Authors: Aliyah Burke
Dyana woke to someone knocking at the door. She opened her eyes and discovered she currently lay on the bed. Casimir opened the door and admitted Markus.
The sheriff stared at her, eyes narrowing as he took in her position. She sat up, not backing down from the look. “Markus?”
“We need to talk. In private.”
She glanced at Casimir, his expression gave nothing away.
I still doubt he’s going to leave me alone with Markus.
“What’s there to say? If you have information, spill it.”
He looked at Casimir. “Give us a minute.”
“No.”
It wasn’t as if the man shouted the word, for he hadn’t, but the unmovable decision in it shocked her.
“What do you mean, no?” Markus faced Casimir fully.
“I mean no.” There was no modulation in his tone.
“Yana?”
She didn’t have the energy to deal with male posturing. Lying back, she curled up on her side. “Just spit it out, Markus.”
He began to talk and her mind drifted. To her friends. The amazing times they had and how very much their absence would leave a huge gap in her life.
Markus talked and asked questions. She’d fallen into a state of shock and none of it truly registered. Aside from the fact Casimir never left her alone. He kept his consul but she knew he was attuned to all that went on.
She declined food and curled back into a ball after Markus finally departed. The loud roar in her ears wouldn’t cease no matter how hard she tried to block it out. Later when she woke, she was shocked to find she’d slept for over a day. Casimir looked at her and headed for the shower.
Feet on the floor, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and waited a few minutes before leaving the room. Outside, a familiar truck pulled up. No words were needed as she slid into the passenger side and they drove off.
More pain filled her as the vehicle halted beside the remains of both house and car.
“Want me to come with you?”
“No.” She climbed out, shut the door, and leaned in the window. “Thank you for the ride, Markus.”
“I’m always here for you, Yana. You know this.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “I know but this…I have to do alone.”
He stared before nodded. “Call me when you’re ready to leave.” He drove away.
Therein lay the problem. She didn’t want to leave. Ever. She wanted to join her friends. She walked to the shed which still stood and opened the door. Clicking on the light, she stared at her Dodge Charger. The pearl black car had been her splurge purchase.
Trailing her fingers along the exterior, she made her way to the trunk and opened it with the keys that had hung by the light switch.
Her bag still sat there perched beside her case. More liquid pain fell from her eyes as she touched the case. She knew exactly what she would see if she opened it. A picture of her, Shyla, and Regina. A swath of them, actually.
“I miss y’all so much.”
She couldn’t bring herself to lift the cover and so instead slammed the trunk and left the shed. The moon—almost full—reappeared from behind a slow moving cloud and illuminated the man standing there.
“You are here for what?”
The light gleamed off his eyes similar to how it would an animal.
A wild animal.
“You are my wife. You need protection.”
“Whatever,” she muttered, turning away from him. She walked to the house and ducked beneath the tape. Soon she held a flashlight in her hand and she picked her way through the rubble. While she had some thought it may still be hot, she had no concern. Markus wouldn’t have left her there if it was dangerous.
She felt him enter. Him. Her husband. He remained silent but his words weren’t needed for his intense presence to be noticed.
He watched her walk through the remains that used to be her home. It hadn’t been anything fancy, a singlewide trailer, but it had been hers and he understood she was hurting. He did feel for her. The loss of her friends had to be a terrible blow. But loss happened.
He’d known she was gone the moment he stepped from the shower. Upset by her disobedience, he’d dressed swiftly and went after her.
She’s not wolf.
A phrase he’d repeatedly reminded himself as he’d neared his location. More anger surfaced at the scent of that sheriff.
Her whimper grabbed his attention. She stood in the kitchen, hands gripped the edges of the counter, shoulders hunched and they shook as she cried.
Casimir couldn’t explain what propelled him to approach her. But, he did. He strode through the kitchen, turned her into his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. The fact she didn’t fight him told him all he needed to know. She was succumbing to her grief again.
