A Team
Liam
Iwas in my office with Damon. It was probably one of the fucking rare times we were completely alone, and the urge to get rid of him wasn’t fucking overtaking me.
The entire table and part of the floor were littered with papers and photographs.
I couldn’t believe I was in this fucking situation where we were trying to rule out those who had full alibis around the time of the murders.
Zack, Damon, and I were the only ones working on it, and it was fucking a lot.
Maybe we needed to bring in a few more people.
Dad offered; I might take him up on that.
Mom had Aunty Monica and Azura to take care of. Maybe Raven…
I licked my lips, remembering what had happened earlier. Perfect was not even enough to describe it... she was fucking divine, and that pretty little pussy of hers was so bloody fine. Feeling myself twitch in my pants, I frowned, pushing the thought away. Fuck.
“It would have been easier to just put them all under Alpha command,” I said coldly, trying to focus. I still intended to do that, but only with those who had blanks in their alibis. We were hoping to cut out at least eighty percent of the pack.
“It’s about trust and respect,” Damon murmured, organising the files into ranks. With a pack with over a thousand members, it wasn’t fucking easy. At least we could rule out the pups.
“Still, they’d understand,” I said. Looking at the warrior files in front of me, taking a few papers that were stapled together, I tilted my head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s this fucking asshole…” Damon turned to look at the papers I held.
“Owen… yeah, he’s a prick, but I don’t know. I feel he’s just too obvious,” he murmured.
“And the job does feel too clean for him,” I added, but still, we couldn’t just cross anyone out.
The pile of those who were definitely ruled out thanks to full alibis was small… less than 200. That was far too fucking low…
“I’m covered,” Damon said, holding up his pile, frowning when he saw the one under him. “You got yourself here? The fuck?” I cocked a brow, massaging my temples, feeling a headache coming on.
“With my psychotic tendencies right now, I could be a fucking prime suspect. I don’t remember ripping Jacob’s arm off, so…”
The only ones spared from the assessment were Mom and Dad. The rest were on it to make it fair, although deep down, I trusted Damon, Raven, and Zack. It was a guideline we were following. Zack did his search on Damon and me, and Damon did Zack’s.
“Yeah, and made a mess. This job is too clean to even think it’s you,” Damon murmured. “Zack is totally covered.”
“Great, at least two of the higher position ones are. The priority is the security team. Who do we have covered?”
“Esteban… Drew… Ben… Cassidy…” I nodded. That made me feel a lot fucking better. “Mom…”
I looked towards him as he picked up his mom’s file and I felt a sliver of guilt. Putting Aunty Monica in this shit wasn’t right. He simply flicked the file open, staring at the many blank sections. It was obvious there’d be blanks; she stayed home for the most part.
“I won’t put her under Alpha command,” I said quietly. He looked at me and shook his head.
“No, I get it,” he said, his voice as calm and gentle as fucking ever, placing her file into the larger pile. I walked over, took the file, and put it in the other pile.
“I said, I won’t,” I said firmly, my eyes flashing warningly before I walked back to my desk. A silence fell between us before he called me,
“Liam…” I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “Thanks. I appreciate it,” he said quietly.
I gave a curt nod, and we continued our work. It was weird yet calming, almost like old times before our fucked up mate situation. Hours had passed and we were still working on it. Even Zack had shown up and we scoured through the files together.
Damon had gone to get us some hot drinks and had just gotten back, shutting the door after him.
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing a bar of chocolate from the tray as I massaged my forehead. My eyes fell on the tub of painkillers, and I glanced up at him, but he was back to his work. Thanks… but I wasn’t able to say that to him. I took two pills, swallowing them down with some water.
“Shall we rule out the ten- to fourteen-year-olds?” Zack asked, looking at a wad of files.
“No, we know even kids can be killers…” I said, dropping back in my seat.
“I think it’s a female,” Zack said, suddenly making both Damon and I look at him sharply.
“What?” Damon asked.
“Look… don’t you think the job is really clean? I don’t know. I feel like a female would be this precise.”
“I don’t think so. Men can be too.” I shook my head.
“Any reply about the handwriting analysis?” Damon asked.
