Her gaze narrowed as she struggled to read between his lines. She damned sure wasn’t powerful enough for her Prime to overwhelm his Prime. “We have a mole in their organization? I need to know this stuff to protect their safety!”
He slowly shook his head. “Not a person.”
Then it hit her. “Ken hacked into their computer system.”
Duncan blew out a breath. “Look, I say this as not your grandfather, but as a former Pack Alpha and as someone who is now read into details by the current acting Pack Alpha. Things are not yet at a point where you can or should know details. For everyone’s safety. We can’t do anything in that area beyond what’s currently happening, because that will draw unwanted attention. Suffice it to say that it’s being monitored to Peyton’s satisfaction.”
“He involved my mate in something without consulting me first?”
“Ken works for the Pack Alpha, Dewi. Under his direct orders. And if necessary, I will contact Badger and get him in here with me and Prime you about this.”
Her jaw clenched. “Ooooh, my brother is soooo getting punched when he gets home.”
Duncan finally talked Dewi into joining them over at the main house to eat lunch. When she entered the kitchen with Lyssa asleep in her carrier, Gillian glanced over at her from where she was prepping a salad. The force of the older woman’s relief and joy nearly bowled Dewi over, even from that distance, although Gillian wore what Dewi could tell was a forced grim expression.
Dewi set the baby carrier down and walked over to hug her. She knew Gillian had to portray the grief-stricken and desperately anxious mate, but there was nothing but joy in her heart.
“I need to talk to you later about whatever Ken’s working on for the Pack,” she silently told Gillian.
Gillian tensed in Dewi’s embrace. “You need to talk to Peyton about that. I’m under orders from him not to talk to anyone about it. Not even you.”
“Badger’s acting Pack Alpha. I can demand he override that edict.”
Gillian pulled her head back and shot Dewi an incredulous look.
One that told Dewi, without any words needed, that she should have known better than to even suggest such a ridiculous idea.
“Yeah,” Dewi grumbled out loud, “I don’t even know why I said it.”
Gillian snorted out loud and released her embrace after one final squeeze. “Honey, I will let you punch Peyton,” she whispered, “but only after I get a few minutes with him first. There’s nothing you can do about any of that right now, so please wait to take it up with him.”
Dewi glanced around but didn’t see Tamsin within earshot. Still, she whispered back, “If it was dangerous for Ken, you’d warn me, right?”
Gillian rested her hands on Dewi’s shoulders and spoke in a normal tone. “Honey, if it were, he wouldn’t be doing it. I promise. Besides, I would have already punched Peyton for you.”
At that moment, Badger entered the kitchen, Duncan behind him, and they pulled up short at the sight of Dewi.
Badger opened his mouth like he was about to say something regarding the situation, but Dewi waved him off. “Forget it,” she wearily said. “I’ll deal with Peyton later about it.”
Badger’s jaw snapped shut and his blue eye narrowed, studying her. “Well, okay then, lass. Ye just saved me a speech by surprisingly being all sensible and the like.”
“I have my moments, Badger.”
“That ye do, lass. That ye do.”
Gillian
She used nursing the baby as an easy excuse to slip into her bedroom, close the door, and lock it behind her.
And she called Ken’s work phone.
“Hey, Gillian,” he said upon answering. “Let me get him for?—”
“No, I need to speak to you first.”
She hated how his tone immediately turned wary. “What happened?”
In the background, she heard Peyton bark, “What happened?”
