We park two blocks away, hidden behind a row of abandoned warehouses. Everyone piles out. The air is cold enough to sting.
My wolf claws at me, begging to be let out, but I can’t shift. Not if I want to communicate with the vampires. I shake my arms out, trying to loosen up.
Kaine strides over, spinning his keys on a keyring. “I’m sure you saw the hotel on the drive in?”
We all nod.
“Trivanka has been staying on the second floor, top right corner. It’s a single-row unit, so no back rooms to worry about.”
Grant shoves his hands in his pockets. “Didn’t look like anyone was there.”
“I promise you, she’s there.”
Willow folds her arms over her chest. “We’ve only seen her come outside once, and that was to meet a delivery service for blood.”
Sage mutters under his breath.
“What was that?” Grant asks.
“I said, it’s a miracle she didn’t just eat the delivery driver.”
Ivy snorts a laugh.
Forest straightens. “We’ll confirm she’s there, then we’ll leave.”
“Why don’t we just go in?” I say incredulously. “We’re right here, and we came all this way—”
“—to scout the place,” he cuts in with a pointed glare.“Not to fight. We’re not starting something without a plan.”
Kaine’s lips twist, clearly amused. “Sounds like your wolf’s itchin’ for a fight, Rowen.”
I growl. He has no idea how close I am to shifting. “One more word and I’ll bite your pretty little head off.”
“Ooh, fiesty.”
“Should we shift?” Ivy asks.
“No, it’ll be less conspicuous if we stay in this form,” Forest says. “Let’s split up into groups of three, but remember, we’reonlyobserving tonight.”
All the shifters dip their heads at the command.
Sage zips his coat. “Let’s go.”
We spread out down the street, staying behind buildings or parked cars. Water laps against the docks to drown our footsteps, and humidity clings to my skin. The air smells like rust and salt, thick enough to choke on.
Frustration bubbles in me. To be this close and not talk to Trivanka is making me want to rip someone’s throat out. I need answers, and I need them bad.
Kaine leads Ivy and I down the narrow alley between two corrugated warehouses. His footsteps barely make a sound against the cracked pavement. Ivy shivers beside me, her thick coat brushing the wet walls of the warehouse.
When we reach the corner, we all turn to peer across the street. There it is. The hotel.
My inner wolf snarls.
We dash across the road, hiding in a tall grassy area. Kaine lifts a hand, signaling silence. He points to the window on the second floor.
“In there.”
I squint up where shadows move across the curtained window. My nails grow, thickening on instinct. “We need to get closer.”
