Silence fell between them as he turned south on the coastal highway. If Maxim had hired someone, or some Other, to take Sam down, he'd have a hard time following them. When he turned, using a less traveled access road, she finally spoke. "It doesn't make sense. Maxim's Lupine. He doesn't have the kind of power to cast a spell on a buzz saw or get a sea demon to drown me."

"No, but he has enough money to hire assassins to do his dirty work if he wants your ass that badly. Or he's blackmailing someone into doing it."

"Like Todd." She took a deep breath. "Maybe that's why Todd was after me."

Darius gripped the steering wheel, his stomach tight. Damn his father.

Fir trees flanked the car as they followed the road. The trees marched up a sloping hill to their right. Darius looked at the forest, knowing deer and other animals might bound out of the trees and run across the road. But this road seemed oddly deserted of traffic.

"What good would my death do Maxim?" She twisted around in her seat. "He's never been patient with schemes. If he wanted something, he took it. After the first attempt with Todd failed, he'd just find me himself and wring my neck after forcing me to confess where I'd hidden the money. He's not that sly."

Sly. Scheming. Using spells of enchantment to influence other beings and enchant tools to cut Sam down. Like buzz saws, which cut wood in a forest protected by OtherWorlders such as Elves...

"Darius, watch out!"

Cursing, he slammed on the brakes and yanked the wheel to the right, driving off the road and narrowly avoiding the boulder that suddenly rolled onto the pavement.

Hands shaking, he turned to Sam. "You okay?"

Her face was pale, but she nodded. "What was that?"

Darius looked at the boulder, which had mysteriously rolled off the road to the other side, leaving the way clear for them to continue.

"Fae Magick. Someone's dicking around with us." He turned off the ignition, parked and then unbuckled his seat belt. Darius shut off his cell phone and opened the car door. "Turn off your cell phone. Stay here. Someone has a tail on us and knows exactly where we are headed."

He ran his hands over the car's exterior, searching for clues. Twenty minutes later, he found a small black box stuck to the wheel well. Darius wanted to crush it in his fist, but palmed it instead.

When he climbed back into the driver's seat, he set it on the console. Sam looked at it.

"It's a GPS tracker," he told her.

"Your father couldn't have placed it on the car. Unless he hired someone to do it, and he's simply too cheap to pay."

"And he prefers the direct approach."

"Someone else put it there. Where?"

"The beach house. Or when I picked up the rental at the agency. Someone who knows our relationship and wanted to keep an eye on my movements, knowing I'd take you with me."

She sucked in a breath. "Ken. You said he's Elven. He doesn't want my resignation. He wants me gone, permanently." Sam twisted her hands in her lap. "I threatened to expose both him and HG Jenner for what they did. I didn't think he'd resort to this kind of drastic action."

Darius dragged in a deep breath and cupped the back of her head, pulling her close to him. "Sam, it could be Ken, could have been any of them all along. Until we find out who it is, you're not safe. The best place for you is Ryder's pack. You need to reawaken your Lupine senses. It's not going to be easy, but it's your best chance."

She nodded reluctantly, then closed her eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. Then he buckled up and started the car, heading back to the coastal highway. With more cars on the road, whatever was after them would have a harder time trying to arrange a sly accident.

"What are you going to do with this? Destroy it?" She poked at the tracker as if it were a cockroach.

He shook his head. "They'll know we found it. I'm going to use it to our advantage." He gritted his teeth. "And dodge the son of a bitch who wants you dead."

Chapter 13.

They spent the night in a cheap motel in Washington. Darius guarded the door all night. Once or twice she'd awakened to see him staring out the window.

Late afternoon of the next day, they pulled up before the entrance to the Pine Crest Condominium complex near Mt. Hood. Thick forest surrounded the townhomes, flanked by a narrow river.

Sam rolled a shoulder, more exhausted than she'd ever been. During the entire drive, she'd ruminated over her birth father. Never knowing him, knowing now that her mother had lied about several things, she had no clue of her identity. She'd been directionless before, now she felt truly lost.

Darius had switched cars twice, using rentals and a credit card with the corporate name. "So they will have trouble finding us, because this is a dummy corporation I set up for emergencies," he'd told her. Loathe to put the GPS tracker on an innocent's car, knowing it would place the driver in danger, he'd opted to leave it at a highway rest stop.

