Alpha Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novel (19 page)

“We’ve already started checking our food,” Connor said.

The doctor paused and eyed Connor curiously. Ana knew he was used to dealing with her, and maybe he was nervous around Connor. Lord knew the wolf could be intimidating when he wanted. Finally Dr. Graham spoke. “Right now that’s the best thing you can do. Make sure everything is clean and keep a running list of the items that are silver-free.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything else you need?” Ana asked.

“No, but I want to keep an eye on her for a while.”

“I’m going to stay too,” Carmen murmured.

“Okay.” As Ana and Connor left they nearly stumbled over Vivian, who sat directly outside Teresa’s bedroom.

Ana crouched down next to her. Vivian was so young; Ana didn’t want her around any of this. “Hey, sweetie. What are you doing? I thought you were playing with Lucas.”

“Is Teresa going to die?” Vivian’s voice shook.

Ana paused and tried to choose her words carefully. She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to upset the little girl. “The doctor is going to do everything he can to keep that from happening.”

“But you can’t know he’ll save her. What if you die too?” She suddenly pushed up from the floor and raced past them.

Ana’s heart lodged in her throat. She started after her, but Connor placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let me talk to her, okay? She gets upset if anyone even talks about dying. I know how to calm her down.”

Ana wanted to argue, but he’d known the little cub longer. “You sure?”

He nodded and placed a soft kiss on her lips. There was nothing hungry or urgent about it, but her heart rate ratcheted up instantly. When he pulled away he dropped another kiss on her forehead. “Start scanning the food in our house and I’ll meet you back there.”

Mutely she nodded and forced her rubbery legs into action. A hundred different worries raced through her mind, but if she let herself focus on what
might
happen to her cousin or the rest of her pack, everyone else would sense her fear. Even if she didn’t want to, she had to stay strong for them and for herself. Pack life wasn’t so different from the lives of human families, she supposed. They all depended on each other to get through hard times.

“It looks like they’re burning Mike’s body.” Vince handed the binoculars to Taggart.

He peered through them and squinted at the two men standing in front of a controlled fire. The wind wasn’t in their favor today, so they had to keep their distance. “I think you’re right.”

“You think they know
why
he went feral?” Vince asked.

Taggart shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. They won’t be able to prove he was feral now.”

Vince frowned. “But he was.”

Taggart bit back a sigh at Vince’s obvious statement. “We know that and whoever killed him knows that, but they won’t be able to
prove
it.”

“So?”

“Someone in their pack killed one of our pack members, and they’re going to pay for it.”

“What are you planning?” Vince’s voice was cautious.

“I’m going to demand a piece of their property in exchange for Mike’s murder.” Taggart had gotten the best end of the deal and he planned to capitalize on it. With Mike dead and burned, there was no proof that one of his wolves had turned feral because of meth use. He’d been a fucking idiot using that shit, then shifting to his animal form. Taggart had planned to kill him anyway, but now he didn’t have to worry about it. Since that problem was out of the way, he was going to take that land. Hell, he might even be willing to give up Ana for it.

“Connor won’t go for it. He was probably the one who killed Mike.”

The wind suddenly shifted in their direction and he scented Ana. It wasn’t fresh, but she’d been there recently. “You smell that?”

“Yeah.
Ana.
You think she killed him?”

“No. Her mate wouldn’t have let her out of his sight. If she was here, so was Connor.” But if she’d been there too and she knew without a doubt the wolf had been feral, she’d fight tooth and nail against parceling some of her land to him.

Which meant he’d likely have to use force and intimidation against them. He smiled to himself. He’d probably lose a few of his wolves if they went to war with Connor and Ana’s pack, but it would be more fun that way.

Liam steered his truck into an empty spot in front of December’s bookstore. Maybe he should give her some space, but after dealing with a dead wolf and possible poisoning at the ranch, he wanted to see her again. Hell, he needed to see her, regardless of all the other bullshit. If only to reassure himself she was safe. After dinner last night it had taken all his willpower not to kiss her.