“Yeah, both are inconsistent with one another. There’s been some tracing, some changes between the slant, and the speed and pressure of the pen varied drastically,” I muttered. “We only got that it is definitely the same person.
“So, they were careful there, too,” Zack muttered.
“And no fucking scent,” I said, frowning. “As if the messages were written and kept until nothing remained, or they wore gloves and somehow disguised their scents.”
“Were the papers tested for any remnants of scent masking sprays or anything?” Zack asked.
“Yeah, nothing.” I frowned.
“And our fucking werewolf abilities don’t help with this shit,” Damon murmured, grabbing a mug of hot chocolate for himself. Zack nodded, picking up his coffee and looking between the two of us before glancing away.
“Want to say something?” I asked, cocking a brow.
“No, just glad we are working together,” he said, with a small smirk.
“Hmm,” I said, ignoring Damon’s grin.
“Raven didn’t come home, did she?” Zack asked hesitantly.
“She went to Taylor’s,” I said, frowning when Zack looked disappointed. My eyes narrowed. “What’s your problem with that?” I asked icily.
“No problem at all…” Zack said, but his tone said otherwise. He sounded fucking down. Did he have a fucking crush on her? My eyes flashed dangerously at the thought, but I don’t know… I never got that vibe from him before.
We finished our drink and I glanced at the time: ten to three…
“Let’s call it a night,” I said, running my fingers through my hair, knowing it was probably a mess from the number of times I had run my fingers through it.
I stood up, stretching. I needed to sleep.
Maybe I’ll take her room. Although I wished I could cuddle up to her, I’d have to deal with her scent…
Liam…. Raven’s whimper came suddenly through the link, making my heart thud. Why did she sound… scared?
What is it, love? Are you okay? I asked, my heart beating way too fucking fast. A thousand worries and fear rushed through me. Zack and Damon looked at me, sensing the change. She didn’t answer. I rushed to the door, both boys instantly following me.
Raven, where the fuck are you? I asked, fear enveloping me.
Liam… Mom…
Raven! Raven? Fuck!
Nothing. I felt as if I was hitting a wall, and I knew she had not fucking blocked me off.
“Something is wrong with Raven!” I said, running down the steps and out the door faster than the other two.
“I’ll link Taylor, she was with him!” I heard Zack say as I rushed towards Taylor and Raven’s parents’ home. She had mentioned her mom…
Did she link you? Damon asked, worry clear in his voice.
Yeah, I said, speeding up.
I left them both behind. The moment I reached the houses, I saw Taylor banging on the Jacobs’ front door.
“Alpha! Zack linked me-”
I pushed him aside, breaking the door down. Fuck, her scent was here... I ran up the steps, taking three at a time then ran down the hall. The smell of blood hung in the air. Panic and fear wrapped around me, and all I could think about was Raven. Be fucking okay.
My heart was in my mouth as I pushed open the door to the master bedroom. Coming to an abrupt halt, my eyes widened in shock at the sight before me…
Damon
I ran into the Jacobs’ home a minute or so behind Liam, only to see him running down the stairs with Raven’s body in his arms.
“What the…”
“I need to get her to the hospital. She’s injured, and I think there’s poison in her system. She isn’t healing! Her mom’s dead,” he quickly explained, the fear and worry in his eyes tearing at my own heart.
I nodded, knowing he was the fastest to get her there… but to my surprise, he held her out to me, his cerulean eyes full of pain.
“Make sure she’s okay,” he said, his voice hoarse.
My heart thudded as I took her in my arms. She was tiny and didn’t weigh much at all, her head falling against my chest. I nodded, not saying anything as I turned and ran from the house.
I knew he wanted to find whoever did it, and I could see the pain in his eyes as he let her go.
I could feel her blood coating my arm, which meant she wasn’t healing.
Was it the same poison that was killing the people around us?
If it was, it meant we’d be able to save her.
The fact that the killer let the body shut down itself by using a mix of ricin, silver, and wolfsbane was very intelligent.
I quickly mind-linked the head doctor and told him I was on my way, filling him in on the situation and carrying my little mate as I ran as fast as I could.
When a pack member is killed, or when they broke pack ties or joined another pack, the Alpha would feel the pack-link break, but when an ill person passes away or if someone is dying slowly, it wasn’t really noticeable to the Alpha.
