Nathan hunched over the bar as the bartender, Heather, placed his beer in front of him. He gave her a grateful nod and stared at the pale gold liquid but didn’t move to touch it. Alcohol wouldn’t do anything for him right now anyway.

He considered staying home after work and not talking to anyone, but he already did that for most of the weekend. After what happened at the picnic, he didn’t want to be around people. He drove deeper into the mountains, and once he thought he was far enough away, shifted into his wolf form and let it roam as much as it wanted. It was begging him to be free, and after the whole debacle with Violet, he was only happy to give in. He woke up the next day and made his way back to his car. He thought letting his wolf free would make him feel much better, but he was only more confused. Monday morning came far too early. He was still unsure of what say to Violet, so he went in to work late hoping to avoid her.

Then, she saunters up to him, tells him she’s sorry she kissed him, and proposes they sleep together to relieve the sexual tension between them. So they could work better.

Sure, he’d had numerous one-night stands in the past, but he liked to think he treated the girls he slept with with respect. He was straight with them, never promising more but always making sure they left satisfied and happy. No, he didn’t treat it like some business arrangement or scientific experiment. It only solidified the fact that Violet was cold and calculated with no feelings whatsoever.

A muscle flicked angrily in his jaw. He decided right then and there he was done. Done with Violet Robichaux. He hoped she would leave Blackstone soon, so he would never have to see her again.

Mine.

“Shut the fuck up!” Nathan slammed his fist down so hard his glass shook, splashing beer all over the bar top. Heather gave him a disapproving look, and he shot her a sheepish smile as he reached over the counter for a dry rag to mop up the mess.

“Nathan?”

He whipped around at the sound of the voice. “Melanie?” He didn’t recognize her at first. The night they met, she’d been all dolled up. Now, her face was make-up free, her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she was wearing sweats.

“Nathan,” she cried in relief. “I’m so glad you’re here. I was waiting for you last night but you didn’t come.”

“Melanie, what’s wrong?” He noticed the deep bags under her eyes. “Are you okay?”

She took a hard gulp, then tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I didn’t know what else to do or who to turn to.”

“Melanie—” He nearly jumped when she threw herself in his arms and pressed her face into his chest. Gingerly, he rubbed a hand down her back. “It’s okay,” he soothed. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s my sister … Joanne. She’s missing. I went to her apartment on Friday, but she wasn’t there. None of her friends have seen her for two days, and she’s missed all of her classes. I’ve been calling her, but her phone keeps going to voice mail and I’ve already left a hundred messages.”

“Did you call the police?”

She nodded. “I went to Verona Mills P.D. and they asked me a few questions, but they think she just ran away. They said they’d keep an eye out, but they refuse to do anything else until she’s been missing for a few days.”

“Maybe she needed a break?”

“No,” she protested. “Joanne would never run away like that! She tells me everything and as far as I know, there was nothing wrong. She loved her classes, her professors, and she doesn’t drink or party.”

“What do you think happened?”

“I went to her apartment. I didn’t find anything.” She gave a small laugh. “It was clean. Much more than it usually is. Like someone had cleaned it. All her clothes were there.”

He gently pried her arms away from him. “So, why come to me?”

“You said you owed me a favor, right?”

“Sure.”

“Flight shifters have great eyesight from a distance, but our sense of smell is pretty much shit. I want you to come with me and see if you can sniff out any clues. I think someone may have taken her.”

“You want me to go to your sister’s apartment and smell her stuff?”

She let out a long sigh. “I know. It’s a long shot, but I’m desperate. I can’t wait on the police. What if something happened to her? And you know humans don’t really care about our kind.” Her gaze dropped to the ground. “The moment they found out she was a shifter, it was like they lost interest.”

Nathan’s hands clenched into fists. He’d been living in the Blackstone bubble so long he’d forgotten how cruel humans were to shifters. In fact, his own parents had faced the same prejudice themselves. They were run out of their small town in the middle of the night because someone outed them as wolf shifters. If they hadn’t thought of leaving and heading to Blackstone, who knows what would have happened and how his life would have turned out. “All right. Let’s go have a sniff before any scents disappear.”

