Before I could shut the car door, Liam said, “Matt will be over in the morning. Probably around 6:30.”
Ifrowned.
“I want you to start building muscle andstamina.”
“Why do I need Matt forthat?”
Liam draped his hand over the back of the seat I’d just vacated. “He’s going to take yourunning.”
“I can take myselfrunning.”
He smirked. “I’m sure you can. But in case you’ve forgotten, we have a lot more wolves intown.”
“You think they might attackme?”
His eyes blackened. “No. I don’t think they’d risk such atactlessmove, but you’re not running around in the woods alone. Come to think of it, Lucas should move back in with you, or you could”—he ran his hand through his hair—“stay at myplace.”
However much Lucas had grown on me, he was not moving into my two-bedroom apartment. “I have Jeb. Besides, what sort of message would me needing a babysitter send out?” I didn’t even bother bringing up Liam’s other suggestion. “They already don’t take me very seriously. Don’t add toit.”
“Who’sthey?”
“Pretty much everyone.” When he opened his mouth, I tossed in, “I’ll be going to Pine HQ aroundseven.”
He scrutinized my face a long moment before saying, “Okay. I’ll pick you up atsix.”
“I have my license now.” I flashed him a smile that he didn’t reciprocate. “I’ll get myselfthere.”
His eyes clouded, as though he wasn’t pleased with my budding independence. Or was my arrangement of getting there on my own not to hisliking?
The lastand only time I’d gone to the Pines’ headquarters was for Margaux and Robbie Matz’s engagement, and it hadn’t been to celebrate them. I’d gone to secure an alliance with Julian because my cousin had convinced me I’d killed Heath and that the pack would avenge their Alpha’s death by ending mylife.
I’d gotten so much more than Julian’s help that day. I’d gotten a confession which had overturned my world: the name of the man who’d murdered my father . . . a man who was still very much alive even though my pack had claimedotherwise.
My heels clicked on the stone staircase that was bare of rose petals and votive candles tonight. Steeling my spine, I stepped past the open doors. The high-ceilinged atrium lined with French windows on one end and dark, wainscoted walls on the other was filled with black-clad grievers. Even the orchid arrangement by the propped picture of Julian was a shade of purple so dark it lookedblack.
I tried to replace the last image I had of Julian with the blown-up tanned and expressive face staring back at me from within the gilt frame. He would’ve loved that frame, so golden and ornately carved. The man had such a weakness for expensivethings.
My gaze surfed over the room until I spotted Sarah. She was opening one of the French windows overlooking the labyrinthian hedges that separated HQ from the deceased’s pale-stonemansion.
As I forded through the copse of wary wolves, I offered condolences to the mourners. From the scrunched brows and skeptic looks, I surmised few believed I was beinggenuine.
Oh well. I wasn’t here to convince them; I was here forSarah.
When I finally reached her, I tapped her shoulder, and she spun around, puffy brown eyes growing wide in surprise. Apparently, she hadn’t put much stock into me coming. She hooked her arms around my neck and hugged metight.
“Twice in a day. What’s the world coming to?” I said into her blondemane.
She pressed away from me. “Wh-what?”
“You hugging me. That’stwice.”
Her lips quirked up in a smile. “Don’t get used toit.”
“I wouldn’t dream of getting used to anything around here. Everything’s always shifting: alliances, hearts, Alphas . . .people.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Did you just make ajoke?”
“Maybe. But don’t get used to it,” I said, using her own words. “I’m not a very funnyperson.”
