The Silver Dagger

Cliff

Cliff was a few miles out of town when the wolf part of him raised his head. The connection, the longing, the wound that had never properly scabbed over since that disastrous day, ripped open afresh as he felt her for the first time in almost three years. He'd suspected it would hurt, and he was glad. Maybe he'd be able to fix one of his mistakes for once. The closer he got, the stronger the bond became and the more he allowed himself to hope.

He followed the bond past the university and all the way through town to a gravel road. After a couple of miles of mostly pastures and wheat fields, he saw a large white farmhouse surrounded by barns and sheds and a huge front yard that could serve as a small pasture filled with rows of cars. Smoke was billowing from three smokers in front of the house. He drove past the drive-way and through the wind-diluted smoke. The bond shifted like a compass point toward the house at the same time his mouth started watering from the smoke sweeping into the vents of his car. This must be where all the college wolves met each month. No wonder she hadn't been home - how could their home pack compete with a setup like this?

He found a place to park about a hundred yards from the driveway in the grassy, shallow ditch. A wolf in a police uniform stopped him at the beginning of the drive and took a long sniff.

"You're new here."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes."

"Are you a student?"

"Thinking about it."

"Is that why you're here?"

"No."

When Alpha Wayne had given him a signed note Cliff didn't think he'd actually have to use it. He pulled the crumpled paper from his jean pocket and handed it to the guard. "I'm on assignment."

The guard scanned the paper then handed it back to him. "Go speak to Alpha Miguel. He's the one in the red apron.

"The smell of the meat was enough to make his knees weak. Surely they'd let him have a taste. He waited patiently while the smiling Alpha scooped huge piles of tender meat onto three more plates. Normally his wolf side would be urging him to grab his share but right now all its attention was on the house behind the alpha and the female wolf he could feel inside. Maybe he should just go find her. What would she say? Would she refuse to talk to him? She had to know he was close, but she wasn't moving away. That was a good sign, right? Should he start with an apology or just play it by ear?

"Can I help you?" the man in the apron asked suddenly.

"Alpha Wayne sent me." He offered the paper.

The big man glanced at it briefly and nodded. "Do you know her?"

"Yes. We grew up together."

"Friends?"

He felt like he was being X-rayed by the Alpha's sharp gaze.

"I'm not her enemy."

The Alpha's eyebrows rose a fraction, then he pointed toward the house. "I saw her head that way." 

 Finally! He realized that strange sensation his face was experiencing was a grin as he pushed open the door and a pretty blond smiled back. Pretty but not his mate. He forgot the girl's face as soon as she passed.

Aiyana was so close. Did she want to see him? He took a few steps toward the large room ahead and immediately knew it was the wrong way. He backed up and tried the stairs. There were three steps, then a small landing. He turned to go up and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. She was there, only six steps above him. She was looking away toward the top of the stairs, but he recognized the set of her shoulders and her lithe form. Her dark, glossy hair cascaded down her back all the way to her waist.