Lisa Kessler - Moonlight

It was Sasha.

I zoomed past her, wishing for the first time that Adam owned a normal car with climate controls. As it was, I was driving past a master tracker with no window or roof between us. My scent was out there in the breeze just waiting for her to catch it. I got to the next light, but she didn’t seem to notice me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw her walk around the corner to the parking lot. While she was out of view, the light changed to green. I drove through the intersection slowly and pulled over to the curb once I was across. A baseball hat was wedged between the front seats, so I grabbed it and put it on. Not like it was a great disguise, but it couldn’t hurt.

I held my breath, watching for her with my foot hovering over the gas pedal. When she finally pulled out of the lot in a black Mercedes, my breath whooshed out of my lungs. She pulled into traffic, and I turned around, following behind. As long as I was behind her, the wind would blow my scent back, or at least that’s what I was counting on.

I stayed a few cars away, trying to remember every single cop show I’d ever seen on television. I had no training for surveillance, but I’d written about personal bodyguards before so I had done some research. When I wrote the article I never dreamed I’d be using the knowledge to follow a woman who was trying to kidnap me.

After a few blocks, she pulled into a gas station. Shit. The best way to not have her sneaking up on me was for me to know where she was. As long as she was in front of me, she couldn’t surprise me from behind. But I couldn’t pull up to the pumps and wait. I drove around the block and stopped behind the station’s minimart to watch for her exit.

I didn’t expect her to come around the back to make a phone call.

With nowhere to run, I slid down in the seat, tugged my hat down slightly, and prayed that the wind would keep blowing my scent away from her.

“I already swept the hotel. She checked out.” She plugged her other ear as she listened.

“Sebastian is here, sir. His scent is all over this town.”

She waited, nodding. “I know. She’s being protected by the wolf pack here. One in particular.” She shook her head. “The twin got away. I did get a shot off, but I don’t believe it was a mortal wound.”

I listened to her talking to her contact inside of Nero, grateful that it kept her distracted.

“Yes, sir. I understand, but is it wise to take out the wolf? Do you want a war with the Pack here, sir?” She paused. “The twin doesn’t like the girl—he was just helping his brother.” Another pause. “No, I’m not defending him, I’m just saying…” She sighed and nodded. “Yes, sir, I understand. I know it’s the full moon. They’ll shift tonight. But I thought you wanted the girl.” She rubbed her forehead with her free hand and shook her head slowly. “Perfectly clear. Her boyfriend dies tonight.”

She closed her phone and walked back around the corner to the gas pumps.

I skootched up in the seat, my stomach clenched. I had to stay calm. As long as I didn’t lose sight of Sasha then I had the upper hand. But how was I going to stop an assassin from killing Adam?

My eyes welled with tears. I rubbed my face and pulled out of the station after her. I needed to think, not cry.

She got on the highway, and I lost sight of her for a second. My pulse raced as I wove in and out of the lanes, searching for the black Mercedes. When I finally saw her ahead I let out a sigh of relief. I still knew where she was. For now.

I pulled out my cell phone and hit Adam’s number.

“Hi, beautiful.”

My skin flushed just hearing his voice. “Hey, Adam, we need to talk, but I can’t right now.”

“Okay.” He sounded confused. “But you just called me.”

“I know. I just needed to know you were all right. Sasha is in town.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, I guess Nero told her this is where Sebastian found me the first time.”

“Have you seen her?” There was no more smile in his voice. He sounded ready to jump through the phone and drag me home. Sadly part of me almost wished he could.

“I’m tailing her with the Jeep right now.”

“What?”

I had to hold the phone away from my ear for a second while he erupted in the speaker. When he quieted I brought the phone back to my ear. “Listen, as long as I know where she is then she can’t sneak up on me.”

He was quiet for a moment, then his voice was a growl. “If she turns around she’ll be on top of you, Lana. Please come back here, okay?”

“If she turns around I’ll call 911 while I’m hauling ass to the cops. I’m pretty sure Nero wouldn’t want her to drag them into the headlines.” My brow furrowed. “Besides, if I go to the barn your Pack won’t be happy either. In fact, there’s a good chance Aren would love to lead the lynch mob.”

“I would never let them hurt you. Please turn around and meet me somewhere. Just tell me where.”

“I can’t, Adam.”

“No one will know,” he said. “Luke’s already working the horses and Aren’s sleeping.”

“It’s not that. I have to know where she is.”

He let out a frustrated sigh. “Why?”

“Because she’s going to try to kill you tonight after you change.” It was very quiet. “Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I’d like to see her try.”

I pressed the accelerator to pass an eighteen-wheeler, keeping Sasha’s car in my line of vision. “You may be strong when you’re a werewolf, but you told me yourself that you can get killed by a truck or a bullet just like any other wolf, remember?”

“I know, but we’ll rip her throat out before she gets a shot off.”

I sighed. “Only if you see her first. I’ll call you back soon.”

I closed my phone and took a deep breath. Surely Adam didn’t think he could beat a bullet. I knew his senses were heightened when he was a wolf, and maybe he figured they’d catch her scent before she ever saw them. I didn’t know if he could, but I wasn’t going to risk it.

“Fuck!” I grumbled when Lana hung up. She was putting herself in harm’s way, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it. I jammed my phone in my pocket and went back inside to wake Aren.

He stirred before I could make a sound. “What’s wrong?”

“Sasha’s in town.”

“Already?” He glanced down at his splinted ankle. “I have a few things I’d like to say to her.” He met my eyes with a cold smile. “But this time I’ll be sure I separate her from her Taser.”

“This isn’t about getting even. Lana overheard her saying she was going to kill me tonight after we change.”

Aren grunted. “I’d like to see her try.”

“That’s what I said.” I shook my head. “She’d never be able to sneak up on us during a full moon. But we need to warn Malcolm either way.”

Aren’s eyes cut back up to meet mine. “So you’re going to tell him?”

I shrugged. “I think so. He needs to know about Sasha and Sebastian. I’ll have him come by early tonight, before sunset.”

“But you’re still not going to come clean about your girlfriend.” He shook his head. “I’m supposed to keep quiet about it too?”

I nodded. “No sense worrying Malcolm when he’s already got two jaguars on the move.”

“I won’t lie for you, Adam.”

“I’m not asking you to lie. I’m just asking you not to bring it up.”

His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “Very fine line there.”

“I know. I’m sorry it has to be like this.” I walked over and pulled a chair over by the couch where Aren was lying with his leg propped up. “I wish you could be happy for me.” I could see his hackles rise, but I went on before he could interrupt. “I realize that’s impossible for you right now. What I mean is you’re my brother, my best friend. It sucks that I’m finally in love, and you’re not happy for me. For the first time in my life, I can see my future. Do you understand how amazing she makes me feel? But I can’t share any of it with you. I can’t share it with anyone.”