Reluctantly Lycan by Jez Strider

Kaden asked slowly.
    “No, sir. His sense of smell is nearly as bad as his eyesight. He also, ehhh….” Blake paused, glancing at his brother, not wanting to offend the elder wolves.
    “Drinks a lot of ‘shine.” Luke answered for his younger brother.
    Kaden nodded a couple of times slowly as he thought. “At least we have something to go on. We need to find the boy fast or we may run out of time. Enemies aren’t going to keep him alive forever especially past the full moon. Too dangerous. Anything to add, Levi?”
    “I asked around town, Elle is talking to some of the parents from school. She can’t up and tell them Mason is missing or the police will try to stir up a mess.” He said.
    “Nothing else?”
    “I tried to send them back home, Kaden. I swear. Marala refused.” Levi added.
    Nashoba rose to his feet. “The chosen returns?”
    “Don’t start, Nash.” Kaden sighed.
    “She may be of inferior breed, but she is the Moon’s chosen. Is this the sign we’ve been waiting for?”
    “Let me deal with my personal life. Rest and we’ll convene for a hunt st arting at Old Finn’s in a few hours. We need to be at full strength if we find the kidnapper.”
    Nash didn’t let up, even as the others stood at Kade’s words of dismissal. “The boy returns, too?”
    Kaden rose up to his full height, threatening and opposing. “Your aspirations to replace me are becoming more difficult? How far would you go to take over the pack?” He eyed the pureblood with unhidden accusation.
    “I only hope he will grow into a better man than you. Anything I say or do is for the good of the pack.” He turned his back on Kaden and walked out.
    Blake and Luke sighed in unison before exiting.
    “You don’t think Nash would…?” Levi’s sentence trailed off.
    “I don’t know what to think.” He kicked over a chair. “And don’t hug my woman anymore.” Kaden flashed Levi a look of warning.
    “ Mara hugged me. I know better. She’s like a daughter to Elle and I.”
    “Don’t touch her and make sure everyone else knows. I won’t be responsible for my actions when I’m the wolf.” Kaden walked unsteadily out of the hall and toward his home, on the brink of collapse.
     
     
    Southern hospitality. This trip was already enjoyable. Taylor always liked new places, though. Pictures to take, things to learn, people to watch. Not in a stalker way. Unless he was paid well.
    He rented a brilliant red sports car. The leather seats were crisp and new as he slid into the front seat. Then, he punched in the address from Kaden Dakota’s vehicle registration. His estimate for arriving at the store was off. Early season tourist traffic heading through the strip put him behind.
    Eventually, after cursing his way through the stop and go throng of cars, he arrived at Dakota’s Trade Post. The rustic looking store sat about half a mile off the main tourist area. Taylor drove past the shop, didn’t see the Jeep, and turned around. Instead of passing by, this time he pulled into the lot and parked behind the building.
    Silently, he scolded himself for splurging on the expensive ride that stood out like a sore thumb. No wonder he was a shady private investigator instead of something more respectable like a detective or agent. The photographer snapped a few photos of the building before walking to the front door and pushing on it. A tiny bell jingled and he rolled his eyes upwards with a frown.
    “Hello.” The most beautiful woman he’d ever seen said. Once a new hottie caught his eye, the last was generally quickly forgotten. “Welcome to Dakota’s. Let me know if I can help you find anything.” She smiled with perfectly pouty lips. Her tanned skin glistened with a natural glow. He thought it was natural hue anyway. Taylor had never seen a spray tan or bronzer make anyone that color.
    “Thank you. Interesting store. Not as commercial as the other shops.” He gave her his best smile, reserved for only the prettiest