A feminine hand snaked over her shoulder and pressed the button to disconnect the call. Margie tugged the handset from Cammie’s numb hand and replaced it on the wall. “I’m calling Conner and you are going to sit. Then, I’m packing you up and taking you home with me.”
Margie’s calm words helped Cammie get her emotions under control. Abject terror wasn’t going to help her think or react. Ron was just a guy, drunk and angry. He wasn’t the devil, couldn’t materialize in her kitchen. She nodded.
“Conner, hey, it’s Margie. I’m taking Cammie home with me. Ron just called and she looks like death. I’m imagining he threatened her.” There was a pause as something was said on the other end of the call. “Yeah, that’s my guess too. We’ll see you at my house then.”
After hanging up her friend turned to Cam with a look of sympathy and concern. “Come on, girlie. Up you go. Let’s go pack you a bag.”
Margie marched Cammie up the stairs, steering her by the shoulder. They worked together throwing clothes into a duffle bag. Both women stared repeatedly at the open bedroom door.
“I have to leave a note for Ian. What if he comes and I’m not here?”
“Fine. But don’t put on there where we’re going. I don’t need Ron finding you at my house.”
Cammie rushed down the stairs and wrote out a cryptic note about leaving and staying with her ‘visitor’, hoping he’d understand. She had the urge to find him and crawl into his embrace. Adrenaline was still surging through her body and every noise spiked her panic. Strong, warm arms would chase away her fear.
Chapter Seventeen
“So, you want tea or I can make some coffee?”
Cammie looked up from her hands. She’d sat at Margie’s table and lost herself in dread again. What had she gotten herself into? She needed to snap out of it though. “Sure, tea would be great.” She watched the other woman move around the kitchen, methodically collecting items. She knew Margie was trying to give her time to get her mind around Ron and the stupid phone call. “Sorry I’m being all depressed and stuff.”
“No worries. I’d be freaked out too if my ex-boyfriend called and threatened to do bodily harm to me. Especially when said asshole had already broken into my house and tried to bean me with cleaning instruments.”
“I guess. I just feel like my brain has disconnected. It’s too much, you know. Shifters and homicidal drunks. And I thought my life was exciting before.” They both chuckled, even if it was painful sounding and laced with enough hysteria to be scary. Margie set a cup of steaming tea in front of Cammie. She wrapped her hand around it and the warmth helped dispel the last of the icy fear. They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, sipping their beverages and contemplating their night.
Margie’s cell phone rang quietly in her purse. “Oh, it’s Conner. Hey Conner. Yeah, okay. We’re here. See you in a minute.” Cammie quirked an eye brow at her friend before Margie closed her phone. “He didn’t want to scare us by just showing up. He’ll be pulling up in a few minutes.”
They both stared at each other for a moment. Margie asked the question they were both thinking. “Do you think he’s one?”
Cammie didn’t even have to put brain cells to work on that one. “Yep.”
Margie nodded sagely before opening the door. “Figured.”
Both women stood at the door, looking out into the evening. The silence felt calming to Cammie. She drew it into her lungs and let it pool in her body, cool and stable. No matter what happened, the world would keep turning, the night would come after the day. She could rely on those facts when the rest of her life seemed to be on a rollercoaster.
Connor parked and climbed out of his SUV. She watched the way he moved and noticed for the first time the fluid way he walked, like a predator. She felt like having a V-8 moment, but her face hurt enough as it was. Face-palming her forehead didn’t sound like the best idea.
“Hello Officer Manning. How are you this evening?” Margie’s southern twang was thick as she eyed the man with furrowed brow. “Would you like to come in? We were just sitting down to a cup of tea.”
Conner reacted as all good southern men did. He removed his hat and gave the universal answer. “Yes, ma’am, I’d love a cup of tea, if you don’t mind me coming in your house with my boots on.”
“Not at all. Come on in and sit.” Cammie stifled the chuckle that threatened to leave her chest. Margie was amazingly cunning. They all trooped into the dining room and sat, staring at each other. She waited a few moments, letting the silence settle, before opening up the conversation. “So, why did you want to meet with me?”
