He nodded, his fist flexing at his side. “Definitely.” He sighed. “But I’ll try diplomacy first. It’s a new tactic for me, and best, considering two dozen of my former pack members are now in his clan. I want them back, but that can’t be accomplished with brute force. Not without some of them getting hurt.”

  “Well, let me see if he approaches me,” I said. “How much longer will this evening go?”

  “Another hour or so. Maybe a bit more. I still need to speak to the alpha of the pack across the border.”

  “There are Canadian packs here?”

  He nodded. “We aren’t concerned with the borders established by humans.” He stepped away. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  I watched him disappear through the crowd, then headed toward the side of the room. I’d stick to the shadows for now, and hopefully no one would see me.

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky.

  Within ten minutes of finding a nice quiet spot behind a potted evergreen, Montblake found me. His eyes glinted with cunning as he took up a space in the shadows, and I realized that I didn’t really need to tell Garreth that Montblake was dealing behind his back. The bastard would reveal that on his own.

  He really was slightly off his rocker, like Phoebe had said. It was just a matter of time before he revealed his hand to Garreth.

  “I have something for you,” Montblake said.

  “No thanks.”

  “You don’t have a choice. Do you want me to tell Garreth that you’re working behind his back?”

  Shit.

  Acid fear turned my stomach.

  I’d had plenty of time to tell Garreth the truth and had chosen not to because it seemed too dangerous. But now my window of opportunity had closed. I was officially on Team Montblake now, and I knew what Garreth did to people who deceived him.

  Had I handled this situation correctly, or bungled it until I was in a corner?

  I ignored the tiny voice of doubt and focused on the problem at hand. I couldn’t afford another enemy like Montblake. Especially not Garreth, who was much more dangerous. Not to mention, he currently held my job in his hands.

  “What do you want?” I didn’t care that my voice was cold.

  He held up a tiny black pin, not much bigger than a pencil eraser. It looked like a little piece of jewelry. “I’d like you to wear this.”

  It would blend perfectly with my dress, being almost indistinguishable. “Why?”

  “It’s enchanted to provide a view of whatever you see. It will also transmit sound.”

  “You want me to wear a magical wire so you can spy on Garreth.” Cold iced my spine. “No way.”

  “You don’t have a choice. Unless you’d like him to know about you?”

  Panic made my heart thunder.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  What should I do?

  Take the thing for right now. Get him off my back. Then deal with it.

  “Fine. Give me the damned thing.”

  He handed it over, and I pinned it to my dress, right near a seam where it would be less noticeable.

  “I hate you,” I said.

  He just smiled. “Find the book.”

  The bastard disappeared before I could say anything, and I watched him go. Exhausted, I thunked my head back against the wall.

  This was going to be harder than I’d thought.

  I managed to avoid any more conversations for the rest of the evening. By the time Garreth found me to go back to the room, I was eager to get out of this snake pit.

  Except for the fact that I wore a freaking magical wire.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked.

  “More than.”

  As we walked down the hall toward our room, I chatted inanely. I didn’t want to give Garreth an opportunity to say anything, lest it be overheard by Montblake. I might be betraying Garreth by trying to steal his book, but I could justify that because it would save my friend. The book might be worth a lot of money, but not worth more than a life.

  But this surveillance went a step too far. I couldn’t do that to him.

  And I really couldn’t be caught wearing it.

  Nor could I tell him about it because he might confront Montblake. Then Montblake would kill Meg.

  How was I going to get rid of it, though? I couldn’t keep talking about food for the rest of the weekend.

  When I spotted a wrinkle in the rug up ahead, an idea flickered. I made sure to hit it as I walked, stumbling gracelessly to the ground. As I went down, I flicked off the tiny pin. It bounced along the floor and landed against the baseboards, hidden in shadows.

  “Damned heels,” I muttered. “Caught on the rug.”

  “Let me help you.” Garreth gripped my arms and helped me gently to my feet.

  As we walked away from the abandoned pin, relief rushed through me. At least we were alone, again. I didn’t know if Montblake would buy that the disposal of the pin was an accident, but I hoped so. He wouldn’t break into Garreth’s room tonight, at least, and I still had time to try to wiggle out of this impossible scenario.

  13

  Garreth

  * * *

  I opened the door to our shared room and stepped inside, quickly scanning the interior for any kind of attack.

  It was empty.

  I inhaled, scenting the air.

  No one had been here besides us.

  Good.

  I stepped far enough into the room to allow Lyra to enter, then turned to her. “You take the bed.”

  “I can take the couch.”

  “I insist.”

  “All right.” She stood awkwardly by the door, and I realized what she wanted to ask.

  “Do you need help with your dress?”

  “Yeah.” A faint pink flush rose on her cheeks. “Do you mind?”

  “It’s fine.” Fine didn’t even begin to cover it. I was desperate to get another glimpse of her skin, even though I knew it was a terrible, ridiculous idea.

  It was just a thin strip of skin revealed by an open zipper. It shouldn’t have such an effect on me.

