CHAPTER TWO

 

 

Seth closed his eyes and breathed in the sultry air. Home. With each indrawn breath, peace seeped a little deeper into his fractured soul. Living on the mountain provided the seclusion he needed. Other than Sirius A, there was no place like the bayou. He pondered for about the millionth time, how many of his fellow shifters knew of their true origins. He would have to speak to his father about that. It was time. The shifter community deserved full disclosure. Luperca wasn’t a Goddess as they believed. She was an incredibly high-density being, well endowed with the ability to co-create. Amongst other life forms, heck whole planets for that matter, she had made the shifter race. At least that tidbit of shifter history was correct. It was shocking to learn that each shifter that incarnated on Earth had made a soul contract with Luperca to live one lifetime on this planet with the hopes of finding their soulmate, or mate as they called them. The problem was, once they incarnated on Earth they lost all memory of their true lineage. He had only learned the truth when he joined the Elite Hunters, and his memories returned.

Taking another deep breath, he sat back and enjoyed the sights and sounds of it. He would tackle the weighty topic of their origins later. Gators roared, calling for a mate. Frogs croaked their love songs, and occasionally, a snake plopped from a tree branch into the murky water. He smiled and inhaled again. This was what he’d needed. Retired from the Elite Hunters, he and Fang planned to hide out at the Le Beau plantation for a decade or two. All they wanted was relaxation and the freedom to run as a wolf. But Richie called and needed their help. The last thing they’d do was turn away one of the few friends they had left.

Seth knew protecting Richie’s mate, Piper would be easy enough. However, going out into public with him to Logan’s bar was another matter altogether. He had reservations about Richie’s suggestion. A night of drinks and dancing terrified him. He winced at the thought. He wasn’t the man he’d once been. To be frank, he doubted he could handle more than one or two people at a time. Crowds made him uncomfortable. He sighed. Maybe Richie was right about rejoining the world. He shook his head. No, he would cross that bridge when he was ready and not before.

It was a shock to learn his cousin Julia Le Beau sold her beloved bar to her brother Logan. The Backwater Bar was Julia’s life. Apparently, finding her mate had changed a lot of things. So now, Logan owned the bar and changed the name from The Backwater to Logan’s bar and grill. Seth’s head spun with all the changes in the family since he’d last been home. Cade was mated and starting a family with his mate, Anna. Simon, Stefan, and Thomas were mated as well. Even Lucas had found his one true mate and finally owned the ranch he’d worked so hard for. Good lord, had it really been eight years since his last visit? It was easy to lose track of time living as a hermit. He should have come home more often. He had a lot of catching up to do. But first, Richie needed him so the rest would have to wait.

Fang harrumphed. Yes, you should have. How many times did I tell you we should go home for a visit?

Stop nagging me.

I’ll stop nagging when you start listening, Fang grumbled.

Seth ignored Fang and went back to thinking. His chuckle startled a great blue heron searching for its dinner. Richie’s mate was a bounty hunter. The poor guy’s hands were full with Piper. From what Richie said, Piper was an independent woman with an arsenal of weapons. He and Fang hadn’t met her. Nevertheless, they knew she would be good for their friend. Richie could use a little excitement to shake up his laid-back lifestyle.

Piper’s latest bounty had turned the tables on her. The situation worried them. If Richie lost her, he’d follow her in death. As long as Seth and Fang drew breath, neither of their friends would die. They wanted to hunt the man down and be done with it. Richie wouldn’t allow it. The best they could do was watch over them and keep them safe.

 

One Week Later

 

Seth sipped his morning coffee and smiled when his parents walked into the kitchen. He narrowed his eyes at them. Why did they look overly happy?

“Good morning, son,” his father, Isaac, greeted much too cheerily.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Emma said as she hugged him around his shoulders.

Seth raised an eyebrow. “Good morning. What are you two up to? And don’t try to deny it. I can tell you’re plotting something.”

Emma sighed loudly. “We never could hide anything from you. Okay, here’s the thing. The Goddess came to me with a message for you.”

Seth frowned, his lips thinning to a tight line. “Why didn’t Luperca come to me with it?”

“You’re retired. Maybe she won’t speak to you as often as she used to. I’m the King, and the Goddess doesn’t speak to me,” Isaac reminded him with a shrug.

