“Ofcourseyoudid,”Igroaned,followinghimouttotheliving room.
Thefourmenstaredwhenweentered.Nervousnesscoursedfrom theMainetrio,andhostilityrolledoffofCooperatanalarmingrate.He reallywasn'tpleasedwithhisbabysittingrole.Funnyhowhesurvived keepinganeyeonmejustfine.
“Sowhatdidyouguysfigureoutduringyourlittleouting?”Iasked, needingtobreakthesilenceintheroom.
“Nothing,”Coopersaidwithgreatannoyance.“Theyonlywantto talktoyou.”
“Seriously?Theydidn'tsayanything?”
“Notaword.”
Cooperwashangingonbyathinthread.Hisdistrustwasapparent toallpartiespresent,andunfortunatelyforme,Seanwascompletelyon hiswavelength.
“AndifIaskforanswers?”Seanasked,hisvoicecalmand menacing.
Jannershruggedslightly.“Thatisanentirelydifferentmatter.”
Coopergrowled.Idon'tthinkheenjoyedbeingone-uppedbySean.
Idecidedtotryandsortthemessout,seeingthatitwasstilleither thatoptionorabloodbathinmylivingroom.Thelittlecooling-offperiod Seanhadmandatedtheboystakehadn'tdoneanythingtohelp.Therewas toomuchtestosteroneintooconfinedaspace.
“Yousaidyouneedrefuge,”Istarted,tryingtorecallwhatJanner hadsaidearlier.“Butwhyhere?Whydoyouthinkyou'rebetteroffhere withme?With us?”
“Becauseofwhatyouare,”Jannerstatedlikethatpointwas painfullyobvious.“Ihavetoadmitthatweweresurprisedthatitwasso easyto collectyouinthewoodsthatday.Wethoughtwewerepossibly goingonasuicidemissionevenattemptingtoapproachyou.Butoncewe sawyousittingagainstthetree,youseemedsofrightened―fragileeven.
Wewerefarmoreconcernedwithyourwell-beingatthatpoint.Moreso thanourown.
“Sowetookyouinandhelpedyou,whichaffordedusan opportunitytoseehowtherealyoustackedupagainstyourreputation.
Pleasantly,wefoundyoutobefarmorerationalthanwehadbeenledto believe.Hadwenotseenyouinactionpriortothat,Idon'tknowthatwe wouldbeherenow,askingforyourhelp.Youseemasthoughsomehow, unlikeotherwerewolves,youandyourwolfarepolaropposites.”
“Yes,well,Idoseemtobeabitofanenigma,”Irepliedwitha smile,tryingtomakelightofhisobservation.Hehadhitthenailonthe headanditmademeuncomfortable.Itseemedtohavethesameeffecton CooperandSean.
“Sowhatyou'rebasicallysayingisthatyouwanttohidebehind Ruby'sskirtjustincaseyourbigbadalphacomeslookingforyou?"
Coopersneered.“Youmadeyourfuckingbed.Figureoutawaytosleep init.”
“Idon'thidefromanyone,youfuckingprick,”Alistairbarked.
Cooperlaughed.“Iwouldn'tevenbreakasweatkillingyou.”
“Well,Iguessit'sgoodthatnobodywillbekillinganyonetonight, sowewon'thavetotesttheveracityofthatstatement,"Iinterjected.
“Notyet,”CooperandSeanchimedtogether.Thetwoslowlyturned tolookatoneanotherwiththemostunsettledexpressions.
“Anyway,”Isaid,tryingtobringthefocusbacktotheissueathand.
“YouthinkthatI'mgoingtotakeyouinsothatIcanjustinvitetroubleto mydoorstep?"
“Myhope,Ruby,wasthatyouwouldconsideroursituationand thinkaboutitbeforereadilydismissingus.ThestoriesthatI'veheard neverspokeofyourdualnature.Youseemsoveryhumantome.I wonderifourplightcouldpossiblyappealtothatinflatedsenseof humanity.IfTobiasweretofindoutaboutourlocation...,"hesaid,letting hislackofcompletionspeakforitself.
