immediately apologizes. “ I’m so sorry. There was a construction detour. We got delayed.” I sigh. “It’s fine. He’s in a storeroom on the third floor. Just follow the scent of blood and you’ll find it. I hope you aren’t squeamish.” I jump into my SUV and crank it before he can say anything else. I put on my sunglasses and turn up the radio so I can hear it over the air conditioner. Even though I have heightened hearing I still like my music pretty loud and I can normally hear it just fine over the air conditioner but sometimes, I just feel like jamming. People look at me funny sometimes because I’m a contradiction. I ride with the air conditioner on but the window is down usually. Unless it’s way too hot outside then I leave the window up. It’s also funny to see their faces when they catch me singing to some of my favorite songs. I tend to rock the fuck out. Once I get to my hotel I pull into a parking space instead of letting the valet do it for me. I grab the duffel bag off the back seat and put it on the passenger seat. I open the bag, pull out the clothes inside, and lay them beside the bag. I strip out of the clothes I’m wearing, including the boots and stuff them into the bag then change into the outfit on the seat. It takes some maneuvering to pull the jeans on while in the driver seat but I manage. I pull on my converse from the passenger floorboard then I hop out and lock the doors. When I get to my hotel room I check my email then send all the details from today to Valik. I voice recorded it like I always do with an interrogation so I send him that file as well. Once I’ve done that, I head to the shower to get cleaned up before ordering room service for dinner. I’ll check out of the hotel in the morning and get started on the next case. Just like I always do.
Chapter Three
Declan
After having that conversation with my dad during my fishing trip I took a week to prepare myself for the inevitable. I needed to go over my choices for a mate before I started wooing them. I have a couple males and a couple females that I’ve selected. If I have to choose a bond mate then I want to choose someone I’ll definitely be happy with so, I’ve included shifters of both sexes from the pack that I found appealing. I have a date today with each of them. I figured I’d handle it kind of like speed dating but with a bit more time. I’d sit down with each of them and they’d talk about themselves and why they think they would make a good mate. We’ll do it in a pack restaurant so that I can see if they check out any other men while in my presence just to rule out the cheating option and if I decide on one of them great, if not then I’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m sitting at my breakfast nook stewing over my options and drinking coffee when Crispin comes barging in. “Dude, knock much?” Crispin flips me off and says “Have you seen this?” He lays a shifter newspaper in front of me and I stare at it “What am I looking at here?” He looks at it and says “Oh, wrong page.” He flips through to page three and lays it in front of me. “Here. Council news. Read it.” I skim through it not getting what he’s talking about. “What? I don’t see what’s so important.” He points at a picture with an article. “It’s an Obit for Kevin Wright. That wolf we heard about from a pack three states over who raped all those women. You know the one the Shifter Council couldn’t do anything about.” I read over it again “So it is. The guy died huh. I guess that’s some form of justice. All the women he raped won’t have to worry anymore.” Crispin says “But, that’s just it. He didn’t just up and die.” I sigh. “What are you talking about Crispin?” “ You haven’t heard about it? Seriously? What, are you living under a rock? The Paranormal Council had him dealt with if you know what I mean. Someone