soon.”
I growled softly, not at Heath but his point. “They would have to have a reason. From where I’m standing, they worshiped these werecats.”
“Maybe they thought the cats killed the wolves,” he suggested, shrugging.
“I don’t think they liked the werewolves that much,” I countered. Hearing his sigh, I bet he agreed with me.
“So, what can sneak up on a werecat?” He leaned onto the kitchen counter, frowning. “You don’t feel humans.”
“No, we don’t. They’re like any other animal unless they’re a witch or something. They have to have some sort of…magical signature.” I groaned. “Heath, there’s nothing. Nothing I can think of, anyway. I think I need to talk to Hasan and the family about this. I…I just don’t know. What sneaks up on a werecat, kills her physically like described, then walks away without leaving a trace?”
He shrugged, and I could see a deep sadness in his eyes. He had no idea either, and it was killing both of us. Standing in the place where she died, the weight of her death hung heavy, and the idea of catching the killer seemed like a long shot.
“If the wolves didn’t do it and the humans don’t make sense, then who?” I yelled at the end, kicking a piece of furniture and sending it to the wall. “God damn it!”
“We’ll find out. I promise you, Jacky. We’ll find out who killed those up here.” Heath didn’t come near me, not that I blamed him. Failure taunted me. “Maybe since we’re not learning anything here, we can leave for the day, stay nearby, then head out to see Titan’s home tomorrow. Maybe it’ll have some clues.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I muttered, storming out. Sure, I had learned more about what was going on than Jabari probably had before coming into the mountains, but I was no closer to knowing the murderer than I had been on the plane to Seattle. “At least there shouldn’t be a war. If the werewolves didn’t do this, and the werecats didn’t kill the wolves, there’s no reason for a war.”
“There would still be a war if Jabari is dead or if you die,” Heath said as he walked out behind me. “Maybe we can try to track your brother. He was obviously here.”
“He was, but scent tracking isn’t my strong suit. It’s yours.”
“My nose is better as a werewolf and in my actual wolf form. The full moon was only a couple of nights ago. A Change will be fast.”
“But…can you talk to me in your wolf form? I know about pack magic, but I don’t know all the logistics of it.”
“Should be able to. Your mind is receptive to it in ways another werecat probably isn’t thanks to…that gift you have. Have you used it since that night?” When I didn’t immediately answer, he stepped around me and met my gaze. “Your eyes are gold right now, Jacky.”
“Yeah…I’m pissed off…and scared. I’m not an old werecat. I’m very young, actually. If something can…kill them and make Jabari go missing, I have no chance against it. None.”
“And neither do I. Maybe we should head back and start our search fresh tomorrow.”
“Jabari could be dead tomorrow,” I mumbled, looking out into the trees. “Fuck, he could be dead now. I mean, he’s…literally, a few thousand years old, much older than Gaia and Titan but still…”
“That’s older than dirt,” Heath muttered, shaking his head. “How the hell do you cats stay alive so long?”
“I think I’ve said it before, but it’s because we don’t fight each other as much as you wolves.” I sighed. “Let’s go. I promised not to go into the woods, and I don’t want to push my luck.”
We started walking away, probably both thinking about the mystery we found ourselves in. When we reached the edge of the clearing, Heath asked me one more question.
“Did Hasan ever teach you about anything that would fit this?”
“Not that I can remember, but it was four years of lessons. If I remember anything, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
If that was our only hope, we didn’t have much to look forward to.
17
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m going to Change,” Heath said before we got too far from the house. “I’ll feel better if at least one of us is in our more powerful form, and I have the nose to find older trails.”
I looked around, not seeing anything. If anything, the surrounding forest was beautifully serene. When nothing seemed unusual, I nodded.
“I’ll carry your clothing,” I told him, keeping