Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, what’s going on? The FBI is here. They’re looking into Pete’s death, and…I don’t know. You’re the one who killed him.” She kept her voice low, but tension rode her tone.
“So?”
She partially shook her head as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean, so? Do you have any idea how much trouble we’re in right now?” It was impressive how she could scream at such a quiet decibel.
He didn’t feel like he was in trouble. “That’s no reason for you to jump when I touch you. You don’t think I’d harm you, do you?” He’d never admit it, but he held his breath as he awaited her answer. Almost nothing hurt him in this life, not anymore, but she could flay him wide open with just a word.
She rolled her eyes, and something eased inside his chest. “Of course, you wouldn’t hurt me, but I know you, Seth Volk. You were imagining what the sound of Kurt’s neck breaking would be like.”
Well, he hadn’t, but close enough. Amusement trickled through him. She really did know him, and that truth warmed him in places he’d thought would always be frozen. “So long as you’re not afraid of me, I’m good.”
“Of course, I’m not afraid of you.” She put her hands on her hips as if settling in to give a good lecture but not finding the right words. Anger looked good on her, though. She was sexy, and she was his. The life of an Alpha’s mate wasn’t an easy one, but he’d ease her way the best he could. So long as she remained safe. “I am worried about what you’ll do next,” she said.
It was a fair concern, but he’d do what was necessary to protect both her and his pack. She should know that by now. He smelled the agent before a loud pounding came from behind him.
“Mia, are you okay in there?” Kurt yelled.
Seth pushed away from the door. “His neck breaking would be a very satisfying and loud crack,” he muttered for her ears only. He twisted the knob with a little too much force, and it squeaked as he yanked the heavy wooden slab open.
A light pink filtered across her cheekbones, and she gave him a look—one that said to behave—although, certainly, she knew him better than that by now. Even so, humor ticked through him, flipping his heart right over. How did she do that? Before her, he hadn’t been a man who smiled much, if ever. Now, he had to fight the urge to grin at her.
Kurt stood on the other side of the door, his eyes blazing. “What is going on here?”
Mia sighed. “Seth, this is Special Agent Kurt Colbey. Kurt, this is Seth Volk, my, um, boyfriend.”
Seth didn’t bother to hide his smile at that. There was no way.Boyfrienddidn’t quite cut it, now did it? He winked at her and then pivoted again so his body was partially in front of hers to block her from the jackass. “We don’t need your help here in town, but thank you.” He met Kurt’s gaze directly.
To his credit, the man didn’t back up. When faced with Seth, most people took at least one—if not seven—steps away. Kurt Colbey remained in place. “Are you the new sheriff?” he asked, his brows drawing together.
Seth smiled and let his teeth show—the sharp ones. “No, I just own the town.”
“I doubt you own an entire town. Even so, I expect you to stay out of our way since this is official business.” Kurt craned his neck to see beyond Seth, but he made sure to move just enough so the agent couldn’t. “Mia?”
“Yes,” she said, shoving past Seth and trying to push him out of the way, irritation filtering through her words. Man, she was cute when riled.
He didn’t move. Instead, he flung an arm over her shoulders and pulled her against this side. “To be honest, Kurt,” Seth murmured, “we were hoping Mia would take the job as sheriff here in town.”
Kurt’s chin lifted. “Why would she do that? She’s back with the FBI now if she wants the job.” He drew a badge from his back pocket and tossed it toward Mia.
Seth snatched it out of the air before it could hit her. Then slowly, deliberately, he handed it to her, noting how the metal felt frozen in his hand. He really didn’t want her back with the FBI. The physical threat was unacceptable, and the emotional danger of having to lie about Pete’s death while working with these folks could break her. His girl was honest and had a core of loyalty that was rare these days.
She looked at the badge now in her hand, but her long, curly hair hid her expression. “Do you have the pictures from the latest scene?” she asked quietly, still staring at the badge.
“Not yet,” Kurt answered. “The Seattle office is pulling rank. They’ll get us everything by the morning.”
Finally, she lifted her head and looked at him. “What about photographs of the other recent murder scenes?”
Kurt nodded. “Agent Strobe is bringing pictures from the Washington state police. We could set up here in the Lost Lake Sheriff’s Station. We might as well investigate both cases at the same time.”
Mia had enjoyed working with Agent Lionel Strobe in the past, as he was an excellent photographer. “There’s no case for Pete’s death,” Mia said quietly, sounding truthful. “I know it seems impossible to believe because he was such a good hunter, but therewasan accident.”
“So, where’s his body?” Kurt challenged, his chin up. The guy had intelligent eyes and a jaw that could take a punch. Seth would like to confirm that fact.
She shook her head. “This place is rife with bears, wolves, and other scavengers. By the time we got to where he’d fallen, his body was gone.”
“Then how do you know it was a hunting accident?”
“Two people from Howler’s Ridge saw it happen,” she replied. “They were bird-watching with binoculars.” It was a story the entire pack had come up with. Thus far, everybody had seemed to believe it—well, except for TJ, aka Brother Jeremiah. All Seth needed was for Kurt and Jeremiah to get together. Somehow, he had to prevent that.
