10. Chapter 10

Chapter ten

“ M itchell took off after your mother. What happened in there?” Lucas hopped up off the bench as soon as I stepped into the hallway. “And what the hell happened to your face?”

“My mother happened.” I spared a glance at the closed conference room doors behind me. “I just want to get out of here.”

“Your place or mine?” Lucas draped his arm around my shoulders and led me away from the council meeting room.

“Your parents’ place isn’t a great idea.” I wrapped my arm around his waist and leaned into the emotional support he offered.

“That’s why I said my place .” Lucas chuckled.

“Are you still renting the old Henderson place?” I asked, as memories of our first and last time together in the cabin replayed in my mind.

“Yeah, come on.” He steered us toward the staircase. “I’ve got coffee, and all the fixings for a real breakfast. You can tell me everything over my famous scrambled eggs.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is infamous.” I teased, with a poke of my finger in his ribs. “All the fixings? Does that include bacon?”

“You burn the eggs one time and they never let you live it down.” Lucas replied with a sigh, feigning offense. “And I said all the fixings. Obviously, that includes bacon.”

“Your mother had to throw out the pan and you nearly caught the kitchen on fire.” I shook my head. “Maybe bacon isn’t such a good idea after all.”

“Bacon is always a good idea.” Lucas corrected with a hearty laugh. “Come on.”

We made our way down the stairs, reaching the lobby and a crowd of faces I didn’t recognize. A year was a long time to be out of the game. Perhaps too long. The pack lands were teeming with wolves and the numbers would increase with the announcement of the challenge. More people meant more potential suspects and a hell of a lot more questions.

All eyes seemed fixed on us as we made our way past the concierge.

“You ever get the feeling you’re being watched?” I tried to make light of the situation, but being the center of unwanted attention made me more than a little uncomfortable. “I’m starting to think your place is a bad idea.”

“Security and council aids.” Lucas veered us back toward the front desk and the hall that led to my room. “As much as it pains me to admit it, I think you’re right. I’ll drop you off at your room and circle back outside. You can let me in through the slider. We’ll get room service.”

“I could barely afford the room and you want room service?” I untangled myself from his half embrace. “Someone is bound to see you sneaking into my room. You should go home. I’ll call you.”

“Lina …” Lucas saw my serious expression and ended his protest before it began. “Alright, alright. I can see there’s no point in arguing with you.”

“Especially since you won’t win.” I offered a half-hearted smile and pulled the cell phone out of my bag, firing off a quick text before slipping it into my back pocket.

“I guess I’ll talk to you later.” Lucas fished his keys and phone out of his jacket pocket as he turned toward the main entrance of the lodge. “Oh, by the way, the Alliance is officially picking up the tab for your room for the duration of the challenge.”

“So, what I’m hearing you say is, order an extra side of bacon?” I backed up a few steps. “I’ll call you later.”

“Miss Redford.” Amy, the young woman from the day before, was back behind the concierge desk. “Excuse me, Miss Redford?”

Lucas took that as his cue to exit. The people milling about in the lobby went back to minding their own business once he walked out the door.

“If it’s about the room,” I started in lieu of a greeting.

“No, no. Not at all.” Amy waved off my concerns. “As Mr. Williams said, that’s been settled with the council. These arrived for you a few minutes ago.”

She confirmed my suspicion that Lucas and I were the center of attention and our conversation less than private as she handed me a long, rectangular white box. It was accompanied by a letter-sized envelope with my nickname handwritten across the middle and Dr. Bennett’s office address stamped in the top left corner.

“Thanks.” I took the package which smelled of roses, lilies, and something else.

Something almost rotten.

From the way Amy’s nose wrinkled once the box was in my possession, I knew she smelled it too. I slipped the envelope under the gold ribbon tied around the box and made my way back to my room. After fumbling with the awkward package to retrieve my key card from the depths of my bag, I set it on the dresser and went about ordering one of everything from the breakfast menu with an extra side of bacon.

