CHAPTER TWO
Kyle
I couldn't believe what I was seeing but there was no disputing the pictures I held in my hands. There was so much blood and the dead werewolf lay on the ground, its amber eyes unseeing into the distance.
"No scent of another werewolf was found at the scene," Cade told me. I lifted my eyes to his. My mind was reeling. If a werewolf hadn't done this, who had?
"That's not possible," I murmured, taking another look at the photos, hoping to discover something that would explain what had happened, but other than the dead werewolf matted with dirt and blood, there wasn't anything else. There were no clues in the photos that revealed who had taken the life of the werewolf by force.
From the looks of the photos the werewolf had put up a brave fight but its opponent had been stronger. Strong enough to beat it before finishing it off with a stab through the heart. We weren't indestructible but there was no way this could have been done by something other than another werewolf.
"Who was it?" I asked, feeling a rising panic at the thought that Crystal was out there somewhere, vulnerable to an attack like this.
"A male rogue."
"Have there been other bodies?" I asked the question even though I was scared of the answer.
"Yes." A cold vice-like grip squeezed my heart.
"Crystal?" I asked, feeling my increasing panic.
Cade shook his head.
"All the bodies we've discovered have been rogue male werewolves in wolf form. Wherever Crystal is, she has managed to evade whoever is doing this."
My relief was brief. She may be safe at the moment but if I didn't find her soon she wouldn't be. I took in the information as I studied the picture.
"Where was the body found?" I asked, feeling my increasing fear over my missing mate, who didn't want to be discovered.
In my subconscious I was already thinking of Crystal out there somewhere. Even for a moment thinking this could happen to her nearly stopped my breath in my lungs. If this could be done to a strong male werewolf, she wouldn't have a chance in hell of surviving. Hell, she couldn't even shift into her wolf. I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to rein in my panic.
"On the perimeter of Keri's territory."
The mention of my friend, who I was still pretty pissed at, made me look up sharply at Cade.
"She's safe." His answer gave me relief. Despite the fact our friendship had been affected by her deception, I still cared deeply for her.
"Blake's upped security around the compound," he added, easing my concern. Blake would put every measure in place to keep her safe.
"How many murders have there been?" was my next question.
"Ten," my uncle answered. My eyes shot up to his.
That was unusual. Rogues were lawless werewolves who couldn't live within the confines of a pack with rules in place. It wasn't surprising they occasionally murdered each other. But ten was too many; it was an anomaly.
As strange as it was, there had been a lot of unusual things going on since Victor had started a war with the other territories. He had gotten rogues to work together for him and after he had been killed the rogues had banded together and formed their own rogue pack. If Crystal hadn't infiltrated the rogue pack and fed information back to us, we wouldn't have known which pack they had planned on attacking first. Her bravery had ensured our victory and survival.
Cade stood beside my sister, watching me as I tried to contemplate who could be behind this. Was there some sort of serial killer picking rogue werewolves off one by one?
"Any theories?" I asked, my question directed to Cade.
"Not many," he answered with a shrug. "It could be a rogue werewolf who discovered Victor's little trick of using wolfsbane."
It would account for the lack of scent at the murder site. But why would a rogue be running around killing off other rogues? What possible motive could there be? It didn't make much sense.
Uncle Nate spread a map over the table and I stood up to have a look. My hands gripped the edge of the table as I peered over our territories. Red markings on the map indicated the places where the dead werewolves were discovered. It didn't surprise me that the majority of the killings were on the edges of our territories, just outside the range of our scouts patrolling.
I frowned as I took in the places where the bodies had been found.
"When was the first body discovered?" I asked, feeling my gut turn at the fact that for all I knew Crystal was still out there, unprotected.
My urgency to find her spiked to a new level that now only consisted of life and death. I felt a shortness of breath when I thought about something happening to her. If I couldn't find her to keep her safe, I had to catch the person responsible for the killings.
"A week ago."
Seven days. I gripped the table tighter, my nails digging into the wood, trying to keep my raging anger under control. I had done all I could to find Crystal but I still had no idea where she was.
"That's why we were so worried about you," Scarlett said from beside me. I looked at her, and she gave me a look that told me she had been beside herself with worry over me.
