CHAPTER TWO

SANI

Coming? Mika’s voice boomed into Sani’s mind. Father’s waiting.

Sometimes Sani really didn’t like the telepathic bond siblings and packmates shared. Some voices were weaker than others, but Mika’s always came in loud and clear.

Whether Sani wanted to hear it or not.

Yeah, I’m on my way. Sani clattered down the steps of his cabin and kicked a rock. Whatever their father wanted, it couldn’t be good.

He entered the forest in his piece of paradise. The ranch was big enough everyone could spread out if they wanted to. The council house was in a more populated area in the center of the main property. Mika joined him on the way halfway there.

They walked companionably through the forest and entered the bustling administrative area together.

“Hey, Sani,” came a low, sultry call.

He held in a groan and his head swiveled left. Abigail stood there, wearing a scooped top that displayed the bountiful goods she had on offer.

“Hi,” he murmured, walking faster. He let a second pass before turning to Mika. “Do you miss that?”

“Nope.”

“Not ever?”

“Never.” Mika’s voice left no room for doubt.

Sani could see it on him anyway. His brother glowed with happiness since he’d found his Fated. Like Mika had a whole new source of energy and was radiating it.

Inexplicably, Sani found himself wondering what it was about having a mate that was so satisfying. Would he ever find out for himself?

Fated matches were rare.

“Don’t you get sick of it?” Mika asked.

Sick of girls hitting on him all the time? Sani hesitated. Would his brother laugh if he spoke the truth? That he was tired of a different girl every week?

Things had only gotten worse since Mika mated with Madison, leaving Sani as the most, meaning only, eligible high ranking bachelor on the ranch.

For a time, he’d enjoyed himself. But now, it grated. Was he tired of loose, empty liaisons?

Yes. Sick and tired.

“I love it,” he lied.

Mika snorted.

Two more packmates with issues to raise — real issues this time — stopped them. Well, him.

Bryant had a question about the irrigation schedule, while Sykod was reporting on fence damage.

That was the thing — everyone came to Sani. Mika and their father, the alpha, were infamously short on temper and patience. They kept the ranch running, but Sani and his sister, Nascha, kept it running smoothly. They were the approachable ones — the ones who dealt with others with a smile and not a scowl.

Sani exchanged a few quick words with each of the men then hurried to catch up to Mika and enter the council house.

“Mika.” Their father greeted his older son with his usual note of pride. “Sani,” he added in an afterthought.

Sani pressed his lips together and nodded to Nascha, who sat to their father’s right. She did her best to balance the old grouch out with a soft touch, as impossible as the task was.

Mika and Nascha were the spitting image of their father, all dark and intense. Sani was different in every way. He took after his mother’s white-blond and blue eyes looks.

“Kayin called.” The alpha launched into business. He’d been handing duties over to his offspring, mainly playing the role of elder statesman — meaning he could meddle whenever and wherever he pleased.

Sani and Mika exchanged glances.

Kayin rarely had good news. A pack member who lived on the periphery of the ranch, Kayin was also their inside man with human police forces and Other Worlders.

“He was going on about a series of murders,” Ulf flapped his hand, like murder wasn’t important.

Nascha chimed in, outrage in her voice. “He notified us about the murders of innocent women.”

Ulf gave an exaggerated sigh.

“We should follow up,” Nascha continued. “Kayin thinks the killers might cross over to PNW. We don’t want trouble here.”

They all knew what kind of trouble Nascha meant. The pack kept a low profile for a good reason — their survival.

If there was one thing shifters feared, it was discovery. Murder investigations brought questions and outsiders nosing around. Just because humans were the weaker species didn’t mean they should be underestimated.

“I’ll go,” Sani said, eager for the chance to prove himself.

Mika nodded. “Sani will take care of it.”

Sani stood rigid as his father’s eyes raked his frame. He’d love an assignment like this. But would his father entrust it to him? Sani had gone years creating a fake persona.

Sani the womanizing prankster.

He was no fool. Even at a young age, he’d seen the crushing expectations heaped on Mika. He wanted none of that, so he’d been sure to keep everyone’s expectations of him low.

But he was stuck in the role as far as his father was concerned. Didn’t matter that he was ready to handle responsibility. That people came to him with their problems. Didn’t matter that he’d earned number three rank in the pack on his own merits.

Ulf saw only the little boy. This was a chance… The chance to prove himself. His father eyed him skeptically.

