Page 32 of The Tracker's Rage
He wasn’t wrong about that, but it had just occurred to me that maybe pretendingnotto know gave us an advantage. “I think I already know who Blake works for.”
Jake frowned. “How?”
“While he was twisting in pain at the warehouse after I shot him with the wolfsbane, he called out for help, not knowing that I could hear him.”
“Shit! You’ve known all along, and you didn’t tell me? Why?”
“Let me ask you something,” I said, avoiding his question, wanting to get a last bit of information to give me the assurance I’d been lacking. “Had you seen Stephen’s wolf before that day Jenson attacked us at the restaurant?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“Well, had you?”
“No. there was never an occasion for it.” He paused and considered for a moment. “You’re not trying to tell me that...”
“Blake called out for Stephen’s help.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It can’t be.”
“I think he was there, Jake. He was the second wolf that attacked you. He wiped out the security footage and helped Blake escape.”
His eyes darted over the underbrush. “That wolf was russet-colored, not brown like Stephen was in the restaurant.”
“His coloring wouldn’t be something hard to disguise with magic.”
“But that would mean that... he kidnapped himself and put his own father in jail. He wouldn’t...” He trailed off, his clear eyes wandering about some more as he thought about this new information.
“I don’t want to believe it either,” I said, “but I know what I heard.”
“I’m sorry, but I need more proof than that. Stephen is my friend.”
“I’ve told Freeman about it. He says there are things about Stephen’s kidnapping that don’t add up. He’s looking into it, and I’m sure he’ll find something. Maybe that’ll be proof enough for you.”
“If this is true...” His upper lip twitched, then he shook his head. “I’ll look into it.”
I nodded, glad that he was willing to consider the possibility. “I’ll call Tom and tell him we got Blake. In case Stephen is really behind all of this, I think it’s best if he doesn’t know we suspect him.”
“Okay,” Jake agreed, though not without reluctance.
I turned and started moving away from Jake. He walked behind me. The terrain was rocky and uneven. For balance, I put my hands out, and he came up behind me and placed a hand on my waist, offering me extra support. His touch was electrifying as always. I stopped abruptly. He stopped too, the length of his torso pressed against my back. I didn’t move for a few beats, and simply enjoyed his warmth, his strong presence.
He leaned closer and inhaled. My eyelids fluttered.
Mine. He’s mine.
The possessive feeling was stronger than ever. No one else but me had a right to his touch, his kiss, his love. It didn’t matter that his grandfather had plans for him, that he had sold him to the highest bidder. Pact or no pact, his heart beat for me, and I could hear it now, speeding up to match mine.
Why should I step aside and allow anyone to take him from me? Why should I condemn him and myself to a life of misery apart from each other? Why should I make this easy for Walter and Allison and anyone else who wanted to steal him from me?
Slowly, very slowly, I turned to face him. His hands remained on my waist even as I swiveled. He stood a mere inch from me. I placed a hand on his chest, right over his heart.
“I can hear it,” I whispered, my eyes half-lidded. “Can you hear mine?”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
I inhaled deeply. “Have I told you that my sense of smell is even better now?”
“No, you haven’t.”