Conner’s dark gaze swept around the room. “Where’s the wolf?”
“He left.”
“Run off? Or did you make him leave?”
Cammie looked away from the steady gaze and caught Margie’s attention. The other woman nodded slightly in affirmation. A deep breath to fortify her nerves was all Cammie gave herself before plunging in. “Neither. He left to go home, but I’m hoping he’ll call me later.”
Silence settled heavy in the room. As the clock on the wall kept time, Cammie knew, without a doubt, that the man knew about shifters. Which made sense in the scheme of things. If there was a town running rampant with wild creatures who were also human-shaped, the police would need to know. The stunned look on his face told her all she needed to know about other humans having that knowledge, though. “We know. Skip came to my house and visited with Titan, I mean Ian.”
Again only blankness from the male. She wanted to laugh, but decided against it when he grunted and nodded.
“You are one, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Now, tell me about the call from Ron.”
“Um, okay. Wow.” She gathered her thoughts. “He called right after I hung up with you. He threatened to come get me, spouting all kinds of crap about me being his and being punished. He was drunk, and not just a little drunk. He was slurring his words and everything. Trust me when I say it takes a lot of liquor to get him to that point.”
Conner jotting things in his handy-dandy notebook before looking up. “Anything else you can remember? Sounds in the background of the call? Did he sound like he was in his car or a bar?”
Cammie went through the call in her mind but couldn’t remember any details like that. She’d been concentrating on the hatred pouring through the lines. “No. I’m sorry. Next time he calls I’ll pay more attention. Your turn. Why did you want to talk to me?”
“Someone ransacked your office. I’m guessing Ron did it, but we’ve been unable to find him. He hasn’t been home and we searched every place we could think of.” She groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Do Becca and Tim know? Were their offices touched?”
“Nope, just yours. That’s why we’re assuming Ron. Can you think of someplace he would go to hide out? A friend, family member?”
“No. He was usually home drinking. I know he plays poker with a few guys, but I don’t know who.”
“I would suggest you stay here tonight. Don’t go home without having someone with you. We obviously are going to do everything we can to find him, but it’s always best to be careful.”
“Wait.” Margie’s voice sounded loud after Conner’s low growl. “You’re going to walk in here, admit to being a shifter and leave? Really? Come on Conner, give us some info. Something. Skip wouldn’t fill us in, and now we, mere humans, have to wait for Ian, or Titan, or whatever the wolf’s name is to tell Cammie stuff. I’m dying here. Give me something.”
Conner actually laughed. Not a chuckle or the normal grunt that worked as his reaction to something amusing. Chest-shaking, knee-slapping laughter rolled out of him. Cammie watched Margie blush a deep pink before she grabbed a dish towel and threw it at his head. “Shut up, Conner Manning.”
“Oh, Margarete Barrie. You are nothing if not entertaining. You ‘mere human’ women know more than most people in our town. I’m not allowed to tell you anything. Sorry. But, I can tell you that we aren’t w
olves, well, except for Cammie’s. I’m a coyote.”
Cammie’s mind grabbed that thought and ran backward a few nights. Coyote song floating on the night, Titan laying on the side of the road bleeding. “You weren’t one of the ones chasing Ian the other night were you?”
“No. What do you mean chasing Ian?”
“I found him after he ran into my car, but there were coyotes around and headed toward us. He was cut up all over and not from taking on my car with his head.”
Anger darkened the man’s face. “No, and I didn’t know anyone had been chased.”
“Well, I’m just guessing. You could ask Skip. He supposedly talked to Ian earlier, but I don’t know if it was telepathically or what.”
“Telepathically? Shit, Cam, where do you come up with this stuff?” Margie laughed and was joined quickly by Conner.
“You two shut up. How am I supposed to know? Ian left in wolf form. How else was he going to talk to Skip?”