“Youthinkhe'dbedissuadedfromcomingafteryoubecausethis seeminglytoo-humanwerewolfisactuallyaruthlessassassin."
“Ifyou'recomfortableputtingitthatway,thenyes.”
“SoI'mthe'justincase'plan?”
“Inasense.”Hisexpressionwassurprisinglyunapologetic.
Theironyofthesituationwastoomuchforme.Theywantedtobe nearmeforprotection,andIcouldn'teventakecareofmyselfbecause Scarlethadtakenaleaveofabsence.
“Idon'treallyknowhowtotellyouthis,guys,butI'mnotreally goingtobeabletohelpmuchbecause―"
“Ruby!”SeanandCooperyelledsimultaneously.Itwastruly bizarre.
“IthinkwhatRubyistryingtosay,”Cooperstarted,“isthatshe'son atightleashthesedays.Shecan'tjustgoandtakecareofyourproblems withoutconsequence."CoopershotaglanceatSeanandthenbacktothe boys.“Hemaybehermate,buthersurvivalisdependentonkeepingher noseclean.Allyouthreeseemtowanttodoisdirtyitforher.”
“Idon'tthinkit'llbeanissue,”Jannercountered.“IfTobiasknows thatwe'realignedwithyou,Idon'tthinkevenhewouldbedumb enough―orsuicidalenough―tocomeafterus.Heenjoysbreathingfar toomuchforthat.”
“That'squiteagamble,”Seanadded.“Andonethatnoneofusare willingtomake.”
“Agreed,”growledCooper.
Flankedbythetwomeninmylife,Ilookedoveratthesomber threesome.Beckett'sfacewasimpassive,butJannerandAlistairhad looksofuncertaintyandtheenergytogoalongwithit.Theirshieldshad beendroppedtheinstanttheconversationstarted,andwhatevertheyhad hopedtoaccomplishbycomingtomyhouseduringthestormofthe centurywasn'tpanningout.Itlookedasthoughtheywererunningoutof hopeaswellasoptions.
“Nowthatwe'veheardwhatyoucameheretosay...,”Seanbegan, motioningtowardthedoor.
IwatchedasJannertookadeep,cleansingbreathbeforegiving SeanandCooperbothacurtnodandleadinghismentothedoor.Beckett followedwithoutargumentoracknowledgmentofanyofus.Ilookedon, feelingasthoughsomethingjustwasn'tquiteright.Itdidn'tfeelgood sendingthemaway.WhenIbroughtmyattentionbacktoAlistair,he stoodsteadfast,staringatmewithapainedexpression.Helooked desperatetosaysomething.
“Ali,”Jannercalledfromthedoorway.“We'llfindanotherway...”
Alistair'seyesremainedfixedonminewithapleadinggaze.He openedhismouthtospeak,thencloseditandstartedtogotohis packmates,aslightlydefeatedpostureovertakinghim.
“Alistair,”Icalled,lungingtowardhim.Hestartledatmyapproach, buthaltedallthesame.“Istheresomethingyouwanttotellme?
SomethingotherthanwhatI'veheard?"
HelookedtoJanner,seekingpermissionwithhiseyes.Janner pressedhislipstightlyandsighedbeforegivinghimanodofapproval.
Withoutskippingabeat,Alistairdroppedabombonus.
“They'vebeengoingmissingforawhilenow,”hetoldme,jumping righttothemeatofhisstory.Itleftmecompletelybewildered.
“Who?Who'sbeengoingmissing?”
“Packmembers,”hesaidflatly.“Atfirst,wethoughtitwas coincidence.Oneortwohaddisappeared,buttherealwaysseemedtobea reasontoexplainawayanydoubt.Mostwerelowerrankingmembers whoweren'treallyinlovewithbeingapartofthepack.Theywould ratherhavebeenloners.Initially,wethoughtthey'dalljustbuggeredoff."
