Whalebone Lane wasn't in a high-end part of the city yet had carved out a respectable reputation for itself. Brick buildings and cobblestone alleys, once full of trades to render giant carcasses into soaps, corsets, and chimney sweeps' brushes, now housed businesses embracing modern technology and tastes. A radio repair service nestled next to a restaurant specializing in fried oysters. The windows of a barbershop advertised prices for ladies' hairbob as well as the usual haircut and shave for men.

Humble, hardworking establishments, and the subterranean office squeezed beneath a watch engraver appeared no differently. Tobias took the metal stairs down to its door with the confidence trained into all his movements, hiding his turmoil while knocking beneath a nameplate etched with the words S. Hayes, Detective, and J. Feral, Thaumaturgist.

Facing another wolf would strain his thin self-control, but he had left the enchanted lapel pin alongside the rest of his clothes in New Obsidian, and now anyone could track his movements. Feral was fast, had fair prices, and made magic stick to a wolf better than any human. She was just a pain in the neck to deal with.

In a few moments, the door opened, revealing the she-wolf who called herself J. Feral. She looked young, but the sharp glint in her eyes warned off any use of Miss in addressing her. Her red hair curled against the stark black of her thaumaturgist's leathers as she pulled a pair of lab goggles off her head. "You don't have an order in. What do you want?"

"I lost the pin last night. I need the spells on it replaced immediately."

"I have other customers, you know."

Tobias kept his voice flat. "I'll pay any amount to jump in line."

"Hmm. I don't like it when people are careless with my enchantments." Despite the sour words, she waved at him to follow her inside.

It was harder than usual to ignore the lack of respect. He'd bought charms from Feral for over a year and had grown used to her abrasive personality, but whatever had woken his instincts had also left them inflamed. He itched to attack anyone who looked at him wrong. Even the awareness that Frankie had to be after him didn't straighten his thoughts. If anything, he wanted to find the man and kill him as part of removing any threat toward Florence.

"There's something else," he said, as they walked through a small waiting room and into a smaller back office, where two desks had been sandwiched together to leave enough room for a chair to swivel between them. He glanced over the city maps and blackboard tacked to the walls and added, "I want you to check me for any spells that aren't yours. Something's changing my behavior."

Irritation pinched the she-wolf's expression. "Yes, your paranoia. Your pimp and his thaumaturgists are human. Their magic can't affect you."

"If that was true, I wouldn't have to come here to keep him from spying on me."

"I said 'affect,' not 'find.' There's a difference between being observed through an enchantment and being controlled by one. I'd explain more thoroughly, but I'm not sure you'd understand all the big words."

Tobias eyed the she-wolf. With her slight size, it was obvious that someone protected her and her mouth—maybe the detective she shared the space with. He hadn't met Hayes face to face but had often caught the other wolf's scent. Reserved, steady, and used to fighting. Did that make him trustworthy of solving a mystery without selling its secrets to anyone with enough money? There was no way to guess and little time to find out.

"You'll have to make do with an old pocket watch," said Feral, pulling it out of a drawer. Then she checked her thick ledger of orders and added, "One object imbued with three enchantments: anti-tracking, scent scrambler, and eye color modification. As a rush job, it will cost five dollars in advance. Cash."

Over twice the usual price. He handed over the money without argument, already feeling the urge to visit Florence again. "And the other thing I asked about?"

Feral sat at the desk overflowing with papers and stoppered bottles. "The watch will be ready in ten minutes. You can wait outside while I work."

Tobias knew she could smell his irritation, and let it slip into his voice as well. "As soon as you answer the question, sure."

A door somewhere in the back opened and shut again. The iron tang of blood reached them just before a tired sigh. Feral remained unconcerned. "As I said earlier, you're being paranoid. I have spells in place to detect enchantments attached to a visitor. Nothing is controlling you or your behavior."

The glibness wasn't convincing. "What about older magic, such as a curse? Could I be controlled by one placed on someone else if I was the right figure to break it?"

"I thought this was a serious conversation. How would this curse be broken, with a kiss of true love? Quite rules you out."

When he stared at her, she laughed and added, "You must be serious if you're trying to act like a wolf. Interesting. I never would have expected you of all people to believe in fairy tales."

Tobias ran a hand over his hair, trying to calm the agitation burning behind his every movement. "I don't need to believe in anything when I know something's wrong with me. I fucked up yesterday and can't risk that again."

"You do sound desperate. What happened? Couldn't perform as asked?"

