Chapter Four

Chapter Three

S o how do you figure out if a guy is some form of supernatural without coming right out and asking him?

Because Micah Jenkins might be many things, but vanilla human wasn't one of them.

Humans smelled, well, human . Perspiration. Meat. Essential scents that no body wash could completely disguise. Micah had that, but there was something else. Something pungent. Spicy. Anders could distinguish the scent, but only enough to know he'd never smelled anything like it before.

He sat at Micah's table, mildly amused by the way Micah hoovered his burger. The guy barely stopped to breathe. He'd given only rudimentary answers to Anders' questions, but maybe he'd open up after the burger and wine.

Anders sipped his wine slowly—knowing that the difference between red and white went beyond color pretty much exhausted his interest in the stuff—but he'd put on an act until he knew which way the wind was blowing. Once Micah had slowed enough to chew and swallow between bites, Anders tried again with an easier question.

"So, how long have you owned this place?"

Micah gulped, his eyes wide, as if he was surprised to find Anders sitting across from him. "Uh, four years or thereabouts."

His answer had the ring of truth, but unless Micah was older than he looked, he'd purchased a vintage hunting resort as a teenager. The creases at the corner of his eyes spoke to sun rather than age, and his ridiculous pompadour fit the place's retro vibe. "You do a lot of hunting, then?"

"No, not really." Micah stuffed the last bite of burger in his mouth without divulging anything else.

Anders would have laughed, but the situation was too weird. Outside, while Micah was filling his plate, Anders had shared a glance with Potter. His Alpha agreed: Micah wasn't human.

But what was he, and what had Anders done to turn him into such a ball of anxiety?

Let's try a different track . "My cousin Rory stayed here once for a family retreat. Said it was great."

Micah met his gaze, his expression puzzled. "I'm glad he liked it, but the management company makes all the arrangements. I never know who's staying here."

"Unless you happen to be here."

Micah snatched a chip like Anders meant to steal it. "Not really. I pretty much try to fly under the radar. Your group's needs are… unique."

Now what was that supposed to mean? Anders took a bite of burger to buy himself some time to parry that thrust. He chewed and swallowed, making a mental note that the burger was overcooked, before coming up with an appropriate response. "We have a tradition that, well, let's just say it can be hard to explain to strangers."

"There's a clause against human sacrifice in the contract you signed." Micah said it with a straight face, but the spark of humor in his eyes made Anders laugh.

"No, not human sacrifice, although sometimes Willy…" He let his words trail away, wondering where Micah would go next.

"Guess it's going to be a full moon tomorrow night."

Despite the easygoing tone, those words made the hair on Anders' neck stand up. "Really?"

"It's the solstice." Micah grabbed another chip, his every movement sharp, precise. "The weather report says it's going to rain."

"Doesn't surprise me, this time of year." Anders stayed on alert. "You pay much attention to the phases of the moon?" Maybe he's some kind of shifter I haven't run across yet .

"Not really."

Micah turned his attention to his potato salad as if he either didn't realize or didn't care that his comments had flustered Anders. They needed a subject change, or Anders was going to blurt out something he'd regret. "I'm curious, Micah. Why does a young guy like you have a place way the hell out in the sticks? Doesn't your wife object when you disappear on her?"

Micah's flinch made Anders regret he'd asked the question, a feeling that built during the long pause before Micah answered.

"Now you're getting personal." Micah's smile took on a new layer of heat that set off sparks in Anders' belly.

"I don't have a wife," Micah continued. "Never wanted to be tied down. What about you? Is there a little woman back at home while you're off celebrating family traditions?"

He gave that last bit a fair amount of weight. Whether or not Micah meant it, Anders felt called out. Fine. Put up or shut up . "I don't like fish."

Micah blinked, and for the first time, a hint of pink colored his cheeks. "Is that right? Turns out, I'm an omnivore."

Really? Top or bottom? The sparks in Anders' belly blew up like a flash fire. "You're pretty enough to attract just about anybody."

Micah scooped up the last bit of potato salad and slid the fork into his mouth. His gaze never left Anders', who did his best not to squirm while Micah dragged the fork out from between his lips.

"I hope you're not offended when I say I think you're beautiful." Maybe if they fucked, Anders would be able to figure out who—or what—Micah really was.

Swallowing the potato salad, Micah deliberately set down his fork. He reached for Anders' hand and ran a fingertip along his knuckles. "Such strong hands. Sturdy fingers. I bet they'd feel sweet stretching my asshole."

That flash fire consumed Anders' whole body, and his cock stretched out hard down the thigh of his jeans. "I'd like to try."

Micah's eyelids grew heavy and he clasped Anders' index finger, stroking it as if it was a prick. "So you don't have any traditional family activities tonight?"

That touch of mockery made Anders grin. Even the reminder of his pack and the reason they were at the resort couldn't quench the flames. "Nope."

Micah's smile was all the invitation he needed. Anders rose up halfway, shoving the chair back, and reached out to pull him in for a kiss.

Just in time for Willy to bang on the door. "Anders, we need you. Now."

Anders spun around, all that desire flipping over into anger. He flung the door open and faced his brother. "What the actual fuck?"

"Jasmine's dad just rolled in and he's threatening to call the cops."

"For fuck's sake." There wasn't a pack member alive who hadn't warned Delilah about having a baby with a human, but his sister had always been more stubborn than was good for her. He glanced at Micah. "I gotta deal with this."

"Cops?" Micah's expression had gone flat, his eyes cold.

"Nah, I'll talk him down. He hates that his kid is… well, I can explain more later."

Anders took off, following Willy across the lawn. Cutting his losses, too, because he'd hoped to discover Micah's true identity before admitting his own.

True identity . Like we're damned comic book characters.

