“Give me a few days. I’ll see what I can figure out. I bet I can find something you can use.”
“That would be amazing. I don’t want to put you out, and it doesn’t need to be before the ceremony. I’ll even come to you to pick it up and return it.”
“Sure thing. I’ll let you know. Wanna head in and eat?” he asked, nodding to the house.
“I’m starving too. Let’s go,” I said as I led him inside.
If Blaise provided the item we needed, then all we would need was something from Rafe Thronton. Then, maybe, we’d be able to unravel this mystery once and for all.
69
LEVIATHAN
“You want me to come along as your mate?” Rainier asked with a smirk.
He was bunking with me at my rental house while the rest of our pack mates were staying at inns and motels that had been rented for the ceremony. Many of my people were both excited and terrified of coming here. Many had fled bad mate pairings or had been rejected and banished. Anders had given them all a free pass to come to the ceremony, which meant they were free to move through town without worrying about retribution. According to Rainier, it had taken several days to convince the twenty people we’d selected to come. The rest had stayed behind to safeguard Hidden Grove from the Red Maw.
“Sure,” I said, glancing back at him. “I got your dress all picked out. I hope you like the thong I chose. Do you do oral on the first date?”
“Oh, fuck off.” Rainier laughed. “Seriously, though, am I going to this meeting with you?”
“I suppose,” I said, pulling my boots on. “The other alphas are all bringing their mates instead of their betas, but Anders didn’t make a rule about it or anything.”
“Speaking of,” Rainier said. “How is the douchebag?”
“Still a douchebag.”
“Any moreincidentsbetween the two of you?”
Rainier had visited once since Anders and I had almost gone at each other in the Hollis’s store, and I’d given him a quick rundown on everything.
“Thankfully, no,” I growled. “Not that I wouldn’t like a chance to rearrange his face.”
“Why the hell are you even still allowed in town, man?” Rainier asked while putting his feet up on the coffee table. “Surprised he didn’t chuck your ass out the moment that happened.”
“The Red Maw,” I said. “That’s why. He’s worried about them, and he doesn’t want another enemy to worry about. Plus…” I shook my head and sighed in disgust. “I think he wants me as an ally, as sort of a status symbol.”
Rainier threw his head back and barked a laugh. “That little prick wants the most legendary alpha of the last hundred years to be his war buddy. I get it.”
“I amnotlegendary,” I said, gritting my teeth as I cinched the laces on my boots.
“Sure thing, buddy. We going or not?”
“Yeah, let’s get this over with.”
We met the others at Anders’s house. The four other local packs had arrived the day before. As we made our way toward the door, I was suddenly nervous. It would be the first time I was seeing June since I’d kissed her in the forest. I needed to play it cool, but I wasn’t sure how I’d react to seeing her.
When we stepped inside, every eye in the house turned toward us. Alphas, mates, Anders, and at the back of the living room, June. All conversation stopped, and I felt a little like a bug under glass being inspected by curious children.
“Uh…bro, I don’t think this is the strip club,” Rainier said.
I grimaced at his joke, but it did the trick, because many in the room snorted or chuckled.
A large guy with the figure of a bodybuilder and dreadlocks stood and held out his hand. “Hakeem Jones. Alpha of the Ravenhill Pack. I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Cross.”
“Call me Levi,” I said as I shook his hand.
With the first introduction out of the way, Rainier and I went around the room, shaking hands and learning names. The whole time, Anders sat, managing to look both bored and anxious.
