Page 31 of Ice King

“Her death isn’t the first. Is it?” I threw it out just to see if my thoughts would stick. I could tell by Pops’ face I was right.

“I’m afraid not, but one that’s likely to get a lot of press. Fourteen in the Pacific Northwest in last three months. Morespread throughout the country and beyond. All various acts of torture, maybe to get the victim to admit to a crime. All killed military style. There is some evidence they were forced to shift. Undoubtedly for proof we are evil.” It was rare that Dad drank so early in the day. When he grabbed his whiskey, I noticed his hand was shaking.

“Fuck,” I hissed, every muscle instantly bristling.

Beck shook his head. “What the fuck do these assholes want from us?”

I knew the answer. Extinction.

“At first, given the randomness of the kills, there was no real pattern, but that started to emerge about three weeks ago. I don’t mind telling you that pack leaders are getting nervous.” Dad tried to brush it off, but all three of us simmered from anger.

There was a communication system shared by packs, boosted into being nationwide during the last year. Mostly out of necessity based on the attempted sanctions within Congress.

“I thought things were getting better,” Beck muttered.

“We all did.” Pops broke into a smile. “Don’t you dare say a word in front of your mother. You know she can’t stand having pack politics discussed at the dinner table. On to the subject of the evening. How’s that new massage therapist?”

With my eyes narrowed, I offered my brother a look that any wolf pup just born could decipher the meaning of. “A pain in my ass.”

When our father laughed, he could light up a room even more than his massive and very masculine presence already did. He began placing the steaks on the plate. “You have learned bynow after living with your mom and your sister that women are created by God to get under a man’s skin.”

“Then why get married and have a family?” Beck winked when he asked the question. There was nothing in the world our father liked talking more about than his family.

And the woman he’d been smitten with as a teenager.

As expected, Pops got the faraway look in his eyes, the wistful smile one reserved for our mother. “Because there’s no point in living without having a special woman in your life. The only true happiness a wolf can manage is after a woman enters his life. That’s something for you boys to keep in mind. Your playboy ways need to end.”

Beck grabbed the platter before I had a chance, already heading to the door. “I think Mom needs these in the kitchen.”

“Traitor,” I hissed over my shoulder.

Pops laughed once again, waiting until Beck had left. “I’m glad we have a chance to talk alone.”

“Uh-oh. Here comes the lecture as directed by Mom. I am trying to become more patient regarding my injury. I have that woman to thank for it.”

“That’s good to hear, but not what I wanted to talk to you about. Samantha mentioned you’re having nightmares.”

“Are there no secrets inside this family?”

“You know how much your sister cares about you. She’s worried.”

I knew the reason why, the subject almost never even mentioned any longer. As before, I bristled even though I wasn’t angry with Samantha or my father. I continued to be furious with myself.

“Yeah, I’ve had a couple since the injury. No big deal.”

“Except you believe you were sleepwalking.”

Maybe I was a little furious with my baby sister. I’d told her about the dreams in confidence. “That’s not just a shifter phenomenon.”

“Not at all. However, it is your body telling you that you need to pay attention. I have some advice that I hope you’ll consider.”

“Let me guess. You’re on board with this chick who just waltzed in. She’s such a…” Temptress. Every action, every word out of her mouth, every brush of her hand through her hair was way too tempting. On top of the brutal nightmares, my daydreams were equally disturbing, but in a more erotic way.

“Very much so.”

“What do you know about her?”

He decided to grab his drink, no longer eager to provide answers.