"And if I want to?" The words were barely a whisper.
His eyes flashed, wolf yellow bleeding into brown. I shivered, anticipation and nerves warring within me. If he kissed me, I wouldn't pull back.
Nathan sighed. "Let's get you home."
Chapter 20
Nathan
The phone buzzedon the seat between us, shattering the peaceful quiet of the drive home from the bar. I picked it up and frowned when I saw Gavin's name on the screen. Strange for him to call this late.
I answered on speaker while Rissa watched. "Yeah?"
Gavin's normally easygoing voice came through tight and strained. "Nathan, you need to get home. Now."
I stiffened, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. Something was wrong, very wrong. "What happened?"
"We found her. The missing tourist."
My stomach plummeted. I swallowed hard, almost afraid to ask. "Alive?"
Gavin's heavy pause told me everything I needed to know. "No." His sigh crackled through the speaker. "Nathan, she was found on pack land."
Cold fury swept through me, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the wheel. My land. Someone had the audacity to leave a body on my goddamn property.
"I'll be there in ten," I bit out through clenched teeth. "I just need to drop, uh, someone off first."
Silence hung heavy in the truck cab for a long beat. Then Rissa straightened in her seat, determination settling over her delicate features. "I'm coming with you."
I should tell her no. To stay out of it. She wasn't an enforcer, or even officially part of the pack structure yet. But my wolf rebelled against the thought of letting her out of my sight right now. Having her close soothed something in me.
I gave a curt nod. "Fine. But stay close." I shot her a meaningful look. "And think of a reason to tell your brotherwhy you're with me at a crime scene in the middle of the night."
Several minutes later, we pulled into my driveway, the flashing red and blue lights of the patrol cars casting an eerie glow over the property. The vehicles were parked haphazardly, doors flung open as officers milled about.
I stepped out of the truck, Rissa following close behind. The coppery scent of blood assaulted my nostrils, and I struggled to suppress a growl. My wolf clawed at me, demanding we track the scent and find the threat. I shoved him down, striding toward the tree line where the odor was strongest.
Gavin appeared, meeting us halfway. His arms were crossed, expression unreadable as his gaze flicked to Rissa. "What are you doing here?"
She gulped, glancing at me before answering. "I was already walking over when Nathan passed me on the road."
Gavin looked between us, then up at the sky, as he gave an exaggerated sigh. "Will you two just own up to it already? I know you've been seeing each other behind my back."
Heat flooded my face as Rissa and I both sputtered, caught off guard. I stared at her pointedly. This secret relationship was her idea, her insistence. Not that I didn't understand her reasons, but still.
Rissa sighed and threw her hands up. "Fine. Yes. We've been seeing each other. Okay?"
A wide grin broke out across Gavin's face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's the best news I've heard all day." His expression sobered as he turned to me. "We'll have to celebrate later. For now, you're gonna want to see this."
He jerked his head toward the woods. I had to see; my wolf was dying to, but at the same time, I really didn’t want to know.
"Tell me," I demanded, my jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached.
Gavin glanced over his shoulder. "Body was dumped sometime in the last twenty-four hours. No sign of a struggle here. She was killed somewhere else."
Rissa made a small, choked sound. I reached for her instinctively, my fingers brushing hers. "How?" she asked softly. Ishot her an admiring look. Tough as nails.
Gavin hesitated, his eyes flicking to Rissa, then back to me. "You sure she should be here for this?"
