Luke fell forward as Mel evaporated beneath him. He let out a howl, rage beating through him as his thief escaped him a second time. He raked his claws through her forgotten clothes. The woman was gone, but she had left behind her a pile of fabric covered in her scent. He sliced through it, only pausing when he nearly crushed a small wooden box.

That was strange. Why would she carry something like that into battle?

He heard a twig snap as Maya joined him. "One of the vampires confessed to stealing the truck. He said your thief didn't do it."

Luke held the box close and turned to her. Maya had specks of unnaturally dark blood across her face, evidence of a triumphant battle. But he could see a bruise already forming under her eye. "There were two vampires."

She pursed her lips. "One got away."

"Is the other one still alive?" He sunk as much menace into the words as he could. In his mood, it was enough.

She paled. "More or less."

"Good."

Maya caught sight of the pile of clothes that Luke was crouched over. "So she got away?" she asked. "Naked?"

He held up the box, flashing it at Maya before flipping it open. Inside there was a safe deposit box key and a card listing an address. Probably for the bank. "I think she'll want this." He stuffed the box into his pocket and joined Maya on the walk back to their prisoner. He had a sister to rescue, a political nightmare to handle, and a thief to catch.

Life was getting exciting.

***

Mel materialized screaming in downtown Trent Crossing, Utah at midnight. And she only knew that because the sign on the side of the road proudly proclaimed a population of 363. Luckily for her, the town was so small that no one was there to see her little magic trick. She panted, illuminated only by the red flashing stop light and took stock of her situation.

It took her a moment to realize that she was naked.

When she did, she fell to her knees, looking to see if the safe deposit box key had miraculously come with her. "Come on, come on," she urged. "Where the fuck are you?" In the dim light she could see clearly, and that only frustrated her more.

The key was back in Colorado. Probably right under Luke Torres.

God damn it.

Mel didn't panic. She wasn't allowed to. She remembered the box number, the bank address. A loss of a key was an inconvenience, not a tragedy. Bank robbery was easy, like taking candy from a baby. Nothing to worry about there.

Headlights flashed, haloing her naked form.

A black pickup truck pulled up beside her. An old man, human and at least in his seventies looked out at her. "Looks like you're in a bit of a pickle there, kid." He said. He reached over and tossed her a t-shirt.

Mel put it on. "Thanks," she said. "Any chance you could give me a ride to the next big town?"

The man was apprehensive. She didn't blame him. Naked women in the town square were usually up to no good. "I think I can arrange that. Climb on in." She joined him, wrapping a blanket around herself before buckling the passenger side seat belt. It was a long way back to Illinois. But she was going to get her damned payment and leave the lion alpha behind her.

***

Stealing the Alpha continues with Entangled with the Thief. Find out more at www.katerudolph.net/index.php/books/entangled-with-the-thief