Page 4 of Baiting the Werewolf

I nod. The other three victims weren’t so lucky.

“We’ll need to continue this on foot. Let’s gear up,” Nick says.

I roll my eyes at him. “We’re just doing a general survey, we don’t need to gear up.” I get out of the car and lean down to look at him.

He shakes his head in disappointment. “Rookies,” he mutters under his breath, knowing full well I’ll hear it. Werewolf hearing doesn’t allow for covert insults under the breath. He gets out of the car, carrying the gear bag anyway.

“Not a rookie,” I correct him. I’ve been with the Werewolf Regulation Bureau three years now. “And between the two of us, you know we can deal with all the feral wolves on this side of the country without the fucking gear.” I shoot him a cocky smile.

Nick tries to glare at me, but a smile breaks out anyway. The guy is a giant softie. Giant to humans, but pretty standard for a werewolf. He’s about the same height and build as me.

Despite my bravado, we don’t make much noise as we look around, trying to find any traces of the wild group of werewolves that have taken shelter in our woods. We’re dealing with the worst of my kind. So we need to be careful. One mistake, and we won’t be leaving this forest.

Despite the danger, assignments like these are my favorite part of working for the secret organization that deals with werewolf-related crimes on the down low. So, there’s a lot to love here.

I take a deep breath of the fresh, brisk air. My werewolf misses this in the city. The sprawling trees, the dirt on the paths, the distant, soothing noises.

And I’d be happier to be here right now if I wasn’t so worried about Wes. I hate that I ditched him again. Especially now when he really needed me.

Nick joins me near the tree with the clear claw mark. “They were definitely here. I can smell them clearly. We don’t even need to shift, so unfortunately, you’ll be missing out on the privilege of admiring my priceless ass.”

“Yeah, dude, I’m not flirting with you. Don’t want your boyfriend to spontaneously come out of retirement and go on a killing spree.” I take the barely-there path toward the tree where the scent is the strongest.

Nick waves me off. “Eh, Elliot is harmless.”

I snort. “You’re the only person in the world who believes that.”

We walk through the bushes following the scent, dry leaves crunching under our shoes.

A faint lavender smell hits me out of nowhere. My feet still.

Wes?

I shake my head and laugh. As if he’ll ever set foot in a place like this. The guy barely leaves his apartment without whining about leaving his laptop behind. I suspect this much fresh air might actually burn his skin.

When I got the call that we finally have a location on these werewolves we’ve been tracking for months, I was on my way to Wes’s. I had the perfect heartbreak kit ready. Vanilla ice cream and Pride and Prejudice DVD because Wes is a weirdo who still likes to watch the extended DVD versions of old movies and shows. Has a collection of vintage players and an old TV with a port and everything.

Nick jerks his head to the right. “That way.”

I nod and follow his lead. Nick is one of the easiest people to work with on the Bureau. Competent, friendly, and up for just about anything. “By the way, was that the best friend you’ve been pining over forever on the call before?” Oh yeah, he’s also nosy. But that’s everyone at the Werewolf Regulation Bureau, so I can’t fault him. “We’ve got a bet going on about when you’ll finally confess your undying love for him.” See.

“I’ve not been pining over him,” I clarify. I love him because he’s lovable. I want to spend all my time with him because he’s entertaining. And I like talking to him because he’s fun. That’s not pining, that’s just being friends.

And while I don’t have anything against some man-on-man action, I’ve never been into any man. I don’t think so. Although, there was this one time when Wes kissed me while drunk, and it momentarily fried my brain right before he passed out.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Wes doesn’t know I’m a werewolf, let alone a werewolf agent for a secret international agency.

“Wait, what do you mean you have bets?”

Nick walks ahead, delicately sniffing around a tree. “What? Nothing.” He doesn’t even look at me. “And did I hear he’s single again? Didn’t he just start dating someone? By the way, October is scientifically the perfect time to start exploring your sexuality. I read it… somewhere.”

I snort. “I know you’re kidding, but Wes really has the worst taste in men.” And the last one was the worst of the bunch. One of those jerks who get off on criticizing other people. Besides, how could he not adore Sabrina? I’m not particularly fond of cats, but she’s the most innocent, most lovable cat on the planet. Nate was an asshole.

“I wonder why.” Nick turns and smirks.

I hurry to catch up. “Are you implying something here? Because I feel like you’re implying something.”

He stops and turns to face me, then sighs exaggeratedly. “C’mon, Logan. The guy makes lunches for you.”