Connie rushed away, heart pounding with fear. Damn renegades were getting brave if they’d dared to set foot—or paw—onto their land. The Silver Streak Pack was large and strong, and Chad was known for his fierce stance on interlopers.
He wouldn’t stand for this incursion but any damn Shifter knew that, so why would these renegades chance facing his rage? It would mean certain death if he got his fangs into them. Chad was a great Alpha, fair and kind, but also didn’t stand for any nonsense, and he protected the Pack with a ferocity that was known to every other Pack, every Shifter in the area, and he’d tear anyone, man or beast, apart for threatening him, his Pack, or his land.
It was madness . . . unless their numbers had grown or another Pack was aiding them. Shoot, Connie’s head felt as if it were going to split in two with all the thoughts stampeding through it. She may come across as being an airhead who only thought of having fun, going out, and boys, but that wasn’t who she was. No siree, Connie Davison had more going on inside her than she allowed anyone to see, apart from those closest to her, of course. She kept her ears open and knew everything that was going on in, and out, of the Pack. Information was knowledge and that knowledge came in handy too many times to count.
Like right now. Her feet rushing to warn her parents and then she’d go find Cyndi to ensure she stayed close to camp. After that was taken care of she’d get right back to her other little plan and get in touch with the person she knew could work miracles. She’d heard about her, whispers here, talk there, and even spoken direct to a couple who’d mated as a direct result of this woman’s magic . . . well, not literal magic. Or maybe it was.
That might be why the Paranormal Dating Agency had such a high success rate . . . Gerri Wilder wielded magic? “Don’t be so dang stupid,” Connie laughed at herself as she rushed toward her house. “She’s just really, really good at what she does. That’s all.”
She skidded to a stop, pushing the door open, shouting. “Mom! Dad! Are you here?”
The tone of her voice must have conveyed her fear as her mother rushed through from the kitchen, her dark blonde hair in disarray with dots of white flour on her forehead. “What’s wrong?”
“I just heard Blake talking to the Alpha, he said there’s renegades on Pack land, and he didn’t sound like he usually did . . . ya know?” Connie lowered her voice. “He sounded worried, Mom.”
“Really? That’s not good. There’s more and more of those dang Wolves and I know some of the other Packs are having problems with them. The smaller ones have already contacted Chad asking for his help. Damn, it looks like the renegades are bringing the fight to him, either that or they’re testing him to see how far he’ll go.”
“I was thinking along those lines too, Mom. I just wanted to warn you to stay safe and don’t wander off alone. Where’s Dad?”
“It’s all right, he’s out back starting on a new set of drawers for me. He’ll be there all day, sweetie.”
Connie let out a long breath. “Thank goodness. Okay, I want to make sure Cyndi’s safe too and then I’ll be back to sort something else out.”
“All right, but if you hear anything else, let me know.”
“Sure will, Mom.” Connie waved then darted away, hoping she’d find her friend and the Pack Healer before they were too deep into the forest.
She could use the Pack’s link, but she hated using it. It felt like an invasion somehow, always had, so unless it was an out and out emergency, she rarely used it. Instead she forced her feet to speed up, flying through the camp toward Caitrìona’s cabin. The small fiery Scot would, hopefully, still be coaching Cyndi on what they were going to be looking for. That’s what usually happened when they were going into the forest to stock up on herbs. The Healer would spend time going over what they were specifically looking for so that Cyndi would know exactly what to search for. It saved time in the long run, and Cyndi learned more that way, or that’s what her friend told her anyway.
Connie skidded around the side of a cabin, coming to a dead stop against something that felt like a stone wall. Her head swam with the jolt, her feet shooting out from under her as her breath whooshed from her lungs, and it was only the massive hands that grabbed hold of her that kept her from falling backward with a force she knew would’ve knocked her out cold.
“Hey, you okay? What’s the rush?”
Her eyes saw the ebony skin first, followed by hearing the low rumble of the Pack’s Enforcer Da’rion, his voice full of concern as he helped steady her. She shook her head to clear it. “I’m fine, sorry for bumping into you.”
“That’s fine, little one, but you look like you’re in an awful rush. Is there something wrong?”
Da’rion cocked his head, his body so dang tall and wide it almost blocked out the sun. Connie knew there was no point in either lying, or not answering. The Enforcer would never let her past if she didn’t answer, and truthfully. “I overheard that there were renegades around so I’m just going to check on Cyndi because she was going to go looking for some herbs.”
Da’rion nodded. “Yes, I know. Both about the renegades and about the herbs. That’s just where I’ve been, Connie. I told them not to go today, in fact, they’re to stay in camp until I say otherwise, or I can accompany them or arrange for some of the guards to go with them.”
Connie grinned, grabbing Da’rion’s hand and tugging it hard to pull him toward her. “Thank you! I was so worried I wouldn’t get to them in time.”
Da’rion leaned down, allowing her to place a kiss on his cheek, laughing. “So you thought it best to run around like an out of control steam train instead of using the Pack link?”
She shrugged, smirking. “You know me, Da’rion, I freaking hate that damn thing.”
“Yeah, I know.” Da’rion shook his head. “But maybe next time, in this kind of situation, you should try using it.”
“Maybe, Da’rion, maybe.” Connie laughed, spinning around and heading back home. After all, she had another job to do. One that was very important and her friend’s happiness depended on it. She couldn’t let Cyndi down. Nope. Not happening. She would do whatever it took to ensure her friend found that special someone she deserved, by hook or by crook! And she knew exactly how she was going to do it, even if she had to use every last cent she had saved up over the last few years.
Hell, who needed a vacation and a new wardrobe anyway? Her friend was more important than anything money could buy. She just hoped that there was enough in her bank account to cover the costs of the fancy named Paranormal Dating Agency. If not she would promise this Gerri Wilder anything to take on Cyndi as a client. Anything. Well, maybe not anything, but damn near anything. She’d go so far as offering to be a dang maid . . . and if there was anything that Connie hated it was cleaning . . . and taking orders. Yup, she’d be in hell, but if that’s what it took then she’d do it.
She just hoped it didn’t come to that or she would not be a happy Wolf. Then again, she might get to meet some hunky beasts if she were to hang around at the Agency. Might not be so bad after all.
Connie giggled as her feet danced over the ground back to her home, humming as she went, daydreaming of a line of hot males parading in front of her as she dusted around a swanky apartment. “Not so bad at all.”