"When they do finally locate you and come for you, we'll be at Ryder's place," he'd told her.

An iron gate barred their way. Darius punched in a code to the key box. As the gate opened, he drove inside, then parked in a guest spot. He turned and stroked a finger down her cheek. "You're safe now. No fucking Elves are going to touch you."

A shiver of awareness raced down her spine. She and Darius had forged a connection in the flesh. And here, surrounded by Lupines, that connection promised to become much stronger.

Sam wasn't certain if she wanted to live a wolf's life. But Darius was right. Until she found answers about what her birth father was-Lupine? Mage? Skin?-and who wanted her dead, learning to be Lupine gave her a fighting chance. They got out of the car and Sam stretched her aching body.

"Ryder and Kara bought this property from a developer who wanted to retire. They rent out units in the winter and summer as vacation spots." Darius, too, stretched, and she admired the muscles rippling beneath his smooth skin. "Vacation spots for Lupine packs. Not Skins."

The door to the townhouse in front of them opened. A tall man came out and approached. Darius tensed slightly. He nodded.

"Ryder."

"Darius."

The two males studied each other. Tension crackled in the air. She sensed it was borne not of animosity, but Lupine power.

"Thank you for accommodating me and my chosen mate under these circumstances. It's safer here for Samantha, and no one will suspect we headed here." Darius did not lower his gaze, but his tone held respect. "I am formally requesting refuge and pack protection for myself and Samantha."

"Your request is granted. Aiden has contacted me and given his permission to temporarily release you from your bond to his pack."

Then the two males relaxed. Ryder stepped forward, shook hands with Darius. He turned to Sam, his blue gaze filled with warmth. "Samantha. Welcome to our home. I am Ryder Carrington."

As she took the big male's hand, the front door opened again. A tall woman with long, dark hair tumbling down her back came out, running straight into Darius' arms.

"Darius!" she shouted.

"Kara!" He caught her up in a hug that swept her off her feet. Sam smiled, deeply curious about who commanded such great affection.

As Darius set down the woman, her left cheek came into view. Sam stifled a shocked gasp. A mark marred the woman's beauty: a burn scar, a twist of red, angry flesh.

She sensed Ryder quietly watching her, assessing. Sam stepped up and held out both hands to Kara. "Hello. Forgive me for not knowing the formalities. I'm Samantha. Sam. Thank you for your hospitality."

To her shock, tears shimmered in Kara's eyes. "Oh gods, Darius, it's really her, isn't it? Samantha?"

Puzzled, Sam glanced at Darius and saw moisture sheen his eyes as he nodded.

Tears ran unchecked down Kara's cheeks. She hugged Sam tight. "I'm so happy you're alive and he found you after all these years. Darius cried in my arms because he'd been told you were dead. I've never seen a man so broken."

A lump formed in Sam's throat. She'd been thinking all along of how their separation had affected her, seldom about how much Darius had suffered. But clearly, he had.

Releasing her, Kara stepped back and wiped her cheeks. Sam touched her arm. "Thank you for being there for Darius when he needed someone who cared."

Kara gave a little hitching sob. "He's Aiden's best friend, the only one in the pack who treated me like a sister. He's like my little brother."

Darius rubbed his own eyes and cocked his head. "Little? Kiddo, who you calling little?"

Ryder slid an arm around Kara's waist as she rested her head on his broad shoulder.

"Where are the pups?" Darius asked.

Ryder grinned. He puckered his lips and whistled. Three children ran out of the townhouse, whooping and hollering. They rushed Darius, who staggered backward and fell gracefully to the ground.

"Wolf bait," the oldest boy yelled and all three piled on top of Darius, who laughed and ruffled their hair.

"Off," Ryder said sternly. He swept up the girl in his arms, while the two older boys stared with open curiosity at Sam.

Kara put a hand on their thin shoulders. "Sam, this is Jon, who's six, and Zach, who's nine. And our youngest, Wendy. She's four."

Uncertain of Lupine protocol, Sam smiled. "Hi."

"Why's your name Sam? You don't look like a boy," Zach observed.

Darius stood and slid an arm around her shoulders, the gesture comforting and possessive. "She's not, trust me. It's a nickname."

"Huh." Zach stuck his hands into his jeans pockets. He was quiet and observant like his father, while Jon, the younger, sidled up to her and curled his fingers into hers.

