"He had to return to Europe to resolve some urgent business," I answered smoothly, reaching out for Sage's thigh beneath the table and squeezing it. "I believe he intends to return within a few weeks. The life of a nomad, you know?"
Beckett nodded but frowned. "That's a pity. I was hoping he might have some kind of magical way to combat the scent blockers. I don't know," he chuckled ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck, "maybe I read too many fantasy novels."
“I’m sure there’s an equally chemical way to neutralize the effect of scent blockers,” Eric mused from where he sat next to Rex, “but it will take time to research and test.”
“Time which we probably don’t have,” Rex finished for him.
The room fell silent again.
“I was thinking…” Sage piped up, stalling as everyone’s attention zoned in on him, “Uh, I mean…” He cleared his throat. “What if we involve the local Sheriffs’ offices? From neighboring counties and towns, I mean.” He gestured towards Beckett, adding, “You’ve made connections these past few years, right? After the clusterfuck that happened the last time we were attacked?”
Beckett had had to. People on both sides of the melee had died. It hadn’t been the kind of thing that could be swept under the rug.
The pack Alpha scrunched his nose in contemplation. “Yeah…” he drew out the word while he thought it over. “But they’re mostly humans.”
“Mostly,” Sage repeated, “but not all. This could impact them, too.”
I tried to quell my rising amusement, knowing that he was defending Sergio’s idea more than he would his own.
Eric huffed. “Something funny, Dex?”
Damn it.
“No,” I answered, without a trace of my usual snark or adversarial tone. I even attempted to sound apologetic. “Sorry, my mind was elsewhere.”
On my mates, I wanted to explain.My incredibly sexy mates.
“Hmm,” Sage’s younger brother didn’t look convinced. Elbows braced on top of the table, he steepled his fingers and narrowed his gaze at me. “Well, you two could make yourselves useful and ask around town, see if you can’t find out more about where the blockers are coming from and how people are accessing them.”
That sounded risky. “Do I look like a damn detective?”
Eric rolled his eyes. “I’m not asking you to poke around drug dens or anything.”
“Our town doesn’t have—” Beck started, but Eric waved him off, still looking my way.
“Just…see if anyone in Frat House will talk, is all I’m asking.”
“We can do that,” Sage answered before I could give in to the urge to snark back at his brother. “Maybe even see if any of the betas who go to the parties are willing to share what they know.”
I knew that he thrived on feeling helpful, so my bluster deflated and I sighed. “Fine. But you really should contact the police in the area. Who knows what else these backyard chemists are concocting.”
For some reason, my dragon would not let go of the sense of unease that accompanied that thought.
I hoped that I was being paranoid, but he’d been right before.
“Okay,” Beckett agreed, sounding concerned, “I think that’s fair.” I wondered if his alpha —his wolf— was feeling the same way as my dragon, because his expression softened and he looked beseechingly at both me and Sage. “And be careful while you’re digging into it. We don’t want anyone in our pack to get hurt because of this.”
Chapter Seventeen
“You are just going to keep trying to avoid me, aren’t you?” Brandt asked when I opened my front door.
I frowned at him, not having expected to see him there. He was dressed casually in loose sweatpants and a t-shirt bearing questionable stains; not a look I was used to seeing on my oldest brother, who was usually found in jeans and a button-down shirt. But then a squeaking yawn came from the stroller he was rocking back and forth and I was instantly distracted.
“Awww,” I cooed, bending to inspect my sleeping nephews, “babies.”
“Hello to you, too,” Brandt drawled.
Straightening up, I frowned at him. “What the hell, Bee? They’re barely two weeks old. Please tell me you didnotwalk all the way here.” I swung my door all the way open and rolled my wrist, hurrying him inside. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”
