Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
ISABELLA
T he knock on the clinic door pulls me from the tangled web of Arthur’s notes scattered across the desk. The sound is sharp, firm, and immediately sets my nerves on edge. I glance at the clock—late, as usual—and wonder who’s decided to visit now.
“Coming!” I call, closing the notebook in front of me and pushing my chair back.
When I open the door, Sheriff Barnes is standing there, his expression as stoic as ever. His broad shoulders practically fill the doorway, and he’s holding a notepad in one hand, his other resting casually on his belt.
“Sheriff,” I say, surprised. “What brings you by at this hour?”
“Got some new information,” he says, his voice low and steady. “Thought you’d want to hear it sooner rather than later.”
He steps inside without waiting for an invitation, his boots thudding against the floor as he scans the room. His gaze briefly lands on the cluttered desk, and I see the faintest flicker of disapproval in his eyes.
I close the door behind him, crossing my arms. “What kind of information?”
He holds up the notepad, flipping it open to a page covered in his blocky handwriting. “I got a report from a witness today.”
“A witness? To what?”
“A local hiker who remembers seeing a truck parked near the old logging camp the afternoon Arthur died. Out-of-state plates, partial license number.”
My heart skips a beat. “You think it’s connected to Arthur?”
Barnes shrugs, his expression carefully neutral. “Can’t say for sure. But a truck like that, hanging around where it doesn’t belong… it’s worth looking into.”
I nod, already piecing things together in my mind. Arthur’s notes, the mutant wolves, the chemical compound—it all feels tied to something bigger, and this could be the first solid lead we’ve had.
“What did the witness say about the driver?” I ask. “Anything distinctive?”
“Didn’t see much,” Barnes replies. “Said the truck was parked at the edge of the woods, no lights, no movement. By the time they circled back, it was gone.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, frustration building. It’s not much, but it’s something. “And you’re sure it wasn’t just a random camper or hunter?”
His gaze sharpens. “I think you’ve been here long enough to know we don’t get random tourists around these parts. If someone local spots an unfamiliar vehicle just hanging around, it’s a pretty good guess that whoever owns it is up to something.”
The weight of his words settles over me, heavy and undeniable.
“What’s the plan, then?” I ask, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me.
Barnes crosses his arms, leaning against the counter. “Thought I’d see if Ryder or Lucas wanted to do some kind of stakeout. I have to stay here in town in case there’s an emergency.”
“I’m going with them.”
“I doubt they’ll want that, but I also doubt that will keep you away. I think you should set up near the area where the truck was seen, see if it comes back or if we can catch anyone else sniffing around.”
My pulse quickens at the suggestion. “You think it’s tied to the Crimson Claw?”
He doesn’t answer right away, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Could be. Or it could be tied to something else.”
“Something else?” I repeat, the words hanging in the air between us.
Barnes shifts, his voice lowering. “Illegal hunting and tree harvesting have been a problem around here before, but this feels different. More coordinated. More dangerous.”
The unspoken words hang between us, and I know he’s holding something back. But right now, I don’t care. This is my chance to figure out what might have gotten Arthur killed.
“When do we start?” I ask, my resolve hardening.
Barnes tilts his head slightly, studying me. “Tomorrow night. I’ll handle the logistics. I’ll tell Ryder I want you there, but it’s anyone’s guess whether he’ll allow it.”
“Last time I checked, Sheriff, Ryder wasn’t my alpha,” I say, using the term in a way that lets him know I am no longer completely clueless.
He doesn’t respond, his gaze lingering on me like he’s weighing my words. Then he nods, tucking the notepad back into his pocket. “That’s between you and him.”
After he leaves the clinic, I sink into my chair, staring at the closed notebook in front of me. My thoughts race, the pieces of the puzzle spinning in my mind as I try to fit them together.
A truck, out-of-state plates, mutants, and Arthur’s death. It’s all connected, and this stakeout may be able to give us the answers we’re looking for.
