BeforeIgotmyanswer,Seanwasonhiscell,orderingsomeoneon theotherendaroundashewalkedoutoftheroom.Ipresumedhewas headedforTreyandthenewlyacquiredcoordinatesofTobias'soon-to-be deadass.
“Well,hesureashelldidn'tletyoutalkbecauseyouwerehelping matters,Ruby,”Cooperquipped.“Youpracticallyinvitedhimoverto startawar.”
“He'dlose,”Isaidunconvincingly.
“Hopefullyhewon'tlivelongenoughforustofindout.”
BecketteyedmecuriouslyforamomentuntilIsnappedunderthe weightofhisgaze.
“What?Whyareyoustaringatme?”
“Youwereangry,”hesaidplainly,asifdetachedfrommyresponse.
Hewassobizarreattimes.“Why?”
“Why?BecauseImaynotfullygetyouguysjustyet,butIknowone thing.Youare sonotbeinghandedovertothattwatwaffle.Notonmy watch.”Iwasfumingandwasn'tcertainastowhy.Theboyswereodd andstillsomewhatunfamiliar,buttheybelongedtoCooperandme.Ifwe wantedtokillthem,fine,butnobodyelsewasgoingtodoit.Notwithout anepicbattle.ImaynothavehadScarlet'sass-kickingpowers,butI couldstillrunmymouthlikethebestofthem.I'dworryaboutgetting Seantocashthatcheckformelater.
Withoutanotherword,Beckettwalkedovertomecautiouslyand wrappedhisarmsaroundmyshoulders.Hehuggedme―tightly.Then slowly,theotherscameanddidthesame.Iwasinagrouplovefest,UK
werewolfstyle.
“Enough,”Coopersighed.“Wehavethingstodo.Thefourofus needtogetbackandmakelikethingsarerelativelynormal.Ruby,you stayhere.”
“Becareful,”Itoldhim,walkingovertowrapmyarmsaroundhis waist.“I'dbelostwithoutyourcooking,yoursarcasm...”
“Myincrediblegoodlooks,”headdedwithflair.
Irolledmyeyeseventhoughhecouldn'tseethem.
“Yes,thosetoo.”
HepulledawaytolookmeintheeyeswithafiercenessI'dnotseen forawhile.
“Youbecarefultoo,Ruby.Idon'tlikenothavingyounearme.Not whentroubleislurking.”
“Whenisitnot?”Irepliedsarcastically.Infairness,Iwasn'texactly offbasewithmyquestion.Whenhedidn'tseethehumorinmyresponse, Iputmyseriousfaceonandgavehimwhathewanted.“Iknowyoudon't, butyouknowthatSeanwouldneverletanythinghappentome.Ifyou cantrustanyonetokeepmesafe,it'shim.”Hiseyesnarrowedbriefly beforehenoddedinagreement.Hewasn'tgoingtoacknowledgethatout loud.
Afterplantingaquickkissonthetopofmyhead,heroundedthe boysupandheadedout.Iwalkedwiththemtothedoorwayandwatched astheydisappeareddownthewindingflightsofstairs,theirfootfalls fadingbeforetheyvanishedentirely.Itleftaneeriefeelinginmy stomach.Somethingfeltwrongaboutbeingawayfrom them―ominous―asifsomehow,withoutmypresence,dangerwasmore likelytofindthem.IwassousedtoitlookingformethatIneverrealized howterrifyingitwastobeonthesideline,aspectatoroftheultimate game.
Deathknewnorules,notimeouts―nosubstitutions.Hekeptthe score,rantheclock,andcalledtheplays.
Theteamswereonthefield.
Thewhistlehadblown.
UnlessSeancouldstopTobiasfirst,allhellwasabouttoraindown onthepitch.
Andtherewasn'tadamnthingIcoulddoaboutit.
27
Butdeathnevercame.