  And yet, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Ever since I’d done up the zipper, I’d been thinking about undoing it.

  She strode toward me, her glorious lavender and honey scent wrapping around me and squeezing tight. I’d had no idea I could be so attracted to someone.

  But then, I’d never met my mate before.

  She stopped in front of me and turned around. My head buzzed as I reached for her zipper. As I pinched the small tab, I heard her breath catch. Heat shot straight to my cock, and I gritted my teeth.

  Not happening.

  There was too much at stake, and I couldn’t trust her.

  “Did Montblake approach you tonight?” I asked, determined to move the moment away from attraction.

  She let out a ragged breath. “He said hello. Asked how we met. He might have been fishing to see if he could recruit me, but he didn’t go any farther.”

  I wasn’t sure I believed her. There was something off about her—she was jittery with nerves at the very least. Possibly a liar.

  Untrustworthy.

  I clung to that as I pulled the zipper down, revealing the pale skin of her back.

  But I still wanted her. Still liked her, for fate’s sake. It was ridiculous.

  “Thanks.” She darted away, hurrying toward the bathroom. “Just going to get changed.”

  I watched the door shut behind her, then let out a shuddering breath and dragged a hand through my hair. How was I going to survive the night?

  One foot in front of the other.

  The mantra had served me well when I’d been in the military on difficult assignments, and it would serve me well here, too. Quickly as I could, I found a pair of thin sweats and a t-shirt. Normally I slept naked, but that wasn’t an option.

  I stripped out of my suit and put on the sleepwear, pulling the shirt down over my head just as Lyra returned to the room. She wore an old pair of shorts and a ratty t-shirt with a summer camp logo.

  The clothes had to be hers. It gave me an insight into her life. Just a tiny one, but I clung to it.

  Her eyes moved to me, but her expression was unreadable. “You sure about the couch?”

  I nodded, then threw myself onto it. The thing was just barely long enough, and I focused on trying to get comfortable as I listened to her climb into the bed. I stared at the ceiling like it held the meaning of life. The last thing I needed to do was watch her climb into bed. The vision would haunt me.

  The light flicked off, plunging the room into total blackness. It was a large space normally, but it shrunk to the size of a closet as soon as it became dark. My damned shifter hearing picked up every little rustle of the sheets and shudder of her breath.

  It was an unbearable silence, fraught with visions of joining her in bed. Every inch of my body felt electric, and it was all I could do to stay on the couch.

  So, I started talking. Anything to distract myself.

  “How is it that you never knew you were magical?” I asked into the dark. “Did you not know your parents?”

  She hesitated, and I held my breath. I wanted this answer. I wanted all her answers. Knowing more about her had suddenly become imperative, and not because I was looking for a distraction.

  Because I wanted to know her.

  I hadn’t wanted to know a woman so badly in all my life.

  Damned mate bond.

  Finally, she answered. “I knew them both. But I had no idea they were magical. Had to be my father, though.”

  “How do you know?”

  She hesitated again, but only briefly. “Because it certainly wasn’t my mother. She died of a drug problem when I was fourteen.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.”

  “People in the magical world have drug problems, too, though.”

  “I just know she wasn’t, okay?”

  I didn’t push any farther. Apparently, this was a sore subject. As the thought hit me, I realized that I’d done what the witch had told me to. I’d gotten Lyra to lower her guard by confessing to something personal.

  I could use the spell to make her forget me.

  But I wasn’t ready.

  You’ll never be ready.

  I ignored the voice and focused on Lyra. I could erase her memory later. For now, I needed her help.

  I knew it was mostly an excuse. I wanted to keep her in my life, no matter how stupid and dangerous that was. Hell, there was every chance she was working with the City Pack.

  I shook the thoughts away as she asked, “What about your father? He was alpha, but it was problematic.”

  “Yes. That’s what I’m trying to fix.” My tone shut down the conversation, which wasn’t fair. She’d told me something about herself, and if I didn’t reciprocate, she’d clam up. “My mother was human, though. It’s why I joined the military.”

  “It’s unusual for supernaturals to join the military?”

  I nodded. “We mix with humans, but we don’t generally live with them. My father fell for my mother, even though she wasn’t his mate.”

  “Mate?” Curiosity echoed in her voice, and I cursed myself. She’d learn about fated mates eventually, but I didn’t need her asking questions right now.

  “Yes.” I could hear the reluctance in my voice and tried to banish it. “Shifters have fated mates—a person that fate believes is perfect for us.”

  “So, love at first sight?”

  “No. It’s often hate at first sight, interestingly enough. But you feel more around your mate. Trust and desire and things you can’t fight. With time, people often come to agree with fate.” Not that I would ever be able to, even though I was starting to think that fate might know what it was doing in that regard.

  Except for the fact that she was probably a liar.

  “How long have you worked at the hotel?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “About four or five years, but I was just accepted to business school.”

  “And you want to go.”

  “Yes.” Uncertainty echoed in her voice.

  “You don’t sound so sure.”