The cold air bites at my skin as I step outside the clinic, the soft glow of the porch light spilling across the gravel lot. The frustration churning inside me feels like it might boil over at any second, and when I see Ryder leaning casually against his truck at the edge of the parking lot, it’s the final straw.
I approach him, the gravel crunching under my boots. He straightens when he sees me, his broad shoulders stiffening, his expression unreadable. The shadows from the trees dance across his face, but his eyes gleam, locking onto me like he’s been waiting for this.
“You’ve been watching me,” I accuse, my voice sharp and unwavering. “And I’m done pretending I don’t notice.”
Ryder’s jaw tightens, and he pushes off the truck, his hands sliding into his pockets. “It’s not safe for you out here alone,” he says, his tone low and measured.
“Cut the crap,” I snap, stepping closer. “You’re here, so I’m not alone. You’re not just keeping an eye on me because you’re worried about what I might find. You’re worried about something you know is out here. Something about Arthur, the Crimson Claw, all of it. And I’m tired of you dodging my questions.”
He exhales slowly, his gaze flicking past me toward the clinic before settling back on my face. “There are things that don’t concern you.”
I laugh bitterly, shaking my head. “That is absolute bullshit. You don’t think Arthur’s death—a man who was like a father to me—or my grandmother’s banishment concerns me? Are you really that stupid, or do you just think I am?”
His expression softens for the briefest moment, but it’s gone so quickly I wonder if I imagined it. “This can’t go on the way it’s going. You’re going to get hurt,” he says, his voice quieter now.
Taking a step forward, I demand, “Why are you so determined to keep me in the dark? Is it because you know the truth and you’re too much of a coward to admit it?”
That does it. His eyes flash with something hot and dangerous, and he closes the distance between us in a single stride, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. “Careful, Bella,” he says, his voice a low growl that sends a shiver down my spine—but is it fear or something darker, more primeval?
“Or what?” I fire back, refusing to back down despite the heat radiating off him, the sheer force of his presence making it hard to think straight. “You’ll keep stonewalling me? Keep standing outside my clinic—just beyond the tree line—like some cryptic bodyguard who doesn’t have the balls to tell me what’s really going on?”
His hands flex at his sides like he’s trying to hold himself back. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” he says, his tone laced with barely restrained anger. “The woods, the Crimson Claw—this isn’t some mystery you can solve by playing detective.”
The air between us feels charged, electric. His gaze drops to my lips, just for a heartbeat, before snapping back to my eyes. The pull between us is suffocating, undeniable, but he takes a step back, raking a hand through his hair.
“Stay out of…”
“If you say, ‘the woods,’ one more time I swear to God I’ll find something to beat you over the head with. Why can’t you see that nothing is more dangerous than not knowing?”
He shakes his head, his jaw clenching. “You don’t want those answers, Bella. Trust me.”
“You have no idea what I want,” I snap. “And for the record, I don’t trust you.”
He looks as if I just slapped him across the face. “I’m trying to protect you,” he says quietly.
“From what?” I press, my voice softer now.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he turns and walks toward his truck, his movements tense and deliberate. His words echo in my mind as he drives away.
RYDER
The stone walls seem to amplify and hold the tension hanging in the air. The Nightshade Elders sit in their usual semi-circle, their expressions grim as I stand before them. Tannis is the first to speak, her voice sharp enough to cut through the silence.
“We’ve tolerated her presence long enough,” she says, her piercing gaze fixed on me. “Bella Gordon is poking around in matters that don’t concern her. It’s a risk we can’t afford.”
“I would remind you, I’m the one who makes that decision,” I say quietly.
“She’s not a threat,” Lucas says from his spot at the edge of the room, his tone calm but firm.
Tannis scoffs, shaking her head. “Not yet. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to exposing us all. Do you really believe she’ll stop?”
