“You said 9 a.m.”
His mouth tightens as he nods. “Yes, but it was a long drive. I figured traffic and road conditions,” he rambles. “I thought you might be a little late.” He steps back and gestures inside. “Please, come in.”
I don’t move. I plant my cane, hold his gaze. “If this is a setup,” I tell him evenly, “if William or Ken are inside, waiting for us, we’re going to have a problem.”
Daniel lifts both hands slowly, palms out. “This isn’t a trick. I swear.” He glances past me at Grason, then lowers his voice. “I asked you here because everyone’s gone. William took Renee to see our son. Out of state. They won’t be back until late tonight. And Ken is running errands. He’ll be gone for a few hours.”
“Why not suggest meeting somewhere in town?” Grason asks evenly, but there’s a wariness under it, his shoulders squared and his gaze fixed on Daniel’s face. ”Why do youneedus to meet you here?”
“I can’t,” Daniel says with a defeated sigh. “I already told your alpha.” He glances at me.
“Leaving the house by myself would raise too much suspicion.”
Grason frowns, clearly not believing that. “Seriously? You aren’t allowed to even go for a drive?”
“No,” Daniel says, like it hurts to admit it. “William runs a tight house.”
It takes everything in me not to laugh, because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like William runs anything at all. The pack alpha clearly gets off on controlling everyone in his pack, then tries to pass it off as discipline.
But I bite back a bitter thought, focusing on what’s important. “Okay. Let’s talk.”
“Yes, please.” Daniel steps aside quickly, relief flickering across his face before he schools it back into something contained.
I cross the threshold with Gray right behind me, every instinct sharp and watchful.
The house smells expensive. Lemon oil and something clean layered over this pack’s various scents.
Wide-plank floors stretch out beneath our feet, pale and perfect, not a scuff or dent in sight. The space opens straight into a living room with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams that look hand-hewn but aren’t.
A massive sectional sits centered on a thick woven rug, pillows arranged too neatly to ever have been used. Low windows line one wall, framing the fields outside like little paintings.
Everything here is curated to look warm without actually being lived in.
“Please,” Daniel motions to the couch, “sit.”
I stay firmly in place. But Gray peels off, moving to the windows without a word. He plants himself there, arms crossing as he scans the property, eyes sharp, head turning in slow sweeps as he keeps watch.
Daniel notices, but pretends not to.
“How’s Tansy?” he asks, the question coming out fast, like he’s been holding it in. “Is she…okay?”
“She’s fine,” I say, but I don’t give him anything more. “Is that all you wanted to know? Because you could have asked that on the phone.”
Daniel nods, swallowing. “I want to see her.” He finally looks me in the eye. “I just want to talk to her one more time. To explain myself.”
“Not happening,” I say simply. “Your pack has done enough.”
Daniel’s brows knit. “She’s my daughter.”
“And she’s my omega,” I reply evenly. “And my answer is no.”
His jaw tightens. “Cass, I’m not asking to take her anywhere. I just want toseeher. Five minutes. Ten max.”
“No,” I bark, challenging the fucker directly.
Daniel’s body reacts on instinct. His shoulders draw back, spine straightening, bristling at my tone. His scent spikes sharp for half a second, then it collapses fast.
He doesn’t bare his teeth or push back. He stills, hands curling at his sides like he’s fighting the urge to make himself smaller, eyes dropping a fraction in a way that tells me everything I need to know.
