“IfImay,”Jannersaidwithhesitation,“Iwouldsubmitthatour formerpackismoreofthe'woundthemandthentakecareofthings manually'kindoffamily.Werarelyifeverhadsilverammunition availabletous.Eventhecleaningcrew.”
“TheywouldhaveincapacitatedCooperwiththegun,thencome afterus.Theywouldhavedisposedofhimlast,”Beckettadded,hisvoice andexpressionimpassiveasalways.
“AndRuby?”Seanasked,staringthetriodown.“Whatwouldthey havedonetoher?”
Theylookedbackandforthamongstthemselvesnervously.
“Wedon'tknow,”Alistairoffered,hissadeyeslandingonme.His shieldingenergythrewupawallaroundthethreealmostinstantly.
“Sheisthemostlethalofyourkind,”Seansaidmenacinglyashe shookloosefrommygrasptoapproachthem.“Surelytheywouldhave hadaplantosubdueher.ItwouldbesuicidetochallengeanRB,basedon whatyouyourselfsaidyourpackknewherreputationtobe.”
Again,thetrioshareduncomfortableexpressions.
“Wetoldyouwhenwearrivedthattherewererumorsofalethal wolf...aRougeetBlanc,”Jannerstarted,clearinghisthroat.“Thereare otherrumors―manyrumors―someofwhichareofhowtheycanbe controlled.Contained.”
Caged...
“Howinteresting,”Seangrowled,hoveringinchesawayfrom Janner'sface.“Andjustwhataretheserumors?”
Jannerswallowed―hard.
“Idon'tknowexactly.Wewereneverhighenoughupthefood chain,butIdoknowthatTobiasknows.Andhe'sruthless.Who'stosay whathisorderswouldhavebeenforRubyifshehadbeencaught.He couldhavewantedherdeadsothattherewouldbenonemorepowerful thanhecouldeverbe.Maybehewouldhavecapturedher.Ijustcannot say.Iamsorry.”
“Sean,”Iwhisperedfrombehindhim.“They allriskedtheirlives forCooperandmetoday,justasmuchasweriskedoursforthem.
Please.”
“WhatIwanttoknow,”Alistairsaid,pipingupattheworsttime possible,justashealwaysdid,“iswhyyouneedprotectingatall.If you'resolethal,whydidn'tyoujustwipethefloorwiththemsowecould beonourway?”
IlookedatCooper,whohadbeenstrangelyquiet.Thelookonhis facetoldmewhyhehadbeen.Heknewthisquestionwasheadedour way.He'dbeentryingtofigureoutaviableliethatwouldbeeasily believedwithoutexposinganyvulnerabilityintheprocess.
Iprayedhe'dcomeupwithonebecauseSean'slookwasmurderous.
Hewasabouttosnap,andthatwasgoingtocomeatahighprice.He wouldnotallowmyweaknessestobeknown.
“Becausewecouldn'triskherexposure,”Coopersaidwithasigh.
“Wehavetotellthem.There'sjustnowayarounditnow.”Helooked pastSeantome.Iknewthatexpression.I'dseenitonmorethanone occasion.Itread'Playalongandwe'llgetoutofthiswithoutissue'.I hopedSeanwouldkeepittogetherlongenoughforCooper'splantowork.
“Cooper,”Seansnarled,awarning.Seannevergavemorethanone.
“TherearemanyreasonswhyRubydoesn'tletherwolfoutoften,”
hecontinued,givingSeanthelookhe'djustgivenme.“Themainreason isthatherwolfisfarhardertocalluponandcompletelyunpredictable onceout.Therearereasonswhytheywerehuntedtoextinction―and quicklytoo.Seancanattesttothat.”
Sean'seyesnarrowedonCooper.
“He'sright,”hefinallyconcurred.“Thatkillingabilitycomeswitha completelackofconscience.Onceunleashed,there'snotellingwhatshe's capableof.Toletthewolfoutinacrowdedcitywhileunderattackwould bemadness.AnRB'sbloodlustisunrivaled.”
