Hunter's Attraction

25.

“Hey! Hey!” Aiden interrupted, wedging himself between Lily and JP and causing them to pull their hands apart. He gave JP a sharp look. “So, what happened? What did you do?”

“It wasn’t JP’s fault,” Lily defended him immediately.

“What do you mean?” Sirena stepped forward, her gaze narrowing at JP. “You were both almost swarmed by werewolves from who knows where. We know nothing about this guy, and from what Aiden’s learned, JP’s own pack doesn’t seem to think too highly of him. They all think he’s trouble.”

“The wolves carried my scent,” Lily explained, glancing at Sirena.

“What?” Sirena stepped back, and she and Aiden exchanged a worried look. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what Lily said,” JP spoke up hesitantly. “I could smell it on them... They all smelled like they’d been rolling around in Lily’s laundry.”

Sirena and Aiden shared another look, this one heavier.

“What was that?” Lily caught it, frowning. “What’s going on?”

Sirena’s expression turned grim. “Earlier today... Lena and Monte were attacked.”

“What?” Lily gasped. “Are they okay?”

“Sort of,” Aiden said.

“‘Sort of’? What does that mean?”

“Lena?” JP asked, looking between Sirena and Aiden. “Is Lena your daughter?”

“Yes,” Sirena snapped, making JP shrink back, almost whimpering.

“Sirena,” Lily said sharply, “JP isn’t the enemy here. Please don’t treat him like one.”

“Whatever.” Sirena gave JP a disdainful look.

“Back to Lena and Monte.” Lily leaned forward, concern etching her face. “What happened? Who attacked them?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Sirena replied, casting JP a wary glance. “But I had to get involved. And when I came home, Lily, your window was open. Someone had been inside.”

“What?” Lily jumped to her feet, instantly regretting it as pain shot through her ankle and ribs. “Ow,” she groaned, doubling over.

“That’s it,” Aiden said firmly, standing up. “I’m taking you to urgent care, no arguments. Let’s go.” He helped her to her feet before turning to JP. “Tell your alpha to expect a visit from me tomorrow. Now, please leave.”

“Aiden,” Lily frowned, “he’s not the enemy.”

“Go home,” Aiden ordered, ignoring Lily.

“He will,” Sirena said, her eyes still fixed warily on JP. “I’ll make sure of it.”

***

“You were pretty hard on him,” Lily murmured from the passenger seat. “JP saved me.”

“Whatever.” Aiden rolled his eyes. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Like what?”

“Like…they identified the body.”

“What body?”

“The one from the weekend.”

“Oh.” Lily frowned. “This weekend… feels like ages ago.”

“The parents claimed him. They’re from a pack in California. They haven’t taken the body yet, but he was ID’d this morning. He had a weird drug in his system—a mix of MDMA, psychostimulant, and wolfsbane. Deadly for humans. They’re calling it a ‘silver bullet.’”

“Silver bullet,” Lily echoed.

“Yes.” Aiden looked over at her, suspicious. “You know of it?”

“JP and I talked a lot,” she said hesitantly, “but…please don’t tell him I told you. He may have… accidentally dealt it in Mexico.”

“Accidentally? How do you accidentally deal drugs? Lily, what has this kid gotten you into?”

“It’s not like that, Aiden.” Lily’s tone was defensive. “I just… I don’t want to betray JP.”

“Do you think it’s a coincidence that a kid on silver bullet ends up dead in the same place where the dealer lives?”

“Of course not,” Lily shot back, wincing as pain lanced through her ribs. “But I don’t think JP is involved.”

“Are you sure that your feelings for him aren’t clouding your judgment?” Aiden asked pointedly.

“I’m not an i***t, Aiden!” she exclaimed sharply. “And I’m not lovesick, either!”

“I know, Lily. I’m not trying to argue. Look, we can talk about this later. The drugs didn’t kill the kid—same with Hector.”

“Hector was taking the same drugs?”

Aiden nodded. “But neither of them died from the drugs. Both boys were beaten to death.”

“Beaten to death?” Lily felt a chill. “You’re serious?”

“Sirena has the autopsy reports at home.”

“Beaten to death…” Lily echoed, thinking back to the boy’s body Friday night. “I didn’t get a good look. He was… young. I tried not to stare.”

“Well, he’d been mauled—like Hector. By the way, Hector’s private funeral is on Wednesday, family and close friends only. We’ve been invited.”

“Okay,” Lily replied, just as Aiden’s phone rang. He fished it out, handing it to her. “Could you answer that?”

“Sure.” She carefully took the phone and answered. “Hello?”

“Hello,” a gravelly voice answered. “I apologize for the intrusion. I’m trying to reach Aiden Jamison.”

“This is his number—I’m his sister, Lily.”

“Ah, Lily. This is Gamma David Ortiz.”

“Hello, sir.” Lily’s tone became respectful. “How can we help you?”

“JP just returned. We think we know who attacked you.”

“Seriously?” Lily turned to Aiden, covering the phone. “It’s Gamma David. He says they know who attacked us.”

“That’s quick work,” Aiden replied. “Can he say who’s responsible?”

Lily returned the phone to her ear. “Sir, can you tell us who it was?”

“Sí… I believe… it was us.”