Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,28
tracked a wolf scent from this location.”
Knowing that didn’t explain much about what unfolded tonight, Kyden encouraged Haven with a jerk of his chin. “Do your thing.”
Standing on the other side of the deceased man, Haven nodded grimly, then she raised her hands in the air. Not a second later, Kyden shivered as the magic swept across him, and when the scene erupted, Nexi’s sharp intake of breath twisted his gut.
He suspected, at the sight of the werewolf stalking the man, it brought her mind back to the murder of her parents. He grabbed her hand, knowing he couldn’t do anything else as this no doubt stirred a painful memory, but he needed to focus on the grisly murder happening before his eyes.
The man scrambled back, trembled with fear, as the wolf approached. The mortal never made a sound, never screamed out for help, and Kyden had seen the same reaction many times. Most mortals couldn’t react when in true fear. It paralyzed them.
Only a mere second passed before the wolf pounced, tearing into the mortal’s throat. When the wolf jumped away, blood rushed from the gaping wound at the man’s neck, and within two breaths, the man stopped struggling. The wolf shifted into his human form, glancing down at the body with a vehement glare.
The vision froze.
Kyden gave Nexi’s hand a final squeeze before releasing it. Part of him wanted to keep her away, shelter her from all this danger and death, but the smarter part—not the territorial side—knew better. She’d chosen this life. “Go on,” he said softly, giving her a small nudge on her lower back. “Have a look.”
She stepped up in front of the killer, and Kyden followed right on her heels. He examined the werewolf’s face. While the wolf’s sinister stare appeared harsh, his features were soft.
Nexi must’ve thought the same, since she turned to him with a furrowed brow. “Why would he do this to him? He seems, I don’t know—” She examined the werewolf again, then shrugged. “Nice looking.”
“Don’t let the looks fool you,” Haven interjected with haunted eyes. “Trust me, they’re deceiving.”
Kyden agreed—he’d seen vampires who looked like the girl next door turn into lethal killers. “In most cases, a wolf attacks because the animal inside takes over and they can’t control the urge to hunt.”
Nexi nibbled her lip, eying him with curiosity shadowing her expression. “I know I’m the newbie here, but he appeared in complete control of himself.”
Kyden nodded. “If he had lost control, he wouldn’t have been able to shift. His wolf would’ve taken over.” He scanned the man from head to toe, memorizing his features before turning to Nexi again. “What troubles me more is this is the second werewolf killing recently.” Pain rippled across her features at the reminder of her parents’ death, but he couldn’t sugarcoat things. “And the murders have happened in two different states.”
Silence drifted among them.
Kyden spotted the concern in Haven’s eyes and even in Foley’s tense posture. Briggs hadn’t lied to Nexi—werewolf killings were rare, so why had it happened twice? And why had Nexi’s family been targeted, as well as the man at Kyden’s feet?
It had crossed his mind that the werewolves knew of Nexi’s true supernatural heritage and for whatever reason that might’ve been the cause of the attack, but the theory only made sense if no killings came after it. The man at his feet was a mortal. What could possibly tie this human and Nexi’s parents together?
Kyden had no clue. That was the problem, thus further frustrating him.
After a long pause, Foley broke the silence. “Before you arrived, my partner sent word that the werewolf he tracked is at a club owned by the New York pack, Howl at the Moon.”
Nexi rolled her eyes, folding her arms. “Do supernaturals have nothin’ better to do than spend their nights at clubs?”
“Supernaturals are sensual, invigorating creatures,” Kyden told her, thinking to himself that he used to be one of them. Now he was simply a deprived supernatural. “Attending clubs is a good place to meet others looking to fulfill that need.”
She snorted. “Hard life.”
Kyden agreed something had been hard for weeks now.
It wasn’t his life.
Chapter Nine
The moment Nexi entered Howl at the Moon she concluded supernaturals excelled in the nightlife industry. Everything in the dance club portrayed wealth, including the red leather couches, dozens of crystal chandeliers over tables, and huge tropical fish tanks lining the wall.
Leaning against the marble bar, she eyed a strawberry daiquiri, craving some liquid courage