“You said they’re going to fill the government land with a new Pack. That your dad had been offered the Alpha position?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know anything else?”
“About the new Coeur d’Alene Lake Pack?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, no. We’re outside of it all. We just get a snippet here and there when the Elders are trying to bring my dad back in line. Why?”
“The new Pack is forming. One of the Elder’s daughters dragged in an Alpha that’s a problem for my people.”
“Geez. What does it mean for your Pack?” she asked.
“Nothing.” And that’s all he would say about that.
She’d thought he’d shut down on her, but he reached out and slid his big, powerful hand around hers as they crossed the street toward her car. He held the bag of her worn clothes she’d changed out of in the outdoor store, and opened her door for her, waiting for her to get in. He looked around the street and she didn’t miss it. He scented the air. “How far do you live?” he asked her.
“Um, right off of Hanover. It’s close. I’ll be fine.”
“Can you text me when you get home safe?”
“Only if you do the same.”
“Chh, it’ll take me half an hour at least. Rogue Pack Territory is out in the woods. And then I have to deal with something right when I get there. A couple of my people got hurt tonight. I’ll text you when I can.”
“Oh my gosh. Are they okay?”
“They’ll be fine.”
“Hey, Dodger?” she asked as he started walking away.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Are you keeping my clothes?”
He frowned down at the bag in his hand. “Yes.”
“Oh. Okay. Can I ask why?”
“To put them in my den. To make it smell like you.” And with that, he turned and left with her bag of worn clothes without looking back.
Baffled, Destiny closed the door beside her and stared straight ahead at the license plate of the car in front of her. He could probably recite it from memory if she asked.
If they were just friends, as he claimed, then why was Dodger wanting to put her scent in his den?
Chapter Six
Dodger could see the smoke from the main road.
“Fuck,” he murmured, hitting the gas. Liam had said everyone was okay, and he’d seemed calm enough, but Dodger needed to see them all alive with his own eyes.
He barreled over the last hill and skidded to a stop in the snowy clearing.
The fire pit had been destroyed, and the stones lay across the snowscape. Liam’s house was still smoking, but they’d got the fire put out. The entire right side was charred where the fireplace must’ve been destroyed on the inside and set the place ablaze.
This wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.
