Page 19

19

KAT

“S omething isn’t adding up,” Aren says, reclining in his seat.

We’re in Aren’s office, having another meeting about the campus killer, and I just had a text from my dad saying he’s coming back in a couple of days.

With my family.

Aren is sitting with his feet on the table, arms crossed, leaning back.

And it is taking everything I have not to shove his feet off the table so he’ll fall.

I don’t know why I want to do it. I just do.

Because Gregor was right. I am having fun and that is not the reason I came back here.

“What isn’t adding up?” I ask.

“The library guy,” he says.

“Cristofer.”

He waves like his name isn’t important. “You dated all those other guys. So it makes sense that they all died. But this guy? All he does is help you into your car and someone kills him for it?”

The enforcers are silent and their expressions are thoughtful.

“Had to be someone at the wake,” Cruz says.

“What?” I frown and shake my head. “Everyone at the wake was there to say goodbye.”

“There’s a reason a killer always goes back to the scene of the crime. They were there to gloat over having gotten away with it.” Silas surprises me with his observation.

Wesley slowly nods. “Maybe one of the football team.”

Joy narrows her eyes. “Could be.”

“But you said the killer is a shifter. I’ve met the members of the football team and none of them are like me,” I say.

“All of them?” Aren asks.

I’m telling him no when I think about it.

The college football team is massive. It consists of so many people, not just the players, but also the coaching staff, medical team, physiotherapist, and trainers. Whenever I went to see Doug during practice, there were people everywhere . The stadium employed its own staff, including cleaners and concession stand workers who operated during games.

Then there were cheerleaders and their coaching staff.

The killer could have been there all along.

“Maybe.” I concede. “If they knew what I was, they’d have known to keep their distance in case I smelled them. I always thought I was the only one like me.”

“He could have been waiting for his chance with you all this time,” Joy says. “Maybe he saw you before, but every time he tried to make his move, you start dating someone else and he gets wild with jealousy.”

“I didn’t date all that often,” I mutter, glancing at Aren when a growl rumbles from his chest. “And stop that.”

“I see it,” Emilio says. “He takes out the old exes first. Then, just when he makes his move, he sees the hot star quarterback hanging out near the library, waiting for you. Maybe the quarterback even mentioned where he was going during practice.”

“What girl wouldn’t want to get back together with him?” Joy continues. “So he takes out Doug. Goes to ask you out, but then you go missing.”

“Because you’re here,” Troy adds. “In Aren’s cage.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Troy,” Aren grumbles, shooting me a rapid glance.

“So he tries to find you but can’t. Then he figures he’ll ask you out when you come back on campus. Only when you get back, the campus killer sees Cristofer helping you into your car and figures he needs to do something about him.”

“Cristofer was my friend,” I say.

“Nope,” Emilio says. “Guys and girls can’t be friends. Eventually, one likes the other more. How’d you think I started dating Joy?”

We all stare at him.

The door swings open then and Finan sticks his head in. “Aren, we have a new arrival.”

“Human or shifter?” Aren asks.

“Shifter.”

Aren slowly sits up. “Familiar or new prospect.”

What does that mean?

I bounce my gaze between Finan and Aren, confused.

“New prospect,” Finan says.

“Male or female?”

“Male.”

Aren thumps his feet to the floor.

Suddenly, everyone turns to look at me.

“What? What is it?” I ask.

Aren grins, delighted as he surges to his feet. “The campus killer wants you. You are here with me. And maybe they even saw me leave your apartment that night. Finan, have him wait for me near the bunkhouse.”

Finan walks out.

“What was with all the questions?” I ask.

“We sometimes have new shifter arrivals,” Joy explains. “Shifters looking for a new pack to call home. Usually, we get a heads up from another Alpha if someone wants to leave, but sometimes a new arrival will turn up out of the blue. Aren and Finan will meet them, talk to them, and decide if they’re a good fit for the pack.”

Aren is grinning, and I can’t understand why he’s so happy until it hits me.

“You think that’s him? That the campus killer tracked me here.”

“He’s going to try to kill me,” Aren says happily.

And he walks out.

“Why does he sound so happy about someone trying to kill him?” I ask.

“Aren is a hunter,” Emilio says. “He’s never happier than when he’s hunting something.”

I recall the glee in his voice when he told me how he’d found my apartment and broken into it.

Of all the people on the planet, the Wolf King had to be my mate.

Great.

“So?” I look around the room.

“And this time, it looks like his prey just invited himself to be dinner,” Joy adds. “Hence the big smiles.”

I still don’t believe it could be the campus killer.

No one knows where I am. Sure they could have pinged my cell phone like in some spy movie, but that’s impossible.

Then I remember the instructions Finan gave me to find this place when he ambushed me in my dorm parking lot.

I shoved that piece of paper in my pocket and never saw it again. The only reason I remember the directions is because I took a good look at them before I scrunched up the paper.

What if it fell out?

What if the Wolf King wasn’t the first one who broke into my apartment?

I scramble to my feet.

“Aren likes to hunt alone,” Troy calls after me as I sprint out of the room.

“This was my hunt first. My kill.”