SizzlingInsanity (3 page)

“He wanted us to go on a pack run,” Jonty said.

“Ohh,” she sighed, relief making her light-headed. “When are
you going?”

“We’re not,” Owen barked. “You weren’t invited.”

Shelby shook her head. “Guys, this is the first time he’s
approached you in twenty years, other than when Uncle Colin died. This is what
you want.”

“Like hell it is.” Owen stood up, his face like a
thundercloud. “What we want is for
all
of us to be accepted.”

“We all know that’s not going to happen. Jack hates
half-breeds, he’s never going to accept me. He’s getting old though. He
probably regrets how he’s treated you guys. You should go.”

Sawyer shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Not happening, squirt. I don’t care about his reasons. We’re a family and we
stick together. Got it?”

Shelby wasn’t able to meet his gaze, the guilt at everything
they’d given up eating at her. Plus, there was the fact that she was keeping
things from them.

For their own good. She wasn’t about to pull them into her
problems.

The memory of gray, lust-filled eyes staring down at her
flitted through her mind. She shuddered as a wash of heat ran over her.

“Shelby? What is it?” Sawyer placed a hand over her forehead
as he used to when she was a child. He was only twelve years older than her own
twenty-two, but he’d raised her since she was nine after Uncle Colin died.

“Just tired.”

“Go take a shower and climb into bed. Jonty will rustle up
some dinner and we’ll bring you up some.”

“Thanks, Saw.”

Giving him a quick hug and with a wave at the others, Shelby
moved up the stairs and into her room.

After a long, hot shower, she felt like a new woman. She
stepped into her bedroom to find a tray of food on her bedside table. She dug
into the simple meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup.

A howl drifted out of the woods. The pack run. They ran
together once a month. Shelby peered out the window, even though she knew she
wouldn’t be able to see anything. Longing to join them welled up in her. She
often went running with her cousins, but she wondered what it would be like to
run with a whole pack.

Well, it wasn’t like she was ever going to find out. The
pack would never accept her.

With a groan she flopped back on the bed. Today had been a
disaster. She was going to have to steer clear of Garrison’s estate for a while
until they stopped looking for her.

She’d hidden her tracks like Owen had taught her, so she was
certain they couldn’t find her here. She’d lie low, concentrate on her studies,
and then when things had died down, she’d be back.

No way was she giving up. Sam Garrison was a dead man.

“Another threatening letter?” Connor asked as Cade stomped
into their meeting room and threw an envelope on the table. They’d converted
one of the senator’s four living areas into a meeting room. This place was
huge. Give Connor a small cottage in the woods, his brother by his side, and a
soft, cuddly woman in their bed and he’d be happy.

“You look disappointed,” Connor said.

Cade grunted. “Just feel like knocking some heads together.
That too much to ask?”

Connor knew how he felt. Other than a few threats and some
protests, there had been very little going on. Yesterday was the most
excitement they’d since they arrived. Connor was still dying to get his hands
on the little wolf, although he’d managed to calm his temper.

They knew where she was and his team was watching her around
the clock. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“You talk to Sam yet?” Cade asked.

Connor shook his head. “He’s on a conference call.” He
glanced at his watch. “He should be free any minute.”

“Who’s keeping watch over her?” Cade asked as he sat back on
the sofa. Connor opened the letter and read it. It was no different than any of
the other threatening letters the senator had received. Damn, these people were
not original.

“Gage is watching the house,” he answered. “Trick’s gone to
talk a few acquaintances he has in the Sunnyland pack, see if he can find out
who she is.”

Connor stood. “Sam should be free by now. I’ll go talk to
him. You get some sleep.” Cade had been on watch for the last twelve hours.

Cade shook his head. “I’ll come with you. Won’t be able to
sleep anyway.” Cade only needed a few hours of sleep a night.

They made their way to Sam’s study. Connor knocked on the
door, opening it at Sam’s invitation.

Senator Sam Garrison was a handsome man. His blond hair had
grown lighter with age and the lines on his face only added to his appeal. His
brown eyes warmed as he glanced over at them. Standing at his side was his
assistant, Daniel, a middle-aged man with a soft paunch and a cold demeanor.
Connor couldn’t warm to the man and despite the fact that Daniel had always
been civil, Connor got the distinct impression that he didn’t like werewolves.

“Connor, Cade, come in. Sit down,” Sam said, gesturing
forward with his hand. “Thanks, Daniel. I think that’s everything.”

The other man nodded and left.

Connor took a seat on the other side of the desk, while Cade
prowled around the room, checking that the windows were secure. He brought out
his bug detector. Sam just grinned, he was used to Cade’s paranoia by now.

“All clean,” Cade announced, coming over to sit next to
Connor.

“Good,” Sam said with a smile.

