The Hunter's Warrior Read online

  Raven could tell that Charlie was very timid and her brother watched out for her. She didn’t mean any trouble, that she was sure of. The woman was probably scared of her own shadow. What was wrong with her now? Admit it, Raven, you don’t want anyone looking at your mate. Oh my, your mate.

  “I must apologize, but my sister meant no harm,” Wyatt said, standing beside her. “She likes to watch people and you are new to her. She’s very shy. You look like my late wife and they were very close. She misses her as much as I do.”

  That’s exactly what she had hoped since he continued to stare at her. And she would use it to get more information. “Oh, I’m not mad. I hope I didn’t scare her. I’m a very direct person and I think I may have been a little too direct. I’m sorry to hear that. How did your wife die if you don’t mind me asking?” Raven asked, staring at him.

  She knew Caz was listening and watching her every move. She could feel his eyes all over her. Although the humans might not have heard the growling, everyone else in the area could.

  Obviously, Caz wasn’t liking how close Wyatt was to her. This was going to be a problem but what could she say? She didn’t like the fact that Charlie, the cult girl, was way too close to Caz a few minutes ago, but he needed to get used to it if they planned on working together.

  “A car wreck. Strange, but you do look like her. Except she had blonde hair and taller. How long have you been together with Caz?”

  She just smiled. Not realizing that Caz was now up and standing behind her.

  Caz answered, directing her back to the table. “We have only been together for a couple of weeks, but every time I look at her, I realize how lucky I am.”

  She didn’t want to cause a scene. Especially when she saw her alpha’s face. Instead of clawing her mate’s eyes out, she let him pull her chair out and sat.

  The look on Wyatt’s face was strange. In fact, he looked like he was going to challenge Caz.

  “Wyatt, how many sisters do you have?” Jade asked bringing everyone attention back to the table. Including the host. Even Charlie looked panicked until her brother sat.

  “Charlie is my only sister. I have two brothers, all younger than me,” Benjamin answered.

  “Do they live here too?” Jade asked.

  “They will, but they are handling business overseas for my company.” That answer made everyone at the table take notice.

  “Oh, I’m sorry what kind of business are you in?” Jade continued to pry. But Calum was looking at Wyatt too. Everyone wanted to hear his answer. She sure did. So much so, that she stopped eating and watched the billionaire.

  “I have several businesses. I own about thirty hotels, like Calum. I dabble in the market and computer technology mostly. Security equipment is my passion right now. You can never have too much security and we have to be smarter than everyone else or they will steal what is most precious from you.”

  Steal what is most precious from you. It’s him, Caz thought.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Wyatt, but you have an important phone call from your brother,” a man said, walking outside.

  “Thank you, Sam. Would you please excuse me, I need to take this. Please, continue to enjoy your food and get as much as you want.” With that being said, they watched as Wyatt got up and went inside.

  They couldn’t talk while he was gone because Charlie was still sitting there and now that he mentioned the security equipment, Raven and Caz both nodded at each other in the direction of the hidden cameras. They were also experts in this field and could easily pick them out, but it was the ones that weren’t so obvious that she tried to locate.

  Even Lennox leaned back and checked the area out. Calum continued to eat and make small talk with Charlie, but the rest of them were looking for all the hidden security cameras.

  “What do you do, Charlie?” Jade asked.

  The girl was a like a deer in headlights. Her expression was so timid that she couldn’t stop watching her. “I’m my brother’s personal assistant.”

  “Oh, I thought you couldn’t turn on a computer?” Jade was going for the kill. Yes, she was finally becoming an alpha’s mate.

  “Yes, well, I know about the computers my brothers have and use. It’s…” she stared at everyone and her voice got lower. If they continued drilling her, she would probably hide under the table.

  She could see it in Jade’s face, she wasn’t going to let up. “Well, that’s convenient for you. Have you always wanted to do that?”

