorized. She’d been on her back, her head closest to the water.
I took a few steps, placing me feet from the river bank. The current was slow. Almost nonexistent as I stared in a daze. For half an hour I had went over the possibilities and I had yet to come up with anything helpful. There had to be something…
“Can we go now? I have stuff to do and I still have to drive you into town.”
Detective Perkins appeared uneasy as he began to shift his weight.
“Soon,” I said, lowly.
Again, I focused at the ground seeing Kelly’s mutilated body before me. My mind filtered through the photos and I frowned as I went back and forth between reality and the mental images.
“There was more....” I blinked a few times, letting the scene register. “It’s more open now than it was when she was attacked. Was this area cleared out afterward?”
“What?”
Detective Perkins took a few steps toward me as he scanned over the trees before us. Multiple expressions crossed his face and I studied each one.
“The area is bigger than in the photos,” I tried to explain. “The brush and trees were denser back then. We’re looking at a good fifteen to twenty feet of extra opened space. As if someone came in and took out a few trees.”
He nodded, but stayed quiet.
“Who would do that?”
The repeated tensing in the detective’s jawline had me turning back to glance at the connecting trail. It was a good length away. Which meant someone returned to the scene of the crime, probably quite frequently given how clean the space was.
“I’m guessing it was the person who owns this land.”
“Mr. Villani?”
“None other.”
My head shook as I tried to understand, but a deep voice drowned out any thoughts that began to register.
“Trying to make me into the bad guy once again, I see.” Alex’s eyes were narrowed as he broke into the dim clearing. “Kelly’s father, Gregory, comes here on occasion. He asked if it would be alright if he set up a bench out here. He talks to her sometimes. Anyway, I gave my permission and helped him make space. He still hasn’t brought the bench.”
His hand rose toward the detective and he pointed his finger.
“You knew that. I asked the department’s permission before I touched a damn thing.”
“It completely escaped my mind.”
“Did it, Caleb? It might have been months ago that I called, but I think you remembered just fine.” Alex circled around, throwing off waves of aggression. Yet, I wasn’t fearful of him. He was clearly defending himself. It was Detective Perkins. He was having a hard time disassociating himself personally from what happened to his brother.
The tension was thick as I put myself between their locked glares. “Now I know,” I said calmly. “Mr. Villani, thank you for providing that information. Did you change your mind and decide you wanted to speak with me about your accident?”
“No.” He said, glancing toward me. “Sheriff’s at the house. He wants a word with Detective Perkins.”
“Oh. Thank you.” The look I gave the detective had him pausing for only a moment before he headed for the trail at a fast, but heavy pace. His tall figure seemed wider, suddenly. As if he were eating up the space. My brow furrowed and I ignored the odd sensations of uneasiness as I turned back to Alex. He wasn’t as angry now. His arms were crossed over his chest and he held to his biceps as he stared at the ground. I took a deep breath, stepping closer. “May I please ask you a few questions?”
Light brown eyes appeared almost gold as his stare rose to me.
“Ask, but I can’t guarantee I’ll give you the answer you’re hoping for.”
“I just want the truth.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “You can’t handle the truth, Ms. Billings. Erin,” he said quieter, almost purring through my name. The change in tone sent my mind and body spiraling through the strangest tug-of-war responses it had ever received. Arousal hit with a force I couldn’t understand. The emotion was one I hadn’t felt in so long that it had me taking a step back. The action was mirrored with Alex taking three steps forward. Regardless of my conflicting responses, the fear suddenly overpowered everything. The look on his face…it was as if he knew my body was betraying my instincts. I’d felt it last night at the cabin but put it down to the shock after the accident.
“The truth,” I repeated, breathlessly.
Alex tugged at his bottom lip with his teeth and nodded. “Alright. If you’re going to be digging into the secrets of this town, you might as well hear them from me. After all, who better to hear the legend from than the one man people seem to think it currently links to?”
“Legend?”
Alex let out a small laugh at my incredulous tone.
“That’s right, Erin. Legend. It is pretty farfetched, I must admit. I mean, come on, who believes in werewolves anyway? It’s not like they really exist. But to the residents here, they do invoke a fear of possibility.”
