The first time I met Alice’s father, Nathan, his gaze was icy. Something was off, and Tao, the wolf inside me, growled in agreement. This man was hiding something.
His handshake was cold and distant. He knew what I was.
The entire town seemed to watch me, adding to the mystery of this place. Alice didn’t seem to notice, but my wolf senses were on high alert.
We found ourselves face-to-face with a haughty woman at the town hall. She clearly didn’t want me there.
We began our investigation with Alice’s grandparents. It was going to be a long process.
Death certificates, marriages, births… the information kept expanding until it finally began to slow. The last name brought everything to a standstill. That was as far back as the computer records went.
Whoever had input all this information had done a thorough job, and I was starting to feel a thrill of anticipation.
“How many names do you have?” I asked, chuckling lightly as Alice struggled to keep up with the data entry.
“I need a huge piece of paper to plot all this out.” Her smile was sweet and warm, a stark contrast to the cold reception we’d received in town. “I don’t want to go home,” she whispered, her fingers intertwining with mine.
I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it gently. “I have my truck. Why don’t we take a break and go for a drive?”
I wasn’t sure how long we’d been researching, but I suspected the town hall would be closing soon.
“What do you think about the list of names we have? Do any stand out?” Alice asked as we climbed back into the truck.
“The last one might be significant. I’ll need to cross-reference it with our werewolf history.”
I tried to recall the details. The name was familiar, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions without confirmation. The possibility was exciting.
I gripped the steering wheel to steady myself, and Tao stirred restlessly in my mind. Could it be possible?
“Are you okay?” Alice asked, squeezing my leg.
“I’m a little excited… You might be descended from a line of ancient werewolves.
I couldn’t contain my excitement. “I didn’t want to say anything until I’d confirmed it with Star. She knows our history better and can ask the council… Damn.”
I slammed my hands against the steering wheel in frustration.
“What’s wrong?” Alice asked, startled.
“Sorry, it’s just… with everything going on with the council, I’m not sure if they’ll let us access the werewolf historical records. Hawk said they’ve locked everything down for now.”
I needed that information. My heart pounded in my chest.
“Why don’t you ask Star anyway? Maybe she can get the information from the Seer instead?”
Alice’s fingers traced a path up the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. The anger and frustration I’d been feeling melted away.
We were parked, so I closed my eyes and soaked in the positive energy Alice was radiating. My nerves settled, but Tao was still buzzing with the possibility that Alice might have important ancestry.
His mate could be someone of great significance to the future of the werewolf community.
“Thank you. I hope we can follow up on what we’ve found and confirm your lineage.”
I reached up to cradle the back of her head, threading my fingers through her hair. My lips hovered just above hers. “I love you.” Before she could respond, I pressed my lips to hers, losing myself in the taste of her.
Our tongues danced together, and soft moans filled the air.
“I love you, Sebastian.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
I reminded myself that we had to go back.
If we could confirm Alice’s ancestry, I needed to find out why her father and the rest of the town were hiding a secret. They knew who I was and they didn’t want me here.
Tao was eager to see Alice, even if it was just for a moment. “Let me take you somewhere nearby. Tao wants to say hello.”
A spark lit up her eyes. “I’ve missed him too.” She leaned back in her seat, smiling.
Alice was breathtaking as she let down her hair. I shifted the truck into gear and drove us out of town to a secluded spot. The air was fresher here, easier to breathe.
I made sure we were alone before I began to undress. I didn’t want to ruin my clothes when I shifted.
Tao emerged as soon as I let him, and Alice threw her arms around his neck.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you.” Alice clung to Tao, tears streaming down her face. I let them have their moment.
Tao nudged Alice to let her know I was about to shift back. “Okay, next time we’ll say goodbye properly.” She pressed her forehead to Tao’s, giving him one last hug.
I stretched and cracked my neck as I shifted back into my human form. The cool wind raised goosebumps on my bare skin.
Alice licked her lips and smiled. “At least the cold doesn’t make everything shrink.”
She reached out and took hold of my cock. “I’m counting down the days until I can shift and be with you.”
I pushed her up against the truck. “Do you think you can handle me again?”
My cock hardened in her hand. I grasped her hair in my hand. “I want to bend you over the hood of this truck and fuck you hard.” I slipped my hand down the front of her leggings.
“Fuck me, like Tao would fuck his mate,” Alice moaned as I fingered her.
“That was mind-blowing,” I murmured, guiding her towards the front of the truck. I’d already had her once since we got here, but this time was for Tao.
I breathed in the intoxicating scent of her arousal as I pushed her leggings aside. This time was different from when I first arrived. Alice was free from whatever enchantment had been cast over the town.
My cock hardened inside her, claiming every inch as I thrust into her.
“Oh Sebastian, please.” Her moan was raw and primal.
I was barely holding it together out here; Tao was in his element inside my head, amplifying everything I was feeling. Alice clung to me as I continued. “Fuck Alice, cum for me.”
I threw my head back and dug my fingers into her sides. My eyes rolled back as I came. Her own climax coated me, milking me of everything I had. “Holy shit, that was incredible.”
I slumped over her, panting.
“Sebastian.” Her voice trembled and I pulled out quickly.
“Damn, did I hurt you?”
She pulled up her leggings and turned to face me. “I feel strange.” She furrowed her brow. “Do you think my dad has been hiding something from me?”
That wasn’t the question I was expecting. “What do you mean by strange?” I was curious about what she was implying.
I helped her back into the truck; her legs were shaky.
“It’s like…when I first walked into your compound.
“There was this dull ache as I crossed the barrier or whatever you call it. It’s the same here, like a cloud hanging over the town. I only notice it now because everything out here feels so fresh, so clear.”
She pursed her lips and shrugged.
“I get what you’re saying. Yes, there’s a barrier or some kind of protection around your town, and I think your dad is hiding something big.”
I kissed her and went to gather my clothes and get dressed before climbing back in. “We’ll figure out what it is.” I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek.
“Where are you really staying tonight?” She leaned into my touch.
“This place is beautiful. I wonder if your dad saw through my lie?” The bed-and-breakfast was closer to the next town.
“I wish I could stay with you.” Her gaze drifted from my face to the window. “But Dad wouldn’t allow it.”
“I could always sneak you out and back before dawn?” I wanted to spend the night with her too.
A smile spread across her face.
“Take me back and I can start working on the family tree; at least we’ll have something to go on. I’ll see what my mom has to say about all this.”
“I hope she’s more open than your dad.” I chewed on my inner cheek.
Something about this situation didn’t sit right with me. “Alright, I’ll take you home, but I’ll sneak you back out later.” I winked at her. “I’ll also give Star the last name; she might have some luck.”
I was determined to learn more about Alice before I left.
We pulled up outside her house and her dad immediately came out. “Go, I’ll text you.” She hopped out and shut the door.
I wanted to stay, to be with her, but Alice might have a better chance on her own.
