The night before had been one of the most passionate experiences he’d ever had. Making love with Savannah had been amazing.

  He gently pumped his hips, pressing his erection against her before pulling back. Her hand covered his on her stomach.

  “Good morning,” he said softly against her ear.

  “Hmm,” she agreed before pushing back against him. “It sure seems like it.” Her voice was still sleep-laden, but her body was waking up for him. She moved her hand from his and reached back to grip his thigh.

  He slid his hand from her stomach to cup her breast. He squeezed softly, drawing a moan from her.

  “You feel so good in my arms,” he confessed.

  She turned over, throwing one leg around his waist. “I like waking up in your arms,” she responded, her eyes warm and happy.

  He dipped his head to gently trace his tongue over her bottom lip. She opened for him and their tongues met, stroked and teased. She grasped his cock and squirmed closer. The tip of his cock brushed over her entrance.

  He flexed his hips as Savannah started to sink down on him. She pushed him onto his back, straddling him, with him buried inside.

  She looked like a goddess, head thrown back, body arched while she rode him.

  He reached up to thumb her nipples while lifting his hips. She gasped and shuddered for him. Her breaths were already coming out quick and stuttered.

  He pinched her nipples and grinned. Her nails dug into his chest as she rode him faster and harder. Fluid and smooth, she brought them both to earth-shattering orgasm before collapsing on top of him.

  Once the roar in his ears had subsided and Kurt was able to breathe, he started to chuckle. Savannah patted his chest before moving off him.

  “I’m pretty sure if I woke up like that every day it would kill me,” he told her.

  Savannah squinted. “I can’t feel my toes.”

  That had his chuckles turning to all-out belly laughs. He rolled on top of her, making her grunt, before kissing her thoroughly.

  “I might never let you out of bed again!” Damn, he was happy. It wasn’t just the hot morning sex either. There was no doubt any longer that what he felt for Savannah was true. He’d been so unsure if it had just been his loneliness causing his instant attraction or something more.

  Savannah grinned at him but pushed him away. “As much as I would love to spend the rest of my life in your bed, I don’t think Sheriff Webb would appreciate it.”

  Kurt watched her pad naked across the room towards the bathroom. He licked his lips. Hmm…shower…

  She glanced over her shoulder in the doorway and must have caught the gleam in his eye. She waved her finger at him. “No way!” she exclaimed.

  Kurt dropped his eyes to his once again hard cock. “Oh, yeah.”

  * * * *

  The compound was quiet when Kurt pushed the front door open. The day after Thanksgiving, most of the Council members would be spending time with family. A few guards walked the halls and he knew that, even though he hadn’t seen any, several guards were outside strolling around the perimeter.

  He hadn’t had to come in today—was, in fact, off shift until Monday—but since Savannah had had to report in to the Sheriff’s office, he’d decided to check with Tony on Colt’s situation.

  He was worried about Colt. He couldn’t get past the fact that Colt hadn’t called—had just run. And he had been headed in the direction of the compound.

  He knew Tony would call him as soon as he found out anything, but Kurt wanted to offer him any assistance in the search. He’d become good friends with Tony over the last month or so. His friend needed support right now.

  Kurt walked down the long marble hall to the thick door that opened to the office he’d been given. Large windows with dark curtains were directly across from the door. His desk sat right in front of the windows.

  He flicked on the light. His laptop sat on top of his desk where he’d left it Wednesday night. On the wall to the right sat three black, four-drawer file cabinets. The cabinets were locked, the information inside for his eyes only.

  Across from the cabinets on the far wall was a small coffee bar. He walked over and prepared a pot of coffee. Once the rich aroma started to fill the air, he strolled over to his desk and turned on his computer. He then hit the button to open the window shades.

  Dull sunlight filled the room. It had stopped snowing sometime the night before. The sky was still full of clouds and according to the Weather Channel there would be more snow by nightfall.

  He lifted his head at the knock on his open office door. “Hey, man,” he greeted Tony.

  “Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you so early.”