But she hadn’t been ready. Unlike shifter females, the curvy redhead was very easy to read, and while she was attracted to him, she was still nervous around him. Not scared, which would have driven him crazy, but he hated the skittish vibes she put off.

The little bell jingled overhead as he entered the store. Her eyes widened when she saw him but she was helping another customer. She smiled shyly at him and returned to ringing up the woman at the cash register. He ducked down one of the aisles and flipped through a couple books until he heard the bell jingle as the woman left.

Before he could search her out, December appeared at the end of the aisle. And today she wasn’t wearing those bulky clothes. She had on a sweater dress that hugged her curves in all the right places and leather knee-high boots that wrapped around her calves like a second skin. His entire body heated as he drank in the sight of her. What he wouldn’t give to peel off those boots and start kissing her feet. He’d work his way up her ankles and legs to her inner thighs—

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Oh.”

“Is that okay?” He covered the few feet between them so they stood inches apart. He desperately wanted to touch her but refrained.

“Yes … I … What exactly is it you want from me?” She twisted her hands nervously in front of her.

He frowned at her question. “I don’t understand.”

She flushed. “What are your intentions toward me?”

“I want to date you.” He said the only thing that would make sense to her. If he admitted he wanted to make love to her until neither of them could walk or think straight and eventually claim her so that she’d be his and no one else would ever touch her again, she was likely to kick him out on his ass. Or run screaming in the other direction. Neither option was appealing.

“Listen. I think you’re really sweet, Liam, and—”

“Are you breaking things off with me before they’ve even started?” Suddenly the little store was suffocating.

“I just don’t want to give you the wrong impression or lead you on.”

“You want me.” The statement was bold and took her off guard.

Her cheeks tinged bright red. “Excuse me?”

“I can smell your desire, and even if I couldn’t, I can see it in your eyes every time you turn that hot gaze on me. You. Want.
Me
.” He reached out and trailed a finger down her soft cheek. Something in his chest loosened when she didn’t pull away.

“That doesn’t matter.” Her voice was tight. At least she didn’t deny it.

“What’s the problem, then?”

Her shoulders lifted slightly. “I don’t like wasting my time.”

“Neither do I. I’m not looking for something casual.” Man, those were words he’d never thought he’d utter.

“That’s not what I meant. I just … This thing with us can’t go anywhere, and something tells me that if I get involved with you it’ll hurt like hell when we end things.” The raw truth of her words cut him and he still didn’t understand what her problem was.

“What makes you think things would end?” Then it hit him with the intensity of a silver dagger slicing through his chest. “You don’t want to get involved with me because of what I am.”

Her cheeks darkened again and he knew he was right. She cleared her throat. “It’s just too complicated. My brother—”

“I don’t want to date your brother,” he growled. “I want you.”

Before she could respond, the bell to the store jingled and in walked her brother.
Perfect fucking timing.
It was like that guy had a GPS tracker on Liam or something.

“You should probably leave,” she murmured low enough for only him to hear.

Like hell.

“Weren’t you just in here?” the sheriff asked as he strode toward them.

“Is it a crime for shifters to shop now?” Liam didn’t bother to hide the anger in his voice.

“If you’re not buying anything, then get the hell out of here and stay away from my sister.” The sheriff’s voice was low and threatening.

“Parker! What’s the matter with you?” December took a step toward her brother and put a placating hand on his arm, but he shrugged it off.

If it had been anyone else Liam would have stayed and stood his ground, but it was obvious how upset December was so he forced himself to leave. “I’ll see you later.” And he would. No doubt about it. He didn’t care what the sexy redhead said. They had a lot more to talk about.

At the door he paused and turned back to face the sheriff. “Did you ever stop by Sean Taggart’s ranch?”

“None of your business.”

Liam bit back a sharp retort. “I don’t care what your beef is with me, but you better stay with your sister tonight. If Taggart has it out for her, he won’t stop until someone is hurt. Or worse.” Before either of them could respond, he shoved the glass door open and strode out into the cold.

