Chapter Fourteen
Lachlan
Chloe’s hand clutchedmy leg, her nails digging into the flesh beneath the denim of my jeans.
I barely even noticed, too shocked by Miss Emma’s words.
“Sh-sh-shot?” Chloe stuttered. “Darrell shot them?”
The older she-wolf nodded, sniffling into a tissue she tugged out of her pocket. “Yes, child. Shot with a hunting rifle. He knew he was too weak to win a challenge against your father. Even if he got lucky, your mother would have turned right back around, challenged him, and torn him limb from limb. So he killed them as a human would.”
In the shifter world, if a wolf used any weapon against another, it was the gravest insult. Claws and fangs, the weapons nature bestowed upon us, were the only acceptable way to fight one another. Guns and knives might be used when fighting vampires or other supernatural creatures, but not against other shifters.
“Do you have proof?” Chloe asked, her words barely a growl in the back of her throat.
Miss Emma shook her head, tears trickling down her cheeks, dripping onto her shirt.
If she had been able to offer physical evidence, we could have taken it to the Tribunal and Darrell would be removed as leader of the pack and imprisoned.
“But I know who does,” she whispered.
“Carter,” Chloe breathed.
Miss Emma nodded. “He knows everything his daddy does. And he watches more than Darrell thinks. I’m not sure what his plan is but I know that he has one.”
“But will he talk to us?” I asked when Chloe fell silent.
Emma’s eyes shifted to me. “I think so, but there are eyes and ears everywhere in this town. If you’re not very, very careful, word will get back to Darrell and he’ll snatch up Carter before you can get what you need.”
“I thought the pack members hated Darrell?” Chloe questioned. “Why would they turn us in?”
“Fear,” I answered for Emma. “They’re afraid of what he’ll do to them or to their children. They wouldn’t dare go against him in case he found out.”
Chloe snarled. “Then how do we convince Carter to give us what we need?”
“He’ll come to you,” Emma interrupted. “When the time is right. He and I talked last night at the picnic.”
“I wish I could trust your word, Emma, but I’m not sure I can,” Chloe stated.
It was the first time I’d heard her drop the prefix from Emma’s name. The older she-wolf noticed it too and winced.
“Who do you think contacted your grandmother, Chloe MacArthur?” Emma asked indignantly.
“You were the anonymous tip?” Chloe seemed incredulous.
Emma shook her head. “No, not back then. I was still too scared. It was Carter. He wasn’t in the position to challenge Darrell at the time, but he knew what was happening and hoped your grandmother could stop it. Unfortunately, that business with the Faction prevented you from investigating and Sophia couldn’t leave her pack.”
Chloe’s head bowed. “I’m sorry, Miss Emma. This situation has thrown me for a loop. I’m beginning to wonder who I can trust.”
“You’d be stupid not to wonder,” Miss Emma replied. “And I know you’re not.”
Chloe’s eyes snapped up and Miss Emma froze. “Yes, but I’ve known Darrell all my life. As did my parents. Just like I’ve known you all my life.”
“I would never harm you, Chloe,” the older she-wolf stated. I could smell the truth in her words and I knew Chloe could as well.
“Thank you, Miss Emma,” Chloe murmured.
“Tell Carter we wish to speak to him,” I instructed Emma, getting to my feet and bringing Chloe with me. “As soon as possible.”