  Kurt shrugged and studied Tony, who had dark circles under his deep brown eyes. Tony’s hair was ruffled, and it looked like he hadn’t slept. Kurt waved Tony in. “I just started a fresh pot of coffee.”

  Tony walked through the doorway, while Kurt headed towards the pot brewing on the side table. He poured two mugs. He passed over one cup of black coffee as Tony sat in one of the chairs in front of Kurt’s desk. Kurt skirted around his desk before taking his own seat. He took a sip of his hot coffee and sighed. He needed the caffeine. It looked like Tony did also.

  “Did you sleep?” Kurt asked his friend.

  “No.” Tony shook his head. “I can’t. I knew there was a chance of Colt being discovered but…”

  Kurt didn’t say anything when Tony trailed off.

  “Every time I closed my eyes I pictured them torturing him or worse,” Tony finished.

  “We’ll find him,” Kurt promised. He wouldn’t stop until Colt was found. He wasn’t about to leave one of his own. It was something that had been instilled deep inside him when he was in the military.

  “The Council is calling all of the undercover shifters out of the Church. If they know about Colt, there is a good chance they will suspect some of the others. I spoke to Sheriff Webb this morning and he’s going to head over to the Church and ask around about Colt,” Tony told him.

  “Good,” Kurt agreed. “We’ve got a little evidence on connecting Dan Carter with some high powered people. We can get more.”

  Tony took a long drink of his coffee. “I called home. Cain is going to come out today. I also reached Austin. He’s already on his way.”

  Cain, Tony’s brother, was one of the most fearsome Enforcers of all the Packs, known for his protectiveness of his Pack and family. He was an imposing man and had the skills to back up his appearance.

  Austin, Alpha of a Pack in Colorado, was Colt’s Alpha. Kurt had met Austin a few weeks ago when the Church of Humanity had first arrived. Austin’s pack was one of the two dozen Packs that had decided not to go public. However, he still backed the Packs that chose to stay hidden. Austin had explained that until all shifters were safe, the shifters who wanted to remain hidden should have the opportunity. He’d opened his Pack lands to welcome any shifters who chose to move in.

  Kurt respected both Cain and Austin. “With their help we’ll have Colt back in no time,” Kurt assured Tony.

  Tony managed a smile. “After this I think I’m going to take Colt on a long vacation.”

  Kurt laughed. “If anyone deserves a vacation it’s you and Colt.”

  * * * *

  Savannah peered through the windshield at the building the Church for Humanity had purchased. She might not have been there during the first troubles with the Church and her friends, but she was here now. She would give her all to the shifters who had become part of her life.

  Her body still hummed in remembrance of making love with Kurt. They’d made plans to meet up again later that night. She knew if she wasn’t careful she could become addicted to him. And so she had to make damn sure that Kurt and the other shifters were protected.

  “This is it,” Sheriff Webb said, putting the SUV in park.

  Savannah wasn’t impressed. The old building was practically falling apart. If they had been there for several weeks, they hadn’t spent any time on working on the outside. “Huh.” She squinted to see if that would make a difference.

  “Disappointed?” Sheriff Webb asked.

  “No.” Savannah caught herself. “No, not at all.”

  Sheriff Webb chuckled. “I know. Not what you expect when hearing the stories about Carter and the Church and what they are all about.”

  “I expected something bigger, nicer… I don’t know—a church!”

  “Well, this is just one of the chapters. The way we figure, they settled here just to watch the compound. There aren’t a lot of members and they’re mostly male,” he said. “Single, male members, with a lot of muscle.”

  “To intimidate,” she said.

  “That’s my take on it.”

  “So what’s the plan?” she asked.

  “We go in and inquire about Colt. We did find his car abandoned. We’ll demand to see him, to talk to him.”

  Savannah reached for the latch of the door. “Let’s go then.”

  They walked up the old wooden porch steps. Savannah was surprised that they could hold their combined weight.

  The door creaked open before they knocked. A young man peered out at them with a scowl on his face. “Yes?”

