Page 5

Chapter Four

A lmost every important conversation Iven had ever had with Cass happened as they drove to a call. The call had to do with another burglary. Iven had to wonder if the perpetrator took anything this time or if it was just like the rest of the break-ins.

“Do you think we’ll get more of the same on this call?”

Iven wasn’t expecting Cass to talk about their call. He knew the call wasn’t what was on Cass’s mind. “Seems like someone’s having fun being nosy.”

Cass didn’t avert his gaze from the window. “The pack is separating into two camps. One who wanted to follow the example Alpha Miller set and then there’s the rest of us.”

“If someone does some smooth talking, that could be good or bad.”

“Depends on which camp the smooth talker is in.” Cass shook his head and chuckled. “Riley said something about finding a spell to implant good thoughts in everyone’s head. He called it the Sunshine and Rainbows operation.”

Iven smiled. “It would improve the pack meetings.”

Cass shrugged. “Or we could just get them high.”

“Marijuana is legal in this state.” Not that Iven would ever suggest it seriously, but it would help everyone calm down.

“Did you know Riley has never done it?”

“Don’t become a bad influence on my son. Or more of one.” Iven didn’t want to know the details of what Cass and Riley got up to. That they mated behind his back still stung a little.

Iven had to remind himself sometimes that Riley might have been his kid, but he was an adult. He could make his own decisions. Not that mating with Cass was a bad one. Cass was a great guy. Not only that, but they were fated mates.

“I’m not a bad influence, Iven. You know that.” If anything, Cass grounded Riley in ways he hadn’t been before. And Cass made it possible for Riley to find joy in life. That had been on Riley’s to do list before meeting Cass.

“I know, but I still have to give you a hard time. Seeing as how he sleeps at your house more than not.”

Cass chuckled. “We do more than sleep.”

“I’ll arrest you if you give me details.”

“This one time involved my dinner table.” Cass laughed when Iven made a gagging sound.

“Remind me to find an excuse not to come to dinner when you invite me next time.” Iven shook his head but he couldn’t help finding a little comfort in the teasing.

Cass snorted. “I’m kidding.”

“Too late. But as far as your pack goes, you need to pick an alpha. Someone strong who most people trust. And then you let the new alpha do their thing to keep the peace.” That was easier said than done, considering the former alpha turned out to be a serial killer.

Trust didn’t come easily these days. They had to heal before bringing a new alpha in, unless they had an alpha most knew and trusted.

“What about asking Timeston’s alpha for help?

People know Kinnison Ransome, or they know of him.

He’s been Timeston’s alpha for a long time. Longevity may go pretty far.”

Cass made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat, but Iven made him think about things. “Kinnison Ransome is a criminal.”

“Yeah, but he cares about people. And the only shit on his rap sheet is moonshining. And besides, most people in the pack don’t care much about that. Or even the shit that isn’t on it. As long as it isn’t murder or something near as bad.”

“True.”

Not that the pack had wishy-washy morals, but under normal circumstances, they weren’t prejudiced people.

They had their boundaries, which alpha Miller stepped all over.

That was why they were so scared and divided.

It happened when one person turned another one into a commodity, which was exactly what their alpha had done to the pack.

They pulled up to the house. A woman in a suit stood outside her front door, wringing her hands. She sighed in relief when she saw their car pull into her driveway. She wore heels which couldn’t be comfortable on the rocky ground.

As soon as Iven shut off the engine and stepped out of the car, he felt eyes on him. And it wasn’t the homeowner. Someone was watching them.

“Thank you for coming, Sheriff. I feel silly calling since nothing is actually missing.” She wrung her hands together and her shoulders came up to her ears. “I just know someone was in my house. I’m not sure if they’re still inside, so I called you.”

Cass was the one who answered. “I’ll go inside and secure your home, ma’am. If you just want to stay here, the sheriff will make sure you stay safe.”

Iven nodded to Cass, letting him know he was okay with the plan. He scanned the area but didn’t see anyone. But a wooded area was the backdrop to her backyard.

The woman’s hand-wringing got worse, and she seemed to tense even more. “Do you think someone is still inside?”

“No ma’am. It’s just a precaution. And Cass will secure any evidence he might find.” While Iven didn’t dismiss the feeling of being watched, he focused on the woman. “Walk me through what happened, ma’am.”

“I just got home from work about thirty minutes ago.” She gestured to the house.

“As I drove up, I noticed the screen on that window was off its track. It was noticeable even from a distance.” She pointed to the one at the side of the garage.

It was just big enough for a smaller person to fit through.

“I went inside to see if anything was missing but doing that terrified me. Nothing was, but I’ll admit to not searching the house very thoroughly.

I’m going to stay with my sister for a few days.

She lives on the other side of town near the college. ”

She wrapped her arms around her middle. Her shoulders came up to her ears.

“We’ll hang around while you pack and patrol the area for a week or two.” Iven wasn’t sure if someone actually had broken into her home, but he understood a woman taking precautions. Females needed to be extra careful.

Cass came out the front door and waved them over. “All clear.”

Iven led the woman to the house. “You can go in now. We’re just going to take pictures. If you wouldn’t mind letting us know if someone moved anything. We’ll photograph it. And like I said, if you notice anything missing, just call the station.”

They waited until they were behind closed doors before asking, “Are you a member of the local coven, ma’am?”

She seemed confused when she answered. “Yes. Does that matter?”

“We’re not sure.” Cass met Iven’s gaze and shook his head, which meant there wasn’t a strange scent. It didn’t mean the woman had imagined it. But it didn’t give them much to go on if a crime had been committed.

They didn’t have much evidence anyway, but he had a difficult time believing three witches were imagining things. Someone had broken into three houses, but why?