Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

“She’s not stable,” Hannah says.

“Leave that part to me. All of you are going to protect our land, the humans in the area, and capture the werewolf.”

They go silent, likely at the inherent danger of tracking the cursed wolf—if it bites any of them, they’ll become a werewolf too.

“Together with the betas, you’re going to do whatever needs to be done to bring her back alive.”

“Her?” Avril asks.

I smirk, realizing now I’m repeating what Melchior said. Did he know the gender of the cursed wolf or was it just a slip? Thinking back, the entire meeting was strange. Ivan buying me more time for one. Melchior’s insistence that we eliminate the MMW wasn’t out of character, but his comments about time were. I’m going to follow my hunch that the fae king knows more than he’s letting on.

Time for me to drop some truth. “Yes, it’s a female wolf and Amanda is helping her.”

There are a few gasps.

I sit down at the long table with a plate of pancakes. “Everyone gather around. We’re going to discuss everything we know.”

Almost all my wolves seem pleased with the idea of teamwork. Since Kenna’s arrival, I’ve been less hands on than usual.

“The police found the body early this morning,” Baker says.

“It’s still early this morning,” Trigg comments, stumbling in with an enormous yawn. “What did I miss?”

Avril fills him in.

“So what happened?” asks a male subordinate seated next to Harper.

“Without getting into the gore, they discovered a young man dead by the river. But a killer fish or some kind of oozing toxic byproduct of a government conspiracy floating around in the shallows didn’t cause the death.” Baker clears his throat. “The police seem to think it’s the same as the others.”

“Maybe it’s a ghost,” Trigg blurts around a lazy laugh.

Only a few others join in. These tragedies hit hard.

“Everyone needs to be vigilant. Patrol in groups of five. Expand the usual perimeter and if you find anything suspicious, report back to me. Betas, go door to door, visiting the locals, warning them about unusual activity that doesn’t have to do with us, but that we’re increasing precautions.”

“But it does have to do with us,” Avril says. “Your new girlfriend brought this upon the pack.”

I get up from the table and my chair skids across the floor. “No, Avril, this was coming all along. It was a matter of time.”

I leave the kitchen and go to the garage. Discovering a truck is missing, I inhale, catching Kenna’s scent. A little growl escapes. If she’s not here, she might not be safe.

I get in the Jeep and peel out of the driveway, heading for town. I follow Kenna’s trail to Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice Bakery. Figures.

Even though I devoured the pancakes, the fried cinnamon scent of doughnuts layered with baked blueberries and yeasty dough teases my taste buds.

Shortly after we first met, my wolf connected with Kenna, and it turns out, there are a few things I like about her too. Not like, no, love. But love comes with a cost. Our love is forbidden. While I want to be with her and protect her, I also have to look after my pack and the rest of the world.

I park the Jeep and wait for her to come out of the bakery. I’m starting to understand Melchior’s urgency. Tapping my fingers on the wheel, I don’t have all day to wait for her to buy a doughnut.

Still in the Jeep and using my wolf vision, I peer inside the bakery. She’s not there. That’s odd. I get out to check the bookstore. It’s empty except for a black and white cat lounging in a patch of sunlight and the clerk who’s reading behind the counter. I try the pottery gallery, but Kenna isn’t there either. Two women walking a golden retriever break up the other side of the street.

I pass the alley that leads behind the bakery. Dread drops into my stomach as the first time I encountered Kenna in Intherness comes to mind. Voices filter to my ears.

“The homemade sandwich bread rivals the queen’s.” A female giggles.

“I’d argue for the chocolate chip cookies,” Kenna says.

I let out my breath. Having gotten to know her, it comes as no surprise that she’s chatting about baked goods when the magical world is at risk. She has no idea the magnitude of what we face or who she is.

“You’d have to take that up with the king. He has a highly refined cookie palate.”

They both laugh.

“So how are things with you and the hottie?” the female voice asks.

I involuntarily raise my eyebrows but don’t want to hear the rest because I’m pretty sure the hottie is me.

I silently return to the front of the bakery and then casually go in. The bells chime and a young woman with ginger hair and around Kenna’s age appears from the back. She wears a flour stained-apron. Her eyes widen when she sees me. Instead of asking what she can get for me, she calls, “Kenna, I think your order is up.”

Kenna’s long, reddish hair sits on top of her head in a messy bun. She too wears a flour-stained apron. Her brow creases with surprise, and I want to kiss away the wrinkles it forms. I want to kiss away all this madness. But I have a job to do.

“Should I have you arrested for auto theft?” I mean it as a joke, but my tone comes out flat.

She strides out from behind the counter and doesn’t stop when she’s inches from me, backing me toward the coffee station and out of earshot. I get the sense she’s not pleased by my comment. “It’s not stealing if the keys are in it.