Chapter~23~Undercover lovers.

Harley~

'You must be truthful with him at some point; you couldn't even look him in the eye while telling your orphanage story.'

'Yes, Rae, I am aware.' It isn't easy to tell someone that your father is the source of all evil. I've gotten you a date at least.'

'You did, and I thank you for that. If you would allow them to mark us, Zeek and I could work it all out without you humans getting in the way.

'I'd bet, Harley~

'How am I to hide his mark?'

'You aren't supposed to!'

I hear the engine of the tow truck coming down the gravel path, and as much as I hate doing it, I break contact with Nick and get to my feet, a little surprised that my head didn't spin this time. Marty, the tow truck driver, hooks up to the van's back.

"Anything else, Detective?" Marty asked.

I was about to say no when Nick jumped in. "Yeah, you can give us a ride out."

My relief was undeniable; I didn't have to walk back, and I knew Nick had requested the ride for my benefit. If my life had depended on it, I couldn't have stopped the smile that crossed my face as I climbed into the tow truck's cab. It was nice to have someone watch out for me. Nick is so large that we have to crowd close together to fit in the seat, and I like that too.

The squad room was bustling when we returned. I knew the proverbial shit had hit the fan. Captain Howard comes out of nowhere in a rush, gathering Nick, me, Graves, and Brock. We all head down the hall to the SCIF room and take seats around the conference table, except for the Captain, who stands in front of us.

"Detective Graves, Detective Brock, this is special agent Nick Reins from the FBI." Mitch gestures toward Nick and takes a seat himself.

That's when the light bulb goes on over Sheila's head. She looks between Nick and me, then at Nick again as if he were a tall glass of water and she were thirsty. We both growl at her.

"What's going on, Captain?" I asked.

"We got a call from Culver City." He opened the file he carried and slid it to me. "A couple of hikers found this guy at the mountain basin. Hogtied and fried with no head."

Nick asked. "What made them consider him to be connected to our stalker?"

"The method of torture is the same." Captain Howard explains. "Belinda can match the rope to the fibers embedded in Cervantes' neck. Culver City is sending us the body since the FBI is already involved here." He points to Nick and me. "You two are going to Culer City to meet with the detectives who investigated the crime scene and have a look for yourselves."

My stomach does somersaults at the thought of being alone with Nick. I can feel his eyes, but I stay focused on my Captain. "I can be ready in about an hour."

We all exited the SCIF room together, Captain heading off toward his office, and Detective Brock going to his desk. Sheila falls beside Nick. Rae is growling at her, though I shush her, it has little effect.

"Agent Reins, I saw you at McGilleys last week. If you need a guide, I would love to show you around our fair city if you have time." Sheila batted her eyelashes at Nick.

Nick glances over at me. "Thank you, Detective Graves, but I am mate-married."

Shelia walks away empty-handed and disappointed. It's better than the alternative, so maybe I should let him mark me and wear a turtleneck in the 101° heat so no one sees his bite.

"I just need to get a few things from home, and then I will be ready. I can meet you back here in about an hour."

Nick appeared devastated, but he recovered before revealing too much. "Let me have your number so we can keep in touch."

My tires aren't rolling toward the street before my phone rings. "Yes, Agent Reins?"

"Call me your Wolfman." The sensual tone in his voice has got my cooter leaking again; what in the world am I going to do with him?

We purred at them through the speakers. "You like that, do you?"

"It gets me hotter than peanut oil in a deep fryer!" I can almost see the smile on his handsome face. "Ok, Wolfman, I can't wait to run wild with you."

"Woo-hoo! Yes, ma'am, that's what I am talking about! I can't wait for the world to know you are mine, Amante. We need to make that happen."

"I can't let you mark me now. It isn't the right time or place, not because I don't want you to. After this case is over, I am leaving LA. I'm hoping maybe you will come with me. If the answer is no, I understand, but I have to be honest, I am still leaving."

"So it isn't me you are running from, Amante?"

Suddenly, I have a golf ball-sized lump in my throat as I pull into my apartment's parking lot and park. "Who says I am running, Nick? I will see you soon." I kill the engine and the phone.

'You know he will not let it go. He is going to find out the truth on his own anyway, so you need to tell him about Ian first.'

'I want to see Melinda before I decide. If we are this powerful guardian, there is no need to tell Nick. I can use my powers on whoever my father sends after me, and him too, should he get the balls to come, once I know how and what they are, that is.'

'And what if Nick doesn't want to go with us?'

'I don't know, Rae. Would you want to continue living in the human world with him if he didn't want to run off and play werewolf with us?'