We talked for a while until Miss Emma’s mate, Tom, came over. After introductions and some catching up, Tom told Emma he was ready to leave.
“I’m ready to go myself,” I murmured to Chloe. I’d been on edge the entire time we were at the barbeque and it was beginning to take its toll. There was a dull ache behind my eyes and fatigue dragged at my body. I hadn’t spent this much time around a group of wolves in months.
“Me, too,” she agreed.
We said our good-byes to Darrell and his son, Carter, before walking toward the parking lot. I wasn’t sure why, but I wanted to reach for her hand again. I suppressed the impulse and kept pace with her, my eyes sweeping the dark cars and shadows for threats. From the moment we entered the park, I felt unease prickling the back of my neck. It wasn’t just from the way the pack reacted to their leader. It was something more sinister, but the reason eluded me.
“I’m driving,” Chloe stated firmly as she skirted around the hood of my truck.
“It’s my truck,” I argued, even though my heart wasn’t in it.
She held her hand out for the keys. “But I know the area and it’s dark. It’s better if I drive.”
Since the ache in my head was rapidly becoming a harsh throb, I let it go and dug my keys out of my pocket. When I climbed into the passenger seat, I noticed a slip of paper in Chloe’s hand.
“What’s that?”
“It was in the driver’s seat,” she answered in a low voice, unfolding the note.
I leaned over and read over her shoulder.
They know why you’re here. Be careful.
Without speaking, Chloe gave me the paper and started the truck. I read the words again, unsure of the motivation behind them. They could be a promise of future violence or a heads up to watch our backs.
I waited until we were on the road, away from the park, before I spoke again.
“Do you think this is a warning or a threat?” I asked her.
She kept her eyes on the road in front of us when she answered. “I think it’s a warning from whoever contacted my grandmother.”
“I’m not so sure.”
My reaction caused her to glance at me. “Why do you say that?”
“My truck was locked. They got the note inside without setting off the alarm. It seems to me as if that’s their way of saying,we know why you’re here and we can get to you anytime we want.”
Chloe nodded. “That’s a good point. Either way, we need to be careful.”
“Who arethey? Darrell? His officers?”
“Probably,” she replied.
I lifted the paper to my nose, inhaling deeply. All I smelled was Chloe and lavender so strong it made me sneeze. Whoever wrote this note was covering their scent.
“Bless you,” Chloe said. “What are you doing anyway?”
“I’m trying to see if whoever wrote this left their scent, but all I can smell is you and lavender.” My nose twitched again and I lowered the page, fighting the urge to sneeze. “A lot of damn lavender. Did you recognize the handwriting?”
She frowned and shook her head. “No, I didn’t. So the messenger didn’t want to be identified. I guess that makes sense. If I was actually working for Darrell, I would probably take the note straight to him.”
“What’s with him, anyway?” I asked. “He seems nice enough, but his pack is terrified of him.”
“I know,” Chloe stated, her hands tightening on the steering wheel until the leather creaked. “I don’t like it. I’ve known Darrell since I was a pup and he was always just…Darrell. He would give me piggyback rides and sometimes he even shifted and let me play fetch when I was little. What I saw at the barbeque today doesn’t fit in with my memory of him. There is no reason his wolves should be so afraid of him unless he’s doing something heinous to them.”
“Do you think he had anything to do with the death of your parents?” I asked.
She was silent for so long that I thought she wouldn’t answer. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and vibrating with anger. “I didn’t before but now I’m not so sure. I intend to find out. If he did, then I’m going to kill him.”