The tug was so subtle, you wouldn’t realise it at all.
The murders shut down the organs first, slowly yet surely.
The fact that they seemed to have thought this entire thing out so fucking cleverly worried me.
Time was running out and we were no closer to the truth.
I rushed to the room the nurse guided me too and placed Raven on the bed, placing a kiss on her forehead. She was pale and looked so fucking fragile…
“Please step outside, Beta Damon!” The doctor said before he began to shout orders. “She’s been poisoned, get the antidote for silver and wolfsbane. The Alpha said there may be ricin! We need to pump it from her body. Hook her up, check her blood pressure!”
I was pushed from the room, my heart thundering at the clear worry on the doctor’s face. We couldn’t lose her. I tried to contact Liam, but all I reached was a block. Fuck!
How is she? Taylor’s strained voice came through the link.
I don’t know yet. Where’s Liam? I asked.
He’s trying to search for clues. He’s angry, and I feel so damn guilty. I’m sorry, I swear I feel like shit. I didn’t hear her leave or I would have gone with her… I’m sorry, I know she’s your two’s mate, and I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.
She’ll be okay… I said softly.
I ended the link, pacing the hall feeling so damn frustrated, worried, and helpless. I ran my fingers through my hair dropping onto the bench. Please be fucking okay…
I was scared of losing her. We needed her. Heck I’d give anything for her to be okay. I’d happily take her place, too. Her smile, her unique eyes, her selflessness…
Come on, Raven, fight.
A few hours had passed. Liam had mind-linked a few times asking how she was, but that was it. He didn’t say much but I could sense his pain from his voice, although he was desperately trying to hide it.
Finally, the doctor said she was safe. The poison had been administered close to her neck, and if she had been brought in any later, things could have been worse.
I entered the hospital room. A bandage was wrapped around her head.
The doctor said she had been struck with a sledgehammer, but not with enough force to have done severe damage.
Either the killer was in a rush to leave, or they were generally not fucking strong enough.
My thought went back to what Zack had said. Was it a woman?
I brushed my knuckles down her cheek, a tingle of pleasure following.
Her soft, plump lips were parted slightly as she breathed softly.
Her long black lashes fluttered slightly at my touch.
I bent down and placed my lips gently on hers.
The sparks of the bond rushed through me, and the sweet taste of her mouth was something I wouldn’t forget.
That ache in my heart was growing. I didn’t know if I had a chance, or if I ever would. She was that special, rare gem that you wanted to protect forever and not hurt anymore.
I love you.
I took her delicate hand in mine, thinking how small and slender it was in comparison to mine before I kissed it softly.
I heard the sound of running, and I knew it was Liam.
I slowly placed her hand down, the pain in my chest heightening.
She was meant to be mine, too, but I couldn’t have her.
I smiled gently, just hoping that no matter what, she got her happily ever after…
The door opened and Liam ran over. He was shirtless, the necklaces around his neck hitting against one another, the sound loud in this silent room.
His eyes were fixed on Raven as he caressed her forehead, his other hand stroking her arm before he curled his fingers under her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
His heart was racing; I knew he was as worried as I had been, if not more as he wasn’t able to be here.
I looked away, feeling the painful tug at the scene before me. His love was so intense for her... was mine any less? Was there a difference between our love?
Don’t think like that, Damon…
But no matter how much I told myself to stay positive, I did feel like I was losing all hope of the three of us making it work.
Liam pulled the armchair forward, sitting by her bed, holding her hand to his chest.
“Found anything?” I asked.
“A footprint, a partial one but it’s there.
The killer wasn’t expecting Raven to show up, that was for certain,” he answered coldly.
“But we found no one that looked suspicious. Everyone seemed to have been asleep, but I did fucking order a search of the nearest places. I don’t know…
I feel like we are missing something big,” he said, running his free hand through his hair.
I nodded, grabbing the other armchair and situating myself on the other side of the bed. I glanced at her hand and placed my hand over it, feeling Liam’s intense gaze on me, but he didn’t say anything.
“And was there a note?”
“Obviously.”
“What did it say?”
“You deserved this.”