Chapter 4 ~ What Is She?

Matthew’s POV ~

Mav and I went to the diner last night to calm Frost down. He’s getting attached to his mate, and his instincts are to just take her. I’m kinda thinking she won’t appreciate that a whole lot.

Today, my sisters are going back to their mate.. He’s probably going crazy without them. I like Brayden.. but I sometimes feel like he’s too controlling.

Damien and Lynette were waiting in my office. He immediately says “As we suspected, you were drugged. Liam gathered all the surveillance from that night.. and whoever it was came and left, through the glass sliders in the kitchen. It could be anyone.”

I sighed “So, how do we catch them? We have thirteen thousand people in this pack. That’s an awful lot of sorting through.”

Lynette mentions Ella.. “She can sense evil intent. What if we have a cookout tomorrow.. and invite her? Ask her to let us know if she feels anything?”

I shrug.. “I don’t want her to feel like I am taking advantage. Will her DNA be back by then? Maybe I could use that as an excuse to invite her out?”

I sent her a text asking about the cookout..and she said she would come for a little while.. but Saturdays are her best tip nights.

When Ella showed up the next day, I realized she had to have borrowed her boss’s car again. I asked “Do you not have a car, at all?” She smiled “Nope! All my money goes into paying the bills at home. Fred has a car.. but that won’t last long, once his check stops.”

I listened between the lines.. “Check? He gets paid monthly for being your guardian?” She laughed.. a light tinkling sound that wrapped around me. “If guardian means getting drunk and paying whores, then yep!”

I took her hand and led her around back to where people were gathered. She groaned Holy fuck me running… there’s gotta be eleventy million people here. You can do this Ella…. Breathe.. don’t think about it.

I laughed at her “Thinking thoughts.. That’s what my mom calls it. When you think, out loud.. I am curious, though. Eleventy Million sounds like a lot!”

She grinned “Huge crowds of people make me anxious. Being outside helps. Please don’t expect me to remember all their names..”

I laughed “It’s impossible to remember everyone.. I struggle with it, and I have been around them all, my whole life.” She hmmm’d and wandered over to speak to Maverick. I followed.. mostly because I didn’t want to let her out of my sight, just yet.

She grinned at Mav “What do y’all do? Think.. oh the sun’s out.. let’s have a picnic for a million people?” Maverick chuckled and told her “Something like that.. wolves are social creatures.. a cookout is a great way to socialize.. and reacquaint ourselves with the pack. It makes us seem approachable in a leisurely setting.”

She squeaked “Fuck, dude! I was just pissing off.. and you turned it into a political opportunity.” I laughed “You did sound a little pompous, there, Mav.”

Calvin walked over and I introduced him to Ella.. “This is our Gamma.. Ella, meet Calvin.” She shook his hand and told him she was pleased to meet him. I linked Cal and told him she is my mate.. but unaware of it.. even so, his job has now begun. He grinned and clapped his hands.

Offering her his arm, he said “Shall we gather you some sustenance, milady?” She giggled “Sure.. but just so you know, I’m more a hunter than a gatherer.” He laughed outright “Me too! Imagine that!”

I was standing next to Dad, when I noticed Ella straighten up.. her little body shivered and she glanced over her shoulder.. Then her eyes searched for me. Finding me, she smiled shyly. Dad said “She just felt something.. maybe check it out.” I nodded and walked directly to her.

I whispered “Take my hand.” As I held it out, palm up. She placed her little hand in mine, and I lead her away from the crowd.. to a slider swing in the back garden.

I said “I noticed your body language.. Can you tell me what you were feeling?” She took a deep breath.. and released it on a sigh.. “There is a darkness on your land. I sense danger.. evil lurks in shadows.. watching and waiting. There are several.. maybe five.. with extremely malevolent intentions.”

I processed what she said, and asked “Can you identify them? Is there some identifying method?” She shakes her head.. and smiles, a little sadly.. “Only if I touch them. Maybe you can introduce me to groups, as I point out where the feeling is strongest? We have to hurry though. It’s nearly time for work.”

I linked Dad to let him know what we were doing.. and within seconds, my warriors became more alert.. standing at attention. I love the shift in our people, at the idea of a threat.

Ella pointed to a group of about ten people.. and I walked her over. I introduced her to each person.. and she shook their hands.. in turn. I noticed whenever she was getting a feeling, she held their hand a tad longer.

We walked away from the first group and she was shaking.. I whispered “Take my hand. Let me calm you.” She did.. then said “Two, in that bunch. The redhead.. I picked up something about stolen keys.. She’s frightened about something. The middle aged man.. green flannel plaid. He is full of darkness.. anger. The rest follow his lead.. like a pack, within the pack.”

Nodding my head, I said “That’s enough for today. Would it be an imposition to ask you to spend a little more time here? I hate to ask.. and I don’t want you to think I am using you for your gifts.. but I still remember nothing.. I am flying blind.. with an unknown enemy at my back.”

She grinned “I had made up my mind to ask if I could meet more of your pack in a relaxed setting. Visiting here would help with that.” Excitement rushed through my blood.. I feared she could hear my heart threatening to burst from my chest! More time with my mate? Hell yeah!

After she had left to get ready for work.. I told Dad and Maverick what she had picked up on. Maverick said “Lisa.. that’s the redhead. I say we lean on her first. She will be easier than Mel.. he’s a surly son of a bitch!”

Dad said “Mel is part of the group from River Run. He may still be loyal to the Taylors. Or possibly he has his own agenda. Put guards on him.. your best ones at shadowing.. we don’t want him onto us, until we have an idea who his accomplices are.”

The next several weeks, we all fell into a routine.. Ella would visit, in the mornings.. and stay for dinner, on her days off. Maverick or I took turns driving her back and forth. The more time I spend with her.. the more I realize I am falling for her. I am praying to the Goddess every night now. I need Ella to recognize me as her mate. Right now, she has me friend zoned and I fucking hate it!

Mom walked in and asked “Will Ella be here today? The DNA results are back.. and I was riiii-iiigghhtt! She isn’t human!! Well. Not entirely!”

Puzzled, I looked at her for a long moment.. “She isn’t human? Then, what is she?