Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Marcus seemed less tense than the others, but perhaps that was because Roni was perched on his lap, rubbing his chest. The only person speaking was Harley, who was snuggled into Jesse’s side, sifting her fingers through his hair. But the margay was talking so quietly to him that Casey couldn’t make out the words.
The males weren’t so caught up in their own anger that they weren’t aware of their mates’ fury, though. They were touching the females just as affectionately—stroking their hair, giving their hands a comforting squeeze, or pressing a kiss to their temple.
“You’re going to wear a hole in that carpet,” Kathy told Nick as she brought in a tray piled with sandwiches. Instead of setting it on the coffee table and leaving people to help themselves, she circled the room, stuffing sandwiches into people’s hands and insisting that they eat.
Everyone offered Casey faint smiles, nods, or quiet hellos as she and Eli sat on one of the sofas. If any held her to blame, none showed it.
“Have you and Derren finished writing your list of potential suspects?” Eli asked Nick.
The Alpha gave a curt nod. “It’s not a short one. We wanted to be thorough, so we didn’t just note the people we’ve warred with over the years such as the jackals, black bears, and Miranda’s pack. I made enemies in juvie. I made some when I challenged and drove out the Alpha of our old pack. I made more each time I backed one of our allies in a battle.”
He’d also made enemies when he helped crush the illegal fighting ring that Eli was forced to fight in, but Eli didn’t mention that. He hadn’t yet told Casey about it, and he wasn’t looking forward to doing so. “Is your gut pointing you in any particular direction?”
Grinding his teeth, Nick shook his head. “Given that the people we most recently had problems with were the black bears, I might have leaned toward them if we hadn’t wiped out the whole clan and its allies. Claudia’s pack could be seeking retribution for her father’s death,” he added, referring to a male who’d partnered with the bear clan to fuck over Bracken, “though I highly doubt the new Alpha would do so—he’d never liked her father, from what he told me.”
“We also have to consider that shifters are renowned for biding their time,” said Derren. “That’s why we included Nick’s enemies from juvie. Someone might have wanted to wait until he had something to lose before they pounced. Those bullets could have been meant for Shaya, Willow, and Cassidy.”
“Shouldn’t we also be considering the possibility that the anti-shifter extremists could be behind this?” asked Gwen. “It wouldn’t be the first time they’d hired shifters to do their dirty work for them.”
“And we know just how far the sick fuckers are willing to go,” added Bracken, balling up his hands. Casey wondered if he was recalling what had happened to his family. Pretty much all shifters had heard the story of how his family died and what he did to avenge them.
“It’s possible that—” Nick frowned and cocked his head. “I hear an engine.”
“It might be some of the Phoenix wolves,” said Harley. “I’ll be surprised if Shaya hasn’t already called Taryn.”
But if the male who came stalking through the house and into the living room without first knocking on the front door was in fact a Phoenix wolf, it was one who Casey hadn’t met before. He was a good-looking guy, she noted absently. He was also thoroughly pissed. Even as he appeared coldly composed, there was a manic energy about him.
Lips clamped shut, the male glanced around the room and then looked at Nick. “Where’s Cassidy?” It was a demand, and it clearly rubbed Nick the wrong way.
Bristling, Nick narrowed his eyes. “I’m guessing you know what happened. How do you know?”
“I called him,” said Shaya, trudging into the room. She gave the visitor a weak smile. “Hi, Cain.”
Ally huffed at him. “I don’t even get a hello?”
Cain only inclined his head at her, though his expression did soften slightly.
Confused, Casey raised a questioning brow at Eli, who said quietly into her ear, “It’s Ally’s foster brother.”
“Where’s Cassidy?” Cain asked Shaya.
It was Nick who answered. “She’s in her room, resting.”
Cain’s gaze sliced back to Nick. “I need to see her.”
The Alpha male stiffened from head to toe, and the tension in the air strangely quadrupled. “Why?” The question was a whip.
“You know why,” said Cain, meeting his gaze head-on, not in the least bit intimidated by the vibes of menace radiating from the Alpha.
“And how long have you known?” Nick asked him.
A muscle in Cain’s cheek ticked. “A while.”
Nick cursed and raked a hand through his hair.
“You’re thinking she deserves better than me, and you’re right,” said Cain. “But it changes nothing. Cassidy was meant for me. She’s mine.”