18 | Breadcrumbs

I paced back and forth in the living room long after Tamara and Roxie had gone to bed. I couldn't settle myself down, no matter how hard I tried. All I could think about was what Mary-Beth might be going through. Was she in pain? Was is scared? Would she be safe with Callum? I had practically bitten my nails down to the quick, worrying over it all.

I had to fight the urge to jump in my truck and head back out to the house. I let out a deep sigh, throwing my head back towards the ceiling as I ran my finger through my hair. There was too much that I didn't know about the world I had gotten mixed up in, the world apparently that I had been born into. I still couldn't believe that my father had been a werewolf, that I had never picked up on his strange behaviors or actions. It all seemed so apparent to me now looking back.

A part of me felt anger that he had kept such a huge piece of my life a secret from me. I felt the need to question everything about myself. I always saw myself as an average woman. I was a little taller than most, but nothing excessive. I had always been good at sports. I used to have a shelf lined with them in my old apartment. Now, they just sat wrapped in boxes I had yet to unpack. I had a great immune system, rarely got sick, which was something I had prided myself on. Honestly, I felt like I was a cheat in some way. That my genes no matter how recessive that part of me maybe, had played a much bigger part in my successes.

I lowered my face with another sigh. I needed a distraction. My eyes traveling to the file that Tamara had given me before going to sleep. I guess she trusted me enough to hold onto the case file that Cal had requested that she get for him. I found myself walking back to the couch and sitting down, drawn by the curiosity of what I would find inside. I lifted the larger file and pulling off the rubber band that was keeping it bound together. Apparently, small towns sheriff departments didn't have a good budget from the looks of it.

I laid it back down on the table, flipping the covering back. I skimmed the first page of the report, before quickly turning to the next page, then the next. It seemed as though from the information I was gathering that Caroline Mercer was a beloved citizen of Twin Peaks. Her murder was quite a shock to the entire community. The body had been found by her younger sister, Nina Mercer. How awful that must have been? I knew what it was to lose family but not like that.

I setthe paperwork down and began to look through the pictures, doing my best not togive into the need to gag. Caroline Mercer hadn't simply been murdered, she had been butchered. Her body, what I could decipher as a body, was a mangled mass of blood, flesh, and bone. Whoever or whatever, had done this to her must have really wanted her more than dead. I tossed the images back down on the coffee table, unable to stomach looking at any more of them. It was terrifying to think that this was something these people, Cal and the others, were capable of. That it was something that Mary-Beth could be capable of. I had to quickly push that thought far from my mind knowing that it wouldn't be helpful for anyone if I started to think like that.

It was better that I put on my big girl panties and help Callum find out who was behind the killings in Twin Peaks. I didn't like the thought of a killer running around, possibly making a target out of anyone I knew or cared about. I picked up the file and began to read more diligently, perhaps there was something hidden within all these words of texts. Maybe there was something that the cops had missed, that a new set of eyes wouldn't.

I must have dosed off, because the next time my eyes opened it was to the sound heavy footsteps coming up the step to the front door. I jolted upright with urgency, scattering the files across the floor at my feet. I groaned as my bones creaked and popped from the position I had fallen asleep in. Tamara shot me a look as she moved through the room, long paisley skirt swaying around her feet, "Should have taken Roxie's bed after all, eh?"

I rubbed at my neck, glaring slightly at her back as I pushed up off the couch. She unlocked the deadbolt on the front door, "So good of you to join us. I just started breakfast." Tamara greeted Callum as he stepped into the front room, his skin was marked up with smudges of dirt and there were rips in his jeans and shirt that hadn't been there the other day. He was still looked sinful as hell, even though he looked like he'd spent the night running around in the woods. I was beginning to think that he might just be my kryptonite, it didn't seem matter that he wasn't entirely human or that he could be as ornery as a mule. I wanted to lick every inch of body, though perhaps after he had a shower.

"Good, I could eat a fucking bear." He remarked as Mary-Beth hesitantly stepped into the behind him, a large jacket hanging off of her. She looked to be in quite that same shape, pieces of leaves and twigs knotted up in her wild hair. She was looking around the room like a skittish animal, leaning more toward Cal as if he would protect her. I wanted to run to her and give her comfort but I didn't know what to say, everyone had been keeping secrets from her, even me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked softly, wanting to draw her out of the shock she seemed lost in. Mary-Beth turned her face toward me, eyes flickering between their usual blue and the glowing amber that I had seen happen with Callum on several occasions. I tried to keep myself calm as I forced my lips to turn upward in a small encouraging smile. I knew she was still my sister even though there was an unsettling itch was nestled right beneath my skin. I could feel my mind trying to convince me that I was staring down a predator, that I needed to be wary.

"like I could really use a shower and a tooth brush...I think I still have some of thumper in my teeth..." Her reply had me feeling more at ease. She might have changed in some, albeit, major ways but Mary-Beth was still Mary-Beth.

Roxie shuffled into the room, looking half-awake. Mary-Beth stiffened, a growl rumbling from her chest as they made eye contact. I watched as Roxie puffed out her chest slightly, sniffing at the air. This wasn't two humans greeting each other, but two beasts, trying to sort the hierarchy. I watched as Callum pulled Mary-Beth behind him in a protective manner, staring down his niece with a hard glare. I wasn't sure what to do but I was pretty sure I was ready to judo chop anyone who tried to lay a finger on my sister.

