“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to,” she said. “While they were awesome to hang out with, my inner wolf instinctively knew we weren’t supposed to become a pack. But with hunters crisscrossing the country, killing every werewolf they could find, I realized it wasn’t safe for them to stay in Chattanooga on their own, so when they mentioned hearing about a SWAT team in Dallas made up of a huge pack of alpha werewolves who were offering protection to any werewolf who came to them, I put all three of them on a plane and got them to safety.”
He finished that slice and grabbed another. “You didn’t come out here at the same time?”
“I was tempted,” she admitted. “But I didn’t want to show up in their city looking for a handout, so I stayed with the Chattanooga PD for a little while longer, volunteering for SWAT cross-training, so I’d have the résumé of someone they’d want on their team.”
Knox snorted. “You’re a cop and an alpha werewolf. Why wouldn’t they want you?”
“I didn’t want to make it because I had claws and fangs,” she said. “I wanted to make it because I’m a good cop.”
They polished off two more slices of pizza while she told him what it had been like for her to show up at the SWAT compound and ask for a job, as well as how quickly her teammates had accepted her into their pack.
“They’re like family now,” she added.
“Speaking of family,” he said in between bites of pizza. “Does your real family know you’re a werewolf?”
Rachel almost snorted iced tea out her nose. She could only imagine how her family would react if she sat them down and announced she was a werewolf. Half of them would hurt themselves laughing, while the other half would probably go for their guns.
“No, they don’t know I’m a werewolf,” she said. “I love the hell out of my family, but there’s no way I could trust them with something like this. If it were just me, I might try it, but there are other werewolves I have to worry about. If I told my family and one of them slipped up and said something they shouldn’t at the wrong time to the wrong person, it could mean death and misery for a lot of innocent people.”
“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a little?” he asked. “I think people can handle the truth better than you think.”
She lifted a brow. “You mean like your hunter buddies did? They handled the truth by hunting us down, torturing us, and executing us for fun. You don’t think there aren’t thousands of other people out there just like them who’d want to kill us simply because we’re different? If you don’t realize that’s how the world works, then you aren’t as smart as I gave you credit for.”
Knox flushed beneath his tan. “I was being naïve, I know. I guess it’s because I was hoping I’d be able to tell someone else about what I am. You’ve got your pack, but I don’t have anyone, and I’ve already experienced how shitty it is dealing with this on my own.” He sighed. “But you’re right. Telling people would be risky. For everyone.”
He fell silent after that, and Rachel felt kind of crappy for snapping at him. She knew what it was like to go it alone with this werewolf thing. It sucked.
She was about to point out that he wasn’t in this thing alone and that she would help him when her phone beeped at her. Wishing she could ignore it but knowing she couldn’t, she dug the thing out of the cargo pocket of her uniform pants and checked the screen.
“It’s a text from Diego.”
Knox’s mouth quirked. “Don’t tell me he’s worried I’ve kidnapped you already?”
She laughed. She’d kind of thought the same thing. “No. He wanted to let me know they’ve identified the guy you shot at the mall. His name is Keylor Mora and he’s a freelance killer for hire from Costa Rica. They also found the SUV we chased in an alley a few miles from the mall—on fire. No one thinks they’re going to find any evidence when they get the thing put out, so no clue yet on who the other two assassins are. The chief is working with the State Department and TSA to see if all three might have flown into Dallas together.”
“That’s unlikely, especially if they’re professionals.”
Rachel silently agreed. Alton Marshall hiring outside help made complete sense, but there was nothing to say the three men came from the same part of the world. More likely, they were complete strangers who’d arrived separately. No doubt each one had their own escape plan in place.
“Here’s your bill. Thanks for coming.”
She looked up to see their server standing at their table. This time he didn’t leave but, instead, waited for them to pay. In the kitchen, the remaining members of the restaurant staff were eyeing them with expressions that clearly said they were eager to go home.
Rachel glanced at her watch to see that it was well after midnight. She hadn’t even realized until then that both pizzas were gone, along with the breadsticks and iced tea. She reached for the bill, but Knox got there first. She let him win. While she was all about girl power, she still liked the guy to pay. Besides, he still owed her for being a hunter.
Once outside, they walked over to his bike, a big Harley that made Rachel think of huge guys with long gray beards. Not that Knox fit that image.
Tugging off her ponytail holder, she shoved it in her pocket, then picked up the helmet. She was about to put it on when the look on Knox’s face stopped her. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you that if you ever need someone to talk to about those nightmares, I’m available. I know I’m not a therapist, but I’m a good listener. I also have more than my fair share of experience with nightmares and trying to forget things that keep a person up at night.”
Before she could answer, Knox climbed on the bike and started it up, the deep rumble of the engine echoing in the night. Slipping on the helmet, she threw her leg over the seat, climbing on and putting her boots on the rear pegs like he’d taught her. She wrapped her arms around his middle, tucked her hands under his coat to keep them warm, then pressed her bare cheek against his back and held tightly as he applied the gas and they took off.
The bike growled under her like a beast, vibrations spiraling through her body. The sensation was surprisingly relaxing, like the monster they were riding was keeping other more menacing monsters at bay.
As they sped along the street, Rachel thought about Knox’s offer to tell him about her nightmares. Her first instinct was to scoff at the idea. If she was going to tell anyone about her dreams, it would be someone in her pack, right?
But then she realized she didn’t want to talk to any of her pack mates—not about the nightmares at least. The idea of talking to Knox appealed to her on a level she had a hard time understanding. How could she want to tell her secrets to a guy she barely knew? Especially one who’d wanted to kill people like her only a little while ago?