“Ladies, it’s been interesting, but I’ve got to be on my way.” He held up a hand to stop them both from talking. “No, I can’t answer any questions. Stay inside, lock the doors and I’ll call if anything comes up. Cammie, I want you to promise me that you won’t even drive to work without someone knowing where you’re going.”
“Okay.”
“Good. Have a good night.” Conner left quickly and gave a wave out his window as he drove out onto the road.
Silence hung thick in the air for a few moments as the women stared at the closed door. Margie broke the silence first. “Well, that was interesting.”
“Works for me. Thanks again, for taking me in.”
“No problem, hon. You can stay as long as you need.” She patted Cammie’s hand. “Now, take yourself up to my guest room and go to bed. Nothing is going to come for you tonight.”
Cammie did as she was instructed even though she flounced from the room with a flick of her middle finger and a waggle of her tongue. She wondered briefly where Ian was, and if he was out there running around in the woods, keeping her safe. She wanted to see him, but the feelings that coursed through her as she pictured him was the reminder she needed about what exactly she’d been doing with him in her last dream. Her very real, very sexy dream. She sighed once she climbed into bed. It felt strange to be in someone else’s house, but she wasn’t stupid. She needed protection even if it chafed against her independent streak.
Coyotes yipping and howling outside the house sent her off to sleep.
Chapter Eighteen
Ian felt like a whole new man. He’d spent enough time in the shower to use every ounce of hot water and scrubbed off the days of being in wolf skin. Showered, shaved and slathered in deodorant, he felt human again. He laughed. He wasn’t technically human in the first place, but it was all semantics.
Standing in front of the local pack Alpha’s house was nerve wracking. Anxiety rode him hard, bringing his wolf to the surface. He could smell the other shifters inside. Skip had invited him, so he would have safe passage into the meeting. It was the thoughts of keeping from fighting and getting out again that had him a little excited. A fight would be fine. It would probably work off some of his energy, but he wanted to get help from the pack to guard Cammie. If he beat on a bunch of their males he was pretty sure they wouldn’t want to help him.
With a sigh he walked onto the porch and rang the doorbell. He expected Skip to answer the door, so when a short female with more freckles than he’d ever seen on one person before opened the door he was startled. “Um. Hi. I’m Ian.”
“Hi, Ian. I’m Amie. Come on in, we’ve been waiting on you.”
He stepped into the house and was accosted by the smell of so many different kinds of shifters he fought the urge to plug his nose. Amie was some sort of cat, cougar perhaps. There was the earthy smell of bears, coyotes—of course—and a few he’d never come across. His wolf was confused but interested. The only scent missing was the heavy, bitter smell of anger.
“Come on in. We started talking about your lady friend, but we wanted to get the information from you before we talked about shifts and stuff.”
Amie kept talking until they walked into a large, open living room. The furniture had been pushed against the walls to open up the floor. Fifteen people stood or sat in the room, and all thirty eyes turned to him in unison. The Alpha stood near the doorway and stepped forward the moment Ian walked into the room. “Ian. Nice to see you clothed.”
“Nice to be clothed. I’d forgotten what it’s like to be in fur for days on end.”
“Let’s get some business taken care of and then I thought we’d chat about Cammie and her predicament.” Quick, to the point, and no posturing.
Ian’s respect for the male rose a little more. He hadn’t run into too many Alphas who were powerful enough to just be normal. Most were constantly putting others to the test. Fighting an Alpha’s sway quickly became tiresome.
“That would be fantastic. I’m worried for her.” A growl, low and deep, sounded from one corner of the room. Ian scanned the faces until he came to Zeke. “I want her safe, just like you, coyote.”
Zeke stepped forward. “I don’t want her hurt by the asshole or by you, wolf. She’s a friend, and fragile. I will protect her myself if I think you’re going to screw with her head or heart.”
“No worries. I’m not planning on hurting her. Trust me.”
“Enough you two. Let’s get him in the pack then, Zeke, if you want to challenge him so be it.” Turning to Ian Skip continued. “You know how to do this, right?”