Notthefirstnight.Orthesecond.Orthethird.Infact,anentire weekwentbywithoutcontactfromTobias,oreventheslightesthintof danger,andwestartedtowonderifourthreatshadkepthimatbay.Could itreallyhavebeenthatsimple?
OnthenightTobiashadpromisedusawar,SeanhadorderedJay andtheboystoconvergeuponthelocationofthetracedphonecall.They foundanewlyabandonedwarehousewithanundergroundfacility,which wasfullyequippedwithcages―thekindthatcouldhouseahuman.They foundnoevidenceofwhathadbeendonethere,onlystainlesssteeltables andshelves.Jaydescribeditasanabandonedautopsyroom.
Behindthebuilding,theyfoundamassgrave.Freshbodypartshad beenrecentlydisposedofinit.They'dbeencrudelydismemberedand thrownawaylikegarbage.
Theyappearedtobehuman,butthePCboysknewbetter.
Tobiaswasstillatlarge,andthoughSeanshouldhavegoneoverto assistwiththesituation,herefusedtoleaveme.Hewastornbetween loveandduty―amorethanfamiliarpredicamentforhim.Inretrospect, itwasagooddecision.
Justaswestartedtothinkwewereintheclear,Tobiasshowedupin force,anarmyofwerewolvesaccompanyinghim.Iwatchedfromthe relativesafetyofSean'sapartmentastheyconvergeduponmyhome, attackinginthedeadofnight.Analarmhadsounded,startlingSeanand meoutofourslumber.Hesprangintoactionwithblisteringspeed―my visionblurredtryingtowatchhim.
HeknewI'dtrytoescape.Hereallydidplanforeverything.
SothereIstood,breathless,clingingtothepartiallydrawncurtains besidemeforstrength.Ineveroncefearedformyself.Ididn'thavetime to.Instead,Istaredoutintothemoonlitnightandprayedthattheywould survivetheattack.ItwasallIcoulddo.Losinganyofthemwas unacceptable,andIdidmybesttoimpressthatfactuponthepowersthat be.
OccasionallyIwouldseeaflashoflightthroughthebaywindowof mybedroom,butthatwasall;Ineversawtheactualbattle.Maybethat wasforthebest.Somethingsareimpossibletoun-see.
Whatseemedlikehourslater,Seanreappearedinhislivingroom completelyunscathed.Icouldn'tbringmyselftoaskverbally,soIletmy expressions,whichhecouldsoeasilyread,speakforme.Withonlya momentarypause,hefilledmein.
“Theyaredead,”hesaidflatly,hiseyesasdarkastheshadows surroundinghim.
Myheartsank.
“Dead...?”Iwhisperedasatearsprangfrommyeye.Mylegs disappearedfrombelowme,andIcrashedtothefloor.
“Ruby,no,”hesaidasherantomyside.“Notyourboys.The others. Theyaredead.”
“Myguysareallright?”Iaskedwiththehopefulnessofachild.
“Cooper?Ali?They'reallokay?”
“Yes,”hesaidsoftly,wipingtheroguetearsfrommyface.“I'm sorry.Ididn'tmeantoupsetyou.Ishouldhavewordedthatbetter.”
Ilaughedaslightlyunstablelaugh.
“Yes,well,youareinreportmode,so...Iguessit'sunderstandable.
Frankly,Idon'tgiveashit.I'mjustgladthey'reallintactandbreathing,”
Isaid,wrappingmyarmsaroundhim.“Thankyou.Thankyouforhelping them.”
“WeneedtogetthePCovertheretocleanupabit.Cooperisin yourstudiobandagingAlistairup,buttheothershaveonlyminor wounds.Yourapartmentontheotherhand...”hesaid,trailingoff.
“Needlesstosay,itwastightquartersforabattleofthatmagnitude.”
“Aw,man,”Isighed,pullingawaytoseehisexpression.“Couldn't youguyshavetakenthebattleupstairstotheloft?Italreadylookedlikea warzone,”Ilamented,thinkingthatitwouldhavebeenniceforjustonce nottohavemyapartmentbecomeabattleground.
