SEAL Wolf In Too Deep (21 page)

“Have you met all of them?”

“Yes. I actively speak to each of the renters. Not trying to be intrusive, but we only have one driveway into the rental units and our house. We keep an eye on things.”

“So you'd know if one of the renters came and left and hasn't returned for some time?”

“Well, that would be the fishermen. They do a lot of ice fishing and cook their own meals, so no, I don't see them coming and going. The two women, yes, they ate at the restaurant across the road and went shopping and sightseeing. And the family? They've been in and out of here a number of times.”

“And you've actually seen the parents and the four kids?”

“Yes.”

“Can we take a look at the cabin where the fishermen are staying?”

“You can search the perimeter.”

“That would be fine. Thanks.”

Debbie thanked someone and ended her call. “A man rented a cabin in the woods, but it has a lockbox so the rental manager never really saw him and couldn't say whether he is there or not. He never personally met him.”

“Okay, and the two fishermen could have been Otis and Lloyd staying at one of the cabins.”

After calling for a couple of hours that afternoon, then breaking for lunch, they finished up. They'd checked storage units that were in more countrified settings and the cottages or hotels that were also out in the woods.

Allan said, “Are you ready to do this?”

“I sure am.”

They grabbed their coats and headed out the door.

“I know you're not serious about us getting so few hours of sleep a night and you figure I'll just fall asleep anyway,” she said, climbing into the car.

He just smiled. Even though she had gotten used to sleeping with him, she still hadn't moved her things into his bedroom. He'd hoped she'd continue to sleep with him this week when she couldn't shift. He had half a notion to join her in her room, if she opted for staying there. Of course, it would have to be up to her, but he would try, if she attempted to keep her distance from him. So far, she hadn't. A good sign.

“Are you certain Vaughn's who he said he is?”

Allan glanced at her. “Yeah. He's wearing hunter's spray, but he's one of us.”

“How can you tell?”

“When you were taking a shower, we questioned him about things he wouldn't know unless he's one of us.”

“Unless Sarah told him about some of the stuff.”

“We called his cousin Devlyn. He confirmed information about his wolf pack and sent us a news clipping about his mate, Bella Wilder, being put in a zoo when she'd been a wolf. It all matched up. And he sent some other information—a photo, some key things that only his cousin would know—to help identify him.”

Debbie gaped at Allan. “Devlyn's wife was put in a zoo?”

“Yeah. She couldn't hold her form during the full moon. It sure caused a stir.”

“A zoo,” Debbie said, shaking her head. “She must have been terrified. She couldn't hold her form. Was she newly turned?”

“No. Her
lupus garou
roots don't go far back enough to prevent her from shifting during the night of the full moon.”

She gaped at him. “You mean I'll never be able to either then?”

“As long as you're fine for the rest of the month, you should have no problem.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“It all turned out well in the end for both Bella and Devlyn.” Allan wasn't about to mention that a male wolf had been in the exhibit with her and was interested in a mating. Debbie had enough to worry about as it was. “Bella and Devlyn mated, run the pack, and have…” Allan hesitated to say. He didn't want Debbie to balk at being his mate because of the real possibility she'd have a whole litter of pups at one time. The
lupus garou
were born knowing that. They were used to having lots of siblings who were the same age. Although occasionally an only child was born. But that was rare. Like having multiple births instead of one baby was rarer for humans.

Debbie was waiting for him to finish his sentence.

“Lovely children,” he said.

She raised a brow and folded her arms.

“Triplets,” he finally admitted. He thought about seeing Debbie when she was playing with Cindy and her twin girls. He had worried when he heard Debbie growling in the cabin and then Cindy growling back, her little ones adding to the ruckus. When he'd peeked in through the living room window, he'd seen them all roughhousing, and he was glad they had been playing.

He'd worried Debbie had shifted and couldn't control it, until the girls told him before they went home that they had wanted Debbie to shift so they could play with her. She'd gotten along with them just fine, careful not to hurt them, nipping them a bit when they got too wild, and playing more vigorously with Cindy, but not as wildly as she played with him. He realized her playing with others was important: she-wolves, pups, males. Except that when it came to males, he wanted to be the only one she frolicked with.

Then he changed the subject. “Devlyn said his cousin wasn't around much because of his work—he's a SEAL like us, on his own SEAL wolf team, but he was visiting when this situation arose with Sarah. He said Vaughn has great instincts and that's why he sent him to check into the matter.”

