Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(20)

The sound of the front door was accompanied by the warm werewolf energy that I knew and loved. After running a brush through my hair, I tossed it over my shoulder and went to greet Shaz. I couldn't help but cross my fingers in the hope that he would announce his decision to stay home after all. Who was I kidding?

“Ready?” He asked when I ascended the stairs from my basement bedroom to the main floor. “I've been thinking about this all day.”

Shaz' jade colored eyes sparkled with an intensity that dashed my pitiful hope. He was revved up and ready to go alright. It should have made me proud, honored that he was both my mate and my Alpha. It just made me afraid.

“I am ready to go beat some werewolf ass,” I replied, gathering my things from the kitchen counter where I'd tossed them. “If it comes to that. Anyone asking around about Raoul can't be up to any good.”

“You never know. It may not be a bad thing. There are a million reasons why someone may be looking for him.” Shaz slipped his arms around me from behind. “Don't always jump to the worst conclusion.”

His action made me realize how tense I was. I tried to relax against him, but it was impossible. Even when he nipped lightly at the back of my neck, I was a twitching bundle of nerves.

“You don't want me to come with you,” he said, his lips brushing my sensitive skin as he spoke. “You think I can't tell? I know you, Lex. If anything, it should be me trying to keep you from harm not the other way around. Stop trying to control everything. You know that you can't, so why let it plague you?”

He was right. For years now I had felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders when it fact, that wasn't so. I was a natural-born control freak. That would likely never change.

“Of all of the possible reasons for someone to look for Raoul, someone who doesn't know he's dead, none of them can be good.” I closed my eyes and savored the sensations of his touch. “I can feel it, Shaz. This is bad news.”

“Well, he's dead. How bad can it be?”

“Those are famous last words if I ever heard any,” I laughed. Gently disentangling myself from his embrace, I turned to face him. “Let's get out of here before I change my mind. I've cleaned up enough of Raoul's messes for one lifetime. I shouldn't be surprised that he's still causing trouble from beyond the grave.”

* * * *

Though it had been tempting to ask Kale or Jez to come along, I knew that could be dangerous. Whatever these wolves wanted with Raoul, keeping it in the pack was likely to make everything go much smoother. Maybe they just wanted to kill him. I could relate to that. Hell, maybe in another time and place I would have been on their side. Once they found out he was long dead, they had no reason to stick around. Perhaps this wasn't really all that big a deal after all, although any newcomers to town did pose considerable risks. In the world of the supernatural, everybody is up to something.

We pulled up to the address that Veryl had obtained for us. It was a small, rundown motel on the outskirts of the city. Whoever these werewolves were, they were obviously trying to keep a low profile.

“Do you think they're here?” Shaz' question broke the silence that had fallen as we drove. I glanced over at him in the passenger seat. He looked ready and eager.

“I don't know. I can feel their energy but I'm not sure if it's lingering or if it means they are here right now.” With my hand on the door handle, my heart began to pound. I had a sick feeling that I didn't want to know what these wolves wanted with Raoul. “Only one way to find out.”

I met Shaz in front of the car, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I should hang back and let him take the lead or not. My instinct was to charge ahead and kick the door down.

Yet, I didn't want to steal his thunder or make him feel inferior. He decided for me by motioning for me to go first. He hung back behind me, scouring the night all around us.

Picking my way along the icy sidewalk, I was struck with the energy of an Alpha wolf. It hit me hard, like a punch in the gut. Alpha Weres rarely went uninvited into the territory of another. Though the big city wasn't our domain the way Stony Plain was, there was no other Alpha pair anywhere near here that could match us. Clearly, this guy didn't care who he offended.

“There is an Alpha wolf here,” I whispered. “Be ready for anything.”

Shaz nodded and sniffed the air. “I can smell him.”

Before I'd raised my hand to knock, the motel room door swung open. A tall, burly man with a few days worth of stubble glared out at us. Oh, joy. From the looks of his jacket, we'd caught him on his way out.

His energy was drawn to me like a magnet. It was strong and dark. He was our Alpha alright. I stopped suddenly, Shaz at my back.

“Coming to check out the new guy in town?” He sneered at us. “Well don't worry.

I'm not here to disrupt your pack or challenge for your territory. I'm just looking for a man.”

“Raoul Roberts,” I said, making careful eye contact. I didn't want to give him the impression that I was trying to instigate anything.

His eyes widened ever so slightly, almost imperceptible. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder and two others in the motel room came to flank him. A scar beneath his right eye caught my attention. Werewolves rarely scarred.

“What's it to you?” His growl was almost wordless, and I tensed. The other two seemed to be awaiting his command.