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Chapter Seven
T hey parked inside the lot where the nature trails began. The crime wasn’t visible at first, but as soon as they got out of their vehicle, they heard the fighting. Wolves growled. Flesh hit flesh.
“It’s the pack.” Cass pulled his gun from its holster, so Iven did the same without questioning why. “I smell blood. A lot of it.”
Iven didn’t know that flesh had a sound when it was torn from the bone. Tearing was the most accurate description.
A wolf whined.
As soon as they rounded a group of trees, Iven got his first look at the bloodiest scene he’d ever seen.
Some people were in wolf form, while others fought as humans. Someone was in their third form. Iven wasn’t sure who it was.
No one seemed to notice them.
Cass took off his clothing. When he shifted, it happened fast. His body distorted, popping and elongating until he resembled a werewolf. He stood a foot and a half taller than in his human form.
The other person who was in their werewolf form came to Cass with claws drawn, baring their teeth.
Iven conjured the spell to freeze the other werewolf, but he wouldn’t be able to hold him for very long.
He was a strong warlock, but not so strong that he could hold thirty wolf shifters at one time.
The werewolf froze, which left Cass open to stop the other wolves.
Iven tried to freeze as many as he could, but he knew it wasn’t sustainable.
He grabbed his phone from his pocket, calling Riley. Riley picked up on the first ring. “Is everything ok?”
“I need you over here, son.” Iven gave Riley their location.
“Is Cass ok?” Riley’s voice was filled with tension.
“He’s not injured.” Which was mostly true. He might have a few scratches, but Iven didn’t mention that.
“We’re on our way.”
Cass fought with everything he had. He forced wolves to shift into their human form.
Iven wasn’t sure how Cass did such a thing, but he knew it was Cass’s doing because the wolf shifters seemed in pain afterward.
They lay on the ground, breathing heavily, which allowed Iven to zip tie their hands together.
He had six people secured by the time Riley showed up with Griffin.
Riley stepped up and everyone froze. He had to unfreeze Cass. He met Iven’s gaze, as if asking what Iven wanted him to do next.
Griffin’s mouth hung open. “Damn.”
Riley shrugged.
Griffin grabbed Riley around the neck and held him in a headlock. There was no ill intent. He kissed the top of his head and let him go.
Cass came over to them and got dressed. He drew Riley to him. “Thanks for saving our butts, honey. Can you release a wolf one at a time?”
One by one, they cuffed the wolves. It was a chore getting them all to the station, but they managed. They were finishing up when they another call came in.
Iven and Cass were in the car when Cass brought up his meeting with Ransome. Iven hadn’t wanted to pry. He knew more about wolf shifter pack business than any warlock should.
“Do you know Ransome’s son?”
Why did Cass think he knew Kinnison Ransome’s family members? “Can’t say I do. I remember his daughter’s murder case, though.”
It was Timeston’s case, and the last Iven heard, they hadn’t solved it.
Cass shrugged. “He told me to tell you ‘hi’.”
“Why would he do that?” Iven wasn’t sure what to think about it. “I’ll look into him when we get back to the station.
Cass’s expression was pensive. “It’s the oddest thing. He had a unique scent. Not a wolf shifter’s scent.”
“What did he smell like?”
“Like Timeston pack and herbal all at once.”
“Like a witch?”
Cass shrugged. “Yeah, sort of. The scent went deep. He was born with it.”
“Let’s keep this to ourselves for now.”
“I agree. Ransome is protecting somebody. Makes me wonder if it’s his kid.”
Being a wolf with magic wasn’t that odd. Some people might be prejudiced, since it wasn’t that common. But it wasn’t unheard of, which made Iven wonder if Ransome protected his son for a different reason entirely.