EXCERPT

As soon as he said it, I scented the lie.

Noah smelled the deceit as well. "Have someone take over, or I'm going to drag you into the back personally." I didn't have to look directly at Noah to know he'd let his wolf shine through his eyes. I could smell and identify the power of his beast. "This is a preternatural investigation. I'll call in the PBI and shut this place down before you can blink."

Robert's eyes widened, and I then smelled fear. "Don't do that, please," he said, sounding desperate. He reached for a phone, dialed a couple of numbers, and contacted someone in the back. "I need you out here." The person on the other end complained. I heard them bitching about stocking videos, and Robert cut the female short. "Now, Melissa. It isn't a request." He hung up and said, "Give me a moment."

As he went to the register and touched the screen, I turned from the counter and studied the room. The establishment had become far more tasteful in my absence. The costumes and lingerie were placed around the center of the room as though the business had become a high-end lingerie store. They'd removed hangers entirely, opting for mannequins that displayed the goods. Beneath them were dressers with drawers that indicated sizes for every portion of each outfit. 

I heard a rustle of cloth.

A young woman stormed through the curtain separating the areas. In an instant, I was aware of the reason she was annoyed. Alcohol had made its way out of her system, but it had done damage. She was severely hung over. Probably from a hard night partying. She shouldered Robert aside and punched at the screen with her finger.

Robert motioned to us. "This way, please."

We followed him into the rear of the store, which only had a handful of people. I tried not to look at the walls, not needing to see various dildos, butt plugs, and other such things littered around the area. He guided us through shelves and obstacles when a familiar scent hit me. Only this time, I not only placed it, I knew what I was smelling. It was much stronger now, easy to identify.

Lemon balm.

It had been so long since I'd been around the herb, I'd nearly forgotten.

"The office is in the back," Robert informed us, still moving.

But I didn't care about Robert. I cared about the source of the scent.

The very one that had been present at the Stamp residence.

I didn't warn Noah, going on instinct. I called on my wolf, needing her guidance. She didn't disappoint. The source of the aroma came from the far corner. I changed course, heading in the direction of the scent.

"Ray?" Noah asked, and I realized he'd stopped to watch me. "What—"

I didn't hear the rest, locating and finding my target.

The person stood in front of DVD materials. As I approached, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. I didn't get a full view of his face. Not that I needed to. His scent told me all I needed to know.

The male was a werewolf.

He bolted, running through an empty row. In seconds, he blew through the curtain partition. I followed but wasn't blessed with a clear path, jumping over things in my way. I tipped over a shelf and sent vibrators and cock rings all over the floor.

"It's the same scent," I yelled, still in motion. "From the crime scene."

I hoped Noah listened to me. I followed my target.

The male was extremely fast and determined, exiting the store before I managed to get out. I rushed after him, pushing people out of my path. I found his dark mop of hair only yards in front of me. He was rushing for the concourse. I kept my gaze on him as I continued, yelling for people to move as I did. He reached the railing on the top floor and grasped the bottom wheel of a stroller with a toddler inside. A woman—the child's mother—screamed. My muscles burned as I pushed myself to go even faster. At that moment, I realized I'd shamed my wolf and myself. If we'd been in total sync and harmony, I'd have caught the man before he left the store. Due to my lack of interest in my bestial half, I'd crippled myself.

Please. I begged my wolf, pleading. We have to hurry.

A surge of speed told me the beast had heard.

I was only a couple of feet away when he rose.

"No!" I roared in horror. "Stop!"

He didn't listen, jumping over the barrier, taking the stroller with him.

I was right on him by that point.

I reached out with my right hand as I slammed into the side of the railing and nearly toppled over. The stroller had lifted from the bottom when the male jumped, the rear teetered back, and the cushioned portion that supported the back of the object tilted down. The child wailed as I swept my hand at the stroller and managed to snatch one of the handles. At the same time, I tried to find something—anything—to stay in place.

I started sliding forward. I managed to wedge my fingers around a metal bar as the position and weight of my body sent me over. Everything moved in slow motion, my hair falling into my face, covering my eyes. I focused on the handle of the stroller and metal rail in my hands, knowing I couldn't let go. The stroller jerked when my body stopped following gravity, staying in place as I fisted the plastic handle. 

I felt grateful and relieved. I wasn't going to fall, nor would the child.   

I increased my grip and held on for dear life.

"Help me!" I yelled, hoping someone would. "Get the baby!"

As I shook the hair from my eyes, I saw the stroller hanging twenty feet or more from the ground. The baby was strapped in tight but screamed and cried in terror. I flexed my arms, trying to lift the stroller. Unfortunately, the angle was bad. I could hold on but there was no way I could pull the child to safety. My arms were splayed as far as they could go, nearly hyper-extended.

 "Help her!" I recognized the voice, the child's mother. "That's my son! That's my son! Oh God, that's my son!" Her hysteria increased as she cried, sobbing. "Help him! Help him!"

 "We have it!" someone screamed. "We've got it!"

 "Wait, Raven. Don't let go." Noah's voice was the most welcome sound I'd ever heard, but I didn't dare try to look up at him. "I'll catch it and bring it down. Let go when I say."

 A dark blur swept by my arm. Noah had jumped to the lower floor.

 "When I say." The sound of the order revealed his fury.

 Feeling the ache in my muscles, I lowered my head.

 My body felt too frail. Too human.