Page 16 of Anders
Always meaning our whole twenty-nine years?Conall rolled his eyes.
Nick snorted but also nodded.Those have certainly been among the urban legends I’ve heard all my life.
Maybe not so much legends after all?Malcolm murmured.
Anders’s wolf snarled at the thought of anyone experimenting on his mate.He forced the reaction down, reminding himself that they had no proof of anything yet.
Wait,Sarah said suddenly.Can you zoom in on her neck?
Anders manipulated the footage, enhancing the image as Etta turned to reach into a cabinet.
There, just visible at the nape of her neck, was a small mark.It could have been a scar or a tattoo, but something about its placement made Anders’s hackles rise.
I’ve seen something like that before,Sarah said slowly.When Vincent was alpha.There was a wolf who came to check on the security systems.He had a similar mark.I only saw it once, when he bent down to fix some wiring.
The room went silent.Anders’s fingers flew across his phone, capturing still images of the mark for analysis.
So she could be working with whoever that was?Malcolm asked, his voice tight.
Or she could be their victim,Larissa countered.If she really doesn’t know what she is…
Either way, she’s a security risk,Anders said, his tone harsher than he intended.He couldn’t let his wolf’s reaction to her cloud his judgment.We need to increase surveillance, track her movements, monitor all communications.
Agreed,Malcolm said.But carefully.If she is a victim, we don’t want to spook her.And if she’s not…
He let the implications hang in the air.
I’ll coordinate with the twins on patrol schedules,Anders said, mapping coverage patterns in his head.We’ll need eyes on her twenty-four seven.
I can help with that,Una offered.The newspaper office is right next to the community center.I can keep watch during my shifts there.
Anders nodded, noting how the others were already falling into their new council roles, offering resources and support.
We should also look deeper into that rental company,Nick suggested.SwiftStay Properties, right?Something about that setup feels wrong.
Already on it,Anders assured him, though he didn’t mention how he’d spent hours last night digging through property records instead of sleeping.The scent memory of Etta had made rest impossible, anyway.
What about direct contact?Sarah asked.She’ll expect the people we mentioned to give interviews eventually.
We maintain minimal contact,Anders said firmly.Enough to avoid suspicion but not enough to—He broke off, remembering how close he’d come to kissing Etta that afternoon.Not enough to compromise surveillance,he finished.
If anyone noticed his hesitation, they didn’t mention it.But he caught Larissa giving him a speculative look.
We should wrap this up,Malcolm said, noticing Javier falling asleep in Sarah’s lap.Anders, keep us updated on any changes.Everyone else, maintain normal routines but stay alert.
As the others gathered their things to leave, Anders remained focused on his phone, analyzing different angles of the mark on Etta’s neck.He barely noticed when the twins left, though some part of him automatically cataloged their departure.
Anders.Larissa’s voice made him look up.Everyone else had gone except Malcolm, who stood with his mate in the kitchen doorway.When was the last time you actually slept?
I’m fine,he said automatically.
That’s not what she asked,Malcolm pointed out.
Anders suppressed a sigh.I’ll sleep when we know what we’re dealing with.
You’re no good to the pack exhausted,Larissa said.Or to her.
Anders stiffened.I don’t know what you mean.