Seth rolled the coffee cup in his palms. “Yeah, maybe. What did she want?”

The way his mother looked at him made Seth uneasy. She took a deep breath as if mustering courage. This couldn’t be good. “She has one last hunt she needs you to do and then she won’t bother you again.”

Seth sat back and narrowed his eyes. Anger curled in his gut. “No. What part of retired doesn’t she understand?” His infuriated tone rumbled with Fang’s snarl.

Isaac took the seat next to Seth and laid a hand on his arm. His father pressed his lips together and gave him the ‘I have something to tell you, and you aren’t going to be happy about it’ look. “The Goddess only needs you this one last time. She said it’s important. There’s a woman in Minnesota. Her name is Sara Adams. Paul Johnson, I’m sure you remember him, went rogue and killed Sara’s brother, and the human plans to hunt the beast on her own. Even though she’s a homicide detective, and trained to hunt killers, she won’t stand a chance. Miss Adams will die if you don’t help her.”

Seth huffed out a breath. “Yeah, I remember Paul. He visited here a few times when I was a kid.” He leaned forward and gave his parents a hard look. “Luperca guaranteed this is the last time?”

Emma’s tight expression softened. “Yes. Absolutely the last time.”

Isaac grabbed two cups from the center of the table and poured one for himself and another for Emma. Seth noted his father averted his eyes. There was more, and he wasn’t going to like it. At all. “There’s a condition. You must partner with the woman and allow her to help you hunt the rogue.”

And there it was. Seth slammed the cup on the table, uncaring that coffee sloshed everywhere. “Hell no. Absolutely not. I won’t take a human on a hunt, especially not a female.”

Isaac glared intensely at his cup as he dropped the final blow. “You don’t have a choice. The Goddess made that a stipulation of your retirement. Sara must be allowed to help avenge her brother. She has plans for the woman and needs her to not only survive, she must also be involved in the hunt. We can’t let you move home permanently until the job is done. We can’t take the chance of angering the Goddess.”

He said the last part under his breath, so Seth almost didn’t hear him. His jaw fell open, but he closed it with a snap, the tips of his lengthened fangs showing at the edges of his mouth. “Are you kicking me out?”

Emma rushed to reassure her son. “No, of course not. However, we can’t go against the Goddess’s wishes.” She paused and then asked more gently, “Can you?”

Seth raked a hand through his hair. “No. But for the record, I don’t like anything about this assignment.”

Isaac squeezed Seth’s arm again. “We know, son. Although, once it’s done, you can live here with us. I already have a house waiting for you. I know how you like to be close to the water, so I built it along the river.”

A smile tugged at Seth’s lips, and his fangs receded. “You built me a house?”

“Of course! About two years ago. I decorated it with comfortable furniture and no frilly things just the way you’d like, and it’s been sitting vacant waiting for you to come home,” Emma said in a rush.

The thought of losing his family was a stab to his heart. With their reassurances, he could breathe again. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. I want to see Richie one last time before I leave. I left some of my things at his cabin, and I want to say goodbye.”

Isaac sat back and narrowed his eyes at Seth. “Before you go, I have to ask, why do you keep referring to the Goddess by only her name?”

Seth simply shrugged. “Because I know the truth. All of it. Do you?”

Isaac shot a surprised look at Emma. “Yes. Although, I’m shocked that you do. No one but the reigning King has that knowledge.”

“Luperca gets bored and likes to talk. With so many of us completing our soul contracts I think its time for full disclosure to the community.”

“What do you mean by everything?”

“Everything. Every detail. The entire truth.”

Isaac frowned but nodded. “Damn. We’ll consult Luperca and ask her opinion.”

Seth rose from the table and rinsed his cup in the sink. “Good. I better get on my way.”

Seth motored his way to Richie’s cabin thinking about the past couple of days. He and Fang had come close to losing their friend. Too close. Thankfully, they’d listened to their intuition and followed Richie and Piper to the French Quarter. The damn fool took a bullet for Piper. Seth growled, and Fang snarled. Who was he kidding? They wouldn’t have done any different if they had a mate.

