"When was the first rogue killed?" Keri asked Cade.
"About ten days ago," he replied, pointing out the red pin where the first murder had taken place.
I didn't know how that was going to help us find my missing mate. She tapped her finger to her lip for a moment, deep in thought.
"What is it?" Blake asked, touching her arm.
"The person who's responsible for the murders is new to the area," she began to say. I frowned, unsure of where she was headed with this. "We need to see if we can get a list of new rentals or purchases of large properties in the area."
It made sense. How had none of us thought of it?
"Why a large property?" Cade asked with his usual stance and his arms crossed.
"Because chances are there are more than one and they will want their privacy," she replied.
It was the reason we kept all the packs on large properties away from prying eyes. It made keeping our secret easier.
"I picked up a few things from watching my father," she said with a shrug, answering the unspoken question.
Blake put a hand to her back. His concern was evident in the way he looked at her. Thinking about Victor brought us back to the place where we had all fought for our lives to defeat him. He had been an evil, ruthless werewolf.
"I'm fine," she insisted to Blake with a weak smile. Thinking about her father couldn't have been easy.
"Thanks," I said. For the first time I saw a glimmer of hope that the friendship we had developed was still worth saving.
Our eyes met and she nodded to me.
"We need to pinpoint it near the bulk of the murders," she continued.
The weight on my chest lightened slightly. We had a possible way to find whoever had Crystal. It didn't feel so hopeless anymore.
Crystal
After breakfast I made the excuse my arm was still hurting so I could retire back to my room. I changed into some of my own clothes. The less time I spent around them the better. Luckily Flynn hadn't insisted the doctor have another look at it.
There were werewolves that were looking for something. It could be nothing. Did Kyle know I was here? But that was impossible, I told myself, refusing to believe that scenario. Sitting down on my bed I bit my nail as I tried to keep my nervousness at bay.
They were probably looking for the injured human girl. It only increased the pressure to get out of here as soon as possible. The weak and frightened girl in me wanted to stay in the security of the room but I had to leave.
I gave myself a pep talk strengthening that weaker part of me. I could do this. As long as I kept my head I would be okay. I had to speak to Flynn and see if he would allow me to leave but I couldn't do that from my room. I glanced at the door. Decision made, I stood up and took a deep breath and released it before I left the room in search of him.
The house was fairly quiet as I made my way downstairs. A nervous knot tightened in the pit of my stomach, making me feel nauseous. I was afraid to run into Travis again. He gave me the creeps. There was a coldness about him that hadn't been matched by anyone I had met in the compound yet.
I could hear a loud voice coming from outside. I hesitated for a moment before reminding myself the only way out was to find Flynn. I walked through the living room to the back of the house, following the sound of a voice issuing commands. The back doors of the house led onto a vast grassy area.
I stopped.
One Keeper fought with another while Travis watched over them, issuing them commands. It was a surreal sight to see the Keepers training. I stood transfixed as I watched the powerful blows get shrugged off without lasting injuries. It was a little unbelievable.
Across the distance, Travis looked at me. Fear prickled at me. Flynn, who had been standing on the sidelines watching, followed his gaze to me.
They were both my enemies, but I would pick Flynn over Travis any day. I walked to Flynn as he watched me. I felt the heat of Travis' gaze but I refused to look at him. The less time I spent around him the better.
"You feeling better?" Flynn asked. I nodded my head.
"What's this?" I asked, slipping into the pretense of the weak injured human girl who knew nothing about their way of life.
"They're training," he said, inclining his head in the direction of the two fighters. They were both shirtless, muscles straining as fists hit their mark. It was powerful and hypnotic as I watched beside Flynn.
