“Hunter, you’re obviously tired. Nobody—”
I bang my hand on the table, causing her to jump. “Answer me.” I stand up and drop both my hands to the table. “How did you know, Alicia?” I snap. One moment, I’m standing opposite her; the next, I leap over the table and shove her body into the wall with my hands wrapped around her throat.
“Whoa,” Cody says, standing. “Everybody, calm down, and let’s talk this through.”
Alicia stares up at me, “What is wrong with you, Hunter?”
“Answer me,” I squeeze tighter.
And then Bryce is there. “Stand down, Hunter.”
I’ve always wondered if I could ignore an alpha order from him. Guess now’s as good a time as any. I feel his power lash out at me, but I manage to stay on my feet. “Hunter!”
I ignore him and stare down at Alicia. “I am going to ask you one last time.” My words are slow and distinct. “How did you know that Sherese helped me get the healer out?”
I feel Bryce’s power release its hold on me. “What’s going on?” he asks.
I don’t turn away from Alicia. “She knew that Sherese helped me get the healer out, but I—”
“Didn’t tell us that,” Bryce fills in. “Alicia,” he starts. “This would be a good time to tell us what you know.”
She shocks me, shocks us all when she throws her head back and laughs. I stare at her, wondering if she’s lost her mind. “Hetold me it would be easy, but I never thought it would be. I mean, how could it?”
An uneasy feeling flows through me, and I take a few steps back. “What are you talking about?” Cody asks, stepping closer to her.
She shakes her head. “You only see what you want to see, even when it’s been in front of you the entire time. You wolves are so full of yourselves, think you’re top dog.” She shakes her head and smiles. I get a glimpse of fangs, fangs that are too long to be werewolves’. And then in a move that will live in my head for the rest of my life, she shoves a clawed hand into Cody’s chest and rips out his heart. It takes me precious seconds to react. Cody’s shocked eyes meet mine, and then his body falls forward. I manage to catch him and lower him to the ground. Bryce roars his rage and disappears out the door Alicia just ran through. I want to stay with Cody, but he’s gone. I race after Bryce, who I know is racing to find his mate, his pregnant mate. I hear a scream, and I speed up.
Then Bryce’s alpha command roars through my head.Lockdown! Alicia is a vampire. I repeat. Alicia is a vampire and has already killed, and she will again. Lockdown immediately. Hunter—He doesn’t even have to say it. I’m already on it.
Enforcers, cover every exit. Follow the intruder procedure. Every enforcer is now on duty! Brent, Rick, Xavier, and Quadaire, you’re on the alpha’s house and mate.I shout the orders as I race through the halls, trying to find a scent. But there is none. It hits me that she probably used a scent blocker.
She used a scent blocker. You won’t know she’s there until you’re on top of her. Be vigilant.
I see her!Karl, one of my enforcers shouts.She's—
His voice cuts off abruptly, and fury fills me.Who’s got eyes on Karl?I shout through the link.
He’s gone.
I continue running, but she’s a ghost. We search every square inch of pack property, but she’s nowhere to be found.She’s long gone,Bryce finally sends out hours later.
Anger burns through me. I shove a hand through my hair and make my way to the meeting room. I throw the door open, not caring that it slams into the wall. Bryce follows me in, looking just as angry as I am. Ava’s with him, and I’m sure that’s making him even more on edge. Leo’s already on his laptop; I’m sure he has been since we lost sight of her. I notice absently that Cody’s body has been removed, and fresh grief and anger run through me simultaneously.
Bryce stands at the end of the table and slams his fist down on the table. “How did we miss this? How in the—” He drops his head and takes a breath. “How did this happen?” For some reason, his eyes find mine, but I don’t have any more answers than he does. “Leo, you got anything on her escape?”
He shakes his head. “No. She’s way too smart; she literally avoided every single camera once she left this room.”
“Okay, let’s start at the beginning,” Ava says without any emotion in her voice. “Did she grow up here or transfer in?”
Bryce pulls out his chair and sits. “Grew up here, born and bred.”
“So, you’re sure she was a wolf?”
“Yeah. She was.” There’s no doubt in Bryce’s voice.
“So they...what? Kidnap her? Turn her into a vampire?” Ava asks. “I mean, the vampires have tons of money. Could that have been a draw?”
Bryce doesn’t say a word, and Ava turns to me. “I don’t know.” I really am clueless on this.
