Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)(21)

“He's dead.” I spoke with forced casualness. He'd know I wasn't lying. Due to the chemical changes in the brain during a lie, werewolves could smell it. “He's been dead for almost seven months already.”

The lead wolf stared at me until I thought my knees would buckle under the weight of his gaze. His eyes moved to Shaz for a split second, then back to me. “You didn't kill him, did you little wolf?”

Ok, I may be short, but that kind of talk was going to put him at the top of my shit list. I couldn't help the vampire energy that rose up inside me. Blame my short temper.

“I only wish,” I replied with a smile.

He clearly felt the shift in my energy though. From the confusion that passed through his eyes, he was having a hard time deciphering why it was so different. He recovered quickly, grinning in a way that turned his face into an ugly mask. I did not like anything about this guy.

“Now that's just too bad. And here I'd been hoping that I could kill him myself, right alongside that good for nothing daughter of his.”

I hoped that Shaz' poker face was better than mine was. The strange wolf's words sent a shock through my system. “Daughter?” I was a terrible actress but I was praying that I sounded surprised.

He inclined his head and stared straight into my eyes, as if he were trying to break me. I stared right back, daring him to try. The two wolves behind him stared out at us eagerly, like they were spoiling for a fight.

“She's the reason I'm here. Once I kill the bitch, then we'll be on our way. Until then, we'll try not to be a bother.” He actually started to close the door in my face but stopped suddenly. “Unless of course, you know where we can find her.”

“What do you want with her?” Shaz spoke up, his tone hard and direct. I flinched uncontrollably in response to the menace I detected beneath it.

The unwelcome Alpha looked back and forth between us. “So you do know where I can find her. Start talking.”

“She's dead, too.” I spoke too quickly, regretting the words the moment they left my lips. “I killed her.”

“You lie.” The wolf sniffed at me, making a face as if he'd smelled something sour.

“And you feel … wrong somehow. What is that?”

I felt wrong? That was more insulting than a direct insult would have been. Maybe losing control wouldn't be so bad, this time. “I guess that's what happens when you have the power of a vampire. Now, why are you looking for Zoey Roberts?” I saw no point in lying. It was doubtful that they would believe me anyway.

A frown creased the brow of the large front man. The two waiting behind him appeared to be a little frightened. Good for them. They weren't as stupid as they looked.

“Vampire … right.” He laughed in disbelief, and I smiled. “Zoey Roberts is a murderer that has earned herself a death sentence. If you're protecting her, it would be wise of you to rethink that.”

“I don't even know where she is.” There, that was the cold hard truth. “And if I did, I wouldn't tell you without a little more information.”

The guy took an angry step towards me, glaring down into my face. Shaz tensed at my back, ready to take action at a moment's notice. I smiled up into the grizzly face of the trespassing Alpha, entirely unafraid. The vampire power growing within me wouldn't allow fear of any kind.

“The Roberts bitch is going to die, whether you help me or not. She's an unpredictable half-breed that Raoul should have killed at birth. Three of my pack members are dead because of her, including my mate. And, all signs point to her heading this way.” He took yet another step into my personal space; his words became more of a snarl as he continued. “I'm here for justice. And, I will have it. Stand in my way, and I won't hesitate to take you out, too.”

My heart sunk. I was bombarded with the meaning of everything he'd just said. Of course, she had to go and kill someone that meant something to the guy. It certainly put me in an awkward position. I had no reason to protect her, but I couldn't just hand her over to him, either. Fuck!

“You wanna back off a little, buddy? Nobody is here to cause trouble.” Shaz pulled me back a step, creating space between the glowering wolf and me. I was annoyed because I'd been enjoying the close proximity, hoping it would push me over the edge.

“It looks to me like you two want to cause trouble by harboring a murderer. In my pack, wolves are held accountable for their actions, regardless of who they are. She's going to pay the price. Unless, you want to tell me that I'm wrong about that.” The wolf's eyes flashed angrily, but they were on Shaz now, not me.

I jumped in before Shaz could respond. I'd seen him fight for Alpha of our pack, and I wasn't ready to watch him take this guy on. “Here's the thing. She's not in your pack anymore. And, something tells me that she wasn't allowed to leave freely, either. Why else would she resort to murder? There was only one person she wanted dead, and now he is.” My fingertips tingled as the power sought to break free of my restraint. “So, why don't you just call it a loss and go home?”

Yeah, it wasn't the brightest idea, but what else could I say? I wanted to avoid a physical confrontation for several reasons.

If I'd been a regular werewolf, I would have been dead. I could see it in his eyes as he stared hatefully into me. He knew there was something more to me than wolf alone. It was the only thing holding him back.