Just as he growled in warning, the door behind her opened, revealing a wolf about his own age. He moved like the type to handle himself in a fight and wore a grey suit that looked nicely tailored beneath the bloodstains. Despite his appearance, he sounded wry as he said, "Ignore her. She loves starting fights because she's never the one who has to finish them."

Feral scoffed and pulled free a charm from her bandolier of tools. When the wolf took it, the stains vanished from his clothes. His attention remained on Tobias as he handed it back. "Sam Hayes. Jane is the best in the city at magic, but I'm the one who helps people find answers to their questions."

There was no reason not to be polite, so Tobias took the snarl out of his voice and held out a hand. "Tobias Rosewood."

Surprise flickered in the other wolf's eyes. Too late, Tobias realized it was a thoroughly human gesture, a sign that he had lost some instincts from years of living in the city. Strange wolves rarely touched each other.

The detective was smoother than his office partner, shaking hands without comment. Feral watched with a sardonic glint in her eyes but only said to Hayes, "It looks like you finished the case."

"Sure, if you can match these new bullets with the one found in the victim."

"I'm assuming they're still in you." The she-wolf sighed and handed him a specimen tray. "Put them here whenever they're out. I need to finish Mr. Rosewood's order first."

Then Feral hunched over her work space, pocket watch in hand. Hayes turned to his own desk, which appeared much neater with its typewriter and whiskey tray. He glanced at Tobias and said, "Want a drink? You look like you were up the whole night as well."

When Tobias nodded, the detective poured a generous amount in each glass and handed one over. He lit a cigarette before adding, "If you don't mind some blood, we can talk while I patch up my bullet holes."

There was no use in ignoring the offer. He had backed himself into a corner and needed to get out. "I appreciate it. I went into New Obsidian with a client but couldn't finish the job. I felt compelled to come back to the city instead. No, compelled isn't the right word. Nothing forced me. I acted on instinct, like going for the throat in a fight."

Hayes had already shrugged off his suit jacket to reveal two holes in his shirt near his left shoulder and another by the liver. He pulled the upper bullets out of his flesh with the brief wince of someone who had done so many times before. "Did the urge drive you toward any place or person in particular?"

Tobias chose his next words with care, refusing to expose Florence's identity. "Yes, to someone convinced she's under a curse."

"That's an interesting way of putting it. Do you think she's cursed?"

Just as Tobias hesitated, the battered radio on Feral's desk crackled with magic. Hayes' bloodied fingers jumped from the site of the third bullet to his side holster instead. Feral growled softly, looking up from the watch.

"Damn," muttered Tobias, recognizing the signs of an incoming message from Frankie. The knobs twisted and turned, as though searching for the right signal to reach through to him.

"That's some nerve." Feral sounded mild, but her pupils contracted into pinpoints as she pulled a long loop of string from her bandolier, studying the radio like wounded prey. She wound the string about her fingers like a game of cat's cradle, forming a net to trap the first sparks jumping out from the speaker. The hiss of static disappeared, and the knobs fell still again.

The she-wolf studied the glowing string and grinned, showing her teeth. "Caught you. Leonard Gelt."

Tobias recognized the name without surprise. "Frankie's main thaumaturgist."

"Is he, now? He's about to have a blinding headache when I snap this back to him."

"No," said Hayes, his voice sharpening for the first time. "Then they'll know you're able to thwart the spell."

Feral glanced at him. "So? It's more satisfying this way."

The detective's expression remained serious as he matched gazes with her. "For us, and just because we're not the ones being hunted."

Tobias studied the flare-up of pack dynamics, recognizing the subtle changes in each wolf's body language. Hayes was the natural leader, able to look ahead and assess what would complicate a situation. Maybe hiring a level head was the best solution while his own remained obsessed with Florence.

Feral gave in with a roll of her eyes. "Very well. I'll redirect the spell to another radio as though it's found him."

The detective refocused on Tobias. "She can make it look like you left on a train or ship. It'll buy you some time at least."

"No, I don't want him to assume I'm leaving."

Both wolves looked surprised. "The city or your line of business?" asked Hayes, after a moment.

Feral added, "You can't be stupid enough to have any loyalty toward Frankie Forehead."

"Maybe I can fool him into believing that," replied Tobias, refusing to be baited. "Look, it's hardly been an hour since my mind cleared, and I need to work through my options after last night. In the meantime, can you send his spell to a radio in New Obsidian as though I'm trying to mend things with the client?"

"Where in New Obsidian? It's a large city."