"I'm a big scary alpha werewolf," I teased her as I pushed my serious emotions away. I needed to give her reassurance that I could defend myself in any attack. Putting a reassuring arm around her, and I gave her a hug. I understood she didn't want to lose me so quickly after we'd just discovered each other. We hadn't had the time to get to know each other and I still wanted plenty of time to do that.
The calculated glare from her mate made me release her. He was so possessive over her.
"I'm her brother," I reminded him, shaking my head. I wondered if I would be as possessive over Crystal if we ever got to mate.
"I don't care," he replied, his eyes still laced with intent. Scarlett glared at him with her hands on her hips but refrained from giving him a piece of her mind. I dropped my arm from her shoulders.
"Have we started evacuating everyone back to the compound?" I asked, getting back to the problem at hand. I was already starting to form the steps in my head that needed to be carried out.
Some werewolves were allowed to live outside the compound but as soon as there was a threat they would be pulled back to the compound until it had been taken care of.
"Yes," Uncle Nate answered. "The only one who is left is Claire."
The mention of the old lady pulled at the nostalgia in me. Crystal had been close to her and had spent a lot of time with her in the cottage on the outskirts of my territory.
"Who did you send?" I asked, needing confirmation they had found her safe. I didn't want the death of the old lady on my conscience.
"Sean and Michael," he answered.
Have you evacuated Claire? I asked through the mind-link.
We are on our way to get her, Michael replied. We'll be back soon.
With Claire still on my mind, I pulled myself back to figuring out what we were going to do to stop someone from continuing to kill rogues in our area.
They weren't exactly law-abiding citizens but they had deserved better than the deaths they had been handed. The person going around doing this couldn't be judge and jury on each individual soul. Were they only targeting rogues or would the time come where they would point their focus at innocent members of a pack too?
We needed to figure out who was responsible for the deaths before they could kill another. I hadn't been able to find Crystal so I had to concentrate my energy on catching the killer to keep her safe. Her life could depend on it.
A vice-like grip clutched at my heart at the thought of finding Crystal like the werewolf in the photo. Lying dead in the forest, mud mixed with blood with its amber eyes. The last sight would have been their executioner.
Crystal
I grimaced at the slight prick of pain as the needle pierced the skin on my arm. I pushed the wolfsbane into my vein, needing to disguise my scent until I could get out of the territory and away from my mate, who was determined to find me.
I had stayed here long enough and it was time to move on. That part of me that wanted to be able to stay in a familiar place I had called home for nearly my whole life was strong but the fear of the repercussions made me push it aside. Staying wasn't an option and I was only making it harder by entertaining ideas of it.
A slight unexpected noise outside the small cottage made me hurry to the window in the small bedroom I had called my home for the last two weeks. I peered out into the surrounding forest. It was dark but I could still make out the silhouette of two people walking to the door.
From the height and build of the two forms, I could tell they were men.
Panic slammed into my chest. I stepped into the hallway when there was a slight knock at the door. Claire's gaze found mine as she mouthed the word 'hide.'
Back in the room, I slid under the bed as quietly as possible. If I made any sudden sounds they would hear me. Despite my pounding heart in my ears, I strained to hear what was being said.
Had Kyle discovered my hiding place? Panicked thoughts flitted through my mind as I tried to figure out what two men would be doing knocking on Claire's cottage at this time of the night.
I heard the door open and Claire greeted her unwanted visitors. Scouts patrolling around the edge of the territory occasionally stopped by to check on her but there was something ominous about this particular visit.
"You have to come back to the compound." I recognized the raspy voice belonging to Michael.
"But I don't want to leave," Claire argued. I felt my heart speed up. Why were they making her leave?
"It's only a temporary move until the danger is eradicated," another voice explained, and I recognized it as Sean's.
They were only a few years older than me so I knew them well.
"What danger?" Claire asked, sounding breathless and a little frightened.
"There is someone murdering rogues on the edges of the territories," Michael explained.
Someone is murdering rogues. The thought echoed in my mind. I tried to keep as calm as I could. If I overreacted I would draw attention to myself. If they found me they would make me go back to the compound. I couldn't let that happen.
"You'll need to stay within the safety of the compound until the person responsible for the killings has been captured or taken care of."
My mind was reeling from the information.
"Can I at least pack some clothes?" Claire asked.
"Sure," Sean said. "Just don't take too long."
