Love and Deception

Chapter Four

Noah

Noah sat in his father’s office watching as the man in question signed forms and delegated duties in short chopped speech. Iris had finally returned so the view wasn’t exactly an ugly one. That woman just had legs for miles. She also didn’t mind his father’s gruffness. In fact she seemed to like it. She sauntered away a moment later and even gave Noah and friendly pat on the arm before swaying from the room. Noah didn’t turn to watch her go though he was tempted. He was a mated man and quite a good deal more happily so than he had been recently but Iris was fine with a capital F. One should appreciate those things. Erik settled into his seat with grim determination written on his face. “This has gone on long enough Noah. I understand that you loved her, I really do. But you’re worrying your mother and now your sister as well. This has to stop.” For a moment he was speechless.

“She called you?” He asked rather incredulous. His father nodded solemnly.

“Elizabeth said you showed up at the ER all beaten and babbling about Carlie.”

“I saw her.” He interrupted. Erik leveled a golden gaze at him. “I know it sounds crazy but I swear I saw her. She was in the alley when I got attacked. She’s…different but it’s her dad I swear.”

“Noah...”

“No. Just listen.” Erik’s golden eyes flashed briefly. Yeah that was quite possibly the first time Noah had ever dared interrupt his father. But this was worth it. “I didn’t believe it at first either. But it’s her smell, her face, her hair, even her voice. If it’s not Carlie than someone went through a hell of a lot of trouble to make me think it is.” Erik’s lips pursed as he thought that over.

“You’re thinking this rogue wolf could be a trap laid to lure you in?” Noah nodded.

“It’s not a rogue wolf at all. It’s Carlie.”

“How is that possible?” Noah shook his head against his father’s very clear suspicions.

“I never tried to turn her. But how is any of this possible? We buried her. Her body was in the ground and it’s not like the ground’s been disturbed at all.” He knew because he’d practically lived there until his father had kiboshed it. Erik frowned and clenched a fist around a stress ball. Apparently his mother was still attempting to mold the Alpha into a caring human being. Noah had to admire her determination.

“Let’s move on from that for a moment. Your sister mentioned you also said something about telekinetics?”

“Yeah they just showed up in the alley. See I think the ones who tracked me first thought I was her. Then she showed up and that’s when the other supernatural guys showed up. They weren’t after me at all.” Much as it dinged his already bruised pride to admit it. It was several long moments of silence before Erik spoke again.

“I do not like this. Your sister has been living there for two years and this is all just coming to a head now? Perhaps you are not the only wolf the culprit has designs on.” He could almost see the wheels turning in his father’s brain as the instinct to protect warred with the knowledge of how Elizabeth appreciated being bossed around.

“Give me some more time. I’ll track down Carlie or whoever it is and get the story out of them.” He was going to anyway but it would be nice to at least attempt to alleviate his father’s concerns in the process. His father turned another unyielding golden stare at him.

“I have a meeting with a foreign investor tomorrow. I will be in Chicago the day afterward.” Which meant Noah had two days to figure out what was going on before his father came in and cleaned house then uprooted a very angry Elizabeth to another city. Talk about time crunch. Noah nodded once.

“I’ll keep you updated.” Noah got up and headed towards the door when his father called out to him. When Noah turned back he just got his hand up in time to catch the set of keys aimed at his chest.

“Take the car.” His father was already focused on his computer screens and open file folders. Hey at least he was giving him a head start. Not to mention a car that could cut the trip in half if Noah pushed it. He smiled broadly to Iris who returned it warmly with a wave. His body was tingling like he hadn’t changed in weeks instead of the mere hours it had been. He was going to see Carlie again very soon.

Once he was back in Chicago he pulled the car into Elizabeth’s driveway. Instead of chasing after his mate like he was practically chomping at the bit to do. But Liz needed to know what was going on with regards to their dad and her possible relocation. Her little Jetta was parked in the drive and he almost felt bad parking the Bentley next to the thing. It was just…unsettling somehow. But there wasn’t exactly another option. The duplex had other occupants with even less flattering rides than Liz. With a sigh he got out of the car and headed for her door. He knocked but didn’t wait for an answer as he opened the door and strode in. She was seated at her tiny café style kitchen table staring at him in an eerie echo of their father. “I had to do it.” She said as the door shut behind him.

“I know.” Her eyebrow rose in skepticism. “I imagine I sounded like I’d not only left the reservation but blown it off the map while I was at it.” He came to a chair across from her and sat down. “I should have explained more clearly and I apologize for worrying you. I’m not crazy.” He smirked. “Well any more so than usual.” He took a deep breath before launching into the entire story. He’d skimped on the details with his father because his father had a tendency to worry. Even though that is never how he would have worded it. Elizabeth needed all the details if she would even consider helping him. And he needed the help. Erik’s idea of fixing a situation usually meant death to all those involved. Seeing as to Noah and Elizabeth were his children that meant Carlie and anything connected to her were going to die. By his father’s hand. And he couldn’t even think about that. He’d lost her once and that had nearly been his death. He just couldn’t do it again.