"She's probably still at Red Tree Falls."

A heartbeat of silence passed. Then Hayes said, "Frankie Forehead sent you there? Most people can't handle the mere rumors about those parties."

Feral began twisting the string into new shapes. "Let's see if the notorious grove of ancient rites has a radio. It's very remote, apparently. Invitation only."

Tobias shrugged. "I've met enough members to know they want privacy and freedom without sacrificing modern convenience."

"True. I've heard it's virgins they sacrifice instead," said the she-wolf, distraction slipping into her voice as she fell deeper into her work. "Sometimes a man if it's the act of sparagmos."

"I wouldn't know. Last night was supposed to be my first visit there." Disgust rippled through him at how dispassionate he sounded. It was easy to think of his life as normal until he faced other wolves.

"I found one," said Feral, studying the string. "And I would prefer silence while I redirect the spell."

Hayes jerked his head in the direction of the waiting room. "How about we finish our drinks out front?"

Tobias nodded, aware that the suggestion was as much to keep him talking as it was to give the she-wolf a chance to concentrate.

The burn of whiskey cleared his head somewhat, but he paced around the waiting room in lingering frustration. "You're sure Frankie's enchanter won't realize she altered his spell?"

The detective remained calm. "She's experienced with this. It was her job back in pack life to catch and stop outside magic."

Then he had a day, two at the most, to move around the city in safety. He needed help, but what could he trust Hayes with?

The detective studied him for another breath and unholstered his gun to reload it. It was the type of action wolves used to avoid eyes and reduce tension, and Tobias immediately suspected he was about to be asked a question he didn't like.

"Have you ever jumped out on a client before?"

"No."

"Then what makes you think Frankie Forehead will overlook it?"

"I have some money hidden away. I'll pay the full amount I lost and gauge his reaction."

The detective didn't hide his skepticism. "I don't see that fixing things. He's angry enough to hunt you down even when it means ignoring the danger of using magic in an enchanter's office."

Tobias scoffed. "He can hunt me all he wants. I'll handle any thugs blocking my way."

"Then you're hiding from him to protect someone else, not yourself." Hayes glanced up and added, "Relax, fella. I'm trying to figure out why you're unwilling to flee the city."

"Frankie isn't the one keeping me here. He never was. He's just the man who can help me make a lot of money. Let's put it this way: getting on his bad side ruins my long-term plans, but I have bigger problems to focus on."

Hayes' attention returned to his gun as he holstered it once more. "What about going to the Frosthound Pack? It's well-known that Thane Frost has offered his protection."

Was it an offer or, as Tobias had suspected for years, a trap? "If you know that much, then maybe you know something else. Are the Frosthounds still seeking an alliance with the Murdoch Pack?"

The detective's eyes narrowed slightly, the only sign of being surprised by the question. "Sure. All the packs are. The Murdoch territory is part of the prime location in the city for laying a transoceanic telephone cable. Rumors are that the technology is still years away, but whenever it happens, the Murdoch Pack will be very rich."

"Then any alpha-king trying to secure a treaty has to offer something no other pack can," said Tobias, and shook his head. "I can't risk it."

"So, this business with acting wildly over someone and her possible curse... that's a new problem for you, but not the only one."

"A new complication, yes." Then Tobias grimaced, realizing he had corrected the detective because he hadn't liked hearing Florence referred to as a problem. "You asked earlier whether I believe this girl is cursed. I don't know. She's never learned how it happened or why, only that it might stem from magic used by northern wolves."

"You have northern blood yourself, don't you?"

When he looked at the detective, Hayes added, "Corpsewood Forest is the infamous reason why the city and most wolves entered the Tin War, but a few packs in Rosewood Forest died during that attack as well, including the first wolves to come from the north and settle near the city. It's not hard to match that fact with Thane Frost's willingness to take you in."

"It seems there's no use in denying it since I'm considering hiring you, anyway." Tobias sighed. "I have northern blood through my father and know a little about the old ways. Because of that, there might be two reasons why I'm... obsessed with this girl. Maybe she is cursed, and the magic senses I can somehow break it."

"And reason number two?"

His heart lurched. "The northern wolves are right about fated mates and I've found mine."

"You look like someone punched you in the stomach," observed the detective.

"Because it feels that way," said Tobias, voice tight. "The chance at a mate was killed with my pack. It wasn't meant for me. I spent the last ten years fucking any woman who paid enough because it didn't matter. I wasn't supposed to have someone to love."