Healing Richie had required every skill Seth possessed. He’d healed himself and countless others over the years but had never experienced exhaustion like when he pulled Richie from the jaws of death. He had barely made it to Piper and Richie in time. Without Piper holding Richie’s soul from crossing over, they would have lost their friend. If he’d been a minute later, his best friend would have gone on to his everlasting reward, leaving his unclaimed mate and the two of them to grieve his loss. Seth wasn’t sure he would have survived that final blow. His soul was in tatters as it was, full of holes and missing pieces.

Fang whined and nudged his mind.

Seth sent Fang reassurance that all was well.

He smiled, and Fang chuffed when Seth pictured Richie’s face as he carried him to their waiting vehicle. If only he had a picture to blow up into a poster and pin to Richie’s wall.

And Piper, dang she was funny as hell. Every time he thought about her threatening to shoot Richie if he ever tried to save her again he busted out laughing. He’d forgotten how good it felt to laugh.

Richie answered the door with a dishtowel in his hands. “Seth, what brings you back so soon?”

“I’m collecting my gear from the woods. Piper’s bounty is in custody. I’m no longer needed here. Plus, Mom and Dad informed me there’s a rogue in Minnesota, and they asked me to handle the assignment before I retire for good. So, I came to say goodbye.”

“Shit. I’m sorry, man. I know you’re burned out, and you didn’t want to hunt anymore. Isn’t there anyone else who can go to Minnesota?”

“According to Dad, I’m the only one who can do it,” Seth said tiredly. “The request came directly from Luperca. I’m to allow a human woman by the name of Sara Adams to help with the hunt and ensure she doesn’t get herself killed in the process.”

Richie’s eyes glowed angrily. “All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll go with you.”

Richie’s fury brought a small smile to Seth’s face. “I’ve always been able to count on you to have my back. Thank you, but no. You have a new mate to see to, and I’ll be fine. Besides, the female is a homicide detective. I’m assuming she’ll know how to handle herself. Who knows, it might be entertaining. If nothing else, I can practice conversing with a human while I clean up the mess.”

“If you get into a bind, you’d better call me,” Richie demanded. “I don’t have a lot of close friends, and I can’t afford to lose one.”

“All right. If I need backup, you’ll be the first person I call.” He grinned, and pulled Richie into a man hug, pounding him on the back. “I’ll see you soon, I promise.”

He turned to Piper and kissed her knuckles, amusement crinkling the skin at the corners of his eyes. “Congratulations, cher, and welcome to the family.”

 

 

Twenty-four hours later, Seth had feet on the ground in Minnesota. With long, purposeful strides he crossed the crowded lobby of Richfield city hall. Sara’s police department was somewhere in the building. In his search for the correct office suite, he and Fang ignored the way humans hurried to move out of their away. They’d become accustomed to humans avoiding them and turned a blind eye to the strange behavior. That is until a woman gasped loudly and backed up several steps. That they noticed. To add insult to injury, when Seth gave her what he felt was a charming smile, she squeaked and watched his every move guardedly. The final straw was the way she rushed up the stairs and out of sight the instant she reached them.

Fang snorted and rolled his eyes.

Sure, he was tall and had more muscles than the average guy. All Elite hunters did. But come on, the woman’s reaction was a bit extreme. The encounter only served to remind him why he preferred life as a hermit in the mountains. He shrugged and went back to his search. “Screw humans,” he mumbled under his breath.

At that comment, Fang growled in displeasure.

“Shut it, wolf,” Seth ordered.

He pushed the police department’s door open and surveyed the room. Fang huffed and jumped to attention as Seth’s head snapped to the woman behind the front desk when she sucked in a sharp breath and slapped her hand over her mouth. The female stared at them with huge frightened eyes. Silently, they made their way to her. His footsteps were merely a whisper, having learned to walk softly during training as a hunter. Stealth and silence were essential in their line of work. One hundred and fifty years of moving in a learned fashion was ingrained, and he wasn’t about to change now.

Seth rolled his shoulders to ease the tension lodged between his shoulder blades. There was a person of power near. The energy rippled in the air, pushed at him, and made his skin itch. He and Fang went on heightened alert. Until they determined if the wielder were friend or foe, they assumed the worst. That was how they stayed alive.

He tried a smile on the receptionist. It failed as badly as the first. Why bother? With a sigh, he said, “I’m here to speak to Sara Adams.”