  Sheriff Webb held up his badge. “I’m Sheriff Webb and this is Deputy Conley. We need to speak with Colt Knight, please.”

  “Colt?”

  The young man’s expression remained the same, but Savannah caught a flash of something in his eyes. Worry maybe?

  “Rudy! Who’s at the door?” a loud, booming voice asked.

  Rudy stepped back as a dark-haired man came up beside him. “The sheriff. He wants to talk to Colt,” Rudy told the other man. Savannah noticed the tension that had invaded Rudy when the stranger joined them. Rudy dropped his gaze and shuffled nervously.

  “Sheriff.” The man held out his hand. “I’m Bruce Carter. I’m sorry, but Colt is no longer staying here with us.”

  The sheriff shook his hand as Savannah connected the name. Bruce Carter. Had to be some relation to Dan Carter. Sheriff Webb didn’t even pause or give a hint of recognition at the name.

  “Where is he?” Sheriff Webb questioned.

  “He left here the night before last. Was returning to his family in Colorado,” Bruce Carter replied easily.

  “Back to Colorado?” Sheriff Webb repeated.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Bruce Carter smiled and Savannah had the urge to knock the cocky, slimy look from his face. She glanced over at Rudy and saw that his complexion had gone pale. Interesting.

  “I’d say he left about eight that night. Packed up his stuff and said he was needed at home,” Bruce offered. “Rudy here was the last one he spoke with. Weren’t you?”

  The hand Bruce had clamped down on Rudy’s shoulder tightened and Rudy flinched. “Yes, he came by my room and said he’d heard from his father and there was an emergency. They needed him home.”

  The words were rehearsed. Savannah picked up on that immediately—it was obvious even if they hadn’t known that the words were a lie.

  But Colt wouldn’t have taken off for Colorado. He would have gone to the compound. And he wouldn’t have left his vehicle on the side of the road for no reason.

  “I need to see the room where he was staying,” Sheriff Webb demanded.

  Bruce Carter stiffened. “What exactly is this about? I told you he went home.”

  “Colt Knight’s vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road. If he’s not here, like you said, then we will be forced to open a missing person investigation. I need to see his room.” Sheriff Webb spoke sternly. “Unless you have something to hide?”

  Bruce huffed. “Of course we don’t.” He opened the door. “Come along then. We are trying to spend time with our family. It is a holiday. This interruption is not appreciated.”

  Savannah held in a snort. She followed behind as Bruce led the way, Rudy behind him and Sheriff Webb in front of her.

  The halls weren’t in much better condition than the outside of the building. She could smell mould and dirt. If Colt had the same enhanced senses as the other shifters, she didn’t know how he had stood the stench.

  They were shown a small, empty room. A bed, dresser and nightstand were the only things in the room. Savannah started opening drawers while the sheriff looked under the bed and in the closet. There was not one item left behind.

  Sheriff Webb sent her a worried look. He turned back to the two other men. “I need to take your statements and anyone else who spoke to Colt night before last. Anyone who had contact with him the last few days.”

  Bruce sighed. “Fine.”

  They set up in what Bruce called the sanctuary. The sheriff took half the members while Savannah took the others. Everyone had the same story. She heard the words repeated time after time, the answers rehearsed and planned.

  She finished her list and saw Rudy standing at the edge of the crowd. “I would like to ask you a few more questions.” She motioned him forward.

  He looked over at Bruce Carter, who was frowning at him.

  “Now, please,” she demanded.

  Rudy nodded and took a seat in front of her. She asked him the same questions she’d asked the others, not surprised that his answers were the same.

  That just pissed her off. They could have at least tried to cover up better. But the fact that it could work if she and the sheriff didn’t find any evidence really had her furious.

  “You were friends with Colt,” she said softly. She needed to get through to Rudy. He was nervous, edgy.

  Rudy’s head bobbed up and down. “He was my friend.”

  She reached over and grasped his hand. “Then help me.”

  He looked up at her and she saw in his gaze that he wanted to.