“Okay. This is sounding pretty fantastical I have to say but we do change into wolves at will.” She smiled ruefully. “So my mind is willing to at least contemplate the idea. But how? Do you have any theories?”

“Two but both have giant holes in them. One is that it is Carlie, who was somehow brought back to life and turned into a werewolf. Two is that she isn’t Carlie at all but a trap laid to bring me in and keep me off my guard.” She grimaced.

“Neither sounds particularly appealing. I’ve never heard of something like either happening.” She frowned once again revealing the similarities between her and Erik. “Alright, I don’t know how much help I’ll be but I’ll do whatever it is I can. If Dad thinks I’m moving he’s got another thing coming.” Her eyes took on the unfocused distant look they always got when she was communicating with her twin Emmeline. Em and Liz had always been hyper connected so it didn’t surprise him that the situation was being discussed between the two. When he was younger he’d been jealous of their closeness but as he got older he’d come to appreciate not having someone else knowing his every emotion. “Do you want me to have Em come down here?”

“Nah it’s okay. Wait down? Where is she now?” Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

“She’s hiking in the Yukon. Her new beau is apparently a nature enthusiast.” He barely hid his smirk at that. Liz didn’t even try.

“What happened to what’s his face, the lab rat?” The smile widened into something just a little more predatory.

“Oh that didn’t work out.”

“That was quick.” Liz nodded. “So what about you? Any potential mates I should be intimidating here?” Liz just laughed.

“Nah, I don’t think that’s for me. But there is this guy in X-ray who doesn’t seem to be taking the hint. If you want to make him pee his pants I’d be totally okay with it.” Noah chuckled. “I assume you’re going after her then?”

“Might as well try to get the story right from the source before we start canvassing.” Liz rolled her eyes at the cop lingo but let it slide. “Can I leave the Bentley here for a bit? It’s easier to track her in wolf form.”

“You mean an overgrown out of its natural habitat predator is less likely to attract attention sniffing the ground then a full grown adult male? Hmm, fancy that.” He growled softly at her.

“Yeah, imagine that.” He tossed the keys onto the table and made his way to the door.

“Call me please to update me. If I don’t hear from you by morning I’m calling Mom.” Noah hesitated at the door and then nodded to his younger sister while flipping her the bird. That was a dirty card to play. Their mother could find her children anytime anywhere. It was a strange gift that only she had but it was a card they all used on each other. Though usually as a last resort. She tended to worry even more than their father. Noah sniffed the air and eyed the darkening sky. This was going to be a good night.

Carlie

She sat in front of a very angry Lucius Varros trying her best to keep her fear out of her eyes. She was a werewolf damnit. She could eat this man if she was so inclined. She certainly was hungry enough. She’d had an incredibly shitty evening and her employer’s current black mood was doing nothing to improve hers. But still…he was Lucius. She’d watched him bend metal with nothing more than his will. He could certainly do a wide variety of painful things to her body not to mention cut off the funding that kept her son in the best possible care. So she watched him with an outward submission that chafed against her instincts. “Would you like to tell me what happened?” His voice was deceptively calm and cool. Experience taught her that it usually preceded the yelling and the pain.

“I did as you requested.”

“No problems?” She groaned internally. How had he found out?

“There was a civilian in the mix. He was there when I arrived. Apparently the hired help couldn’t be bothered to wait for me.” There. That wasn’t even a lie. Tricky thing about Lucius was he was as good as she was at ferreting out lies. Of course his manner for dealing with them was quite a bit different than hers but whatever. It made having to pick and choose her words a survival skill.

“Did you get the name of this civilian?” She shook her head.

“I didn’t. He was pretty banged up but alive when I left.” Also not a lie. But also the wrong thing to say. Lucius’ hand slammed down onto the table top jarring his cup of espresso and all of the papers on it.

“Why did you leave him there? Now he’s a loose end. Who knows what he saw and then told the hospital attendants! You don’t look that wounded so I can only assume you’re serious misstep had some other reason?” Well s**t. She had been so confused by seeing Noah’s face and smelling him that she hadn’t even thought about that. Her mind had just accepted on a subconscious level that it was him and he would keep the secret.

“I…I guess I just wasn’t thinking.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Is there anything else I need to know?” His words were still angry and clipped off after the end of each one.

“There were a pair of telekinetics. They attacked me after I took out the hired thugs.” She used a small quiet voice and kept her eyes on the ground hoping the show of obvious contrite and submissiveness would help calm his mood. It mollified him slightly. There were several moments of silence before he calmly reached for his espresso and took a sip. Carlie was halfway through the thought of possibly not being reprimanded when the first tremor bulldozed through her body. The scent of gunpowder and burnt air filled her nostrils before the pain of the change jack knifed her into the fetal position. The smell of magic. She couldn’t concentrate even on that one simple thought as Lucius called her beast from her body. Shifting was always painful for her. The feel of her bones remodeling themselves to move on four legs instead of two always induced a panic. Her body fought the process even though it knew it was futile. But when Lucius forced it on her, the pain was exponentially increased. The fight came harder as muscles locked down in an unconscious effort to stop the process. It made the act of not howling in pain that much more difficult. It was what he wanted however so she stubbornly refused.

