Michael nodded and took a couple of steps back. “You ready?”
“Yes.” Isaac set the bag on the ground and leant back against the cave wall. He really should leave, put as much distance between them before Paul arrived, but the pull he felt in Michael’s presence hadn’t dimmed at all in the years they’d been apart. “I just want to get it over with so we can move forward with our plans.” He nodded towards the laptop sitting on one of the tables. Nick, Smith, and Logan were crowded around it, looking at something, but Isaac knew everyone in that cave was listening.
“He’s going to be thorough.” Michael grimaced and rubbed a hand over his jaw.
His stubbled-covered jaw, which Isaac had a hard time looking away from.
“I know,” he finally answered with a grimace of his own. “And I’m going to have to stand back and say nothing while he inspects every part of my home.”
“I’m sorry,” Michael whispered, and the anguish in those two words both irritated and made his heart clench.
Fucking Michael, always a contradiction.
“What the fuck are you sorry for?” Isaac scoffed. Though he could guess. “For bringing the HRU here?”
“Yes.” He threw an arm out behind him in a wide sweep that encompassed everyone. “We’re the only reason he’s coming here.”
“You are,” Isaac agreed, then grinned when Michael snorted. “What, did you expect me to disagree?”
“Maybe.” Michael smirked at him, and Isaac had never been more pleased to see it. “I should’ve known better.”
“You should. I’m not going to lie to make you feel better, and you shouldn’t be apologising for something you had no choice in. Especially when we’d agreed this is what we’d do when you needed to leave London.” He drew in a breath but didn’t stop. He was on a roll now. “The HRU are coming here looking for you. Because you stand for something that goes againsteverythingthey believe in. You scare them.” The urge to reach for him was so strong that Isaac had to cross his arms tight across his chest. “And I will do whatever it takes to protect you. All of you,” he added when he realised the cave had fallen silent.
“Thank you.”
Only two simple words, but Michael managed to put a whole lot more meaning into them. Isaac’s wolf whined with the need to touch, to bury his nose in the juncture of Michael’s neck and shoulder and lose himself in a scent he knew almost as well as his own.
“Was it helpful?” He asked instead. “The laptop?”
Michael stared at him a beat longer before snapping his gaze away. “Yes, very. But we’re at the point where we need to meet with everyone involved face to face, don’t you think?”
“I do.” They could plan all they liked down here, but Isaac was in total agreement. The only way to move forward was to talk to the others in person. Isaac needed to see for himself that they were all on the same page. Let his instincts guide him with who they could absolutely trust.
And that probably went for the others too. Alpha or not, it was hard to lie to another alpha.
“As soon as Paul and his team are back in London, we’ll make arrangements,” he said, backing up a step. He’d already stayed far longer than he should’ve.
“It’ll still be a risk,” Michael offered.
“I know.” Isaac shrugged. “No going back now.” Whatever the outcome, they had to try. Michael’s departure had put things in motion, and if they didn’t take advantage and act now, then the last five years had been for nothing. “The HRU will be here early tomorrow, so I’ll send Callum with supplies for the day at sunrise. He’ll leave them halfway down the tunnel for you. Stay here, stay off the beach just in case, and we’ll let you know as soon as they leave.”
Michael started towards him before remembering and coming to an abrupt halt, hands curled into fists at his side. “Be careful.”
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “I don’t care if he’s HRU,” he said softly, injecting a little alpha power into his words. “I’m the fucking alpha of this pack, and he’ll respect that or find himself on the wrong side of my fucking temper.”
Michael’s lips curved up into a small, private smile, and the heat in his eyes sent a curl of desire up Isaac’s spine. “I’ll see you when they’ve gone.”
Isaac gave him a small smile of his own and then turned and made his way back up the tunnel.
The need to turn back stayed with him all the way to the house.
Slow?
Isaac let out a harsh laugh as he pushed open the door into the library.
Who am I fucking kidding?
* * *
