The Scent of Seduction (2 page)

He jumped in his Jeep then took off down the dirt road. He loved this vehicle. It may have been almost thirty years old, but there was something about roaring down the road in a transport still powered by a combustion engine that really revved Jaryn's blood. He'd lived with his family until he'd taken over as Alpha and built his own home farther back on the pack's property, a few miles away from his parents. His pack owned two hundred and forty acres in the area known as Phantom River, in western Montana. Pack historians had traced their ancestral members to the region well before the Europeans had come to claim the country for their own. Legally, Phantom River had been in their possession since the late eighteen-hundreds. As an added bonus, the surrounding land had eventually been designated as state and national park-owned mountains and forest. This gave all the shifters in Jaryn's pack plenty of space to run. The closest town, Stonepass, was large enough to support their medium-sized pack and most chose to live in or near town, but any pack member could apply to build within the boundaries of the pack lands if they so chose. Jaryn didn't have any neighbours within sight of his home, and he liked it that way. Since he was the one who approved all new buildings on the pack lands, he intended to keep it that way, too. He knew some packs around the country which lived in one large dormitory-like home, but as much as Jaryn's wolf loved the community of the pack, his human side valued privacy and peace.

He pulled up to his house and smiled. The warm exterior lights welcomed him home to the log and timber single-storey Adirondack-style building. The exterior featured a glass wall that faced the mountains, a blocked stone chimney and foundation, and hand-hewn pine timbers supporting the eaves and logged walls. Jaryn strolled through the grass and stepped up onto the stone patio that surrounded the house. The biometric recognition system identified him and disengaged the home security. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"Lights on. Level one."

Low-wattage lights glowed from the vaulted ceiling—enough light for Jaryn to make his way easily through the great room without being blindingly bright. Of course, with his enhanced vision he really didn't need any lights, but they did make the place a little homier and highlighted the efforts of all his hard work. He'd worked tirelessly on the floor plan to achieve a unique combination of intimacy and space. Several sets of French doors opened to the wrap-around stone patio, and timber accents inside showcased the details of the high ceilings. Jaryn had done his best to blend traditional styling with contemporary innovations when it came to the furnishings and appliances.

He went into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge. It was a nice enough night to go sit on the patio for a little while. When he closed the refrigerator door, he noticed the data screen on the front that flashed the latest update of his food stores. It reminded him that he needed milk, eggs and lunch meat—not to mention a reminder to pick up ingredients for this week's dinners. The system suggested that tomorrow he make steak with Boursin cheese and green beans. Jaryn shrugged—it sounded as good as anything at that moment. Eventually he'd have to programme in new suggestions for the system to rotate so he could get a little variety in his diet, but for now he was satisfied with the three basic food groups. Meat, beer, and potatoes. He occasionally added something green for good measure. Well, that and so his mom didn't take a bite out of his fur for having such a bad diet.

It was a good thing that the appliance also sent reminders to his comm-unit because Jaryn knew he'd forget to stop by the store on his way home tomorrow without them. Then he'd be stuck without breakfast or lunch food in a couple days. Of course he could always frequent the diner, and with all the late nights he'd spent at the office lately, Jaryn had wound up there more often than not in the last several months.

Jaryn stepped outside on his patio. “Lights off,” he ordered the home system. He loved sitting outside and watching the night sky without interference from artificial light. The night temperatures were cooler now that they'd crossed into the latter part of August. He lit a fire in the stone fireplace that was built into the side of his house then relaxed, listening to the sounds of the nearby creek. Some technology was great, but nothing could replace the peacefulness of the scents and sounds of a wood-burning fire and the great outdoors.

It was nights like this he wished he had a mate to share the quiet peace of nature with. One who would kick back and enjoy the warmth of the fire with him, maybe even get a little frisky under a flannel blanket on one of the large chaise lounges he had scattered around the patio.

