“If you don’t mind my asking, how long has your mate been living here?”
Julian wasn’t fooled for a moment by Ted’s easy smile and relaxed stance. To be a Marshall’s Second you had to be one hell of a fighter. “Not very long at all. Why?”
“There’s no scent marking around your place.”
Everyone stared at Ted, confused. Everyone except Rick and Tabby.
Rick turned his piercing, pale blue gaze on Tabby. “He’s right. You check for scent marking as soon as you get home.”
Tabby nodded as if she understood exactly what he was talking about.
Emma’s hand rose in the air. “Um, for those of us of the non-canine persuasion, can you explain that please?”
“Dogs mark their territory.” Belle yawned daintily behind her hand.
“I’m not a dog.”
“You keep telling yourself that, Fido.” Belle patted her husband’s chest, laughing when he growled. “From what you say, he’s been watching them, kind of stalking them.”
“That means he’s going to be feeling territorial.” Tabby was practically curled around Alex, but her worried gaze was glued to Cyn. “He’ll have marked the places we tend to hang out, like Living Art and the apartment.”
“And your new house,” Cyn snarled. “I’ve just about had it with this fucker.”
“You’ve gone through your first change?” Cyn nodded, and Max sighed in relief. “Good. That means we’re not throwing you defenseless to the wolves.”
“Did she tell you what she turns into?” Gabe’s grin was viciously pleased.
“I thought she’d be a Spirit Bear, like Julian.”
“It doesn’t quite work that way.” Julian tugged on his braid, unsure how to inform the Halle Alpha that he had a Kodiak living in his territory.
“I’m a Kodiak.” Cyn shrugged. “It’s a Bear thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
Alex didn’t quite manage to muffle his laugh. Tabby didn’t bother trying.
“Oh.” Max blinked, his expression blank. “That’s… Large.”
“And mean.” Gabe rubbed his hands together gleefully.
Adrian was staring at Cyn with an expression of unholy delight. His wide, evil smile reminded Julian of the Grinch. “Can I watch you turn that bastard into furry origami?”
This had the potential to become a nightmare. Cyn might be big for a Bear, but a bullet would still kill her. “I think we need to worry more about how we’re going to keep her safe.” Julian winced as he tugged a little too hard on his braid, his nerves getting the better of him.
“We’ll have people watching her around the clock. Living Art is going to remain closed in order to protect its clientele.”
Cyn couldn’t hide her unhappiness over Gabe’s pronouncement. She was itching to get back to work, but she had to agree with the Hunter. She was just too vulnerable when she was in Living Art. He just hoped they could resolve this swiftly. She ran the risk of losing her business entirely the longer she stayed closed.
“Julian, until you’re stronger, you’ll have to trust us to protect your mate.” Adrian’s gaze was sympathetic but uncompromising. “This man is guilty of murder and attempted murder. We need to catch his ass before anyone else gets hurt.”
“Are we so certain it’s a man?” Sheri’s hand was clenched so hard it was white knuckled.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Adrian immediately reached for his mate and pulled her close. “Sheri was the victim of a stalker attack.”
Sheri patted Adrian’s knee. “I’m all right, I promise.”
“It’s definitely a man, Sheri.” Sarah stole Gabe’s drink and took a sip. “I could feel his rage at missing his target.”
“Is he sane?”
Sarah wiggled her hand in a so-so motion. “That depends on your definition of sane, Max. What I sensed was anger, and lots of it. But it didn’t feel manic, if that makes any sense.”
“The real question is, why is he doing it?” Adrian stared at Tabby as if she had a red targeting dot on her forehead. “Why is he focusing on the three of you?”
“One theory is that it could have something to do with Gary.” Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “Although I’m not entirely sure of that. Gary’s orders were to watch Chloe, not Tabby. He has something to do with whoever is targeting half breeds, even if he’s not talking about it. Tabby, Cyn and Glory were just a side bonus. They’re both human, or were. Their mating won’t produce half breeds like Alex and Tabby’s will.”
“Do we still have to worry about that? I thought now that Gary is in prison it was all over with.” Tabby rubbed her stomach. The little peanut growing there was only a few weeks old, but Tabby already loved the child.
“There was the Cheetah that attacked me. Is he working with the Wolf or is he working alone?” Cyn stood and began to pace. “What if the incidents are unrelated?”
“I can’t see a reason for those going after half breeds to attack you. It has to be something else.” Julian couldn’t figure out what it was they were missing.
“This is personal.” Sarah took hold of Gabe’s arms and wrapped them around her waist, something Gabe allowed with an indulgent smile. “He wanted you dead.”
“If that’s the case, we have to figure out who the three of you have pissed off recently.” Belle reached into her oversized purse and pulled out a tablet PC. She tapped a few buttons and then looked up with an expectant look. “Names, people.”
“I can’t think of anyone specific. Other than Gary and his goons, I mean.” Tabby bit her lip. “What about Gary’s family? Didn’t he refuse to name his Alpha when he got arrested?”
“The goons have family too.” Cyn turned and stared at Glory.
“Don’t look at me. I got nothing.”
“You got shot.”
“Well. Other than that.”
Cyn’s pacing paused as she shot Glory an apologetic glance. “There’s Hope.”
Glory flinched at the sound of her sister’s name. “I doubt it would have anything to do with her after all these years.”
“Still, it’s a possibility.”
“Any little tidbit of information will help.” Gabe knelt in front of Glory and took her hands in his. “Tell me what you think happened to your sister.”
“I think…” Glory lowered her head, looking so tired Julian just wanted to scoop her up and put her to bed. “It doesn’t matter what I believe. Hope is gone.”
“The one who did it left town.” Glory jolted at Cyn’s quiet statement. “Your father did it, didn’t he?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never dared say it out loud.” Glory wrung her hands together until the skin turned red. “He went insane when she didn’t come home that night.”
“He blamed you.” Sarah moved behind Glory and placed her hands on her shoulders. It looked like the Omega was attempting to use her powers on the human.
“He did. I was supposed to go with her that night. I didn’t want to go and I had an argument with him.” Glory relaxed beneath the Omega’s hands. “When she didn’t return he beat me till I couldn’t move.”
When Ryan found out about this he’d flip. If Glory’s father ever returned to Halle he wouldn’t be alive for long.
“Do you think your father is back in town?” Gabe kept his voice low and soothing, working in tandem with the Omega to keep Glory calm.
“Even if he is, he has no reason to go after Tabby and Cyn.”
“She’s right. Mr. Walsh was an asshole, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d have no reason to shoot us. It’s not like we’ve been looking into Hope’s disappearance.”
“And he has no idea that shifters even exist.” Glory frowned. “At least, I don’t think he does.”