Cynful

Chapter Seventeen

Julian groaned as Cyn helped him settle on the sofa. “Thank fuck. I fucking hate hospitals.”

She lifted his feet up onto some propped up pillows and covered him with a throw he’d never seen before but smelled distinctly of her. “You were only allowed out as soon as you were on the condition that you would rest.”

“I will. I promise.” Hell, he could barely walk. What did she think he was going to do, juggle chainsaws? They’d managed to keep him in the hospital for two days, and if he’d stayed any longer than that, he would’ve lost his mind. There was no way he’d be able to recuperate around all those people.

She muttered something under her breath, something in Spanish that ended in cabrón, and stalked off toward the kitchen. She’d been stubbornly opposed to his leaving the hospital until he’d explained to her what staying there was doing to him. She still wasn’t sure she’d made the right decision in helping him convince the doctors to release him, but she’d see. Already he was stronger, his Bear calmer. Getting away from all of the sick and the wounded would help his recovery immensely.

The doorbell rang, startling him, but he didn’t even bother trying to stand up to answer it. He wouldn’t be able to make his way to the door anyway. Not without falling flat on his ass. Cyn stomped by him, still muttering in Spanish. He pitied anyone on the other side of the door. His mate was spoiling for a fight.

He heard Cyn gasp as she opened the door. “Oh, hi.”

“Hello, Cyn.” In breezed Emma Cannon, Curana of the Halle Puma Pride. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a long, bouncy ponytail. Her crimson V-neck shirt and dark gray jeans hugged every curve. In her hands were three pizza boxes, the rich scent of spicy meat, melted cheese and ripe tomato sauce making his mouth water.

She was followed swiftly by her mate, the blonde haired, blue-eyed Halle Alpha. Max had five more pizza boxes, and from the scent Julian could tell at least one of them was his favorite Hawaiian style. Max followed his tiny mate right into Julian’s kitchen, smiling cheerfully at Cyn and nodding to Julian. “Hey, Julian. Sorry about this.”

The doorbell rang before he could respond.

“Did I mention the others will be here soon?” Max glided, catlike, right over to Julian’s favorite chair. He settled himself in and immediately pulled his mate onto his lap.

Julian frowned at Emma. “You haven’t been getting enough iron.”

Emma’s eyes went wide with a clear message that, if Julian valued his balls, he’d stay quiet.

“Emma?” Max’s attention was completely focused on his Curana, barely acknowledging Simon and Becky Holt as they carried even more pizza into Julian’s kitchen.

“I’m fine, Max.” She wiggled her butt, clearly trying to distract him. From the way Max’s nostrils flared it was working.

“You’ve been tired a lot lately.” Max stroked a hand over Emma’s hip, stilling her. His golden gaze suddenly stabbed into Julian as a white mist surrounded the Alpha pair. “Tell me what’s wrong with my mate.”

He could hear Simon and Becky groaning as their Alpha’s power washed over the room. Cyn actually went to her knees, unable to hold under the weight.

Julian smiled, and yawned.

Emma slapped Max’s arm. “Knock it off, Lion-O.”

The white mist dissipated, along with the weight of Max’s displeasure. “I’m sorry, but if it was your mate what would you do?”

Julian stared at Emma for a few moments before answering Max’s question. “I’d let her tell me when she was damn good and ready.”

Max sat up a little straighter, comprehension slowly beginning to dawn in his expression, when the doorbell rang again. “Emma?”

“Shh.” She stroked Max’s cheek, her gaze tender. “We’ll talk when we get home. I promise.”

Poor Max looked dazed as Adrian and Sheri walked in the front door, carrying enough soda to drown the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or rather, Adrian was carrying it. Sheri had her seeing-eye dog, Jerry, guiding her through the house. She waved to the room in general. “Hi, everyone. Gabe and Sarah are right behind us.”

Sarah dashed into the house and right up to the Alpha pair. “What’s wrong?”

Max smiled into his mate’s eyes and caressed her stomach. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Think you have all the answers, don’t you, Lion-O?” But Julian noticed Emma wasn’t pushing her mate’s hand away. On the contrary, her fingers stroked across the back of it as she gazed fondly into blue eyes still speckled with gold.

Max’s answering grin was chock full of lazy arrogance. “I do.”

Julian yawned again. This time it wasn’t faked. “Not that I’m not thrilled to see all of you, but why the hell are you here?”

“Because you couldn’t come to our house.” The look Emma shot him said that answer should be obvious.

