Page 23 of A Skirl of Sorcery (The Cat Lady Chronicles #3)

This was far more than the detritus caused by a full moon, but I held my tongue. ‘It’s a lovely space,’ I said. ‘I wish I lived somewhere like this.’

The werewolf grunted at my obvious lie then directed me to a metal chair in the centre of the yard and told me to wait. I glanced at it, and the puddle of dirty water pooling in the centre of the seat, and decided to stand as she vanished indoors.

I was curious as to who would appear next. Thane’s mother was still alpha of the Barrow pack; she’d been in charge since before Thane had killed his uncle and been booted out for his actions; in fact, I believed she was the longest-serving alpha in Coldstream.

I couldn’t admire her, though; she’d allowed her only son to be thrown out of her pack when he was barely fifteen years old.

Thane had never explained to me why he’d murdered his uncle, who had been the Barrow beta at the time, and I’d never questioned him about it.

He’d tell me if he wanted me to know. I didn’t judge him for past actions that I didn’t understand, but I judged the hell out of his damned mother.

Yes, it was possible Thane was the villain of the piece and his mother didn’t deserve my censure but she had it nonetheless. Thane had been a child.

The figure that appeared in the doorway and paused to look me over before joining me was a grizzled older man.

Something about his eyes and the way he held himself made me think that he was one of the older werewolves who’d been with Cayden last night; I reckoned this was the wolf who’d nudged Thane’s brother away from the dryads. His bearing as a human looked similar.

I pasted on a tentative smile and offered him an awkward wave. ‘Hi there. Thank you for coming out to talk to me.’

He drew close enough to invade my body space; he was at least a foot taller than me and he was using both his height and the lack of space between us to intimidate me. ‘Who are you?’ he asked. He didn’t smile.

I played along; I was perfectly happy to act meek if it meant I got results. ‘I’m Kit McCafferty.’ I fiddled with my cuffs and looked at my feet.

‘What do you want, Kit McCafferty?’ He was overdoing the gruff antagonism. Sometimes less was definitely more; it wasn’t the snarling, snapping monster that you had to be wary of but the smiling wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I flinched, trying to give the impression that I was scared. Last night’s full moon was working in my favour; even an older, more experienced werewolf such as this one would still be disorientated and off his game.

‘As I said to the woman at the gate,’ I told him, ‘I have some information about Thane Barrow.’

The grizzly werewolf was unequivocal in his response. ‘There is no Thane Barrow.’

I blinked rapidly. ‘Oh,’ I said. ‘Oh. I thought…’ My voice trailed away, then I sighed. ‘I should go then.’ I started to walk uncertainly towards the gates.

He shot his arm out to stop me. His hand was still a furry paw, complete with sharp-looking claws. ‘Hold up.’

I was relieved that I’d read the situation accurately. ‘What?’

‘That man may no longer be worthy of the Barrow name but we are interested in him.’ After twenty-seven years, that surely had to be the result of last night’s brawl rather than concern about Thane himself.

I had to play my next move very carefully. ‘I know where he’s staying. I heard something went down last night and I thought you might be interested in his whereabouts.’

Grizzly narrowed his eyes. ‘What did you hear about last night?’

‘There was an altercation between you and him. Plenty of people living nearby saw what happened – the stories are all over Coldstream.’ I appealed to the man’s pack vanity and exaggerated the numbers. ‘Ten of you, one of him – and he still managed to beat you.’

‘That’s not what happened! It was one-on-one, and Thane attacked without provocation.’ He bared his teeth. ‘As is his wont.’

Yeah, yeah. We were both lying now. ‘He’s staying in my building at the moment. He’s alone, vulnerable. You could take him unawares and beat him.’

Grizzly was watching me like a hawk. ‘Why would you come to us with this information? What’s in it for you?’

I tried to conjure up a blush and failed, so instead I looked away and shuffled my feet. ‘I thought we could come to an arrangement,’ I mumbled.

‘Money?’

‘Nothing comes for free.’

Unfortunately, Grizzly wasn’t buying what I was selling. ‘Not interested.’ He pointed towards the gates. ‘You can leave now. And don’t come back.’

It looked like I’d screwed this up and I wouldn’t get the chance to uncover the information I’d needed, but before I could attempt another ploy a door opened and a figure burst out.

In a blur of movement, a young man bounded towards me and wrapped his hands around my throat. He looked a bit like Thane and I was certain this was Cayden Barrow in human form. ‘What’s the address?’ he spat, his body vibrating with rage.

It took everything I had not to react by grabbing him and body slamming him to the ground for putting his hands on me. Instead, I squeaked and looked scared.

‘Enough, Cayden.’ Grizzly was trying – and failing – to calm the young werewolf.

The effects of the full moon were still running through their veins; Cayden was too focussed on his anger and Grizzly was too ineffectual in giving an order.

Where the hell was Thane’s mother? Any werewolf alpha worth their salt should have been out here dealing with the situation by now.

I widened my eyes and whimpered, ‘Don’t hurt me.’

Grizzly tried again. ‘Cayden!’ This time he spoke more forcefully.

The young wolf released me but he didn’t back away. ‘Where is Thane?’ he demanded.

I swallowed. ‘I’ll tell your alpha. I’ll talk to Ashina Barrow and nobody else.’ It was quite a demand for someone in a supposedly powerless position but it worked.

The werewolves exchanged looks. ‘She’s not available,’ Cayden said. ‘So you’ll have to tell us.’

I raised my hands to my throat and rubbed it pointedly. ‘I’m not talking to you! You assaulted me! It’s Ashina or nobody.’

Cayden snarled, ‘I won’t repeat myself. She’s not available.’

I refrained from pointing out that he had just repeated himself. ‘Is she dead? Are you alpha now?’

Something flared in his eyes and Grizzly stiffened, too. ‘I think we’re done here,’ he said.

‘No.’ Cayden shook his head. ‘She will tell us where the bastard lives.’

I knew I’d have to give them something. The swanky flat didn’t suit Thane anyway, and he had other places he could stay. I dropped my shoulders and whispered the address.

Cayden smiled coldly. And then he threw me out and shut the gates behind me.