Chapter Three

“If you hadn’t done this in the first place, I wouldn’t need to acquire it,” he snapped to the air.

It took him a while but he learned the location of the Banks’ party. Darkness had begun descending when he pulled up to the large field where people had parked. He did so as well then fell behind a group of excited people and followed them. It wasn’t necessary the noise would have led him in as well.

The stage was homemade and had a DJ who knew exactly what the crowd wanted to hear. Loud. Bass filled tunes. Not his thing and he had to fight not to wince at the pain it gave his eardrums.

He smelled sex, booze, and drugs wafting around. Heading to the outskirts he searched for her. And found her dancing with a man who was all over her. Casimir was swarmed with the desire to smash him, it was a powerful urge. And one he choked up to the current situation.

When the song ended he made his way to her, even as they began dancing to another pounding beat.

“My dance,” he rasped, inserting himself between them.

“Dude!”

Whipping his head, he glared at the young man, allowing some of his wolf to leak through. The man fell back, stumbled over his feet, and scampered off.

“What are you, a stalker?” Her words held an edge.

“I told you, I need a moment of your time.”

“You said five minutes and I said no. After which you trail me here. What gives?”

“Give me my five minutes?” She rolled her eyes. “Perhaps you would like to sit, rest your leg.”

Her expression grew angry. “I’m not an invalid and I suggest you change the ‘tude if you don’t want to lose your family jewels.”

Feisty. And not swooning over him. He took a chance and reached for her. Were she wolf he would have sworn her eyes changed. “To the side?”

She led the way and he found he was staring at her ass and tried to stop. Tried.

“Speak.”

“Do you really not know who I am?”

“Besides my apparent new stalker? No.”

“I’m your husband and I need you to sign some papers so we can be divorced, in order for me to marry my mate.”

In the flashing and strobe lights from the party he watched her expression. She blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then she laughed.

****

Dyana gulped air as fast as she could. Difficult to do as hard as she was laughing. Her husband. Correction. Her husband whom she’d never met and wanted her agreement on a divorce so he could marry another.

Lord, her gut hurt from her laughter. Slanting her gaze askew, she knew he was less than thrilled by her behavior. He stood, feet braced apart, shoulder width and his arms were crossed. The scowl on his face would have sent her packing for the hills had she not still been doubled over.

Man was hot. As in panty-soaking hot. Not an ounce of fat on him and she couldn’t help being impressed with his blatant muscles. His jeans were drool-worthy and his black shirt sent her mind down a road she didn’t need to travel. Especially with a divorce on the horizon. His leather coat enhanced his movement.

He was big, powerful, and intimidating. And according to him, all mine. At least until she signed some papers. Her body reacted sexually and she swore his eyes changed, giving him an almost wild look.

“I’m sorry, hoss. Did you just roll up on me and say you were my husband?”

He stepped closer and she found herself surrounded by an amazing—and arousing—masculine scent. Ignoring her physical reaction to him, she mimicked him, crossing her arms.

“How can you not know?”

“Prob because it didn’t happen. Pretty sure I would remember getting married.”

One of the strobes slashed over him and for the second time in mere moments she compared him to a wild animal. A predator.

“You’re going to have to—” His cell rang and he snapped a greeting in it.

When he turned away, she went back to the party. She stood with Shyla and Regina by the food tables, eating chips when he showed up again.

“We hadn’t finished talking.”

Her girls gave her a look she understood. And she delivered a one-fingered salute right back to them. “You were the one who took a phone call.”

A few people jostled her as they went down the line. He scowled.

“I need you to come to Washington with me.”

She almost choked. Bless her friends they immediately stepped near. Shyla began tapping her foot.

“Why are you following her? What do you want with our Yana?”

Sucking her finger clean of the flavor from the chips, Dyana cleared her throat. “Allow me to add in something he left out before when he introduced himself. He’s my husband.”

“What?” Regina.

“Excuse me?” Shyla.

She drank some beer. “Yeah, go figure, huh. Guess I went n’ married someone without knowing it.” Dyana winked at her friends before staring back into those light, bold, blue eyes. “I forget, how long have we been married, hoss?”

“Can we go somewhere and talk about this?”

“Sure,” she said drolly, finishing her beer. “Would you like me to just take a roofie and save you the problem of a struggle?”

He blinked, drawing back as a furrow appeared in his brow. “You think I want to drug you?”

“The thought had crossed my mind. You’re stalking me and now want me to go across the country with you. How shall I put this? If that’s your pickup line, it needs a serious overhaul. I ain’t going anywhere with you. Goodbye, Casimir Lars.”

She gave him a smile. Leaving, she tossed her bottle, like she was shooting a three-pointer, into a recycling bin as they passed it.

“Is he really your husband?” Shyla asked as they piled into Regina’s convertible.

Dyana hooked her belt and held up her left hand. “Ain’t no ring on my finger that I see.”

They laughed until Regina spoke. “He’s watching you.”

Unease slithered up her spin and Dyana forced herself not to turn around. She didn’t steal a glance in the side mirror however. Her body tensed and she shivered.

“You okay, hon?” Shyla asked.

“Hmm? Yes, fine.” She fought the urge to rub her arms.

“We can let Markus know.” Regina glanced at her.

She chewed on her thumbnail and shifted a bit to alleviate the pain in her leg. Marked. That’s how she felt. And it was more than a bit unnerving.

“Yes. Swing by the station.”

“I was going to anyway.”

Dyana smiled at Regina’s comment. “I know you were.” These two were her family, her counsel, and her best friends.

Regina turned up the music as they left the party. It was cool enough for her jacket but not cold enough for the top. So, she enjoyed the wind flowing over her. Crisp weather was her favorite, it made her feel so alive.

Twenty minutes later, they whipped into the police department parking lot. With a deep breath, Dyana headed for the door as her girls followed. Pushing into the station, she glanced around. It was quiet despite being a Saturday night.

“Markus, you here?”

“Gettin’ coffee. Come on back.”

They went through the swinging door and met him in the break room. Markus Colter was a good sheriff. He’d taken over for his daddy five years ago. A handsome man with his thick black hair and muscular build.

He added a liberal amount of sugar then lifted his head. “My three fave gals. What can I do for you?”

“Yana has a stalker,” Shyla blurted out.