Chapter 65

Art POV

Rooftop Downtown

Height increased my clarity.

I leaned on the edge of the roof, taking in the lights of the city stretched out below me. I rubbed at the keychain which held my family bands. I knew I would be able to recall my children immediately if I brought it up to my nose to catch their scents, but I didn't need to smell the bands to remember.

Why had I told Rachel Flores about my children? What did her Alphas see in her which drove them so insane?

I could acknowledge she was elegant and earthy at the same time. Pregnancy had added generously to her curves, too. I'd certainly seen sexier women though; Alphas had their pick of females in wolfen society as well as among many other species, including humans.

The model -Jenny- Tyler took out was much more striking than Rachel; Charlotte Wright held a petite elegance which would stir the wolf inside any Alpha, even Nathan Lewis had to see as much in spite of his odd obsession with the Flores woman.

Her scent lingered in my nose. It wasn't particularly striking to me. I was reminded of summer and spicy food and salsa dancing. There wasn't any part of her which overshadowed the females who'd brought me low before I became an Alpha Inspector.

"Lewis," I snapped as soon as he answered his phone, "I'm Alpha Inspector Art Windsor. Rachel Flores wants to go into Moonglow Pack territory in two days. She asked for you to come along with us as escort. I'm taking her with or without you. Are you in?"

I wasn't going to have a full conversation with Nathan Lewis unless forced. He was completely insane from all I could tell and I had learned how to tell a lot from a little.

"Where do I meet you?"

"Be at her apartment. Get there by 8 AM. I'm not waiting on you."

I hung up before he could agree. I didn't need to hear him say he understood to know I'd gotten the point across. His obsession would drive him to show up early. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't pack immediately then insist on camping out in her apartment living room just to make sure he wasn't left behind.

We might be better off if I did leave him behind.

I wanted to say I was wrong, but I knew I was right. The part of me which could smell madness on an enemy could also smell the stirrings of danger or bad decisions.

Nathan Lewis was a creature I could understand completely. He was insane, but his insanity was focused on Rachel Flores. As long as I controlled the female, I'd control the Alpha in him. He'd do nothing to endanger her. His beast wouldn't let him.

Tyler Wright on the other hand---he baffled me in more ways than I wanted to consider. His beast was locked away, but he had lost none of his edge. He was all sharp teeth and claws. I could picture him tearing me apart in a second if I exposed even an inch of weakness. What would keep him in control?

Rachel wasn't the answer for Wright. She had betrayed him once and he'd never forgiven her for it. Their union had been broken. I knew he only remained fixated on her because she carried his young---except a part of him seemed to want more from her than the heir she had to offer.

"Wright?"

I asked as if someone else might answer his phone in the night. I felt off-balance because of his unknown anger and strange intensity which had nothing to do with the beast who shared his body.

"Windsor," he greeted, "What do you need?"

I knew in that moment I could ask him for anything -anything at all- and he'd do whatever it took to get it for me.

A shudder rippled through me at the idea of how much power Tyler Wright had even without his wolf.

"Lewis is going with us on this trip. Rachel insisted. We leave in two days. Can I make a suggestion for you? The personal kind?"

I was dancing with The Devil and I knew it. Teasing Tyler was no better than baiting a cobra; I would probably get bit for my trouble, but I couldn't resist.

I hadn't felt anything close to amusement in so long I'd do anything to feel again.

"You can," he finally allowed, his voice cautious, "Are you going to tell me I shouldn't let her go with Lewis? Or I should rearrange my schedule to go too?"

"Goddess wept. No! I can't imagine anything worse than trying to escort you and Lewis with the female you're fighting over into enemy territory. We'd all probably wind up in chains or dead. This is about you and Rachel. You want her back, right? As your mate?"

I pushed for the answer because I wasn't sure what was motivating him. Tyler wasn't in love with Rachel. I could tell he held some sort of affection for her, but it seemed to be focused on lust rather than love.

All the same, I knew he wanted her body. I wanted to hear him say it so I could have the certainty cemented in place. A part of me questioned my judgement where she was concerned because I knew what it was like to be taken by a female only to wind up realizing love had turned to lust had turned to little more than fondness.

I had three women haunting my past whose love was worthless to me.

"Yes. I want her back. Why? You think she won't return to me?"

"No," I admitted, "I think you'll get her back. I just think you might want to send her a present for this trip. Something pretty and pink and with a powerful buzz. Get her a toy so she soaks her sheets thinking about you. Or better yet? Talking to you. She's a passionate woman. She'll appreciate you seeing her sexuality."

Silence greeted me from his side of the line, but I heard his breathing shudder in then out as he regained control of himself.

I couldn't tell if he was angry or amused or both. All I knew was I wanted to make sure Wright had a better shot of getting Rachel than Lewis. She wasn't very interesting on her own, but with these Alphas chasing her? I could fill my amusement quota for a year on their relationships alone.

"I'd recommend ordering from the internet. Google 'vibrators for women' and pick something you'd want to watch her use. I promise it'll work."

"You're---strange."

I thought of the curse my last ex had hit me with and grinned, showing teeth to the night sky since Tyler Wright wasn't there to see them.

"You have no idea."

I hung up before I could say more or mention the two day time limit before we started our trek to Moonglow Pack territory.

Tyler Wright seemed to be intimidated by me to enough of a degree to keep him towing the line for a while. I'd take him off-balance for as long as I could get him. I didn't want to even the playing field until I was sure I could win.

The Alpha Council had set me the task of finding out if Rachel Flores was actually Rachel Campbell; I was going to get their information if I had to tear it out of those backwoods wolves with my teeth. They might think they could hide their secrets from the world, but no one hid from me for long.

I could smell a lie as well as I could smell the sweet scent of my children as I rubbed their bands between my fingers and wished I could see them long enough to dole out a few hugs or kisses.

I wouldn't take any chances when I escorted Rachel and Lewis into Moonglow territory. They would have to watch out for themselves when I was investigating. I didn't have time to hold their hands and get my work done, too.

I had a family to return to -unorthodox thought it might be- and I wasn't going to keep them waiting indefinitely because I was amused by two Alphas fighting over a female.

Tucking my keychain back into my pocket, I scanned the rooftop to make sure I was still alone then I closed my eyes and willed myself back to the hunt. I'd materialize as mist outside the window at Rachel's apartment. No one would see me there; I would greet no one to alert them to my presence.

All I needed to do was watch and wait for a while longer before getting the real investigation underway.

I hoped I found good news for the Council this time. I was beginning to grow tired of being the one who always told of betrayals, murders, and double-crosses. Shouldn't I get a happy ending for someone soon?

I hoped so, for Rachel's sake and Tyler's too.