Jerome frowned, glancing at his gamma. “He’s being supervised, Alpha… Grace was leading the training sessions today, and I made sure she stayed behind with him once they were over.” He tilted his head to the side. “Is… everything okay?”
His eyes flicked to the empty glass in my hand and, moments later, a comprehending look replaced his furrowed brow.
Maya rose from her seat and took a deep breath. “Marcus,” she began, her voice steady, “I think having Joanna followed is a bad idea.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Which is why I didn’t bother telling you about it.”
Jerome’s dark cheeks reddened. “Shit,” he muttered. “Marcus, I didn’t realize—”
“It’s fine,” I snapped, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Maya hasn’t accepted her promotion yet. And even when she does, I still won’t be obligated to share every detail regarding the women I fuck.”
Jerome clenched his jaw.
Was I being an asshole? Maybe. But I was angry and fucking worried. Annoyed by that damn scout. Disappointed in Maya for insinuating I was overstepping… In myself for letting Joanna leave this morning.
She should’ve been by my side. It was the only way I could ensure her safety.
Maya remained silent, her face twisting as she peeled away the layers of my conduct. When she finally spoke, she did so with a shake of her head, repeating the only words she deemed worthy of clarification. “The… women…?”
Yes, my gamma was adept at reading me. And where others would’ve heard a slip-up, she discerned resolve…
The wolfsbane and I had made our decision.
The fucking bond could go straight to hell.
Chapter Five
Joanna
The metal door groaned in protest, stealing my attention. Relief washed over me as James walked toward me and the agents, looking the same as he did before we were separated.
In his absence, I told Li and Hill everything I knew about the uprising, even though it wasn’t much.
I explained we’d learned about the threat from Marcus’s beta—but left out that I used to screw the sick fuck. And I clarified Marcus was on the right side of all this shit, leaving out that his moral compass made him easier to screw.
“Are you okay?” James and I asked simultaneously once he dropped into the chair beside me.
I smiled, giving him a small nod in response.
He didn’t smile back. He kept a straight face as his eyes darted across my body, scanning for injuries. Seeing none, he heaved a heavy sigh. “Good.” James crossed his arms with an unamused dullness in his eyes. “I’m guessing you’re Director Li?”
“Detective Cooper,” Li greeted. “Your reputation precedes you.” She gestured toward Hill with a flick of her hand. “This is Deandre Hill. He’ll be working closely with you and Joey for the time being.”
My eyes widened. “What?” I sputtered.
Hill looked up from jotting notes on his file. “According to what you’ve told us, Joey, you believe Thomas was the werewolf who started talks of revolution within the Blackwood Pack, correct?”
The piece of shit had dismissed my question.
“I’m not sure,” I answered, further annoyed by his absentminded cadence. “Perhaps it started with the beta. I didn’t know Thomas well enough to say whether Ethan lured him or if the elder harbored rebellious thoughts on his own.” I watched as Hill scribbled down more notes before I returned my gaze to Li. “What do you mean we’ll be working together?”
Hill dropped his pen onto the table, tapping the file as he listed off names. “Ethan. Thomas. Leo. Brian. These are just four members of the Blackwood Pack the Alpha discovered were traitors. And you,a human—a woman whoknowswhat these monsters are capable of—were by his side when he did. Marcus may be a fair alpha, Joey, but pack loyalty also makes him blind to threats right under his nose.”
“No.” A deep scowl darkened James’s face. Clearly, he understood where this conversation was headed. But even with his objection, I struggled to see how what Hill said had to do with us. “I’m trying to get her away from them, Jack. Find someone else.”
Understanding dawned on me. “You want me to spy on Marcus’s pack.”
“The Alpha’s stance in this uprising makes him one of too few allies.” Li declared.
