“Did you invite her?” Theo asks.
“No, I don’t even have a way of contacting her,” I rush out.
“Wren, thank god,” Delphi pants once she stops at our table. She eyes the vampires warily and pushes her hair back. “I need you to come with me.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“You might be the only one who can stop our pack from going to war against your family.”
Chapter
Eighteen
“Slow down,” I say at the same time Theo asks, “What do you mean?”
Delphi lets out a ragged breath. “Two kids from our pack overdosed today and the pack is demanding justice. Most still believe Xavier is bringing the drugs into the city.”
“I told you he wasn’t,” I rush out and she just shakes her head.
“Another kid swears they got these drugs from a vampire.”
“Oh my,” Mabel exclaims. “We wouldn’t do that. We like this city.”
“Look, I don’t care what is true at this point,” Delphi says. “You have to come with me and convince them or else this won’t end well.”
“For you,” Theo adds pointedly.
“I know,” Delphi says, and the look in her eyes is all I need to know she’s aware the Malus family would rip her pack to shreds. Xavier, Theo, and Zeke are the oldest vampires in the area and are a formidable group to go up against on their own. Factor in the other vampires Xavier has made over the years, plus there isa large vampire population in the area who is loyal to the Malus family.
“What can I do to help?” I ask.
“You convinced the Crown Alpha before, you can do it again,” Delphi says. “I think she still believes you, but the pack needs to hear it. They won’t strike unless the order is given and our alpha cannot appear weak.”
“How did you know we were here?” Theo asks.
“Mabel posted about coming here,” Delphi tells us. “And then went live from this location. I started driving as soon as I saw it.”
“Maybe you should go easy on the live videos for a while,” Zeke suggests softly. “That’s twice in a row someone found you from your social media.”
“It never was a problem before,” Mabel states innocently, but I don’t have time to feel bad about it. It’s not directly my fault, I know, but Larissa never would have even known who she was if it wasn’t for my involvement in the Malus family.
“We can worry about that later,” I say, also not caring that I’m pissing off Theo. He’s used to being in charge, but he’s never dealt with me before, and I was literally brought up to do this. Well, not exactlythis. “What should I do?” I ask Delphi.
“Come with me, meet with our alpha, and talk to the pack. Tell them exactly what you told me and if anything, we can buy some time. I love my pack so I’ll admit what they are all too proud to admit. Vampires are stronger and faster than wolves. Even if we were evenly matched in number, we wouldn’t win a fight. There are more vampires than wolves in Mecklenburg County. And…and I believe you.”
“Okay,” I say with a nod. “I’ll come with you.”
“No,” Theo replies and grabs my wrist. “Think about it, Wren: this could easily be a trap.”
“But it also couldn’t be. And I have a feeling I should go.”
“Come with me then,” Delphi says, sounding desperate. “Just, uh, stay in the car. I’m taking a risk here. I wouldn’t unless it was necessary.”
“Where are we going?”
“Crown Alpha is getting some of the elders together now at my house, and I’m not far. That’s how I was able to get here so fast,” she says and then looks at Theo. “I’m literally inviting you to my house, does that make you trust me?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Theo says shortly.
