Vale, Dakota, Rory, and Cyn follow me as I cross back to our side of the river, leaving my clothes on this side. I wait for Meg to speak, but she’s glowering around me in a very un-Meg like way. Something bad must have happened.
“Listen, a whole lot of people don’t want to continue,” Desi spits out as fast as he can.
I stand up straight. “What?”
“They want to go home. A couple of things have gone wrong so far, and they are feeling…unsettled, add to it the dead body, and it’s a bit much,” Meg says under her breath.
“Okay,” I say and rapidly go through the options.
“They are adamant that they want to go home,” she reiterates.
“Well, we want to go on!” Vale says suddenly.
I spit several vile curses into my mind as I turn to him with a fake smile and usher him back. He doesn’t move.
“All right, fine,” I mutter, glaring up at the stubborn tilt of Vale’s jaw. “Okay, listen up. How many people want to go home?”
The four alphas, plus Rojer Wayne, Nathan Haze, Kevin Young, Quincy Leahman, Justin Smith, and, to my utter surprise, Kendall Roe, leave their hands down.
I’ve got ten, but there are six that want to go home.
I turn back to Meg.
“Desi can take them back,” she blurts out.
“No, I can’t. We should all go back,” Desi protests.
“Your dad needs this trip, hun. You know it, and I know it. Business is slow these days,” Meg says. “We can do this. Together.”
I grunt and turn back, thinking of all the ways we can do this. There is only one solution. Can I do it? I’ve got faith in myself.
“Desi will go with you-” I say. “You’ll both go back.”
“No, Desi can go back,” Meg protests.
“Absolutely not. You’re due to go into heat soon,” Desi hisses. “You can’t go anywhere without me. It’s too dangerous for you with all these alphas,” he says with a nod to me.
It won’t work. Whatever they are thinking, it’s not going to work.
“We’ll be back before my heat,” she whispers, making sure no one is listening.
“No, I’m not risking it.” I huff. “All right, here’s what’s going to happen. Those who want to leave will be escorted by Meg and Desi back to base. Those who want to continue will come with me.”
“Bonnie!” Meg hisses.
I cup her cheeks. “You can’t be without him for that long. Go back, tell Dad. I will be fine. I’ve handled worse.”
She stares at me for a long moment. “Fine, but if you get hurt, I’m kicking your ass.”
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Desi asks. “And what about the rock wall?”
“We’ll bypass the rock wall. You know there are other ways up there.”
I shrug my shoulders, trying to feel the nonchalance I am suddenly not feeling. I walk away from the group and radio Dad.
“What’s wrong?” he asks in alarm.
“Found a body. Six campers have pulled out. I’m sending Desi and Meg back.”