 

 

Sara Adams leaned forward with one fingernail between her teeth, wholly focused on the case file spread across the desk. She released the tortured nail and stilled. Every hair stood up on the back of her neck. Without raising her head, she glanced at the bullpen outside her office. At the far side was Maryann’s reception desk.

The air rushed from Sara’s lungs. A smoking hot man was barking orders at Maryann. The man may be gorgeous, but dangerous energy oozed from every pore of his body.

Sara thumbed the safety off her service weapon, and slowly so as not to draw attention, moved to her office door. She never took her eyes from the man. The height scale glued to the wall directly behind him verified her eyeballed estimate. The guy was six foot three, with slicked-back hair, skin-tight T-shirt, leather pants so tight nothing was left to the imagination, and shit-kicker boots. All jet-black. The man likes color, Sara thought sarcastically.

His broad shoulders rolled as if stretching stiff muscles. This guy had every earmark of a tough as nails biker who knew how to handle himself in a fight. The only thing was, the man wasn’t wearing a leather jacket, and she didn’t see any identifying tattoos. If he was in a biker gang, he wasn’t flying his colors.

Sara wasn’t the only one who noticed the man. A few of the officers had noticed the confrontation as well and went for their weapons, flipping the safeties off. The atmosphere in the department snapped like a rubber band from business as usual to one of alertness and suspicion. All chatter in the bullpen ceased. The air grew thick with male aggression. She could taste the bitter essence of it on her tongue. Swallowing hard, she repressed the impulse to spit the flavor of burnt toast from her mouth.

Before the bullpen could turn into a lousy reenactment of the O.K. Corral, Sara stepped from the office and weaved her way through the desks. Upon seeing her, the men stood down. Before she could cross the room to Maryann, Randy, the chief of police beat her to it. Satisfied Maryann was safe, Sara wandered around the bullpen while keeping an eye on the interaction at the front desk. Good, Randy will handle whatever trouble the bastard dishes out.

Seth stiffened, and Fang bristled. They glanced around the open office space. Immediately, they spotted her, the woman from their vision. Her thick, blond hair hung loosely about her shoulders and swayed as she moved gracefully around the room.

They kept her in sight, adjusting their stance as need be. Taking a breath, they filtered through the myriad of deodorants and burned coffee until they found her. There it was, the incredible vanilla and caramel scent they would always associate with their miracle woman. She wore the same suit as in the vision and every so often, they caught a glimpse of her badge hanging from a chain around her neck.

The woman was a bit pale, probably from hours spent indoors. Her eyes were a lovely, soft, olive green. A color they would never forget. Even if she had looked different than the vision, they would have recognized the female. There was no mistaking her eyes. Even the glare of fluorescent lights couldn’t diminish her beauty. Her lips were full and luscious like sweet berries. Perfect. He couldn’t wait to taste them.

Though their woman wore the same ill-fitting suit from their ethereal encounter, they caught glimpses of her figure each time she turned or leaned forward and the fabric pulled tight. She had full breasts and flared hips that Seth was dying to get his hands on.

During training, the candidates learned preparedness and control were necessary at all times. He planned out everything from a simple trip to town for supplies to a battle to the death with a rogue. Every plan had several contingency plans. He always had an A, B, and C, hell, sometimes a D if options allowed. Nothing was left to chance. Nothing and no one took him by surprise. That was how he’d survived the past one hundred fifty years as a hunter.

Until her. She was a shock to his system that threw him off balance.

Prior to that night in the cave, Fang had been the only one who staunchly held out hope of finding their mate. Seth had given up. Now here she was, in the same room with them. The woman who held the other half of their battered soul. The same woman that they were required to take on an extremely dangerous rogue hunt. How completely unexpected and unacceptable was that?

Seth’s heart hammered, and the breath caught in his throat. If he were prone to panic attacks, he would swear he was having one. He pressed a fist tightly against his chest, over his heart, and took a breath. This was neither the place nor the time to act on instinct. Apparently, Luperca had a warped sense of humor they’d been unaware of. Not only did they have to take down one last rogue, a kill that might end them, but they also had to keep their mate alive while doing it.

