The Keeping(113)

“Melody was sick?” Ryne frowned, not sure why he cared. Her health wasn’t his concern. He just needed to know how much she’d discovered about his people.

“No. She had a cut on her arm from that fight you were all in last night and I think it was infected. I had her put some salve on it but by the time they were ready to go, she was complaining of it aching and having a fever and chills. Al and I both tried to talk her into staying and going to the clinic. She could have left first thing tomorrow morning, but she was determined to go. I suppose it was hard enough to get that last minute seat for Lucy and then there was her boss to deal with too.”

“Her boss?” Ryne’s brain went on high alert. Melody had said she was here of her own accord because she was writing an article about him. There had never been any mention of a boss, only college professors. Damn! She’d been lying to him all along. Why hadn’t he caught on to the deception? Her aura had never screamed ‘lies’ to him... He tuned back in to what Ruth was saying, in case she had any further information that he needed to know.

“Yeah. Some guy named Aldrich, I think. I overheard her telling Lucy that the man was really hard to please and I don’t think she was exaggerating. You know, she reported into him every day that she was here? Just like clockwork, she’d come in, place a call—it was always short—and then she’d sit down for some coffee and a chat.” Ruth sighed. “We’re going to miss her. She was nice young thing, wasn’t she? Too bad she had to leave so suddenly.”

“Yeah. Too bad.” Ryne stood up and distractedly thanked the older woman before heading towards the door. ”Um...thanks for the information. I’ll, uh...talk to you later.”

*****

Kane gripped the phone more tightly and vaguely acknowledged the cracking sound as the plastic casing began to break under the strength of his grasp. He’d had a sense of foreboding the minute he’d heard Ryne’s voice. The longer they talked, the worse it became and he felt the need to confirm the dreaded message. “You’re sure she knows about werewolves?”

The sound of heavy sighing met his ear before Ryne spoke. “I’m almost certain. Everything points that way; the fact that she was checking out the books was bad enough, but if she’s actually trying to get into the website... Well, she must have strong suspicions. And then I messed up by letting her see me as a wolf and then trying to pawn it off as a dog. Damn! I knew better, I just...”

Gritting his teeth, Kane knew social protocols would have him uttering platitudes, but right now he had none. His brother had effectively been playing Russian roulette with all their lives and if the man had been in the room with him right now, he’d probably be ripping his throat out. Instead, he had to be satisfied with firing accusing words at his brother. “Yeah. You should have known better. You were supposed to deal with her; make sure things never got this far. What the hell happened?”

In his mind, Kane could see Ryne running his hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know. When I’m around Melody, my wolf starts to take over and I find myself doing things I know I shouldn’t.”

“Your wolf? Is it looking on her as a mate?” Kane frowned at this possible complication.

“Damned if I know. I’m not into this life-long mate thing. That’s your area of expertise. And right now, quite frankly, it doesn’t even matter. The Keeping outlines my course of action.”

“One I seriously doubt you’ll be able to uphold if your wolf is intent on claiming her. I’d better take over.”

The snarl that echoed down the phone lines left Kane in no doubt as to Ryne’s feelings on the matter. “You’ll stay the hell away from her. This is my problem right now. Besides, it isn’t safe. So far, she doesn’t know who you are. She doesn’t know it’s you in that damned picture. All she has is the knowledge that werewolves exist.”

“And does she suspect that you’re one?”

There was a pause. “Possibly... She might be suspicious.”

“So what do you propose to do, if she’s already on her way back to Chicago?”

“I’m following her there. I’ll find out what she knows and take the necessary steps.”

“If your wolf lets you.”

“It will. I’m in control.”

“If that were the case, things wouldn’t have gotten this far.” Kane knew he was pushing, but he had to be sure Ryne was capable of carrying out his duty.

“That’s a low blow.”

“But the truth.”