“Want some, Ness?” Nelsonasked.
“She’s underage,” Augustsaid.
I rolled my eyes but said I was good withwater.
Nelson tutted as he served Jeb. “You were drinking way before you were twenty-one,son.”
“Doesn’t make it legal,” August said, to which I shook myhead.
What was up with his hoity-toity behavior? It was so unlikehim. . .
After Evelyn said grace, we all tucked in. The food was delicious, and the company, besides Mr. Broody in front of me, wasdelightful.
“Were you at The Den on Thursday night, August?” Jebasked.
“No. Why? Wereyou?”
Jeb smirked. “Me? I’m way too old to hang out in a place like that. Ness went, but they turned her away at thedoor.”
I took a swig from my ice-cold water, and it went down the wrong hole. I coughed so hard Evelyn rubbed me between the shoulders. The lie I’d told Jeb was that the bouncer hadn’t allowed me inside, thus embarrassing me. Thus making me cry. I would never have cried about it, but Jeb ate itup.
“I told her she should’ve phoned one of the boys. That they would’ve gotten herin.”
August narrowed his eyes. “That place is full of college kids. Besides, doesn’t that friend of yoursdee—”
I kicked his shin under the table. He couldn’t blow mycover.
One of his eyebrows arched high. “I guess they’re stricter in thesummer.”
I stabbed a piece of quesadilla. The golden shell crackled from the impact of myfork.
“Any more Creek spottings?” I asked Frank before I stuck the morsel inside my mouth. I was desperate to change the subject, but I also thought that if anyone was up to date on pack information, it would be theelder.
“It’s been quiet.” Frank darted a worried glance at Jeb, who was concentrated on hisplate.
Perhaps me bringing up his son’s murderers had been indelicate. “Is Liam going to send anyone to BeaverCreek?”
A small, vertical groove appeared between August’seyebrows.
Frank took a sip of wine. “I was thinking of going out there myself. I know Morgan. I know the way shethinks.”
Evelyn went whiter than the glaze atop the cinnamon rolls. “Frank . . .no.”
He took her hand in his and gave it a firm squeeze. “I’ll befine.”
“I could go,” I volunteered. “Maybe the Alpha would take well to agirl.”
August’s freckles darkened. “Ness, that would becompletely—”
“No, no, y no.” Evelyn squeezed my wrist so hard she cut off my bloodcirculation.
“Some women feel less threatened by members of the same sex,” Isaid.
Frank scratched his wrinkled neck. “I don’t think it would be wise. The Creeks are . . . well, they’re very in tune with their other nature, which doesn’t make them verycivilized.”
“They killed Everest, Ness,” Jeb whispered. “I won’t lose youtoo.”
I pressed my lips together. For Jeb’s sake, I stoppedfighting.