Silence fell. Hayes finished his cigarette and then his whiskey. "So, what are you hiring me for?"

"I need breathing space. Whether it's a curse or fated mates, I could handle it with one less problem needing my attention."

"I doubt you're willing to pay me the amount to get Thane Frost off your back, and it doesn't sound like you want me to kill your boss. But I'm good at finding information and turning it into solutions. You'd have to give me much more than a 'girl under a curse,' though."

Hayes sounded sincere, but so had others who had told him to trust them and then stabbed him in the back. Yet there might be a way to take the pressure off and at the same time test what the detective did with any details. Tobias suspected there was more to Florence's first shift than the full moon, and that she had attacked her sister's fiancé for a reason—if she was the true killer at all. Finding proof of her innocence would be one more way to free her.

After they'd met at the café, he had tracked her scent to a cemetery and then three graves. He remembered the name of the man, and all he had to do was slightly alter his reason for looking into Victor Springer. "I'm more interested in pacifying Frankie than in killing him... right now, anyway. I had a prospective client who offered a lot of money, but I turned her down. Frankie hasn't been too happy with me since then. She wants me to pretend to be a dead man from her past. I won't say her name but I'll give his: Victor Springer. I don't know who he is or what the hell I'd be getting into if I agreed to play as him. Dig up whatever you can so I know whether I can take the job and show Frankie I'm still reliable."

A blurring of truth and falsehood, and he had enough experience at pretending things about himself to sound convincing. Yet the wryness had returned to Hayes' expression, as though he already doubted parts of the explanation. The other wolf then asked, "What makes you leery about him?"

He could be honest enough about that. Why the hell would a man with a fiancée end up alone at night with her far younger sister? From the birthdate on his grave, he would have been twenty-five to Florence's thirteen. "I want to know what his brand of bad behavior was."

If the detective had any other questions, they were prevented by the arrival of Feral, who brandished the pocket watch at Tobias. "Here. If you lose this one, you'll have to bring your own object and pay triple the price. The other task is finished as well."

"Thanks." Tobias tucked it into his waistcoat. Feral's spells never had the sting of human magic, but he still relaxed at knowing he was once more invisible to prying eyes. He looked at Hayes and said, "How much for today?"

"Don't worry about it. I always ask for the check at the end of a case. I'll see you in a few days to go over anything I've come up with."

"Here at your office?"

"No, your boss knows about this place now. I'll find you. It's what detectives do." Then Hayes held out his hand, an easy glint in his eyes.

Tobias shook it in farewell and left, relieved to be out of their presence.

The detective didn't watch him disappear up the stairs, but the thaumaturgist did and raised an eyebrow. "He's incredibly human, even lying like one. It's interesting that he came to you if he's unwilling to place any trust in your ethics."

"Is it? Any other gumshoe would have too much power over him. We're fellow lone wolves with equally shaky standing among humans. Much poorer, too. If I try to use whatever I find as blackmail, he's got a fair chance of stopping me." Despite the shrewd words, Hayes sounded merely thoughtful.

"I think our reputation is slightly better than his. Our trades are legal, if nothing else. Speaking of, what made you decide to take the case? We aren't that desperate for money."

"Curiosity. He tried to be careful, but I think I already know who he wants to protect."

Feral waited through a breath of silence. "Well?"

"You haven't figured it out? You're always saying you're the smarter one between us."

"I overheard the terrible lie about Springer."

"Half-lie. He's interested in finding out about Springer, but not because of a new client. If he's that nuts about the cursed girl, he won't pay attention to any other woman." The detective glanced at his right side, noticing he still bled slightly from the bullet wound there. "Gossip says he defended a client of his from the Frosthounds a few nights ago. Almost fought Thane Frost himself. She's probably the one he's obsessed with."

The she-wolf left long enough to retrieve the specimen tray of bloody bullets. "I'd be more impressed if you already knew the client's name."

"Florence Wheeler." Hayes grinned at the change in her expression. "The incident happened at Demi-Monde."

"Ah, where you helped Jim get a job as a dishwasher. That isn't detective work, it's having a friend in the right place." Dismissive words, but the sting had left the she-wolf's voice. "You should have confronted his lies. Right now, he believes he's smarter than you."

"I don't see a problem with that. On the other hand, pushing for the whole truth would have scared him off to a human detective, maybe one who would try blackmail."

Then Hayes winced and reached for his side with steady fingers. As Feral held out the tray in resigned patience, he dropped a final bullet into it and added, "Rosewood himself said it. He's got enough problems already."