I had never been given the chance to bond to other members of the pack. Bad as it sounded, I hadn’t really cared. I had no stake in the outcome, so it wasn’t necessary for me to be involved in meetings. I had no power and no influence. No opinion either. I couldn’t affect positive change. I couldn’t do anything but twiddle my thumbs.
Ugh.
I was spiraling. I had to get out of the house. I couldn’t sit on my hands any longer.
Not when there was one thing I alone could do that might, just might, set things right.
As soon as dawn warmed the oak floors, and Sloane shuffled off to the laundry room to dry the small load of clothes she forgot about washing last night, I whipped out my phone and pulled up my conversation with Rían.
>Where are you?
Probably I should have kicked off my text withgood morningrather than what read as a demand. The time away from my phone must have rusted my etiquette. I would have to be smoother to convince him I was in the right headspace for what I had planned.
>>I’m with the enforcers. Reviewing yesterday’s reports. Everything okay?
>I want to try my luck hunting Carmichael. He must be the one behind all this. We contain him, we eliminate the threat.
>>Stay put. I’ll come home, and we’ll talk.
Had anyone else said it, I would assume they meant talk me out of it, but I trusted Rían to listen.
Determined to wash away the bags under my eyes, I took a blistering hot shower. I even blow-dried my hair before dressingfor the day. Then all that was left was to plop on the couch and avoid chewing off my thumbnail while I waited on Rían.
“Laundry is done,” Sloane sang out as she plopped onto the cushion beside me. “Folded and everything.”
“Did it make it from the folded pile into the dresser this time?”
“So.”She leaned over my shoulder. “Who are we texting so early?”
From our time living together, I had discovered she would wash, dry, hang, fold, and iron clothes. But if a piece of clothing was destined for the dresser we shared, it would live its life in a basket at the foot of our bed. Had she not also been doing my laundry, I might have delved into her drawer phobia, but I had it too good to rock the boat.
“I’m going after Carmichael.” I shivered at how real it sounded after I said it out loud. “I want to be smart about it, so I gave Rían a heads-up. We’re going to strategize.”
“This is about last night.” She anchored her sharp chin on my clavicle. “Aren’t you worried you’ll play right into his hands?”
“I’m more worried I’ll end up living, and dying, like my mother.” I tipped my head against hers. “I can’t sit back and wait for him to make another move against the clan. He’s not taking Rían, or Goldie, from me.”
“I notice you left Liam out.” She heaved a sigh. “Guess that means I’ll have to save him.”
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” I said dryly. “I’m not saying throw yourself in front of a fireball or anything—wolves are flammable, you know—but I would appreciate help watching his back.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She made a rude noise. “Are you sure you can track Carmichael via the bond?”
“I still feel him through it, so I’m thinking yes. With fewer packmates drawing on his energy, the connection is strongerthan ever.” I sucked in a breath. “I might need to ask for help to home in on his signal or whatever. I’m not sure how to do it exactly.”
And it would broadcast my movements to him, which I did not want but saw no way around.
“The trick will be following it to him without him realizing what you’re doing. Especially without the distraction of other pack members tugging on him. That will require stealth.” She furrowed her brow. “Maybe we could use the connection to lead him where we want him to go.”
The front door opened, allowing a warm breeze to swirl hair into my eyes.
“Good idea.” I craned my neck to see Rían and four other enforcers enter the room. “Hey.”
“I’m afraid of what the two of you consider a good idea,” Liam said, entering last. “Care to fill us in?”
He sank into a chair across from Sloane while Rían took the place next to me.
The other enforcers, including Rand, remained standing.