Again,helookedtoJannerwithanairofuncertaintyclouding everythingaroundhim.Itwasapparentthatthiswasacardhe'dhopedto nothavetoplay.
“Butlater...,”Iprodded,tryingtodragitoutofhim.
“Later,itwasrandommembersofthepack.Andthelastonetobe taken,shewasmymate.SomeonetookmyJemma."
Myshoulderssaggedwithcompassion.Thepainhefeltwas staggering,andpartofmeknewalltoowellwhatthatfeltlike.Theother partofmethatalsoknewexactlywhatthatfeltlikewasstilltooAWOL
tocare.
“When?”Seanasked,hisboomingvoicestartlingme.
“Afewmonthsago,”Alistairsaid,tryingdesperatelytocompose himself.“Shelefttorunsomeerrandsonedayandnevercameback."
“I'msosorry,Ali
stair,”Iwhispered.
“Whatdoesthishavetodowithyoustayinghere?”Cooperblurted outfrombehindme.
“Cooper!”
“Well?”hesnarled.“It'sasadstoryandall,andIfeelbadforhim, butthatdoesn'thaveanythingtodowithus.MaybeyoushouldsendSean overtheretofigureoutwhat'shappening."
“Havealittlecompassion,Coop!Howwouldyoufeelifyourmate weretaken?”
Helookedatmeangrily,butIcouldseehimprocessingthat thought.Iteasedtheharshnessinhisfaceeversoslightly.
“Pleasegoon,”Iurged.
“Thereasonwekilledthelastalphaisn'tquitewhatweleton before,”hesaidwithhesitation.“Thetruthisthatweacquiredevidence indicatingthathehadbeensellinghisowntosomeonefortesting,but testingforwhatandbywhomweneverfoundout.Ioverheardhimonthe phoneonenight.HewastalkingtowhoeverhadJemma.Hetoldthemto killthebitchifitwasn'tworking.Hehadhermurdered.”Hepausedfora moment,squeezinghiseyesshuttightly.“TherageIfeltwasunlike anythingI'veeverexperienced.Itorehimtopieceswithmybarehands beforeIevenrealizedwhatIwasdoing.”
“Wehadnochoice,”Jannerofferedfromhisplaceinthedoorway.
“Hadwestayed,therepercussionswouldhavebeenimmense.Thenext alphacouldn'thaveallowedthatkindofmutinousbehavior,sohegaveus onechancetoescapewithourlives.Wetookit.Itwasonlylaterthatwe learnedthathemighthaveorchestratedtheentireevent.I'mquitecertain heusedus.”
“Ifyouhaveservedyourpurposetohim,whyareyousoconvinced thathewillcomeforyou?”Seanaskedfrankly.
“LikeIsaidbefore,hehasnohonor.And,tobehonest,Ithinkhe wasalittlefrightenedbyAli'sdisplaythatnight,"Jannerexplained.
“Manyofthepacksawhoweasilyhetorethroughourlateleader.Iwas there.I'veneverseenanythinglikeitinallmyyears,thoughIdon'tthink itcouldbereproducedondemand.Hewasbeyondlethal.Tobiaswill havethatweighingonthebackofhismindatalltimes,wonderingif we'llcomebackforhim.HewasDeacon'sright-handman.He'sknown allalongwhatwasgoingonanddecidedtoplaybothsidesofthefence whileitsuitedhispurposes.I'mafraidhe'sstillcarryingoutwhateverhad beenstarted.Fromwhatwe'veheardthroughthegrapevine,pack membersarestillgoingmissing...”
“Interestingtheory,butI'mnotbuyingit,”Coopersaid,moving closertome.
“WouldyounotavengeRubyifsomethingweretoeverhappento her?”Aliasked,hisvoiceuncharacteristicallysoftanddistant.
Coopergrowled.
“Iwouldstopatnothingtotakedownanyoneoranythingthat harmedasinglehaironherhead,”herumbledthreateningly."Apoint thatyouwouldbewisetoremember― verywise.”
