Alaina’s body went tense. Mallory turned sharply to watch him.
“What?” Alaina asked.
Remy kept scanning, looking for something, anything. “He’s here.”
“Orsen?” Mallory asked, her eyes widening.
“My parents,” Alaina yelped. “My grandparents!”
She dove for the door, shoving it open before Remy could even formulate the words, “Let’s not go rushing in without a plan.”
Mallory scrambled from the vehicle after her.
Remy sighed and pushed open his own door.
Guess they were rushing in without a plan.
ChapterEight
Mallory caught up to Alaina as she placed her foot on the bottom step leading to the porch. She clasped the girl’s forearm. “Alaina, don’t?—”
The slab of wood was pulled open, and there stood Orsen.
Their pack leader.
For a bear, he sure resembled a weasel. Beady eyes, triangular nose, skinny body. His seemingly small size was deceiving. She’d watched him take down men twice his size.
He didn’t fight fair. Physically or mentally.
Mallory felt rather than saw Remy slip up beside her, and was it weird that his nearness gave her confidence?
“You finally made it,” Orsen said, a growl in his voice. “Thought I was going to have to start beating on old people to pass the time waiting for you.”
He said this while looking down his nose at Alaina, who shrank away, subtly moving until she was partially tucked behind Mallory.
Orsen’s gaze finally shifted to Mallory, and his eyes widened a fraction. “You,” he said before he furrowed his brow. “So this was all contrived? You partnered up with a kid, set her up to kill my brother?”
Of course he would think that way. He had probably convinced himself his brother had not done anything to provoke the attack, either.
“You gonna answer me?” he demanded.
“No,” Mallory said.
His eyes widened again. People didn’t say no to the pack leader. Not this one, anyway.
“Technically, that was an answer,” Remy supplied helpfully, drawing the pack leader’s attention.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Remy said, and Mallory thought,he very much matters.
What a really terrible time to have such an epiphany.
“Then why don’t you get the hell out of here?” Orsen suggested to Remy.
“Nah, I’m good,” Remy replied as casually as if Orsen had asked if he wanted a drink of water.
“Whatever,” Orsen said, dismissing Remy. He wagged his finger between Alaina and Mallory. “I’ll punish you both for my brother’s death. Works for me.”
