'This is the thanks I get for coming here to warn you?'
'We both know you're up to something.'
'I'm up to nothing more than trying to get promises made to me fulfilled.'
'I never made any promises to you, Betise, and I very much doubt Rene did, either.' He thrust her backwards, sending her sprawling into the soft snow. She landed in an ungainly heap, flashing bare thighs and a thatch of golden hair. His gut turned. 'Take your lies, and your much-used flesh elsewhere from now on. We don't want you at the mansion anymore.'
He slammed the door shut on the rush of her fury and turned around. Neva was staring at him, her arms crossed and her expression a mix of relief and worry. 'That might not have been the wisest move, particularly if she is somehow involved with the killings.'
'Right now, I don't particularly care.' He had a suspicion time was running out, and the killer had just upped the ante. He took the stairs two at a time and walked into the bedroom, crossing to the still-open window he'd climbed through earlier. He closed it, then grabbed his clothes and began dressing.
Neva stopped in the doorway. 'You never mentioned how Rene is.'
'That's because I don't really know.'
'Then he's not dead?'
'No.'
'You're going up there now?'
'Yes.' His voice was slightly clipped, and the growing tide of her annoyance washed around him. He ignored it and pulled on his boots. Right now, he didn't have time to waste. He had to get back to the mansion to help his father. 'Are you getting dressed, or are you going like that?'
'I thought you'd class this as pack business and not suitable for outsiders.'
She was no longer an outsider, even though she'd yet to acknowledge him or her feelings. Even if she never did. 'If Betise is somehow involved in these killings, I'd be a fool to leave you here alone, especially after I've just tossed her out of the house.'
'I can take care of myself.'
'I'm sure your sister thought the same thing.' He saw the glimmer of hurt in her green eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. 'Just get dressed. I haven't the time to argue right now.'
'Fine. Don't argue. But I'm not going.'
'Listen--'
'No,' she cut in. 'You listen. If Betise is up to something, it's important we keep an eye on her.'
'If she is involved, she's probably just raised the stakes. I don't want to risk you getting hurt.'
She crossed her arms. 'You have no say over what I do or don't risk. You and I are sharing a moon dance, nothing more.'
He met her gaze. Saw her uncertainty and her determination. Realized then that she was still seeing him as the man he had been rather than the man he now was. And that was something he could not combat--
not with words, and not in such a short amount of time. 'Are you sure of that?'
She hesitated. 'Yes.'
'Well, I'm not.'
Her eyes widened a little. 'What do you mean?'
'What I said.' He picked his coat up off the floor and walked towards her. She didn't back away, but the uncertainty in her eyes grew. As did the scent of her arousal.
He stopped so close her peaked nipples brushed his chest with every breath she took. Heat sparked the air between them, fierce enough to draw sweat from his skin and hers. The desire to take her, to bury himself in the warmth of her willing flesh and let the rest of the world take care of itself, burned fiercely.
But duty and his pack had to take priority. For now.
'I don't like the thought of you going after Betise alone.'
'I'll keep my distance.'
'Make sure you do.' He wrapped an arm around her small waist and crushed her against him. Kissed her hungrily, fiercely, claiming her mouth as completely as he'd claim her body later, when they had more time. The sound of a car starting forced him to pull away. 'You'd better hurry and get dressed,' he said.
'Or she'll slip away. Keep in contact with me.'
She nodded and spun away, her hips swaying enticingly as she walked into the bathroom. He took a deep breath and forced his feet towards the stairs. Light swept across the windows as Betise backed her car out of the driveway. He headed for the back door, ensuring it was locked before he stepped into the night's snow-filled darkness.
Then he shifted shape and ran for the mansion.
Neva padded through the white-cloaked darkness, following the red gleam of taillights. She'd half expected Betise to head for the mansion despite Duncan's warning, but it was clear she was headed home. Which was a little surprising, especially given the heat of the moon. An addict did whatever they needed to do to ensure the supply of their drug, didn't they? So why wasn't Betise out hunting a mate?
She pricked her ears as the sound of another engine rolled across the night. It came from behind her, but was headed her way. She leapt off the road and made for the trees, weaving her way through the trunks as the gleam of headlights flickered across the night. Ahead, Betise turned into the driveway of her house and stopped in front of the garage. Neva paused, her tongue lolling as she battled to catch her breath. If there was one thing she was going to do when this was all over, it was get into shape.
Betise climbed out of her car and glanced back toward the road. The roar of the engine drew closer, then lights swept across the strand of trees where Neva hid. She didn't move, hoping the shadows and the surrounding pines would hide her golden coat.
The lights swept past, then a truck pulled into the driveway and stopped behind Betise's car. A chill ran through Neva. A blue truck. Just like the one that had hit her.
Maybe her accident wasn't an accident after all. Iyona climbed out and spoke to her daughter. Though the night was hushed, Neva was too far away to hear what they were saying. And she didn't dare move, just in case either woman spotted her.
After a fierce, somewhat animated conversation, Betise and her mother headed inside. Lights shone in the kitchen, and a few seconds later, gleamed from the windows at the far end of the house.
Neva retreated through the trees and back onto the road, following the tire tracks down the driveway so she didn't leave any paw prints. When she reached the truck's tailgate, she hesitated, flicking her ears forward. There was a lot of movement inside the house. Hurried movement. Frowning, she crawled under the truck and out the other side. There she shifted shape, and in human form followed the footprints up the stairs. When she reached the window, she stopped, flattening her back against the wall before peering carefully in. Through the gap in the curtains she could see Iyona throwing things into cardboard boxes. Neva raised her eyebrows. Were they leaving? And if so, why? She watched a moment longer, then ducked past the window and jumped off the veranda. She walked the length of the house, keeping to the shadows so her footprints wouldn't be so noticeable. The house was on a slope, so by the time she reached the room Betise was in, the window was higher than her head, and she couldn't see in.
But if the sound of things being thrown around was anything to go by, then Betise was either having an almighty temper tantrum or, like Iyona, she was packing. Neva leaned back against the wall and waited.
After a few minutes, Iyona appeared, marching toward the truck with a large box. Neva shifted shape again and hunkered down, the snow cold against her belly. Iyona dumped the box in the truck then went back inside. Several more minutes passed, then Betise came out, backpacks slung over either shoulder and bags in both hands. The lights went off, then Iyona reappeared, carrying another box. 'You got everything?' Iyona's voice was sharp with anger and perhaps a little contempt.
'Yep. Rang the rangers, too, just to let them know we'll be away for a few days.' Betise's smirk was easy to see, even from where Neva lay. 'They said they'd come by and check the house for us.'
Iyona snorted. 'That's kindly of them.'
'I thought so.'
Iyona dumped the box in the back of the truck then paused, glancing toward her daughter. 'You sure you