“Rubyhaslivedthislongfortworeasonsalone,”Coopercontinued, pickingupwhereSeanhadjustfinished.“She'slearnedhowtocagethe beastandsheisSean'smate.ButevenSeanhassaidthathewilltakeher downifhehasto,andweallknowthistobetrue.It'salmosthappened.
She'sonashortleashwithbothhimandthePC.”
“Andpackornot,”Seanadded,“shecan'tberiskedforyour benefit.”Heleanedforwardintotheirfaces,hiseyesblackpoolsof darkness.“Iwon'tallowit.”
IstaredatSean,bewildered. Pack?
“Understood,”Jannersaidrespectfully,withanod.
“Excellent,”Seanpurredinresponse.
AsmallsilencebrokeoutwhileSeanposturedinfrontoftheboys.
Hewantedtoemphasizehispoint,andhewasdoingsobrilliantly.Weall readhimloudandclear.
“Sean,”Coopercalled,breakingthegrowingtension.“Shouldwe expectothers?I'mconcernedthatiftheytrackedthephonesinBoston thentheylikelyknowwherethetriohadbeenstayingtoo.”
“Agreed.Wecan'taffordtotakeanychances,sonobodywillbe returningtotheapartmentuntilweknowit'ssafe.”
“Um,”Istarted,raisingmyhandinquestion.“Howwillweknow whenthatis?”
Seancastmehisall-knowingglance,andIshutmymouth.It figuredthathe'dhavehistacticsallworkedoutandlikelyinplay.Iwas alwaysasteportwobehind.
“You'llknowbecauseItellyouitis,”hesaidcoldly,hiseyesadeep huntergreen.“Youaren'tgoingbackthereuntilTobiasiscoldanddead.
Asfortheothers:Ihaven'tdecidedthebestplanofaction.”
“Ithinkthefourofusshouldgoback,”Cooperoffered,stepping towardSean.“Ifwesuddenlydisappear,they'llknowsomethingisup.
Weneedtoproceedasnormal.Luretheminwithafalsesenseofsecurity andthenambushthem.IfTobiasisasarrogantasthesethreesayheis, there'snowayhewouldn'tbuyit.He'llthinkwewerestupidand complacent,andthat'sexactlywhatwewant.”
Seanlookedthoughtfulforamoment.
“Andwhataboutthestore?Wecan'tpossiblyhaveRubyrunningit untilweknowwhoandwhatiscoming,orifthey'recomingatall.Peyta either.EspeciallynotPeyta.”
“IguessI'llhavetoshutitdownintheinterim,”Isaid,tryingto thinkonmyfeet.“Alotoftheshopshavebeendoingheavyremodels overthepastfewmonths.Idon'tthinkitwouldlookstrangeformeto newspaperoverthewindowsandputupasignsaying'Closedfor renovations'.”
“Excellent.I'llhavesomeoftheboysgetonthatimmediately.”He lookedpleasedwithme,asifI'dcomeupwiththemostgeniusplanever.
Itsurprisedtheshitoutofme.“Cooper,”hecontinued,“takethemback homewithyou,butI'mgoingtohaveTreyandtheboyssetupafew things.Ifthere'sanysortofattack,you'llknowbeforethey'reinside.And I'llknowtoo.”
“AndRuby?”Cooperasked,notlookingpleasedwithmenot stayingbyhisside.Hewasmyalphaanditwashisjobtokeepmesafeat allcosts―atleastthat'swhathethought.
“Shestayswithme.Ifharmisheadedthisway,Iwanthernowhere nearit.”
Cooperlookedpainedbutresolved.Heknewitwastherightplay evenifitputhimonthesideline.“Agreed.”