A familiar SUV was parked at the entrance to the circular drive, blocking anyone from going in or out. The sun had long since set, and while each cabin had an exterior sconce and a pair of street lights flanked the resort entrance, the central lawn was dark. Didn't matter. Werewolves see just fine in the dark.

Near the picnic table, Delilah and Jasmine faced a tall blond with an obvious attitude problem. Jeremy, Jasmine's father. Jeremy was objectively handsome, even with his cheeks bright red, and his snarl would have intimidated almost anyone—except a pack of werewolves. Hell, Delilah was as alpha as any one of them. She was more than able to stand up to him, though Willy, Simon, and Potter stood a little to one side, ready to jump in if Jeremy did anything stupid.

"Jasmine, come on," Jeremy snapped. "Let's leave these idiots to their imaginary games."

Jeremy had never truly believed Delilah when she called herself a werewolf, in part because she'd never been comfortable shifting in front of him. That disbelief had driven them apart, and now he used it as a weapon.

He hated that his child shared any part of Delilah's inheritance, whether she was a werewolf or delusional.

Anders didn't stop until he stood by Jasmine and put his arm around her shoulder. "How did you find us?" He'd made a point of keeping their destination a secret for as long as possible.

Jeremy's snarl deepened. "You think I'd let my kid go off with you nutjobs without tracking her?"

"Dad." Jasmine's wail gave the word a couple extra syllables. "You promised you wouldn't. I'm sorry you don't like it, but I need to see if I can do this."

A flash of pride took Anders by surprise. By the end of her small speech, Jasmine's slouching pout had been replaced by a confident young woman.

"Actually, you don't, not without my permission." Jeremy crossed his arms, his smile taking on an air of superiority. "I've already talked with Child Protective Services, and it's pretty clear that taking an unwilling, underage child on some survivalist hiking trip is against the law."

Jasmine shook off Anders' arm and advanced on her father. "I'm not unwilling and it's not a hike. It's who I am ."

Jeremy reached for her arm, but before he could touch her, Delilah grabbed his wrist. He tried to jerk out of her grasp. She straightened, not giving an inch. He tried again, his eyes widening and the color in his face rising even more when she didn't release him.

"Let. Me. Go." He jerked his arm with each word.

"No." Delilah's voice deepened, taking on the edge of a growl. "I'm done arguing with you. Now get out before you get hurt." She released her grip.

Jeremy crossed his arms once again, his chin raised. "Make me."

Smug bastard .

Delilah gave a brief, bitter chuckle. Simon and Willy came up on either side of her ex and grabbed his arms. They frog-marched him back to his SUV, Potter a few steps behind them. Jeremy thrashed, trying to fight them off, but they forced him up against the passenger door. He stilled when Potter began to speak.

"You are not welcome here." His words were a spell and a warning combined. "Leave this place, or my wolves will make you regret it."

"You're all fucking crazy," Jeremy screamed. "Jasmine, come on. We've got to get out of here."

Jasmine came up on Potter's side. "I'm not leaving," she said simply, her tone holding both conviction and sympathy. "I need to do this, Daddy."

Jeremy tried to shake free of Simon and Willy. "I'll be back with the cops, and they'll arrest all of you for child abuse."

Anders caught Willy's eye, and at his nod, his brothers marched Jeremy to the driver's side. "Get in"—Anders came close enough to land a punch if he needed to—"before we do something you'll regret."

Jeremy spat at him.

"Got him?" Anders asked Willy. His brothers shifted Jeremy enough for Anders to open the car door. Together, they shoved the human into his seat without paying a whole lot of attention to what the steering wheel banged and slammed the door behind him.

Jeremy pounded on the steering wheel, shouting threats and obscenities, but didn't try to get out. If he had, Anders was prepared to knock him unconscious . At least . He loved his niece, and she still loved her dad, which is the only reason they put up with the dude's bullshit at all.

After too long, Jeremy gave up and drove off. Delilah came over to Anders and, without saying a word, wiped the spittle off his face with a napkin. At the same time, Potter spoke to Jasmine, his words too quiet to hear, and Willy and Simon dragged the resort's rickety gate in place to block the entrance.

From his front porch, Micah watched them all.

Damn it . He'd need to face Micah sooner or later. Before he did, though, he put a hand on his sister's shoulder. "He won't be back."

Her eyes swam with tears but she didn't let them fall. "What the fuck did I ever see in that asshole?"

"I ask myself that on the regular."

That earned him a watery chuckle. "Jasmine needs to do this. She's ready."

"The only one who disagrees with that is Jeremy, and his opinion doesn't count."

She shut her eyes, her lips pressed tight like she was holding back a wail. Anders hugged her close, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "It'll be okay." He rubbed her back, pretending he couldn't tell she was sobbing against his chest. "I'll talk to our landlord over there. Maybe he's got security measures we don't know about."

"What, like a massive invisibility cloak?" Her voice was hoarse, muffled.

"Something like that. You never know until you ask."

She snorted—or maybe it was a chuckle—and shook her head. "Thank you." She eased out of his grasp and dragged a forearm across her face to dry her eyes.

"It's nothing. Now you and Jasmine should get ready for bed. She needs her rest."

"Yes, Mom."

"Mom won't be here till tomorrow." Brother and sister grinned at each other.

They were interrupted by Jasmine, who agreed with the plan to make it an early night. That gave Anders absolute proof that her father's appearance had rattled her. Mother and daughter went into their cabin, as did Potter.

Willy and Simon claimed seats at the picnic table and cracked open a couple beers. "Come on, bro." Willy raised a beer in his direction. "Take a load off."

"Nah, I'm going to go see a man about an invisibility cloak."

Willy rolled his eyes but Simon just looked confused.

"You explain it to him," Anders said to Willy, and he walked across the lawn toward Cabin Seven.