Bee's Enraged Beast - Lacey Thorn Page 0,4

Cain Rogers. A human with an equally human daughter six years my junior. They were some of the few who know we exist.

I do what I can to protect the family, though Cain’s daughter sometimes makes that difficult. Cain’s a good man. Better than a lot of wolves I’ve met. In my world, that matters. Plus, I’ll check on my mother until the day I die. She deserves nothing less from the son she left her pack to protect.

Which brought me back to Rigton County, the territory the James Pack currently guarded. Protocol was to let James know I was there and why. And I would. After the fact. Unless I ended up being here longer than I’d anticipated. I hoped for a quick in and out. Snag the scum I hunted and be on my way. If I was still here come morning, I’d reach out to his pack. Or if there were bodies to dispose of. I might need to contact his pack then, as well.

For now, I needed to think like my prey. They wouldn’t want James or his pack to know they were here. That meant avoiding the known wolf hangouts. They’d stick to the fringes. What I couldn’t figure out was why they’d come back here. Everything I knew said this was where the leader of the group had almost been killed. Someone had beaten the hell out of him. Too bad, they hadn’t finished the job. It would have saved me a lot of trouble and changed the life of a female wolf with more courage than I’d seen in too long.

I hoofed it back to my truck and grabbed the folders from the passenger seat, scanning the top one to refresh myself on the information I’d been given. My phone rang, and I thumbed the ignore button with a growl. I didn’t have time for Cici. It rang again, and I hit ignore. Then again. And again. Until I caved with a groan.

“What do you want, Cici?”

“Hey, big brother! Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

I sighed. Heavily. “I’m not your brother.”

“Your mom. My dad. Hello, siblings. I always wanted a big brother. Why would you try to take my dream away from me, Hannibal? I thought you liked me.”

Other than my mom and Cain, Cici was the only person who called me by my name. I’d inherited her when my mother had married her father. She was human. Fully human. But completely fascinated with who and what I was. And defensive of me. It was actually laughable. Cici was maybe five-one in her bare feet. It was comical to see her call someone out if they gave me a weird look when I was around. She felt it was her duty to bust my balls on everything I did, but god forbid anyone else tried.

“Again. What do you want, Cici?”

“To help. I have information for you.”

“Useful information?” I pinched the bridge of my nose as I shook my head. Cici would be the death of me. I’d told her more than once—

I snapped my head up. “Tell me you didn’t follow me here!”

“Well…”

“Damn it, Cici! This isn’t one of your books. Wolves aren’t romantic heroes looking for love. They’re assholes, and they’ll kill you without a care.”

“I’m cute, though. Maybe, they’ll think I’m cute, and that’ll buy me time for them to get to know me.”

I thought of what the four I was chasing had done to a lone female. A wolf. A shudder went through me at what would happen to Cici if they got their hands on her. They’d kill her. She didn’t have advanced biology working in her favor.

“Cici, I swear to god! Your ass better be home, or so help me I’m calling your dad.” I needed to quit babying her, but I couldn’t help it. She was cute and endearing and annoying as hell. But the last thing I wanted was to terrify her with what the quartet I was after had done to a young woman.

“That’s just low, Han. Even for you. Besides, when did you become the guy who threatens to call my dad?”

It didn’t help that she was right. When had I become that guy?

“This is dangerous.”

Her tone grew soft, serious. “I know that. I know what they did. That brain you’re always teasing me about? I use it to research things. To find out the little things you don’t want me to know. I know what they did to her, Han. I know what you’re