Just like me.
If only shewasn’tan alpha. Then she could confide in her oldest friend. Tell him how very little she felt like a leader these days. How she’d gotten Colin and Brian killed. How she wished she could simply run away and never look back.
With a sigh, she drained the mug and returned to the kitchen for a refill. Caffeine didn’t affect werewolves for very long—their fast metabolism burned it off like water, but the taste still helped her focus. If she was going to have a conversation with Eli Escobar, she was going to need every one of her wits about her.
“A new client came to see me last night,” she said quietly when Liam stalked after her and growled her name. “Ended up boltin’ the moment he found out I was a wolf.”
“What the fuck did ya’ tell him for?” Slamming his own cup down on the counter, Liam started to reach for Farren, probably to grab her by the shoulders and shake her, but then jerked away suddenly.
Newly mated werewolves were territorial and possessive, but the emotions ran both ways. Not only would Liam not stand for any other male—wolf or not—touching his Caitlin, he wouldn’t willingly put his hands on another woman ever again.
As she tried not to chuckle at his reaction, she idly wondered what would happen with two mated wolves of the same sex. Ewan’s brother was gay. And mated. Maybe one day she’d ask him.
With a quick shake of her head, she refocused on Liam. “I told him because he said he’d been sent to find the silver wolf by a daft old woman who showed up at a pub in London.”
“Diedre.”
“Possibly. Or someone pullin’ one over on him. He didn’t know anythin’ about our world. I made sure of that. But he also didn’t strike me as naive. More...baffled at why he’d listened to the woman in the first place.”
Eli had needed answers. If only she hadn’t scared him off before she figured out the questions.
“So? Are ya’ goin’ after him?”
Before Farren could answer, Caitlin shuffled into the kitchen. “Is that coffee? Can I have some? Or the whole pot?” She yawned and fitted herself to Liam’s side. “Mara’s sleeping. Finally. I had to charm her. About a dozen times. That baby doesnotlike its mother being forced to doanything.”
“Thebabyis fighting you?” Farren asked. “How do you know?
Sighing as Liam pressed a cup into her hand, she met Farren’s gaze. “I didn’t realize how much Katerina taught me about auras and energy. She never let me use those skills, so I assumed I couldn’t.” After a sip of coffee, she shook her head slightly. “I was wrong. When I help Mara—give her some of my air to bolster her water—I can feel another presence pushing back at me. The baby…she’s all fire.”
“She?” Liam stared down at his mate in disbelief. “Ya’ can tell it’s a girl?”
“I can’t be certain.” A small smile curved Caitlin’s lips. “But I think so.”
Farren let her gaze rove over the expanse of forest behind the house. “And will she be a wolf too?”
“With Cade as her father?” Liam snorted. “He’s the purest blood of all of us.”
Liam was right. Farren had never seen anyone—man or woman—stronger than Cade. When he shifted, his wolf stood taller and prouder than the rest of his pack, and only she could match him for speed when they ran.
The whole idea of a child, though…of having one. Of wanting one… She feared she simply hadn’t been born with that gene. Almost like being an alpha. This pack…what was left of it anyway…she’d fallen into leading them. It had been more Colin’s idea than her own.
“Ya’ need yer own pack, Farren. Yer da’ won’t kick ya’ out, but he raised ya’ to be an alpha. We could head to the coast. There are a handful of wolves near Doolin lookin’ for a leader.”
“Farren? Did ya’ hear me?” Liam asked.
“Sorry.” She blinked hard. “Long night. What did ya’ say?”
Caitlin reached over and snagged Farren’s hand, squeezing her fingers briefly. The contact wasn’t totally unwelcome, but definitely unexpected. “Ya’ need to relax, luv. When was the last time ya’ slept through the night?”
She couldn’t remember. A month? Two? Not since she’d heard about the return of Fergus Tharp. “It’s not important. Are ya’ sure Mara’s stable enough to be alone?”
Deflect. Defer. Distract. Ever since she’d lost Colin and Brian, that was how she got through her days. And she’d keep doing all of those things until Cade’s pack went home. Assuming they ever went home. Shite. What if they had to stay here under the protection spell forever? What if they never found a way to permanently hide from the Thirteen? Or keep Mara safe?
Caitlin was talking again. Farren needed to get her head on straight. Now.
“I’ll know when she wakes up,” the air elemental said. Her mate rubbed her shoulders, and Caitlin sighed. “Plus, Cade should be back soon.”
As if the alpha wolf had heard Caitlin, he strode out of the woods, buck arse naked and unashamed, his lips set in a near-permanent scowl.