"I like you. I've never met a blonde Lupine before. Do you play soccer?"

She grinned, liking this thin young boy with the cowlick and sensitive eyes like his mother. "No, but I bet you could teach me."

"Darius is the best. But not as good as my dad." Zach kept studying her.

"Of course not, son. Your dad's the best." Ryder winked at Kara.

Kara laughed. "Come on. I'll show you where you're bunking. Honey, can you get their bags?"

"See how she orders me around? Me, the alpha," Ryder said in a mocking tone, but his smile for his mate was warm.

The townhouse assigned to Sam and Darius had a view of the river and abutted a wide soccer field. Her sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor, Sam explored the downstairs. It was all gleaming wood and stainless appliances, comfortable furniture, a fireplace and wide-screen television.

It didn't look like a home for wild wolves.

She said as much to Kara, who laughed. "We may run wild in the forest, but in Skin form, we enjoy our comfort as much as humans. And it's good to teach our young to blend into a human lifestyle, so their friends can't tell the difference."

Ryder poked his head in the living room. "Hon, I'm showing Darius around the complex, give him the 4-11 on the security and boundaries. Be right back."

Kara waved a hand at her mate, then curled up on the sofa, her gaze intent on Sam. "I've never met a blonde Lupine before, either. Was your father blond?"

Sam touched her hair, wondering about that. "I don't know. I never met him."

"Darius wasn't extremely forthcoming in his phone call. He said you needed a refuge, and you needed to learn about becoming Lupine again for your safety. Who's after you?"

Sam joined her on the couch, liking Kara's frank approach. "I don't know yet. Could be his father, or my soon to be ex-boss." She hesitated. "I don't want to drag you and your family into danger. Maybe it's best if we stay the night and leave tomorrow."

Kara touched her hand. "We're a strong pack, Sam. Darius is part of our extended family. What affects him affects us, just like pack. And you're his chosen mate, so that puts you in our family, too."

For the first time since her mother had died, Sam felt part of something much bigger than herself. This Lupine had instantly accepted her. "Thank you."

Kara gave her a level look. "It's not going to be easy on you. While you and Darius are here, you belong to our pack. That means after following human rules and living in Skin these past four years, you may find it challenging."

"Extremely." Darius plopped onto the sofa beside her and began massaging the tension from her neck.

She glanced at him, surprised. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Ah, the first lesson in being Lupine. Stealth and quietness. Kara, can you give me a few alone with Sam?"

"Sure." The Lupine rose gracefully from the sofa. "We're barbecuing outside in an hour, by the river. Get unpacked, freshen up and meet us there. First meal is on us."

She left, and Sam turned to Darius. "What does that mean, on us?"

Darius sighed. "We get to eat, and don't have to do anything in exchange. No work, no cleanup, no cooking. But tomorrow, as part of this pack, you and I are expected to chip in. Like a family."

He gathered her hands into his and a shiver raced down her spine. His hands were large, slightly calloused and warm. So warm, and her insides suddenly felt very, very cold. Because she suspected staying here would present many more problems, some of which she'd have trouble facing.

"Sam, while we are here, there are two rules you must obey, without question. Rule number one? Obey the alpha. Rule number two? Obey me." He gave a crooked grin. "And that means obey the alpha because I'm going to do exactly that."

"What other rules are there?"

"You'll find out along the way. For a pack to function, there must be rules. You're a pup who needs training. If you break a rule, there will be consequences." His smile dropped, and his mouth flattened. "Serious ones that you will not like. It could mean punishment."

"What kind of punishment?"

"Ryder will brief me. It's up to the alpha. Each pack is different, but the rules exist to bring harmony. Remember what you were taught when you joined my father's pack? A Lupine who constantly thwarts authority and goes outside the basic rules endangers herself and the pack."

He stroked a thumb over her knuckles. "You okay with this?"

"I suppose I have no choice. Not if I'm to survive whatever's after me."

His expression darkened. "No, you don't. Right now pack is the safest place you can remain."

It might be the safest, but it wasn't her preference. She'd spent too many years trying to forget her Lupine heritage and now was forced back into it for her own good. Would Darius teach her to become a creature she no longer recognized, a sensual being who would turn savage and beastly in the bedroom?