“Eighteen,” he says promptly. “One month older than my super-cute, hot Elli.”
So young, yet so brave.
“You are proof that inner strength has nothing to do with your rank,” I tell Ben. “You are ready to protect your mate and stand up for yourself. That counts more than any rank ever will.” I pause. “I will not forget the way you and your mate were ready to help today.”
I am definitely going to make sure he gets a good position in the pack. I can do with supportive, loyal pack members. I bet Rose has similar thoughts already. Nina already trusts her and has proven to be a good ally, and now she has Elli in her corner.
“Are we sure you are going to meet Lissa tonight?” Griffin asks Ben.
He nods. “That witch reached out to me and sent me a message. No clue how she got my phone number. She wants to meet later. I wanted to ditch her and pretend I had a shift, but now, obviously, I am going.”
“Did she tell you an exact time?” Rose asks. When he shakes his head, she smirks. “Make it 7 p.m.”
“Everyone will be at dinner during that time,” I say, before it dawns on me. “Oh, nice.”
Ben eyes us curiously, and I make sure to explain to him. “The luna is suggesting live streaming it all. And wouldn’t it be best to do it when everyone is listening?”
“Will Ben be safe?” Elli asks anxiously.
“Of course. I will follow him and keep an eye on him,” Griffin promises before turning Ben around to us to have us check him over. “Do you see anything?”
Rose and I scan him over. “No, I can’t detect any device.”
“It’s well hidden,” Rose agrees. “Ben, don’t forget to be reluctant when you meet Lissa. It needs to be believable to her.”
He nods. “Easy. I hate her.”
While Ben is going through some details with Rose, Griffin turns to me.What about Martin?he links me.
I pause for a moment.We should probably tell him something.
I can only say it from my perspective,Griffin says.ButIwould be hurt if you didn’t involve me at all. He is supposed to be someone you trust. I know he was picked for you, but so far, he has proven to be pretty loyal.
You are right. Especially now, since we have also involved Nina and some of the others.
We don’t need to tell him all the details, but at least tell him what Nina knows, what happened with the recording and how Lissa is involved. That’s only fair.
I nod.I will tell him to meet you before Ben heads out. Please, fill him in on everything.
Griffin nods his agreement, and I make sure to link Martin, telling him that we started a spontaneous move against Lissa after finding out something disturbing, and that Griffin will tell him everything.
I offer Rose my arm as we return to the packhouse, my heart making a happy leap when she accepts it and smiles at me. “Are you nervous?” she asks me.
“I don’t know. A little bit, but I am positive that Ben can pull it off.”
“What makes you so certain?”
I smile. “He loves his mate and would do everything to protect her. Anything. Plus, he is a confident young man, and probably ready to get back at Lissa for several other reasons.”
“People like us, heirs to high ranks, underestimate people like Ben and Nina because they happen to be of lower rank,” Rose says. “I never liked that attitude of higher-ranked pack members. Jordan was an elitist, too. But you know what? The only kindness I received was from the omegas who served in the kitchen.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Ben could probably be good as a warrior if he is up for it, even if he is an omega. Or he could be on a security team. He could get a license and take an IT course. As for me, I would hire Nina as my assistant. But then, I know I am only here for…” her voice trails off.
“You are here for as long as you want,” I tell her. “As far as I am concerned, you are the luna of this pack.”
“We are not mates,” she says quietly.
