Carnal: A Dark Shifter Romance

by Piper Stone

  I remained hunkered over the fire as she worked, stoking the wood as her fingers flew across the keyboard. Files were strewn everywhere, and we’d gone over every detail, the evidence leading to a dead end, and we both knew it was on purpose. We were nothing more than mules being led down a path. As I studied the flames, I realized just how drawn to her I’d become, and not because of a connection that shouldn’t be allowed by nature. I admired her tenacity and diligence, her verve for life and her strength.

  “Ugh!” Kathleen hissed and the sound of her hands slamming onto the desk meant another dead end. “This is hopeless.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head before grabbing another piece of wood and tossing it into the fire. “Which part?”

  “Everything. Every fucking thing.” She jerked into a standing position, pacing back and forth in front of the computer. “There is absolutely no connection to the three victims I could find. Three completely different professions. Three different areas of town where they live. Hell, none of them even grew up in Denver. Their colleges were different. Different ages. Different hobbies, at least as far as their social media presence indicates. One had a dog, another a cat, and one had been a firm hater of animals in general. Fuck! There has to be something we’re missing.”

  “Then we’ll find it.”

  “How can you be so damn calm? You tell me that someone is out to kill me, we have no clues on to how the killer might be, and we have a conspiracy involving several respected members of law enforcement and God knows where else and you’re tossing wood on the fire as if it’s no big deal.”

  I shook my head as I rose to a standing position, weighing my answer. I walked toward her, keeping my gaze steady. “We keep trying. You’re right, we’re missing something. Perhaps the killer is out for revenge or righting some wrong. Maybe there is another professional connection we haven’t been able to locate.”

  “Another professional connection, like being involved with a glee club?” The way her eyes slanted in my direction mocked me. When she laughed, I could tell it was out of frustration. She glanced at her watch, tapping the dial. “We’ve been at this for almost five hours. I don’t know what you think we’re going to find without going back into the field. I need a drink.” She walked to the bar, pulling out the bottle of whiskey. She stormed toward the kitchen, muttering under her breath.

  “And you know that’s dangerous.”

  “You can’t keep me here, Max. I have a life and so do you. I appreciate your concern, but I’m not fragile.” She rubbed her neck, grimacing before heading into the kitchen.

  I waited for her return, moving toward the computer and shifting from screen to screen. Everything was far too clean, the evidence the medical examiner had provided all pointing fingers at a resident within Roselake. It was only a matter of time before her captain tightened the vise.

  “I never said you were.” As I closed the distance, she shivered all over as she handed me a drink.

  “Why do you have that effect on me?” she whispered the question, her actions more timid than I was used to. She hid behind her drink, taking several small sips.

  “What effect?”

  “Driving me... crazy.” Kathleen issued another nervous laugh, barely darting a glance in my direction.

  I reached my hand up to touch her, hissing as I heard the knock on the door.

  Her hand immediately went to the gun she’d placed on the table. I placed my fingers on top of hers, shaking my head. “You forget, no one knows about this cabin outside of members of this community.”

  She nodded, swallowing hard before moving away.

  I took a sip of my drink before taking long strides toward the door. I was almost surprised seeing my father standing on the front porch.

  He immediately looked past me, taking a deep whiff. “The woman is here.”

  “Yes. It was necessary.” I noticed he was alone, his face pensive. “You have news?”

  He nodded, darting another glance. “We need to talk.”

  “You can come in.” I held the door open, sensing his concern at talking in front of her. “Detective Kathleen Kelly, this is my father, Blackhawk Cordero.”

  She eased her drink onto the table before walking forward, her arm extended. “Sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  In my father’s typical fashion, he merely gave her an obligatory smile before turning his attention in my direction. “As I said, we need to talk, son.”

  I exhaled, lifting a single eyebrow as I gave her a look. Whether or not she was offended was difficult to tell, but I was angry. I nodded toward the kitchen, heading in that direction then noticing he’d remained where he was, even inching closer to her.

  “You are... special to my son,” my father said.

  “I am merely his partner,” Kathleen answered.

  “That is not accurate.” My father took a deep whiff before finally walking toward the kitchen. There was no sense in chastising him. He was from the old ways.

  “Has the council decided?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

  “They have been unable to come to a conclusion.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “They are deadlocked.”

  I snorted. “Unless you give the deciding vote. You are well aware of what needs to be done.”

  He didn’t react in any manner, although his eyes remained imploring. “And you know what’s at stake if we’re wrong.”

  “What the fuck do we need to do to help the council understand we’re facing a crisis?”

  “Find additional evidence.”

  I laughed bitterly, almost choking on his words. “You mean another body closer to our community. That’s bullshit, Father. Bullshit. In protecting our community, you may very well damn our souls.” I started to walk out, more enraged than I’d ever been with my father. When he grabbed my arm, the strength of his hold surprised me.

  “You will need to explain things to her.”

  “I will if necessary.”

  “You have selected her as your mate.”

  I opened my mouth, bile forming in my throat. “No. I haven’t made that decision yet.”