With my stomach out of the way, I turned my attention to the floral delivery and the letter. In a matter of seconds, it became obvious they both weren’t from Dr. Bennett. The sickly scent of rotting flowers trapped beneath the closed lid had almost been enough to cover the rogue’s scent. Once I opened it, there was no denying who had sent them. I chucked the envelope aside and examined the decayed flowers more closely.

There was something unusual about the ribbon wrapped around the long-stemmed bouquet. It wasn’t ribbon at all, but a strip torn from my satin panties that had been stolen during my run with Lucas. I rushed to the slider, tossed the box outside and proceeded to open the window.

Appetite gone, I merely picked at the Denver omelet on one of the many plates when my phone danced across the nightstand.

I can smell the bacon from here. Where are your manners? I can’t believe you started without me.

It was the only way to be sure I actually got some of the food the council is paying for. I’ve seen you eat. Did anyone follow you?

Okay, now my feelings are really hurt. I thought you had more faith in me than that.

Lucas.

The coast is clear.

I pushed the plates covering the bed aside and went to open the slider.

“News travels fast. Flowers from a challenger already?” Lucas made a beeline for the remains of my omelet.

“I wasn’t finished with that.” I picked a throw pillow up off the floor and tossed it at his head.

He caught the pillow with one hand and grabbed the fork with the other, stuffing a huge bite into his mouth.

“Don’t worry, you only have one competitor for my affections. For now.” I rubbed my arms to stave off the chill settling into my bones. “The flowers are from my secret admirer.”

“What?” Lucas dropped the biscuit in his hand. “When were they delivered?”

“I assume during the meeting. They were waiting for me at the front desk.” Goosebumps spread over my skin, but I refused to close the windows, wrapping myself in the flannel I pilfered from Lucas instead.

“I need to call my father, let him know what happened and get the trackers back out there.” Lucas pulled his phone from his pants pocket. “You should have called me as soon as you realized who they were from. How are you so calm right now?”

“Humpty Dumpty.” I said, as if that explained everything.

“The nursery rhyme?” Lucas shook his head. “I’m not following you.”

“If I fall apart now, I’ll never put the pieces back together again. I can’t afford to break down, because it’s exactly what he wants.” I raked my fingers through my hair. “And you’re not supposed to be here, remember? I’ll call your dad. I want every tracker out there chasing his ass, believe me. But I want to tell you about the meeting first. I have an idea and I want your opinion.”

“You have until breakfast is over and then we bring in my dad.” Lucas pointed to the array of plates on my bed.

“You’re giving me ultimatums now?” I asked, one hand planted on my hip.

“When there’s a crazed wolf out there stalking you? Yeah, I am.” Lucas walked over and pulled me into a hug tight enough to expel the air from my lungs. “I lost you once, Lina. I can’t do it again. I’m fighting every instinct I have right now. You know that, right?”

“Better than anyone.” I stepped out of the embrace before he cracked a rib.

“His scent trail is getting weaker.” Lucas scratched at the scruff filling in along his jawline. “The longer we wait, the less likely we are to track him.”

“He didn’t make the delivery himself. I would have scented him in the lobby.”

I started to go over the events of the council meeting, but couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. With the enhanced werewolf hearing taken into account during construction, all the rooms at the lodge were built for privacy, but that made it private, not secure. I performed a cursory scan of the room and tried to shake the idea my room could have been bugged. The rogue couldn’t have known which one I’d check into. The front desk wouldn’t give that information out.

Would they?

I picked up the lamp, the hotel phone, and TV remote, checking for bugs or miniature cameras despite having no clue what I was actually looking for. I doubted they looked anything like what I’d seen on the few detective shows I managed to watch when I could afford a motel with free cable or Wi-Fi.

“What are you doing?” Lucas’ brows knit together as he tried to puzzle out my unusual behavior. “The doctor gave you and your room a clean bill of health. He checked while you were asleep.”

