Thank you again for your comments and for your patience. I hope I haven't lost readers with the time it took me to finish Chapter 4. Chap 5 is in process, but I can't promise I'll have it up right away. All good things in due time, right?
Cricketmuse
*
From behind the bar Jasmine and Mason watched Grayson leave with his twin entourage. Some people gawked at them as they passed, but most had moved on with their evening. When Kiera didn't emerge from the back within a few minutes Mason said he was going to check on her.
"Don't bother," Jasmine remarked. "She probably just needs to cool off."
"I'd think you'd be more interested in what went on," Mason muttered under his breath. "You're not one to pass up juicy gossip."
Jasmine smiled flirtatiously while a customer gave her a large tip. The balding man practically drooled on the bar whenever she served him. Her exotic features always kept the compliments and tips flowing.
Moving down to where Mason filled pint glasses with lager she replied, "I'll get the story soon enough, but we're too packed to take a time-out for interrogation. Besides if Kiera doesn't want to talk then I'll need back-up and Amber isn't expected until eleven."
"Cheater."
They grinned at each other and went back to work.
** ** ** *** ** ** **
Grayson used the short drive to refocus his thoughts from what happened at the bar to his pack. He knew the trackers' report could not be shared over the phone line since privacy could only be ensured within pack confines. Still he fought the urge to return to Kiera and overcome her objections. He was sure he could quell her fears if given more time alone. His mouth watered at the thought of seducing her slowly. Once his craving was sated then he could again think rationally. No more chasing after pretty little humans, no matter how unique she was.
Lena, Alistair and the scouts waited in one of the conference rooms. They exchanged brief pleasantries, skillfully skirting his field trip, and then got down to business.
"We followed the wolf's trail northwest until it ended at a shack just a mile out our boundary."
"In Rudd's territory?" Grayson inquired.
"That is correct, Sir," Wyatt, the pack's lead tracker, answered. "However the shack was located deep in the woods far south of their hub. We didn't scent others either. It seems to have been a one man operation."
Lena grimaced. "That doesn't give us much of lead."
The subordinate trackers shifted uncomfortably as no one wanted to provide bad news to their Alphas, but Wyatt stated, "This does give us some information, my Lady. We can assume that the rogue acted on his own motives and tried to make us think Rudd was involved in the attack. He may have intended to start a war between packs and then moved in to take over the losing Alpha's pack at its weakest moment."
Alistair huffed. "That's a lot of assumptions based on a shack in the woods, Wyatt. Did you find anything there to support your theory?"
"We found nothing. By scent alone we calculated that he'd been in that location for at least two weeks, but we found no evidence of life. No food stores, no ash in the fireplace, nothing. If it hadn't been for Brian," he pointed to one of the wolves, "we would have lost the trail long before finding the shack. It was as if the attacker didn't exist."
"And this made you conclude that he was purposely trying to frame Rudd for the attack," Grayson stated. "Assuming he succeeded and then left a trail to Rudd's territory, we might well have believed what he intended. Are you sure no one else was involved?"
Wyatt shook his head. "We can't be sure of anything with what little we found. He may well have been working for Rudd or with other wolves. All we know is that no one else was at the shack."
The trio dismissed the scouts with thanks despite their dissatisfaction with the report. They discussed how to proceed with the little information they received and decided to keep security bulked up in the meantime. Gray also ordered to have a couple scouts sent into Rudd's territory to make discreet inquiries on the pack's status. If discovered, it would anger the fellow Alpha and possibly create a new enemy of their closest neighbor. Rudd was more reasonable than quick tempered, but he would not like being spied upon. Once business was concluded they ordered supper to be served. They discussed how the pack was reacting to recent events and concluded most were concerned, but not panicked.
They were chatting about recent births and matings when the subject Grayson feared, but expected arose.
"Speaking of mated bliss, Gray, how did your errand go?"
"Fine."
