I understood his concern—Talis was his friend, hisbeta, but I still fought the urge to tell him it was none of his business. In actuality, it wasvery muchhis business if it affected the pack, and I couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t. “I need to talk to him.”
He studied me for what seemed like forever, breathing deeply, and whatever scents I was giving off seemed to satisfy him because his sigh sounded full of regret. “That might have to wait. When he’s not patrolling the forest, he’ll be eating and sleeping. At least for the next couple of days, until we can be certain there’s nothing out there that shouldn’t be.”
If I was a shifter, I would’ve growled.
Still wanted to.
I settled for scowling instead.
* * *
After extractinga promise from me to stay put for the next couple of days, Gabriel and Rys left. Sasha arrived shortly afterwards to relieve Dathal.
“I’ll call you later.” Dathal pulled me into a hug on the doorstep. “Be safe.”
“I’m literally under house arrest,” I scoffed. “I can’t so much as breathe without someone hearing it.”
“Remember that when you’re in your room alone tonight,” Sasha yelled from the living room, and I groaned.
Breathing would clearly be the only thing I’d be doing in there.
Dathal laughed, because of course he did. “It’ll only be for a few days,” he said, gripping my shoulders as he stepped back.
“And then what?” I asked, trying not to take my frustration out on him, but maybe not quite succeeding. “I can’t be under constant guard forever.”
It wasn’t sustainable for anyone.
“We’ll find him soon,” Dathal said with a conviction in his voice I didn’t share.
“I hope so.”
* * *
Two days turned into four.
Sasha did her best to keep us both entertained and only threatened to kill me twice.
She deserved a medal.
When Lady Sarhin knocked on my door on the morning of day five, I almost hugged her, I was so pleased to see a new face.
I didn’t though.
I liked having my hands attached to my arms.
Max drove up before I could close the door, bringing Gabriel, Dathal, and Rys with him, and suddenly my house was way too crowded after four days of just me and Sasha.
“Since you’re all here, I’m going to take the opportunity and go stretch my legs.” She looked to Rys for approval.
“Of course,” he said, smiling at her. “Take your time. We’ll stay until you get back.”
Because I can’t possibly be left on my own for an hour or two.
I swallowed down the words. They were ungrateful and childish, and I knew it was frustration talking.
And a huge helping of jealousy.
She was already stripping her clothes off as she walked out of the room.