Their brother, Cooper, had asked them to take the job and
Connor was glad they had. Connor held a lot of respect for Sam. He took a tough
stance on the things he believed in and he didn’t back down. Despite the
threats to him, he’d stuck to his viewpoint on the Werewolf Registration Bill
and he was key to gaining others’ votes. People respected Sam. He was a good
man.

Plus Cade liked him. Cade liked very few people. That Sam
was one of them spoke to the character and integrity of the man.

“How are things going?” Sam asked.

“Just a few threatening letters, nothing that we haven’t had
before,” Connor answered.

“Connor caught a woman spying on the house,” Cade said.

“Really?” Sam said in amazement. “Who is she? Where is she?”

“We’re in the process of finding out,” Connor said smoothly,
before his brother could spill all the humiliating details. “We’re watching her
closely. We thought it best to gather information before bringing her in.”

There, that didn’t sound so bad.

“She got away from Connor,” Cade interjected. “Knocked him
out. Did a good job of covering her tracks, but we found her.”

Connor groaned with frustration.

“She got away from you? Really?” Sam looked at him in
surprise before smiling. “I’d like to meet this woman.”

“I was taken by surprise, sir. It won’t happen again.”

Sam waved that away. “The two of you are excellent at your
job. I have no complaints. I’m glad to have your team here. So any ideas who this
woman is? Do you think she’s a member of HAW?”

“Unlikely. She’s a werewolf,” Cade replied.

Sam’s eyes widened. “Really? Why would a werewolf be
watching the house?”

“We were hoping you might know,” Connor answered him. “Do
you happen to know anyone from the Sunnyland pack?”

Sam’s face hardened and he stood, walking over to look out
the window. Cade tensed.

“Sir, stay away from the windows.”

“They’re bullet-proof, Cade. You saw to that when you
arrived, remember? Cost me a small fortune,” Sam replied, his voice tense.

“You need to be in the habit of keeping away from windows so
you don’t forget when you’re somewhere else. Plus, there are things that will
break bullet-proof glass.”

Sam turned and moved away from the window. “Like what? A
rocket launcher?”

“Yes,” Cade answered seriously, not realizing the senator
was joking.

“I doubt someone is going to launch a rocket at the house,
Cade,” Sam told him, his voice tinged with exasperation and some amusement.

Cade shrugged. “They might. I’ve run through all the
scenarios and that was one of them.”

“What scenarios?” Sam asked.

Connor groaned silently.

“Your assassination,” Cade replied.

“That’s a worst-case scenario, of course, sir. Cade is just
being thorough.”

“Oh, I have no doubt in my mind about Cade’s thoroughness.
Tell me, how many scenarios did you come up with, Cade?”

“Five hundred and forty-seven.”

“And just how did you come up with five hundred and
forty-seven ways to kill me?” Sam asked incredulously.

Christ, why did I let Cade come to this meeting?
Connor
thought.
Hell, why do I let him talk to other people at all?

“Oh, I thought of all the ways I might assassinate you,”
Cade replied matter-of-factly. “I’ve eliminated most of them from being a
possibility.”

“But not a rocket launcher.” Sam sounded almost faint.

“Well, the probability is low, but there is always a
chance.”

Did he almost sound cheerful? Connor shook his head at his
brother who sent him back an innocent look.

“Umm, so you know of the Sunnyland pack?” Connor queried,
desperate to get the conversation back on track.

Sam turned his attention to him. “Yes, they’re one of the
closest packs to here. Their Alpha doesn’t like humans, though, so I wouldn’t
say I’ve had a lot to do with them.”

“So you have no idea why a wolf from this pack would be
spying on you?” Connor asked.

Sam sighed and ran his hand over his hair. “No.”

“You’re lying,” Cade stated.

Connor glared at her brother.
Great, way to alienate the
boss, bro.

Sam crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t need to know
everything about me, Cade.”

“We need to know anything that might affect your safety,”
Connor told him, trying to smooth things over. “If you hold back on us then you
put us all in danger.”

A weary look crossed his face as the senator moved back to
his seat. “All right. I did know someone from the Sunnyland pack. A long time
ago. She and I, well, we had a relationship. But it ended over twenty-two years
ago. She couldn’t leave her pack to be with me and I couldn’t move there to be
with her. Her pack wouldn’t have allowed a human to live with them.

“We used to meet up when we could. I had a cabin built in
the woods and we would meet there. Then one day, out of the blue, she called me
and told me it was over, that our relationship could go nowhere so why were we
kidding ourselves. I tried to change her mind. I tried to talk to her, but her
pack closed rank around her.”

“You loved her,” Connor said.

“I did. I’d have given up everything for her. But she
obviously didn’t feel the same way. After a while, I gave up. I never heard from
her again. A few years later I moved to Washington to help further my career. I
thought I’d sell this place, but I just couldn’t do it. Six months ago, I came
back.”

Cade frowned. “How could you just give up? If she was your
mate then you should have just ordered her back to you.”