  She sighed. “I was sure, until this. It seemed like the best way to raise myself out of my shitty circumstances, but now that I know I’m a supernatural, I’m not even sure I can go back to the real world.”

  “You can, but it won’t feel the same.”

  “I had a feeling you’d say that. But how do I figure out what I am?”

  Guilt struck me. Did I owe it to her to help her?

  It felt like I did. I couldn’t just leave her out in the world, newly realizing she was a supernatural, but alone.

  “It’s not easy to find out what you are if you don’t know by adulthood. But I could…help you.” I couldn’t believe I'd said the words. This was supposed to be a quick arrangement.

  “Why do you care?” Confusion sounded in her voice, along with mistrust.

  The truth spilled out of me, shocking in its candor. “I like you.”

  I could feel how stunned she was. I hadn’t meant it in a weak, watered down way. No—there was a connection between us, soul deep. It was impossible for me not to feel it.

  And it was the most dangerous thing I could do.

  “But I don’t want to like you,” I said. “And now it’s time to go to bed.”

  Lyra

  * * *

  But I don’t want to like you.

  Garreth’s words echoed in my head the next morning. It had been a long night, and I’d barely slept during most of it. I’d been too aware of Garreth on the couch nearby. Too aware of the answers I’d given him.

  Had we really shared all of that about ourselves? I’d never told anyone about my mother. And yet, when he’d asked, I’d found the words spilling out of my mouth. It had felt good to let go of that load—to share it with someone else.

  And he’d said he liked me.

  But I was afraid he’d kill me if he found out what I was really doing here.

  How the hell had my life gotten so weird?

  One day, I was just a girl, hiding out from the mob.

  The next, I was magical and surrounded by werewolves.

  And still trying to avoid the mob.

  Not that they were really the mob. They were something worse.

  I shivered and looked over at the bathroom door. The shower had just turned off, and Garreth would be coming out soon.

  Please be wearing a shirt.

  After last night, I couldn’t bear to see him half naked. He was too attractive for my sanity. Not just how he looked—but his aura. It drew me to him, the strongest attraction I’d ever felt. It was almost unnatural it was so powerful, especially since I was downright scared of him.

  Fated mates.

  I played the word over in my mind. Were we…?

  No. No way. That was crazy.

  And yet, it would explain my crazy attraction despite the risk.

  The door opened, and Garreth stepped out, fully dressed in jeans that loosely hugged his powerful thighs, and a green plaid flannel that made him look like the sexiest lumberjack I’d ever seen.

  I sat upright, blinking. “You don’t normally dress like that.”

  “I do, actually. The suits are my human disguise.” He walked across the room with the grace of a large predator.

  Hell, he was a large predator. A good-looking one.

  At the door, he turned back with a thoughtful frown. “You haven’t seen me enough to know how I normally dress.”

  “You’re a guest at the hotel fairly frequently.”

  His eyebrows rose. “And you've noticed me?”

  “Everyone notices you.” Still, I flushed. “You’re Garreth Locke, the most powerful man in the city. Why do you go to the city so much, by the way?”

  “Business.”

  “Shifters have business with humans?”

  “This shifter does. I’ve been working to repair our fortunes, usually through deals with human companies.” He nodded toward the door. “I need to attend the last meeting today. This is where I’ll either make headway with the City Pack or I won’t. Take the time to do whatever you want. We’ll meet for a last lunch as a group, and you can see if the City Pack approaches you.”

  “Sure.” Guilt tugged at me as I watched him go.

  Had he looked suspicious when he’d mentioned the City Pack? Did he know they had already contacted me?

  No. He wouldn’t let me in his room otherwise.

  Speaking of…

  I needed to use this time to look for the book. I doubted it was here, but I couldn’t miss the opportunity.

  Quickly, I scrambled out of bed and began to search the room. I was halfway done when a knock sounded at the door. I jerked upright from where I was looking under the mattress and hurried to the door, my heart pounding. When I opened it, I found a tall man carrying a tray full of food.

  “Breakfast.” He nodded into the room. “May I come in?”

  “Sure. But I didn’t order anything.”

  “The Olympia alpha had it sent up.”

  Garreth. Of course.

  The man set the tray on the table and disappeared before I could figure out if I was supposed to tip. My stomach growled. The food smelled divine—bacon and eggs, with a side of thick, fluffy pancakes. A glass of orange juice sat next to a carafe of coffee.

  As I sat to eat, guilt twisted in my stomach. Was I really going to steal something so valuable from Garreth?

  It was just a book. Valuable, true. But just a thing. If I didn’t, Meg would die. She was worth more than any book.

  Angrily, I shoved pancakes into my mouth. They made me feel a bit better, and as soon as I was done, I kept searching for the damned book. What I really wanted to do was light the thing on fire. Make it so it was no longer a problem.

  That fantasy wasn’t going to come true today, however. I was nearly done searching when there was another knock on the door.

  Lunch?

  But no, it wasn’t time. And we were supposed to meet down in the main room for a final lunch.

 

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