“Put me down.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“By carrying me like a sack of grain?”
“You’re much lighter than grain.”
Her mouth opened. Closed. She stared at me long enough that I almost set her down and apologized.
Instead, she twisted in my arms and pointed at the stairs. “Fine. But if you drop me, I’m cursing your pillow to make you sweat.”
I carried her down all one hundred and four steps without dropping her, though I wasn’t sure she’d make good on herthreat. She didn’t relax into it the way she had on the mop, but she didn’t fight me about it either.
When I set her on her feet at the bottom, she smoothed her skirts and walked outside without comment.
I stood where I was trying to figure out if I’d done something wrong.
My wolf offered no insight.
Kirk intercepted me near the main hall, a rolled parchment in one hand.
“Border report,” he said, handing it over. “I encountered minor territorial pressure from Bastian’s northern pack. They’ve been ranging closer to the creek tributaries. It’s worth watching.”
I scanned the report, noting the patrol patterns. “Double the watch in that section. I want to know if they cross the boundary.”
“Already done.” Kirk’s expression stayed neutral, but his face tightened. “The pack’s settling well.”
“Good.”
“They like her, Alpha.”
I grunted and kept reading.
“Helen mentioned there’s now a standing order for food for the squirrel.”
I looked up.
Kirk’s face revealed nothing. “Just thought you should know it’s being handled.”
“I’m glad.”
He nodded once and left, taking his knowing silence with him.
My mind circled back to the moment when Victoria’s pen had gone still over the map. The way she’d changed the subject when I mentioned the seal sites.
She’d seen something I’d missed.
I’d been running this territory for thirteen years. I knew every boundary marker, game trail, and pack seal location.
What had she seen that I’d missed?
I made myself not look toward the clearing where she worked. By the time I’d reached the edge of the open area, I’d shifted.
I let my wolf run free.
Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the canopy as I crossed the clearing. After finishing running the property lines and finding nothing amiss, I’d meant to head to my office to review the updated patrol schedules, and plan the eastern ridge run Kirk could take care of tonight.
I stopped when I saw Victoria.
