“When did it end?” he asked, eyes narrowed. “When did you find out—”
“That Rafe was a lying killer?” she finished. “More dead bodies turned up. Only they weren’t found near Fallen. They were discovered one state over. And Rafe made a mistake.” A deadly one. “He shifted in front of me.”
Just once. Rafe learned from his mistakes.
“He shifted and when I touched his mind, I saw the blood.” The man she’d been sleeping with—he was the killer she’d sought. “He ordered Sean and the others to attack humans. It was all his idea. His plan. His big game.”
That’s all it had been. Just a game. A hunting game.
“I think he planned to kill me. I know he did.” Those brown eyes had locked on her and a growl broke from his lips. “He charged at me, but—” She stopped, body tensing.
Lucas caught her chin and tipped her head back. “This where you make your other big confession? Where you tell me that you can’t just read the minds of wolves, but you can control us, too?”
“No need to confess, is there?” He’d had first-hand experience. “Not when you already know.”
“I sure as f**k do.” His jaw clenched. “If it hadn’t been for your little command in my head, Caleb would be dead.”
Because he’d gone right for the other wolf’s throat. “We needed to find out why.” Was Caleb even still alive? “He was so close to you, we needed—”
“You controlled me.” He cut across her words. “Controlled Piers.”
Yes.
“Dane?”
She nodded.
His hand fell away. “And what about my brother? He told me he didn’t remember launching at Hayden, just flying through the f**king window.”
She forced her stare to hold his. “I wanted him to take the coyote out.” Her fault. She hadn’t thought past the fear. “I didn’t mean . . . Hayden was coming at me, and I just wanted Jordan to help me.”
“To help you,” he repeated, the words a dark rumble of sound. “You traded my brother’s life for yours?”
“No, I—” Hell, hadn’t she? “I’m still not used to it,” she whispered. “I didn’t even know I could control wolves, not until I stopped Rafe from sinking his teeth into me.” Stop! Get the hell away! Her wild psychic shout. Rafe had frozen, his eyes wide and startled. Then he’d flown back across the room, like a puppet on a string, snarling and growling the whole time. But he hadn’t been able to attack her.
That had been the first time she’d used her power, but not the last. Once she’d realized what she could do, she’d started to practice. To try and control her newfound strength by working on the wolf shifters who crossed her path.
I didn’t practice hard enough.
“I never meant to hurt Jordan.” Her shoulders sagged. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“I wish I could believe you.” His drawl was mocking.
“But, babe, you’ve been lying to me since day one.”
Half-truths. White lies. Lies of omission. When had she become so good at deceit? Before or after she joined the FBI? Before. I lied for years, pretending to be normal. Lying was all I knew. “I’m a charmer. Rafe wants me dead. He wants you dead. All of that is true. I left the FBI shortly after Sean was killed. I’m not an agent anymore.”
“Then why are they covering your ass?”
She knew he was talking about the detective’s death. Damn Rafe. Sarah exhaled. “I suspect they’re covering because they want me back. My ex-boss made contact with me right before I got into town.” That was why she’d been late. Miller had held her up when he’d caught her at that gas station. Of course, he’d known exactly where to find her. He’d probably tracked the GPS on her phone.
But Miller hadn’t offered protection. Oh, no, because there wasn’t a human safe house strong enough to protect her, not from a whole wolf pack. But the FBI had wanted something . . .
“What does he want?” Lucas turned away.
“He wants the killings to stop. Rafe has plans—he’s attracting attention, a national manhunt is going to be launched soon if we don’t stop him. Everyone will know about The Werewolf. The kills will come faster, the coyotes he has in his pocket will help him. The dead will fill every airwave, every newspaper—”
He glanced back over his shoulder.
“He has plans,” she said again softly. “And it doesn’t matter what the FBI’s motives are, we have to stop him. If we don’t, he’ll just keep killing. He’ll come after me, after you, and he’ll keep killing.”
The floorboards creaked behind Marie. Those soft creaks were the only sounds that the wolf shifter made. Marie didn’t jump. She was far too old and experienced for that. Her fingers smoothed over her necklace. The delicate ruby ring hung on the thick chain, always resting close to her heart. “You came faster than I thought,” she softly said.
Silence.
She wouldn’t look at him. Her eyes were going hazy again, the sun blurring and she liked that. But if she looked at him—she’d see the evil too clearly. And that would not be the last sight she had.
“You saved the f**king bastard,” he snarled.
“Yes, Rafael, I did.” She’d helped him once. Her mistake. But he’d been young, grieving, his father lost to fangs and claws. Her mistake.
But he’d crossed her line then. Meant no harm.
It wasn’t until after she’d helped him, after she’d given the wolf within strength, that she’d seen the glimmer of darkness. Darkness could hide easily inside a child. She hadn’t possessed the will to kill him, not when he was so young.
What if she’d been wrong? Her vision had failed twice in her life.
Once with her daughter, Carline.
She began to rock slowly, back and forth. The cold whispered over her skin. “I know why you killed Maxime and Helene.” The poor souls that had come to her. Lost, forced back from the grave. Only dark magic could pull the souls back.
Should have been left at peace. Some people had a hard time letting go.
Carline. Hadn’t she been tempted to raise her baby? But her strength lay in another area.
Whereas her belle fille . . . Her grand-daughter Josette had surprised her. Saddened her.
“Good f**king deal for you.” More creaks filled the air as he stalked closer. “You couldn’t keep me out this time, could you? Guess I’m stronger than your red dust now.”