He didn’t speak, just allowed her to cry it out. His wolf paced, growling as he moved. For whatever reason, the wolf had taken a liking to her and was thoroughly displeased with her being upset.
As if a switch were being thrown, Dyana went rigid and pulled back, watching him with wide eyes. The amber flecks appeared more prevalent in the moonlight.
He reached out to cup the side of her face, desiring more contact. She narrowed her gaze and stepped out of range. Dyana spun on her heels and walked away, back steel rod straight. When the door slammed, he went after her.
She’d returned to the garage and opened her car door. He placed his hand on the top of the frame, holding it shut. She stilled and his wolf went on alert.
“Move your hand.”
“Where are you going?”
“None of your fucking business.”
“It is. You are possibly in danger.”
“Good,” she said. “I pray whoever did it does come after me.”
Her tone was dark and razor sharp. His admiration and his wolf’s grew. She wasn’t hiding but wanted revenge.
Strong,
his wolf said with pride.
“I can’t let you go alone.”
She took several deep breaths before turning to face him in the yellow light from the garage. “Right. I’m supposed to go with you to Washington. Fine, I should make it there in three days. Give me the address and I’ll meet you there. Or you could just wait and if I die then there’s no need for a divorce. I can see that’s what you want. Give me the address.”
Was he hearing things? “You’re driving to Washington?”
Her sigh expounded on her mounting frustration. “Look. I have a feeling you’re just going to get in my way if I don’t give you this—” she did air quotes—“divorce.”
“We can fly.”
“We could. You can. I won’t. Mind taking your hand off my car, hoss? I have things to do.”
Instead of backing away he stepped closer. “I’m riding with you.”
“Most people would ask.”
“I’m not most people.”
Dyana snorted. “Gathering that. Fine, let’s go.”
“Clothes?”
She turned away back to the rubble. “Maybe it’s just me but I thought I walked through the ashes and charred materials that used to be my house. What did you want me to pack, ashes? I have nothing more than what’s in this car. Move.”
He winced internally and did as she demanded. His remark had been callous and without thought.
“Let’s go then.” He went to the passenger side and waited for her to unlock the door.
Casimir bared his teeth when she started the engine and revved it a few times. He opened the door and watched her drive through. Leaving the garage after shutting off the light, he strode to where her car idled as she waited for him.
He slid onto the dark gray leather seat and waited for her to go. The car didn’t move.
“Problem?”
“Buckle up or get out.”
Her words were cold and distant. Barely containing his rumble, he listened. The second it clicked, she gunned the engine and they tore out of the drive, tires squealing as she hit asphalt.
When she pulled into the police station, he sat up a bit straighter.
What could she possibly be doing here?
She killed the motor and climbed out. He narrowed his gaze when the sheriff, Markus, stepped out to meet her.
“What’s going on, Yana?” Markus asked, drawing her close.
Casimir had to force himself under control for his fangs had slid free. Although he remained in the car, he could hear them with ease.
“I have to go to Washington.”
“With him?”
“Yes. My grandparents set up something a while ago. I have to take care of it.”
“Not flying?”
Unlike when she answered him, this time her voice remained gentle. “No.” She shook her head and tucked some hair behind her ear after the wind blew it along her face. “I won’t be far from California and I have to be there next.”
Casimir frowned.
What does she have to do in California?
His phone rang and he answered it without taking his gaze—or attention—from his
wife
and the man who continued touching her.
“How’s it going?” The husky rasp was so familiar.
“I’m on my way back with her, Paps.”
“Good. We will see you tomorrow?”
“No, she won’t fly. We’re driving. Give us three days.”
“Hmm. Interesting.”
Markus pulled her closer and Casimir had to withdraw his fangs a
second
time.
“What’s interesting?” He forced out the question.
“Nothing. Three days.” Paps was gone.
Phone ignored, he unhooked his belt and had his hand on the handle when Markus kissed her cheek. The rumble filled the interior and he shook his head when she walked back to the car.