Her eyes went wide. “Really?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Oh Nathan, thank you!” She launched herself into his arms and hugged him tight.

“I haven’t done anything yet,” he said. “We should—” A strange sensation prickled down the back of his neck, and his wolf stood at attention. As he looked up, his gaze crashed into familiar light blue eyes.

Violet stood right behind Melanie, her posture stiff and her face expressionless. For a brief moment, he thought he saw something flash in her eyes. Slowly, he let Melanie go and marched toward Violet.

Complete and utter shock was coursing through his system, and he said the first thing that came to mind. “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing,” she said in a flat tone. “Absolutely nothing.” She quickly pivoted and began to walk out of the room.

“Fuck!” He didn’t know why he gave a damn. Violet could think whatever she wanted to think, and he didn’t owe her any explanation. But it was like his feet had a life of their own, and he found himself going after her.

He caught her arm as she reached the door. “Violet!”

“Let go,” she said, yanking her arm away.

“I can explain.”

“You don’t have to explain anything.” Her face was calm, but he could feel her animal’s anger. It was practically hissing and spitting at him. His own wolf was furious at him for riling up their mate. Her gaze traveled behind him. “I see you’re busy. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“This is exactly what I think. But don’t worry, I can take a hint. You said it yourself that day at the mines. You don’t want me.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” He tried to grasp her again, but she evaded him. “I never said that to you!”

Her eyes blazed. “Newsflash Ben: I don’t want her either.”

Blood drained from his face. “You heard that?”

“Does it matter? Anyway, I won’t be bothering you again.”

She didn’t even look back; instead she pushed against the doors, disappearing from his sight. And he stood there, staring dumbly. He did say those words, but only because he wanted to get Ben off his back. Damn I’m an idiot.

He went after her, but when he reached the parking lot, she was gone. Sniffing the air, he picked up her scent and followed his nose until he found her in the rear part of the building, struggling with her car door.

“Damn thing,” she cursed. “I’m bringing you back to the rental place tomorrow, you piece of—”

“Violet,” he called. He was next to her in an instant.

She started, and before she could jump away, her grabbed her arms and held her in place. “Stop!”

“No, you stop!” She wiggled, but he didn’t let her go. “Why are you—”

“Nathan, what’s going on?”

Shit. He had forgotten all about Melanie.

Violet stopped struggling. “Your date is waiting.”

Melanie gasped. “Date? Oh no. Crap, I knew I had gotten you into trouble.” She walked closer to them. “I’m sorry you got the wrong impression. We weren’t here to hook up or anything.”

“You’re not?”

“He’s already turned me down.” She gave Nathan a knowing glance.

“Turned you down?” Violet asked.

“Yeah, long story,” Nathan said.

Melanie continued. “I came here because I need Nathan’s help. He owes me a favor.” She took something from her pocket and put it in front of Violet’s face. “He’s going to help me find her.” She quickly explained about her sister, repeating what she had told Nathan. Much to his surprise, Violet relaxed although she did tense up when Melanie finished her story.

“So, you have no idea where your sister is?”

Melanie shook her head. “I swear, I’ve tried everything. Something’s happened to her, I know it.”

Violet placed her hands on Melanie’s shoulders. “We’ll help you.”

“Hold on,” Nathan began. “What do you mean we?”

“I mean you and me. My sense of smell isn’t as good as yours, but I can still pick up trace scents,” she said. “We can cover more ground quickly. Does your sister have a vehicle?”

“Yes,” Melanie said, her face lighting up. “It was still in her parking space.”

“All right. We can search her apartment and her car. Do you know of any other places she frequents?”

“I can think of a few,” Melanie said. “But, oh … you don’t have to do this, uh….”

“Violet,” she said. “I’m Violet.”

“Melanie.”

“Right. Melanie, if your sister is missing and the authorities refuse to help, then we have no choice but to assist you. Right, Nathan?”

“Yes, but—”

“I’m here and I can help, so of course I will. Now,” she straightened her shoulders, “I’ll ride with Nathan and we'll follow you in your car. We should go now. Scents and other clues may be degrading as we speak, especially in this weather.”

Nathan shrugged. “My car’s out front.” This wasn’t working out the way he thought it would, but he’d take it.