Sam grinned slightly. “Ahh, Cade, I hope I’m around when you
meet your mate and try to tell her what to do. That will be a sight to see.”

Cade sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I will
protect my mate and see to her care. In turn, she will acknowledge who is
dominant in our relationship and she will do as I say.”

“I’m going to spend all my time keeping her from killing
him,” Connor said dryly.

Some of the sadness in Sam’s eyes disappeared. “So the two
of you intend to mate the same woman?”

“Do you really think any woman would take him on his own?”
Connor replied, nodding his head at Cade. “Sir, is there any reason this woman
or her family might spy on you? Do they hold a grudge against you about
anything?”

“No, not that I can think of. I’m sure Annabeth is mated by
now. Plus, we’re talking about more than twenty years ago, why would they be
interested in me now?”

A good question Connor had no answer to. But could it really
be a coincidence that the two women came from the same pack?

“The cabin where the two of you met, is it still there?” he
asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know how that would help you.”

Connor shrugged. “Can’t hurt to have a look.”

Sam gave them the directions and they left the study.

“So what do you think?” Connor asked Cade as they moved back
into the meeting room.

“I don’t believe in coincidences. This woman has to have
something to do with Annabeth.”

“Yeah, but what?” Connor replied. “They’re not the same
woman; she was way too young to be Annabeth.”

“We need to find Annabeth and question her.”

“Sam won’t be happy,” Connor stated.

“So we won’t tell him.”

Connor snorted. “Are we going to gag you?”

“I can keep quiet.”

“That will be the day. Seriously, Cade, five hundred and
forty-seven ways to kill him? Do you really think that’s what he wanted to
hear?”

“He asked,” Cade said with surprise.

Connor knew it was impossible trying to explain to Cade that
he didn’t always have to be entirely truthful. Cade took most things literally
and his social skills were pitiful.

“Cade, you can’t expect that our mate is going to obey your
every word.”

His brother’s face grew serious. “You and I both know how
dangerous the world can be. If we ever find our mate, I’m not going to risk her
safety.”

“You can’t lock her away from the world.”

“Watch me.”

Connor swiped his hand through the air. “Enough. We’re
probably never going to find her so it doesn’t matter. Let’s get on with the
matter at hand. We need to find Annabeth and get her to talk to us. I’m going
to check in with Gabe, see if there’s been much movement at the house,” Connor
said, reaching for his phone.

Before he could make the call, the door to the meeting room
opened and Trick stepped in. He nodded to them both before sitting.

“What did you find out?” Cade asked, resting his arms on the
large, oak table they sat around.

“Her name’s Shelby Myers. She’s a half-breed, which is why
she lives on the outskirts of pack land. Her three cousins live with her,
Jonty, Owen, and Sawyer. They all work at Riggers in town.”

“A half-breed?” Connor asked.

“Yeah. Apparently the pack Alpha, Jack, hates half-breeds
and the only reason she’s even allowed to live there is because her uncle was
good friends with Jack. The uncle died awhile back, since then it’s been just
Shelby and her cousins.”

“Damn hard way to live,” Connor commented. “Wonder what any
of this has to do with the senator?”

Trick shook his head. “Couldn’t figure that one out. Very
few people would even talk to me about Shelby. They’re a pretty suspicious
lot.”

“So I suppose if we sent you back to ask about an Annabeth
Miller they wouldn’t be too forthcoming.” Connor said with a sigh.

“No, I think they’d close rank on me if I went back. But
everyone seemed to like Shelby’s cousins. They want them to move back into the
pack.”

“Without Shelby, effectively leaving her alone with no
pack,” Connor growled.
Bastards,
he thought, feeling protective over the
girl. Hell, he’d had a change of mind. Yesterday he’d been furious at her. Now,
he felt almost sorry for her. “All because she’s a half-breed?”

“Seems that way.”

Shit, he hated this old-school crap. When were Alphas going
to realize that integrating with the humans was key to their survival? If they
continued to keep themselves segregated, then fear and suspicion would only
grow.

“We need to bring her in,” Connor said. “It’s the only way
we’ll get answers.”

Connor nodded. He brought up Gage’s number on his cell.

“Gage here.”

“Hey, any movement at the house?”

“Not much. Seems to be four of them living inside. The
target and three males. The males have been doing a few chores around the house
but they’re all inside now.”

Damn, he’d hoped to get her on her own.

“Call me when you see the males leave. We’re going in to get
her.”

“Will do.”

* * * * *

“Come in,” Shelby called out at the knock on her door. She
turned away from her desk as Sawyer walked into her room.

“Sorry to interrupt your studying,” he said.

“It’s okay. It’s the start of semester break next week. I’m
just getting ahead in some of my reading.”

He nodded and sat on her small bed, grimacing as it groaned.
“Christ, it’s a wonder this bed hasn’t fallen apart, it’s as old as the hills.”