“Gladtoseewe'reonthesamepage,”hesaid,eyesstillpinnedon CooperinwhatIperceivedtobeabattlefordominance.Itwasa pointlessone.ImayhavelovedCooperdearly,butinafightbetweenhim andSean,thedark-eyedonewouldwineverytime,andIknewit.Cooper knewittoo.“I'mgoingtogoletTreyknowwhatheneedstodo.I'llbe rightback,”hesaid,comingtomyside.“You'llstayherewithme.I'll havetheboysdiscreetlybringsomethingsoverforyou―thingsIdon't alreadyhave.”
Hegracefullytookleaveofhisapartment,headingdowntooneof theotherfloorsinhisplace.I'donlyeverseenoneotherthanhis apartment,andIdidn'treallywanttorelivethatmemory.WhereverTrey was,Ididn'twanttoknowthedetails.
“So,”Coopersaid,wrappinghisarmaroundmyshoulder.I instinctivelyleanedintohisembrace.“You'regoingtobeokayhere withoutme?”Hewasjokingontheoutside,butIcouldfeelhisunease withthesituation,anditcalledtoapartofmethatw
aslessthancertain thateverythingwasgoingtoworkoutallright.HeandIhadbeenthrough morethanourfairshareofclosecalls.Oneday,thatluckwasgoingto runout.
“Ithinkso,”Irepliedsarcastically.“Thequestionis,areyoufour goingtobeokaywithout me.I'mthemindlesskillingmachine, remember?”
Hechuckledslightly,givingmealittlesqueeze.
“You'resomething,allright.”
“She'samazing,”Alistairsaidearnestly,takingastepforwardto breakawayfromtheothertwo.“Youbothweretoday.Imaynothave beenChangedthatlongago,butIknewwhathavingafamilywaslike beforethatanditwasrippedawayfromme.TheLondonpackwasnever familytome,”hesaid,lookingoverhisshoulderathisfriends,“butthese twowere.TheyhelpedguideandmoldmeintowhatIamnow.”
IheardCoopermuttersomesmartasscommentunderhisbreath, andIelbowedhimintheguttoshuthimup.WhileCooperexhaled sharply,Alistairreachedunderthecollarofhist-shirtandpulledapairof dogtagsfree.Twoseparatesilver-coloredchainshungovertopofhis chest,onesignificantlyshorterthantheother;itwasmuchtoosmallfora mantonormallywear.
Asifheunderstoodwhatwasgoingon,Jannerreachedintohisshirt andproducedtwosimilardogtags,thoughhiswereequalinlength.
“Ruby,”Alistairsaidsoftly,approachingCooperandmeslowly.“I wantyoutohavethis.”Hepulledthesmallerstainlesssteelchainover hisheadwithsomeeffortandpresentedittomeinhishands.“Thiswas myJemma's.It'sallIhaveleftofher.”Hewastoocrippledbyemotions tocarryon,soJannersteppedinonhisbehalf.
“Theyneverfoundthebody,”hesaid,placingahandonAli's shoulderforcomfort.“Tobiasgavehimthosebeforehetrickedusinto killingDeacon.”Hepulledhispairofdogtagsupoverhisheadbefore presentingthemtome.“ThesewereDeacon's.Atfirst,Iworethemasa trophyofsorts.ButnowIwearthemasareminderofwhoIknewhimto be,whathestoodfor,andthealphahewas.ThemanIknewbeforewelet thechaosandfeartakeover.”HepinnedfearsomeeyesonCooperbefore continuing,anditcompletelytookmeaback.Jannerhadalwaysseemed complacent,almostdocile,butinthatmoment,hewasaforcetobe reckonedwith.“IwaswrongtoletTobiasmanipulateusintokilling him.”Hiseyescouldn'tholdtheirconfidentattitudeasheutteredthose words.Hisguilttingedtheairaroundhim,andhesuddenlylookedmore tiredandsadthannormalashecontinued.“Ilethimdown,”he continued,extendingthetagsouttoCooper.“Ivowtonight,infrontof thesewitnesses,thatIwillneverdothesametoyou.”
“AndI,”Alistairadded,drapingthechainovermyheadtofall lightlyagainstmychest,“vowtoprotectyoubetterthanIwasableto protectmyJemma.”