  Dropping her fork, she could tell that Charlie’s hands were entwined in her lap. Could you say nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. “No, but it pays well, and well…”

  “Sorry about that. I’m sorry that I must cut our dinner short. I have an emergency to attend to and need to leave to meet one of my brothers. I have asked for the staff to pack up the food to take with you. I’m truly very sorry about this. Calum, another time on the tour of the new house.”

  “Of course, Wyatt. I hope everything is okay,” Calum answered.

  With a wave of his hand, Wyatt became very vague and smiled. “Hope so too.” Then he was gone back inside the house. A group of men and women came outside with to go plates, but Calum quietly told them not to make anything. He was just as ready to get out of there. Something was happening, and they needed to follow Wyatt.

  “Thank you for coming. Please, come again,” Charlie said, but the cult was all standing there waiting for them to leave. Even Charlie looked shocked.

  “Well, if you are ready, we can walk around the house,” Calum said, motioning for everyone to get up. The cult followed them around standing in the grass waiting and watching them.

  As soon as they got in the truck, Jade started. “It’s a cult and they knew they couldn’t change us so they wanted us gone. I’ve seen too many movies on this kind of stuff happening.”

  Lennox laughed and kissed the top of his mate’s head. “Cultish, but they almost acted like Wyatt was their alpha and they were his pack. I’m not buying this family crap. But I couldn’t smell one animal on them. I know Calum would have said something if they had been vampires. But something isn’t right. If he flies out tonight, you two have to leave now and follow him.”

  The alpha’s phone started ringing and he put Calum on speaker. “What on earth was that? Riley swears they are a cult, but I’m not sure what the heck is going on. I know they’re not vampires or shifters, but what are they? Can’t be just human?”

  “Told you,” Jade said, throwing her arms up. “Nobody listens to me.”

  Kissing the side of her face, Lennox smiled. “I always listen to you, baby.”

  While Lennox and Calum were talking, she noticed that Caz wasn’t saying anything. In fact, he was very distant from her.

  She leaned over and whispered, “What’s wrong now?”

  “Nothing.”

  Nothing, that’s all he would say and went back to staring out the window. Raven could feel the little twitch she got in her eye before she smacked someone. “Alpha, I think it would be better if Leo went with me.”

  “Now wait a minute, Raven.”

  “Hold on! Will you two shut up so I can find out what Calum knows.” He pulled the truck over and turned around in his seat. “Now you both listen and listen good. I’ve never had this much trouble from a hunter until you two set eyes on each other. One day you act like you hate each other and the next you love each other. But I don’t care. We have a job to do. Can you handle that or do I need to fire you both? This is ridiculous. Get it together or turn in your resignation. Get me?” His eyes turned into his bear’s and both of them nodded and stayed silent.

  As soon as they pulled up, Raven went straight to her bedroom and locked the door. Lennox had never spoken to her like that...well...ever. If Caz was her mate, why was he acting like this? She wasn’t flirting with the target but she sure as hell was trying to get information from him. She couldn’t do this, and she was here first. If Caz felt like this every time she did her job then he could
leave the hunters, not her.

  Raven’s head started pounding. Lying back on her bed, her thoughts became crazy. She didn’t want him to leave either but what was she going to do? What would happen if he decided to leave? Why did she admit to herself that Caz was her mate? If she hadn’t, then she would’ve been okay, but now.

  Putting her fingers up to her temples she tried to calm down. Her anger was only making the headache worse. What if he left? Turning to her side, she rubbed her temples hard. This was probably the best. If she was his mate, then he would still be here once her head stopped hurting. That was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.

  Chapter Fourteen

  She could hear someone creeping in her room. The soft tapping on her head was just as annoying today as it was when she was a little girl. “Raven, Raven, wake up. It’s already lunch time.”

  “Leo, if you don’t leave me alone. I’m going to rip your face off,” Raven muttered, without opening her eyes.

  “Is she always like this?” That was another voice but what was it doing in her bedroom?

