Chapter Four

All trace of welcome and humor vanished the space of a heartbeat. “Repeat that?”

“A stalker.” Shyla gave her a pointed look.

“I don’t think it’s fair to call him that, exactly.” Why those words had slipped from her mouth, she hadn’t a clue.

“The hell it isn’t. He was in the coffee house, on the street, and at the party—which is small and quiet, sheriff.”

“If he was a stalker, Shyla, why would he have given his name?” she protested. Why was she protecting him? She didn’t know since earlier she’d called him that same thing.

“Casimir Lars,” Regina said. “Probably a made-up name.”

“Don’t forget he’s claiming to be your husband.” Shyla’s interjection wasn’t needed. Nor appreciated.

Dyana rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. “I thought I was supposed to talk to Markus.”

“You’re not talkin—”

“Stop.” Markus held up a finger, shushing Shyla. “I need to see if I have this straight. Out and take a seat.”

Obediently they went to the main part of the station and each took a chair. Markus sat on the edge of the desk and leaned in close.

“Start over, Dyana.”

Why were her hands shaking? She dampened her lips and looked to her friends for encouragement.

“He was—as Shyla said—at my table inside the coffee shop. Didn’t say anything although he looked as if he wanted to speak, he didn’t.” She readjusted her seat and hooked her ankles before her. “He showed up again outside Loralee’s stall. It was there he told me his name. Like I should know it. Then once more at the party where he also informed me he was my husband. Later on it became I needed to go with him to Washington. That’s when we left and came here.”

Markus frowned. “Are you sure of the name?”

“Yes. Casimir Lars.”

Markus appeared uncomfortable and a bit worried. She’d known him long enough to recognize the look.

“Do you know him?”

“Heard of him.”

Something in his tone alerted her to the fact he wasn’t being entirely honest with her. And it wasn’t solely because he wouldn’t meet her gaze—although that had to do with it. He suddenly became fidgety, messing with the handle of his mug and twitching his foot.

She leaned back and crossed her arms. “If you can just—I don’t know—make sure I don’t disappear, I’d be grateful.”

“Right. Y’all should get goin’. I’ll head out to the party and see if he’s still there or not.”

She licked her lips. “And if he is?”

“Then I’ll have a word with him. Sheriff to visitor.”

This was the Markus she recalled. Protective. Sure of himself. Not the one who appeared nervous by her pronouncement.

“Thanks, Markus.”

He flashed a familiar grin. “You sure you didn’t go off and get married without telling us?”

She raised a brow. “Positive.”

He winked and drained his coffee. “Go home. Sleep. I’ll see what I can find out.”

Dyana rose and kissed him on the cheek. “Bye, Markus.”

They all walked outside and leaned against the vehicle.

Shyla tapped her foot on the dirt parking lot. “You want us to stay with you tonight?”

“No, I’ll be fine. I mean you can stay if you want but I don’t need you to.”

“We’re staying.” They spoke as one unit.

“Of course you are.” Her response came with a smile.

Once at her small house, they whipped up breakfast. Not for any other reason than breakfast was an awesome meal, anytime one ate it. Dyana made sure they were settled before she went and began massaging her leg. The dancing was going to cost her. She grinned. It had been well worth it.

****

“Hello?” Casimir answered without looking at the screen.

“Hey, lover,” the husky voice belonging to Jetje said. “Did you get it?”

“Not yet.”

A grumble crossed the line and he frowned. Jetje was already anticipating being the alpha’s mate. His mate. She was an alpha but he’d noticed a mean streak in her lately. Firm hand was one thing. Being mean, an entirely different matter.

“What’s she like?”

The question gave him pause. “Just a woman. Paps said I had to bring her there, you can find out for yourself.”

This time it was a full-on growl. “Why are you bringing her here?”

Both Casimir and his wolf bared their teeth. “You do not question my actions,” he said on a dangerous thread.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t understand why she is coming here.”

“Paps said the papers have to be signed there. I have to go.” He hung up. Ignoring his angry wolf, Casimir walked back to his car. She’d left again and he wasn’t pleased. Why did she need to make it so damn difficult?

A figure stepped from the dark shadows and he found himself staring at a man with a badge on his chest.

“Yes?”

“What’s your business with Dyana Vance?”

The posture and the attitude were expected, it was after all this man’s town to protect. However, neither man nor beast liked being challenged.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because it’s my job to protect my residents. I know who you are Mr. Lars. Let me tell you how little I care how much money you have. You scare my girl again and I’ll lock you up.”

“Your girl?”

“Dyana.”

His gaze narrowed. “She is my wife and my responsibility to protect.” He couldn’t explain his need to claim her.

“Your wife? Protect? You know nothing about her nor have you been protecting her. I don’t know what game you’re playing but if you kidnap her and try to take her from here, things won’t go well for you. No matter what your kind can do.”

So this man knew he was a shifter. “Are you threatening me?”

The sheriff adjusted his stance, his hand resting upon the butt of his weapon. “Nope, that’s a promise. We’re protective of our women here. Don’t make a mistake you’ll end up regretting.”

“Goodnight, Sheriff.” He went to his car and slid behind the wheel. So far, this expedition sucked.

As he drove he wondered if he should be concerned about his wolf’s unemotional response to Jetje when he heard her voice. They would lead his pack but there was no all-consuming need with her wolf as others had told him happened to them when they found their mates.

Their wolves liked one another but that was it. Since he’d stopped their physical relationship the moment he learned he had a wife, he’d been a bit surprised of his lack of desire for sex.

Jetje hadn’t been pleased by his decision but he refused to violate his marriage vows. He’d be lying if his “wife” didn’t stir him a bit. He wasn’t putting a lot of stock in it for her friends did as well. It had been a while since he had a woman.

I have to talk to her. He parked his car at his hotel and stayed in until he was confident the one following him for the sheriff thought he’d bedded down for the night. Then he slipped out and shifted.

His wolf responded, eager to run and get his exercise. He ran aimlessly for a while before he began to hunt for her. His wife.

After a good thirty minutes of searching he came back upon her scent. The convertible sat out front, engine cold and quiet, just like the house. Small, it blended in fairly well with the landscape. Nothing pretentious, just a simple place.

Ensuring he was the only one lurking around, he went to each window until discovering the one she slept behind. The window was low and he could see in from the ground. Moonlight threw a silver cast over her sleeping form.

She slept on her left side, hands folded beneath her chin. A small section of her hair fell across her face. Again he checked with his wolf who sensed nothing wolf within her.

Long curved lashes graced her cheeks as she lay there. Her skin flawless, a somewhat flatter nose and full lips. Why had she been married to him? Why did his grandparents do it?

Even his wolf was perplexed. Why her?