His heart pounded erratically against his chest and he could feel his canines start to extend. The animal inside him wanted free in a bad way. He practiced his breathing exercises—something he hadn’t done in about a hundred years—until the urge to shift subsided.

As he steered out of the parking lot, he projected to his brother.
How do you control yourself around Ana? Being in the same room as December is enough to make me crazy.

Are you in town?
Connor asked.

Yeah. The feral wolf is burned.

I know—Ryan told me. Why did you leave without telling me where you’d gone?

Because I knew you’d give me grief about seeing December, and I can’t stay away. Her brother showed up and—

Damn it, Liam! I’m in the middle of a meeting and the entire pack is staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind. Get out of my head.”

Liam chuckled to himself.
Everyone’s there?

Silence.

What’s Ana wearing? And what would you
like
her to be wearing?

You’re lucky you’re my brother.
The growl of Connor’s voice echoed loudly in his head.

Liam knew when to leave well enough alone but it didn’t stop the short-lived grin on his face. Anything to take his mind off the redhead who’d suddenly consumed his every waking thought.

Ana shut the door to the house and resisted the urge to collapse onto the floor. She hung her coat on the rack and trudged up the stairs. After Connor’s meeting they’d methodically checked everyone’s home for signs of silver poisoning. As Alpha he had a duty to personally see to the well-being of the entire pack. And as his mate, she had to share in his duties. Not that she minded. This was her family. But her feet ached and, worse, the fear that the poisoning was starting up again had settled deep inside her.

They’d split up to cover more ground, and from the quiet of the house it looked like she’d beaten him back. She intended to take advantage of the downtime. After starting a hot bath, she stripped out of her clothes and pulled her hair up into a clip so it wouldn’t get wet.

Steam drifted up from the oversized tub, but when her feet hit the water she sighed in relief. It was hot but not scalding. Tingles raced down her arms and up her back as she descended into the tub. As she sank deeper under the rising water, she heard the front door open and close.

Barely a few seconds passed before Connor stood in the doorway of the bathroom. His eyes darkened as he zeroed in on her exposed breasts. Her already hard nipples peaked under his heated stare. The water was rising but not fast enough. She gripped the side of the tub to stop from covering herself. Whether she was ready or not, tonight was the night. She knew it. He knew it. Physically she wanted him and she wasn’t going to deny it. Spending another night in the same bed as him and feeling sexually frustrated wasn’t something she planned to do. Maybe if they finally slept together she could get him out of her system. Get a grip on her emotions. Anything was better than living with all this pent-up craziness.

She spoke to break the growing silence. “I just got back a few minutes ago. I couldn’t find anything in any of the houses I checked. Even though the scanner tested negative for silver, I checked for tampering of any unopened food and didn’t find any of that either.”

“I found something,” he said grimly.

Her heart raced at his tone and matching dark expression. “What?”

“One of the storage sheds has been broken into. It looks like a lot of the flavored water has been contaminated with some sort of liquid silver. I found a bottle in Teresa’s recycling bin. She must have recently grabbed a case from the shed.”

Ana started to push up, but Connor shook his head. “I’ve removed the rest of the water from her house, and thankfully only one bottle was missing from the new case.”

Frowning, Ana settled back against the tub. “Someone broke into one of our storage sheds?” That was a bold move.

Connor’s jaw clenched. “Somehow they got past our security. I’m having new locks installed, and in addition to increasing security, we’re throwing away everything inside the shed. Tomorrow I’ll buy more bottled water.”

“I’ll do it,” she said. Her cousin had been poisoned, and while she trusted Connor, it would make her feel better to actually be the one to purchase the water. To see with her own eyes that it was safe. “What about the rest of the houses?”

“I didn’t find any other signs of tampering.”

They were both silent for a long moment and she guessed he was thinking the same thing she was. Someone had managed to get onto their land undetected. Definitely not impossible, but it was a scary thought.