the black stuff and jumping around off the walls on a caffeine buzz. I do not appreciate tardiness.’
Her back stiffened as she marched off. I watched her go, realising suddenly just who – or rather what – she reminded me of. Mack was like the squirming, spitting kitten I’d rescued from the quarry: soft and sweet to look at with a prickly personality and a streak of defiant independence. I smirked. Kitten. It suited her.
Staines sighed. ‘From the look on your face, I dread to imagine what you’re thinking right now, my Lord. All I will say is that perhaps goading her is not likely to win her to our side.’
I licked my lips. ‘But it’s so much fun.’
‘Maybe we should see if she’s disturbed anything?’
I glanced at Staines, registering his exasperated expression. ‘I imagine she’s decided not to sit back and let us do all the work,’ I said softly, suddenly understanding. ‘She doesn’t strike me as the type to let her own alpha be murdered then do nothing about it.’
‘Indeed. What type does she strike you as, my Lord?’
I clapped him on the shoulder. I was going to remain optimistic as far as Mackenzie was concerned. ‘The type that needs just the right kind of touch to get her to purr,’ I answered.
***
Rather fortunately, Mack’s peers were considerably more open to both my presence and my questions. Although I only had a fraction to interview myself, the ones I did speak to were compliant and keen. Apart from Johannes, the unlucky chef I’d offered to send off for some more training, everyone I spoke to had been born and brought up in Cornwall. And while Johannes’ culinary skills might leave much to be desired, he provided a wealth of knowledge about the pack and its environs. He ran through a list of recent Otherworlders who’d been spotted in the vicinity and seemed to know a great deal about their different capabilities.
‘I just cannae think that any o’ them woulda had the skills,’ he commented, matching my own beliefs.
The other shifters I interviewed were equally helpful – although they were also equally unable to shed any further light on the situation. The only time I ever sensed any recalcitrance was when I inquired as to who the strongest shifter in the pack was.
‘Anton,’ Johannes answered almost immediately, as if he’d been expecting the question.
‘But he was beaten by Mack,’ I said, watching his reaction.
The big man shrugged. ‘The lassie got lucky.’
It didn’t matter what I tried, or how I phrased it, whenever I came near to questioning any of them about Mack herself, I was stonewalled. I had to admit that it rankled. I’d been adamant when I’d spoken to Staines about not using compulsion on anyone to find out what I needed to do. Unless I started getting some answers soon though, I was going to have no choice. The optimism I’d expressed to Staines was quickly leaking away. When I asked Tom, her boyfriend, his answer was even more odd.
‘Red doesn’t like to admit it, but she trains pretty hard. She can be clumsy though. She fell down the stairs a few days ago! So it’s not really surprising that she loses one fight then wins the next. She’s very inconsistent.’
‘Red?’
His eyes widened. ‘I mean, Mack. Red’s just…it’s just a nickname.’
I looked him up and down. He was a nice guy and, even for a werewolf, he was clearly skilled. I just couldn’t see what he had in common with Mack though. Maybe opposites really did attract.
‘I want to talk to her on my own,’ I told Staines when Mel popped her head through the door and said that Mack was next in line.
He frowned at me, but apparently knew better than to argue. I could sense that as far as this particular shifter was concerned, his patience was wearing extraordinarily thin. In contrast, I was fairly certain that I could spend months in her presence and not get bored with it. Quite frankly, her unpredictability was exciting. I needed to get her to relax around me so, when she finally re-entered for her interview, I pretended to read a sheet of paper for several long moments while Staines looked on. I knew it would no doubt annoy her but I could deal with that more easily than with nerves.
You should go now, I eventually said to Staines, who was leaning against a wall and staring at the lady in question with a marked frown.
Yell if she