"Behave, my love," Lena intervened. "Gray is allowed his privacy when it comes to amatory pursuits."
Grayson lifted a brow at that. The pack respected his position, but often tracked his daily movements like the worst paparazzi. And while he had been known to pursue humans for a night's pleasure they'd be shocked to know he had practically begged Kiera for a date. Which she refused. If he was as wise as they gave him credit for, he'd cut his losses and find a nice mid-ranking wolf to play with.
"She doesn't want to see me again," he admitted to his friends.
"I'm certain she didn't want to see you the first time," Alistair smirked, "but I take it you did your best to convince her otherwise?"
Gray took a deep breath, smelled her on his clothes, and knew they could smell her too. "I asked her very politely. Then we argued...again. I kissed her. Then something weird happened. And then you called. I told her I'd be back."
Lena tapped her fingernails on the table. "Why don't you just call her up and ask her out instead of driving back over there. If she refuses then maybe you should move on. No use wasting your time chasing after someone who doesn't want to be chased."
Her words made him picture chasing after Kiera in the woods like prey. Imagined what would happen when he caught her. His blood pumped harder just thinking about it.
"Sure," Alistair was saying, "give her a ring and offer to meet her in neutral territory, like a coffeehouse or something."
"Or invite her to join her friend for dinner tomorrow. She may be more comfortable in a casual get together."
"I want her to myself," Grayson stated.
Silence.
"Forgive my plain speaking," Alistair began, "but this doesn't seem to be your usual situation so your pursuit should be different. Take her. Take her until she submits to your advances and then…" he finished with a gesture.
Gray mulled that over a minute then said, "There are laws against that sort of approach, Al."
Lena grasped her mate's hand and said, "Love, the rules of the pack don't work in the human world. He couldn't possibly take that approach and not face repercussions."
Alistair squeezed Lena's hand and said, "Yes, of course you're right, my dear."
Grayson rolled his eyes at the lovestruck duo and stood. "I'm going to excuse myself now."
On his way out of the conference room Alistair called out, "Just call her, friend. Call her home, her cell, her business, but just don't let this fester. We don't want to deal with your temper."
"I don't have her phone number," Gray retorted.
Alistair grinned. "Of course we do. We also have her home address, her friends' numbers and all sorts of useful information."
Glaring Gray replied, "I told you to not do a background search, I'd hate to find my orders were disobeyed."
"Nonsense we'd acquired that information before you called halt. The file is on your desk."
Gray walked out and wandered through the hallways leading to the surveillance room. He stopped when he reached the door and stared at it for a few moments. It was ridiculous to call her after she had denied him. Denied his offer. Denied his kiss. But did she really or was she just scared by her response? He recalled those minutes when she met him kiss for scorching kiss. They devoured each other in those precious few minutes. It was her own response that scared her, and him too if he was honest. The overwhelming emotion of everyone around them burned into his brain and made him draw away from her. Was the risk of that reoccurring more threatening than her refusal?
No.
He wanted. He would have.
Grayson stalked to his office, intimidating everyone along the way with his purposeful glare. Sitting atop his desk was a red folder. He sat and opened it up. Perusing through the first few pages he saw photocopies of Kiera's driver's license, her college transcript and other personal information. Glancing at the clock he debated which number would be best to reach her. At 12:30 she was probably still working so he decided her cell phone was the safest option. He dialed and listened impatiently to each ring.
"Five minutes!" Her curt voice answered and then there was a click.
He stared at the handset as the dial tone buzzed and wondered what to do next.
** ** ** *** ** ** **
For her part Kiera didn't have a lot of time to dwell on the heated moments in the office. She tried to return to inventory, but after a half an hour Mason came down and said the patrons were requesting her presence at the bar. Many of the customers who witnessed her verbal smack down were impressed and wanted to buy her a drink, or at least buy a drink from her.
"They want a cold one from the hot vixen," he said and she reluctantly made her way up front.
