That just left me.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I'm sorry to say I need you to stay here."
"What?" I snapped. "I'm not stay—"
"Listen to me before you go off. If they called us in to eliminate a stalker, they may very well have your description, even if they didn't give it to us. We cannot jeopardize this operation by letting them see your face, not yet."
Damn.
I hated it when Sinclair was right.
Sinclair pressed a button on his phone. "Ion."
"Yes?"
"I need you to find whatever you can on Alpha Thomas Langston, his son Joseph Langston, and grandson Tommy Langston. I also need you to find out of there is any connection between Langston and Elder Clarence above and beyond the normal."
"How deep do you want me to dig, Sinclair?"
"To the bone."
"Wow, okay, you got it." Ion sounded almost giddy.
Sinclair hung up then looked across his desk to me. "Tell me about your mate."
Chapter Four
I shivered at the cold breeze ruffling my hair and sneaking under the edges of my shirt. I was cold so I could only imagine how chilly my son was. I needed to find us a place to warm up for a little while, someplace out of the night air.
I knew escaping my father and whatever plans he had for us was the right thing to do, but alone in the dark, not knowing where we were headed or where would find a safe place to rest made me wonder if it was such a good idea.
Why couldn't I have chosen to escape in the summertime?
Holding my sleeping son tight to my chest and shoulder, I continued making my way through the forest. Stopping would be a very bad idea. Not only was it freezing out here, but I had no doubt my father had already launched a manhunt for us, and he wouldn't stop until he had us back.
I had to make sure Tommy and I were far enough away to get lost for good.
I stumbled when I saw a light ahead, fear almost paralyzing me. Had they found us? I took a couple of breaths. I could do this. Tommy was depending on me even if he didn't know it.
I started through the thick trees again. The closer I walked, the more I began to think the light wasn't a searchlight. It covered too much ground and was growing too bright. When the trees suddenly separated, I realized I was looking at a streetlamp overlooking at a parking lot.
I stayed to the edges of the shadows as I made my way around the parking lot. I needed to know what I was working with. I wasn't sure if I was still in my father's territory or if I'd moved on into someone else's. Both had the potential to be life ending.
As I started walking along the street, I began to recognize some of the buildings and businesses. It dawned on me that I was in the small town on the edge of my father's territory. I had lucked out. The town was essentially neutral ground between my father's territory and the wolf shifters who bordered our lands.
I was officially out of my father's territory, but I'd need to pass through wolf territory in order to get anywhere else. I wasn't really thrilled about that, but what other choice did I have?
I was actually kind of surprised I had made it this far. Maybe it was because I'd cut through the forest and had not taken the windy mountain road to get here. As the crow flies and all that.
My breath caught and I froze when the lights came on in one of the buildings in front of me. I was afraid to move, to breathe. I watched for a moment as more lights came on in the small diner. A neon sign that said "open" flickered to life.
I started for the business. I knew I should probably just keep on going, but I was tired. Tommy was tired, as well, and we could both use some food and someplace to just sit and rest and get warm again.
And maybe figure out where we were going to go from here.
I crossed the road and walked into the small diner. I jumped when a small bell jingled over the door. My heartbeat was out of control for a moment. It took a couple of deep breaths to bring it back down.