I heard the footsteps as they left the house and waited on the patio outside. Then I heard the hurried lighter feet of Claire drawing closer as she walked down the hallway.
She appeared in the doorway. I slid out from under the bed as quietly as I could. Her eyes were wide and panicked.
"Come with me," she whispered so softly I could barely hear her. I grabbed her trembling hands in mine and I was already shaking my head. Going back to the compound wasn't an option for me. If I did, Kyle would find me and then there would be no escape.
I wouldn't be able to hide my gifts. And it would only be a matter of time before that meant death for me. I wasn't supposed to exist. My presence would only bring death and destruction to him and the pack members who were my family and loved ones.
"I can't," I mouthed, not wanting to risk the two werewolves waiting outside overhearing.
Claire looked at me with sadness before she hugged me like it was going to be the last time she saw me. For all I knew it would be. There was no guarantee for my safety once I left the small cottage that had been my refuge.
I felt the sting of tears but refused to allow a single one to drop down my face. I hugged her close before I released her. Not wanting them to come back inside to see why Claire was taking so long, I helped get a bag out of her closet while she grabbed some clothes from her dresser.
A few minutes later she had packed everything she needed, and I zipped up her bag.
"Keep safe," she whispered softly before giving me a kiss on the cheek and hugging me tightly. I breathed her in and the peace it gave me for a moment before I released her.
Feeling emotional, I nodded my head as I stayed in her room while she left carrying her bag. The door opened.
"Is there someone with you?"
I held my breath as Michael waited for an answer.
"No," Claire lied without hesitation. "I had a human visitor just before you guys arrived."
I continued to hold my breath as I waited for their response. My scent was all over the house but it could have confused them with the old mixed with the new.
"Okay. Do you have everything you need?" Sean asked. I felt relief they hadn't taken it further.
"Yes," she replied with a tinge of sadness in her voice. I released the breath I had been holding.
I stood fixed to the same spot for far longer than it took for Claire and the two werewolves to be a safe distance away.
My heart had slowed down to its usual rate but it didn't stop the loneliness that was invading me. For the last year I had been used to being on my own. Even when I had joined Victor's pack, which had later been inherited by his daughter, Keri, I had only made a few acquaintances, preferring to keep to myself. The last couple of weeks of staying with Claire had given me companionship I missed. Yes, I had made friends but not true friends - the ones who knew your deepest darkest secrets.
It was easier that way. The fewer people who got close to me, the fewer people who could discover my dangerous secret.
Alone, I allowed myself the weakness of wallowing in my loneliness for a few minutes. I thought about my parents and what they had sacrificed to keep me safe.
When I felt how unfair my life was with the hand I had been dealt, I remembered my parents had given their lives to keep me and my secret safe. I owed it to them not to give in and give myself over to my fate but instead to keep on going.
Allowing myself to exhale my emotions, I began to figure out what my next move was. I peered out into dark forest that for the first time looked foreboding and dangerous. I couldn't leave now. I would have to wait for first light. Besides, it would give me a chance to get some sleep and pack before I headed out, onto the unknown path that lay ahead of me.
Thoughts of the murdered rogues plagued my mind but I refused to give in to the fear of it. If it won, I would be unable to leave the safety of the cottage. I nearly laughed hysterically when I realized even inside the small shelter I wasn't safe.
Stepping away from the window, I hurried in the darkness to the room I had been using for my stay. Not wanting to switch a light on inside the cottage, fearing it would draw attention, I sat down on the bed with enough moonlight to be able to survey my room.
For now I would concentrate on what I needed to do so there would be no space for the unwanted thoughts of a killer out there.
In my mind I was planning what I needed to pack: clothes, food and my vials of wolfsbane. Even though my destination was still unknown, I had to leave first thing in the morning and get as far away from here as possible.
At the thought of Kyle, I pictured him in my mind. He was devastatingly handsome and effortlessly charismatic. Just the thought of him was enough to make my body respond with a fluttering feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had always wanted to be able to reach out and touch him, raking my hand through his dark hair as he gazed down at me with his gray eyes that sometimes looked silvery. He wouldn't understand my actions.
I slid under the covers and pulled them up to my chin. My eyes were still trained on the window, my ears straining to pick up any unusual sounds that would signal immediate danger. But there was nothing except for the noise of insects that eased me into sleep.