Either way, Leon didn’t have time to dwell on it now. He needed to find answers about this pack. The more he knew, the better their chances of getting out of here alive.
One of the buildings from which light spilled was much larger than any he’d seen so far, and he could hear voices inside. Curious, he eased his way in its direction, only to see Dan, the guy who’d helped with Karl, walking toward him. He had his head down, looking to be in deep thought and unaware of his surroundings. Leon took the opportunity to get out of his sightline by climbing the nearest tree. Even the slight sounds he made against the bark didn’t rouse Dan from his abstraction.
Preparing to descend once Dan was out of sight, Leon paused. Branches arched over the building he’d been making for. Perhaps he’d be able to find out something of what was going on from up here and, unlike skulking around the building, he would have an innocent explanation if he were to be found. He’d simply wanted to climb a tree. But he knew he wouldn’t be found, because Grandpa had been right—people never looked up.
It didn’t help him much. From there, the voices were louder, but he couldn’t work out any words because multiple conversationswere being held simultaneously, all underlain by the clashing of silverware. The scent of food made his stomach rumble and confirmed that this must be where the pack ate. He hadn’t thought of it before, but it made sense that if they were conserving energy, a communal kitchen would be more efficient. Plus the whole wolf thing, where they seemed incapable of doing anything independently. He’d forgotten how annoying they were in that respect because Karl wasn’t like that. For the things that mattered, he was basically an honorary cat.
Climbing back down, he prowled further. The emptiness of the settlement made sense now he knew they were eating, and he filed the knowledge away. This might be their best time of day to make a break for it. Michael’s pack wouldn’t hear anything over the noise coming from the building.
On the other hand, Ruth might be more likely to check on them at this time of day rather than the dead of night. He didn’t much like the idea of an entire pack close on their heels as they ran. No need to make decisions yet, not with Karl still as weak as a kitten.
He’d just rounded the corner of another of these identical buildings when he froze. Michael’s voice, annoyed and strident, was coming from inside.
“D’you think I don’t know that?”
A woman’s voice answered, but Leon couldn’t make out her words. He crept closer and pressed against the wall, straining his ears.
“…we become the monsters.” Her voice was much softer than Michael’s, but he could hear it clearly now.
“Iknow, Hailey.It’s as if you think I want to. But if we don’t, are you willing to take the risk? Will you be able to look Jo in the face if Charlie’s killed as a result of us trusting outsiders again?”
“We don’t know—”
“Yes, wedo.” Sudden fury and sheer alpha power in Michael’s voice had Leon fighting an instinctive hunch. “We know exactly what happens if we trust an outsider.”
“Then we move. Pack up and start again somewhere. We’ve done it before. It’s better than… It’s the only way.”
“It’s not theonlyway.”
“It’s the only way I can live with.” The woman drew a sobbing breath. “I know what it means to move us all, what it takes, Michael. God knows I’m exhausted at the very idea, but we don’t have any other choice. Look”—her voice took on a new urgency, as if she’d hit on something that might clinch her argument—“if you were to dispose of them and the cats discovered it, what do you think they’d do? They’d never rest until they found us if they knew what we did to their prince.”
“You think he’s really a prince?”
There was a long pause. “I don’t know,” Hailey said slowly. “He acts like one, but perhaps all cats do. But why would he say it if he’s not? And what about those other cats he mentioned? Cats don’t go around in groups from what I’ve heard. He wouldn’t have them with him if he weren’t important, would he?”
“Whataboutthem? Odd that we haven’t seen any of them yet if they’re out there.”
“Good point,” she said.
“This is a pack, not a democracy, Hailey. What I say goes. Unless you want to issue a formal challenge?”
“You know I don’t. But there’s a reason you made me your beta, and I’m telling you now that this isn’t you. It isn’tus.”
An even longer silence and then a weary sigh from Michael. “I know,” he said. “I know. But I have to keep the pack safe. Oh God,” he said with a laugh that contained no humor whatsoever, “don’t look so tragic. I haven’t decided yet. Find Ruth and some of theothers and start working on options for where we could go if we were to move.”
Leon moved swiftly away and headed for Cormack’s house. He didn’t know if he was supposed to be out and about, and if Hailey was looking for Ruth, it was one of the first places she’d go.
He sat down again by the bed, where Karl was sleeping, motionless under the blankets,only dragging his gaze from Karl’s face when Ruth spoke. “I don’t think he woke fully,” she said. “Just enough to get some more painkillers in him. He didn’t say anything, but he was looking around. Settled again once I told him you’d be back soon.”
God, forKarlof all people not to be fully alert… Leon realized how much he’d come to depend on the way Karl absorbed every detail of his surroundings, making swift, firm decisions, and expecting everyone—by which he meantLeon—to do what he told them. It was annoying as hell, yet somehow, he was missing that know-it-all bossiness.
He turned in his chair as the door opened. The woman who entered looked about the same age as Michael and had the blue eyes that seemed so common in this pack, but the resemblance ended there. Her long hair, tied in a plait, was blonde, and she was tall and willowy, with no outward indication of the forceful personality he’d just heard standing up to her alpha.
“How is he?” she asked Ruth. It was definitely the voice he’d heard.
Leon had stood respectfully at her entrance. She was on their side, for now, and he hoped he could convince her to stay that way. Help wouldn’t be coming anytime soon from the ranch. No one would be searching for them because no one knew they were in trouble.
“He’s improving,” Ruth answered.