“Oh.” I let out a sigh of relief that I wasn’t paranoid.

“You’re not being paranoid when you know there’s someone out to get you.” Lucas jabbed a sausage link with the fork. “Where were we?”

“You were about to power through my breakfast sampler, and I was about to tell you about the meeting.” I snatched a piece of rye toast out of his hand before he gobbled it down. “And you want to hear about the announcement. Trust me.”

Lucas and I made quick work of the overpriced breakfast while I gave him the rundown on the council meeting. The plates were polished off and stacked on the metal room service cart by the time I reached the part where my mother had slapped the shit out of me in front of the entire council.

My hand instinctively went to my cheek. I still felt the sting from her blow even though the scratch from her ring had already healed.

“I don’t know whether to be terrified or impressed that you played your mother so masterfully.” Lucas brushed toast crumbs from the bed before stacking half the pillows behind him and stretching out on the queen-sized bed. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Neither did I.” I curled up beside him, stealing the warmth of his body heat and relishing in the comfort it provided. “You should have seen her face when the guy from the Northwestern territory, Fulton, made a motion to vote on opening the challenge up to anyone. I thought she was going to drop dead right there on the spot.”

“Words have a way of coming back to bite people in the ass.” Lucas rolled to his side, propped up on one elbow and stroked my hair. “I just wish it was about something else.”

“Your father’s right, Lucas. The challenge is our best shot at catching the person who killed my father.” I placed my hand on his chest over his heart, taking comfort in the rock steady beat.

“And your stalker.” He trailed his fingers along my jaw. “He’s my number one priority right now.”

“You’re operating under the assumption it’s two different people.” I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together.

“I’m not assuming anything. Two wolves or one, we’re going to find them.” His voice dropped an octave as a growl built in the back of his throat.

“I know.” I placed a soft kiss on the top of his hand. “But we’re going to need help.”

“You want to ask Gabe. That’s your idea.” Lucas didn’t even ask. He stated it as fact. “He’s a lone wolf for a reason.”

“Lucas—”

“I like the guy too, Lina. This isn’t about that.” He pressed his forehead to mine and inhaled my scent. “I just don’t want you to be disappointed. So don’t go getting your hopes up.”

“I’m not. But a little positive thinking can go a long way.” Lucas groaned as I rolled off the bed and went in search of my phone which was hidden under one of the linen napkins from room service. “I should probably call your dad, now.”

“Caroline.” Benjamin’s voice boomed through the tiny speaker in the cell phone. “Is everything alright?”

“That’s a loaded question.” I replied with a half-hearted chuckle.

“Tell me what happened.” Benjamin waited while I filled him in on my special delivery before responding. “And it’s safe to assume …”

“Yes.” I said, in answer to his unfinished question.

I wasn’t sure who was with him. The less people who knew Lucas was with me the better. The damned challenge added complications to an already complicated situation. Nothing about solving my father’s murder was straight forward.

“I’m supposed to be meeting Dr. Bennett at his office. Meet me there. Bring the box.” Benjamin gave his instructions and disconnected the call.

“Dr. Bennett.” I tossed the phone on the bed and went for the letter which sat unopened on the dresser. “I almost forgot.”

I tore open the envelope and read the brief note out loud.

Lina,

There’s something I need to show you. Come to my office after the council meeting. Tell no one. Apart from Lucas – obviously.

“Your friend and ally, Dr. Bennett.” I folded the letter and tucked it back in the envelope. “He asked your father to meet him too.”

“Then we better get over there.” Lucas hopped off the bed. “I’ll grab the box.”

“No, I’ll carry it.” I grabbed my bag and stuffed my phone and the letter from Dr. Bennett inside before going to the patio and retrieving the box of wilted flowers.

The rogue seemed to enjoy the theatrics. He wanted a show and I intended to give him one.