The Vow (Black Arrowhead #1) - Dannika Dark Page 0,48

language to the effect of “My son’s spirit wolf is free now.” He couldn’t understand all of it, but when she finished, he stood up and searched for Shikoba.

Majestic trees that bordered the expansive grounds swayed, sending a kaleidoscope of fractured light onto the grass. A few trees had round slices of wood nailed to them that served as target practice for archers. Lakota glanced at the small cabin across from the house, near the tree line. Single ladies stayed there during their heat cycle to have privacy. Any good pack had something similar set up. Otherwise their hormonal impulses might cause them to make reckless decisions that could lead to pregnancy. A woman could only get pregnant while in heat; any time outside that was rare. Lakota had been around a woman in heat once or twice, and damn, it was a powerful thing. Their pheromones were an aphrodisiac, and unmated men—weak men—would say anything to seduce them.

He spotted Shikoba speaking to one of the elders. Not wanting to interrupt, Lakota nodded at him that he was ready to talk.

After Shikoba wrapped up his conversation, he gripped his cane and headed over. “Let’s take this inside.”

Melody would be fine in the kitchen, but he still didn’t like leaving her alone, especially not after the way Kaota had come at her so aggressively. Just thinking about those marks on her arm made Lakota’s wolf snarl.

When they reached Shikoba’s private sitting room, they took their seats.

Shikoba propped his cane between his legs and gripped the wooden arms of the chair. “What did you find out, and what is the Council saying?”

Each territory had a local Council comprised of a small group of Shifters. They enforced the laws in the area and tried to keep order, but the tribe lived outside their laws.

“They called in a Vampire to scrub the memory of the animal control guy,” Lakota said. “They were going to do an autopsy and give a report to police, so the Council made sure that didn’t happen.”

“And what will the police say when they get no report?”

“Shit gets lost all the time.” Lakota moved his legs farther apart and turned his gaze toward a painting of a warrior on horseback. “The local packs are crying foul, saying the tribes are nothing but rapists and murderers and that the Council is sweeping it under the rug. They’re accusing you of the deaths of the women, but that’s been a quiet rumor for some time now.”

Shikoba touched one of his thin braids. “Some things never change. We have lived here for many lifetimes, and outsiders have wanted our land for centuries. The soil is good, the stream plentiful with fish, and the woods abundant with animals to hunt. They have been waiting for this day. And do you know what casts a black cloud over all this?”

“What?”

“That they might be right about the killer.” Shikoba drew in a deep breath. “I love my people, but even the most trusted man can blacken his spirit with envy, lust, or hate.”

Lakota’s thoughts briefly turned to his birth father. “If that’s true, you can’t shelter him to protect your people. You have to follow their laws and turn him in. I’m not saying you know who it is, but keep an open mind.”

Shikoba jerked forward. “If I find out one of my men was responsible, I will kill him myself!” he thundered, slamming the bottom of his cane against the wood floor. “And if it was Koi”—he shook his head—“it would shame his poor mother more than you know. We were unable to tell whether the woman made those marks on him in self-defense or if he took his own life. Out of respect for his mother, we didn’t want to shave his fur to inspect them closer.”

“You have to get to the bottom of this,” Lakota advised. “Let me go out to the crime scene.”

“And what good will that do? The humans have trampled all over it.”

“The rain and humidity will make it easy to pick up lingering scents. We need to scout the area for tracks and evidence. Maybe we can’t prove who’s guilty, but we should at least prove that Koi is innocent. I come from a long line of skilled trackers, and—”

“I’ll send Tak with you. He’s an alpha with a keen nose. Let him be the one to shift.”

“I’ll call the Council and make it happen. Since one of your packmates is dead, they have to honor your right to