Page 10 of Winning the Wolf

The flutter of my stomach gave way to churning as I pulled open the car door. It was unlocked, which was unlike her. She was usually meticulous in keeping everything safe. Just another sign that something serious was going on with her.

Her scent wafted at me as I stuck my head inside and searched for her phone. It wasn’t inside and neither was anything else. However, the smell of two other werewolves was distinctive. Maybe that would help us piece things together.

“Anything?” Killick was searching the back of the vehicle, his nose creased as he sniffed the air. “That’s my mum’s scent.”

Oh, shit, it was. I suddenly recognised the faint aroma of the alpha’s wife. So Nyla and her boyfriend had taken Miranda, just like they’d said.

“It’s clear what happened.” Killick growled deep in his throat as he stepped away from the vehicle and sniffed the air.

We were quite low down in the gorge, surrounded by hills and rough cliff faces. Trees were clumped around us, hiding most of the area from the road. Most people came to hike the gorge, starting from another parking area nearby. We had to avoid bumping into humans as we conducted our investigation.

“I think I know, too,” I said, following him as he set off around the bottom of the hill, “but please, tell me your theory.”

Throwing a glare over his shoulder, the brooding alpha-heir smelt the air again. “Your sister has been manipulated by the other pack, although her betrayal will have to be dealt with swiftly. If she survives.”

“What do you mean if she survives?”

My insides quivered at his threat. Okay, so things were not looking good for my twin, but surely Killick hadn’t just threatened to end her?

Quickening his step, Killick pushed on, rounding the bottom of the cliff, stopping to survey our surroundings. The trees were slightly thinner with a stream running down the valley. I knew that the water led to a pool at the bottom of a waterfall. I just hoped there was another explanation for my sister’s disappearance.

“If it’s proven that your sister has anything to do with my mother’s kidnapping, there’ll be consequences. You know how the pack works.”

A chill made my skin ice cold as his hard voice filtered back to me. I didn’t know why I was surprised, he was the alpha-heir.

“Well, I want a fair trial if it comes to it,” I replied, almost slipping on the gravely pathway.

His arm shot back, his fingers gripping my arm tightly to secure me. I swallowed as I glanced up at his stony expression, refusing to thank him for giving me help when I hadn’t asked for it.

Nodding once to acknowledge my words, he released me and stormed on. I trotted after him, being careful to give him no excuse to touch me again. The tingles that had shot along my arm had shaken me up.

Arriving at the pool, I blinked rapidly. The sun made the water sparkle, inviting.

“I’ve not been up here for years,” I said, lowering my voice as Killick approached the gently sloped cliff edge, right next to the small cascading waterfall.

There were foot-holes embedded in the muddy rock, worn from years of werewolves climbing up to the top of the waterfall in order to jump.

Killick started the climb, his long legs and thick hands able to navigate the wall easily. I watched his back muscles move his shirt, rippling underneath the material as he pulled himself up. Shit, why did he have to be so fucking hot?

Shaking my head, I cleared my mind of its traitorous thoughts and gripped hold of a rock embedded into the mud wall. I would keep my brain focused on the task ahead of me, instead of the sexiness above me.

The water splashed beside us as we climbed, cascading into the small pool below. The teens of the pack had held BBQs and parties at this spot since I could remember. I’d had some of my firsts below the rock I clung to, although most of them were regrettable. First drunken night, first kiss, first fist fight, first fuck. Yeah, this was a famed spot, for sure.

“As soon as we hit eighteen, we moved across to the reservoir.” Killick’s voice was cold as he pulled himself over the ridge.

We’d never been to the reservoir. After my brother had killed himself in the water there, they drained it and ran barbed wire around the whole area, forbidding anyone to go near. My father had threatened to send us away if we ever ventured to the place our brother had lost his life.

Killick’s hand appeared in front of me as he offered his assistance. Ignoring it, I bit my tongue between my teeth and gripped the edge of the ledge above me. Using all my strength, I pulled myself up and over, landing in a heap on the soft grass.

My breath heaved as I got to my feet, my head whirling as I glanced over the edge of the rocky cliff drop. The waterfall twinkled in the sunlight, the pool below almost inviting me to plunge into its depths. I missed being carefree enough to just jump.

“Looks like they were here.” Killick bent down to inspect a tuft of grey fur.

I didn’t recognise the shade of hair, but my sister’s scent was stronger, swirling around me as I trod past Killick and sniffed the air, following the scent to the other side of the cliff-edge.

Peering over, I gasped, my hand going to my heart. The hill fell down to a rough pathway, fashioned from hard stones. A splatter of blood was smeared on the dusty dry dirt, startling bright in the sunshine.

“Shit.” Killick had joined me, his hand taking my elbow as I teetered on the edge, unable to get my balance.

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