Not that Isaac was surprised.
They’d lost everything.
“We’re safe here for now,” Michael said from beside him. He stood straight, shoulders back, the confident air of an alpha back in place.
Good, because they need it, whether they think they do or not.
Isaac cast his gaze once again over those seated at his table, all eyes fixed on Michael, and realised he’d been mistaken. Yes, they’d lost a hell of a lot, but noteverything.
He noted the way they’d arranged themselves, some closer together than others, yet all within touching distance of another pack member. Because that’s what they were. Although no longer part of the McKillan pack—and he should probably stop calling it that since Michael was no longer alpha—they were part ofapack. A much smaller one, but a tightly knit pack forged by a common cause and cemented by trust. Isaac saw it in their eyes, their body language, and the scent of it hung heavy in the air.
Whether they included Michael in this new pack remained to be seen, but Isaac was hopeful.
“Isaac’s having the van disposed of as we speak, and everyone here can be trusted.” Michael added, and all eyes turned to Isaac.
He smiled. “Consider my house yours. There are many rooms on the first two floors. Take your pick.” Thank the Goddess they’d had the foresight to plan for something like this. Mothecombe was perfectly positioned to aid escape to the Channel Islands, but the house itself was big enough to easily accommodate these five and more if need be.
Not to mention the holiday homes dotted about the grounds that housed his pack members. His heart stuttered, reminding him of another conversation he needed to have with Michael.
But that could wait for later.
Enough had happened in the last few hours. Isaac wasn’t about to add to that until Michael had time to process all those changes.
“Won’t the HRU think to look here first?” Aaron asked, pulling Isaac back to the room and those in it. “It’s where the three of us came last time. It’d be one of the first places I’d look.”
Isaac agreed, so had Michael, which was why they’d already adapted their contingency plans should the worst happen.
Michael shrugged. “A trail has been left that should lead them elsewhere for the time being. If they come here, there are places we can hide. Or we can leave.”
Hide.
Isaac wanted to reach for Michael’s hand and grip it tightly.
I’m not letting you go that easily now you’re finally here.
He crossed his arms instead and waited for Michael to finish speaking.
“But for now, I suggest we eat, get some rest, then reconvene in the morning. We have much to discuss, I know. But it’s been a long day, and I, for one, need to sleep.”
Isaac swallowed, mind flooded with thoughts of which bed to put Michael in. Pushing them resolutely to the back of his mind before anyone in the room picked up on them, Isaac clapped his hands and headed for the huge fridge in the corner of the room. “Let’s see what we have to eat.”
* * *
With full stomachs,it was inevitable that tiredness would settle in fast. The yawns started, infectious as always, and Isaac laughed as three of them yawned in unison. “Please go get some rest. You’re making me feel tired, and I have a day’s work ahead of me. A few hours’ sleep and then some sea air will do you the world of good.” He stood, wincing at the scrape of his chair across the tiled floor. “Come on, I’ll show you all to your rooms.”
With Michael bringing up the rear, Isaac showed the others to guest rooms on the first floor. Unsurprisingly, Cole and Logan chose to share one, the heated looks they sent one another causing Isaac to chuckle as the door closed behind them.
“Mated by morning?” he said, eternally grateful that the walls of all guest rooms were now soundproofed.
“Without a doubt.”
He turned to find Michael leant against the wall, head tilted back, tiredness evident in every inch of his body. His eyes remained alert, though, fixed on Isaac with an intensity that sent a shiver through him.
Isaac was decisive by nature, needed to be as an alpha when his pack looked to him for the answers. But now, standing in the dimly lit hallway with Michael looking at him likethat,coherent thought eluded him.
Having Michael so close after years spent apart had raised a myriad of conflicting emotions. He’d missed him so much, was so fucking happy to see him again. But had they been apart too long? It had been easier to deal with when surrounded by the others. Having something else to focus on kept it all at bay.
Here, alone again with a man he’d loved so fiercely—still did, a voice inside him insisted—Isaac felt so many things that he struggled to sort through them.
