Chapter Three

Otsana

I reached to press the button on the remote control that operated the garage door but decided against doing so. The full moon was high overhead causing my skin to prickle and setting every nerve ending on edge. My anxiety was high, and I needed a run. Often, after a long stressful day, I needed down time and a run through the state park nearby to bring me back into balance, so I was able to get a few hours' sleep. Contrary to myth and belief, the wolf in me didn't need a full moon to come out to play.

The pack I was part of—Les Vengeurs, originating in France, and was led by my brother—Aodhan. He was Alpha now my father had stepped back due to severe arthritis. Our pack had originated in the eleventh century when a curse had been placed on one of our female ancestors after she refused to acquiesce to the advances of a warlock. In a fit of rage, he had cast a spell, turning her into a wolf/human hybrid.

Over the years, some had chosen to mate and reproduce while some, not wanting to subject others to their same fate, had remained single and in rare cases even remained celibate.

Although our pack wasn't the largest in the vicinity of Langer Falls, we were by far the strongest. Our power had come about several centuries earlier when hybrids had mated with other hybrids instead of pure humans which weakened their bloodlines.

My brother had married another hybrid as was expected, a lovely young woman called Calliope. She was a cop he'd met in the course of his job. She had moved to Langer Falls from the Midwest years earlier. Calliope was the product of two hybrids making her bloodlines desirable for mating, but it had been Aodhan who had captured her heart. Any children birthed by the pair would have strong wolf dominant blood in their veins and ensure the pack remained strong into the future.

I sat in the car, the motor still running while I was daydreaming…or maybe more aptly nightdreaming since darkness had fallen, about the family I loved with all my heart. The hierarchy of the pack were all young, most in their late twenties or early thirties, with me being one of the oldest at age thirty-six. Only Peader who had been sweet on me for years, but for whom I felt no attraction was older at forty-three. He was Beta to my brother like his father before him had been for my father.

Over the past couple of years the older pack members had moved on to take life a little easier when their ageing joints had started to protest. Some had moved to warmer climates, others, like my parents had stayed in the area, ready and willing to offer advice when needed. Many young teenagers, on learning who they were, had set off in search of a mate and in the case of males, to start their own packs. We all managed to stay in touch via technology, and if any encountered trouble, our pack didn't hesitate to rush to their aid. The unusual youth of our pack was also a reason for our strength.

Apart from Peader, the active senior males and the men my brother depended on the most were Faolan, Kaden, Owen, Sawyer, and Atlas. Active senior females who supported the men without question were me as Alpha, Calliope as Beta, Ireland, Undine, Zarina, Xanthia, and Quintessa. The rest of the pack, dominated by males because that's how the chips fell, numbered one hundred and ninety-three in total and ranged in age from two-years-old to mid-fifties. It was a cohesive pack, and squabbles were rare.

Taking the phone from my purse, I hit speed dial for Zarina, my closest friend.

"Otsana, calling for a run?"

"Are you busy working?"

"No, I just finished my shift at the hospital and was about to call you. My anxiety is off the charts, and I've had a shit evening which is why I was so late finishing. We were battling to save the life of a young boy who ran out in front of a car. The hospital is fucking crazy; we always have more accidents when there is a full moon. I swear to fuck being wolves in this insane world is the least of our problems."

I laughed. Zarina had always been one for theatrical dramatics.

"Vincents Peak?" she asked.

"My thinking exactly. We can run up to the falls and take a swim in the waterfall pool. It's warm out so the cooling water will be welcome after some exercise."

"I'll meet you in the parking lot in ten minutes."

I disconnected the call, shifted the car into reverse, and started toward the state park, fifteen minutes away from my home.

***

I pulled in alongside Zarina's car and switched off the engine and lights. Slivers of moonlight threaded their way through the tall trees overhanging the car spaces, partially hiding our vehicles.