Dyana slid behind the wheel and started the engine. After a wave to Markus and a pointed look for him to hook his belt, she backed out and got on the road. Music played as he side-eyed her. Casimir realized she had no intention of talking to him.
His wolf paced impatiently and irritated at being cooped up growing with each passing mile. He checked his phone and rolled his head so he could see her.
“Are you going to ignore me all the way to Washington?”
“Why not?” No interest at all in her tone.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what your grandparents arranged?”
She sniffed and whipped the car around the semi ahead of them. “No point.”
That shocked him. Were the positions reversed, he would be. “Interesting,” he said, mostly to himself.
“This surprises you?”
“Yes.”
Damn, she had a melodic voice and he enjoyed the feel of it along his skin.
“Not sure why it would.” More weaving around cars like they stood still. “Whatever my grandparents arranged, this supposed marriage, is something you don’t want. And one I knew nothing about. Remember you came for a divorce. So whatever their reasoning for doing it doesn’t matter.” He had no comment. Her chuckle came across harsh. “What, hoped we’d bond on the way and I would be torn up over losing you?”
“No.”
“Right,” she scoffed. “Sorry, hoss. I just lost my two best friends. The thought of losing you, my
husband
, who I don’t know from a hole in the ground isn’t a problem for me.”
She made excellent points. There were no stops until she needed gas. He got out and used the restroom before getting some waters. As he paid, he stared at her out by the pumps. She paced back and forth, her limp more prevalent.
He would admit, grudgingly she didn’t appear to let her weakness get the best of her. She finished pumping gas at the same time he walked outside. He watched her stare at her phone, heave a sigh, then climb in.
Her voice, he easily picked up on despite her being in the car. She was stressed. Voice and body language gave that away.
Casimir frowned right before he climbed in. That scent from her town reached him. A shifter. An uncommon shifter. The scent had also been around her house after it blew. Dyana was no longer on the phone and as he shut the door behind him, she started the engine.
Casimir placed a water in each cup holder. She glanced at it then met his gaze.
“Thanks.” They got back on the road.
That was it. Even his future wife, Jetje, would have expected him to bring her more. Not this woman. In fact, it had appeared she hadn’t wished to accept anything from him.
He uncapped his and took a long drink, utilizing the time to try and figure her out. There weren’t fluffy animals in her car. Nothing hung from the rear view. The interior smelled like her. Womanly and subtly arousing.
“Anything you want to know?”
She glanced briefly at him. “You being a shifter supposed to be a secret? Or did you not tell me because we’re divorcing?” She shook her head. “Not that I still don’t think you’re crazy about claiming we’re married,” she muttered.
He scowled and faced her. “You didn’t know me but you know I’m a shifter?”
“No, I didn’t. Markus did. He informed me. I think he was hoping I would change my mind about accompanying you.” She smiled at her statement.
Casimir didn’t like the way her smile made him feel. She wasn’t the woman for him. Those types of emotions—lust included—had no place between them.
He grunted and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m a shifter. Wolf.”
“Congratulations.” He looked at her and she shrugged a shoulder. “What, you said it like it was a big deal.”
Well, it kinda was. “You know shifters?”
αβ
Dyana mulled over his question as the landscape whizzed by. Know? Depends on how well he meant that by.
“I’ve met a few during my travels.”
“Your travels?”
Okay, so she wasn’t a football player, or pitching ace. Hell, she wasn’t some amazing striker either, but she was well known. A bitter knot grew in her gut.
He must really not give a damn at all about me. Couldn’t even look me up a little bit.
She didn’t understand why it bothered her so much. Flicking her gaze to the rearview, she spied the SUV that had been back there for the duration of the trip. Hadn’t gone all that far but, given what she’d been through, color her suspicious.
“Yes, my travels,” she said, depressing the accelerator a bit more. The powerful Hemi responded smoothly.
“Do you like them?”
“They were nice enough.” She reached for the bottle of water he’d put in the holder only to discover his hand below hers. Withdrawing immediately, she grabbed the wheel. “Sorry.”