Chapter 41

When Lia disconnected the call, she gave Riley's phone back to him.
"See? You don't have to worry about me while you're gone. I'll be in good company."
"Just tell him he'd better make sure nothing happens to you. There's a rapist out there."
She giggled. "Riley, I don't think even the most insane rapist wants to take on two wolves, do you?"
He stroked her cheek with his fingertips. "I'm just sayin'." He reached into the cupboard and took out two travel mugs. "I think we're going to need java tonight. Charlie and I take turns providing it. His wife started it when we first became partners, and it's become a regular habit." He winked. "What's a shift on duty without coffee, right?"
Lia pushed back from the table. "Why don't you go get your gun and shield. I'll fix the coffee and have it ready for you."
He stole another kiss. "I'm liking this more and more." He cupped one breast and gave it a gentle squeeze.
She swatted his hand away. "Behave yourself. We don't have time for that. Now, go get ready and I'll take care of this."
By the time he returned to the kitchen, she had both travel mugs filled from the single-serving coffeemaker and the dishes cleared from the table. She had just handed Riley the mugs when she heard a horn outside.
"That's Charlie," he said. "Gotta go. I'll be as quick as I can."
"Don't rush, Riley. I mean it. This is nasty business, and you need to get this guy."
His face sobered. "You are so right." He gave her a last hard kiss before heading outside to where his partner waited.
Lia stood on the porch, waving, as they pulled away, then went back inside and closed the door. Mike's invitation had her jazzed. It had been so very long since she'd had anyone to run with. And how lucky was it that both he and Riley lived on land that backed up to a heavy wooded nature preserve? Between Riley's proposal and Mike's invitation, her blood was practically sizzling with excitement.
Ten o'clock, he'd told her. Most everyone in the other houses on their street was either in bed or watching television in a room that did not overlook the rear of their houses. The danger, he said, was if anyone was sitting out on their patio or deck that late, but he told her what to do if that was the case.
She cleaned the kitchen and tried to settle down for a while with her laptop, but she was too jazzed to concentrate. Time dragged by as if it had sandbags tied to it. Then, finally, it was ten o'clock. She took the house key Riley had given her, hooked it onto a shoelace that she tied around her neck, and headed out toward the rear of the property.
"I always wait to shift until I get to the trees," Mike had said. "Just in case there are some wandering eyes somewhere."
She could certainly get on board with that. When she reached the tree line, she walked in about fifty yards, found a place where she could easily hide her clothes, and stripped. Then, talking a deep, cleansing breath, she started the spin that began the shifting process. In seconds, she was wolf, her heart beating in exhilarated anticipation.
"Wait where you shift," Mike had said. "I'll come for you."
She only had to wait seconds before the big black wolf from the other night came loping through the trees. He stopped about two feet from her, and she could almost swear he was grinning.
Welcome to my forest.
Your forest? I might claim part ownership now.
His wolf eyes glittered at her. I'm glad Riley found you. You'll be good for him.
As Jamie is for you?
Absolutely. And it will be nice for me to have someone to hang out with like this.
I can't wait until we get together again and dig into the book some more. Do you think we can really find other members of the pack? Whoever is left?
Without a doubt. I told Jamie this is the first time I've been really excited about it since I found out the book even existed.
Me, too.
Meanwhile, let's stretch our legs.
He gave what Lia might have described as a wolf laugh, and they were off.
The night was pleasant, on the right side of cool, and there was even a soft breeze as they raced through the trees. Lia heard the nightbirds calling to each other, the rustle of the bushes and leaves as deer moved about from place to place. She was sure squirrels and jackrabbits and other critters inhabited the area, too. It reminded her so much of the place she ran at home, only there she'd had to drive fifteen miles to get to it.
When they were deep in the forest, Mike stopped, and she pulled up next to him.
I want to take a look at the place where that animal is attacking women. It's wooded right between the houses and down to the street, so we've got good cover. But if you're nervous, you can hang back a ways.
Absolutely not. Maybe we'll pick up on something that can help Riley. Lead on.
She followed him in a twisting path, in and out among the trees. Mike obviously knew exactly where there were pitfalls to avoid and places where cover thinned out.
They had been running for several minutes when Mike pulled to a stop, and Lia did, too. She saw what Riley had meant about the unusual configuration of the land. It looked as if, for some reason, someone had roped off a triangle of land and left it in its natural state, a protruding geometric figure where the trees ran down to within two feet of the sidewalk. She could see how easy it would be for someone to hide in the thick woods and, when a runner came by, dart out and grab her. Clap a hand over her mouth, stick her with some kind of tranquilizer, and drag her off into the trees.
She felt sick to her stomach.
Mike looked over at her as if reading her mind.
I know. I'd like to get my fangs on this fucker and rip him to shreds.
I can't understand why women keep running in this area if he's still at large.
People are funny, Lia. They look at this space and figure they can put on speed and just blow past it.
Until they're caught and trapped.
Exactly. Okay, let's head back. I have a warm bed and a hot wife waiting.
Too much information, she joked. But, head on back. I'm right behind you.
Riley ran with her all the way until she reached the place where she'd left her clothes.
I won't peek, but I'm not leaving until you're safely in the house.
She figured arguing with him wasn't worth the effort. Instead, she just shifted, dragged her clothes back on as quickly as she could, and let Mike know she was done. He watched her from the darkness of the forest as she jogged across the lawn and let herself in the back door. She waved to him before she closed and locked it.
Stripping off the clothes again in the bedroom, she tossed them in the wicker hamper Riley had shown her and turned on the shower in the bathroom. She might have run as wolf, but she was still sweaty as human. That wasn't the way she wanted to greet her mate when he got home.
Mate!
She hugged the word to her as she let the hot water steam down on her and scrubbed every inch of her with her scented body wash.
Life was good. Yes, definitely good.
But she could hear her bunica's voice echoing again in her head.
Be careful of good luck
She poured shampoo into her hand, worked it into a lather and, with a determined effort, rubbed it into her hair. Maybe, if she scrubbed hard enough, she could scrub away the warning.