“Rick and Belle should be here in about fifteen minutes, and Tabby and Alex are on their way.” Gabe began dragging chairs from the kitchen and dining room into the living room.

“So we’re having an impromptu pizza party because…?” Cyn crossed her arms and began tapping her foot. She had that stubborn look on her face, the one that said she’d better get answers and soon.

“Pride meeting. Well, Pride and Pack, since Tabby’s technically both.” Emma patted Max’s arm and stood, heading straight for the kitchen. “Do you guys have any paper plates and cups?”

“But we’re not Pride.” Cyn looked as confused as Julian.

“Not yet,” Becky giggled.

“When I told Gary that you, Glory and Tabby were under my protection, I meant it.” Max crossed his arms over his chest and practically dared Cyn to question him further.

Her gaze landed on Julian, and an unholy grin crossed her face. “Does that protection extend to my mate?”

Max’s answering smile was as full of evil as only a cat could manage. “It does now.”

Julian thumped his head on the sofa with a groan. Wonderful. Now he was being protected by Pumas and Foxes and Bears, oh my. He wondered if he could sell tickets to this little three-ring circus.

“I had forgotten about that.” Sarah stared thoughtfully at Cyn. “Maybe that’s why I could feel the shooter so clearly.”

“Because there were three Pride members there.” Max nodded sagely. Julian figured the man was bullshitting. Max liked to pretend he was the uber-wise Alpha, but Julian—

Wait. When did Cyn become Pride?

Alex and Tabby walked into his house as if they owned it, not even bothering to use the doorbell. Any thought of irritation vanished when he saw who was with them. “Glory!”

Glory was immediately surrounded by overly solicitous kitties. She was settled into Julian’s favorite chair, which Max rapidly vacated, and handed a drink and a slice of pizza that had her wrinkling her nose. She set the plate aside on the side table and turned watery baby blues toward Max. “Where’s Ryan?”

Wow. Talk about an uncomfortable silence.

“We haven’t got a clue.” Gabe shared a long, uncomfortable look with Adrian, the Halle Marshall. “It’s like he just disappeared.”

Julian winced. That was probably the worst thing Gabe could have said. Glory took a deep breath as if to yell, but instead wound up in a long, painful sounding coughing fit. She was instantly surrounded as everyone but Julian tried to soothe her. He hadn’t seen so much guilt in the room since his mother caught him and his friends covered in Christmas cookie crumbs two hours before the relatives were due. All of them were talking at once so none of it made any sense. It got so loud that only Julian noticed when the front door opened again. A massive, scowling redhead and a dainty, China doll blonde stopped and stared at the chaos before the blonde reached into her purse and pulled out—

Ancestors have mercy that was loud. But effective. All of the Pumas stopped and stared at the smiling woman holding the air horn. The redhead shook his head like a dog in the rain. “I hate it when she does that.”

The blonde, who just had to be Belinda “Belle” Lowell, shook the air horn enticingly at the Curana. “Come on, you know you want one.”

Max scowled at the gleam in his mate’s eye. “Don’t even think about it, Emma.”

“But Max, it’s so shiny.” Emma pouted up at her mate and batted her ridiculously thick lashes.

“Emma.”

“Fine.”

Out of the corner of his eye Julian saw the Poconos Pack Luna make the universal sign for call me.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Rick Lowell picked up his mate like she weighed less than a kitten. “Let Max keep the illusion he runs things around here.”

The Pumas laughed at Belle’s indolent grin, easing the tension left over from Gabe’s earlier remark. Soon everyone was settled with pizza and drinks, some on the floor, some nudging at Julian until he sat upright. Cyn sat at his feet, her back resting comfortably against his legs. Next to him sat Belle, her mate on the floor between her legs. She leaned down every now and then and fed him bites of her pizza, never once breaking the stream of gossip between her and Emma. Their favorite topic seemed to be two men named Ben and Dave who were planning a commitment ceremony sometime around Christmas. Apparently, Dave had sent Emma some images of drag queens in wedding dresses. He wanted her opinion on which one she thought would look best on him.

Belle didn’t even laugh. Hell, she had a favorite, and planned to tell Dave so when she got home.

Once everyone was done eating, Max rose to his feet, ready to begin the meeting. “Thank you for coming, everyone. I think we all know why we’re here.”

Rick held up a hand. “I’m extending an invitation to Tabby, Alex and their friends to come up to the Lodge until the shooter is caught.”

Julian blinked in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting that maneuver from the Wolf alpha. “How will we be safer up there than we are here?” If Rick could guarantee Cyn’s safety, her furry butt was going up that mountain whether she liked it or not.