“ThenyouunderstandhowIfeel,andyouknowitgivesvalidityto Tobias'fear,”Alistairadded.“Myrevengeisn'tcompleteuntilallwho hurtJemmaarecoldanddead. Allofthem.”
SeanstirredbehindmeandIjumped;I'dnearlyforgottenhewas there.
“ThisTobias,”hesaid,walkingtowardAlistair.“Doyouhaveproof thatheknewwhatwasgoingonorthathe'sstilldoingitnow?"
Alistair'sexpressionwentgrim.“No,notdirectly.Everythingwe hadobtainedaboutDeacon'sinvolvementwasthroughTobias.Eventhe phonecallIoverheard;Tobiashadtippedmeofftoit.Whenweleft,all thatevidencewasleftbehind,andI'msurehasbeenlongsincedestroyed.
WewerehopingthatmaybethePCcouldassistusinlocatingsomenew information."Sean'seyesnarrowedaccusingly.“Whenweheardabout Ruby,wealsoheardthatshemayhavehadsome... influencewiththePC.
Wewerehopingthatshewouldhelpuswiththataswell.”
“Sean,”Isaidquietly,“Iknowyou'reuneasyaboutthis,butAlistair isright.Youbothwouldgotoanylengthtohurtsomeonethattriedto harmmeoranyoneelseyoulove.Can'tyouempathizewithhissituation?
And,really,ifthere'ssomepsychosellingoffpackmemberstoGodonly knowswhatfate,canyoutellmeyou'reokaywiththat?"Hestaredatme withoutresponding,soIpulledoutthebigguns.“Iwassoldoff...,”I whispered,movingclosertohim.“Please,Iwanttohelpthem.Youhave tounderstandwhy.”
Ireachedupontomytoes,notcaringthateveryoneintheroomwas staring,andkissedhimsoftly.Hisforestgreeneyespenetratedmine, tellingmethathewaswillingtoconcede,butlessthanthrilledwiththe idea.
“IwillhaveoneofthebrothersgotoLondontocheckonmatters there,”hesaid,speakingovertopofmetoJanner."AndI'llalertthose alreadytheretobeonwatchforanythingsuspicious.Perhapsamild crackdownwillstrikealittlefearintothisTobias'heart,ifhehasone.”
“Thatwouldbemuchappreciated,”Jannerrepliedwithgreat sincerity.
“Thankyou,”Alistairadded.Helookedsovulnerablestandingin themiddleofmylivingroom―youngandgrief-stricken.
“Cooper,”IcalledasIturnedtofacehim.“Canyouacceptthis?”
Heaudiblysighed.
“Ican.Fornow.Butwe'regoingtohavetosetsomeseriousground rulesfirst.Ifitcomestoachoicebetweenoursafetyandtheirs,those bitchesaregoingdownanydayoftheweek."
“Cooper,”Jannersaid,loweringhisheadslightlytoaverthisgaze.
Anactofsubmission.“Wedonotwishtobringharmtoyouoryours.If itbecomesasituationwherethatisthebottomline,wewillhappilygive ourselvesupsoastodivertanyviolenceawayfromyouboth.Willthat appeaseyou?"
“It'sastart...”
“Okaythen,”Isaid,walkingdownthehalltothelinencloset.
“Lookslikewe'regoingtohaveagoodold-fashionedsleepover."
“No,”CooperandSeanbarkedjustsecondsapart.
“Theyarenotstayinghere,”Seaninformedme.Itwasclearbyhis tonethattherewasnonegotiatingthatpoint.
Itwon'tevenbecomfortable;they'llbemiserable,doesn'tthatmakeyou feelbetter?"
“Immensely.”
Iloadedupmyarmswitheveryextrasheet,blanket,andcomforter Icouldfind.Ididn'thaveextrapillows,soIstoppedbythecouchto swipeallthetosscushionsIcouldfindoffofit.CooperandSean watchedmeintentlyasIdid,neitheroneofthemliftingahandtohelp.It wastheirsilentdeclarationthat,thoughtheyhadconcededtomydesire tohelpourlittlestraywolves,theyweren'thappyaboutit.Theywere growingmoreandmorealikeeveryday.