“I can do it,” Sani insisted. Their father looked to Mika. His brother’s hands shot up.

“No. I’ve got enough to do. Madison’s got a stack of work, too.”

Sani’s eyes drifted to his feet. What would his legacy be if the Alpha never took him seriously? He was supposed to continue the shifter bloodline by mating one of their own and fathering heirs. Everyone knew it. No brains needed. The perfect job for him.

 Some Alphas tolerated wolves choosing their mates, but his father was an old-fashioned sort, and arranged matings were the expectation for his offspring. Ulf hadn’t loved any of his women. He hadn’t even married them. Just impregnated them and moved on to the next female.

Mika shocked everyone by throwing out the idea of an arranged mating when he found his Fated. Sani hadn’t been so lucky. Most shifters weren’t.

His wolf let out a low, continuous whine at the thought.

And then it hit him. Whatever he might become, it was up to him to decide. He didn’t have to be the overlooked son of a powerful Alpha. He could be —

Sani!

Wincing, he looked up to see his brother hitting him with one of his piercing looks. A look that said, Get your head on straight.

“Sani can do it.” Nascha bolstered him with the conviction in her words. “He can work with Kayin to stop the killer before another innocent victim dies, and before any reporters or investigators cause problems.”

A long, uncertain pause followed.

Outside, a woodpecker hammered, then listened to its echo. A pick-up rattled past.

Seconds creaked by.

Finally, Ulf nodded. “Sani, take care of it.”

Just watch you don’t fuck it up, Mika grunted.

Ah, Mika — helpful as ever.

Their father flapped his hand again, dismissing them. Sani walked to his truck at a measured pace. He texted Kayin, then started the engine, ready to roll as soon as he knew where to go.

This murder case was unlikely to be resolved quickly. He might be tied up for weeks, pulling long hours away from the ranch.

Maybe that was for the best. It would give him time to think about what he wanted to do.

Kayin texted back. New victim. Meet me here. He included a location on the main highway. That was close. Only a couple hours’ drive away.

A blaze of flashing lights marked the crime scene along a lonely stretch of highway. Three patrol cars, as well as Kayin’s unmarked vehicle, were clustered well off the road.

Kayin stood off to one side, talking with a man that looked a lot like him. They were both tall, and broad-shouldered, their skin the color of midnight. Kayin’s braids weren’t quite as long. His reached mid-back, while the other man’s were waist-length.

Sani parked and got out of the car. Kayin stepped up, face grim. “Sani. You made good time.” He gestured to his near twin. “This is Ciaran. My brother. Ciaran, this is Sani. One of the leaders of Utopia Pack.”

Why hadn’t he known Kayin had a brother? Did the others know? Instinctively, Sani inhaled. Ciaran didn’t have the same shifter scent as his Kayin. Interesting.

Sani and Ciaran shook hands.

Kayin held up the crime scene tape. “I was just explaining to Ciaran this is victim five. She died last night, but was only discovered a few hours ago.”

Sani followed him, ducking under the crime scene tape. The police officer standing watch was pale.

“Same profile as the others,” Kayin said. “Female, late twenties. Raped. Multiple wounds in varying stages of healing and scars. So far, the police have no prints, witnesses, or leads.”

From where Sani stood, he could see the woman’s naked torso. He ducked in for a closer look and stopped cold.

“There was more than one woman here. The scents are faint, but I smell several.”

“I agree.” Kayin would be able to sense that, too. “They’ve left a trail of dead women, but the victims don’t match any local missing persons reports. They’re being transported. Maybe trafficked.”

Ciaran crouched next to the woman and leaned closer to her. “She’s been drained of magic. I think she was a witch. Can you see the glyphs on her skin?”

Sani shook his head. “I can smell something in addition to the women. I can’t place it, but it’s not right.”

“Mages,” Kayin muttered.

“More likely their minions.” Ciaran rose. “Mages tend not to leave their hiding places.”

Mages could use magic, but had no innate power. They hunted witches and drained their energy like batteries. “The humans won’t be able to handle this.”

“No.” Kayin pulled his phone out and tapped on the screen. “I’ll get in touch with my contacts. Let them know this is one of those cases.” He moved away.

“We need to catch the mages. Or minions. Whichever.” Sani felt helpless and didn’t like it. No one deserved to be used, hurt, and discarded like this.

Ciaran gazed at the dead witch, black eyes sad. “Well, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that the next big city on the highway is Port Storm. They’ll find more than they bargained for there.”