Chapter 27

"No, how?" I stood and paced the living room.

"Are you sure?" Dash asked.

"Positive. All it took was a few phone calls and a check into public records. Everyone he dealt with is gone."

"Relax, Zora-"

"How can I relax? Everyone Dad worked with is gone. What could he have been mixed up with that was so bad?"

"Whatever it was it wasn't pretty. He needed protection always and he once hired me to have a wolf killed but he was already dead when I got here."

My eyes widened and my heart slammed forward. The room split in two and I had to sit down. My Dad wouldn't do that. Or was he trying to kill the ones after him?

"W-who? Who did my Dad want dead?"

Keegan rubbed his scruffy beard. "It was a while ago but he was a wolf… what was his name Victor Olsen, yeah. He was dead when I got to the town. Martin still paid me though."

I sat up and gasped. I remembered the picture I found under the sink in my parents' room.

"I found a picture of him circled. Why would Dad want him gone?"

Keegan shrugged. "He only said he was a bad omen from the past."

I shivered. Someone else must have thought so too. Dash grabbed my shoulder and I turned to meet his eyes. His dark and enraged eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Victor Olsen… was my Father, Zora."

His confession sucked the air out of the room. Keegan and I shared a glance.

"Uh…" I had no words.

"I… I wasn't really going to kill him. To be frank, it wasn't me. I found him that way. I think you should keep the money. Don't really need it."

Dash growled his eyes flashing with the image of his wolf.

"Keegan I think you should go," I murmured.

Keegan didn't protest instead backed out of the living room but was I safe? Dash turned to me with his wolf still reflecting in his eyes. I shrunk as he grew larger.

"I didn't know…"

His eyes returned to normal and he exhaled deeply.

"I'm sorry, Dash."

"It's okay. You didn't know. Someone took my Father and it wasn't your Dad. I'll find out who."

***

Mr Dean was asleep when I arrived for the evening shift. I had a lot to ask and to tell but his sleep was precious. I found a bottle of his medication on his nightstand. It was the wrong prescription again, but why when the correct medicine was stated in his file?

"I'm leaving for the night, Zora," my co-worker Alexa said. She stopped by the door as I checked the schedule for the evening.

"I'm here another hour. Have a good night."

Alexa's smile faded. "Careful on your way home, okay?"

I gave her a weak smile. Everyone was still weary after the brutal murder here. Alexa stopped and stepped back from the door.

"Oh, Alpha, is everything okay?" Alexa asked.

I cringed and set the clipboard aside. If I was fast enough Gunner wouldn't see me.

"Donna asked for me," Gunner replied. "Nothing to worry about," he said in his charming tone.

I wasn't fast enough to disappear. I was caught in two minds I had nowhere to run.

"Zora," Gunner sighed.

Did he not expect to find me here?

"The bane of my existence," he rounded me and crossed his arms.

"What did I ever do to you, Gunner?" A heaviness settled on my chest a clog formed in my throat.

Gunner stepped forward, and not even air passed between us. He grabbed my jaw and ground his teeth.

"You don't belong in my pack, Zora you never have."

I gripped his wrist but he didn't budge.

"You're a liar, scum, you're everything I despise." A wild hungry look formed in his eyes. A rush of Alpha power came out of me and hit me on the head.

"Stop! That hurts." I shoved him back.

I cradled my head willing the ache to go away. My head throbbed and tears ran down my cheeks.

"Ugh," he scowled and walked off.

I watched him walk down the hallway and disappear.

"He's such a pig," I panted.

***

I walked in the bitter evening breeze to my car. The headache Gunner inflicted on me had faded. I climbed into my car and to make matters worse it decided not to start.

"You've got to be kidding me," I moaned.

Good thing I could still catch the bus. I locked my car and rushed to the bus stop that was a few miles from the home. It was dark and quiet almost too quiet so when something disturbed the leaves behind me I stopped and my heart lurched forward.

I shook my head and continued walking faster this time.

I heard a clear stomp on the ground and gasped, turning around and a hand gripped my arm at the same time.

"I didn't have to follow you home this time." Silver eyes flashed in my face.

"Let me go," I demanded weakly.

He grabbed both my arms forcing me to look at him. He's been watching me. He was the one who killed Mia. He was the one in Mr Dean's room that day. It's him.

He was a wolf I could tell by his unworldly silver eyes.

"You threatened Mr Dean," I stammered.

"The old man should be the least of your concerns. I know someone who's dying to have you."

"No!" I screamed, panic kicking in rapidly.

"Be quiet."

He rounded me, cupping my mouth and gripping my waist. I struggled but his superhuman strength was beyond me. No one would hear me. Panic rose to my throat and I couldn't even scream.

"You're a difficult one to get, Zora. Those shifters won't let you have a moment alone."

What's he talking about? I've been alone plenty!

He dragged me backwards and I knew if he got me into a car then I was done for. I had to think fast and I realized even his superhuman strength couldn't withstand human pain. I dug my teeth into my hand and aimed for bone like an animal.

He bellowed into the night his scream echoing for miles.

"You bitch!"

He cradled his hand. I kicked him down the middle and he buckled forward.

"You're going to pay for that. I don't care what the boss says."

"Good luck catching me!" I slammed my bag on his back and bolted the other way into the night hoping the darkness would consume me.