  My father lifted his head, a smug look on his face. “Your desire made the decision for you, much like what occurred with your mother. You must speak with her. She needs to understand, or we will be required to make certain she doesn’t talk to anyone.”

  He said nothing else, merely giving me a respectful nod before walking out of my kitchen and my house. I was shaken, more so from my own stupidity for ignoring the signs. I closed my eyes, unable to fathom how the fuck to deal with this.

  As I walked back into the living room, she stood with her arms folded, her face pinched.

  “Your father doesn’t like me very much.” Kathleen’s voice held no animosity, merely a sadness that I hadn’t anticipated.

  “My father doesn’t know you and he’s very old school.”

  “Meaning I’m not part of the community.” She sighed and her façade seemed to fade as she sagged against the table. She seemed more forlorn than before, exhaustion furrowing lines into her lovely face.

  I knew what my father was saying was difficult for him but necessary. We couldn’t have any outsiders. If she learned too much or couldn’t accept my answers, decisions would be taken out of my hands.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, walking toward me.

  I held out my hand, shaking my head. “Nothing. Just...”

  “Just what? You’re angry. Don’t be. Your father has every reason not to trust me. Law enforcement hasn’t necessarily been a friend to Roselake.”

  I grabbed my drink before moving toward the front of the house, staring out the window at the display of colors splashed across the sky. The sun was setting and my gut was telling me that time was running out. The guilt sweeping through me was tremendous, unearthing far too many emotions. I’d been able to protect her from a murderer, but I wouldn’t be able to keep her safe from the big, bad wolf.

&nb
sp; “What’s wrong, Max? What did your father say to you?”

  I could feel her presence far too close and I pulled the glass to my forehead. “As I told you, my father is a part of the city council in Roselake.”

  “Yes, you told me that.”

  “He came to tell me that the city isn’t prepared to help us with our investigation.”

  “Um. I’m not certain what they could do. The murders weren’t committed here and from what we’ve been able to tell, there is no actual connection to Roselake, no matter what the fucking M.E. said.” She inched close enough I could see her reflection in the window. “What aren’t you telling me?” she continued.

  “There are things about Roselake that you don’t understand.”

  “I know there is a significant Cherokee population. What else?”

  I half smiled. Of course she’d check on the city. How could I expect any less? “Yes, but there’s more.”

  “Some spiritual grounds?”

  I tipped my head in her direction. “How do you know that?”

  A warm flush swept up her face and she looked away. “I found a book while you were asleep.”

  I shifted away from the window, a cold chill shifting down my spine. “What book?”

  “The one written by a priest.” Kathleen took a step back. “Don’t worry, I didn’t read very much and I’m sorry if I did something wrong.”

  If she read almost any portion of the book, she must have read about the Wolfen. “What else did you read, Kathleen? This is important because we need to talk.” I hadn’t realized I’d moved toward her, gripping her arm until fear crossed her face.

  “You’re scaring me, Max. Is this about the secret you’re hiding from me? Some ancient custom? Is this why fingers are being pointed toward Roselake?”

  “You don’t understand, Kathleen. This city is... special, the people who live here different.”

  “Then talk to me,” she hissed, jerking her arm away. “What are you trying to tell me?”

  “You need to sit down.”

  “Oh, hell, no. I’ll stand.”

  There was no time to waste, no holding back any longer. I’d inadvertently crossed a line that couldn’t be altered, but I refused to fuck up her life forever. “I’m not who you think I am.”

  “That much I gathered,” she whispered then took several steps away from me. “Who and what are you?”

  “Look...”

  “Tell me or I swear to God, Max.”

  I noticed headlights coming in through the window and hissed but I could feel Gregor’s presence. “I will tell you. That much I promise you but wait just a minute.”

  Kathleen studied me carefully before nodding, turning away from me in obvious disgust.

  I headed outside before Gregor even had a chance to leave his truck. As I walked off the stoop, I could see his gaze moving toward the cabin. He could smell her on me. “Something is going on.”

  Gregor nodded, a haunted look crossing his face. “One of our scouts found another body.”

  “Where?”

  “Just inside the city limits. It’s bad, Max.”

  I almost stumbled forward, my gut churning. “One of our own?”

  “No. I have no idea who it is but there is no doubt the kill was by a wolf.”

  “Nightwalker?”

  He shook his head. “No. This was a kill meant to teach both our packs a lesson. Trust me, Max, you need to see this.”

  The scent of him was riddled with both fear and rage.

  “All right.”

  “We need to hunt,” Gregor said through clenched teeth. “Come with me. I’ll take you there. You cannot bring the woman.”

  He was right. There was no other recourse. “Call the council and tell them. Whether they like it or not, we are hunting. I’ll come with you, but first I have something to do. Just wait. After that, we’re going to see Stone.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “It’s what I’ve decided to do!” My words reverberated in the darkness. “They are part of this nightmare and we’re going to need to work together. Period.”

  “Understood.” Gregor nodded as he leaned against the front of his truck. “You love her.”

  “I...”

  “It’s obvious, Max. You should have let her go when you realized that.”