“A SEAL? I'm not surprised. I'm glad Vaughn is not another suspect,” Debbie said.

“I'm glad he's here to help us,” Allan agreed.

When they reached the first rental unit on their list of fifty-two possible places to investigate, including seven that weren't being leased at the time, Allan thought he would show the owners the photos of Otis, Lloyd, and Sarah, in case she had been alive and didn't know what they planned to do with her. He'd also try to catch their scents. Even if Otis and Lloyd had been wearing hunter's spray, Sarah probably wouldn't have been and he would recognize her scent from her apartment.

They hadn't hit the road until three and they'd only managed to get to four places, as scattered as everything was and on snow-covered dirt or gravel roads in the country.

“This is going to take longer than I thought,” Debbie said. “I'd really like to eat out tonight at that Italian restaurant, Fame del Lupo. What does the name mean?”

Allan smiled as they traipsed around the fourth cottage that afternoon. “Wolfish appetite. And I'd sure love to take you there.”

She appreciated that he wanted to make her feel better this whole week so she could deal with the shifting for the next three weeks. And she decided, well, mostly decided, that she really couldn't live without Allan's sense of humor, his passionate lovemaking, which she'd been dying to have, and the way they could disagree and still get along.

“It's going on half past four. How about we make dinner reservations for six, and go home first and get changed.” She didn't want to tell him what she had in mind until they got home.

“We'll be there at a quarter of five. Did you want to check out another place?”

“No.”

He glanced at her.

She let out her breath. She wanted to discuss some more things before she agreed to change her life even more than it had been already.

“Rowdy was right all along about the pack. What are you going to do about him?” Debbie said as Allan drove them back to his cabin.

“He could just be joking. If he's not, he has no real proof. If he tells anyone, he'll be the laughingstock of the force. So I doubt he'll want to share what he believes with anyone. As far as we know, he's just having a bit of fun because he loves the paranormal.”

“And if he's trying to gather evidence against us?” Debbie didn't believe Rowdy was just having fun with this. Sure, he acted like he was making a joke of it, but she thought that was because he was afraid of how she would view his allegations.

“Maybe we can convince him to join the pack.”

“Coerce him, you mean.”

“Maybe he just wants to belong. Don't worry about it. What will be, will be.”

“Like with me.”

Allan reached over and took Debbie's hand and squeezed. She loved how he did that—connected with her and treated her as though she was precious to him. “As long as we don't turn him and then he wants to date you.”

She smiled. “I'll keep saying no.”

“About us?”

She sighed. “Multiple babies?”

“Is that all that's holding you back?”

“Is that
all
? You're not the one having them!”

“We have a whole pack to care for them, and we can wait on having them as long as you want to delay it. You might even have just one child. Some do—look at Franny. You might not have any. No matter what, I'd be there with you every step of the way. You want to dive, I'll take care of junior. Whatever you want.”

“You say that now…”

“It's in our genes.”

Before she knew he was a wolf, she'd wanted this—envisioned being his wife, teaming up on police business, taking diving vacations, enjoying sunsets and hiking, and fishing when it grew warmer.

But now? She was a wolf, and that meant? Well, truthfully, she loved the way Allan played with her and taught her their ways, was infinitely patient with her, and loved her unconditionally. She was one of them and that meant forever. She couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

“So…how does this work, exactly? I mean, do you get on bended knee and propose a mating?”

“This is why you wanted to have an extra hour at the cottage before dinner? You want to mate me? Hot damn, yes, woman!”

She laughed. “Well?”

Allan chuckled. “Truthfully, it begins with a lot of kissing, and you know all the rest.”

“And a marriage license?”

“We can do that. First or afterward. A wedding. Whatever makes you happy.”

Allan was holding her hand, his expression serious now, as if he was anticipating her next move—hopeful and eager, and that made her feel appreciated and loved.

“And we can wait on kids? Especially while we're getting to know each other as a couple. And take some vacations? Well, I guess during the week of the new moon on occasion.”

“Absolutely.”

“You're so enthusiastic.” And she truly did love him for it.

“You're perfect for me, Debbie. I didn't think I'd ever meet someone who was more suited to me…”

“Except that I was human.”

“And I still loved you. Once you became a wolf and we were able to share that aspect of our lives, I knew you were the only one meant for me. So, is that a yes to a mating?”

