Page 43 of The Secret Mate Society

His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching beneath the stubble."Ethan,” he said softly.“It’s gonna be okay.I’ll be right back."

Before I could protest further, he was moving toward the door with that same fluid grace that seemed almost too perfect for a human body.I followed him, grabbing his leather jacket sleeve.

"Please," I whispered, hating the desperation in my voice."Don't go out there."

Calder turned, his eyes searching mine.For a moment, I thought he might listen, might stay.Then he gently extracted his arm from my grip."I'll be right back," he promised."Five minutes."

The door closed behind him, and I immediately engaged all three locks, my heart still hammering against my ribs.Through the peephole, I watched him stride down the hallway toward the stairs, his shoulders set with determination.

As soon as he disappeared from view, I rushed back to the window, pressing my face against the glass to see the parking lot below.The streetlamp still cast its sickly yellow glow, illuminating the empty space where the creature had stood.The small dark object was still there, a stark blot against the asphalt.

Minutes ticked by, each one stretching impossibly long.I paced the living room, checking the window, then the door, then back again.When Calder finally reappeared in the parking lot, I nearly collapsed with relief.He moved with purpose toward the center of the light, crouching down to examine whatever had been left behind.Even from three stories up, I could see the tension in his body as he reached out to touch it.Then he straightened, scanning the darkness with an intensity that seemed almost inhuman.

His gaze traveled upward, finding my window with unerring accuracy.Our eyes met through the glass, and something passed between us, something primal and unspoken.He held up his hand in a gesture that clearly meant "stay put," then he pulled out his phone and started to dial.

Whatever was left behind by the monster, I knew it couldn’t be good if Calder had to call the police.

Chapter19

Calder

It was a human heart.That’s what was lying on the concrete below the streetlamp.And the moment I saw it I knew Ethan was right.Hehadseen a monster.I could smell the werewolf too of course, that and the human blood leaking out of the organ on the pavement.But I couldn’t call the police.That would bring things into the public eye in a big way and that was the last thing the Elder Council would want.And I didn’t want to get Ethan involved anymore than he already was.Instead I dialed Ageratum’s number, knowing he’d want to be the one on the scene first.And he picked up on the first ring.

“Alpha Thorne,” he said, his voice fresh like I’d caught him in the middle of the day.

“We’ve got a situation,” I replied, keeping my voice low.“I was out on my patrol when I got a call.You’re gonna want to get down here.The wolf was in town and he left… agift.”

There was a long sigh.“Text me the address.I’ll be there in ten.”

“The journalist is here too,” I added.“Ethan Murphy.”

Another sigh.“I’ll teleport in.Send the address.”

The line went dead.I stared at my phone for a moment, then quickly typed out Ethan's address and hit send.Teleport.Right.Sometimes I forgot that the Council's demon liaison had abilities that went far beyond what the rest of us could manage.

I crouched down again, studying the heart without touching it.The scent was wrong, not just werewolf and human blood, but something else underneath.Something that made my wolf pace restlessly beneath my skin.This wasn't random.The rogue had specifically targeted this location, and had known exactly where to find Ethan.

The thought sent a chill down my spine.If the rogue was tracking Ethan, then my mate was in more danger than I'd realized.And there was no way I could explain that to the Council without revealing the bond I'd been trying so hard to hide.But that also meant that Ethan wasn’t a werewolf hunter.At least not in the traditional sense.Maybe he really was just some guy getting mixed up in something far bigger than he’d imagined.A subtle shift in the air told me Ageratum had arrived before I saw him.He materialized from the shadows between two parked cars to hide his arrival, his violet eyes immediately zeroing in on the heart.

"Fuck," he muttered, his usual composure cracking slightly."Right in a residential area.How many witnesses?"

"Just Ethan, as far as I know.He saw the wolf from his window."I gestured toward the third floor."Called me in a panic."

Ageratum's sharp gaze flicked to me."And you were conveniently close enough to respond immediately?"

Heat crept up my neck."I was patrolling the area.Thought the rogue might target residential zones next."

"Mmm."His tone suggested he wasn't buying it, but he didn't press.Instead, he pulled out his phone and started typing rapidly."I'm calling in a cleanup crew.This needs to disappear before morning."

"What about Ethan?He's scared out of his mind up there."

"That's not my primary concern right now."Ageratum's voice was cold, businesslike."Though his proximity to these incidents is becoming...problematic."

My wolf bristled at the implied threat."He's not a threat to us."

"Isn't he?"Ageratum straightened, fixing me with that unnerving stare."A journalist with a history of investigating supernatural attacks, who just happens to be in the right place at the right time for multiple incidents?The Council is beginning to question whether his presence here is truly coincidental."

"What are you suggesting?"