After what seemed like forever, Dominic marched back to the truck and unlocked the door. She jumped out, but he was by her side instantly to detain her. By her mate’s expression, he wasn’t at all happy about what he’d learned.
“Someone made an anonymous tip that you had illegal drugs. Cole was called on to do a search, and the place reeked of cocaine.”
Erica’s eyes went wide. “That’s insane!” she shrieked, eyes darting between him and her father. “You know I—”
“Yes, I know you’re innocent because I’ve been in your house earlier today. But when Cole and Ronan went in, they smelled it before they ever reached the porch. Someone planted it.”
“But who?”
Cole approached, but the last person Erica wanted to talk to was the man who would have to arrest her on some bogus charge.
“Probably the person who called in the tip,” Dominic replied. “The second thing Cole and Ronan looked for was any trace scent of who could have snuck in. But since I called a few of the pack members to come and clean up the mess after we left, there were plenty of hands in the house.”
“We questioned everyone who helped clean up,” Cole said. “None of them did it.”
“They could have lied,” Erica insisted as the fear began to settle in. She could face serious jail time, and her innocence could never be proven. Who was going to believe the noses of a few shifters when they weren’t supposed to even exist?
Dominic shook his head. “It’s damn near impossible to lie to one of us. There are too many biological tells that give them away.”
Cole’s voice dropped an octave. “We’re still looking for who could have done this to you. We have a good idea that this leads back to Wyatt somehow.”
“Wyatt?” A sudden coolness hit her core as she remembered everything he had said the previous day before she ever knew anything about shifters.
Dominic let out a sigh. “He’s been causing trouble since he and his pack came to town.”
Cole added, “A shifter from his pack disappeared from our custody. He’s the one who attacked Kimberly last night. We still don’t know how he got out.”
Erica shook her head. “But why would Wyatt be behind putting drugs in my house?”
“Nathan’s got illegal drug trafficking on his record,” Cole replied. “He might have wanted a place to stash whatever load he had on hand so he wouldn’t get caught once we found a warrant to search his place.”
“And Wyatt might want to get to me through you, which is completely possible,” Dominic continued.
“Then it would make sense that your house would be a target to get rid of the evidence and get at Dominic.”
Erica felt like she was five steps behind and closed her eyes to the insanity. “What are you talking about? Getting to Dominic through me?”
“That’s what we need to look into.” Cole cast a look at his Prime Alpha, as if to ask if he were ready to do just that.
He seemed more than ready. In fact, nearly bursting at the seams to get a chance to track down the guy who was trying to get his mate arrested. “Cole’s going to take you to his place until this blows over, but I promise you won’t be there long. We’re going to prove your innocence, even if I have to rip a confession out of Wyatt myself.”
The idea of going anywhere with Cole, whether to his place or the jailhouse, made Erica hesitate. It was too soon, and her heart hadn’t made up its mind what it would feel toward her father after all she had found out. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours.
“Why would Wyatt want to get at you? I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long story, and I’ll tell it on the way.”
Erica jumped away to avoid Dominic’s grasp. “I’m not going anywhere with him!” Erica wished now, of all times, that she did have some shifter blood in her. Maybe then she could make her eyes go gold or use some of that dominance Dominic talked about, and they would take her more seriously.
The fire in her eyes must have convinced both men that she was not likely to go quietly. If Cole was hurt by her outburst, he didn’t show it. Dominic approached her as if she were a skittish colt, liable to dart off into the night at any sudden move.
He spoke slowly and firmly. “I can’t take you with me to look for Wyatt. It’s too dangerous and you can’t stay here alone. Cole’s house is the safest place for you right now.”
Her father added, “And I won’t be there. Ronan will be looking after you while I join the search.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Who’s Ronan again?”
“He’s Cole’s beta and deputy. He can be trusted. I wouldn’t leave you with him if I didn’t think he could keep you safe.”