Sara didn’t focus directly on the man she nicknamed Mr. Black for his choice of wardrobe. She didn’t want her fellow officers to catch her checking him out. No, she stayed slightly turned, so the hottie was in her line of sight, yet inconspicuous about what she was doing. She couldn’t help but look past the shield of menace Mr. Black wore like armor to see the man beneath.

Mr. Black’s face was all masculine angles and planes. Sara’s lips twitched with a suppressed smile. A strong, square jaw was sexy on a man. He had thick, dark hair and olive skin, though she doubted he was Italian. She tried to look away but for some reason, her attention was drawn back to him.

He glanced around the bullpen, and she saw Mr. Black’s eyes for the first time. A rich dark brown that somehow made him less fearsome. At least they weren’t black, like his choice of wardrobe. He swept the room, noting every person and possible exit point. For a moment, she wondered if the man was law enforcement or military. Then his eyes locked on hers, flared and narrowed.

Mr. Black may be a handsome devil, all sexy muscles, and five o’clock shadow, but he was dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

Her breath froze in her lungs. Now she knew what a gazelle felt like when it was hunted.

Sara stood stock still as his gaze drifted over her. When Mr. Black reached her feet, he reversed the process. Slowly. She ground her molars together. The man was pissing her off. Who the hell did he think he was ogling her like that? Sara took a quick look around the office. All of the men were grinning. A few snickered as they went back to what they were doing. Ah hell. Everyone saw the way the asshat undressed her with his eyes. The guys would razz her about it for the next six months. There were days when she hated being the sole female homicide detective.

Sara was in the middle of calling the man every curse word she knew when Randy said her name.

Randy pointed at her with the pen in his hand. “That’s Detective Adams standing over there.”

Shit! Mr. Black was here for her?

He gave Randy a stiff nod and replied in a deep sultry voice, “Thank you.”

Suddenly, her shoes felt tight. Great, her toes had curled. Her toes had no business curling over anything having to do with that Neanderthal.

The hottie strode—no—flowed through the office in a direct line to where she stood with arms crossed. Hardened men, she respected sidestepped out of his way like scared rabbits leaving an open, unobstructed path straight to her. Sara squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. He may look and act dangerous, but she was trained to handle men worse than wannabe bikers.

His gaze didn’t waver.

Neither did hers.

He didn’t blink.

That’s just crazy. Sara blinked, or her eyes would water.

Mr. Black didn’t stop until he was in her personal space. Much too close for comfort. Her gaze was now level with an extremely broad chest. A yummy well-defined expanse that stretched the black T-shirt to its limits. Sara absentmindedly licked her lips and then caught herself. She forced her gaze upward, pausing at his strong, square jaw, then again at his perfect lips until she found herself staring into eyes the color of her favorite dark chocolate. Expressive eyes. Powerful eyes. Eyes Sara was certain she’d seen before but couldn’t place where.

As she searched her mind for information, the strangers face dipped close to her hair and inhaled deeply.

Damn, Mr. Black smelled incredible. Like her favorite perfume, Amber, warm, earthy, sweet, and spicy. Sara was momentarily taken aback. Why on earth had she leaned closer? Quickly, she took a step back and frowned.

Did he just sniff me?

“How may I be of service, Mr. —” She let the sentence trail off, hoping he would take the hint and introduce himself.

Offering his hand, Mr. Black said, “Le Beau. Seth Le Beau.”

Sara quirked a brow at the James Bond impression. “Detective Sara Adams.”

There was something compelling about his velvet voice. Sara didn’t trust compelling. She hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. She expected him to shake it. Instead, he raised it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Then he brushed the pads of his fingers across her palm.

Sara snatched her hand back and wiped it on her pant leg. That much too intimate touch left energy tingles on her skin, something that had never happened before.

Seth’s lips twitched against a suppressed grin. He would allow his mate to wipe away their kisses for now.

Fang’s eyes lowered to half-mast, and he rumbled softly. She’s perfect.

I agree.

Her voice transformed their world. They savored the moment as the mating magic drifted over them with her soft, sultry, musical tones. The notes enveloped them and branded her name onto their heart and soul. Their mate held immense power. Seth replayed the cadence of her voice in his mind. Yes, she had an enormous gift, but her voice wasn’t where it lay.

