AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
Max huffed. “No, and there’s more. He was slaughtered, his body torn to shreds.”
I opened my mouth then took a deep breath. “Instead of using the weapon? Something’s off here.”
“Yeah, you could say that, Stone. Either there are two distinct killers or one of the murders was very personal.”
“The wolf is unsettled.”
“My senses tell me that there’s something you’re not telling me about this wolf you fought last night or the reason why you refused to bring him to Roselake as commanded?” The flash of anger in his eyes brought on his beast, if only for a split second.
“I had my reasons, Max, and the wolf is… angry as well as hungry,” I retorted.
He inhaled, glancing away. “He believes Vanessa to be his mate.”
“Gregor told you,” I snarled.
“He didn’t have to. I know you far too well, my friend.” He offered a kind smile, even though I could feel his continued discord. “Look, I asked around about the LaRue wolves. Some of the old timers had fascinating comments.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning the legend says they are bred as assassins, their craving for violence unequaled. However, there are only a handful of reports indicating they’ve attacked other wolf communities. There are reports that several have been used as high paid assassins in very difficult situations, humans needing a true monster who had no fear of dying. At least according to myth. As you can imagine, these reports are completely unsubstantiated.”
“If this wolf is an assassin, then you’ve just confirmed he’s nothing more than a hired gun.”
Max shrugged. “If that’s the case, why the brutality used? Why risk being exposed?”
“Unless he’s hoping it will draw more attention to the Wolfen.”
“A viable concept. Either way, I think his kills are escalating.”
“There’s been another murder, hasn’t there?” Vanessa’s voice immediately brought a huff of disdain from Max as he looked over my shoulder, shaking his head.
I glanced at my friend before turning in order to face her. “This is something Max and I need to deal with.”
“Wolfen business,” she whispered under her breath.
Max lifted an eyebrow, giving a slight shake of his head.
She shifted her gaze in his direction, sizing him up. While she’d found one of my tee shirts, there was no mistaking what had happened behind closed doors. She finally nodded, moving back to the bedroom but not before issuing a defiant glare of her own.
I directed him outside to the porch, closing the door behind us. As we both leaned over the railing, I thought about what to say.
“I guess you did have your reasons for not completing your job,” Max chided. “I can smell her all over you. You told her about our pack.”
“I told her what she deserved to know.”
“And took another huge risk.”
“Don’t fuck with this, Max. Her life was in danger, the bastard coming close to killing her. I did what I felt I had to, including sharing aspects of our life with her. She needs to learn sooner versus later. Plus, I couldn’t leave her alone after what she’d witnessed.”
“So I heard. From what Gregor told me, she was raiding the Montenegro corporate offices in the middle of the night. That was a stupid move. She’s lucky Chris didn’t catch her there himself. You and I both know he wouldn’t have been much kinder in his punishment. You also risked a great deal by fighting the wolf in the open.”
I exhaled, clenching the railing. “What would you have done differently?”
“Honestly? I would have killed the bastard.” After a few seconds, he grinned.
“Maybe you’re right. I should have speared his head.” We both laughed, some of the tension easing. “The fucker was toying with us. That much I could tell.”
