Chapter 22

"MY TEAM?" Johansen isn't dumb. Cedric knew he can barely be friends with this person but he also acknowledge that his wisdom is commendable. That's why he's wondering what the heck is the guy's problem and that he keeps on repeating everything that he says. 'Are you a broken record?' "This is not an information easily given outside of my office, Mr. Mallory. Can't you wait for the reports later this night? I don't lack manpower now. We can afford to have someone send the files as fast as possible this evening."

'Stupid.' Cedric hummed but the irrational feeling in his chest spread like wildfire. He had to grip the wooden desk hard to let out a tad of his frustration. "I won't compromise your work, Peter. I... my people just have to be there, okay? This is not a major raid. There should be no problem merging our department, yes?"


"Are you and your people that free?" He clicked his tongue. "Cedric, you're not a newbie. How come you're forgetting the procedures?"

"My people would like to offer firsthand observations as well, Peter. It's been weeks ever since this matter has been given to your department. How come there are no new findings until now? You're the one who's forgetting the procedures. If Max caught a wind of this tardiness, you know he won't like it."

Cedric indeed know the guy so well. Including his greediness and ambitions. Now that Max will return in the office, the matter about promotion and reports will be assessed by the man. His vacation was not a time to slack off, but an ultimatum.

Cedric doesn't mind this. Max won't hit his workplace because of what happened to him and Jefferson. His sense of righteousness is not that skewed.

Jefferson.

That name sounds so formal. It's pretentious.

Cedric decided he hated it. That's why there's no 'Jeffrey' in his mind anymore, but 'Jefferson'.

“Then why are you so persistent on changing Johansen's mind? You want to see him.”

He laughed grimly on that thought. 'Want' to see him? That sounds wrong. Utterly wrong. It should be 'need'.

Want would mean that he personally desired to see him. He doesn't want him.

His wolf did. And his vampire side too.

However, he doesn't associate himself with those. He's a man. Not an animal. He can ignore Jefferson's presence.

'In fact, I won't be going with Peter tonight. I'll send Yeon-hee, or the others. Those who are close with that guy before. They would surely hug each other. And that's enough.' When his men reports back to him, he will scent Jefferson on them. That should be enough. He won't be even jealous.

Just a little to placate his inner demons.

"Fine, Cedric. Send your men. Let's wrap this quickly."

"Good."

Cedric convinced himself that the main reason why he did this is for the case to move forward. Jefferson and this mating pull should only be second— or last.

He sat up and walk outside his dim-litted office. Cedric called a guy and ordered him to be ready for an inspection tonight.

The factory on the 53 docks side is not the only place that needs to be checked. He planned to visit the places where the other victims were found. Hoping to see a suspicious person who can give him the distraction that he needed.






THE COLD wind appeased Jeffrey's heated skin. He's completely confused about his condition since then. Whenever the sun graces his exposed body, he will feel a bitting cold. He would tremble involuntarily because of the chill.

While every night, when the moonlight touches him, he felt extremely hot inside. Like the nature is punishing him dearly.

'I hope that a certain someone is suffering in a lot more hopeless situation than me.' Jeffrey move away from the empty barrel where he's hiding. A few meters from him is Yeon-hee, a person from his former workplace that he didn't imagine to see again.

He was glad that they came a bit later than Peter would have liked. They had no time to chit-chat. Jeffrey liked it that way. Or else, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from asking wether Cedric Mallory is still alive or is he amputated a limb by now.

He should be.

Jeffrey's pride had been hurt. Along with his sense of self importance. He can't even believe he had once questioned himself in a fit of fury about why is he in a man's body if his mate is clearly a man.

'No.' He should not think like that. Jefferson was born like this. It should not be him trying to adjust his physical aspects just to appease a mate that didn't want him.

He's not raised to be like this. Even if the coven didn't like him, he never once thought about changing himself to please them.

That's an immoral way of treating yourself.

The sense of individuality and his uniqueness would be swept away because of someone else's preferences.

Jeffrey could only spit and yell 'no'.

His stance didn't change even if his body aches in ways he had never imagined. So what if he had developed a permanent hard on every time he thinks about that man?

So what if he wake up every morning in pain and longing?

It was never his fault.

It should never be his mistake.

Gently shaking his head, Jeffrey tug at the hem of his sleeveless shirt. Peter didn't comment on it but the guy smiled in irony. Jeffrey can guess his thoughts accurately but he nodded like he doesn't know anything.

'I dressed up like cheese in a wrapper this morning while I'm wearing a black thin sleeveless top this evening. I can totally understand his smile.'

“You'll be in charge on the aftermath. Be careful and consider the whole playground first before calling back up no matter what.”

Now that's an easy task.

Jeffrey saw the man they were waiting for. A man who look like he's in his forties. 6'3, tanned and a beard that matches his rugged look. They had run the system and tried to look for a person with a criminal record with the same face but no one came close.

His picture was captured from a CCTV footage near the site where the last victim has been found. According to the police, he's a new face in the area. He didn't stay and had remained focus on the road that leads to the building. They're checking the crime scene that day. It was surprising to see that guy lurking outside.

'Did he forget something?'

Or did he deliberately let the footage caught him and suspect his person?

Outside the building of the crime scene, tire marks was found. The soil clinging on the tire marks had hardened. As if it had just came from a wet area then had cemented overnight. The type of soil can be found near 53 docks side. Cedric Mallory has personally checked that since he has a werewolf blood. His sense of smell is sharper than theirs.

Vampires can always use the victims blood to see their last memories. But when they found that each of them had been feed on for months, there's no point. Their blood must have been diluted. Watching their last memories may be harmful for a vampire. In addition, their memories can be altered.

Upon running through the city's surveillance cameras for weeks, they finally saw him coming out of a taxi and walking hurriedly in the direction of this abandoned factory.

There are no other places in this place where he can hide except this.

They found his shifter scent on the backseat of the taxi where he sat. The scent had faded, but it's not like the taxi driver's memories can't be visited by them.

This dicapitated factory was formerly used for canning fishes. The business broke down when the whole family run their little company into bankruptcy.

That has been a very long time. That family should have no connection with their suspect. Especially that none of them were creatures of the night like them.

"There are three people inside," Mirtle hissed through their communicator. "No. This is not right. How can this happen?"

Jeffrey jerk his head on his direction. Mirtle is an adept on this matter. They had captured suspicious people for interrogation before. They won't pass the field work in Cedric Mallory's office unless it becomes intolerable.

Jeffrey has become nervous upon seeing his reaction. It takes a lot to rattle this guy.

"Mirtle, what do you see?"

Because Mirtle had started his transformation, he can usually use his gift when he needed it. It was his enhanced vision that can see through walls. Though it has a time limit and he can barely control it.

"There are three children inside. The target is not around!"

Jeffrey stood and planned to change his position. Since the target is not inside. He should be—

"The target is right beside your precious heir."

Cold breath fanned over Jeffrey's bare skin. Those words made him unnaturally still.

Jeffrey heard Peter curse through his earpiece but it didn't matter.

All he cared at the moment is the sharp knife lodged on the side of his throat.