Lucas steps forward, crossing his arms as he faces her. “She’s not some outsider looking to exploit us. She has a connection to this pack—her grandmother was one of us, no matter how much you try to ignore it. And Bella’s not just curious; she’s smart. If we work with her instead of against her, she could be an asset.”
Marlow, the oldest of the Elders, leans forward, his lined face unreadable. “You’re suggesting we let her in on our secrets?”
“Secrets?” Lucas scoffs, his voice steady. “Which secrets are those Marlow? That wolf-shifters and the Crimson Claw exist? That you banished her grandmother for no good reason? That you put Everett in power because you could control him? Are those the secrets you’re talking about?”
“Lucas,” I warn.
He shakes his head. “I got a hot news flash for you, Bella already knows. She doesn’t care about Everett or your pathetic attempts to keep what you did to her grandmother secret. She wants to know about the mutants and Arthur’s death. I suggest we guide her in such a way that she feels comfortable sharing what she finds with us. Better she works with us than against us.”
The murmurs ripple through the chamber, a mix of skepticism and grudging consideration. I stay silent, my thoughts a cataclysmic maelstrom as I listen to Lucas speak.
“She’s not a liability,” Lucas continues, his eyes darting toward me. “She’s a resource. She knows this town, she has connections to human law enforcement, to scientific labs, and her skills as a vet, a researcher and a scientist could be invaluable.”
Tannis shakes her head, glaring at Lucas. “She’s a liability, plain and simple. And the fact that you’re advocating for her inclusion only proves how reckless this idea is.”
I step forward then, cutting through the rising apprehension. “Enough,” I say, my voice firm.
The chamber falls silent, all eyes on me.
“This debate is over. I am alpha. Unless you have someone to challenge me, I’m through discussing this matter. I’ve let this go on long enough, hoping you’d see reason, but your hate, prejudice and fear of change have kept you from seeing the truth. Bella isn’t going anywhere and pushing her away will only make things worse. I’ll handle her.”
“How?” asks Marlow.
“I will take her to mate and bring her into the pack.”
“Not exactly the most romantic way to propose to her, but can I be there when you tell her?” asks Lucas, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
I growl at him, and he settles down. Right now, the Crimson Claw and Bella’s safety are what matter. I turn on my heel and stalk from the room.
Later, I meet Lucas down by the river, the cool night air a welcome change from that in the council chamber. He’s leaning against a tree, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful as I approach.
“You didn’t exactly back me up in there,” he says, his tone neutral.
I stop a few feet away, running a hand through my hair. “It didn’t seem to me you needed my support. The Elders don’t trust anyone who isn’t pack, and Bella is... complicated.”
Lucas snorts. “Complicated is one way to put it. But you don’t think she’s a threat, do you?”
“No,” I admit, my voice quieter now. “But that doesn’t mean she isn’t dangerous—to herself or to us.”
He studies me, his gaze sharp. “You’re not just worried about the pack, are you?”
I stiffen, but Lucas doesn’t back down.
“You were serious. You mean to take her to mate,” he says, a knowing grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And you know she’s going to give you hell.”
“It’s not that simple,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Isn’t it?” Lucas pushes off the tree, stepping closer. “You’re the alpha, Ryder. You’re supposed to protect the pack. But the best alphas have always had the strongest mates. And sometimes protecting the pack means making allies, even if it goes against tradition. Bella isn’t just some nosy outsider—she’s one of us, whether the Elders want to admit it or not.”
I glare at him, but his words hit too close to the truth for me to argue.
Later when I arrive at the clinic, I can see Bella inside, her head bent over a notebook, her expression intense as she jots something down. I should leave. Watching her like this feels wrong, invasive, but I can’t seem to make myself turn away.
She looks up suddenly, her gaze turning toward the window like she senses me. Perhaps she does. They say fated mates can sense one another even before they are bonded. My breath catches, and I step back into the shadows before she can see me. As I retreat into the woods, her image stays with me.