The moment they set foot in the station, they’d felt currents of magic. They just hadn’t expected the source to be their mate. Pride filled them. She had stood her ground and refused to drop her gaze when they’d stalked across the office. That little slip of a woman wasn’t afraid of them. Not one iota. They were unaccustomed to being challenged in such a way unless facing a rogue.

There was no denying the mate attraction. She felt the pull of one mate to the other as well. Her pupil’s dilated and her breathing had changed. Merely for a breath or two. But they’d noted the tiny gasp and indrawn breath. The intense chemistry between them was palpable. They could feel her tamping down her attraction to them. He and Fang would allow it, although not for long.

Mine, they growled in unison.

Seth studied her face. Even though she was a homicide detective and had assuredly seen a fair share of violence and depravity, she looked far too innocent for a man such as he. It didn’t matter if she was twenty or forty. Something as minor as age meant little to a shifter that lived fourteen hundred years. Rather, it had to do with what life had turned him into. If given the option, he would walk away and leave Sara to live her life without his baggage.

Fang snarled. Never! We experienced all three of the signs, and that sealed our fates.

Seth sighed. He had believed he would never find a mate and long ago resigned himself to never having a family of his own. Now that she stood before them, Fang was right. They wouldn’t let her slip through their fingers, even though that would be best for her.

He was trained to be a cold-blooded and brutal killer. He would be that and so much more if anyone harmed their mate or took her from them.

He was an assassin, lethal as hell, and there was no changing that. In this situation, the ability to kill was an asset. Hunters didn’t get a do-over, so he would do as Fang had long ago. He would own his past with his head held high.

He may not deserve Sara, and they didn’t know the first thing about one another. None of that mattered. The fact was Miss Adams belonged to him. She was the one woman who could complete him. His soul was full of ugly gaping holes, with no way to repair it. But he would willingly share what remained with her.

Seth roiled with fury yet cupped Sara's cheek with utter gentleness. She had covered the evidence with makeup. Still, the discolored shadow on her cheek caught his attention. “Who did this?” he demanded, his voice deceptively soft, but there was an underlying rumble of a growl that divulged his level of anger.

She pressed her lips together and scowled, though didn’t answer.

“I can take the information from your memories, but I don’t care to invade your privacy. Please, mon amour, answer the question.”

A flash of fear shown in her lovely gaze. Then her eyes narrowed. In that moment, he knew she’d seen his true colors. They frightened humans with the exception of a scant few. Richie’s mate Piper being one of those few. Hell, they scared most shifters spitless. Regardless Sara was their mate, and the last thing he and Fang wanted was to frighten her.

She gave him a stare that surely destroyed lesser men. Then glanced away. “My face had a disagreement with a perp’s fist. I repaid the asshole with very tight handcuffs and assault charges.”

“Sara. Please look at me,” he requested gently, keeping his voice low so only she heard. He wasn’t a man to ask. Demands produced results much more quickly, but somehow, she unearthed the gentle, loving man he had once been in his youth.

Fang nudged Seth’s mind and grinned in approval. You have this. I’m going to take a nap. Wake me if you need back up.

Her gaze jumped to his.

“Hold absolutely still for a moment.” Warmth flowed from his hand to the contusion. In seconds the swelling and discoloration disappeared. Then he brushed a thumb across her once more perfect complexion.

Seth let his hand fall to his side. “There. That’s better.”

Sara raised a palm to her face and frowned. “What did you do?”

Seth shrugged but didn’t answer. “Is there a place we can speak?”

“That depends. Are you here to report a murder?”

“No. My reason involves you, and your brother's passing.” With a glance around the wide-open bullpen, he continued, “Perhaps we should take this discussion someplace more private? Where ears won’t hear.”

“Shh!” Sara glanced around the room. Sure enough, all eyes were on her. “There’s a coffee shop down the street. I’ll get my purse.” She took advantage of the few minutes away from Seth’s sphere of influence to catch her breath and clear her mind. She needed to get him out of the station quickly. Already, a few of the men were showing signs of curiosity.

