CHAPTER13
“Ithink that’s about as much as we can plan ahead of time.” Michael closed the laptop and sat back in his chair, exhausted. Judging by the yawns going around the table, they all were.
“Agreed.” Isaac ran a hand through his hair, and Michael watched him, gaze dropping to his shoulder.
The skin was covered by his white T-shirt, but Michael knew the bite mark he’d left last night had healed hours ago. He suppressed a shudder at the memory. It’d taken all the self-control he’d possessed not to turn his head and give Isaac the mating bite that they were both desperate for.
He’d made the right decision. He knew he had. It would be hard enough to survive if anything happened to either of them, but if they were bonded? It would be unbearable, and he would never wish that pain on Isaac.
Never.
They’d spent the whole day going over their routes to and from the meetings, what needed to be discussed, and times that each group should contact Logan and Aaron with information.
The meetings themselves had been arranged to take place at 10am. Isaac, Callum, and Alice would have to leave before six the following morning, but in doing so should miss most of the traffic. In theory, so should Michael, if they set off early enough.
There was nothing left but to go to bed and get as much rest as they could. Tomorrow would be a long and exhausting day, and they couldn’t afford to be anything less than at their best.
“Right.” Michael stood. “I think we should call it a night, get as much rest as you can.” He turned to Callum and Alice, who’d joined them earlier. “Good luck for tomorrow. Take no chances though.” His gaze flicked to Isaac. “If you sense anything that doesn’t seem right.Anythingat all. Get out of there and come home.”
Callum and Alice gave him their word, but Isaac said nothing.
Michae’s gaze darkened. “It’s not worth it, Isaac.”
“We need to have that meeting. We don’t have time to reschedule. You know that.” Isaac fixed him with a look that Michael knew from experience was pointless to argue with, so he didn’t bother. “Be careful,” he said instead. “All of you.”
“Same goes for you.” Isaac tipped his head at Nick, Sam, Smith, and Cole. “I want everyone back here in one piece tomorrow.”
They said their goodnights, and Michael didn’t miss the way Logan grabbed Cole’s hand and almost dragged him out of the room.
No one had mentioned how loud he and Isaac had been. He wasn’t sure if he was thankful or disappointed. When the room had emptied, he walked over to Isaac and wrapped his arms around him, nose buried into the crook of his neck. It was fast becoming his favourite place to be.
He breathed in, the familiar scent settling his wolf like it always had. There were a hundred things he wanted to say, the main one being, “don’t go to London tomorrow,” but he kept them all inside. Isaac was an alpha. He could take care of himself and his pack. Michael had to trust that.
Trust him.
“Let’s go to bed,” he whispered and felt Isaac nod.
“Come on.”
They walked up the stairs hand in hand like the night before. But this time they undressed quietly and curled up in bed together under Isaac’s quilt, the way they clung to each other saying everything they didn’t voice.
When Michael woke with the sun the following morning, Isaac was gone.
* * *
They droveinto Davidson pack territory at a little after nine twenty. Isaac sat in the passenger seat with maps open on his phone, Alice driving, and Callum in the back, eyes trained on their surroundings.
They’d checked with Jacob yesterday afternoon, and as far as he was aware, there were no plans for any HRU inspection in the Davidson pack territory or any of the adjacent territories. But that could change, and if Paul was to be believed, then Simon kept his plans very close to his chest, so who the fuck knew what he might be up to.
Still, so far so good.
“Take a left turn at the lights,” Isaac said, gaze tracking everything around them as Alice indicated and took the turning. The windows on Isaac’s SUV were tinted enough that they were safe from a distance, but any shifters close enough would be able to make out who they were.
Fifteen minutes later they pulled into the university campus. Cole had given them specific instructions on how to get to the human final-year buildings at the rear of the campus, and Isaac read them out for Alice to follow.
They parked down the side of the building, checking their surroundings before getting out.
“Looks clear,” Alice said, using her mirrors.