  “Oh yeah, you’re screwed, dude. My sister is not a happy camper when you wake her up. Plus, she loves to sleep late.”

  Raven popped one eye open to see her brother and Caz standing over her. She quickly glanced down, and thankfully, she still had her clothes on. “Why are you in my bedroom?”

  “Because we were supposed to follow Wyatt, but you were passed out. Leo went with me. Fortunately, he never left his home.” Holding his hand up, Caz sat on the side of the bed. “Don’t ask, we don’t know why. But we have a meeting with the alpha and the others.”

  Jumping up to her knees, Raven asked, “The others? Who are the others?”

  “The other alphas. You missed the Lennox and Cosmo conspiracy theory going on half the night. Now they have called in the other alphas. Something isn’t right about Wyatt Benjamin. It says he is forty-three years old, but the man looks like he is in his late twenties at the most,” Caz said.

  Leo pushed his sister over, so he could sit on the bed. “Hey.”

  Her brother, of course, ignored her and kept talking. “One of the theories is that Wyatt is a Fae, but there hasn’t been any Fae in years. They left to go home, wherever that is. Another theory is he is a witch of some kind that nobody has heard about, but nobody believes that. I heard he was angelic looking. Kinda like Greer.”

  “He was very handsome—”

  “What!” Caz turned and glared at her.

  Shrugging, Raven glared at Caz. “What? He was. So, what? You were looking at his sister like she was the most beautiful woman on earth and she was looking at you like you were the last meal on earth. So, don’t look at me like I’ve done something wrong. And while we’re at it. You acted like I had the plague last night after we left Wyatt’s house. I don’t like the hot and cold crap you continue to give me. So, buddy, you need to figure out what you want in life and if it’s me then you better accept that I’m a hunter and I don’t plan on giving up what I love to do. If you can’t handle that then do us both a favor and leave the Death Hunters. Today before—”

  “Leo, can you give us a minute?” Caz asked, never taking his eyes off her.

  The door closed, and Caz grabbed Raven and pulled her up to him. “I already know that you are a hunter. I understand that. What you need to realize is it doesn’t stop me from worrying about you. I saw the way Wyatt looked at you. How his sister stared at you. They see you as Wyatt’s wife, and yes, I know this is a way in, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying sick that they will try to take you from me.

  “I think about it all the time. Last night I wanted to rip Wyatt’s head off for staring at you. I will always feel that way. Lennox, Cosmo, even Calum feel that way. I’m dealing with it.” The corner of his mouth quirked up and she knew she was in trouble. “So, get over me leaving the hunters, Raven. Because where you are is where I’m going to be.” His expression hardened watching and waiting for her reply. “To hell with it.”

  Caz’s lips covered her mouth and she was lost to soft lips. Every time she kissed him, she couldn’t think. All she knew was she wanted more. As soon as it happened, it ended. Caz smiled and then walked to the door. Her heart beat like she had run twenty miles. And, of course, he knew how much he affected her. “I’ll meet you in the living room, baby.” Then he walked out her door.

  She stood there like an idiot staring at the door when he popped his head back in. He tapped his watch. “We need to hurry. It’s already lunch time.” Then he closed her door.

  Shaking her head, she almost threw something at him, but she needed to take a shower and hurry up if the alphas were meeting. She wasn’t going to miss out on that.

  They waited in the living room for Ben Crenshaw, Alpha of the Crenshaw Clan, to arrive. Jade was busy bringing snacks out for everyone. Raven could tell that Jade was off and that made Quinn and Simone worried as well.

  “Jade, baby, I think we have enough food. I doubt anyone will want to eat. Come, sit down,” Lennox whispered, holding his mate’s hand. She glanced around the room and everyone was staring. They all felt it. This was big and trying to figure out how and what to do would be a problem.

  If they made a mistake and Wyatt was only a human, a strange human at that, then they could all be exposed to the world as shifters. Nobody wanted that. If he was something else, of course, not human and he wasn’t involved, then they could possibly start a war between them. If they did nothing, there was the possibility of more shifters being taken and never found. Any way they went about this would be something that could destroy all the supernatural world.

