PROLOGUE

I t was just past three when a large man with coal-black hair and an authoritative attitude walked into the Lonepine Police Office. He introduced himself as Ivan Rand, a Detective with the State Police in Michigan out of Traverse City.

He reached out his hand to Terry, who took it in a loose yet firm grip. The sudden realization that the man sent to town to take custody of Jordan Randall was himself a wolf shifter had Terry raising his brows in shock and surprise.

"You know what I am," Ivan spoke candidly.

"Yes," Terry responded. "He doesn't know?" Terry jerked his head towards the cell at the back of the room that currently held ADA Jordan Randall of Traverse City, Michigan.

"No." It was just a single word spoken tightly, with his stare speaking volumes about his relationship with Randall.

Terry indicated a chair in front of his desk for him to sit down. "Have a bit of paperwork for you. When you're finished, I will have one of the officers take you to see the Mayor. I'm sure he would be happy to put you up for the night." Terry was confident that Ivan understood Pack dynamics, and the request to meet the Mayor and stay at the Pack House was not just a simple request. As an outside wolf in Lonepine territory, he would have to present himself to the Alpha. Ivan nodded his understanding and sat down.

"How long will you be staying?" Terry asked as he shuffled through his desk and came up with the transfer paperwork.

Ivan leaned back in his seat and regarded the officer intently, weighing and measuring him and his possible place in the pack before answering his question. "I will probably be here no more than two days, whatever it takes to complete the transfer and get a flight out with the prisoner." Ivan then glanced around the room speculatively. "I didn't realize there was a pack in this area." He spoke softly so only Terry could hear him.

Terry nodded. "We've been in this area for about hundred and fifty years. Our Alpha is Lance Hendricks. He recently mated Ronan James." With that said, Ivan instantly smiled, and a soft satisfied chuckle followed.

"So that cocky bastard back there tried to come between an Alpha and his mate?" He laughed when Terry returned his smile and nodded affirmatively. "Serves him right. We've been investigating him for several months now, following several complaints of abuse of power. We weren't able to get the goods on him, but thanks to you all, we now have him dead to rights. He won't be bothering anyone again for a long time."

Once Ivan completed all the necessary paperwork, he stood and looked around the room once again as if he were looking for something specific. Something had caught his interest. Ivan walked over to one of the adjacent desks. He took a deep breath and ran his fingertips over the surface as if caressing the wood.

"Whose desk is this?" He asked offhandedly, or so it seemed.

"Jamie McCormick. He's one of the officers here, but he was called away this morning on a case regarding cattle theft up north. You probably won't meet him if you're only staying a couple of days. Those calls usually take a while to sort out." Terry informed.

"I look forward to meeting him." And that was an understatement.