He'd been with plenty of women over the years but none had been ‘the one'. None of them had called to his wolf, telling him that this was the person with whom he would share his life. He was getting tired of playing the game. He found temporary solace with the women he dated, but before long his wolf would demand that Jaryn move on, always on the hunt for his mate. Jaryn found himself frequently lonely despite being constantly surrounded by friends, family and pack members. Only with his mate would Jaryn's life be complete, and he'd be able to experience a full mating bond. The legendary bond ensured that Jaryn's extended days would be filled with love and laughter and companionship. She'd be the only woman who could give him children, the only one with whom he'd share a mental link. The only woman who could know him completely, and
still
love him. Claws, fur, fangs, bossy Alpha attitude and all.

At the pack's annual independence feast this past summer, he'd confessed to his mom under a full moon that he was halfway convinced he'd never find the woman who was destined to be his. She'd told him to have patience, that she hadn't met his father until she was well into her forties. He was eternally glad that his mom had never revealed that moment of very unAlpha-like behaviour to anyone else.

His mom had been forty-nine when Jaryn was born, and despite their desire for more pups, Jaryn's parents struggled with infertility in the years after his birth. Charlie had been a bit of a surprise twenty-two years later. Jaryn had been thrilled at having a little brother, despite the age gap. In some ways he did act as a second father to Charlie, but he always tried to keep those tendencies in balance with good-natured sibling chaos.

Of course, due to the slower aging process of the shifters, the passing years didn't have near the consequences they did for humans. Despite being in their late eighties, Jaryn's parents were flourishing in their middle-age. Shifters didn't live forever—and quite frankly, Jaryn was glad of it—but their genetic mutation did award them with a long lifespan, immunity to disease, and a few other bonuses.

And when the time came that their parents did pass on—which much to his sorrow would eventually happen—Jaryn knew that he'd be around to guide and support Charlie.

Great...now he was depressed again. His second beer gone and the fire burning low, he extinguished the embers and headed inside.

"Seal all exits,” he ordered the system.

Jaryn waited till he heard electronic locks slip in place on the patio doors then he headed for his master bedroom and stripped. As he walked into the master bath, he called out, “Activate shower.” He opened the glass door and stepped inside, knowing the temperature would be perfect based on his programmed settings.

The custom stone enclosure had a grotto feel to it. He'd been able to plumb-in multiple showerheads and a built-in seat he could relax on and enjoy the steam vents if he so desired. His last girlfriend had even placed ferns around the top ledge. She'd said it gave the space a sexy jungle feel. At first Jaryn had thought they'd be a pain in the ass to take care of, but it wasn't so bad. He would never admit to anyone that he now enjoyed them.

He scrubbed the run with Charlie off his body, luxuriating in the hot spray beating down on his back and shoulders. He could stand in here all day and never run out of hot water courtesy of the tankless system the house employed. Well, maybe all day was a bit of an exaggeration, but he did love his long, hot showers. The hotter the better in his opinion. Gone were the days of his youth when the hot water heater would exhaust itself and a person would turn into a Popsicle while bathing.

Right before he was about to transform into a prune, he deactivated the spray then stepped out to grab a towel off the heated rack next to the enclosure. He wrapped the towel around his waist and padded back into his bedroom. After he'd pulled on a pair of sleep pants, Jaryn slid between the cool sheets of his king-sized bed. Tomorrow he'd have to talk to Shaun about the status of the investigation they'd been tasked with by the ASC. There was something niggling in the back of his mind about the pattern of disappearances from within the shifter community over the last several years, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Maybe he'd see if Shaun could pull up the files again. What he expected to find as he searched through the individual investigations for the hundredth time he wasn't sure, but anything was worth a shot.

The ASC was breathing down his neck for some kind of progress. The problem was that whoever was behind the disappearances was good—very good—and the number of clues they had to go on was only a fraction of the number of lost shifters.

It was late and Jaryn knew he really needed to get some sleep if he had any hope of having a productive day come sunrise. So he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Eventually his mind began to drift and Jaryn let the day come to an end.

