CALIFF
“What is it?” I stopped dead in my tracks. I sensed the anxiousness coming from Shadow.
“I smell blood.”
We began sniffling the air. The metallic scent became more pungent.
“It’s animal blood.” She was right.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll go check it,” Kairo volunteered himself, but Lyon stopped him.
“You don’t go alone. That could be a trap. For a smart guy, sometimes, you’re an idiot.”
“Okay, big guy,” Kairo said, but without flaring his nose at Lyon. “What’s the plan, Alpha?”
“Lyon and Kairo, go check if it’s an animal attack or killed by some animal hunters. Tor, stay behind them. Be the lookout.”
“Right, because it did not die naturally,” Shadow said. “Just look out for traps, and-”
“And be vigilant. Got it.”
Zack groaned, pissed off at how Kairo replied to his Luna. “Show some respect, Kairo.”
Kairo slightly bowed his head at me and Shadow. “I’m sorry. I mean no disrespect, Alpha, Luna. I was just excited. That’s all.”
“Are you done?” Lyon waited impatiently for him.
“Right. On your tail, man.”
Zack shook his head in annoyance at Kairo.
“You’re too hard on him. What’s gotten into you?” I turned to Zack.
“He’s smart, but sometimes, he doesn’t take things seriously. And it pisses me off because he’s a good scout but reckless.”
“Then teach him. Show him how because his martial arts are useless when fighting with a deadly animal.”
“It’s who he is, a young, gullible, and eccentric. Don’t kill his spirit and freedom,” Shadow said to Zack. “Sometimes, we need to crack jokes in times of difficulty. Don’t worry. He’ll learn through experience.”
“You’re right.”
They returned, and we walked in their direction.
“It’s an animal attack. Guts out with slashes on the poor deer’s neck,” said Lyon.
“The rogue is hunting,” Kairo added.
“I agree.” Something bothered me, but I couldn’t tell them until I had proof.
We finally got closer to the crime scene, where they found the dead of the mercenary. I could see the yellow tape from a distance.
“You, three, go check the tracks and footprints but be careful and don’t cross the police tape. Shadow and I will check the south. Link us if you find something.”
“Got it, Alpha,” Lyon noted before we went separate ways.
Once they were far, I asked Shadow, as she suddenly went silent, “What’s on your mind?”
“There’s definitely a rogue werewolf out there. A feral rogue.” It looked like it meant a lot to her, given that she was once a rogue. Somehow, she could relate to what it felt like to be a lone wolf out there, seeking safety.
“We have to find it before he kills more people.”
“Should we report it to the council?” she asked, sounding concerned.
“Not until we have proof.”
“All right.”
I held her hand, showing her I had her back. “If you don’t like attending the party, it’s fine, baby. Considering my history with Everlee, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in her own party. I will take Duke and tell them you’re not feeling well.”
She scoffed and looked at me. “I attended parties like college parties, company parties, and fundraising with Kent, but I wasn’t the center of attention. I don’t like people looking at me differently, as if I am someone special, like a goddess. I hate that kind of attention. I just want to have fun, drink a little, dance, and maybe make a difference, not like feeling worship for being a Lycan or a hybrid.”
“I hate to be the one to break it to you, baby, but you are special and making a difference. And I worship you.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatingly. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You know what makes you different from other Lunas?” I took a few more steps, sliding my hands on her back as I looked at her in the eye. Heat instantly engulfed me. “You want to help than be the perfect mate to the alphas. Maybe that’s why you get so much love and attention from our pack and other werewolves. And I saw how Zarah and Aira look at you. They are proud of you, baby. And let’s not forget you’re a-”
She groaned at me, flattening her hands on my chest. “If you say that one more time, I’m gonna punch you in your face.”
A low chuckle rumbled in my chest. “You can’t deny you’re a royal Lycan member, Shadow. You’re a- don’t punch me. A princess.”
“Gosh. Shut up.” She pulled away and went to check the tracks. “Father said that I have duties in his clan, in his world as his daughter and as a royal.”
“What did you say?”
“I have a clan on my own, and he can suck it up.”
I chuckled. It wouldn’t be Shadow without a bit of resistance. “Was he pissed?”
“No. He just laughed at me. He said that I should embrace who I am, and Lycans and werewolves would die to fill my shoes for the crown and privilege.” She bent down as if she found something.
“Well, he’s not wrong.” I joined her.
“I’m not ready, my Alpha. I still have to master my gift and solve this hunter’s problem, and then I might decide to attend a royal meeting once in a while.”