“Werewolves?” My eyebrows rose and I knew I was sounding like a parrot, but I couldn’t help it. The word had my mind racing. Even as I immediately denied the implausibility, my mind began trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. It was impossible. It really was. So, then why did the imaginary werew
olf in my head match up to the evidence? They were supposed to be tall, weren’t they? And they had claws and ate… No. Fuck no. There was no such thing.
“Go on, Mr. Villani.”
“Alex. And it’s simple, really. People are disappearing. Some are turning up dead. For as long as I can remember, people always whispered about the creatures of the night. Men who looked like wolves, yet walked like men. Most of the people of Wolf River believe them to be true, or at least suspect. I’m sure Kelly’s father will hint as much to you when you meet him. Why do you think you’re here? He doesn’t think it was a bear. No one does. And since I survived, guess who their fear circulates around now? Me.”
I tried not to fidget as he shrugged.
“You’re telling me there are residents here who believe you to be a werewolf?”
“Some.”
“Mr. Morrison?”
Alex’s expressions hardened. “I’m sure it’s crossed his mind.”
I couldn’t stop the shaking of my head. “You think he’d come here to mourn his daughter if he believed you were the one who killed her? If he thought you were some creature that could kill him, too?”
“Does it matter? He comes. There’s talk. I’ve seen the way people look at me. As for Caleb. Well, who knows what he thinks. He’d never tell me to my face, but I’m sure maybe even a part of him may resort to extreme measures to deal with his brother’s death.”
I stayed quiet as I continued to soak in what I was being told. It was ludicrous that anyone would believe such things, but I knew how small towns worked. I’d come from one.
“So that’s what you have to look forward to,” he continued. “Legends, werewolves, full moons … hocus pocus, bullshit. Welcome to Wolf River, Erin. Enjoy your stay.” He turned to leave, but paused to look over his shoulder. “Do stay inside, though. Just in case. Regardless of their talk, something is killing people. You’re safer locked away at night. Although, if a werewolf does exist, I doubt there’s any barriers that could keep him out if he decided he wanted to have you.”
His gazed raked up and down my body and I watched him turn and begin to walk away. My whole body was humming in some unexplainable barrage of tingling pin-pricks. I fought to find my voice as I scrambled through his words.
“But you have the answers. You have the same size marks and you saw it. Was it a bear?”
Alex stopped, keeping himself faced forward. “Bear? Is that what you really wanted to ask?”
I swallowed hard. “What you speak of doesn’t exist.”
He laughed, even though he still faced away. “It attacked me before I ever heard a sound. When I came to, it was only inches from my face. It … was the biggest fucking bear I’ve ever seen. And fast. It was as though I blinked and it was gone.”
“You’re sure it was a bear?”
Slowly, he turned to look at me. “Well it wasn’t a werewolf. Of course it was a bear. What else could it have been?”
Silence settled between us and I didn’t have an answer. This entire time I’d been saying it wasn’t a bear. My experts didn’t seem to think so, but if it wasn’t, could it have really been a werewolf? Absolutely not. So, I was back at a bear, plain and simple. Alex saw it. He had no reason to lie.
“Thank you, Mr. Villani. Alex.”
“Come on,” he said, gesturing his head. “I’ll walk you back. Unless you’re afraid of me, too?”
There was a playfulness within him. It was refreshing in comparison to the seriousness he’d displayed so far. I couldn’t stop myself from grinning as I went forward. For minutes we walked without saying a word. A discoloration within the trees had me jerking to a stop. A wolf stood off in the distance, watching. He was as still as a statue and gray. The surprise had my hand going right for my gun.
“Holy shit.” The slight tremble was automatic as I brought the weapon down to rest at my side. For the life of me, I couldn’t continue walking. The terror I felt facing a childhood nightmare wouldn’t let me move.
“Let’s go,” Alex said, sternly.
“Will it try to hurt us?”
“That one?” He slid his hand around my bicep, holding securely. As he leaned in close, his breath brushed against my ear. He took a deep breath before he spoke. “He’s not the one you need to worry about. If you see a lone wolf, you’re meant to see him. He wouldn’t reveal himself out of curiosity or carelessness, Erin. He’s baiting you. This is the calm before the chaos. While you’re fixated on his beauty and shaking in fear, the rest of the pack are closing in. They’re hunting you. At this point, there’s no hope for escape. Luckily though, you’re with me. I’m not afraid of them and they know it. You, on the other hand…” he lifted, leading me at his pace. “Your fear is so thick right now, it’s exciting them. They’d eat you alive if it weren’t for me.”