“Don’t even think about it, Super Bear.” Cyn glowered up at him, which looked really odd, considering she had to do it upside down. “They need me to catch this son of a bitch.”

“Unfortunately, I think she’s right.” The few times in the past when Julian had met with Adrian Giordano the man had seemed easy-going. He looked anything but as he sat forward on the coffee table and leaned his elbows on his knees. He was trading stare for stare with Cyn, but the Marshall wasn’t backing down. “Since you’re the one he’s targeting, I think he’ll just follow you.” He nodded to Julian, the concern in his expression newly overshadowed by sheer determination. “I’m sorry, but the only way I can see to catch him is to use your mate as bait.”

“Unfortunately, I agree.” A man Julian had never met before held out his hand. “Ted Pedroza, the Poconos Pack Second, here to keep my alphas out of trouble.” Ted laughed out loud as Rick snorted in amusement. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Ted had super-short, nearly black hair, eyes so dark Julian couldn’t make out the pupils, and the warm skin tone of someone of Latino origin.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how long has your mate been living here?”

Julian wasn’t fooled for a moment by Ted’s easy smile and relaxed stance. To be a Marshall’s Second you had to be one hell of a fighter. “Not very long at all. Why?”

“There’s no scent marking around your place.”

Everyone stared at Ted, confused. Everyone except Rick and Tabby.

Rick turned his piercing, pale blue gaze on Tabby. “He’s right. You check for scent marking as soon as you get home.”

Tabby nodded as if she understood exactly what he was talking about.

Emma’s hand rose in the air. “Um, for those of us of the non-canine persuasion, can you explain that please?”

“Dogs mark their territory.” Belle yawned daintily behind her hand.

“I’m not a dog.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Fido.” Belle patted her husband’s chest, laughing when he growled. “From what you say, he’s been watching them, kind of stalking them.”

“That means he’s going to be feeling territorial.” Tabby was practically curled around Alex, but her worried gaze was glued to Cyn. “He’ll have marked the places we tend to hang out, like Living Art and the apartment.”

“And your new house,” Cyn snarled. “I’ve just about had it with this fucker.”

“You’ve gone through your first change?” Cyn nodded, and Max sighed in relief. “Good. That means we’re not throwing you defenseless to the wolves.”

“Did she tell you what she turns into?” Gabe’s grin was viciously pleased.

“I thought she’d be a Spirit Bear, like Julian.”

“It doesn’t quite work that way.” Julian tugged on his braid, unsure how to inform the Halle Alpha that he had a Kodiak living in his territory.

“I’m a Kodiak.” Cyn shrugged. “It’s a Bear thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

Alex didn’t quite manage to muffle his laugh. Tabby didn’t bother trying.

“Oh.” Max blinked, his expression blank. “That’s… Large.”

“And mean.” Gabe rubbed his hands together gleefully.

Adrian was staring at Cyn with an expression of unholy delight. His wide, evil smile reminded Julian of the Grinch. “Can I watch you turn that bastard into furry origami?”

This had the potential to become a nightmare. Cyn might be big for a Bear, but a bullet would still kill her. “I think we need to worry more about how we’re going to keep her safe.” Julian winced as he tugged a little too hard on his braid, his nerves getting the better of him.

“We’ll have people watching her around the clock. Living Art is going to remain closed in order to protect its clientele.”

Cyn couldn’t hide her unhappiness over Gabe’s pronouncement. She was itching to get back to work, but she had to agree with the Hunter. She was just too vulnerable when she was in Living Art. He just hoped they could resolve this swiftly. She ran the risk of losing her business entirely the longer she stayed closed.

“Julian, until you’re stronger, you’ll have to trust us to protect your mate.” Adrian’s gaze was sympathetic but uncompromising. “This man is guilty of murder and attempted murder. We need to catch his ass before anyone else gets hurt.”

“Are we so certain it’s a man?” Sheri’s hand was clenched so hard it was white knuckled.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Adrian immediately reached for his mate and pulled her close. “Sheri was the victim of a stalker attack.”

Sheri patted Adrian’s knee. “I’m all right, I promise.”

“It’s definitely a man, Sheri.” Sarah stole Gabe’s drink and took a sip. “I could feel his rage at missing his target.”

“Is he sane?”

Sarah wiggled her hand in a so-so motion. “That depends on your definition of sane, Max. What I sensed was anger, and lots of it. But it didn’t feel manic, if that makes any sense.”

“The real question is, why is he doing it?” Adrian stared at Tabby as if she had a red targeting dot on her forehead. “Why is he focusing on the three of you?”

