Page 49 of Ice King

“Beck plays for an ECHL team, the Cincinnati Icemen. He just got back to town for the summer. They didn’t make the playoffs, which makes him a bear to live with. Cole found his love of competition only recently, playing with a local group for fun more than anything, although they’ve created a competition of their own.” I laughed thinking about Cole’s aggressive tendencies. “Cole is damn good and I’m glad we aren’t on the same team. He’d wipe the ice with me. That is if he took the game seriously.”

“He reminds me of you. Aggressive, opinionated, and very on the edge.”

“You got all that from sitting watching a game with him.”

“I did.”

Leaning forward again, I crowded her space, longing to know more about her. “When are you going to share stories about your family?”

Her face fell and that painful secret was peeking around the edges. “Like I said. There’s not much to tell.” When she looked away, I resisted my urge to push her. What good would that accomplish?

“You’re safe here, Georgia. We’re like family.”

“So I’ve heard.”

She lifted her head toward the television while I continued struggling with finding anything appropriate to say to her. Being tongue tied was not optimum for me. When her breath hitched in a different way, I followed her line of sight to a breaking news headline.

Another Shifter Found Murdered

CHAPTER 11

Ford

“Oh, my God,” Georgia whispered.

A series of icy sensations rolled through me. I’d been able to tell from my father’s reaction that he was worried about whatever was happening. Although I had a feeling he already knew.

Shifters were being hunted for sport and to carry out some unsaid proclamation, reacting to the continued concern about our intentions in coming out in the open.

As if people thought we planned on taking over the world.

Such utter crap.

While we couldn’t hear what was being said by the reporter, the photographs from the scene were devastating enough. Rattlesnake Lake was only a few miles away. Just watching her reaction was enough to create a need to protect her and I wasn’t certain why.

“Is that true?” she asked. “Have there been a string of murders?”

I almost ordered another drink but knew nothing good would come of doing so. “Unfortunately, yeah. I think we’re fresh game for hunters determined to have a new souvenir on their wall.”

Her upper lip curled into a snarl. “You’re kidding me? That’s horrible. Is this motivated by the haters?”

“Possibly. We’ve had our share of those as you well know. Don’t worry. We can take care of ourselves.” While I certainly didn’t want her to worry, the latest murder was too close to home. I’d ask my dad about the situation in the morning. If I knew him, he was prepared to have a pack council meeting, which hadn’t been held in a long time.

When she started to stand, so did I.

“I’m just going to the ladies’ room. I promise I won’t slip through the window and try and escape.”

She was more rattled than she wanted to let on. Seeing her in such a state, I was on hyper alert, especially since our actions were being watched by the group of assholes standing near the bar. Nowhere were shifters free of the same level of chastisement she’d been forced to witness. Maybe the overwhelming shock had died down, but the diehards who didn’t want us mixing with their kind were doing nothing more than lying in wait.

“Well, if you did, I’d initiate a hunt.” Her reaction to my answer was almost unreadable, but also as if she’d heard that before.

And not as a playful offer, but as a controlling reminder. Another sense of protectiveness settled into my gut as every other emotion about her had. She was hiding from someone. I would bet that with every dime I had.

I scooted my chair until I was able to keep watch on her as she weaved her way through the group of men crowded by the bar. Once she’d disappeared down the dark hallway, I drummed my fingers on the table. What was I doing here? With her? What was I doing to myself other than creating a way to keep my body in agony through having blue balls?

Hell, another whiskey wouldn’t hurt. I could drink ten at this point and with my wolf being so close to the surface, I wouldn’t feel a thing. Maybe that’s what I was hoping. To feel something other than dead inside.

The whiskey arrived before she’d returned and while the bartender had been quick in his actions, she was taking a little too long for my liking.