“Cooperandtheboysambushedthem.Itwasatacticalmovethat paidoffinspades.”
“Howbadismyplace?”Iasked,afraidoftheanswer.
“Decimatedmightbeanunderstatement.”
“IsitsomethingyourboyscantakecareoforamIstartingover withacontractor?”
Hesmiledadevilishgrin.
“I'vegotthe Specialistcoming.It'llbepicture-perfectbythetime he'sthrough.”
“CanIgethisnumber?MaybeIshould
puthimonspeeddial.”
Helaughed.
“Ithinknot.I'mtryingtogetyououtofneedinghisservices,notin needofmore.IfIhaveanysayinit,thiswillbethelastdramaticeventin yourlifetime.”
“Iwouldn'twagermuchonthebet.”
Hefrowned.
“No,Idon'tthinkIwilleither.YouandIdon'tliveinanideal world,Ruby.Thisisourreality.”
Don'tIknowit...
Istoodupslowlyandlookedbackoutthewindowtomyapartment.
“CanIseethem?”Iasked,lookingtoSean,whowasleaningagainst thewindowbesideme.
“Soon.”
“SodoesthismeanTobiasisdead?Thatwedon'thavetoworry abouthimanymore?”
“Heisdead,”herepliedwithatightexpression.“Astowhetheror notweshouldstillworry,I'mnotsocertain.Idon'tlikewhatJayfound overthere.Somethingisoff.Theboysweretellingthetruthaboutpack membersdisappearing,butwedon'tknowwhy.”Hecollectedmyhandin hisandpulledmetightagainsthisbody.“Ineedtogoovertherewith Trey.Untilwesortoutwhathewasupto,I'mnotsurethatyouoryour refugeeswillbesafe.”Brushingacurloffofmyface,hepulledmeup towardhimandkissedmesoftly.“Imaynotcareabouttheirsafety, Ruby,butyoursisparamounttome.WithoutScarlettoprotectyou...”
“I'mcannonfodder,”Ilamented.“Iknow.”
Hegavemealovingsqueezetoacknowledgemyfrustration.I didn'twanttobehelpless,butagainstawerewolf,that'sexactlywhatI was.EvenwithanUzifullofsilver,I'dlikelybemoweddownbeforeI couldevengetashotoff.Ineededtohitthefiringrange.Unfortunately forme,RonniewastoobusybeingVeronicatoaccompanymeonthat venture.
“I'mgoingtofigureoutwhat'shappeningtoyou,”hesaid convincingly.“Scarletcan'tbetrulygone.It'simpossible.”
Iwasn'tsosure.
“Howareyougoingtosortitout?”
Hischestrumbledagainstme.
“Therearethosewhodealinthingsofthisnature.Iwillhaveto contactthem.”
“Who?”Iasked,notsurethatIwantedtheanswer.Itprovedtobea non-issue.Hewasn'tgoingtotellmeanyway.
“That'sunimportantnow.FirstIhavetosortoutthisLondon situation.Afterthat,wefindScarlet,thoughIcan'tsayIentirelymiss her.”Again,hiswickedsmilestretchedwideacrosshisface.“She'sa massivepaininmyass.”
Thatlogicwashardtoargue,thoughherabsencemademyass vulnerable.Igreatlypreferredhavingreinforcements.
*
Whenwewalkedintomybuilding,Iwasimmediatelystruckbya strangevibration,whichstoppedmedeadinmytracks.
“That'sthe Specialist,”Seansaid,encouragingmeupthestairs.
“Youcanrelax,butwecan'tgointhere.Notyet.”
“Soundsfantastictome,”Ireplied,walkingdirectlypastmy apartmentdoortothethirdfloor.Coopersteppedoutontothelandingand lookedovertherailingatusasweapproached.
