Page 54 of Taming the White Wolf
“And you have the same eyes and hair?” Kade asked.
“Yes, well, the same eyes. I have a lock of white hair. The rest is black.”
“This isn’t some scheme hatched yesterday.” Devlin decided it was time to take charge of the conversation again. He’d heard no false notes in the other wolf’s voice, but if anyone could mask their intentions, it was a lone wolf. “Have you ever wondered why we all came into being at the same time? There have never been three lone wolves in existence at the same time in history.”
A long, low whistle came over the phone line. “You think the mage and wolf are behind that. Talk about long-term planning. We all came into our wolves eighty-five years ago. Why is Zoe part of this? And why attack her?”
“I’m a pawn, something that can be used against him.” The sadness in her voice tore at him. He abandoned his chair, plucked her out of hers, and sat down again with her cradled in his arms. She burrowed against him.
“Whoever is behind this has miscalculated. I’m more determined than ever to hunt them down.”
“More vulnerable, too.” Kade’s assessment was matter-of-fact. “Like it or not, your connection to a human woman is something that can be exploited.”
“They’ve been hunting us up until now. It’s time to turn the tables. What does the black wolf know?”
“That bastard is more paranoid than you. All my calls have gone to voicemail. He keeps changing his number, forcing me to dig and find the new one. That takes time. You know how it goes.”
“I do.” It was a game the three of them played, testing one another’s hacking skills. In the end, they always found one another.
Kade gave a huff of frustration. “This began in New York. And before you get your panties in a wad, you track us, we track you. That’s how it goes.”
That wasn’t news. It offered a weird kind of comfort to know there were at least two people in the world that cared enough about his existence to keep tabs on him. Their connection was tenuous—potential allies because of the lone wolf legend or potential enemies for the same reason. If they were anything like him, it changed day to day.
“You might not want my help, but if they get to you, they’ll come for me to either try to capture or kill me. Frankly, I’m not okay with either of those options.”
“Neither am I. It’s why I called.” Zoe was the real reason. There was no price too big to pay to keep her safe. “Dig for information.” He gritted his teeth. “You seem to have better contacts.”
“Bet that hurt to admit.”
“Don’t make me kill you,” he shot back. It would be a shame. The longer they talked, the more he liked the other wolf. He was cocky and quick-witted and smart. “If this plan has been in motion since we transitioned, we’re looking for an older wolf. One with resources. The two wolves that attacked us were both younger. No sign of gray in their hair. Their actions were rash, too. Not like an older wolf. Someone had to be either paying them extremely well or offering them something more.” Well, shit. “I have to go back to New York.”
“What?” Zoe fisted the front of his shirt. “Why would we do that?”
Rather than continue the conversation with Kade listening, he said, “Call if you hear anything useful.”
“Will do. Stay safe.”
He ended the call. “An older wolf had to be behind this. You have to be patient and smart, able to see the long game rather than go for fast gain. Pietro and Ryan were part of the same pack or there’s a bounty out for us, open to all comers. I assumed it was the former. That was my mistake.”
“You’re figuring it out now. In case you missed it, there’s been a lot going on.” The sharp retort made him smile. “But why go back. Why not run?”
He rubbed his thumb across her lips. “If we run, we’ll never stop, never be safe. Whoever is at the top has to die, along with the mage working with them.” When she shivered, he tucked her closer. “Both assassins were in the city. Makes sense the older wolf might be settled there, or at least have a headquarters. There’s usually a single wolf pack in an area. It keeps pack wars at a minimum. But times are changing. It’s all about business and controlling an area. Last I heard, New York had three—Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Maybe there’s another one flying under the radar. Only way to know for sure is to check it out.”
“Can’t we use the computer?”
“For some of it. I need to update myself on who the alphas are and how far their territories extend. That’s easy enough. But for real information, I need to corner and talk to some younger males, the kind who’ve been attacking you.”
“You mean capture and interrogate, don’t you?”
“Whatever it takes.”
Chapter Eighteen
Zoe raised her head from the sofa where she’d finally crashed. Her headache had subsided, but she was stiff from the way she’d slept. There were two beds steps away, but she hadn’t wanted to leave Devlin alone. He’d been hard at work when she’d finally given in to exhaustion.
“You’re awake.” He’d obviously showered and changed. Besides the requisite jeans and boots, he wore a light gray cotton T-shirt. His shoulders stretched the seams, and the soft fabric was pulled taut across his chest. In contrast, she felt like a day-old dishrag.
“Yeah.” She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “What time is it?” The sun was shining, so it was daytime. Other than that, she was lost.
