the joints. His head was completely shaved and tattoos dotted his scalp, all the way down to his neck and chest. A patch of scar tissue covered where his left eye should be. “I was hoping to speak to you. About recent events in the mountains.”
“Did you find the raccoon shifter?”
He shook his head. “There are other things I must speak to you about.”
“What things?”
“Suspicions I have.”
“You should talk to Damon about them.”
“I know. But I wanted to run them by you. Damon may be your alpha, but he does not have your instinct. Nor does he know this territory as you do.”
He huffed. “All right.”
“May I come in?” he asked, cocking his head.
His instincts flared, knowing Dutchy was inside. His grizzly, too, did not like the idea of having another unmated male around her, especially since they hadn’t bonded yet.
“Ah.” His one green eye flickered over to his door, and Krieger shifted to block his view. “I see. You are not alone. Come,” he cocked his head. “We walk and talk, yes?”
“All right.” He hopped down the steps and followed Milos as he strode around the back. “So, what do you know about the missing raccoon?”
“I know of this shifter that Damon speaks of. A lonely creature, longing for something it lost.” For a brief moment, a stricken look passed over the wolf shifter’s face. “He comes regularly, every month or so, or at least he did until about two months ago.”
“You know when he comes?”
“I know most of those who come up here regularly. Seeking solitude. Seeking peace. There are many who take advantage of the nature up here, to let their instincts take over and forget the human world for a little bit.” Milos led them to a path around an outcrop of jagged rocks. “One is a sly little raven shifter who loves picking up shiny things that hikers may have lost or left behind. The little collector was especially active during the summer months. But it has stopped visiting.”
“Maybe he’s busy.”
“Perhaps.” As they rounded the boulders, they were treated to a view of the valley below and the splendid colors of the fall morning spread out beneath them. “But it was such a creature of habit and instincts. You must know how we cannot deny our instincts.”
Krieger didn’t miss the meaning in Milos’s words or tones. But was he talking about him or himself? “Okay, so maybe another shifter is missing. What else ya got?”
“Strange scents in the air.” Wolf shifters were known for their keen smell. “Like they do not belong up here, but they were manufactured to be.”
“What the heck does that mean?”
Milos’s lips tightened. “I cannot explain it. But I just know there is more to it than this. But nothing conclusive yet which is why I wanted to discuss this with you first. I know you have been … preoccupied, but perhaps you could come with me on a patrol soon? That way, you can observe for yourself.”
Krieger hesitated, but seeing as things had progressed with Dutchy—and protecting this territory was his job, in case he forgot—he knew what the right thing to do was. If Milos thought there was something fishy going on, then it was at least worth investigating. “All right. I have things to take care of, but I’ll come out in a couple of days, if that works?”
“Thank you,” Milos said, as they finished their walk around the perimeter of the cabin and approached the front porch. “Perhaps Damon can—” The wolf shifter stopped short, mouth closing shut.
Krieger traced the other man’s line of sight to the front door, where Dutchy stood, wearing only his uniform shirt. His bear reared up, and he rushed up to her, covering her from Milos’s curious gaze. “You’re up,” he grumbled.
“I’m up,” she repeated, then bent her head around him. “Hi there. I didn’t realize there was anyone else up here. I’m Dutchy.”
Every muscle in his body tensed, and although his every instinct screamed at him to push her inside, he controlled himself and his bear.
“I’m Milos,” the wolf shifter greeted back.
Turning his head, he saw Milos had discreetly moved away, lest Dutchy saw his fully naked body. “Milos was just leaving.”
“Leaving?” Dutchy asked.
To his credit, Milos nodded in agreement. “Yes. I shall see you soon, Krieger. And it was nice to meet you, Dutchy.” Turning around, he shifted into his wolf and padded off into the trees.
“Who was that?” Dutchy asked.
“A … neighbor.” Now that the other male was gone,