He’d turned his head then, a deep growl coming from his throat and chest as if he was losing the battle once more. “She’s mine,” he snarled at the boys. “Next time you touch her, I’ll kill you. Spread the word. She’s mine.”
She’d been claimed that easy, a willing victim of young love. From that moment on, Jeremiah became her shadow. He’d been there to escort her to pack classes. He’d taken her to dinner in town, even if they weren’t supposed to socialize much with humans. He defied his father to do so, because he wanted her to be near others of her kind. No shifter boys looked sideways at her without Jeremiah growling at them and threatening to kill any male who touched her. She was his, period.
It was old fashioned, completely misogynistic, and she’d loved it.
She loved him.
That’s why she couldn’t forget.
Shawna sighed softly again, remembering how they would lie out under the stars and talk about the future. When she turned eighteen, he planned to take her as his mate, and change her over. They’d have four pups together, one girl, and three boys to kill or maim anyone who even thought about hurting his precious daughter.
Jeremiah wanted to build a house in the woods by a stream, with a sunroom facing the water, and she’d been on board all the way. Most of their ideas were fantasies, and they both knew that. Pack life wasn’t easy back then, especially for Jeremiah. It could never have been that simple. Alpha Albert’s expectations weighed heavy on his shoulders. He pushed Jeremiah harder than the other pups. Being an alpha’s son was a difficult existence, but Jeremiah never complained. He was fearless instead, and unapologetic of his love for the tiny human female the Markums adopted.
She’d have followed him to hell if that’s where he wanted to go. Her parents worried about her being a future alpha’s mate, but Jeremiah hadn’t been concerned. He’d grinned and told her he’d change her and train her to fight, to defend herself, but most of all, he promised that he’d always protect her.
Jeremiah wanted to be her first. It meant everything to him. Her first love, her first lover, and he wanted to do right by her. He was determined to wait until she was older and mature by human standards. He’d even proposed marriage to her, something a lot of male wolves didn’t do. The mating was enough, but he wanted her to be his in both worlds. They’d had so many plans…
And then a year later it had been ripped apart because she’d made one mistake. She’d trusted the wrong wolf.
Music playing suddenly snapped Shawna from her musings about the past. She was on duty. Hunting bad weres was her life now. Sometimes she even got paid for it. Not that she really needed the money. Her second husband had left her well off.
She felt another slice of pain slam into her heart. Ron had been a nice guy. Way too young to die, but he had. They’d wanted to try for a baby, and then he was just gone.
Maybe she was cursed.
“Damn,” she sighed. “I hate this waiting shit. Too much thinking. Not enough action.”
She scanned the woods around her that were bathed in the first pink streaks of dusk. Music sounded through the trees louder, as though other smaller parties were happening out of sight. There were a lot of younger members in the Baker pack. They were unmated, obviously, judging by the sheer number of members arriving. Why were there so many of them? She chewed on her lip.
Shit. This is really bad.
She lifted her binoculars and scanned the area around the bonfire. She observed everyone stopping to greet the alpha upon his arrival. It was customary and it was a courtesy. Her target would show. She knew he was single, and no single wolf would miss his chance at a full moon gathering to run as a pack. There would be females around with hormones going wild. A male’s chances of getting laid was a hundred times better on the full moon, especially at a running like this.
Shawna finally spotted Benny almost half an hour later and felt a wave of relief wash over her. She didn’t want to be up a tree for most of the night. Her latest target was good at hiding. She’d searched for him, but he never stayed in one place long since his arrest. He didn’t go to the local hangouts. She’d asked around. He was probably lying low from the cops and that meant this was her one chance to get him.
She kept her gaze on him as Benny greeted the alpha and the alpha’s mate. Then he turned north, heading into the woods. She bit her lip and studied the area around her. There were too many wolves, but she knew protocol if she was caught. She’d play the stupid human lost in the woods. The Bakers were always known for being a decent pack, and word was they hadn’t changed much, even if they had a few Bennys in the lot. Chances were they’d point her in the right direction of a road, and she’d walk away. Hopefully she’d find her target before any of his pack found her.
She used the rope and slid to the ground. It was easier than climbing and a hell of a lot faster and quieter. She headed north, tucking her trench coat tightly around her. It was treated to hide her scent. She ran fast, her senses on alert for any movement. She had to duck once, seeing a large wolf coming in her direction. She knew that wasn’t her target. She’d broken into his mother’s house and gotten a photo of Benny while shifted. In skin or fur, she’d know him when she found him. They all had distinct markings in fur. Her boy had two white strips near his right hindquarters and a black streak under his jaw.
He was still in skin when she came across him. He was sitting on a rock, still clothed, and talking on his phone. He was so intent on the conversation that he didn’t hear her sneaking up behind him.
“Look, asshole. You’re getting paid to represent me so I don’t have to be in court. The bitch is a slut. Prove it. She wanted it bad. I didn’t do anything wrong. Earn your damn money or you won’t get a penny. You don’t get paid unless you get me the hell out of this nightmare. I—”
He finally noticed Shawna and jerked his head around. His green eyes narrowed when his gaze locked on her. He frowned and ended the call without a goodbye. He didn’t stand up. Instead, he inhaled deeply and frowned.
“These woods are private property.” He sounded irritated. “This isn’t a safe place for hikers.” His eyes seemed to darken in the shadows of sunset. “And I’m in too much shit with my alp…my boss…to bite.”
There was a low growl to his voice, like it was taking everything in him not to attack. Shawna pushed her coat back, showing off the curve of her hip while wrapping a hand around the gun tucked into the holster she was wearing. Male werewolves are so predictable. All it took was a little flirting to get them to let down their guard. Being a woman hunter had its advantages.
“That’s too bad.” She gave him a long, sultry look, while tightening her fingers around the cool, comforting feel of her Glock. “Are you sure I should leave? You’re really cute and we seem to be alone together.”
She licked her lips, being sure he got the message as his gaze trained on her mouth.
After a long pause, Benny stood with a growl. “Works for me. My boss will never know, and I do like taking bites out of hot pieces of ass like yours.”
Shawna’s entire body tightened in anticipation. She was three seconds from whipping out her gun and pumping this worthless werewolf with enough silver to solve all his legal problems…permanently.