Ian took a deep breath, lowered himself to his knees and tilted his head to the side, baring his neck. “I, Ian Andrews, request permission to join your pack, live my life under your laws, and vow to protect yours with my own life.”
“Well done. Now, get up.” Turning to the other shifters. “Ian is accepted into the pack. As Alpha I deem him worthy of our protection and help.”
Polite clapping sounded around the room. When it stopped the Alpha continued. “You have something to ask us for, do you not?”
“Cammie Henderson saved me two nights ago. I owe her for so much, but one of the things I can supply her to offset my debt is safety. Her ex-boyfriend, Ron Norte, has not only attacked her two nights ago, but came to her home yesterday and assaulted her. I know that the police are involved, but I would like to give her more.” Stop rambling. He took a deep breath and continued, more focused. “Anyway, I would like to ask the pack for assistance in guarding her from the human male.”
“And what do you offer the pack for our assistance?”
“What do you need? I’m a computer programmer, not a soldier. I’ve just set up my company so I don’t have a lot of money to contribute.”
“We have a young cub, a wolf cub, who was left in foster care. We’ve taken him into the pack, but without another wolf to help him through his shifts and teach him how to control his animal, he’s become quite the handful. If you’d be willing to work with him, like a mentor, a few times a week, I would call that fair payment.”
“Done.”
“Good. He’s staying with the Cartridge’s. I’ll get you their number after the meeting.” Skip turned to the group and Ian felt a pulse of power. “The other thing we need to discuss is what led you to need Cammie’s help. I want all the coyote-males to step forward.”
Tension was thick in the room when eleven men stepped forward. Most of them had confusion written across their faces, but a few had expressions that showed a mixture of guilt and anger. “Ian was chased on Friday night by a group of you. I never sanctioned any action against the wolf, even when you asked me for permission. The ones that went against my orders to leave him alone will be sniffed out and Ian will decide on the punishment.”
A quick jerk of Skip’s head gave Ian direction. He stepped toward the men, sniffing lightly near each man. He easily found four that had chased him. A low growl rumbled in his chest as the scent triggered his memories of being hunted. There were a couple m
ore that hadn’t attended the meeting.
“Those four were in the group. There are at least two more not here.”
“What the hell? I did no such—”
“Shut up! You will not speak until I’ve said you can. You asses went against a direct order. Do you know what the law says I can do to you? Death. I can sentence you to death. Fuck, Glenn. Why would you do that? No, wait. I don’t want to know.” Turning to Ian. “I give you permission to pick their punishment or what compensation you deem necessary to forgive their idiotic actions.”
While two of the men sputtered in outrage the other two hung their heads. Ian watched the four intently, never letting his gaze waver. He’d just been accepted into the pack, harming a few of the members wouldn’t be a smart move, but he needed to pick something that would give the message that he wasn’t a pushover either.
He pointed to the two that showed contrite shame. “Those two will guard Cammie to pay back some of what I owe her. Pack law requires my compensation to her, so I take theirs as mine.” The two males raised their heads and nodded instantly in acceptance. Good. Then he pointed to the two asses still attempting to deny their involvement. “Those two will accept a challenge from me. If I win, they will pay Zeke for the cost of detailing Cammie’s car when he removed the blood from her carpets. The blood that had been caused by them.”
A quick inhale of the community breath made the hairs on his arms raise. Challenging so early after being accepted probably wasn’t smart, but he was done. He didn’t want to run anymore, didn’t want to be chased from his latest home. He liked the area and wanted to set down roots. Having a pack to run with would be nice.
“Hmm, interesting but definitely acceptable terms.” Skip’s voice held a touch of amusement. “What do you say, boys? Do you agree to Ian’s challenge?” The two who’d already agreed to guard Cammie skittered back and melted into the crowd. That left the two assholes. They swiveled their heads between Ian and Skip, glaring anger and defiance.
Accidentally Yours (Coyote Bluff Series Book 1) Page 13