Tearssprangforthfrommyeyeswithoutwarning.Theweightof theirwordscombinedwiththatoftheiremotionswasmorethanIcould bear.IlookedatCooper,whowasstaringattheofferingJannerheldout beforehim.Hisenergywarredinternally―taking itmeanttaking them.
Hisanimaldesiretoprotecttheboysfoughtwithhislingeringdistrust andhisfearofbecomingtheonlyotheralphahe'deverknown.Hiseyes metmine,andIsawthefearwinning.
“Youwillneverbelikehim,Coop,”Isaidsoftly,takinghishandin mine.“You'llbeexactlywhoyou'vealwaysbeen―thesameamazing manwhorescuedmebackthenandhascontinuedtorescuemeever since.”
Withasqueezeofmyhand,hisgazereturnedtoJanner,andhetook thetokenofferedtohim.Janner'spledgetobeoneofus.Asheslippedit overhishead,IcouldfeelsomethinginCooper'senergyshift―apower washoverhimandsettledeepinside.Itmademesmile.
JustasBeckettjumpedintotryandlightenthemood,afaint ringingsoundedinthestairway,growinglouderandlouderasfootsteps ascended.Seanbrokethroughthedoorway,storminghisapartmentwith cellphoneinhand.
“Answerit,”hesaid,throwingthephonetoJanner.“Anddonotlet onthatanythinghaschanged.Youshouldsoundlikeyou'reshakenand onthedefensive.”
Withanod,Jannerhitabuttonandputthephonetohisear.
“Tobias,”hebitoutasthoughthenamewaspoisononhistongue.It was,asfarasIwasconcerned.“Yes,wedidhavearun-inwiththem.”
Silence.IwatchedasJanner'sfaceflinchedonlyslightlyon occasion.Ifelthisenergygoincreasinglyvacantastheone-sided conversationcontinued.Itmademenutsknowingthateveryoneinthat roomcouldhearwhatwasgoingonexceptforme,butIknewenoughto knowthathewasbeingthreatened.
Myangergrewuntilarageboiledjustbelowthesurface.Iwas startingtounderstandwhathavingfamily―apack―wasallabout.Imay nothavebeencrazyabouttheboysallthetime,andGodknewCooper wasn't,buttheywere ours.Wecouldmesswiththem,butnobodyelse wasgoingto.Notonmywatch.
“Isee,”Jannersaid,finallybreakingtheeeriequietonourend.
“Andifwedon't...?”
IlookedatCooperasmytemperwasthreateningtospiketoepic levels.
“What'sgoingon?”Iasked,whisperingasloudlyasIcould.
“Tobiaswantsthemtocomeback.”
“Why?”
“Sohecankillthem.”
“Andiftheydon't?”
Coopergrowled.
“He'scomingheretokillthem.”
“Soeitherway,theydie?”
“Yes,thoughallegedlylesspainfullyiftheyturnthemselvesin.”
Itotallyflippedmyshit.
“Givemethatfuckingthing,”Isnapped,lungingforthephone.
IwantedtoletTobiasknowjustwhatIthoughtofhisoffer.
26
Surprisingly,nobodytriedtostopme.Ididn'tevenhavetostruggle againstJanner'sgrip.Heletmehavethephoneandtookastepbackas mytemperflaredalongwithmyuseofthef-word.IsupposetheyknewI couldonlygetintosomuchtroubleoveraphone.
“Well,well,well,whathavewehere?Havemyboysstumbledupon a femaletoallywith?SurelyI'mfrightenedbeyondbelief.”Hismocking wasdulynoted.Ifhewantedaforcetobereckonedwith,Icouldgive himthat―verbally,anyway.
