Page 203 of Secret Shifters Next Door

“Thanks. This wasn’t something we were prepared for. Sounds like you’ve had a go of it, too. We’ve heard the rumors about what’s been going down in Lilly Valley. It’s starting to turn into some kind of legend in the shifter world.”

That surprised me. I hadn’t thought rumors of our issues here would get out into the wider world of shifters. “Yeah, it’s not been a great year and a half for us.”

“Heard you all took on a team of hunters. Gave one of their guys a dirt nap. Impressive. I’ll be honest, everyone here has been following your team’s story pretty closely. The hunters have had every pack I know on their heels. Bigger, stronger packs. And you four misfits have been taking the fight right to them and winning. It’s badass. You guys have sort of become a banner we’re all looking to for courage. I don’t say that lightly.”

I sat there, stunned speechless. Us? Four guys who’d been kicked out of our respective packs for one reason or another? We were considered heroes? It was almost too much to believe.

“Anyway…” Donovan went on, “…it’s good to hear your voice after all these years.”

I didn’t really care about any of the things we were talking about. All I wanted was to talk to my parents. “Respectfully, sir, I really called to talk to my parents. Would that be possible?”

Donovan sighed. “Son, you know the rules. No contact after banishment. I’ve bent the rules in the past. You think I didn’t know you’ve been sending your folks those postcards? I’ve known all along. I figured it was the least I could do after…what my boy did, and me and your old man were friends as kids. I can’t start making even more exceptions. Not now. Not when we’re in so much danger.”

My wolf bristled with rage. Steff and Tate heard the exchange, and wore identical expressions of fury. My lips peeled back into a snarl, and I wanted to give the fucker a piece of my mind for acting like letting my parents read two or threepostcards a year was some big fucking favor. Blayne patted the air in front of me, a signal to calm down. He gave me a look that said: be careful.

Steadying myself, I tried to control my voice. “Understood,” I gritted my teeth. “Can you tell us if you’ve questioned the girl yet? The hunter you mentioned in the email? We’re working on finding the leader of this new hunter organization. Any information could help.”

“Yeah, we got done not long before you guys called. She’s scared out of her mind. Maybe nineteen years old. A kid, really. She didn’t know a lot. Said they got their orders from a new team leader. Some woman, but she didn’t know her name. She did say that this new team leader called the head of the organization ‘Daddy.’”

I winced in disgust. Was that some sexual thing? Or did he actually have his daughter working for him? Either way, it was horrifying. “Did she happen to know where this guy could be found?”

“No, she never actually met him. The only info she did give up was that her training happened in Chicago. That’s all we have to go on.”

Chicago? That was nowhere near where I’d been looking. That was at least a new lead. Another area to search. “Okay, good. What are you guys doing with the prisoner? The girl?”

There was a long pause before he spoke again. “Not sure yet. Main consensus is we use…well…we think we’ll use one of our casualties and set it up so that she’s found by the cops with the body. Make it look like she did it. We aren’t the type to kill a girl, but she needs to pay. A couple decades in prison for murder should give her the message.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Got it. Back to my parents. Could you at least tell them I’m glad they’re safe? That I love them?”

The alpha sighed, and his silence stretched for a bit. “Okay. I can do that. It won’t be breaking the rules, since you didn’t make direct contact. I’ll talk to them once I get off with you.”

“Fair enough. We’ll call you if we have any more questions.”

“Stay safe, Kelly,” Donovan said before hanging up.

I looked at the guys. “Did you all hear most of that?”

They nodded.

Tate said, “Chicago. So, now we can search the upper Midwest.”

“Right,” I said. “Blayne, can you get on that search? Same parameters as before? Wealthy, widowed or divorced, owns a bunch of companies or businesses?”

“On it,” he said as he pulled out his laptop.

I finally ate one of the donuts, and only then realized how hungry I was. The stress of not knowing about my parents had given way to relief. I went ahead and had three of them myself and made a cup of coffee in the break room while Blayne worked.

“Holy shit, man,” Blayne said after an hour.

“What’s wrong?” Tate asked.

“This list…” Blayne said pointing at his screen, “…there are like twenty names. That’s how many Miles had when he was running around Texas and Oklahoma for two weeks. It may be another month at best before we find this guy. I only hope we don’t hit another dead end.”

We spent the day researching the list of names. Steff and Tate helped, even though research wasn’t their forte. By late afternoon, we’d narrowed it down to ten names we thought were possible bullseyes. After agreeing to call it a night, I headed home. I stopped on the way to grab takeout since all I’d eaten the whole day was a few donuts.

I pulled into the parking lot and leaned my head back on the head rest. The day had drained me, emotionally and physically. It felt like the longest day of my life. Forcing myself to get out ofmy car before I fell asleep, I grabbed the takeout and headed for the stairs. I got to the third landing and was looking down as I sorted through my keys when I bumped into someone.

“Shit, I’m sor—” I cut myself off when I saw it was the same woman I’d run into on my jog a few days ago.

---