Page 6 of Ember's Claim

“Did you plan to brief us…or?” Rogue rolls her icy blue eyes.

“Just give me your word that you’ll be careful.” Owen sighs, flips open the folder, and turns it to face us.

The picture clipped to the side is of a male in a black polo shirt with messy whitish-blond hair. Large black-frame glasses take up most of his face, and he has an extremely slender build.

Nothing about him really screams dangerous.Like, at all. But it’s not my job to make assumptions about his guilt or innocence.

“What did he do?” I study his picture before moving down to examine the information.

Name and species are always listed immediately below the picture.

Ethan Sanders is a suspected wolf shifter. His designation is unknown, but someone handwrotepossibly an alpha or mixed speciesin the next empty space.

Female wolves are rare these days. If we can make contact somewhere in public, then he might come to me if he catches my scent. That’s likely why Owen is handing us this case to begin with.

“Nothing, that’s the thing.” Owen frowns, scratching his thick blond beard. “But the council believes he has knowledge of someone they want brought in.”

“Don’t leave us in suspense,” Rogue says, grabbing the file from Owen.

“The Plague Doctor, or just The Doctor for short.” He nods at the folder. “Don’t bother digging. You won’t find a picture. The guy is a ghost.”

“A ghost with a ridiculous name.” I snort and lean closer to Rogue to see if I can catch any important information.

“Listen…” Something in Owen’s tone changes just enough that my eyes fly up to meet his. “This is an order. If you gain information on The Doctor, you don’t follow the trail. You bring it right back here to me, and you’ll be paid the sum on the front of the folder. If you determine Sanders has information, but you can’t get it out of him directly, the same rules apply. Bring him in and your job is done.”

“That’s not weird or anything,” Rogue mutters.

“Not at all,” I agree, still a little stuck on the way the veins on Owen’s forehead stick out.

That usually only happens when he’s really stressed. He and Rogue better figure out their weirdness soon, or he might end up with high blood pressure.

Chapter Four

Ember

The information in the file Rogue and I were given indicates Sanders frequents a human club less than an hour outside of Haven, and he’s most likely to be found there on Friday and Saturday nights.

It’s a long-ass drive, but without Gemma on this assignment, we don’t have access to siphoning.

Rogue drives separately, and I don’t question it. She’s a big fan of solitude, and it gives me a chance to slowly meander past the North American Pack Lands.

There was a time when the North American Prime Alpha ruled over thousands, but since the population crisis, I’ve heard the pack numbers are minuscule compared to what they used to be.

My wolf is drawn to be near other wolves, and the more I deny her, the more problematic she becomes.

I have no desire to stalk the North American Pack.

That’s all her.

Rogue watches from the bar as I circle the dance floor. Tonight may be a bust. We’ve been here for hours and, so far, Sanders hasn’t shown.

My hair falls in my face as I make my way up the bar.

“Nothing?” Rogue shoves my drink at me. “Because that’s what I’ve got—a whole lot of nothing.”

I take a long swig of the beer that’s no longer cool and refreshing.

“That’s unfortunate.” The double entendre holds for how terrible the warm beer is and for our situation.

---