Felix looks at me, surprised. “You are right… that has to be the reason! That or it’s someone connected to him.”
“Could be a relative,” I say.
“Yeah. Liam suggested the same, or that he could be someone who knows too much, who can blackmail him. But someone of rank is another option.”
I linger on his words, trying not to think about how he is going with Maddox to my old pack. I know deep in my mind that no one would simply attack Felix. Elden would never send him there if his life was truly on the line, and I also know that one of his brothers undertook a much more dangerous mission when he was of a similar age.
It still doesn’t put my mind at ease.
And I know that Charlie is similarly worried for Maddox’s safety. I guess her concerns are much more valid because Maddox is at the mercy of his father and pack, while Felix is just a random visitor.
“Maddox announced my visit already,” Felix tells me. “He and Liam worked all day yesterday on a plan. Funny, after his initial wariness towards Liam, he seems to get along very well with him all of a sudden.”
“Interesting,” I admit. “Maddox is very reserved. I guess, looking back at the situation now, he was never involved with any group. Just the kids of ranked members naturally flocked to him.”
“But he was no one’s friend,” Felix says quietly. “I get that feeling. I can’t say I really like the guy, but I guess I understand part of him.”
“You don’t like him?” I ask. “I thought you would be the type of person to give everyone a proper chance.”
“Sure, I am giving him a chance,” Felix says. “And he is Charlie’s mate, so obviously, I will give it a real effort, but he wasn’t great to you, so… it’s personal.”
I smile. “It’s okay,” I reassure him. “Without him, I might have never met you.”
Felix returns my smile. “If you put it like that…”
“So, the plan?”
“I will join Maddox today and visit his pack, being my usual self. No one ever suspects me of something shady. They never have; they don’t think I have it in me.”
“They don’t know you as well as I do.”
“So, I have a shady side to me?” he asks with a grin.
“Not really shady, but you have a side to you that is ready to take risks and protect your family.”
His eyes light up at my words, and he looks happy. I meant what I said. Felix does not have one bad bone in his body, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t ready to do what needs to be done to keep his loved ones safe. And that’s seriously hot!
It’s also the reason I am not complaining too much about his mission. I know he needs to do it; he wants to prove himself,and now with Maddox being mated to Charlie, it’s even more important that the guy gets out of this safely.
“It’s good that Annie invited me over,” I say. “Perfect timing.”
“I guess she did it on purpose,” Felix admits. “The timing is too perfect.”
“I know,” I chuckle. “But it’s really the perfect way to keep me distracted.”
Felix reaches out his hand and squeezes my knee. “I will be careful,” he says. “I am not staying there for more than two days. It would be suspicious if I stayed too long anyway. Dad and Maddox agreed on Maddox inviting me over on short notice. They won’t have time to check on me properly. I am taking them by surprise that way.” He pauses. “Please trust me.”
There is something vulnerable in his tone when he says the last words. He is used to people underestimating him and thinking he can’t do much.
“I trust you,” I say firmly. “I know you will rock this.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” I say, definitely. “I am not lying. I am very anxious about you going there, even if it’s just for a couple of days, but from what I know, my former alpha has always been too cautious to directly go against his own pack members, so I don’t think your life is in danger. Daniel said hejustdidn’t protect them, and he swept scandals under the rug, like he did with Marina.” I pause. “I know this needs to end. When are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow evening,” he says. “Maddox is officially working on a college project right now, so, it makes sense for him to take me back to his pack for additional work. We are going to pretend to work together for said project.”
“Yeah, it’s a good cover,” I agree.
