“Tell me what happened,” Dewi started, forcing herself to remain calm and choose her words carefully. “Are you certain that’s what you felt? Why didn’t you ping on her before now?”
Aisling blew her nose. “I never met her before today,” she said. “I scented her, after what happened at the safe house on that day, but I hadn’t met her in person. Trevor exfiltrated her from the UK after she escaped the attack and immediately brought her here. I remained at the safe house with the others, sorting out the aftermath and mopping up the mess. Then I was busy tracking Faegan and anyone helping him.”
Dewi nodded and didn’t interrupt, even when Aisling paused several times to blow her nose.
It freaked Dewi out how absolutely shattered the other woman now appeared.
Nothing at all like the feisty, snarky, confident—yes, cocky—warrior Dewi was quickly coming to like not just as pack and an employee, but as adopted family.
A woman twice Dewi’s age.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Aisling continued. “Maybe it was the circumstances, that she was just attacked and terrified. Maybe it was because up until then she was with Maisie, or maybe her pregnancy—I dunno.
“But when Hamish and I arrived at the house today, I felt…something. Even before I went inside. There was a scent that prickled all of my senses. I didn’t realize it was Tamsin at first. Still, I nearly turned around right there in the driveway and left, except I didn’t know why I felt like that or what was going on to even explain myself if I did. Mind ye, it set nearly every hair on my body standin’ straight up, and I never felt nothin’ like that before. I let Hamish go inside first, thank christ.”
She blew her nose again, tears still rolling down her cheeks. “And thank feckin’ hell I was parked on the street and not blocked in. When I walked in the door, that’s when the scent really hit me, and my instincts kicked in and told me what it was about. Damned near bowled me over, it did. I was horrified, because I thought what if it was one of the wee ones? I felt certain it wasn’t one of the men. And that’s when I realized it was Tamsin.”
Aisling slowly shook her head. “Took every ounce of strength I had in me to stand there, get introduced, and then pretend someone rang my mobile so I could lie that I needed to pop out for a few. I didn’t even shake her hand! I felt terrified I couldn’t let go if I did. I was back in the car and leavin’ before Duncan could stop me.” She harshly laughed. “What the bloody hell would I have even told him?”
“The truth, maybe?” Dewi gently suggested. “He’d understand. It’s not like he’s unfamiliar with mate bonds. He had one with Grandmother Louisa, and he’s seen plenty of packmates with them. Including my parents.”
“I don’t even understand it!” Aisling cried. “That poor girl’s been through enough already, and the Goddess has a cruel sense of humor to do this now? I mean, what am I supposed to even say to her? I can’t put that on her! She’s a new mum, and she’s in mourning, and she’s?—”
“She’s pack,” Dewi said. “She felt a mate bond with Maisie. She knows what it feels like. And I trust you not to do something…” Dewi struggled to find the right word.
“To claim her whether she wants it or not?” Aisling bitterly said.
“Exactly. Did you talk to her?”
“No. Once I realized it was her I scented, I ran like a scalded dog. I couldn’t bear it, touchin’ her, not touchin’ her—it nearly drove me mad in the space of a single breath.”
Dewi sat back and tried to sort her thoughts.
What would Dad have done? What would Da do?
Hell, what would Peyton do?
After a few moments to think, Dewi carefully spoke again. “I can’t release you from your obligations,” she finally said. “Not in good conscience. Trevor has specifically requested that you guard Tamsin and the baby. This is bigger than you and me, and I’d need to run it past him and Peyton first as a matter of respect.”
Aisling viciously shook her head. “I do not want Trevor to know about this.”
“If I end up requesting he let us take you off this assignment, I’ll have to give him a reason. You know damned well he’ll ask.”
“If ye call him and ask him to, ye don’t think he’d let me out of it?”
“Not without details, no. I also think that before we decide anything, you should talk with Tamsin.”
Aisling vigorously shook her head again. “I can’t be alone in a room wi’ her! No, I don’t trust myself. I never believed the shite about it feeling like the worst craving in the world, but now I get it.”
“Yeah,” Dewi said. “Try going to do a hit on a guy in a crowded sports bar and scenting on your mate, then dragging him into a wheelchair accessible stall in the women’s bathroom to claim and fuck him before shooting the asshole you’re there to kill.”
Aisling snorted. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Not my proudest moment, but Ken says he’s happy with how it worked out, so… yay?” Dewi’s smile faded. “And yes, I get it. I wish I’d exhibited self-restraint, but the circumstances were a perfect shitstorm. Hell, Beck scented Nami while we were on a job, and he managed to walk away from her.”
Dewi left out the part about how poor Beck had nearly lost his ever-loving mind over the next couple of weeks before they finally managed to locate and identify Nami.
At least in this case they all knew exactly who—and where—Tamsin was.
