Not just the Beta (Oriana and Slade) novel Chapter 128

Yuri

He’d not felt ground like that before, all human world land that was not legitimate pack territory, felt like rogue territory. He’d been in rogue territory until he was halfway up the yard and his footfall crossed the threshold of something else altogether.

He actually looked down at the ground he was walking on, when he crossed that invisible line into something unknown, this was a full curiosity to him. He could see Londyn from the café leaning on the railing of that house. He’d found where they lived or one of them anyway.

Mind-linked right to Palmer before walking up to talk to her ‘I got Londyn in pj’s out the back of a house.

none of the women had been at the café after the discussion about Ana being here, and she was likely going to be their sister Ana; that they’d never seen.

He’d strolled on by this place a few days ago with Palmer on their way around the lake. There was nothing unusual about the house or land, or not down by the waters’ edge. But now he and Palmer were actively searching the suburbs within a 10-mile radius of that café.

While Slade and Vance had gone back to the police station and had trailed the sheriff home, his place was actually out near where Yuri had seen Oriana. She’d just been a few miles off into the woods was all. So they were searching over there.

They were just about to see the sun go down and there weren’t many humans outside here away from town, though they’d been told they were lucky to get accommodation at all, by the owner of the bed and breakfast they were booked into. The long weekend was coming and an influx of tourists were expected on Friday afternoon.

They’d made the decision to go out tonight and see if they could track Maddie and her sisters down before there were too many people here in town. They actually didn’t know what car the women drove, she was human, and so her car would just smelled like all the rest around here.

His hearing hadn’t picked up anything unusual, but she’d stepped outside and seeing as she’d been very direct in addressing him in the café, practically insisted on talking to him, he made his way up the yard to her.

She was a cute young thing, with bright green hair that framed her pretty face, she had a fringe and layered hair, it was always up in the café but currently was out, and it fell down around her to the middle of her back.

She had lots of piercings; a nose ring, a lower lip bar, four piercings that ran down each ear, two rings and two studs, and a 1cm black plug in each earlobe. He wondered if there were more under her clothes. He was willing to bet this young woman was a bit on the rebellious side for her mother growing up. He also wondered if there were tattoos to go with those piercings. He couldn’t see she was fully covered, rugged up for the cold weather.

He couldn’t help but smile at the way she looked him over, all slow, really taking him in, all his facial features, his hair cut even. Her heart rate picked up even more when he smiled directly at her, tripled when he touched her.

She more than liked him, he realised, she was going to be the one to help him find Ana, and he just knew it. He could use that attraction to him to get information from her, but he’d also give her exactly what she wanted in return. Those deep dark eyes of hers were mesmerising. He didn’t think he’d ever seen eyes like that before.

She didn’t react to the picture he showed her, and he wasn’t really expecting her to though, considering what they thought about those women in the café. Ana would have told them who they all were, she pretty much dismissed it, turned the talk to him. She might be hiding Oriana from them, but her reaction to him, to his touch, he could get this girl to tell him what he wanted to know, and he knew it.

Watched her lean forward towards him and knew what she wanted, was about to kiss the girl when her sister came from the house and ruined his plans. He nearly snarled at the woman. If she wasn’t human he would have. The words she stated though about Londyn’s own father and then comparing him to that man, made Londyn come right to her senses and she was gone off into the house. Looked more than annoyed with him before she’d stalked off.

Maddie was just standing there staring him down now, her arms folded across her chest. He had no idea if she actually knew what he was or if those women all thought Ana was human. “Move on and stay away from my little sister.”

“She’s awfully cute.” He stated, unfazed by that glare, “I like her, and I think she likes me in return.” He challenged her.

“You’re just a smooth-talking man whore.” She stated right to his face, had implied it previously was outright stating it now. “I’ll not let you touch my sister Londyn, any more than I will your friend ‘Not for Zara.’ I guess now I see where your interest lies, your ‘Not for Londyn.’ So, leave, get off my property.”

“It’s an unusual place,” he commented to see what her reaction to his words were.

“Is it?” she shrugged it off “We rent, so if you are interested in the property, find the owner and talk to them.

“Do you all live here, in this house?” he asked now, prodding her for information, as he realised something. He hadn’t actually picked up any other scent, when Maddie had come outside, she stared at him but said nothing.

“It’s unusual sisters all living together and working together. You all must be closely bonded,” he commented.

“I live here with Londyn. Now get off my property, or I’ll call the police to have you removed. I don’t recall inviting you to be here.”

“Hmm, still smell human though,” Palmer frowned.

“Could be a spell, think about it, they live together, work together, the land feels odd to me, definitely otherworldly, but I don’t know what. Could be we’ve stumbled on a coven. One that is helping Ori.”

Palmer sighed now “If that’s the case, we could get burned…literally.”

“Though she did say she rented, it might just be an old territory or part of one, I didn’t feel the difference until halfway up the yard, closer to the house.” Yuri was trying to think it out. “Could be just a remnant left over from a destroyed pack.”

“Anything is possible. We’ll go to the café in the morning, and I’ll order, get a good look at the three of them, see what I can feel out with my Charm.”

“Smell them for me, I didn’t smell Maddie coming out of the house, she kind of smelled just like Londyn actually, now that is odd.”

“Nothing at all?” Palmer frowned right at him.

“No, I’d never really thought of smelling them individually in the café, got all the scents of coffee and food the other humans in the café. I didn’t know we were looking at them with a view to them being attached to Ana. Just humans, I don’t know anymore.”

“Alright, we’ll go for breakfast instead of coffee. That will give me a good chance to smell them, feel them out. Let’s take Slade and Vance as well. It’ll bring Maddie right to me, I imagine, now that she’s warned both you and Vance away from her sister.”

“Just leaves you and Slade, she’s not tried to warned off.” Yuri nodded.

“She won’t be able to ignore me though.” Palmer chuckled, “if she’s human, that is, I’m not charming, a witch likely to get cursed or something.” He shook his head.