Chapter 10
Nora leaves lunch on a mission to discreetly uncover more information about that hunting rifle, particularly who knew it was still in the evidence lockup. Unease settles in my gut at the implications of what she said, but I can”t let that deter me. I must follow the clues I uncovered in this investigation by returning to the Blackwood Pack territory.
I grip the steering wheel as I navigate the winding roads. With the windows down, the fresh pine scent reminds me of Zane. I swallow hard, trying to focus on the road ahead, but the unbidden memories flood in.
His strong arms holding me close as we danced under the moonlight. His eyes lighting up when he laughed so loudly and freely that the sound echoed through the forest. How his passionate kisses stole my breath away. I shake my head, trying to dispel the images, but they cling to me.
I see the first sign of the clearing where the Blackwood Pack set up the meeting hall and the other community buildings. I hesitate. I have to remain focused on today. This case. Not the past. And definitely not the way it felt to pull Zane close enough that I could hear his heartbeat when I rested my cheek on his chest.
I see Zane leaning against a tree as I park my truck. He looks so relaxed there, but I know that beneath it all he carries the weight of the world. This investigation. The scrutiny that it brings to the Pack. It just makes that weight even heavier on his shoulders.
”What are you doing here?” I ask as I open the door.
”Waiting for you.”
”What do you mean, waiting for me?”
”I knew you”d be out here. Liam”s information leads to one thing—a conversation with Rowan. You wouldn”t send anyone else out to do that.” He looks behind me to my truck. ”I did expect you”d bring your partner.”
”She”s following another lead,” I say.
”I want to go on the record. I don”t believe that Rowan did this.”
”Maybe he wouldn”t plan to, but that is the problem with making deals with people like Liam. You can”t always control the outcome.”
”Are you directing that at Rowan or me?”
”You know exactly what Liam is. What he stands for. And you”ve already promised him Blackwood Pack protection—”
”If he isn”t involved in these murders. I promised him protection if he isn”t involved—”
”In this crime. Not in any crime. You don”t care what his scheming does as long as it doesn”t look bad on your Pack. If the victim hadn”t been a member of your Pack, would you even care that he died?”
”I already told you that Erik and I have looked into his business. We haven”t turned the blind eye you are accusing—”
”But you”ve promised him protection as long as he isn”t involved in this crime.”
”His business helps the Pack too.”
”Oh yes, so Genie can act like she is so superior. Does she even realize the clothing she trades originates in Cascade Falls?”
Zane straightens as though I slapped him. ”How much of the meeting did you hear?”
”Enough—” I push off my truck in search of Rowan.
Zane takes a step forward and puts an arm out to stop me. ”I should”ve stopped them—”
”Why? What did they say that was wrong?” I look up at him meeting his eyes. ”I did leave the Alpha unmated. Of course, they don”t know that his father said I wasn”t fit to be an Alpha”s mate and the Alpha said absolutely nothing to defend me. Of course, I”m the one to blame. I lost my only family member. Found out that everything I thought I knew about myself was based on half-truths. And then the person I thought loved me—well he failed me. But of course, to everyone in that room, it was all my fault.”
I storm away relishing the thudding sound of my steps. I must be strong to create so much noise by myself, right? Zane falls into step beside me and then stops suddenly. He gently grabs my arm and turns to walk back the way we came and then past my truck.
”He”s this way,” Zane says, his voice low. ”I”ve caught his scent.”
As we approach a different clearing farther back from the road, I spot Rowan, his eyes fixed on us. He isn”t surprised to see us, almost as if he”s expected us. Zane attempts to pull me behind him, but I shake him off, stepping forward.
”Rowan,” I say. ”You know why I”m here.”
Zane moves as though to interject, but I cut him off with a glance. This is my investigation, and I won”t let him take control. Rowan”s gaze flicks between us, his expression unreadable.
”What do you want to know, Ava?” he asks resentfully.
”Why did you sell the pendants?”
Rowan”s eyes widen. He didn”t think I”d figured that out, but he recovers quickly and shrugs. ”I needed the money. Zane hadn”t looked at them in years so I knew he wouldn”t miss them. I figured it was a small price to pay to get myself out of a bind.”
