highway are going to bring in more people. This is the integration your parents pushed for. Look where it got them.”
Ainsley’s world began to rearrange itself.
“Erik, are you saying that my parents’ death wasn’t an accident?”
“Before last night I would have said no way, but now… Just be careful. And try to keep the magic stuff on the down low. Wolves don’t like magic.”
“Do you think Clive is behind all this?”
“Clive isn’t much of a planner, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else were pulling the strings.”
“Could that be Julian?” Ainsley whispered.
“I saw him around town a lot with your dad, Ainsley, when he was alive. He seemed to take a real interest in your dad. And I don’t like what you told me today.”
Erik patted her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it for now. There’s a patrol and I’ll stop home at lunchtime to check on you.”
She wished he wouldn’t go. Not just because she was scared, but because she liked to talk with him. She looked up into his brown eyes.
He smiled mildly and brushed the top of her hair with his lips.
“See you at lunchtime.”
CHAPTER 5
C live was trying to keep his patience, but it was getting harder. He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. And the voice coming through the speakerphone grated his ears.
Justin and Will sat in the guest chairs in front of his desk, listening. He didn’t want to come across like a fucking pussy in front of them, so he pretended to think it was funny.
“Did you find the book yet?” the voice demanded.
“No, I haven’t found it yet,” Clive answered.
“Did you search for it again last night?”
“Of course I did!”
Shit. He was so furious last night he hadn’t remembered.
“Besides, you already has the house tossed twice before last night, plus her old man’s office. It’s time to accept the fact that Connor hid it someplace safer.”
“This is why we should have kept him around until all the loose ends were tied up. You are too impatient. And I wouldn’t trust those goons of yours to mow my lawn!”
Justin made a “Who me?” gesture and Will snickered silently into his hands.
“If you want to be alpha, you will have to be patient,” the droning voice continued.
The words echoed meaningfully, but Clive chose to flip the phone the bird instead of thinking them through.
“You obviously wrecked your chance with Ainsley. The only way for you to become alpha now is to get her out of the picture.”
“I would love to take care of that. She’ll be gone by the end of the day,” Clive crowed.
“Don’t be stupid. The town is already buzzing. You can’t make a move with everyone watching. I told you, be patient. We have to set the town against her. This would be easier if I had the damn book.”
“Maybe you should be the one looking for it, then,” Clive ventured.
“I’m not the one who failed to seal the deal last night, and then let one little girl give me the slip!”
“You never told me she was gonna magic me up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ainsley. I had everything under control last night, and then she did something to me.”
“Did something?”
“Some kind of crazy light shot out of her hands, it felt like she dumped a bucket of ice water on my head. It stopped me from shifting, or I would have finished her right there.”
Will made a little finger-swirling “crazy” gesture for Justin’s benefit when he thought Clive wasn’t looking. Clive shot him a furious glance.
“Interesting. So little Ainsley Connor has a secret. Maybe we can use this to our advantage.”
“How?”
“We’ll need to expose her, publicly. Show everyone she’s not what she seems.”
“How do you suggest we do that?”
“Leave that to me. In the meantime, try not to do anything stupid.”
Of course he hung up immediately, before Clive could think of something really great to say back. Justin and Will cackled like hens.
Clive hoped he would have the chance to get
Ainsley’s world began to rearrange itself.
“Erik, are you saying that my parents’ death wasn’t an accident?”
“Before last night I would have said no way, but now… Just be careful. And try to keep the magic stuff on the down low. Wolves don’t like magic.”
“Do you think Clive is behind all this?”
“Clive isn’t much of a planner, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else were pulling the strings.”
“Could that be Julian?” Ainsley whispered.
“I saw him around town a lot with your dad, Ainsley, when he was alive. He seemed to take a real interest in your dad. And I don’t like what you told me today.”
Erik patted her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it for now. There’s a patrol and I’ll stop home at lunchtime to check on you.”
She wished he wouldn’t go. Not just because she was scared, but because she liked to talk with him. She looked up into his brown eyes.
He smiled mildly and brushed the top of her hair with his lips.
“See you at lunchtime.”
CHAPTER 5
C live was trying to keep his patience, but it was getting harder. He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. And the voice coming through the speakerphone grated his ears.
Justin and Will sat in the guest chairs in front of his desk, listening. He didn’t want to come across like a fucking pussy in front of them, so he pretended to think it was funny.
“Did you find the book yet?” the voice demanded.
“No, I haven’t found it yet,” Clive answered.
“Did you search for it again last night?”
“Of course I did!”
Shit. He was so furious last night he hadn’t remembered.
“Besides, you already has the house tossed twice before last night, plus her old man’s office. It’s time to accept the fact that Connor hid it someplace safer.”
“This is why we should have kept him around until all the loose ends were tied up. You are too impatient. And I wouldn’t trust those goons of yours to mow my lawn!”
Justin made a “Who me?” gesture and Will snickered silently into his hands.
“If you want to be alpha, you will have to be patient,” the droning voice continued.
The words echoed meaningfully, but Clive chose to flip the phone the bird instead of thinking them through.
“You obviously wrecked your chance with Ainsley. The only way for you to become alpha now is to get her out of the picture.”
“I would love to take care of that. She’ll be gone by the end of the day,” Clive crowed.
“Don’t be stupid. The town is already buzzing. You can’t make a move with everyone watching. I told you, be patient. We have to set the town against her. This would be easier if I had the damn book.”
“Maybe you should be the one looking for it, then,” Clive ventured.
“I’m not the one who failed to seal the deal last night, and then let one little girl give me the slip!”
“You never told me she was gonna magic me up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ainsley. I had everything under control last night, and then she did something to me.”
“Did something?”
“Some kind of crazy light shot out of her hands, it felt like she dumped a bucket of ice water on my head. It stopped me from shifting, or I would have finished her right there.”
Will made a little finger-swirling “crazy” gesture for Justin’s benefit when he thought Clive wasn’t looking. Clive shot him a furious glance.
“Interesting. So little Ainsley Connor has a secret. Maybe we can use this to our advantage.”
“How?”
“We’ll need to expose her, publicly. Show everyone she’s not what she seems.”
“How do you suggest we do that?”
“Leave that to me. In the meantime, try not to do anything stupid.”
Of course he hung up immediately, before Clive could think of something really great to say back. Justin and Will cackled like hens.
Clive hoped he would have the chance to get
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