“Yes,theyhave,fuckwad.Theyhaveanewalphanowtoo,soI wouldtreadlightlywhenthrowingthreatsaroundmeormyboys,ifyou knowwhat'sgoodforyou,”IspatintothephoneasSeanandcompany lookedon.Coopermovedtotakethephoneawayfromme,butSean stoppedhimwithanextendedarm.Forwhateverreason,hewantedtosee howtheconversationplayedout.“Theproblemwiththat,Tobias,isthat youclearlydon'tknowwhentowalkaway.Iwouldn'tunderestimateme oranyoneIalignwith.Ihaveconnectionsyoucouldn'tevenbeginto comprehend.Youfuckwithme,youmeetyourend.Period.”
“Andwho,praytell,isthiswhodarestothreatenmesobrazenly?
I'dliketoknowyournamesoIcancallyoubyitasIcutoutyourheart andstuffitdownyourthroat.”
“Ruby,”Irepliedwithasadisticgrin,“butyou'llnevergetthe chance,myfriend.YourbloodwillrunfreelongbeforeIevenbreaka sweat.”
“Ruby...,”herepeatedasifrollingthewordaroundinhismouthto seeifhelikedthetaste.“Youwon'tkillme, willyou,Ruby?”
Istartedtosweat.Hewascallingmybluff,buthowcouldhehave known?
“ThehellIwon't!”Iblustered,hopingthat,ifIputenoughanger behindmywords,theywouldcarrymoreweight.
Helaughed.
“Whydoyoucarewhathappenstothem?They'renotyour wolves―yourpack.TheyareminetodowithasIplease.”
“Wrong, Toby,”Imocked,hopingtogetunderhisskin.“Itseems they'vechosenadifferentfamilynow,and,havingspokentoyou,Ican sureashellseewhy.”
“Oh,”hesaid,feigninginterest.“Havetheynow?Andhowexactly didtheydothat
?”
“Theyvowedtheirallegiancetomyalphaandme.Theyare ours.”
Helaughedagain .
“ Listen,”hesnapped,hislaughterabruptlycomingtoanend.“You willgivethemtomeoryouwilldie,andifyouthinkforonesecondthat theywouldprotectyoufromme,youaresorelymistaken.”
“Theywill,”Isaid,glancingovertowherethethreemenstood, theirfacessolemnbuttheirenergiesfierce.“AndI'mwearingproofof that.”
“Oh,that'sjustdarling.Didtheybuyyouapromisering?”
“No,”Ireplied,calmingtherageinsideme,“thedogtagsofafallen mate.Afemalethatyouundoubtedlykilled,eitherdirectlyorotherwise.”
Suddenly,Tobiasseemedtobeatalossforwords.“Soyoulistentome, yousmug,limeybastard.IfyousomuchassetfootonAmericansoil,I willpersonallyseetoitthattheonlytimeyoueverseeyourhomeland againiswhenyouflyoveritasdustinthewind.TrymeandseeifI'm goodforit.”
Afterhisgrowlingceased,hemanagedtocomposehimself,ifonly slightly.
“Words,Ruby.They'rejustwords.Webothknowyou'renotgoing tokillme, don'twe?”
“Actions,Toby.Ipreferactions.Webothknowyoudon'tstanda chance,don'twe?”Iretortedsnottily.
“Sayit,”hepressed,hisvoicelowerandscarierthanbefore.“Say youwon'tkillme.”
“No,”Iretorted,tryingtokeepmyheartfromjumpingoutofmy throat.“Say this:'I'madeadman'.”
Inevergottohearhisresponse.Sean,havinghadenoughofour posturing,grabbedthephoneanddidwhathedidbest―intimidatedthe shitoutofTobias.
“I'mgoingtofindyouandendyou.Keeprunning,”hepurred,eyes bleedingtoblack.“I lovetochase.”HecutthecalloffandtossedJanner thephone.“Theothersarereadytogotoo.Hecan'ttraceyounow,butwe sureashellcantracehim.”
“That'swhyyouletmetalk,”Isaid,thinkingitwasstrangethat nobodyhadmovedtotakethephonefrommewhileIblusteredmyway throughtheconversationuntilSeandid.Hewantedmetokeephimonthe line―justlongenoughtofindoutwhereTobiaswas.