“One theory is that it could have something to do with Gary.” Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “Although I’m not entirely sure of that. Gary’s orders were to watch Chloe, not Tabby. He has something to do with whoever is targeting half breeds, even if he’s not talking about it. Tabby, Cyn and Glory were just a side bonus. They’re both human, or were. Their mating won’t produce half breeds like Alex and Tabby’s will.”

“Do we still have to worry about that? I thought now that Gary is in prison it was all over with.” Tabby rubbed her stomach. The little peanut growing there was only a few weeks old, but Tabby already loved the child.

“There was the Cheetah that attacked me. Is he working with the Wolf or is he working alone?” Cyn stood and began to pace. “What if the incidents are unrelated?”

“I can’t see a reason for those going after half breeds to attack you. It has to be something else.” Julian couldn’t figure out what it was they were missing.

“This is personal.” Sarah took hold of Gabe’s arms and wrapped them around her waist, something Gabe allowed with an indulgent smile. “He wanted you dead.”

“If that’s the case, we have to figure out who the three of you have pissed off recently.” Belle reached into her oversized purse and pulled out a tablet PC. She tapped a few buttons and then looked up with an expectant look. “Names, people.”

“I can’t think of anyone specific. Other than Gary and his goons, I mean.” Tabby bit her lip. “What about Gary’s family? Didn’t he refuse to name his Alpha when he got arrested?”

“The goons have family too.” Cyn turned and stared at Glory.

“Don’t look at me. I got nothing.”

“You got shot.”

“Well. Other than that.”

Cyn’s pacing paused as she shot Glory an apologetic glance. “There’s Hope.”

Glory flinched at the sound of her sister’s name. “I doubt it would have anything to do with her after all these years.”

“Still, it’s a possibility.”

“Any little tidbit of information will help.” Gabe knelt in front of Glory and took her hands in his. “Tell me what you think happened to your sister.”

“I think…” Glory lowered her head, looking so tired Julian just wanted to scoop her up and put her to bed. “It doesn’t matter what I believe. Hope is gone.”

“The one who did it left town.” Glory jolted at Cyn’s quiet statement. “Your father did it, didn’t he?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never dared say it out loud.” Glory wrung her hands together until the skin turned red. “He went insane when she didn’t come home that night.”

“He blamed you.” Sarah moved behind Glory and placed her hands on her shoulders. It looked like the Omega was attempting to use her powers on the human.

“He did. I was supposed to go with her that night. I didn’t want to go and I had an argument with him.” Glory relaxed beneath the Omega’s hands. “When she didn’t return he beat me till I couldn’t move.”

When Ryan found out about this he’d flip. If Glory’s father ever returned to Halle he wouldn’t be alive for long.

“Do you think your father is back in town?” Gabe kept his voice low and soothing, working in tandem with the Omega to keep Glory calm.

“Even if he is, he has no reason to go after Tabby and Cyn.”

“She’s right. Mr. Walsh was an asshole, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d have no reason to shoot us. It’s not like we’ve been looking into Hope’s disappearance.”

“And he has no idea that shifters even exist.” Glory frowned. “At least, I don’t think he does.”

Cyn shook her head. “Everything we’ve discovered points to shifters, not humans.”

“Which brings us back to square one. Why you three?”

“My father is dead, but he died of natural causes.” Cyn resumed pacing, her hands on her hips as she thought out loud. “My mother is still alive, but she’s a complete ditz. I don’t even think she’s dating, and he’s been dead for years. She adored my father, would have done anything for him.”

“Any pissed off customers?” Belle’s fingers were tapping rapidly across her PC.

“If I have a customer who is dissatisfied with a tattoo I either offer to fix it for free, or give him a partial refund. So far I haven’t had any complaints about that policy.”

“So no pissed off customers or past enemies. What we do have is a missing sister, a person or persons unknown targeting half breeds, a ragey bastard who’s tried to kill you three and not much else.” The Luna turned her bright green gaze on Tabby. “What about your old alpha, Tabby? Could he have something to do with this?”

“I suppose. But he should still be in Marietta.”

“His son, Micah Boyd, has been trying to contact you.” Cyn and Tabby exchanged an enigmatic glance. “And Dennis Boyd is no longer the Marietta alpha. It’s possible he’s left Marietta all together.”

Tabby looked utterly confused. “What the hell would that have to do with me?”

“I have no idea, but she did ask about past enemies.” Cyn waved her arms in the air. “Not like any of this makes any sense.”