September 2038

Jaryn was standing in line at the bank, waiting to scan the deposits for the week, when an unfamiliar scent caught his attention—a scent that made his head spin and the blood pump rapidly through his veins. It reminded him of honey and jasmine. His heart beat in his chest with a heavy thump, and the air in his lungs felt as if he spent too long in his steam room. His vision flashed from a brilliant Technicolor display to the muted shades of his wolf vision then back again. Heat bloomed beneath his cool skin and beads of sweat snaked down his spine. He inhaled to get a deeper appreciation of the scent—one that he'd longed to detect since he came to realise the enormity of how it would change his life.

The scent of his mate.

His gums itched as fangs tried to descend. It was only through sheer will-power he prevented any outward signs of his reaction. The instant lack of control over his wolf was completely foreign to Jaryn, and only further solidified his certainty that his mate was near. He concentrated on subduing the wolf, while maintaining his connection to the new scent consuming him.

Once the rampant exhilaration and lust began to fade, Jaryn noticed that there was something off. The beguiling scent carried an undercurrent of fear and anxiety. This wasn't the stench of guilt, but rather terror with an essence of panic. He lifted his head and he shifted his body to see behind him. A woman—a stranger—stood in the line beside him.

She was a petite woman with curves designed perfectly for Jaryn's hands to cup and caress. He estimated that the top of her head would only reach his chest, but the crown was draped in dark red hair with long loose waves flowing down her back. The colour was clearly natural as Jaryn couldn't detect any hint of chemicals lurking under the woman's natural scent. Unfortunately, the black sunglasses prevented him from determining her eye colour. Her pale skin had a light, nearly translucent dusting of freckles across her nose and cheek bones. Little teeth nibbled on a shiny, plush lower lip. His cock thickened and his hands tingled with desire to touch the softness of skin bared by the v-neck and short sleeves of her top. He stepped out of line and walked to the self service counter next to her. He found a scrap of paper tucked into one of the cubbies and scrawled a note, using the pen provided. Jaryn stepped up beside her and noticed her entire body tensed as if she were ready to bolt out of the building. He slid the paper into her hands.

Nicole glanced down at the note the large man had just handed her. Her shaking made it difficult to focus on the hurried script.

Do you need help?

Not even looking up at the stranger, she tore up the paper then shoved it into her purse. She didn't know this guy from Adam...and that phrase was a little too accurate in this case. The subtle smell of his aftershave, as well as another deeper scent enveloped her body and a little shiver rippled beneath her skin. His size alone should terrify her. He was larger than Adam and oozed Alpha from his pores. The heat radiating off his body helped diffuse some of the chill lingering on her skin but she couldn't fall prey to another dominant being. How did he know she was in trouble? Did she not appear as calm and collected as she hoped or was it something more? Nobody else in the lobby seemed to sense her anxiety, and a nervous person fidgeting in the lobby of a bank usually caught someone's eye.

She'd only stopped in the bank to try and withdraw some much needed funds. It was a good thing that all accounts were linked via a fingerprint and retinal scan. As she passed through town she'd seen this branch—identical to the one she'd used before her abduction over a year ago—and thought fate had finally given her a break. Now she wasn't so sure.

"Miss?” Jaryn asked.

"I'm fine.” Nicole Holland looked up and saw that the bank portal in front of her was available. “Please excuse me.” She tapped the screen to access her accounts. After logging into the system, Nicole selected the menu that would allow her to withdraw the money. She used the touch screen to enter the amount desired. According to the account information screen, it was not quite her entire savings. However, almost immediately the screen flashed with an alert message ordering her to visit the teller, that the automated system couldn't complete the transaction requested. Nicole's heart raced and she felt sweat pop out on her forehead. Had Adam somehow gained access to her accounts? Why wouldn't the system give her the money? She logged out with furtive glances around her to determine if there were any curious eyes focused on her. Nicole stepped over to the counter where a teller stood, waiting.