“IwantyoutoknowthatI'mnotentirelytoblameforwhat happenedtoyourapartment.”Hisgrinwaswideandwarm,andIranup thefinalsteps,tacklinghimwhenIreachedthetop.Hestumbledback againstthewallasaresultofmyflyingsquirrelattack.Iclungtohim likefallingoffmeantmydeath.“Doesthismeanyou'rehappytosee me?”heaskedplayfully.
“Youcouldtakeitthatway,”Ireplied,myvoicemuffledbythe chestI'dburiedmyfacein.“Coop...”
“Iknow,Ruby.Iknow.”Hegavemeareassuringsqueezeand delicatelypeeledmeoffofhim.“Youshouldgoseetheboys―theywere worriedaboutyou.Ali'sbangedupprettybadly,butnothingthatwon't healupbytheendofthenight.”
Seanlingeredbehindmenotsayingaword.IfIhadn'tknownany better,Iwouldhavethoughtthathewasbecomingmorecomfortablewith thedynamicamongstthethreeofus.ButIdidknowbetter,andthe secondthatCooperleaneddowntokissmycheek,Iheardconfirmation ofit.Seanwasnotafanofsharing.
Cooper'sgrintwistedslightly,makingitfarmoremischievousin nature.HelovedgettingunderSean'sskin.Icouldn'tblamehim;itwas reallytheonlyweaponhehadagainsthim.
“Ruby!”avoicecalledfrommystudio.Shortlyafterward,Alistair stoodinthedoorway,bandagedandcarryingmoreweightononelegthan theother.“Theydidn'tcomeafteryouthen?”heasked,alookofrelief washingoverhisface.
“No,Ali.Nobodygottome.”
“We'repleasedtohearit,”JannersaidfrombehindAlistair.“Itwas an... uneasyfeeling,knowingyouwereleftalone.”
“Theycouldnothavegottentoher,”Seandeclaredfrombehindme.
“Imadesureofthat.”
Bythelooksofconfusiononeveryone'sfaces,itseemedthatnone ofushadanycluewhathemeant.Noneofuswereabouttoaskfor clarificationeither.Ifiguredithadsomethingtodowithwhateverhe'd donetothedoor.Maybeitwaswerewolf-proof,ifthereevenwassucha thing.
Ineededhimtohookmybuildingupwiththesametreatment.
Astheawkwardnesssettledinaroundus,thesoundofmyapartment dooropeningechoedthroughthestairwell.WhoevertheSpecialistwas, hewasapparentlyfinished.WhenItriedtopeekovertheedgetoseethe silentwonderwhowastakinghisleave,Seancaughtmyarm.
“He'sshy,”heinformedmewithawrysmile.“Ifyoudon'tmind...”
Hepulledmebackawayfromtherailandgentlyheldmyarmuntilhe heardtheexteriordoorclose.“Youmayseeyourhomenow.”
Withoutpause,Imademywaydowntothesecondfloor.Seanhad describedmyabodeas“decimated.”IneededtoseejustwhatIwasleft with.
IshouldhavebeenshockedtofindeverythingasitwaswhenI'dlast beenthere,butIwasn't.TherewasmoretothePCboysthanmettheeye, andIwasstartingtolearnthattheyallseemedtoholdspecialqualities thatcameinhandy.Myapartmentwasacaseinpoint.Notasingledetail wasoutofplace.
“How?”Iasked,knowingfullwellSeanwasrightbehindme.
Hesaidnothinginresponse.
WhenIturnedtolookathim,hegavemehismostnoncommittal shrugthatmeantbotheverythingandnothing.
“Ruby,Ihavetoleave.Now.Jayneedsmyhelponthisone.Trey too.”
“Iknow.It'sfine,”Isaid,notreallywantingtoseehimgo.Onthe flipside,itdidgivemesometimewiththeguys.TimeIhadn'thadina week.Ineededthenormalcythataneveningofpopcornandamovie couldprovide,evenifitwaswithafewextrabodies.
“I'lltextyouwhenIarrive,”hesaid,cuppingmyfaceinhishand.“I don'texpectthistotakelong.WithTobiasdead,allwehavetodois rounduptheremainingpackmembersandputthepiecestogether.”