“Is he still calling? I thought he gave up on you.” Alex plucked Tabby’s phone out of her pocket and began scrolling through her missed calls.

“I think we should spam him with Nyan cats until he stops.” Glory giggled when everyone turned to stare at her. “What? Look it up on YouTube. That shit’s annoying.” The giggles turned to wracking coughs, but at least she was smiling.

“She’s right. I ticked her off once and she made that my screensaver. I still can’t eat cherry Pop Tarts.” Cyn shuddered. “And I had no idea how many different versions of it there were.”

“The scariest was Nyan Cat 3-D.”

“Bitch. I still can’t believe you made me watch that.”

“You got even with me.” Glory winked at Cyn. “You made me play it on Guitar Hero. My fingers still haven’t recovered.”

Cyn winked back, and Julian knew they were pulling someone’s leg. “You’re just ticked because my Nyan streak was higher than yours.”

Tabby was gaping at them in disbelief. “How the hell did you get Nyan cats on GH?”

Glory sniffed. “See what you miss when you move out?”

“Ladies.” Gabe shook his head, amusement warring with disbelief. “We have a killer to catch. Worry about your star power later, okay?” He grinned. “Besides, there is no Nyan cat for GH.”

“Are you sure?” Cyn challenged Gabe.

“Yup.” Gabe’s grin turned sheepish. “I’d own it.”

Tabby glared at Cyn and Glory, who were giggling like loons. “Y’all suck.”

Julian couldn’t give two shakes of a rat’s ass about videogames just then. His focus was still on the most important thing. “There’s got to be another way to bring this guy out into the open. Using Cyn to draw him out is unacceptable.”

“Do you have a better idea, Super Bear?” Cyn crossed her arms and smirked at him. She thought she had him.

She was wrong. He turned to the one person in the room who should be out there hunting a killer, not sitting in his living room scarfing pizza. “Gabe, what were you able to find out about the shooter?”

“Not a hell of a lot. He took the shot at Marie from an empty apartment. I’m just glad the inhabitant had already left for work that day. As it is, she’s scared to death to go home.”

“Puma?”

“No, but she is a shifter and has requested sanctuary. Max has granted it. That’s all I can tell you.” Gabe pulled Sarah close again and rested his chin on the top of her head. “He left behind no fingerprints. The lab reports are starting to trickle in, but from what we can tell he didn’t leave behind a single hair. The only thing he did do was smash parts of her apartment to bits. He punched a few holes in her walls, broke some of her knickknacks. It looks like when he missed Cyn he had a tantrum and then booked.”

“What about the other crime scenes?”

“We’ll probably get more information out of the pipe bomb than anything else. I got my guys working on that, tracing where the components were bought. It’s going to take time, though. We just have to be patient.”

Julian wanted to snap at Gabe. If it were his mate would he be so patient? He turned to Rick, hoping the Wolf Alpha knew where he was about to go. “Would it be easier to hunt him up on your land?”

“If I had his scent, yes.” The Wolf Alpha sounded absolutely certain of that. “Those woods are mine. There’s no way the fucker would be able to hide there.”

“Then we split up. Tabby, Alex and Glory head up to the Poconos where Rick’s Wolves can protect them. I stay down here and try to draw the shooter out where the Pumas can take care of me.” Cyn held up her hand as Tabby opened her mouth to object. “Alex, take some of your relatives with you and leave some here. That will help Julian and Tabby feel better about all of this.”

Alex shared a look with Tabby. No matter what Tabby wanted, she’d be visiting the Poconos, in-laws in tow. “If the Foxes pick up the scent, they’ll make useful scouts.”

“And I’ll finally get to answer the age-old question.” Belle tilted her head, her expression more vapid than Julian had ever seen on anyone outside of Paris Hilton. He heard tales of the Poconos Luna. Perhaps the rumors were true. Maybe she really was Psycho Barbie. “Does a Bear shit in the woods?”

Alex returned her look with a bland one of his own. “Only if there’s a roll of toilet paper on a convenient nearby branch.”

Julian nodded sagely. “And it has to be the kind that doesn’t leave toilet paper dust on our poor furry behinds.”

“Yup. That is a total breach of Bear etiquette.”

Rick clamped his hand over Belle’s mouth before she could respond. “Do we have a plan, then?”

Glances were exchanged. After nods all around, some reluctant, some not, it was agreed. Alex would be taking Tabby and Glory into hiding while Cyn played tag with the killer. Julian damn near growled out his frustration. It had not gone the way he’d planned.

Fuck a duck.