Tamara moved across the room quickly, blonde braids swinging as she shoved Roxie toward the kitchen, "Behave yourself!" She hissed between her teeth as she looked back to Mary-Beth a welcoming smile, "You're welcome to use our bathroom to freshen up if you'd like, Mary-Beth. It's the second room down the hall on the right-hand side. There is a spare toothbrush in the top drawer and there are clean towels under the sink. Feel free to use whatever soap and shampoo we have in there." We watched her disappear back into the kitchen, the smell of bacon becoming stronger.

"Why don't you go shower? Food should be ready when your all done washing off." Callum suggested to my sister, nodding his head in the direction of the bathroom. She shifted her gaze to mine as if wondering if it would be okay to leave me alone with these people, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep Luce company while you're gone." There was a light teasing sway to his statement as he looked to me, his green eyes holding me captive like they had the first time we met.

I forced myself to look away from him, "It's fine. You look like you could use a shower. We'll talk after." I let her know that we would be discussing everything that had happened. It was time for us to break through the wall of secrets that had kept us apart all this time. I was tired of fighting all the time, tired of trying to pretend that I knew what the hell I was doing. I think we both knew at this point that we were both taking all of this one day at a time. Mary-Beth gave Callum one last glance before she headed off down the hallway, the sound of a door closing allowed me a moment to breathe my relief.

"Were you doing a little light reading before bed?" Cal arched a brow as he looked down at the open case file on the coffee table.

I bent down and began gathering the papers that had been dropped on the floor, shuffling them back into the folder. I was doing my best to tidy up the mess I had made.  I felt slightly embarrassed like I had gotten caught with my hand in the cookie jar, "I couldn't sleep. So, I thought I would acquaint myself with what you had been talking about the other day."

"You don't need to worry about this stuff." His voice rumbled, "I don't want you to end sticking your nose places it doesn't belong, and knowing you...you definitely will. You're already in deep enough, Lucinda."

I lifted my face, eyes narrowing, "Oh I shouldn't stick my nose places but it's perfectly fine for you to do it?"

Cal looked at me with a serious expression, "You seem to have trouble grasping the situation you are in. Let me break it down for you." He waved his hand in my direction, "You are a human, fragile and disposable to most people. There is a killer out here, hunting people down and tearing them apart. Not only that by you are one of the only human's in a mostly werewolf run town..."

I stood up to my full height, crossing my arms over my chest, "It seems to me that you killer doesn't discriminate between werewolf or human, so looks like as of right now were both equal candidates." I was not about to let him try to keep me from being involved, especially when I knew my sister was at risk. Not only because she was a citizen of Twin peak like the rest of us, but because she had been at a crime scene. She had seen things. I knew enough about killers from Television to know that they didn't like leaving loose ends.

I walked away from Cal, not interested in having this argument with him. I knew he was bossy and controlling. I didn't figure we would see eye to eye or that we would be able to convince each other of our views on the situation. I was going to be involved, so he was just going to have to resolved himself to that. I heard him let out a frustrated sigh from behind me.

I stood in the doorway of the Kitchen, watching as Tamara and Roxie began to set the table, "You should get something to eat too." Cal commented as he moved to stand behind me, leaving behind the conversation he had started. This was a common occurrence with him, something that I had noted in my mind. It was as if he was disliked the idea of being close to me but at the same time he pushed to just that. He was like a fucking rubber band, snapping one way then the other.

I could feel the heat of his body at my back. It took all my willpower to keep from leaning back into him, "I think I'd rather shower first."

I was certain he knew exactly the effect that he was having on me, because he lingered, taking a step closer, "That's too bad, cause' I've call dibs on it. Unless you feel like joining me to conserve water." His hot breath snaked over my ear, causing a shiver of anticipation to race down my spine.

I turned to look over my shoulder at him, our faces only a few inches apart. I wanted to close the distance and have a taste of him but I kept my desire in check, "I didn't realize you were an environmentalist..." His lips twisted up into a mischievous grin but he said nothing in response.

Cal simply took a step back and then another, turning away from me, "Breakfast or shower, your choice..." He called back to me as he headed down the hallway. I knew that he was probably teasing much like he had before. It seemed he liked to get under my skin, that my reactions to him were amusing. Still, I had a tiny debate with myself for a moment over whether or not I would follow after him.

I had to remind myself as I forced my feet to move toward the kitchen table that Callum was my Alpha and getting involved with him beyond that would be a bad idea. For many reasons, the biggest one being that he was a fucking werewolf and I was a human. There was no way any kind of relationship with Callum could end well, even if I was hundred percent convinced that it would be the best sex of my life.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: I think it's time for a little fun. I'm wondering about what some your theories might be about the book and it's characters.

Who do you think the Killer might be?

Who do you think might be next to die?

Why are they killing people?

When will Lucinda and Callum bang? (<---very important)

Also, wanted to let you know that I put my books into the wattys, cause why not? I'm not thinking anything will really come out of it, but if you feel the urge to share this story with your other friends here on wattpad or else where that would be awesome.