“Do you have to get Paul and Lori's permission?”

“No. Only yours.”

She swore he was speeding a bit before they arrived at the house.

This was it
, Debbie thought, and she saw the relief in his expression. Because he would have his way—her as his mate every bit as much as she'd have him.

He parked the vehicle and hurried to get her door.

He was perfect for her. Now that she had changed so much—though in many ways she hadn't changed at all. She needed him as a mentor, a lover, and most of all, a companion for life.

She hadn't expected him to lift her in his arms and rush her into the cabin. He closed and locked the door, then carried her into the bedroom as if he was afraid she'd change her mind.

After setting her on the floor, he began kissing her slowly, softly, as if he wanted to draw this out—their first mating, the real commitment, a relationship that would last for a lifetime.

She loved how he slowly undressed her, his hands all over her skin, caressing and tender. She was trying to unbutton his shirt and not get caught up in the way he slid his hands inside her bra and cupped her breasts, his mouth fused to hers.

His tongue urged her lips apart and she inhaled him, loving the sweet and spicy wolf that he was, and smelled something else—a sexy scent that turned her on fast and hard.

He pulled his mouth away from hers, he eyes glazed with desire, his lips curving up slightly. “Our pheromones,” he said, his voice husky with lust. “Hot damn, honey. Really hot.”

Then he was kissing her again, pulling her bra off and dropping it to the floor, cupping her breasts with reverence.

She pulled away, kissing his throat and nipping at his chin. She couldn't believe how sexy it felt to do that, even when he had a little stubble just appearing. The feeling had to be something to do with her wolf half. She couldn't imagine doing such a thing when she was only human and enjoying it.

He rubbed his body against her, showing just how hard she'd made him already. She rubbed him right back, lifting her leg over his and rubbing her crotch against his thigh.

He moaned, sounding like his attempt at taking this slow and easy was getting the better of him. But instead of taking off her jeans, he caressed her leg and held her tight against his thigh, fondling her.

Damp heat filled her panties and she swore she would come right then and there. She smelled the pheromones between them, igniting them even more, and pulled away from him, wanting them naked—bare flesh to bare flesh.

He was still trying to take it slow, his hand seductively sliding between her legs, firmly enough to make her come.

She quickly began working on her belt, the jeans button, and zipper, and yanked her jeans off.

He cupped her mound through her panties, sliding one finger against her clit. She groaned, wanting him inside her now but loving the erotic feel of him like this too.

She skimmed her hands over his nipples and felt them harden into small pebbles. When she ran her hand over his rigid length in his jeans, he forgot slow and easy and hurried to get out of them.

After that, he lifted her and carried her to the bed. Then he was on top of her, kissing her, moving against her, and simulating what he would be doing inside her soon.

All the kissing and touching and scents brought out the wolf in her—the raw primal need to mate. She not only felt her wolf, but his wolf too—the scents, the pure driven need. He plunged a finger between her feminine folds and stroked, his tongue sliding into her mouth and stroking her with the same urgency. She felt the world tilting on end, the pinnacle so close she could taste it, but right before she reached the climax, he pushed his cock into her in the joining, the mating between human and wolf, humanity and the wild.

She came apart under his thrusts, his deep driving compulsion to have her, and she encouraged it, pushed for it, relished it. She cried out his name in a strangled, happy, fulfilled way as he followed her into that world of bliss and sank down on top of her.

She stared up at his beautiful face, his dark stubble making him sweet and sexy and roguish-looking. And then she realized their mistake. She groaned out loud and pushed him off her. “You didn't use a condom.”

“Ah, hell…” Allan said, looking worried and annoyed with himself at the same time. “I had every intention of doing as you wished.”

She shook her head. “What are the odds that I would get pregnant after having sex with you only once?” Except the odds were fairly good, she thought morosely. She considered when she'd had her period last and when she should be ovulating—yeah, pretty good. Which
wasn't
good. She wasn't ready for multiple babies. Certainly not when she didn't even have her shifting under control.

It was bad enough she had to deal with that herself. Think what a mess it would be if she had twins and the babies shifted too! She could see it now—her half dressed as a wolf and the two pups half dressed in diapers and bunting. That reminded her of Meghan, Eliza, and the purple sock. At least in their case, the mother had told the girls to get ready to shift. With Debbie? She might not have time.

“I'm so sorry, honey,” Allan said, dragging her into his arms and covering them with the comforter. “It won't happen again until you're ready to have kids.”

