Think back on everything she’s said to you, every seemingly innocent conversation. Caleb’s voice landed in my head. Has she said anything that might give us a clue who might be after her?

I was sitting some distance from his position, my eyes trained on Marshell House, where Willow and Elinor were enjoying a wine by the fire. Hanging out with the girls so much had changed Willow’s mind about drinking, and she now loved a glass of wine if she was around people she trusted.

It was two days since Willow had seen the guy heading into the forest around Raynard Hall. I didn’t hesitate in getting the whole pack together to tell them the full story about Willow – at least, the full story as I ken it. I’d wanted to do it before she changed her mind.

Everyone accepted her story with grace and empathy. That is, everybody except Caleb. He didn’t like being deceived, especially when it put the plan in danger. Especially when Willow was still holding something back.

Because of my part in hiding the truth about Willow, I was also in the doghouse with her. I ken I’d lost much of Caleb’s trust, and I hated that, but it couldn’t be helped.

Now the full moon had come, and we were running shifts to watch Willow and try to catch the guy. A search around Raynard Hall confirmed that he was definitely the same human who’d been watching my cabin, but that didn’t give us any clue as to who he was or what he wanted with Willow. I’d given the medallion to Luke’s wife Anna, but so far she hadn’t discovered anything.

I cannae think of a thing. She didnae recognise him, so he’s not her ex-boyfriend, and it’s unlikely he’s an ex-client of hers. She keeps all her old client files at her mother’s house back in London, so we’d have to go there to get them. At first, Willow believed her mother hired a guy to track her down, but now she doesnae believe that, and I dinnae believe it, either. If he wanted to track her down, he would’ve grabbed her when she was alone the other night. Instead, he just seems to want to talk to her.

You know her the best out of all of us. What’s your opinion?

I think it has to do with why she doesn’t want shifters to be public, but she wonnae tell me why. Do you have any ideas?

Yes, Caleb said. I think her father’s behind it.

That didn’t make any sense. She hasnae seen her Pa since she was a wee lass. Why would have come back now?

A human attacked by a werewolf could be a powerful political tool. Being in possession of that human would be evidence enough that shifters and humans shouldn’t mix. This would be especially important if you’re a member of one of the packs that want to keep us hidden. Say, if you were responsible for a heinous crime.

My mind reeled. Holy shit. Caleb was right. WIllow’s father could hire a human just a readily as any of us to keep an eye on her, learn her routines, and watch for an opportunity to strike.

I shuddered at the thought of what the evil wolf might do to my Willow if he caught her. Willow had just started to make a life for herself. There was no way in hell I’d let her father take that away from her. Not again.

I scanned the treeline, searching again for unfamiliar wolves or faces in the foliage. Nothing.

I wonnae let him hurt her again, I snarled. I wonnae let her become a pawn in shifter politics.

You may not have a choice, Caleb growled back at me. Your duty is supposed to be to this alliance and our mission. I know how amazing it feels to find your fated mate, but I brought you in here because I thought this cause was more important than anything. Lately, you’ve barely lifted a finger to help us. You need to be careful not to neglect your own kind when they need you most, especially when your mate isn’t being entirely truthful with you.

Caleb didn’t have much more time to berate me further, because Luke showed up to relieve me of my shift. I planned to head into the forest for a short nap before coming back to relieve Caleb in a few hours.

I trotted into the forest, my wolfish senses dulling the thoughts about Willow’s stalker and the ugly words Caleb had spoken. Hunger surged in my stomach. A rabbit crossed in front of me, and I grabbed it and snapped its neck. As I chewed on the fresh meat, another scent wafted across my nose.

The stalker. He was here.

I dropped the rabbit and raised my nose to the air, sniffing to get the direction. The scent clung to a low hanging branch, only fifty yards from where I stood. I bounded into the trees, rage coursing through my veins as I traced the path of the man who’d brought nothing but trouble.

The scent grew stronger as I moved deeper into the trees. He’d been here not long ago. Perhaps he’d seen us patrolling the house and decided not to come any closer. Smart boy. I bared my teeth, wishing he were in front of me so I could take a chunk out of him.

Four hundred metres later, and I realised I might get my wish. I was heading downhill, toward a shallow stream that wound its way through the forest behind Raynard Hall. The scent grew so strong my tongue was hanging out. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to pounce. I saw something move along the bank of the stream … an upright shape that could only be a man.

I rocked back on my hind legs, and shoved off from the ground. I burst from the trees directly in front of his path, my teeth bared, my claws digging into the earth as I landed on the rocks right behind him. The stalker swung around, bringing his arms up. A rifle was pressed against his shoulder, the barrel pointed right at my chest.

“Come any closer and you’re a dead wolf,” he growled.

I pulled up short, my paws skidding on the wet earth. More than the gun that threatened me, my attack was halted by the sound of that voice and the familiar lips that spoke it.

Oh, shite.

I ken that face.

It all fell into place. I ken where the medallion had come from. I ken why the stalker was here. He wasn’t after Willow. He was after me.

I deserved that bullet.