I was braiding my hair, getting ready for Carter's BBQ when my phone vibrated its way across the top of my dresser. Snatching it up, I glanced at the screen. Private number. Hitting connect, I squeezed the phone between my ear and shoulder while juggling tying off my braid.

"'ello."

"Sorry if I crossed the line." Nate's voice was as clear as if he were standing in the room with me.

"You need to hand yourself in." I ignored his apology.

"That's not going to happen."

"Then I don't accept your apology."

"I didn't do this."

"So you say. But running from us doesn't look good for you."

"I'm not going to sit and rot in some cell waiting for you to prove I'm innocent."

"No one said you were under arrest. We just want to question you."

"You already did that."

"Formally. On the record. With cameras and all that jazz."

"Why do I get the feeling that once I step foot inside the SIA I won't be leaving again in a hurry?"

"I don't know. Why do you get that feeling?"

He blew a sigh into the phone. "I need to prove to you that I didn't do this. That I'm not involved. I can't do that if you lock me away."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're sounding like a broken record. Look, was there a point to this call? And speaking of, how did you get my number?"

"I have my ways." He chuckled. "I've been counting the days since I ran into you in the woods."

"Stalker." I wasn't sure what Nate wanted from me. He was interested, I got that from the way he kept kissing me, yet surely he could feel the lack of chemistry?

"Did you find anything useful on that phone?"

"How do you know about the phone?"

"I was watching. And I know the SIA has staked out a certain area of the woods."

"Then why ask if you already know?"

"I wanted to hear it from you."

"And you know I can't discuss the case with you, Nate. So the question remains. Why the call?"

The phone clicked in my ear. He'd hung up. Tossing the phone onto the bed, I shimmied into a pair of blue jeans, pulled on a long sleeve red T-shirt with the word “Weird” emblazoned on the front in black writing, and shoved my feet into my knee-high boots. I thought about what Nate had said, that he'd been watching us stake out the woods over the last few days. It had been a waste of time. No one had turned up; we had nothing new to go on. The coordinates found on the phone could have been from an old hunt, for all we knew, although the director had insisted the stake out continue. Thankfully Carter and I had tonight off. It was McConnell’s and Richards’s turn to freeze their asses off.

Sliding down the banister, I swept up my black, fur-trimmed parka and headed out the door. Carter's birthday bash was going to be a blast. Werewolf celebrations always were.

More than a dozen cars were parked haphazardly around Carter's house by the time I arrived. He lived a few minutes out of town, the rear of his property backing on to Wolf Hill. Convenient for a wolf.

Out the back a huge bonfire raged, the flames dancing at least six feet into the air. Standing around the fire, beers in hand, were the male members of Carter’s pack. I knew from experience that all the women would be inside, having commandeered the kitchen and churning out enough food to feed an army. I knew which group I belonged to. Veering over to the cooler near the back step, I grabbed myself a beer and joined the boys.

"Hey, Raven. How ya doing?" I was greeted by hugs and slaps on the back that nearly face-planted me into the ground. I grinned at them.

"Aww, you guys." I'd known Carter's pack almost as long as I'd known him—and they were forever taking me under their wing. Their closeness and camaraderie used to make me yearn to join their pack too, to wish I were a wolf, but then I'd see the segregation of male and female, the submissive ways of the women, and quickly decided a pack was not the place for me. I'd fit in for all of ten minutes.

"Happy birthday, Carter." I threw my arms around his neck and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. His arms wrapped around me and he held me tight, dropping a kiss on the top of my head.

"Thanks, trouble."

"Your present is in my car."

"What did ya get him? A blow-up doll?" one of the guys called out.

"Better. A subscription to that rudie magazine he likes so much." Hoots of laughter echoed around us and Carter’s cheeks blushed a becoming shade of red.

"You didn't!"

"No, you idiot. I got you that Scotch you like, the really old stuff. Since you're old now too."

"Raven! That Scotch is like one hundred and fifty bucks a bottle."

"Which is why it's in my car. To stop these idiots from drinking it. Remind me to give it to you before I leave."

He wrapped me in another hug, squeezing tight. Guess he really likes that Scotch.

"Oh. Sorry. I don't mean to interrupt...but..." a soft feminine voice came from behind me. Carter let go and I moved to his side. The voice belonged to a petite blonde woman who was holding a tray of burgers.

"Thought you might be hungry," she continued, stepping closer, her blue eyes trained on Carter. Then she glanced at me and I swear to God her gaze iced over. Okaaaay.

"Thanks, Storm, you're the best." Carter smiled at her and took a burger from the tray. "Storm, have you met Raven? Raven's my partner at the SIA. Raven, this is Storm, a member of our pack."

"Nice to meet you. I haven't seen you around before." I smiled at her, trying to put her at ease.

"I haven't seen you here before either." Her eyes had defrosted enough to shoot daggers at me. Okay, jealous little wolf, I'm not a threat. But by the way her eyes were devouring Carter, she definitely thought I was. And Carter, the big buffoon, had no idea.