As long as it might take for her to get the shifting under control, that could be never.

* * *

All week long they'd slipped in some meals out and late-night movies, but every minute of the day had been spent searching for Otis's hideaway. Vaughn had stuck close to Franny and the baby while Gary worked, so they felt she was safe enough for the time being. Paul had a couple of men assigned to watch Gary at the restaurant, in case Otis tried to do anything to him.

What took the longest for Debbie and Allan to search were all the places that either had been abandoned or were privately owned and unoccupied during the winter. They had started with a ten-mile radius and now were up to a twenty-mile radius.

Early that morning, Debbie got a surprise call from Rowdy. He'd been working a triple homicide all week and she knew he'd been ultra-busy, so she really was surprised to hear from him.

“I've heard you've been checking out dozens of places—storage facilities, cottages. What's up?”

“We just had a hunch Otis might have left some of his stuff behind when he vanished from the area,” she said, being perfectly honest with him.

“Is he back in the area?”

“We haven't been able to locate anything that might have belonged to him or any sign that he's been in the area.” Again, she hadn't lied. She realized this business of being a wolf made it difficult to be perfectly honest with human friends, and she could see Allan's dilemma when he was so interested in her but had to cool it with her.

“Is Otis a wolf now?”

How could she answer that? She glanced at Allan. He was listening, but he wasn't offering advice. She realized he trusted her to be one of them, to say the right things.

She took a deep breath. “He might be.”

“I imagine he is. I assume newly turned wolves can't hold their human shape. Am I right?”

“You could be right.”

“Okay. So if I arrest the guy, then it's going to be real trouble for…their kind. Correct?”

“Correct.”

“So what do you want me to do about this? It's my case. My murder investigation. I have one of the best success rates for solving murders, resulting in successful trials that land the criminals behind bars.”

“Maybe he'll just die of a heart attack and save all the taxpayers lots of money?” she asked.

“That doesn't help me with solving the cases.”

“If we learn where he is, we'll give you a call.”

“After the fact.”

She hesitated to say. “Well…”

“I understand. Allan's with you, isn't he?”

“Yes.”

“There's no hope for me, is there?”

“I'm afraid not.”

“Thought so.” He let out his breath. “Okay, I'll give you forty-eight hours to locate him and let me know where he is.”

“What if he's a…wolf?”

Rowdy didn't say anything for a moment. “Full moon? Gotcha. I just hope if he has difficulty living, he's not naked when I find him.”

“I've got to go, Rowdy. Allan's wondering what in the world we're talking about.”

“I just bet he is. Tell him I said hello and I'm ready for our next pizza outing. Take care and be safe, Debbie.”

“You too.” She ended the call and tucked away her phone. “Thanks for letting me deal with Rowdy the way I saw fit.”

Allan smiled at her. “Only you could pull that off and not get us into a lot of hot water.”

* * *

Allan and Debbie had been tromping through the snow for days now, thinking they were never going to locate the place where Otis had stashed his stuff. Maybe Vaughn was wrong and Otis hadn't kept his things here locally while he ran off as a wolf. Maybe he'd come during the phase of the new moon, packed up his things, and left. Or maybe they'd been searching in all the wrong places.

“We're approaching the full moon like the first time you shifted,” Allan warned her. He was carrying a mostly empty backpack, with only a few medical supplies, because he wanted to be ready if she shifted and he needed to carry her clothes for her. “Are you feeling the shift coming on?”

He worried about her. She'd been awfully quiet while they'd been hiking to a hunting cabin, the trail impassable for vehicles in the winter. The owner lived in Florida and came up here to hunt on occasion in the winter, but he said he'd already been up there and wasn't planning to return for another month. It was twenty-two miles from Van Lake, so beyond their search area, but they were starting to expand their search another ten miles out.

“Debbie?”

“Yes, yes. Let's just get to the cabin.”

But would he be hiking with her while she was running as a wolf? As aggravated as she sounded, he thought so.

“Damn it,” she suddenly said and stopped.

As soon as she started to pull off her parka, he asked, “Do you want me to help?”

She loved when he helped remove her clothes for sex, and vice versa. When she was turning into her growly wolf, sometimes she did, sometimes she didn't. So he always asked.

“Yes!”

He knew she wasn't mad at him but panicked, fearing that she would soon be a wolf half dressed in clothes.