When it was over she lay huddled on the floor panting and whining softly. Her wolf never was very friendly right after the change but after a forced one the urge to rip out her boss’ throat was almost undeniable. He didn’t say anything until she stood on shaky legs still trembling with the shock. She knew the look she turned on him wasn’t the friendliest of looks but he didn’t seem to care. He just turned those emotionless pools on her and stared her down. When she didn’t blink or avert her eyes he smiled slowly and lowered his lids. “I should kill you, several times over in fact, but you are far too valuable.” She wanted to growl at him but was not in shape to endure anymore of his dominance games. “I understand another specialist has come up empty handed this week and am willing to accept this as the reason for your egregious oversight.” She snorted and sat down on her haunches. “Normally your next assignment would be to correct this but I have something else that requires your attention.” Her ears pricked forward and her body stilled. He was going to let their mate go? “Max will track down your loose end.” Right of course not. She listened to Max’s heavy footfalls leave and gave serious thought to following him. But she was deep in it enough as it was.

“You.” He continued as if sensing her thoughts. “You will be here tomorrow evening. My territory has been invaded and a show of force is necessary. I’m sure that’s something even your simple mind can appreciate.” The growl escaped but it was thankfully softer than she would have originally gone with. He smirked at her. “Human form of course. He’ll know what you are and there is no need to scare the customers.” He leaned back in his seat and stared down the edge of the coffee cup at her. She was not impressed. “Run along now. Make sure your back here tomorrow at sundown.” The menace behind that statement was conveyed by tone instead of words. It still made the wolf want to answer the challenge. Yet she turned and made her way out of the door by sheer force of will. Once the night air ruffled through her fur she changed her mind about heading home. Instead she veered off into the wooded area and headed for the interstate. As soon as she was out of the city she let go and ran as fast as she could letting the worries of civilization fade behind her. The wolf was born to run and never truly felt free until she was out in the wild. She stopped in a clearing and took a deep breath of fresh crisp air.

The smells of the wilderness assaulted her nose and she greedily drank them all in. After the ever present stench of humans living in close proximity even the scent of rodent droppings felt like ambrosia. It must’ve recently rained where she ended up for the dirt was much closer to mud and she could still smell the rain on the ground. She chased an unsuspecting deer around without any intention of actually attempting to take it down. She wasn’t in an adventurous mood. Dinner came in the typical rabbit package but the wolf wasn’t really picky. The enjoyment of hunting its own food and being able to eat in peace was enough. She was cleaning the remnants of her meal from her claws when she felt another presence brush against her mind. Her head picked up on its own and looked off in an aimless direction. The sensation had happened to her before but only when she was in wolf form. She had never been able to figure out what it was. Originally she had assumed it was Lucius keeping his eye on her. But after a more unpleasant incident had occurred in wolf form and he hadn’t known of it she was forced to consider alternatives.

But the other presence left just as quickly as it had come. It didn’t seem to enjoy the occasional contact any more than she did. How she knew it was the same one or that it was even sentient she couldn’t explain. She just knew. It was one of the peculiarities of her dual nature that she had just learned to accept. It wasn’t like she had anyone to ask after all. She thought about maybe reaching out to Noah’s family for the millionth time. But they wouldn’t want to see her. The reminder of everything they’d lost. Not to mention Luca. How could she tell them about their grandson only to make them watch what was left of Noah die by inches? No. She just wasn’t that cruel. It was her burden to bear and even though her wolf side yearned for the family she had almost been a part of her human half knew the cruelty. They were good people who deserved any small measure of peace they could find. Not more sadness and loss. The melancholy turn of her thoughts announced the end of her trip so she howled a farewell to the moon and turned back towards the oppression of the human world.

The trip back seemed to take longer but that was probably because she wasn’t eager to get back. The wolf, simple minded though it may be, enjoyed the freedom of its solitude. It had no qualms about shucking human responsibilities and living in the wild. She decided to shift on the outskirts of the city and walk back to her apartment. It was far less suspicious for a woman to be walking through the streets at night than a wolf after all. And she could handle herself. Only…she didn’t want to go home. She wanted to track down the Noah phantom and wring the truth out of his hide. Then she’d warn him about Max. She climbed the stairs to her apartment holding her breath as she passed the drug dealer’s hallway and the pervasive m*******a stench that was by now ingrained into the drywall. She took the last staircase at a run and didn’t release her breath until she was safely inside her own hovel. She whirled around to face her attacker only to be confronted by a pair of intensely focused golden eyes and the stranger from the alley perched on her window sill. Noah’s black hair fell into the stranger’s eyes as a breeze floated through the open window. “Who are you?” They said in unison.