A Shifter's Curse, Raven Steele [the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT] 📗

“Well, you’ve definitely impressed Silas. He’s particularly smitten with you. But you make me wary. Your eagerness to please has me suspicious."

"It shouldn't, Sir. I’m loyal to the pack."

"You’re ambitious, are you not?"

I turned back to him, searching his eyes. He was worried about it, my ambition. I glanced at Luke, wondering if they’d been talking about me. If Dominic knew how fast and strong I was, he would assume I would want to be Alpha. I couldn't have him thinking along those lines of reasoning. “The height of my ambition is to quit struggling for a living and to be bound to a strong pack. Under your leadership, I think I can have those things."

He nodded, accepting my answer. "What can I do for you tonight?"

"I am looking for Ryder. Have you seen him recently?" I resisted the urge to claw at my flesh. Ryder was in trouble; I just knew it. This feeling, the crawling on my skin as if someone had dumped a jar of ants all over my body, had to be our blood connection. And it was only growing stronger. I needed to find Ryder, and fast.

Dominic rubbed the stubble on his face. "I wondered where he ran off to. Is his car out front?"

“Yeah, but I've searched inside and all the outbuildings. I can't find him anywhere."

Dominic tightened his lips. "I sent him on an errand earlier this afternoon. That was the last time I saw him but if his car is here…"

“I’ll check the inside of his vehicle then. Maybe there's something there."

"If not, check Sinsual. He goes there sometimes, as I'm sure you know. How is work going, anyway? Is Eddie treating you good? Because if he isn't, we could break his legs." He chuckled, but I couldn't tell if he was serious or not.

"Eddie’s great, actually.” I left before any more words could be spoken. I had to find Ryder.

I circled the house, a growing sickness in my stomach now. Whatever Ryder had done for Dominic, he had been alone. So much could've happened. Especially since our visit to the Greybacks. They could want revenge for his role in what happened.

Ryder's car was parked further away from Fire Ridge than where he usually parked. I should've noticed this sooner. I opened the front door and looked inside using the light from my cell phone. Nothing looked out of place. It was a newer vehicle, which was meticulously clean, surprising for a shifter. We tended to be a sloppy species. Chalk that up to the wolf inside of us.

I was about to pull away when I spotted a folded up piece of paper on the passenger seat. I leaned over the center console and grabbed it. I slid behind the steering wheel and unfolded it.

"Ryder is a Greyback. He is OURS.”

I lowered the note in my lap, my mind scrambling.

They took him.

They took him and brought his car all the way back here, and no one fucking noticed. I balled up my fist and smashed it into the steering wheel several times. Where was our security?

With the note in hand, I jogged back to Dominic. Silas was back and Luke stood a few feet away. I handed the note to Dominic. "They took him."

"Took who?" Silas leaned forward.

I gave the note to Dominic and answered Silas. "Ryder. They took him, and they brought his car back. How the hell did they get past our security?"

Dominic handed Silas the note. Luke stepped closer to read it over Silas’ shoulder.

Silas looked at me, his face expressionless. “Well, he is a Greyback.”

Dominic lifted his hands. "Let's not jump to conclusions. The note doesn't say anything about taking him. They just said he's a Greyback. Maybe he wrote this note to himself and then split town.” There was a gleam in his eye, and the side of his lips turned up, as if he’d just made a joke. The worst one I’ve ever heard.

I frowned, realizing they really didn’t care.

"He would never go back there,” I said. “I know how much he hated his father."

Silas flipped the note with his finger. "This tells us nothing. Let's just wait a few days and see if he returns."

Dominic nodded. “I agree. I’m sure he’ll turn up naked and with leaves in his hair. Like I said, he probably just went for a run.”

“I don’t think so. After what you made him do," I looked pointedly at Silas, "to their pack, they’ll want revenge. We'll be lucky if they haven’t killed him already.”

Silas uncrossed his legs and leaned toward me. "Did you just counter your Alpha?”

I lowered my head in submission. "I apologize. I meant no disrespect,” I glanced back up into Dominic’s eyes, “but the Greybacks will hurt Ryder. He’s our pack member. We have a duty to rescue him."

Luke appeared at my side. "I agree with her.”

"Of course you do,” Silas said, a smile tickling the sides of his mouth.

Luke turned to him. “What's that supposed to mean?"

Dominic put his hand out to silence everyone. "We don't know for sure what happened, but I do know I will not risk any more pack members tonight. Not when we've already lost one of our own." He put on a somber expression the way one might slip on a Halloween mask. “But if Ryder is not back by tomorrow night, then we'll send over a couple of our men to talk to Jackson.”

When I opened my mouth to argue, he interrupted me. “That's my final answer."

I bit down hard, my jaw aching from the sudden pain. I could try to kill them both right now. Behind me, two men howled into the night. Others joined them. Way too many to fight. Besides, I didn’t dare waste a second.

If they weren't going to save Ryder, then I would.

Chapter 27

“Briar.” Luke shot into the house after me. “I know you’re going to look for Ryder.”

I didn’t look back at him. “Am not.”

He grabbed my arm, stilling me.

“If I’ve learned anything about you, it’s that you do what you want and ask questions later.”

“Well, you’d be wrong. You just saw me ask Dominic if I could go there.”

He turned me around. “But you’re going there anyway.”

“I promise, I’m not going.” I took a step backwards heading for the bathroom. “Don’t follow me.”

“I don’t believe you.” He kept following.

When I reached the bathroom door, I pressed my back against it and did a little dance. “I have to pee.”

He remained frozen in place, his arms crossed at his chest.

I locked eyes with him. “Fine. You can come in with me.”

He leaned against the wall, a smile threatening to break. “Not this time. But I’ll wait for you out here.”

“Good.” I shut the door in his face, then turned on the water just a trickle in case he was listening for bathroom sounds. This might fool him.

I faced myself in the mirror, considering him. If I told him the truth, he might rat me out. But, I might be able to talk him into going. He could be a big help, especially if I got caught and had to fight my way out.

Except, if I went alone, I could take care of things my way and not have to worry about what Luke saw. It was decided. I turned the water off, waited a moment, then turned it back on, like I was washing my hands. A few deep breaths later, I climbed out the window.

It didn’t take me long to find an available car. By the way the pack was drinking tonight, not many would be driving home. I drove slowly, trying not to bring any attention to the fact that I was sneaking out. The guards at the gate didn’t stop me; I’d run enough errands for Silas by now that they were used to me coming and going.

I left the property and exhaled, glad that it was me who’d driven to the Dreilinger swamps last time, otherwise I probably would’ve gotten lost. The closer I came, the more I began to panic. The itch I’d experienced earlier had turned into full on plague. My bones ached, moisture left my mouth, and my throat felt swollen. Everything in me screamed to hurry.

When I was within a mile of the swamps, I pulled off the side of the road as far as I