Zarina sat on the hood of her small car, feet hooked into the bumper bar, and she looked up from the cell phone in her hand as I locked the car, shoved the remote into a pocket of my pants, and started toward her. She slid to the ground, and we hugged in greeting.

"It feels like I haven't seen you in months," my best friend complained.

"It's been two days and I told you we were busy closing out a case." I laughed and shook my head. "You really are a drama queen."

"So everyone keeps telling me. Maybe that's why I can't keep a mate."

I patted her shoulder. "One day you'll find a mate who will overlook your faults. If Aodhan can find someone to put up with him, there's hope for us yet."

Zarina nodded. "I'm not in a hurry. Come on, let's go."

We both stripped naked and stashed everything in the trunk of Zarina's car. After locking the vehicle which set the alarm, she put the remote into a small magnetic box and attached it beneath the wheel well out of sight.

Moving into the cover of the trees, we both proceeded to shift to wolves. Standing on my rear legs, and with Zarina by my side, we turned our heads skyward and howled at the moon. The orb shone brightly, sending tentacles of light across the clear night sky.

I spun around and set off running in the direction of the falls, yelping when Zarina pounced onto my back, sending me spread-eagled on the leaf covered, rocky ground. The air was knocked from my lungs for only a moment and after sucking in a deep breath, I pushed Zarina off, sprang to all fours, and ran like the wind, being careful not to trip on raised roots or the fallen branches of trees.

I heard Zarina closing in and ducked and weaved through the trees to avoid her catching me again. My actions were all in vain and I groaned when she sent me flying, belly-first, back onto the ground. Twigs and stones pressed into my skin, and I knew there'd be bruises that would last for a few days when I shifted back to human.

This time Zarina was ready for me to throw her off and she pinned me down by sitting on my back with her legs on each side of my body. I felt a sharp sting on my ear when she bit down and reacted by bucking my hips sharply, causing us to roll over and over each other down an embankment. Zarina played with me like a ragdoll, I was no match for her strength.

The woman was a good four inches taller than my five feet nine and she was built like a wrestler, thanks to her obsession with working out at the hospital gym. My strength was no match for hers so I played along, biting, and nipping wherever I could reach.

When Zarina had finally had enough, she leaped to her feet and ran ahead with me in hot pursuit. The night was warm and heat caused the skin beneath my fur to pool with sweat. I looked forward to a swim. As we neared the falls, the thundering sound of water cascading over rocks and crashing into the small pool below became louder and louder.

Zarina leaped into the water, and I didn't hesitate to join her. The cool water on my overheated body had me sighing with pleasure. I wondered, not for the first time, if wolves sighed. It felt and sounded like one to me. Zarina and I dog paddled back and forth across the body of water, diving beneath the falling water which splashed around us.

We wrestled, pushing each other under until breathless, and exhausted, climbed back onto the bank and shook the water free that had been trapped in our fur.

I gave a short, sharp bark, and Zarina, knowing what it meant, fell in beside me as we made our way back to the parking lot at an easy pace.

The anxiety in me was gone and I felt at peace with myself once again. When we reached Zarina's car, we howled at the moon before shifting back to our human form. She grabbed the box from the wheel well and removed the remote. Lights flashed and chirps filled the air as the car unlocked. We each removed a towel from the trunk and dried off before dressing.

"Feeling better?" Zarina asked.

"Much…You?"

"I'm good, so it's home for me, a glass of wine and a long soak in a hot bath."

"Half your luck. A bath would put me to sleep, and I have a new case file to study before morning. A wine will definitely be involved."

Zarina laughed before we hugged, climbed into our cars and set off to our homes. With my mind now cleared, I'd be able to absorb the details of the case I needed to study.

***

As usual, I was the first to arrive in the squad room at a little after 7.30 am. I hit the switches, flooding the space with light, dumped the file, my purse, and keys on my desk, and crossed to the coffee station. After preparing the two coffee makers, I started them brewing. While they gurgled away, I went back to my desk, sat and switched on the computer. It purred as it came to life and while waiting, I flipped open the file I'd spent hours reading the previous night. A page of handwritten notes was on the top and ready for when my team arrived.

