Marc Tenebrum stood in the roomy hotel lobby and asked himself what the hell he was doing here. He knew what he was supposed to do but still did not know why the heck he had been chosen for this task. Being in no way trained to do undercover work. Yes, he was the type the serial killer was searching for having red hair and light brown eyes, as well as being the right age for that matter. But still he was working a CSI and did not take part in investigations outside crime scenes or his beloved lab. Right now, standing here in this lobby he was questioning his life choices as he gathered all his bravery to do what he had promised to do.
People always thought he got everything. He was handsome, strong and successful in his job. Marc was envied by neigh every single man he met. They all thought him to have a beautiful girlfriend at home or to be a woman’s man. He was neither. His stepmother was the only woman in his life besides a casual flirt when he had gathered enough mental fortitude to get out. Hell, he did not have any friends out of fear they might get to know him. No human ones for that matter. So yes, he was lonely.
But at work he kept up the airs. All smiles and jokes to fit in. Friendly but noncommittedly. Never ever get more than superficial attention to oneself. Hide in plain sight. His stepmother had taught him well. She had been only 20 when she was sent out to rescue him and his parents from an assassination. The warning had been late. She had only been able to get him out alive. Lisa Miller youngest supreme Alpha in history of the clans and ‘chief of investigation in clan related affairs’. Not that that had mattered when her former Alpha had set out to kill every Druid he could find, despite the council’s orders to protect them. Facing her former Alpha and uncle had saved his life and got her promoted. She even went out of her way to take him in when none other had wanted him. The pack she had inherited by right of combat, had made no effort of hiding they thought him a burden. Lisa would not have any of it until they had begrudgingly accepted him. He owed her everything, more than his life more than he would ever be able to pay back.
If it had not been for her asking him, he would have straight out declined any participation in this kind of investigation. It was his and Lisa’s final attempt to make the council allow him becoming part of the pack for real. They had denied their request several times, saying he was to join one of the major clans, being born as a Druid, the lost fifth major clan. Werewolves as a minor clan were seen as lesser by the council, which recruited most of its members from the major clans. This attempt was his final straw before being married of as a stud for his bloodline without a choice.
But still the thought of that praying mantis that most likely awaited him in the upstairs bar, which had been singled out as her favourite hunting territory. She, the profilers were quite certain it was a she, had been active for the last seven months, claiming eight victims. All redhaired men about his age. All described as handsome, but low profile and nerdy. All engaged in sexual activity before death. All claiming to have a new girlfriend, they had met at the bar he was now headed to. She played with them for a few days neigh two weeks at longest. And they all ended up burned-out husks. Clearly clan involvement. That meant his stepmother had been called to investigate. As always when the council was afraid of what might happen if the case was left unsolved much longer. Meaning when things got ugly. He gulped at the thought his hands sweating again. ‘Poker face’, he thought to himself ‘I got to stay calm.’
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Trying to keep his eyes from searching his surroundings for familiar faces. Namly pack members who had been sent to keep him safe. With a final deep breath, he pushed the bar’s door open and entered. Marc had been instructed to take a seat at the bar and order something. He was meant to be a honeytrap. Staring into his whiskey he sat there waiting. Feeling the eyes of several people on his back he thought about his future, when he would not be a burden, the nerdy little brother, but a fully integrated pack member. Lisa believed him to have the makings of a strong Beta or even Alpha once he was bitten. The thought made him smile.
Being deep in thought he did not notice the beautiful red gold haired woman who had sat down beside him, until she started talking to him. ‘Hello stranger. What brings you into this bar?’ she asked in a slightly husky tone that made the little hairs on this neck rise, but not in an uncomfortable way. Her enchanting green eyes promising adventure and magic. Later when he recapitulated that night this was the second moment in his life everything went south. Only topped by the day his parents were killed off in a political struggle that had led to that night’s events. He should have walked away taking the boring life as a stud as the clans had wanted for him. Or at least he should not have struck his head out so he would be noticed by them. One is always cleverer in the aftermath.
That night Marc was not clever. He fell head over heels for the woman his instincts screamed at him to be the serial killer. Whilst he later blamed magic for his lack of brain, he was not sure himself about what kind of magic he meant. But she was oh so beautiful. Marble skin without a blemish, tall and slender but still curvy. Combined with her red golden hair and green eyes he thought she was a wonder to behold. Clearing his throat, he looked at her face and answered belatedly ‘Whatever my reason was, I seem to have forgotten, meeting you. Name’s Marc by the way.’
‘Quite the charmer.’ She stated with a catlike smile. Putting her slender arms on the counter as she leaned in touching his arm that rested there ever so slightly. The light touch sending lightning through his veins activated his druidic magic in a way he had never felt before. Before he knew he himself leaned in bridging most of the distance between them with his motion. She smiled playfulness gleaming in her eyes. ‘My name is Amelie.’ Pushing her arm against his she introduced herself. ‘And even if I don’t know what you have been looking for, I have found it.’