Page 13 of Midnight Whispers (Forbidden Entanglements #1)

Chapter Thirteen

C ass knew Iven was suspicious because he kept glancing at Cass. He just wasn’t sure what he’d done to make him that way and what exactly he suspected. Iven usually waited until he collected his thoughts before he said anything, so Cass had to bide his time.

Zinnie seemed to be a buffer between them. And the moment called for their undivided attention on the wolf sighting.

Cass couldn’t help being in protective mode. His mate was far too close to a potential threat. As much as Cass probably should have pushed his wolf back, he let the wolf lead.

Cass growled when he caught the scent of a pack member. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly who it was. “It’s a pack member.”

“He might have followed us here from Krieger’s property,” Iven whispered.

“Or even from when we talked to the victim.” Cass scanned the ground, searching for clues. He didn’t see anyone, but he knew Krieger’s scent by that point. It was fresh. He followed it to the road where it disappeared.

“I’ll call the sheriff in Timeston to elicit their help.” As much as Cass didn’t want the Timeston pack to know about the shitshow Fortune Falls pack had become, there was no helping it. Quincy had to stay safe.

“He got into a vehicle.” Cass knew Krieger would go to the alpha. He would tell the alpha that the sheriff’s department was onto them.

Cass had to be careful. Their investigation didn’t paint a good picture for the alpha. A scared wolf was a dangerous one. The alpha had been charming, which he used as a manipulative tool, up to that point. It told Cass the alpha was narcissistic, which didn’t mean it made him a murderer. Cass didn’t have proof the alpha was involved.

It didn’t matter what he knew. It mattered what he could prove.

Cass sighed. “Well, we can expect a visit from the alpha.”

“No need for us to go to him, then.” That was one way to look at it.

Zinnie glanced from Cass to Iven. “So, this has something to do with that murder?”

Iven shook his head and sighed. “It doesn’t take long before information travels in this town.”

They hadn’t told anyone about the murders beyond Griffin and Riley. And maybe Griffin said something to his mother, but Cass doubted it. Griffin wasn’t the type to gossip. Maybe Riley had mentioned it, but Cass doubted that, too. He’d grown up in the city where crimes like murder happened a lot. Riley wouldn’t have thought about mentioning it because, to him, it was the norm. Another nameless, faceless person dying was tragic, but not worth whispering about. She likely heard it from someone else.

Most residents had lived their whole lives in Fortune Falls, minus the college kids. Word traveled fast because they didn’t consider each other strangers, so they gossiped about everything. Some of it was true and some not so much. But the truth wasn’t a necessary part of any gossip session. Still, with the murders happening, Cass figured most of it was correct.

“Are the boys safe out here?” Zinnie turned to Cass because it was a pack member.

Kreiger wasn’t targeting people randomly, so as long as he didn’t find out about Cass’s connection to Riley, there wasn’t a reason for Krieger to hurt him. “They aren’t random attacks. Griffin and Riley are fine.”

Iven met Cass’s gaze. His suspicions were clear, but it appeared he wanted to ask questions. Maybe he wanted a private conversation.

As they were walking back, he saw Riley at the back door, standing on the stoop with his apron still on. Alpha Miller stood next to him.

Cass could see the tension in Riley’s shoulders even from a distance. At first, Cass wasn’t sure why, but then he saw the alpha lean over and sniff around Riley.

Riley scowled and stepped away from him.

Cass didn’t think about his next move. His reaction was instinctive, charging forward. He only thought about getting the alpha as far away from Riley as possible.

Iven had the same thought, which saved Cass from exposing Riley as his mate. “Get away from my boy.”

The alpha smiled.

Iven stepped in front of Riley, standing nose-to-nose with the alpha. He held a small flame in his hand, which he would use as a weapon if needed.

Riley saw it and gasped, his eyes going wide, but he didn’t move. He searched for Cass, his gaze landing on Zinnie next, as if asking them for help. Cass moved at the same time Zinnie did. But Cass let her put an arm around Riley’s shoulder and lead him away. As much as he wanted to comfort Riley, he needed to provide backup for Iven if things turned nasty.

“Why the fuck were you sniffing around my kid? He’s a warlock. Not part of your pack.”

“Considering he smells like my pack member, I have an invested interest, sheriff.” The alpha turned to Cass with his eyebrows raised.

It was then Cass knew the alpha expected him to admit to something as if he were a teenager caught partying on a Saturday night. Cass wouldn’t explain himself. “Who I choose to spend time with is none of your business. Alpha.”

But Iven wasn’t backing down. It seemed he would make an enemy of the alpha, which was a bad idea, but it was bound to happen with the evidence they had against Krieger.

“You don’t have an interest in my kid. Am I making myself clear?” Iven had a lot of clout, too. As sheriff, he could make Miller’s life difficult.

Alpha Miller’s expression hardened. It was the first time Cass had ever seen him lose his charming exterior. But it was back in seconds. “I only came to ask about the investigation, sheriff.”

Iven took a step back. The flame in his hand disappeared. “When we’re ready to question you, we’ll let you know.”

“Are you close to catching the person who killed my pack member?” Miller wasn’t very subtle. He couldn’t keep the concern out of his expression. Cass had his doubts it was concern for the victims and their families. He strongly suspected Miller feared they were close to proving he ordered the killing.

Instead of answering, Iven said, “Go home, Miller.”

Cass followed Iven inside.

As soon as they entered the kitchen, Riley hugged Iven. “I went outside to see how it was going, and he was just standing there. And then he kept trying to get closer to me.”

Cass tried to keep the growl at bay but failed. “I told you to stay inside.”

It wasn’t the growl that pissed Riley off but the words themselves. Cass could tell by his icy expression. “I don’t have to answer to you.”

“He’s right, Riley. You should have stayed inside.” Iven had kept Riley tucked against his side, but Riley moved away, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m not a child anymore. And I don’t appreciate you treating me like one.”

Iven sighed and shook his head. He clearly didn’t know how to respond.

It left Cass to defend his position. “Alpha Miller is at the top of our suspect list, Riley. We think he ordered his beta to kidnap our victims. We think he did it to control the victims’ mating. That makes him the most dangerous person in Forbidden Falls right now.” What Cass didn’t say but what he hoped Riley would pick up on was that the alpha was dangerous to Riley.

“I can handle myself.” Riley huffed.

“I’m glad. And I know your dad is happy about that, too. As a warlock, you have a lot of power.”

“But you don’t know how to use it yet,” Iven added.

“You could teach me.” The way Riley said it was as if he thought Iven wouldn’t.

“I intend to. I wanted to let you get settled in first. But it seems like you’re ready to learn now.”

“I am.” He seemed sure of himself.

“Every morning. Seven o’clock. Unless you have a class. And some evenings after dinner. You can work with Griffin then.” Iven would put him through his paces.

If it helped Riley protect himself, Cass was all for it. He might need all the magic he could get if Miller continued to sniff around Riley.

Cass just needed to keep Riley off the alpha’s radar.