“Here,”Isaid,loadingupAlistair'sarmswiththebedding.“Follow me.”
Imademywayoutontothelandingandledthetriouptothethird floorwithSeanandCooperpullinguptherear.Iopenedthestudioupand flippedonthelight.Withagrandsweepinggesture,Ishowedmyguests theiraccommodations.
“It'sthebestIcanoffer.”
“We'rehappytotakeit,”Jannersaid,lookingaroundtheroom.“I'll geteverythingelsesetuphere.It'sbeenalongnight.Youshouldget somerest."
“Shedoesn'tneedyouradvice,”Seanthreatened.
“Ofcourse,”Jannerrepliedwithasmallbow.
Withthat,Iwasushereddownthestairsandbackintomy apartment,whichwasfinebyme.ThetestosteronecocktailI'dbeen swimminginallnightwasstartingtodrownme,andIwasthankfulto findmyselfinmyhousewithonlyhalfasmuchofittodealwith.
Coopermadeashowoflockingthedoorbehindusbeforemaking hiswayovertometogivemeahugehuggoodnight.Seanseemedtotake itwelluntilCooperplantedalongandgentlekissonmycheek.Itwasn't sexualatall―hisenergytoldmeasmuch―butheknewitwouldrattle Sean'scagesohediditforonelastjollybeforehewentintohisbedroom andshuthisdoor
forthenight.
Sean'seyesweregluedtothehallwaythatCooperhadjust disappeareddown.
“Youknowhejustdoesittorileyouup,andyoutakethebaitevery time,”IinformedhimasIheadedtothebathroom.Hedidn'tfollow."Are youstaying?”Iaskedwhilemystomachdidalittleflip.
Heeyedmestrangelyinresponse.
“Ofcourse,I'mstaying,”herepliedasthoughmyquestionhadbeen utterlyridiculous.Perhapsitwas."ButIthinkI'llbestayingouthere tonight.Wouldn'twantoneoftheboystowanderinwhileweallare sleeping.”
“Throughthelockeddoor?”Iaskedincredulously.
“Exactly,”herepliedwithamischievousgrin.Ilovedthatgrin.
“Suityourself.”Ishruggedandcontinuedonmypathtothe washroom.“It'sreallytoobadthough.Iwasn'tquitereadytogotosleep."
Iflashedhimamischievousgrinofmyown.
“JesusChrist,youtwo.”Cooper'smuffledvoicegroanedfromhis bedroom.“IfIhavetoputupwiththisfromnowon,I'mmovingout."
“No,you'renot,”Iquipped.“Whowouldyouhavetobossaround allday?Youknowthat'syourfavoriteactivity."
“Ugggh,”helamented.“Ihateitwhenyou'reright.”
“Loveyoutoo,Coop.”
IlookedbacktoseeSeansmilingatme.
“Iseeyoutwohavestraightenedafewthingsout.I'mgladtosee that,”hesaid,withanimpishgrinthatimpliedheknewCooperwasmy alpha.Idon'tknowwhyitsurprisedme.
“Yep.Wesuredid,thoughitprobablywouldhavebeeneasierhad youjusttoldmeyouknew.”
“Itried,”hesaid,suddenlyrightinfrontofme.Icouldneverget usedtohowquicklyhecouldmove."IwasrudelyinterruptedbytheRev atthetime.Afterthat,therewasalwaysacrisistoattendto.Thatseems tobeyourgoldstandard,doesitnot?”Thewattageonhisplayfulgrin turnedupevenfurther.
“Itcertainlyis,soI'llletyouoffthehookthistime,”Isaid,leaning intokisshimgentlybeforecatchinghisbottomlipbetweenmyteethand givingitalight,punishingtug.
“Howgraciousofyou,”herepliedwithawhisper.“Now...how aboutwegoandtrytoremedythatlittlesleepissueofyours."