Lauren Dane - Unconditional

The hand he had at her back slid down to cup the swell of her ass, hauling her closer. She wanted him to toss her on the bed and fuck her senseless, exhaust her. But they didn’t have time for that. Not right then.

He broke away, breath coming fast. “That was…it’ll get me through the next hours.” His eyes held that light she’d already begun to associate with his wolf. “We should go. Pam is going to meet us for breakfast. I hope you’re hungry, this place serves a great breakfast.”

“I’m beginning to think all the places you eat serve heaping plates of food.”

He slid a hand over that rock-hard belly and grinned like a pirate. “A benefit of shifter metabolism.”

She grabbed her stuff and followed him out into the hallway. Damon already stood near the elevator. She waved.

“Morning.”

He nodded her way. “Morning, Michelle. Listen,” he said as they all took the elevator to the lobby, “my mate, my wife, she’s a witch and she wanted me to invite you over when you got a chance. She’s excited to meet you and said to tell you there’s a sizeable community of witches here in Portland. They’re affiliated with Clan Owen.”

“Oh. Well…thank you. Thank her, I mean. I don’t know how long I’ll be around, but I appreciate the invite and I’m always happy to meet other witches. I don’t know very many.” Her mother pretended she was human. The only other witches she was close to who didn’t hide it were Allie and Kathy.

Damon’s gaze shifted to Josh quickly before he replied. “I’ll tell her. Just let me know. Maybe we can grab a coffee. Or you two can have a drink since Josh and I can’t really get drunk.”

She smiled. “That must sort of suck.”

Josh patted his belly again. “There are other benefits. I’d rather be able to eat like a horse.”

She snorted a laugh. “You ate like a horse before you got bit too.”

He grinned. “Yeah, but that seventeen-year-old-boy metabolism only lasts so long.”

They drove over to a small diner where she ordered a pot of coffee and a stack of pancakes. Damon and Josh of course ordered enough food for four people but the server didn’t even bat an eye.

Pam the cop came in right as their food arrived. She asked the server to bring a farmer’s breakfast and more coffee, and then she turned to Josh, nodding.

“No further sightings of the SUV north of here. One more west of that gas station. Charlie hasn’t been very helpful. He lawyered up right away. Our contact in the coroner’s office says the dead guy was human.”

“There was magick in the room.”

Pam nodded. “Whatever ripped him apart wasn’t human, that’s for sure. No teeth marks found so at least it’s not going to be pinned on Weres. Given the time of death, it couldn’t have been a Vampire. I’m not sure what else would have had the power to do that.”

“I’m a little freaked that a spell could manage something so horrible and violent.” Josh shoved a biscuit and two pieces of bacon in his mouth like a machine.

“To be fair, those aren’t witches. That’s mage magic. I don’t know all of it, but enough to know they don’t have the same rede we have. Witches like those in clans like Owen and in the covens hold to a belief system that says we don’t use our power to harm anyone except in self-defense.”

Her phone rang. “I need to take this.” She stood and moved outside, not wanting to be rude. Josh followed, holding his plate.

“I don’t want you alone. Take your call.”

She rolled her eyes but answered.

“Michelle? I’m Lark Jaansen, I work with Clan Owen. I just wanted to call and check in with you.”

“I appreciate that. We don’t know much more. It’s definitely mages. I caught their energies at two rest stops and then at a gas station here in Portland. We found a dead body there too.” She went over all the rest with Lark, asking questions here and there, clearly taking notes.

“I have to deal with a disappearance here, so I can’t come down and Gage is on an investigation as well. Normally we’d send someone from our Hunter team but we’re…drowning right now. This is…there’s a lot of horrible stuff going on, I’m sorry to say. But we have some contacts there in Portland and I’d very much like it if you’d get in touch with them. The support will be helpful. And I hate the thought of you being alone in all this. The wolves are helping, which is good. In fact, this witch is mated to a wolf. But we want you to be supported. I know the missing woman is your friend. That has to be hard. And she’s one of ours, as all witches here are. I hate that you have to be on your own.”

Somehow it was this last bit that got to her and pushed the tears she’d been trying too hard to bury to the surface. She didn’t need that. So she wiped a hand over her eyes and ignored Josh, who perked up when she did it.

She cleared her throat. “I appreciate it. I think I may already know who she is. Damon, one of the wolves, has a mate who’s a witch. I got the feeling things were escalating out of control when I last spoke with Gage. I’m sorry. It’s not good for any of us. But I’m a cop, I have the tools. And the wolves are helping me so much as well.”

“Thank you for understanding. Doesn’t make it right, but…well I’m glad you understand. Please do get in contact with the local folks and reach out when and if you need anything. We’ll do everything we can.” She gave Michelle the name and number of the contact before she hung up.

She stared out over the parking lot and tried to get herself under control again. A kindness shouldn’t make her cry, for God’s sake.

“How can I help you?” Josh spoke quietly from where he’d perched to keep an eye on her while she made the call.

She shook her head. “You can’t. I’m fine. I just need a moment.”

He clearly wanted to, but he stayed where he was, which she appreciated more than she could say.

She took a deep breath and tucked her phone into a pocket. “Let’s go back inside. I think the contact Lark just gave me is Damon’s mate.”

He reached out and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I hate that you’re upset. I know you have reason to be. It’s not that. I just want to make it better.”

She smiled a little and meant it. “That’s enough, really.”

They went back in, and while she finished her breakfast, she found out the contact was indeed Damon’s wife, Gina.

“She said she got a message to call Owen this morning before I left for work. Must have been Lark. You’ll like her. Gina, I mean.” Damon ducked his head on a very sweet smile.

She didn’t know a whole lot about the mate thing. Only that wolves mated for life and had some sort of genetic tie that happened during sex. They seemed protective, but she wasn’t entirely sure if it was that all wolves were protective or if it was specific to mates or what.

“If you’d like the help, I’d like to come out to the scene with you,” Pam offered as they walked out to the car after they’d finished eating.

“Another set of eyes is really welcome, thanks. I know I’m small town and you have your territory.”

Pam waved that away. “I don’t care about that. A missing woman is what’s important here. And that she’s a witch, one of us. You need to hold back with human authorities, and I have to do that from time to time so I can help there too.”

They drove out to the gas station, and Pam led them to the parking lot where the SUV had been seen last.

Josh touched her arm to get her attention. “I’m going to shift. Stay right here and I’ll be at your side. Do you understand? Don’t go anywhere without me.”

She snorted. “You know, I’ve been a cop all these years without a werewolf at my side. I’m not dead yet.”