Peri looked at Cyn. “We’re headed to the Coldspring compound.”
Cyn nodded as Thalion took her hand. “We need to check on my people. Unless you need us to come with you.”
Lucian wrapped an arm around Peri, and Gwen held out her arm to Lilly. “I think we got this for now,” Peri told her. “We’ll call when we need you.”
Thalion nodded, and then they were gone.
In the next breath, Gwen flashed, and their feet had barely hit the ground before people started coming out of a large house. Though not quite a mansion, it was much bigger than any in the main part of town. There were smaller homes dotted throughout the large piece of land as well. Lilly realized, looking back, she’d always assumed some rich family lived there and had built homes for their adult kids all on their own piece of property. It was in the southernmost part of town, a part she rarely drove to.Out of sight, out of mind.As she took the sunglasses off, her attention was drawn to the man walking at the front of the group. She recognized the Alpha, Jeff, immediately. She couldn’t remember how many had been in the Coldspring pack back before, when Lucas had been in charge, but she was pretty sure it wasn’t this many.
When Jeff was around twenty feet away, he called out, “Peri, Lucian, Your Majesty, all of you.” He motioned toward them. “Welcome to our pack.” The group of people stopped a few feet behind him.
Lucian stepped forward and held out his hand to Jeff. They clasped forearms briefly, then released each other. Lucian stepped back and planted himself right in front of Lilly and the other females.
“I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“How many vampires and hybrids have you had to kill?” Lucian asked Jeff, getting straight to business.
“Five vampires and three hybrids. They were attacking several people in the neighborhood adjacent to yours.” Jeff pointed at Lilly. “When my wolves came upon them, we dispatched them. And a fae was able to take the memories from the people.”
Lucian folded his arms across his chest. “When was the last time you saw either kind?”
“Six in the morning. Our night patrol came across some vampires that were trying to find shelter from the sun.”
“And you’re actively hunting them?”
Jeff nodded at Lucian. “Correct.”
Lilly looked past the men and saw that all the pack members that had come out with Jeff were now dispersing into smaller groups heading in different directions.
“They’re going out to relieve the night-shift hunters.”
She looked over at Jeff. “Your pack has gotten big.”
“A result of all the rogue packs that went legit and needed places to go,” Jeff explained. “It’s been interesting, to say the least.”
Lilly thought about what she knew about werewolves and assumed “interesting” meant there’d been violence, which was not shocking when trying to blend packs.
Lucian shifted on his feet, his attention focused on Jeff. “You mentioned one fae. Did the other fae warriors and warlocks that Fane requested show up?”
“They did,” Jeff answered. “They’ve already started assisting by putting up boundaries that alert us to any vamps or hybrids that get too close.”
“Gwen”—Peri motioned to her comrade—“will also be staying to help.”
Jeff looked at the high fae and bowed his head to her. “We thank you for your assistance.”
Gwen simply smiled and nodded. She was a woman of few words, Lilly had noticed.
“We’ve talked to Jen’s family and the Henrys, and they both know and will pay attention,” Lilly told the alpha. “Please keep them safe.”
“Of course.”
“If you need more help”—Lucian placed a hand on Jeff’s shoulder—“Fane will send it. Don’t try to be a hero and get you and your pack killed.”
“I will call if we need help. I wouldn’t let my pride stand in the way of the safety of our pack or this town.” Jeff lifted his chin, though he didn’t look Lucian directly in the eyes. He was letting the more dominant male know that he wasn’t a pushover. Lilly had learned a lot over the past years about werewolves and their hierarchy. It was actually quite interesting. It was also helpful when a person was in this current situation and needed to know how to be assertive without getting themselves killed.
“We’ll check back in a few days,” Lucian told Jeff as he took Peri’s hand.
Lilly rested her hand on Peri’s shoulder and closed her eyes as they flashed to their next destination.
