Hunter held me so tight it was if our bones were imprinting, and I desperately committed the feel of him to memory. “I know, baby girl. I know we’re stronger together, but this is just an exploratory mission. More than our house now being warded, here in Golden Claw, our borders are closed to any newcomers or witches. The entire enforcer branch and council would be informed if anyone breached it. We don’t have that out in the open. Here, you are safer.”
My father agreed with a swift nod. “Yes, I’ve done everything in my power to make this house the safest place for Emme in the world.”
“What if Jewels attacks while the strongest of our pack is gone?” Finley asked, his expression calm though his eyes were tumultuous swirls of bronze and gold. “We already know she’s keeping an eye on us through either her own spying technique or another traitor.”
Hunter put space between us so he could face Finley. “The odds are that she won’t leave her nest to try and take us down. There’s no reason for her to risk it, when all she has to do is hide until this spell comes to pass.”
I already knew we wouldn’t be changing his mind, and I tried not to let my panic bubble into the bond. “How long will you be gone?”
“Not even twenty-four hours,” he replied, and when he met my gaze, there was nothing but sincerity in his.
“Okay,” I said, pressing my lips together so they didn’t tremble. “Twenty-four hours, and not a second more. This is also a scouting mission and nothing else. I don’t care if you find half the witch covens of American hidden out there, you don’t attack without us. Not to mention all the allies you’ve been arming. You will not face this alone.”
Hunter captured my face in his huge grip. “I promise, little omega.We just need to eliminate this as a possible hiding place before we can move on to the next plan.”
Hunter’s intense stare held me captive, and I almost missed Kellan’s question to Constantine. “Speaking of next plan, did the blood spell pick up anything?”
My father shook his head. “It wasn’t quite finished when I came down here for dinner. I should go and check.”
Hunter remained by my side as the witch-wolf raced from the room. “You stay close to Kel and Finley,” he murmured. “They’ll keep you safe.”
“What about hockey?” I asked, letting myself rest against him in both need and exhaustion. “They have an early game tomorrow. Do I stay in the house or go with them?”
Hunter exchanged a glance with the boys, and whatever they mentally discussed didn’t come through the bond. “Decide tomorrow,” he finally said. “I think you’re probably equally as safe in either scenario, with crowds versus being here alone. Make sure you sleep here though, when you’re most vulnerable.”
There was nowhere else I’d rather sleep than in this house that had quickly turned into a home. We all turned at the clap of boots when Constantine re-entered the room. “It pinpointed a spot near Silver City.”
Hunter’s face barely reacted, but I felt the flinch from his beast. “Exactly where Slade wants us to go.”
My stomach lurched at the thought that they were walking into a trap. There were many likely reasons this was the spot Jewels and her minions were located, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that all of us should be going. But for now, I’d play by their rules.
“Scouting only,” I reminded him, and he acknowledgedmy orderwith a kiss. After clapping his hands on Kellan and Finley’s shoulders, he headed out with Constantine. “Stay safe out there or I’ll kill you,” I shouted after them, and Hunter’s chuckle followed him all the way from the room.
When they were gone, I sank into my chair, deflated. My wolf howled mournfully, and Kellan’s joined in our quintet. “This sucks,” he said, slumping down as well. “I understand why they’re not taking all of us, but at the same time it feels wrong to split the pack during times of crisis.”
Finley was brooding, staring down at his untouched food. “GoldenClaw is the safest place for Emme,” he repeated, as if we all needed another reminder. “Jewels can’t get within ten feet of its upgraded border security without setting off a million alarms. And it’s only for twenty-four hours.”
We’d worked overtime to convince ourselves this was a good idea, and I still wasn’t convinced. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to eat anything else I pushed my chair back from the table.
“We can’t run in the forest, but I need to shift. Could we use the back yard?”
Kellan bounced to his feet and hauled me up to mine. “Yes! A little escapism into our beasts is exactly what the healer ordered.”
In the yard, we stripped down, and my wolf surfaced so fast I knew it had been too long since I’d let her go free. Kellan’s much larger beast crowded in on my right side, and Grouchy Bear guarded my left. We took off into the expansive yard, which was big enough to give the feeling of freedom, without any real dangers. It was much more enjoyable than circling a bedroom.
We ran for hours, until eventually we tumbled into the kitchen starving and exhausted. I patted one of Steven’s leaves to say hello, and Finley chuckled, still pleased with his gift.
Florence and Gerald had already left by now, but I wasn’t surprised to find our dinners in the oven, set to keep them warm. The lasagna was much more enjoyable the second time around, and I scarfed mine down so fast that only my healing abilities kept me from a scorched mouth and throat.
Kellan and Finley also ate their food in record time, then the three of us drowned our sorrows in cookies, popcorn, and hours of movies. “I’m going to need some lemon tarts,” Kellan informed me as he sprawled back, pulling me across his lap, leaving Finley to hold my feet.
“Yeah, I love baking. It would be nice to do it again without the haze of trauma forcing my actions.” Both alphas hugged me a little tighter, comforting me in the best of ways.
Halfway through a movie, Kellan, who’d been staring intently at me, completely uninterested in the animated film we were watching, tilted my head back for a kiss. And just like that, I also no longer cared how a French rat could cook.
The three of us got naked so fast that it made my head spin, and the boys took my mind off our missing pack members in a very,verypleasurable way.Later that night, as I crawled naked and sated into Kellan’s bed, I quickly checked in with Hunter, Slade, and Talon.
All of you alive and well?I asked, my wolf moving closer to them.I’m just about to jump into bed.
