Jett nods slowly. "She could be useful."
"She could also get caught in the blast when this thing explodes," Cassian adds. He's not smiling anymore. "If Ben and Penelope are playing the kind of game we think they are, anyone close to it is going to take damage."
I straighten up and look at both of them. "Then we make sure Sharon doesn't get caught. We need to know what she knows, but we do it carefully. We help with the wedding. We stay close. And we don't let her become collateral damage."
"You want to protect her," Jett observes. It's not a question.
“Her and Grandpa," I correct, but even as I say it, I know it's not entirely true. Sharon's scent is still in my head, strawberries and honey and something that made every alpha instinct I have sit up and pay attention. "But Sharon doesn't deserve to get destroyed because she took a job planning a wedding for two people who are using her as camouflage."
Cassian picks up the whiskey bottle and pours another round for all of us. His movements are precise, controlled. "So, we're agreed. We find out what Ben and Penelope are really after. We protect Sharon from whatever fallout is coming. And we make sure Grandpa doesn't lose everything he's built."
"Agreed," Jett says.
I take the fresh glass Cassian slides toward me and lift it slightly. "But we do this smart the smart way. No rushing in, no making assumptions. We gather information first."
"When do we start?" Cassian asks.
"We already started." I take a drink, feeling the whiskey burn. "The second Sharon walked into that office, we became part of this. Now we just need to figure out how deep the corruption goes and who else is involved."
Jett moves back toward the window, resuming his watch over the street. "Ben's not smart enough to plan something this complex alone. He's got help."
"Penelope," Cassian says immediately.
"Not just Penelope." I'm pacing again, my boots hitting the floorboards in a steady rhythm. "She's got the brains and the resources, but she's also got a reputation to protect. She wouldn't risk everything on Ben unless someone else was guaranteeing the outcome."
"Someone on the Council," Jett suggests. His voice is thoughtful, like he's testing the theory. "Someone who stands to gain if Grandpa loses his influence."
The pieces are starting to come together, forming a picture that makes my jaw clench. "Harold Mathers."
Cassian lets out a low whistle. "That bastard has been trying to push Grandpa out for years. If he's backing Ben and Penelope's play..."
"Then this isn't just about a wedding," I finish. "This is about a power shift in Pine Hollow. And Sharon is planning the event that's going to change everything."
This is what we do. The three of us, when something threatens our family. We close ranks. We plan. We act.
"I'll talk to Grandpa," Jett says. "Find out what he knows about Harold's recent movements. See if there have been any unusual business offers or pressure tactics."
"I'll dig into Penelope's finances," Cassian offers. "I've got a friend who works at the county clerk's office. If she's been moving assets or restructuring anything, there will be paper trails."
"And I'll stay close to Sharon," I say. The words feel heavier than they should. "Keep her talking about the wedding plans. See what details she mentions that might not seem important to her but paint a bigger picture for us."
Cassian grins, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "You sure that's the only reason you want to stay close to Sharon?"
I level him with a look. "This isn't about attraction. This is about protecting what's ours."
"But she is attractive," he points out. "And her scent..."
“I know, it’s intoxicating, but we need to focus on the problem. We deal with Ben and Penelope and whoever else is involved in this scheme. Everything else is a distraction."
Jett turns from the window one more time. "He's right. We can't afford to lose focus. If we're wrong about this, we look like paranoid idiots. If we're right and we miss something because we're too busy thinking about an omega's scent, people get hurt."
Cassian raises his hands in surrender. "Fine. Business first. I'm just saying, when this is over and Sharon is safe and Ben is exposed for whatever he's really doing, that omega is going to need a pack. And we're right here."
We pay the bartender then we head for the door, moving as a unit the way we always do. Cassian unlocks his truck and pauses with his hand on the door. "You really think we can stop this? Whatever Ben's planning?"
"I think we're going to try," I answer. "And I think Ben's arrogance is going to be his downfall. He's never been as smart as he thinks he is."
"And Penelope?" Jett asks.