"Here, let me take that from you and you guys catch up." I took the tray from her hands before she could protest and moved around to the other side of the bonfire. The guys swarmed around me, snatching up the food, the tray empty in seconds. I stood and scrutinized Storm and Carter through the dancing flames, his dark head bent down to her blonde one, her hand resting on his arm as they talked. I didn't like the twinge of jealousy that burned in my stomach. Nor did I like the fact that I couldn't keep my eyes off him.

Dressed in blue jeans and a thick brown jacket, he looked every inch the rugged mountain man and again, he took my breath away. I watched as Carter's Alpha, Travis, headed over to him, shook his hand and wrapped him in a bear hug.

"Good to see you, man, happy birthday!"

"Good to see you too. Thanks for coming." Carter accepted the beer Travis held out, taking a long swig before leveling his gaze on me. I wish I could blame the sudden flush of heat in my cheeks on the bonfire, but I'd only be lying to myself. This guy affected me in ways I'd never experienced before. He was like a magnet and I was inexplicably drawn to him. Unfortunately, it appeared the same was true for Storm, for she crowded and fussed, offering food, hugs, kisses. He accepted her attention with good grace, returning hugs, dropping kisses on her cheek or the top of her head, accepting food and complimenting the women on their hard work. I viewed it all through the blaze of the fire. As he made his way around the fire to where the guys were standing, I'd inch my way around to the opposite side, keeping the flames between us.

"He's a handsome man, isn't he?" April Harper, the Alpha's wife appeared by my side, watching the men through the fire.

"He sure is," I agreed.

"You do know that he can't be with you though, right?"

"What do you mean?" I didn't like the way April was regarding me. Was that pity in her eyes?

"Sweetheart, you know the ways of the pack. Alex will settle down with his mate, a wolf. I think Storm is the perfect match for him."

"He's my best friend, not my boyfriend!" I forced a laugh, turned from the fire to find another beer, uncomfortable with the conversation. The women of his pack felt the need to warn me off Carter. Always had. In the past, I'd laughed it off, not letting it bother me. But tonight, tonight it bothered me because April was right. Something had changed between Carter and me. Maybe April had known it all along, maybe not. Popping the top off another beer, I took a long swallow, wishing the beer were something stronger. I needed something to take the edge off these damn emotions.

"You're avoiding me."

The beer went down the wrong way and I coughed, choking. Carter's large hand thumped my back as my eyes streamed. Great. Not embarrassing at all.

"Better?" He leaned forward, peering into my face, one hand pushing the hair that had escaped my braid out of my face. God, I couldn't think when he was this close to me. It was like I simply couldn't function—my thought processes stopped, my hormones raged, I felt totally out of control and it terrified me.

"I'm fine." I cleared my throat and moved back a fraction. His fingers trailed through my hair before his arm dropped back to his side.

"I get the feeling the women folk are giving you a hard time." His lip turned up in a wry smile. I shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes.

"You're nervous of me." He frowned, his face full of concern.

"You make me feel things I've never felt before," I admitted.

"Ah." He nodded solemnly. "And it scares you?" He didn't seem surprised by my admission.

"It does. And confuses me."

"How so?"

"Because up until recently, we've been friends. Just friends. And now everything is changing."

"You don't need to fear change."

Possibly. But it felt somehow different. Deeper. And given that I didn't know my past, my own history, it rattled me. I liked the familiar, I liked knowing where I stood, my place in the world, where I felt safe. This growing...whatever it was between Carter and me had me off balance and unnerved.

"I won't hurt you," he promised.

"You think that's why I'm afraid? That you'll hurt me?"

"Isn't it?"

"There's something you need to know about me."

"Oh? I've known you most of my adult life, Raven. I doubt there is anything about you that I don't already know."

"I don't do relationships. Yes, I admit, I'm crazily attracted to you, that I'd jump your bones in a heartbeat with no second thought. But then that would be it. It would be over. And so would our friendship. And you mean too much to me to allow that to happen." At my words his heat flared, I could feel it wrap around me, encompass me. How did he do that?

"Just so you know..." He leaned in close, his mouth next to my ear, his hot breath bathing my skin. "I don't do one-night stands."

I turned my head slightly so my cheek touched his. We stood there, our heads close together, skin brushing skin, carnal thoughts dancing through my mind. It was torture and bliss.

"When you jump my bones and don't worry baby, it's going to happen, and soon, one night isn't going to be enough for you." His words were a promise and I trembled. His hand came up to cup my cheek and tilt my head just that little bit further, our mouths meeting. He tasted like I remembered. Hot and sweet. This time his kiss was slow and gentle, not the hurried, urgent mating of our mouths in the past. This was the second time he kissed me and each time was different, yet still blistering hot.

We broke apart to cheers and jeers from the pack. Christ, I'd forgotten we had an audience. Carter's hand was still on my neck as I turned my head and looked toward the bonfire. Storm was there, watching. I waited for her reaction, figured she'd be angry I was making out with Carter. I was right. She whirled from the fire, storming inside with April hot on her heels, throwing us an angry glare as she swept past.

"It will be okay," Carter muttered, but the frown pulling his brows together told me he didn't believe it any more than I did.