I heard laughing and the door to the squad room opened. Turning in my chair I watched as Hunter and Ophelia approached.

"Morning, Boss," they sang in unison before continuing straight over to the coffee machines where they poured themselves a mug.

"Not sure if the coffee will be ready, I haven't been in long." I didn't drink a lot of coffee because as a wolf it wasn't something I should indulge in, but thanks to my father, I'd developed a taste for the potent brew from a very young age, and I did like one first thing in a morning.

"They have switched over to warm so they're both ready," Hunter informed.

"I'll have one while you're there."

Minutes later a mug of steaming hot coffee was placed in front of me. Ophelia and Hunter set their mugs on my desk, grabbed their files, pulled chairs closer, and sat.

I nodded toward the yellow folders. "What do you think?"

"This has been one fucked up case from the onset," Hunter grumbled. "Almost fifteen years and the fuckwits at security haven't got a clue who's involved."

"Any suspect?" I questioned, keen to establish Hunter's direction of thought.

Hunter exchanged a glance with Ophelia. "No doubt…We both reckon it's Groves."

"We?"

I'd suspected they had started seeing each other, but neither had said anything and I was waiting for them to come to me with the revelation. It was amazing they hadn't started something years earlier. The pair had been dancing around each other, and their feelings that would have been obvious to a blind man, because Hunter had been married. The marriage had been a disaster from the start, and even though destined to fail, Ophelia had confided to me that she would not be the cause.

Another glance was exchanged, and Ophelia shrugged. "We've started seeing each other now Hunter's divorce is final. We went over the file together last night."

"I don't give a fuck if you are seeing each other outside of work, I've been expecting it for some time, but don't let your relationship affect our cases."

"Won't happen, Boss," Hunter assured which was good enough for me. I trusted every one of my team with my life and never questioned their word.

The rest of the team arrived in quick succession, and I grinned when they each wished me a good morning and made straight for the coffee before joining me at my desk. Once everyone was settled, I got straight down to business.

"You all took a look at the file?"

Each of them gave me their opinion in turn on who they suspected. Groves was the overwhelming favorite with only Ishaan disagreeing with his colleagues. He was convinced it was someone else but wasn't sure who at that point. I agreed with him.

"Why don't you think it could be Groves, Otsana?" Elouise asked.

"Bennett and Groves have been as close as brothers for more than two decades. They have done everything together. The initial investigators made a point of saying they both brought the information and their suspicions of insider trading to them on every occasion it occurred."

"Groves could be cooperating to throw suspicion off his tail," Hunter argued.

"Possibly, but I honestly don't believe it's either of the men. My instincts tell me it's someone who has been overlooked because they would be the last one we would think could be guilty."

"Who'll be our plant?" Ishaan asked.

"Calliope. I'll speak with her this afternoon. Bennett's personal assistant—Betty Lowe has resigned. She and her husband have decided to retire and move to Florida. Taking her position will be the ideal cover for Calli."

My sister-in-law was a beat cop over in Rotoma, north of the city, and suited this case perfectly.

"She's done some undercover for one of the drug squads…Not Aodhan's team because it would be a conflict of interest, and she also has a black belt in jiu jitsu. I spoke with the captain about her last evening, and he checked with Chief Ramsey who had no objection despite our being related. Calli is calm under pressure and extremely observant thanks to her work on the streets."

I didn't mention my sister-in-law had extremely acute wolf instincts.

After further discussion, the team split off to hit the streets and speak with their informants, and I called Worlds Apart to request a meeting with Xavier Bennett. After a short wait, I assumed while the request went up the food chain, it was granted for 2 pm. While I waited for the time to pass, I made notes on points I wanted to discuss.