Zev shook his head. "There have been several killings. Mutilations. Not the wolves, someone human. This area is closed at the moment. You need to pack up immediately and leave."
"Are you saying a serial killer is on the loose?" Paul asked.
"We don't acknowledge such things. We've chased a criminal into these woods, and he knows his way around. I am officially telling you and your party to leave. I'll be back tomorrow to ensure you've obeyed."
Paul scowled and tried to protest. Skyler ducked her head, twisting her fingers together, looking guilty, as if she knew Paul would take his anger out on her. After all, she'd set this all in motion by getting lost.
"She has a sprained ankle and needs care," Zev added. "And in case you think to chastise her, I was already aware of your camp and was coming to tell you to leave when I ran across her."
That made sense, too. He was Lycan. He belonged in the forest. It would talk to him the way Mother Earth spoke to her. She had no doubt that he had known—that he'd heard foreign footsteps or smelled their scents on the wind.
Zev dropped a hand on her shoulder. "I hope you feel better very quickly. I'm sorry we met under such circumstances. Please persuade whoever is in charge to take me seriously. You can always come back once we've found the killer."
It was a perfect cover—a police manhunt. Skyler nodded. "Thank you for your kindness."
Zev left them, striding away, disappearing into the trees. Skyler wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. She hadn't been aware that she'd been scared, but now she felt a little sick, but definitely triumphant. She'd done it. She'd slipped that tiny little bug into Zev's pocket, and he hadn't even known.
Paul hurried over to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "He's a very scary man, but he was really nice to me. I was terrified the papers wouldn't hold up."
"I was more worried he'd take out one of his weapons and annihilate us both," Paul said. "My little tranq gun didn't seem so great when I could see weapons in his belt, hanging from a million loops on the inside of that coat, and even inside his boots. But, he looked and felt human."
"He was Lycan," Skyler assured. "I could tell the difference. He smelled wild. Part of the forest. It was in the way he moved as well. He's a wolf." She slowly unzipped her boot and straightened her leg, holding out her injured foot toward Paul. "Can you get this thing off of me? Josef did a great job on my cover, that's all I'm going to say on the matter."
"You mean until he gets here. You've got that look on your face." Paul did his best to remove the boot without hurting her further. He whistled when he saw her swollen, bruised ankle. "Well, one thing about Josef—he's thorough."
"I think I'll lie down and rest until the sun goes down," Skyler said.