  “Are you finished, Deputy?” Bruce Carter asked, walking up to them.

  Rudy yanked his hand away and stood.

  Damn it! She just needed more time.

  “We’ll leave for now. We may need to ask you more questions.” Sheriff Webb joined them.

  Bruce Carter sneered, “Please call ahead next time.”

  Chapter Six

  Kurt’s phone rang and he picked it up without taking his eyes away from his monitor. “Yes?”

  “Sir, this is Wes at the guard station. I have a Sheriff Jim Webb and Deputy Savannah Conley asking for entrance.”

  That grabbed his attention. To his knowledge, the sheriff hadn’t been at the compound before. “Let them through,” he ordered the guard. He stood quickly and headed out of his office to meet them.

  Ryan was just opening the front door as Kurt reached the entrance. Sheriff Webb stepped inside and Kurt waited.

  There…

  Savannah followed the sheriff inside and looked up. Their gazes locked and she smiled.

  Kurt’s heart sped up and he licked his suddenly dry lips. Inside he felt his wolf scratch and claw to be let out. His skin felt tight and his teeth ached, about to lengthen. It wasn’t a reaction he was used to. He’d always had absolute control of his animal. This was different. He had to shake his head when he realised Ryan was calling his name.

  Ryan grinned at him when Kurt was able to focus back on him. Shit, he needed to get his act together.

  He walked over to join the group. He made sure to brush against Savannah as soon as he was close enough. That seemed to calm his wolf some.

  “We just came from the Church,” Sheriff Webb told him. “You have someplace we can talk?”

  “Yes, sure,” he said and turned to Ryan. “Can you find Tony? He was going to make some calls, probably in his office. We’ll be in my office.”

  “Sure thing,” Ryan replied and hurried away.

  Kurt placed his hand on the small of Savannah’s back and steered both her and the sheriff to his office. He ushered them to his empty guest chairs before starting a fresh pot of coffee.

  Tony and Ryan came back in just as the coffee was done brewing. Ryan helped him hand out hot cups then they gathered around his desk to hear what the two had learned.

  As the sheriff filled them in, Kurt stood beside Savannah’s chair, running his fingers over her shoulder. He liked just being able to touch her.

  He absorbed what they were told and it worried him. Colt had been headed to the compound, but he hadn’t shifted, hadn’t called. Why hadn’t he called?

  “I had Colt’s car towed in. There were no personal items in Colt’s vehicle,” Sheriff Webb informed them.

  “And his room was completely empty,” Savannah added.

  Tony shuddered and Ryan clasped his hand on his shoulder in support.

  “Rudy knows something,” Savannah told them. “He wants to talk. We need to get him away from there.”

  Sheriff Webb grunted. “Not going to be easy.”

  “I’ll order a guard watch,” Kurt told them. Clint was in charge of the guards and could schedule a routine. “If Rudy does leave alone, we can pick him up.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Sheriff Webb agreed.

  “I’ll get it set up,” Kurt assured him. The phone rang and Kurt excused himself to answer. “Hello?”

  “Kurt, sorry to interrupt.” Alpha Babcock’s strong voice came through the line. “I was hoping to catch the sheriff while he was here.”

  “Yes, sir,” Kurt answered. “He’s still here.”

  “Could you ask Tony to bring him into the conference room?” Alpha Babcock requested.

  “Yes, sir.”

  He hung up the phone and relayed the message to the men. The sheriff stood and Tony took him out of the room. Kurt glanced up at Ryan.

  “I’ll just go check on the guards,” Ryan said rocking back on his heels. “Give you two some privacy.”

  Kurt scowled after the other man, but Ryan ignored him. Ryan had been hanging out too much with Clint, obviously, picking up Clint’s bad habit of teasing Kurt.

  The office door clicked shut.

  “Alone at last,” she said rising to her feet and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Kurt took her lips in a deep, passionate kiss while running his hands down her sides. “Yes, we are,” he whispered the words against her mouth. “Wonder how long we’ll have?”

 

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