He started to drift back into sleep, his mind lulled by the bliss of the moment, when the ringing of the doorbell jarred him back to semi-awareness.
“I’ll get it,” Jenna called out, her bare feet already scurrying across the living room floor. “It’s probably Madeleine wanting to know how our date went yesterday.”
But even as Trevor settled back against the pillows again, his nose registered a series of familiarscents. Ones that made him shove down the blankets and bound out of bed. He sprinted for the living room with no idea what he was going to do if he got there in time anyway.
Not that he had to worry about that dilemma, since Jenna already had the door open by the time he got there. And yeah, it wasn’t Madeleine who’d rung the bell.
Senior Corporal Mike Taylor stood in the doorway. Tall and muscular, he had an intensity about him that Trevor suspected was there even before he became a werewolf. Beside Mike, Hale was casually leaning against the door jamb, a chagrined expression on his face and an apologetic look in his blue eyes as Trevor caught sight of Connor.
To say Jenna’s brother wasn’t happy would be putting it mildly. Trevor braced himself as Connor’s nostrils flared a little. Clearly, he’d picked up Trevor’s scent on Jenna and vice versa. Any werewolf with a nose—which meant any werewolf but Hale—would be able to figure out that the two of them hadn’t had sex, but obviously, that didn’t matter to Connor. The pissed-off glare he was directing at Trevor looked like it could melt steel.
“I didn’t expect any of you to show up until later today,” Trevor said, slipping an arm casually around Jenna’s waist as his pack mates stepped into the apartment. He gave Connor a pointed look. “And some of you, I didn’t expect at all.”
Connor opened his mouth to say something, but Jenna cut him off, inviting everyone to grab seats in the living room, adding that the coffee would finish brewing soon.
“How did you guys get here so fast?” Trevor asked, taking a seat on the couch beside Jenna and ignoring Connor’s glower.
“We have STAT to thank for that,” Mike said. “When Gage called to ask if they’d ever dealt with anything like the creature you sent photos of, they got us on the first flight out of Dallas. They’ve had a run-in or two with the thing you dealt with last night. From what they said, these things are dangerous as hell.”
Jenna looked back and forth between Trevor and Mike. “STAT?”
“Remember when I mentioned last night that there are people out there experienced at dealing with supernatural creatures?” Trevor said. “Well, STAT—which stands for Special Threat Assessment Team—is a federal agency that specializes in that. If they’ve run into this kind of creature before, they’re going to be a valuable source of information in tracking the things down.”
“Gage also arranged for us to meet with Davina at her club tonight to see if she can help, too,” Mike said.
From where he stood by the stuffed chair where Hale was sitting, Connor scowled. “Everyone holdon a damn minute. We don’t have any proof that Hannah was kidnapped by a supernatural creature.”
Beside Trevor, Jenna’s eyes narrowed, a rage-filled flush suffusing her face. He was sure she was about half a second away from screaming at her dumbass brother.
“No proof, huh?” Trevor demanded, glaring at Connor. “Before you open your mouth and say something else stupid, there’s something I need to show you.”
To head off what was sure to be a knockdown, drag-out argument with his pack mate, Trevor got to his feet, then grabbed Connor’s shoulder and dragged him down the hallway toward the guest bedroom. Connor resisted, but Trevor got him there anyway, shoving him until they both ended up in front of the three sculptures of the creatures. Jenna, Hale, and Mike hurried into the room after them.
“I don’t know if Hale told you the whole story or showed you the photos I sent to him last night, but this is the creature I fought with,” Trevor said. “They’re perfect in every detail, right down to the length of the claws and sharpness of the fangs. Your sister sculpted these years ago, Connor. That means she’s seen the creature before last night. And if she says it was the thing that kidnapped Hannah in that alley a decade ago, then I believe her. Maybe you should, too.”
Connor let out a low growl that was too soft forJenna to hear—thankfully. Mike heard it, though, and stepped between them to study the sculptures, though not before throwing Connor a sharp look. The fact that Connor bit his tongue highlighted why Gage had sent Mike on this trip. Mike was one of the team’s squad leaders and exceptionally good at keeping the rest of them in line when necessary.
“These are remarkable,” Mike said, glancing over his shoulder at Jenna.
“Thanks,” she said quietly.
While Connor stood there silently fuming, Trevor and Jenna told Hale and Mike the details of what had happened last night, with Trevor focusing on how dangerous the creature had been.
“It was fast as hell, and its skin was pretty much impenetrable as far as I could tell,” he added, describing how the wooden stake had shattered against the thing’s chest.
“Do you think a bullet would stop it?” Hale asked.
All Trevor could do was shrug. “I have no idea. Hopefully, that’s something Davina will be able to tell us before we go after these things.”
His pack mates didn’t say anything, and in the silence, a series of soft chimes sounded, making all of them jump a little. Except for Jenna.
“That’s the coffee maker,” she said softly. “Trevor and I were about to have some when you guys showed up. Anyone else care to join us?”
Hale and Mike immediately nodded, saying they’d love some. Connor didn’t say anything one way or the other but simply stared at Trevor, jaw tight. It was clear what his friend wanted.
“Jenna, why don’t you and the guys go grab some coffee?” Trevor said casually. “I need a few seconds to talk to your brother. We’ll be right out.”
Trevor couldn’t tell who was more hesitant at that suggestion—Jenna or Mike. Hale looked like he was wondering if he should stay and play referee, too. But after a moment, Jenna and his pack mates left the room. Trevor gave them a few moments to reach the kitchen, then turned to confront Connor. His friend didn’t make him wait long before going on the offensive.
