Page 31 of His to Claim

“Unfortunately, and I need to take samples to augment what Jonas has. I know you’re pissed at me, but I might be the only doctor who can provide true information.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Agreed. Keep in mind that Kathleen knows how to instruct the medical examiner’s office. She’s not new to our issues.”

Issues. While Kathleen was now Wolfen, Max turning her months before, she had yet to fully embrace the issues revolved around our kind. I only hoped his love for her wasn’t blinding.

“Good to know.”

“In addition, she’s going to find out what Vanessa knows,” Max finally said after several minutes.

“I need to protect her. I have to.” I kept the snarl from reaching my lips. He was doing his human job as well as protecting the Wolfen.

“You need to stay away from the scene of the crime, at least for a few hours. I don’t think you understand what kind of jeopardy you placed not only yourself but the entire pack in. I get why you attacked that bastard, but everything needs to be handled by the book right now. No exceptions. We need to find those damn guns.”

“Goddamn it, Max, three assholes tried to kill her!”

He shifted a single gaze in my direction. “Are you certain they wanted to kill her? Could you have possibly been the target?”

“For what reason?” I wasn’t certain of anything other than I’d seen the look in the wolf’s eyes, the kind of hunger that had stripped away his humanity. “We have to find the identity of this wolf.”

“And we will in time. Kathleen is going to find out what evidence was collected from the scene. Just keep in mind that from what little you’ve told me, your damn DNA could be all over the place.”

Hissing, I smacked my hand on the dashboard. “Yeah, well, I tossed my clothes. Damn this shit. Why the fuck do they want to hurt her?”

“Why and who? Nothing is going to be ruled out, including the possibility of another rogue wolf and the disease,” Max insisted.

“Vanessa will need protection.”

“She already has it, Stone. I sent two of our pack members to watch the place at least for tonight.”

I nodded, grateful for his assistance. I was flooded with emotions I had difficulty handling. “What if she is my mate?”

He sighed, twisting his hand around the steering wheel. “As you know, it’s rare but can happen. All I can tell you is that you have to know for certain. You feel it in your gut, a pull that refuses to be denied, your beast clawing at the surface almost every minute you’re around her and when you aren’t, you hunger in a way you’ve never experienced before. The time spent with her intimately will be… explosive. Breathtaking. There will be no denying your needs or hers.”

I leaned my head against the seat, trying to figure out if what I was experiencing was due to being a man or a beast. I wasn’t certain.

As he drove into the Denver city limits, we remained quiet. Dawn was just peeking over the horizon. Still, the morgue at this hour was more ominous in nature.

Even for creatures of the night.

Tires screeched as Max pulled into a parking space, the truck still lurching as he jumped out, storming inside. Kathleen met us just outside of the main autopsy room, her face pensive.

“What do we have?” Max asked

Kathleen made certain no one would be able to hear. “What we have is a shitstorm. We have a dead body of a man, Carter Wimmer, who was attacked outside of his bar night before last. While one of the bullets entered his shoulder, the other nicked his lung, which could be the cause of death. Glock 9mm.”

“Carter Wimmer?” I asked, taking a deep breath.

“Do you know him?” Max lifted his eyebrow.

I nodded several times, running my hand through my hair. “He owns a shitty little bar near Stapleton. It’s a biker bar. Not going to lie, I’ve been there more than once. Nice guy with a good head on his shoulders. Just doesn’t like being a wolf.” I looked away, pissed as fuck.

“I’m sorry,” Kathleen said softly.

“The ME refuses to rule on the cause of death. Right?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“You’re right. She wasn’t able to rule the damage to his lungs as conclusive, especially given the odd circumstances of the condition of the body,” she answered.

“Spider-like formations in the veins exploding from the entrance wounds as well as enflamed tissue that is likely beginning to degrade?” I asked.

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