“No idea, although they are locked and loaded for bear.”
One detail niggled at Mateo. “Aren’t there two other winter camps closer than the one they’re heading for?” He’d studied the file before coming out.
“There are, but the one they chose is prime ground for caribou hunting, which is their cover.”
“Or it might be a legitimate trip with a few bad seeds trying to mix in.” Mateo rubbed his chin. “You going to inform the Kodiak alpha?”
“Not yet. We don’t need any accidents. We will continue to monitor the situation, and you should be on the lookout for newcomers. Anyone coming into town should be treated with caution. We’re talking rubber gloves because you’re worried about an infection and paranoid to the point you’re stripping naked and scrubbing with a wire brush.” Terrence sometimes had a way with words.
“Be careful. Got it.”
He didn’t have a problem with his orders, except for one thing.
Within the hour, he was knocking on Reid’s office door because the reception desk was empty.
“Come in,” the alpha called from inside. He wasn’t alone. Boris leaned against a wall, and a massively sized fellow sprawled in a chair.
The leader of Kodiak Point offered him a curt nod. “Mateo, glad you’re here. I’d like you to meet Gene. He’s my field strategist.”
The man rolled a glance in his direction and grunted. It was a common thing among the men in Kodiak Point, many who’d served in the military together. His mother wouldn’t let him enlist with the human armies, which was why he’d jumped at the chance when Terrence recruited him.
“I didn’t realize you were having a meeting. I’ll return later,” Mateo said, ready to turn around.
“No. Stay. I have a feeling you can give us a hand with our situation. Apparently, we have some poachers camping nearby.”
“You know about them.” Stated not asked.
“And so do you,” Reid said softly. “Isn’t that why the council sent you here? Because they were aware these killers were coming?”
Mateo stared at Reid and then cast a glance at Boris, who smirked and drawled, “Did you really think we didn’t have you checked out before you arrived? Your cover story was weak at best.”
“I was under orders not to say anything.”
“And you didn’t, but I’ve been talking to your boss. Your secret is out and now that we all know, what are we going to do about it? I won’t have my people harmed. Nor am I keen on the idea of those bastards hunting on our grounds,” Reid stated.
“It’s more problematic than that,” Mateo said. “Because that group doesn’t just contain regular human hunters. It’s also got trophy poachers who collect our kind.”
“Meaning we need to put out a warning. Nobody shifts or goes into the woods until further notice.”
“For how long? The full moon is coming. The days are short. You can’t expect everyone to stay cooped up for long,” Boris reminded.
“I say we go in at night, and they have an accident.” Gene’s blunt solution.
Reid shook his head. “We can’t kill them. Some of them are innocent, not to mention, all of them dying at once? People will notice.”
“And? Perhaps we should send a message that hunting is wrong.” Boris agreed with Gene.
“Now is not the time to draw attention.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” Mateo remarked. “Everywhere you look—in the news, online, in social media—stories are popping up about our existence.”
“Exactly, and in order for us to maintain any kind of peace, we can’t be perceived as killing beasts.”
“But it’s okay for them to kill us?” Gene rolled out of his chair. “I’m not going to sit back while those fuckers hunt us down as trophies.”
After that announcement, there was some arguing, but in the end, the alpha prevailed. No killing without proof. However, he did order Gene to recruit someone and take turns actively watching the group. Boris went off mumbling about strengthening town defenses.
Once they were gone, Reid glanced at Mateo and said, “Someone has to tell Rilee about this danger. She should think about moving into town for the next little bit.”
“She won’t like it,” Mateo said.
“She won’t,” Reid agreed.
Being an idiot, Mateo volunteered to tell her.
Chapter 8
She heard the snowmobile before she saw him. He parked it in front of her place, and she watched him approach from behind her curtains. Having spent the previous evening, and most of the night and this morning, thinking about him, wondering when she’d see him again, it was elating and terrifying to have him back in the flesh.
She didn’t know what to make of him. Bold and borderline pushy one minute, sweet with a rakish teasing the next. He made her long for things she’d thought herself past wanting. He made her want him, which was why she didn’t answer when he knocked.
As if that would stop him. “Really, Rilee? I know you’re in there.”
Shifters always knew. “Go away. I’m busy.”
“Would it help if I said I brought a treat?”
Was he talking about himself? She shook her head. “Not interested.”
“What’s wrong, bella? I thought we were getting along.”
They were, which was the problem. She was scared. Of him. Of how he made her feel.
Time to shove aside her fear. She opened the door. “Why must you be so stubborn? Don’t you have other people you can harass?” she asked on a note of exasperation.
“None that I like.”
A simple admission that warmed her. “Where’s this treat you promised?”
“Tada!” He held up a can of peaches.
“I have the exact same tin in my cupboard.”
He waggled it and offered a winsome smile. “What if I said I could bake them into the most delicious cake?”
“You did not ride all the way here to make me dessert.”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t? You are an excellent dinner companion.”
“It’s not even lunch.”
“I’ll bet you’re excellent at the noon hour and for a snack too.” He winked.
She flushed. “I really do have things to do.”
He glanced around. “Yes, I can see how the gardening and farming might be time consuming this time of year.”
Her lips flattened. “It’s cleaning day.”
“Actually, more like moving out. Congratulations. You’re getting a rent-free room in town.”
Her expression probably matched her stubbornness. “I am not moving out of my house.” She went to slam the door, but he wedged his foot in the crack.
“You forgot to ask me the reason why you need to move back to town.”
“Let me guess. It’s dangerous for a woman all alone. It’s far.” She ticked off fingers.
“It is a bit of a distance,” he agreed.
She lifted her chin. “If you think I’m living too far, don’t visit.”
“Never said too far. But that’s not the problem. There are poachers to the east.”