“Is he okay with your decision?”
She turned her head to me. “He can’t make me, Califf. Besides, he’s more eager to be in my life as a father than forcing me to fulfill my duty as his princess. I think he really wants to be a father.”
“I saw that. Sebastien looked happy every time he met you. So, what do you find?” I asked when she took a picture of the muddy ground.
“Nothing concrete. Just animal footprints or pawprints.” She took another shot.
“I smell a lot of humans around here.”
“Me too, probably nosy humans or coroners.”
We followed the footprints carefully, ensuring we wouldn’t destroy our evidence. I noticed broken twigs, muddy fresh leaves, and smudges on the ground.
“He was here.” I sniffed the air. “Definitely a rogue. The stench he left.”
“A male rogue. Yeah. Something different in his smell, though.” Shadow stopped and turned to me. “How did I smell when you first met me? They said a rogue stinks like rotten animals.”
My lips curved into a smile, and I kissed her lips. It was soft and tender, yet it sent a volt of lust straight to my groin. “I thought I already told you.”
She shook her head, trying to hide her amusement. “I don’t remember you were telling me, but your pack said I stink.”
“Sorry about that.”
“I’m not, and it’s fine. Now tell me, Alpha.” She grabbed me by my shirt, cocking a brow at me.
“Are we gonna roll down in this mud and rut?”
She barked out laughing and instantly covered her mouth. Her eyes danced in joy. She was really beautiful, fun, and full of life when we were not facing threats. And she was fucking hot and irresistible.
“Don’t look at me like that. Like you want to eat me.” Her eyes darkened as if something naughty crossed her mind.
“I want to eat you.”
“Shut up. We have work to do before someone sees us.” She finally let me go.
“You smell jasmine and vanilla and sex.”
“You’re kidding?” She stared at me.
“Why would I joke about it? Why do you think I had a hard time controlling myself and my wolf when you were around? I had arousal for days and nights. My cock was always rock hard every time you were around, and all I could think was kissing you savagely, bending you over my desk, fucking you hard, balls-deep, and spreading my come all over you to warn everyone that you’re off limits. And it made me insane not to mark you.”
“You wanted to mark your territory, huh?” she said with silent laughter.
“And then you rejected me.”
“Shut up.” She hit me playfully on my arm. “I didn’t. You stopped me.”
“You almost broke me, Shadow.” My voice came low, and I instantly heard the pain. Even Shadow noticed it, too.
She stared at me for a moment before her lips brushed against mine. “You called me little rogue, remember? And you tested me beyond any members could endure.”
“I’m sorry if I was too hard on you.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
“I like you hard on me.”
I cocked a brow. “We’re not talking about your punishment anymore, are we?”
“Let’s focus on the task, Alpha. Get your head out of the gutter.”
“Right.” I scanned the area, but the footprints were gone, and I lost them as we reached the road. “Fuck me.”
Shadow quickly grasped what I thought. “He crossed the road in human form?”
I blew a breath as I propped my hands on my hips. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Then, the sheriff’s car just pulled over. Sheriff Carter got out and walked in our direction. “Why, I’m not even surprised to see both of you here, Califf, Shadow? A long way from home, don’t you think?”
“Look, we’re just-”
“It’s fine,” he cut off Shadow with a nod. If he weren’t human, it would piss me off, disrespecting Luna, but we also needed him on our side. “Make sure you didn’t contaminate the crime scene.”
“No. We didn’t enter the tape,” I confirmed it.
“So, are you willing to compare notes?”
“And then what? I saw on TV that it was an animal attack, and the offender wasn’t found.”
“I want to keep my area of jurisdiction safe. And we already had an agreement to be transparent. If this is one of your members, you won’t hesitate to tell me, and I can’t exactly arrest a human or a wolf, can I? If your pack member did this, I want you to take care of it. This is not okay. Two dead men in two weeks? This incident would cause chaos, and I’m afraid this crime will reach the FBI and rule out serial killing.”
“We’re working on it.”
“I need more than that.”
I had to give him something more concrete, so he wouldn’t force his hand on my pack. “A rogue. That’s all I can say. I will take care of it myself if I find him.”
“Him?”
“Yes. That’s certain,” Shadow answered.
“It’s for your own good and people like me. We better hurry up and catch him before he leaves bodies in his wake.”
“I understand.”
“Do you know where he could be headed after the crime scene?”
“We lost the tracks once he crossed the road.” I stared at the residential area from where we stood. And I never had goosebumps in a while, which scared me even more.