She used the short reprieve to examine her reaction to Seth. Her analytical mind sorted and filed each damning fact away. She wanted—no needed, him. She wasn’t a stranger to attraction, but no man had ever had the effect Mr. Le Beau did. Her body had heated when he drew near. Sara tucked that information into a file in her mind

She had smelled her favorite fragrance, and she doubted he wore women’s perfume. She tucked that into the file as well. Finally, and most incriminating, she’d heard him telepathically. Terrified by what the evidence corroborated, she slammed the file shut and locked it away.

Sara inhaled sharply. One shaking hand flew to her throat and covered the crook of her neck protectively. She was horrified by her conclusion. Oh, hell no! Sara snatched her purse from the hook behind the office door and stomped past him toward the exit. She swore she could feel his breath on the back of her neck as he followed hard on her heels.

He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him the instant they hit the sidewalk. “What’s wrong?” he hissed.

“We can’t be overheard discussing the case. As a family member of the victim, I’m not allowed to be involved in the investigation. If I’m caught working it, the chief will suspend me.”

His eyes narrowed. “That was not a full truth. Why are you so angry?”

She paced away from him, shaking with her fury. Then turned to glare into his eyes and stepped closer to him again to jab her finger hard into his chest. “You and I will never happen, Le Beau,” she declared with a snarl.

Seth’s brows rose. His gaze drifted over her face. Damn, she was even more beautiful when she was angry. He forced his expression to remain blank. Now was not the time to provoke her further.

Sara spun on her heel and stomped away from him, leaving him to trail behind like a scolded child. He grinned, loving the challenge. Winning his woman’s heart and commitment was going to be fun. He had forgotten what fun was. His mate was bringing that back into his life as well.

They ordered their drinks and waited as the barista made them. Coffee in hand, she led the way to a table in the back corner of the shop, away from the other patrons. Determination evident by Sara's tight expression. Her chin was up, and her olive eyes were blazing. She was about to blast him again.

Lust surged through his body, harsh and painful. He had been semi-erect since the first inhale of her vanilla caramel fragrance at the station. Now he was so hard he was sure he would limp when they returned to her office. Seth closed his eyes and pulled in a lungful of her sweet scent. Sara was a personal miracle he never expected.

“Stop that,” she hissed.

Silently, Seth sent a prayer of thanks to Luperca and opened his eyes. “Stop what?”

Sara glared at him. In a tone, she scoffed, “Seriously? You’re going to play the ignorant card? I know what you are and it’s never going to happen. I mean it. This,” she waved a hand between them, “can’t happen. I refuse to have my life taken over by a man. I’m not like my sister, Dianne.”

Seth sipped his coffee and cocked his head. “I’m not following the conversation. What are you going on about?” He knew exactly what she was referring to. Well, all except the sister comment. But he pretended to be oblivious because he wanted her to admit they were mates out loud.

Sara sat back and folded her arms. Her nostrils flared in annoyance. “You can’t tell me you haven’t recognized the signs.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Signs?” he asked his voice thickening with a Cajun drawl.

“Yes, signs,” she hissed. “The attraction, special scent, and telepathy that indicates a shifter found his mate. I—will—never—be—your—mate!” She emphasized each word with a finger stab to the tabletop.

He leaned forward and cupped her stubborn chin. The pad of his thumb slid along her clenched jaw to ease the tension. He needed to touch her. The man craved the woman, and his wolf demanded the contact. Quietly he drawled, “Never say never, cher.”

Seth dropped his hand to her arm. Then lightly ran his palm down her forearm to her tiny hand. The move was so smooth Sara automatically responded without a thought and wrapped her fingers around his. His large hand encompassed hers. He knew that later when she was alone, she would question her reactions to him when she’d been so angry.

If he had continued to touch her face, he would have pulled her across the table, held her captive with his hands buried in that wealth of blonde hair, and kissed her senseless. She wasn’t ready for that. “How do you know the signs?” he asked with more calm than he felt.

She sighed, soft as a summer breeze, lowered her head, and pushed the fingers of her free hand wearily through her hair. “My sister was claimed ten years ago. She educated me on everything shifter. I learned more than I ever wanted to know.”

Seth restrained his chuckle as relief poured through him. “I see.” He glanced out the window beside their table, admiring the autumn hues setting the trees and bushes ablaze with color. “Minnesota is a beautiful state.”

“I think so,” Sara agreed. “Though it gets cold as hell in the winter.”