“Sean, you’ll come with us also. Raffa will meet us.”
“What’s going on?” Ms. Elsie asked the question everyone wanted to know.
“There’s an issue in Colorado.”
“What’s in Colorado?” I blurted out. Chael told me his pack resided in the Southwest mainly.
He looked my way. “We’ll discuss it later.” He looked over at Chance. They didn’t exchange any words, but I felt they were still communicating somehow.
“Maybe you should take your mate with you,” Ms. Elsie stepped forward to say.
I gave her a curious look. What on Earth would I do in Colorado?
“She is our pack seer, after all,” she added. “What if she can help you with what’s going on?”
“That might be helpful, Alpha,” another man, Thomas, said from his side of the table.
“No,” Chael said sharply. He shook his head adamantly, cutting off any more discussion on the issue.
A feeling of rejection coursed through me. Why was he so adamant that I not go with him to Colorado? Was he hiding something from me? Or maybe me from someone?
If it was a matter of safety, I could understand. Maybe that was the issue.
My long-held insecurities started to rise, no matter how fiercely I attempted to push them down. Chael and Chance were back to doing that silent standoff thing. A variety of expressions flitted across their faces.
After a few beats, Chael looked my way. His face was a mask of irritation and unexpressed anger.
“It’s no problem if you want me to go,” I added and looked around the room. “Everyone seems to think I might be of some help.” I didn’t entirely trust that I was a seer, but I wanted to help with whatever had Chael so stressed.
His nostrils flared, and he didn’t say anything for a long time. Before he spoke again, Sera entered the kitchen from the opposite entryway that Chance had entered.
“What’s going on?” she asked into the silence.
“Alpha, Chance, and our Queen Alpha are going to Colorado,” Ms. Elsie answered.
Sera’s face dropped, and her eyes shot over to Chael. He leveled a look at her but again, he was silent. I took notice of Sera as she stood in the doorway, appearing like she was a mouse trapped by the cat. Strange, since at her side was the usual bow with a loaded arrow. It was as if that thing was her third arm.
I found it odd that a shifter always walked around with a bow and arrow. For protection purposes, couldn’t she shift into a wolf?
But also, why did she need it here at the commune? Chael had assured me we were safe, and I believed him.
“You should go too,” Ms. Elsie said, talking to Sera.
Sera’s head shook as she backed out of the kitchen. “No, I, um, I have to practice.” She held up the bow and arrow as if there was a question about what exactly she was practicing. Though, the practice likely wasn’t needed. Sera spent almost every day out in the field with her targets and bow and arrow.
Ordinarily, she wore an expressionless mask, but in that kitchen, with the talk of her going to Colorado, a look of fright ghosted around her features. What had her so spooked?
She took another step back and then tossed Chael a quick look before spinning on her heels and exiting even faster than she’d come in.
“Hm,” Ms. Elsie hummed and shrugged. “That little rascal.” She turned to me. “Maybe next time. You should go get ready for the drive.”
Chael’s lips pinched as if he tasted something sour. He glared at his brother and then at Ms. Elsie. But she remained unfazed by his evident anger.
Chance placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. I watched as Chael gritted his teeth.
“Fine.”
Ten minutes later, I was in the passenger seat of his truck, on our way to Colorado. For what I had no idea, but I was more interested than ever to find out.
