Chapter 2: Scent of Secrets
Luna's blood chilled. "How many members of the original families are left in Silver Ridge?"
Marcus paused. "Two dozen people at most, scattered across the seven families. Why?"
"Because if I'm right about this motive for this serial killer, we're not dealing with spur-of-the-moment homicides."
Luna's phone buzzed. She glanced down and her world went round and round.
Another one dies. Five families left. Welcome home, Luna.
"We're witnessing systematic destruction of the bloodlines of origin," she clarified, her voice steady amidst the cold chill of her blood. "And I think our killer just advanced the timeline."
Marcus's gaze tracked to the phone in hers. "What?"
"We need to return to town. Now." Luna was already moving toward the car, her heightened hearing able to detect the sound of approaching sirens. "Because there's been another murder."
Racing through mountain night, Luna realized getting home had been exactly what some one wanted her to do.
The third victim was twenty-five-year-old Tommy Chen, found in the back of his family's restaurant with his throat slit open. Luna stood over the body, fighting not to gag—not from the blood, but from the overwhelming smell of pack scent marking on territory.
"Jesus," Marcus growled, opening his notebook. "This is getting bad."
Luna crouched beside Tommy's body, her advanced senses recording things not to be found in the official report. The killer's scent was stronger here, more assertive. And under blood and death, she felt something that made her wolf stand up on its hind legs with recognition.
Alpha musk. Whoever werewolf was doing this wasn't any werewolf—they were pack rank.
Dr. Elena Marsh entered from the sidewalk, medical examiner's bag over her arm. "Agent Blackwood? I heard there was another one."
Luna looked up at the woman who had given birth to half of Silver Ridge and buried the other half when their time had been at hand. She was also the only human in the world who knew of the pack.
"Dr. Marsh. Another victim of the same pattern."
Elena's eyes flicked across Luna's for a moment, and Luna caught the small shiver of her head. Not here. Not in front of this human detective.
"Agent Blackwood," Elena murmured as she began her examination, "we should talk. Tonight. About what you're doing here."
Luna got another text: The Chen boy was just the beginning. Tick tock, little wolf.
"I have to go," Luna said harshly.
Marcus grasped her arm as she walked away. "Where are you going?"
The contact sent shivers down Luna's whole nervous system. His hand was warm, rough, and the scent of him was potent.
"Follow-up interviews," she replied.
"Three people are dead, Agent Blackwood. I am not letting you run around alone."
Luna caught sight of a familiar figure standing across the street, watching them. Kane Silverton, their current Alpha, and imposing even among mortals. His eyes locked with hers, and she felt the old pull of pack hierarchy trying to draw her back into submission.
"Actually," she said to Marcus, her eyes still on Kane, "that might be a good idea."
They drove to Luna's hotel in Marcus's police vehicle, the air thick with the unasked questions.
"You're a local," he finally said.
"How'd you know?"
"The way you drive around town. Like you know where all the streets lead before you even reach the signs."
"I moved away when I was seventeen."
"Why?"
Luna didn't respond for a long time. "Family problems."
"Must have been some problems to stay away that long."
Marcus drove into the hotel parking area. "Luna—may I call you Luna?"
"Yes."
"I've been a cop for eight years. I've watched a lot of weird things. But these murders." He glanced at her. "There's something you're not telling me."
Luna met his gaze. "There's a lot I'm not telling you."
"Why?"
"Because some things are dangerous."
"Dangerous than a serial murderer killing founding families?"
Before Luna could reply, her hotel room window shattered outward in a shower of glass. They both fell to the floor as something large and dark leapt from the second-story window onto the parking lot.
Luna's hyper-aware senses detected things Marcus would not—a landing almost inhuman in its beauty, yellow eyes light-replicating like some animal's, a lurker-anger and territorial-provocation scent.
The figure reformed back into human form. Tommy Reeves, nineteen, just turned werewolf and with no pack training. His clothes were in shreds, his hands still halfway transferred from claws.
"Where is she?" he roared, his voice distorted.
Marcus was reaching for his gun when Luna came out from behind the automobile.
"I'm right here, Tommy."
The young werewolf spun on her, eyes wild with new-wolf madness. "You don't belong anymore!"
"Says who?"
"Says the Alpha! Says all those who have stayed true while you ran to play human!"
Marcus was trying to get an unobstructed shot, but Luna was between him and Tommy. "Agent Blackwood, fall back!"
"Tommy," Luna said calmly, "you have to shift back. Now."
"I don't take instructions from pack betrayers!"
Tommy lunged at her with inhuman speed. Luna moved faster, catching his wrists and using his momentum to throw him against the hotel wall. The impact cracked the brick.
"Holy shit," Marcus breathed.
Tommy struggled to his feet, more human now but still dangerous. "He's coming for you, Luna. The Alpha wants you back, and he doesn't care if he has to drag you kicking and screaming."
"Tell Kane I'll be there when I'm ready."
"You will be here tonight, or more lives will be lost."
Tommy dashed off into the night, his legs pumping him at a speed any man could not keep.
Marcus lowered his gun, very slowly, and looked at Luna. "What on earth just happened?"
Luna looked at her shaking hands. "Something I was trying not to have happen."
"Luna, what speed were you traveling at? How did you throw a grown man fifteen feet?"
She turned to face him, realizing this was the point of no return. "Marcus, if I tell you the truth, there's no going back. Your life will never be the same."
"My life changed the moment I noticed the claw marks."
Luna looked at his face—honest, determined, already half in love with her though she knew almost nothing about who she truly was.
"Let's go to my room. What's left of it."