Iknew“roundup”wasaeuphemism,butIletitbe.Sean'shands wouldalwaysbedirtyinonewayoranother.Itwaspartofwhohewas.If Iwantedtobewithhim,itwasapartIneededtoaccept.
“Cooper,”hesaid,turningtofindhimleaningagainstthefarwallof thelanding.“I'mtrustingyoutokeephersafe.”
“Always,”hedrawled,lookingboredwithSean'scomment.
“IentrustRubytonoone,butI'mentrustinghertoyou.Doyou understandme?”Seanaskedthroughthedoorway.Cooperpushedoffof thewall,standingmilitantlystraight.“Donotfailmeonthis.”
Thetwoeyedeachothermenacingly,buttherewassomethingelse intheirgazes―arespect.Theymightneverlikeeachother,bedrinking buddies,orevenberemotelycordialtooneanother,buttherewasan understanding.Theirbondwasthroughme,eachknowingthat,nomatter what,theotherwouldputmylifeabovehis.Maybethatwasallthosetwo wereevergoingtoneed.
Coopernoddedonce,andwiththat,Seandisappeareddownthe stairsonhismissiontokickassacrossthepond.Ifeltbadforthosestill breathingoverthere.Theywereinforanunpleasantencounterverysoon.
“So,”Coopersaid,coming
insidetheapartment.“I'mnotreallyup foratotalrehashingofevents,butIamupforadrink.Anyoneelse interested?”
TheUKtriounanimouslyagreed,soIcaved.Ithadtobecloseto twointhemorning,butwewereallsowiredthatitwasclearthatnobody wouldbesleeping.
“Movie?”Iasked,archinganeyebrowinquisitivelyathim.
Hegrinnedinresponse.
“I'llstartthepopcorn.”
28
Janner,Cooper,Beckett,andIallscrunchedtogetheronthefloorinfront ofthecouch,allowingAlistairtostretchhiswoundedbodyoutonthe sofa.Heseemedalmostbacktonormal,butIthinkhewasmilkingitfor allitwasworth.Weindulgedhimanyway.
Cooperwasrelativelytight-lippedaboutwhathadhappenedto Alistairduringthefight,butIcouldtellhewasproud.Allhewouldtell mewasthatAlihadmadegoodonhispromisetome,attackingTobias thesecondhementionedmyname.Outgunnedandoutclassed,the youngestofthewolvesmaynothavealwaysbeenthesmartest,buthe wasbravebeyondmeasure.
Forty-fiveminutesintothemovie,mybuttwasfallingasleep.All thetosscushionshadalreadybeenbogarted,soIgotupandclimbedover Coopertoheadformybedroom.AsIwalkedpastthebathroom,Alistair emergedfromwhathadtohavebeenhisthirdtrip.Hehadthebladderof afive-year-oldgirl.
“Ruby,”hesaid,catchingmyarmlightly.Hisenergywasyetagain impossibletoread.
“Yeah,Ali.What'sup?”
“I'msorryforthepainwe'vebroughtyou.Wereallyneverintended forittohappen.”
Ismiledandgavehimalightkissonthecheek.
“Iknowyoudidn't.I'vemetenoughmadmeninmylifetoknowthat nobodycanplanforwhatthey'lldonext.Typically,they'llgotowhatever lengthsnecessarytogetwhattheywant.Theiregoswon'tsettlefor defeat,”Itoldhimearnestly.“Butdeadguysdon'tusuallyhavebigegos.”
IsmileduntilIthoughtaboutwhatI'dsaid,Gregory'simageflashing throughmymind.“Okay,maybethat'sabadexample,butyouknowwhat I'msaying.”
“Inamostdisturbingway,Ido,”hereplied,beforemakinghisway downthehall.Hislimpwasbarelyvisible,butI'dhadafewdrinkssoit waspossiblethatIwasn'tthebestjudge.