“You said they were rare. Maybe he took them to buy himself alliances with otherpacks.”
Lucas perked up at thattheory.
“Or maybe he’s planning on using it on us?” Like I’d used it on Heath, which had been Everest’sidea.
Lucas’s pupils became pin-sized.
“You hadn’t considered that?” Iasked.
He slapped his hands against his knees, and the loud clap startled me. “Fuckme.”
“Never.” The word popped out before I even realized I’d utteredit.
Lucas smirked, but then the effect of my humor was lost as we both mulled over mysuggestion.
“We have to call Liam,” Lucas finallysaid.
And so we did, and this time our Alphaanswered.
7
Liam stormedinto Lucas’s bedroom about fifteen minutes after our phone call, arrowing straight for me. Once he reached my side, he cupped my cheeks and swept his gaze over every inch of my face as though to ascertain I was unscathed. I wasn’t sure why he imagined I was hurt, but who was I to complain someone cared enough to worry about me? One of his hands drifted down my arm to my fingers, while the other drifted over the faint white scars he’d inadvertently clawed into my cheek during the lasttrial.
Lucas updated him on our theories and told him about the bike. In the grand scheme of things, the bike seemedfutile.
“He doesn’t know about the meeting today, does he?” Iasked.
“He didn’t pledge himself to me, so no, he didn’t hear.” Liam stabbed his hand through his tousled hair as he paced the small room. “If the bastard plans on poisoning us with Sillin, he has another thinkcoming.”
“At least Sillin can’t kill us,” I ventured, but regretted my words when both Liam and Lucas slanted looks at me. Sure, I’d given some to Heath, but it was the silver cord Everest had wound around the Alpha’s neck that had snipped hislife.
“Sillin might not kill us,” Liam said gently, stopping his mad prowl, “but it’ll steal ouredge.”
I swallowed back the overwhelming guilt. Even though Liam hadn’t been a fan of his father, Heath had been his only remaining parent, and I’d had a hand in hisdemise.
Liam ran his thumb over my furrowed brow. “Stop blamingyourself.”
I whispered, “I’ll never stop blamingmyself.”
Liam gathered me to him and stroked my hair. His minty musk scent swirled around me, soothing my friednerves.
“What are you thinking, Liam?” Lucas asked after a beat ofsilence.
“I’m thinking I should pay Aidan Michaels a little visit like heasked.”
I pressed away. “No. The man’s a psychopath! You can’t go backthere.”
Liam shot me a smile that was all at once rueful and dangerous. “Ness, he won’t shoot meagain.”
“How do you knowthat?”
“Because one, we’ll show up prepared; and two, he’s at thehospital.”
“Liam—no.”
“What would you have me do? Sit back and wait for him toreach outto you again?” Liam stroked the edge of my quivering jaw. His touch just made me shiver harder. “No one threatens one of my wolves. Noone.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” Isaid.
