Page 65 of Scarred Resolve

“Why?” Jabari asked, but Heath figured out what she was saying. He put them on speakerphone.

“Now, future brother-in-law, why didn’t you tell us that going to Portland for us was potentially dangerous for you?” she asked, continuing her bright and casual tone, but the edge was there. The footsteps stopped behind him.

“I’m not scared of anyone in Portland,” he answered, chuckling.

“Well, of course not, but that doesn’t mean you don’t tell us about the potential. We’re not trying to get you killed just to do a good deed,” she chastised, but the condemning note in it wasn’t for him. The werewolf behind him was walking away, the sound growing distant as it moved away from him.

“Thanks for that, Zuri,” he said, letting some tension leave him. “I’m not in a place where I can handle the long-term problems I would have to deal with if I had to kill a wolf from this pack.”

“I understand. Callahan would be furious if you took another city from the werewolves like what happened in Dallas.”

“Exactly.” As soon as he was done saying it, he froze, staring at the concrete sidewalk as he considered those words.

“Everson?” Jabari cut through it as Heath’s stomach sank.

“Dallas,” he said softly. “Odd occurrences at bad times…”

“Oh, no,” Zuri said, then the sound of her heels running.

“What am I not understanding right now?” Jabari demanded to know. Heath looked around, grateful for the empty street, watching for anyone who may come by.

“Dallas was working on controlling werewolves to make an army. They could hide the scent of magic. This is going to sound like a wild conspiracy theory, but it works. Thebeardid kill them for the theft… and any magic that could be scented to indicate that would be hidden by whatever they’re doing.”

“That does sound insane,” Jabari growled. “And Zuri clearly?—”

“Mother, listen to Heath,” Zuri said quickly, running back in.

“I heard you, and I will listen to Heath,” Subira said, her steps lighter than Zuri’s. “Heath, continuing explaining. I heard what you just said to Jabari. Continue.”

“Here’s how my theory plays out. The deceased stole money from supernaturals, then went camping in Alaska for a good time. They were running. They were trying to hide. They would have been talked to by at least one party they stole from, and we supernaturals talk. We don’t always like each other, but there are some things we talk about. So, they ran to Alaska. Maybe they were hoping it would die down and they could come back after it was forgotten. But we don’t forget. Someone must have put out a hit on them.

“What better situation to test a controlled werecat to kill someone, just like a beginner mission for any bounty hunter or assassin? Jacky, Niko, and Davor would have no idea they’re looking for witches. They wouldn’t be able to smell the magic because of Dallas’ experiments on using magic on my pack, a secret the Dallas witches sold to others.” Heath ended in a snarl, unable to contain the rage that spiked whenever he thought about that. He’d lost a son to it.

“I don’t think he’s wrong,” Zuri said, clearly not to Heath but to those in the room with her.

“Occam’s Razor would disagree,” Jabari muttered, but he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.

“William of Ockham was wrong a lot, just like every other philosopher,” Zuri hissed.

“They were right as much as they were wrong no matter what they said, but that’s not the discussion,” Subira countered. “Heath, you need to get home as quickly as possible. Don’t give any of the parties there a reason to come for you. Thank you for this information. Stay safe, my son.”

Heath blinked a few times, then decided not to question what she had just called him. He would unpack every feeling and thought he had in less than a second on a later day.

“Can one of you call Landon and give him an update while I get my things and get a flight?”

“I’ll handle it,” Jabari promised.

“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

“You better be,” Subira said softly.

28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“We have to be getting close now,” Niko whispered. “The scents are thicker and fresher.”

“Yeah, and there’s more of them, scents we haven’t come across before,”I pointed out, able to pick out at least four more human scents I assumed were more witches. Witches smelled like humans, and one could really only tell they were witches when they did magic.“I don’t think we’re smelling any regular humans.”

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