  I knew exactly why he was offering this advice. Another wave of sadness shifted into my system, one that I feared would never leave. “I’m not certain I can do that. Human or not, she is my rightful mate.”

  He shook his head. “You never wanted to follow the rules, Max, yet you were always the leader. There was never any question about you being the alpha. I was so damn angry when you left. You were my best friend, a man that I trusted more than my family.”

  “And you know exactly why I left.”

  The tension was far too intense.

  “Yeah, I knew why. You made something out of your life and I was jealous.”

  “Jealous?” I asked, half laughing. “Is that why you blamed me for Kayla’s death?”

  Gregor took a deep whiff, glancing toward the sky. “My own father told me that I would likely never find a mate, that I wasn’t good enough or strong enough. When I met her, everything in my life changed. Suddenly, I was important to my family. Imagine that.”

  The guilt hit me hard again. “I’m so sorry, Gregor.”

  “I know you did everything you could, Max, to keep her safe, much like I can tell you’ve kept this woman safe. I learned the hard way that men like us aren’t allowed to have happiness. The sooner you learn that, the better. If you do not let her go right now, she will likely die, whether by a rogue wolf or one of our enemies. Whoever is toying with us has his sights set on destroying everything that we hold dear. She is your weakness and you can’t afford one. You must protect the pack at all costs.”

  “And I will protect every member of the Wolfen with my life, but I will not be questioned.”

  “I’m not questioning you, Max, but you must choose.”

  I couldn’t handle what he was telling me. As I walked back into the cabin, I braced for her anger. I found her in the kitchen, staring out the window.

  “I like it here,” she said in such a melancholy fashion. “This is very much you, Max. The apartment in the city, the arrogance you toss around like a huge chip is on your shoulder is a mask. You’re hiding from the world and I want to know why.”

  “I have to go, Kathleen. There’s been an issue in the community and the people look to me.”

  “As their leader?” she asked without looking in my direction.

  “Yes. I won’t be long. When I return, we will talk. Fair enough?”

  She remained where she was for a full minute before tipping her head in my direction. “I’ll be here, Max. Why? Because I care about you. In fact, for some crazy reason, I’ve fallen in love with you. Just do me a favor and don’t get yourself killed.”

  I’d spent my life hoping that I would find happiness, work my only solace. Hearing her words made me realize that Gregor was right. I should have let her go.

  If I wasn’t careful, she could pay the ultimate price.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kathleen

  Love.

  Had I actually meant that I was falling in love or was I simply trying to garner information? I clenched my hand around the glass of whiskey, hearing the rumble of an engine. I didn’t want Max to go. I needed to know the truth about what the hell was really going on. I didn’t require my cop instincts to heighten the trickles of apprehension I’d felt since arriving.

  My heart raced.

  My skin was clammy.

  My pulse skyrocketing.

  Shit. I was in love with a man I barely knew, although everything about him was comforting, protective, and he allowed me to feel so alive. Groaning, I rubbed my forehead and walked into the living room, moving toward the window and peering out. Max hadn’t taken his truck. Interesting. Whoever had arrived had issued an urg
ent need. What the hell wasn’t he telling me? What little I’d overheard during his father’s visit had been unnerving. The city council hadn’t approved some action. What could it be? And why did Max seem so distraught? Damn it, the questions that raced through my mind were unnerving.

  Max had been entirely far too disturbed that I’d found the very old book. While a part of me wanted to curl up on the sofa and try to figure out why he’d been so perturbed, I knew what must be done. The cop in me screamed that what answers I needed had nothing to do with some odd script from what had to be a rather disturbed individual who actually believed in monsters sent from hell.

  What could I do instead? I could still see the headlights as the visitor backed out of the driveway. Max’s truck. Was it possible he’d left the keys behind? I half tossed my drink on the table, racing first into the kitchen then up the stairs to what had to be the bedroom where he’d changed clothes. There was no sign of them.

  Think. Think!

  He hadn’t taken the time to put on the coat he’d worn when we arrived. I flew down the stairs, realizing that I had no knowledge of Roselake and given the darkness that was encroaching, I could easily get lost. I found his coat, slapping at the pockets. When my hand wrapped around a set of keys, I wasted no time, flying out the front door and toward his truck.

  But not before grabbing my weapon.

  I hated the fact I felt it necessary to carry a gun, but no matter how much trust I’d gained with regard to Max, I wasn’t a stupid woman. There were still dangers surrounding us, the killer obviously dead set on tracking me down. The fucker had another think coming. I had no issue putting a bullet between his eyes.

  My fingers fumbled, actually dropping the damn set of keys on the floorboard. Jesus. I was some freaking amateur. “Calm down.” I counted to ten as I eased the key into the ignition, exhilarated when the engine turned over then jerked the gear into reverse, the tires churning up the gravel as I turned around.

  As I flew down the driveway, I said a silent prayer that I wasn’t making a huge mistake. There would be no decent way of explaining my actions to him. Max was a private man, whatever horrors or heartache he’d experienced in the past keeping him on edge and trusting almost no one. When I reached the end of the gravel path, the road appeared to be dark, no sign of a vehicle of any kind.