”What kind of bind?” I press. Zane”s eyes widen beside me, but he stops trying to shield me.
Rowan hesitates, then sighs. ”I got in with a loan shark. Stupid, I know, but I had no other options. The pendants were enough to clear my debt. I had no reason to hurt Tony.”
”Did you recognize Tony when you came with Zane to the clearing?”
”Who could have recognized that?” Rowan shakes his head. ”I wasn”t close friends with Tony or anything. He was willing to lend me money when I needed it, but then he was merciless in his repayment expectations. I just wanted him out of my life, not dead.”
I nod, processing the information. ”And what about cleaning up after Zach”s challenge? What was that about?”
Rowan looks around uncomfortably. ”I knew Zane would be pissed at me for egging Zach on. I needed a way to keep in sight of other Packmates while he cooled off. I put everything from the cleanup into the community burn barrel. But I didn”t attend the next community fire, so I can”t say if the materials were still there when it started.”
”You realize how this looks—” I say.
”You”ve put the entire Pack at risk with your actions,” Zane interrupts. His fury radiates off him like a raging inferno, but I can”t let it distract me.
Rowan”s expression crumples, and for a moment, I see the vulnerability beneath his bravado. ”I didn”t mean for any of this to happen,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. ”I just wanted to prove myself, to show that I”m worthy of a place in this pack.”
”Rowan, that doesn”t even make sense,” Zane says. ”Everyone in the Pack loves you.”
”They laugh when I make a joke, but when push comes to shove, I”m the son of the two people who did the most damage as part of the Shadow Rogues. I”m alone in caring for my grandfather, who talks openly about inciting another rebellion.”
”How would the money from Tony help you?” I ask.
”At the time, I wanted it to take me out of here. Away from the shadow my parents left. Not honorable I know. And then I ended up in a bigger financial mess than when I started. So even if I still wanted to leave, I wouldn”t be able to.”
”You”re lucky Ava”s here, or I”d be tempted to challenge you myself.”
Rowan”s eyes widen, but then his own anger shines through. ”Don”t let that stop you, Zane. Ava”s a freaking cop. You think she will get squeamish at the sight of blood?”
”Have you lost your mind?” I yell at Rowan. ”You are openly challenging an Alpha. Your Alpha.”
”Don”t you get it? I have nothing to lose. Nothing. This Pack is suffocating. The only way to do anything is to leave. You know that better than anyone—”
”You hate the humans—”
”That”s where you are wrong. Everyone is wrong. My parents hated humans. My grandfather hates humans. I know if we insist on remaining this separate, we will continue to fall behind. We already have less access to things considered minimum accommodations in Cascade Falls—electricity, internet, cell service—”
”Why didn”t you say anything?” Zach asks.
”I have. Many times. But then Grandfather talks. He brags about the good ole days and the work my parents did. I don”t hate them. Any of them. I love them. But that doesn”t mean I agree with them.”
”You wanted to work with Liam. That”s why you took Zach to town?” I ask.
”Yes. Liam”s set himself up pretty well helping those who want to remain separate still get the supplies they need. I wanted in on the action. I took out a loan to buy into the business. But it wasn”t enough. Or. I don”t know what happened really. I just know I didn”t get back what I thought I”d get back in the time I promised Tony.”
”You risked the safety of the Pack for what?” Zane”s anger is so hot, I”m sure my fingers will blister if I touch him.
”We”ll deal with this later,” I say to him firmly before turning to Rowan. ”For now, I need you to come to the station and make a formal statement. You need to explain how the pendants left Zane”s possession.”
Rowan nods, looking defeated. ”I just made myself the prime suspect—admitting I had dealings with Tony.”
”No. I don”t believe that you killed Tony or Aiden. But I have to track those pendants, and you”re key to their movements.”
All three of us make our way back to my truck. I can feel Zane”s eyes on my back as I lead the way, but I don”t meet his gaze. Something shifted, something I don”t want to put a name to. But I just stopped Zane in a matter of Alpha discipline. Only one person can stop an Alpha”s hand, an Alpha”s Mate.