  Jade went to the door and opened it for Ben Crenshaw. “Sorry I’m late. Had to make a drop off.”

  As soon as Ben sat, Lennox explained the events that transpired last night. Once he was done, Ben was the first to ask questions. “None of you smelled anything different about them?”

  “No. They actually had no scent now that I’m thinking about it. Humans have a scent. We all have a scent--” Lennox answered.

  “Unless they have the same magic you do. The magic given to you by the Old Ones. Is Scarlett back from her training yet? Maybe she can give us some help in finding out what they are.”

  Quinn leaned forward and grabbed some cookies. “My grandmother will not be back for another three days. The Old Ones have gone on their retreat and there is no way to get in touch with them. They do this so they can keep the council from calling them every thirty minutes.”

  “Where are we on the shifter trafficking?” Arden Dixon, Alpha to the Dixon Pack and Quinn’s mate, asked.

  Lennox’s jaw tightened. “Waiting for the informant to get a call with what the buyers want. Unfortunately, until the informant contacts us, we don’t have anything. Every time he calls it’s from a different number and everywhere they meet is different. The informant gave the name of Boris and Wyatt. We have no clue which one is truly involved or if they are at all. If we don’t play this smart, then we are starting over again.”

  “We need to work on some possible places they would take the shifters. It would need to be very isolated. Do you have anyone who is good at hacking?” Ben asked.

  Jade’s finger popped up. “I know someone. She is an excellent hacker and a shifter from the Dixon Pack.”

  “Mary Beth is at college,” Arden said.

  “Yes, but I spoke to M.B. yesterday and she wasn’t happy. She wants to come home. She said, she’s done with school. You know I’m right. This would be right up her alley.”

  Jade and Quinn stared at Arden who looked concerned about his wolf. “This is her home. Tell her to come home,” Arden answered. “Does she need us to help move her?”

  Jade snorted and got up with her phone. “Nah, she’s been packed for weeks. Just too afraid to tell you. She doesn’t want you to be disappointed in her.”

  “Are you kidding? The woman has two degrees already. This is her third. She can come home anytime. Tell her...Here, give me th
e phone and let me talk to her.” Arden and Jade went into the kitchen.

  “Okay, now we have that part taken care of. We need to post patrols on the boundaries of our properties and Benjamin’s. If anyone sees anything, they are to report it immediately and we will make sure all parties involved know. Jade, Quinn, and Simone have taken care of that. At the moment, we are waiting to hear from the informant. Does anyone have more questions?” Lennox asked.

  Caz held up his hand and Raven snorted and looked away. “You don’t have to raise your hand, Caz,” Lennox said, shaking his head.

  “Just don’t want to be rude. I’m new to this. I know a lot of prides have books dating back to the beginning of time. Maybe we could get at least the ones you trust to search them on anything that comes close to Wyatt Benjamin. It’s worth a shot.”

  Lennox smiled, nodding. “Good idea. Since you and Raven are in a holding pattern, right now, you two take care of it. Get some help if you need it. This is a lot of research and books.”

  Raven leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Suck up!”

  He just smiled and whispered back, “If you keep whispering in my ear, I’m going to bite your tongue and suck on it. Just so you know.”

  Clearing her throat, Raven walked away. Her whole body lit up. This man was always pushing her button. She walked into the kitchen to cool off. There she found Jade and Arden Dixon talking. That was until she walked in.

  “Thanks for handling that, Jade,” Arden said, walking away. As he left, Raven opened the refrigerator.

  “Do you always do that?” Raven asked, popping the top of her Coke can.

  “Do what?” Jade asked. She was on the defensive and Raven couldn’t blame her. She had been a total butt to her since the day she met her.

  She never glanced up but twirled her finger around the top of the can. “Help Dixon out with his pack.”