Our Promise

ing her coffee. Mike slid a

lots of footprints, th

ome newer. None appeared fresh. There were shots of scratches in the snow, the hectic tracks of crows, the opportunis

ne or larger. She squinted at the photos. Something was off. No dog track had ever looked like this.

at the university? In the Zoology

at her Christmas party last ye

ook at this, tell me what kind

she knew who still scribbled names and numbers on little cards and methodically stuck them into the Rolodex. He'd complaine

ring from the ME. But I'd like to know what this is just the same." She l

ut some guy shot it. Thought it was a coyote or something." Mike cleared his throat. "Thing

construct a three-dimensional image in her mind from the flat photographs. Mike's voice faded into the background. Somethin

was alive when his throat was torn out; only a beating heart could have made the arcs and sprays of arterial blood on the

e of just the dog prints. They came from the south, walked directly to the body, made a circle, and then walked

ike a wo

os. Serena quickly slid them together, turning them face down on her desk. She rose, meeting the man's eyes.

tral, her posture relaxed. He'd startled

nced down, accepting it reluctantly. His grip was strong and firm, his han

curved into a cocky grin. He was too confident, too certain

t." She indicated the chair next to her desk and

The door was open." Wes gestured

us with?" She folded her hands across the back o

a tone that gave Serena the impression it wasn't a question but that

ready on the early news, then decided probably it was. There'd have t

importantly, I think we'r

a police office

. I was, back in Wichita, but that was ye

pping the photos beneath her hands. Serena resisted the urge to pull her hands away. As uncomfortable as he made her, there was an aura

pped lower, his eyes locked with hers.

seen wha

, in the open, the kill

how exactly do you t

track

o their office. He raised an eyebrow at her, coming around to st

llahan. He's come to

epticism was thick in his voice. He pulled up a chair next to S

niels, I'm a tracker. And I've seen

putting on the good ole Southern boy charm. Serena suppressed a smile. Mike had pla

y. She suddenly had the sensation of being back on the ice on the lake, tre

n to say drifters? As in

believe that's what did this to your victim.

into a wolf?" Serena couldn't hide

und ske

se sir...we don't have w

ifter, not

ving hers. Serena wondered just how deeply this guy held on

e's a dif

are compelled to change at the full moon, and are not abl

illed by a shifter? By a man who can,

d posture and suddenly realized that he was serious. Whoever he was, he certain

m Kansas, up through the Dakotas, and then through Minnesota before finally com

ow what we may have found wa