I looked over my shoulder, watching the wolf weave slowly through the trees. His head was down and his eyes were intense, focused right on us.
“How do you know all of this? I thought wolves were afraid of humans.”
“I grew up here and have hunted my entire life. There are some things you just know. Other things, you learn over the years. The wolves in this town are different. They’re braver than in other places.”
My feet moved faster as I spotted a black wolf.
“Why? Why are they braver here?”
Alex brought us to a stop, facing me. I wanted to scream for us to continue, but somehow I kept my composure. The need to run was stronger than I’d ever felt. Their threat was real and I could somehow inexplicably feel it.
“Clear your mind and think. Why would a pack be so brave as to hunt a human who they’re usually afraid of?”
The gray wolf came even with us in the distance and I blinked past the question. “Their pack is big?”
A finger slid under my chin drawing my attention back to Alex. We were so close, I could smell the liquor on him. Something about that turned me on when it shouldn’t have. I forced my mind clear as he spoke, again.
“You’re right, but you’re smarter than that. There’s a better answer.”
A twig snapped behind me and I jumped, clutching to Alex’s shirt. I felt like a child again. Not at all the cold woman I had turned myself into over the years.
“The leader—the Alpha. They’re brave because of him.”
Alex smiled. “Correct. They are nothing without him, and they know it.”
Chapter 8
Alex
Tighter, Erin’s fingers grasped my shirt until they suddenly loosened and disappeared. I felt her energy spike before it transitioned into something I didn’t expect. She took a step back, glaring at me before she turned and pointed the gun in the direction of the gray wolf.
“Shoo! Get!” Her hand waved the gun around, trying to scare it, while she surged through the trees at a fast pace. My eyes widened and I rushed forward. I could see the wolf’s confusion and greed. He was just as baffled by her change as I was. But he didn’t move. A low growl began to leave him and I went faster.
“Are you crazy?” I grabbed her waist, spinning her back toward the trail. “What part of pack did you not understand? I guarantee you there’s a good thirty wolves close by and you want to start a fight?”
“Let go! I will not be intimidated. I have work to do and I’m not going to have them following me around while I investigate these crimes. If they think I’m afraid, they’re going to take advantage of that. They’ll never leave me alone then.”
Erin’s body thrashed as I brought her back to the trail. Her elbow slammed into my ribs just as I was about to let go. The pain made my own beast flare inside and I felt my arm tighten, bringing her so close that my body was curved around hers and my lips were hovering just above the outside of her neck. The need to nip, to latch on with my teeth and hold her under my control was almost impossible not to act upon.
“Calm. You can try to show them whatever you want, but the scent of your fear doesn’t lie. They feel you.”
I
felt her. There wasn’t a single part of me that wasn’t vibrating with the need I suddenly felt to have her. Sexually, yes, but so much more than that. Domination. After her little outburst, I wanted to show her who was boss. Who was more powerful when it came to will and determination. I wanted her. I wanted something I shouldn’t.
“Let go.”
No coldness. No anger. Just an order.
I paused, basking in her scent, even as I began to break away. The moment she was free, Erin took off back down the trail, leaving me standing their momentarily dazed. Fuck, I was so hard I couldn’t think. She wanted me. The cherry blossoms of her soap couldn’t disguise what my wolf knew. She’d reacted to my body being against hers and if she wanted me, it made my need for her so fucking much more.
Each step I took was more resolute than the next. One look at her profile and everything was suddenly different. Again. She was more beautiful. More … mine. Meal … no. At least not yet. I wanted to taste her, but not as food. I wanted to experience her flavor, her lips against mine. The way her pussy tasted while my face was buried between her legs, bringing her to pleasures I’d never cared to experience with a woman again.
“Let me tell you more.”
Before I could take back the words, she was already jolting to a stop to stare up at me.
“You have more to tell?”
“Have dinner with me tonight. I’ll cook and bring it to you. Your territory. Your rules.”
“Territory?” Her eyebrows drew in. “I don’t know. Dinner seems a little—“
WOLF (Wolf River Book 1) Page 6
