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“They would never do that, Zi. I know what you’ve been through. I can’t begin to even try to comprehend the emotions you have, but I’ve known these guys my whole life. They’re good people. They’ll never take her away from you. James is a good guy. If he asked about Molly, it was only to make sure we have everything we need. Remember, we haven’t even gotten our first paycheck. He was probably asking to see if we needed an advance.”
“I’m such a bitch. I need to apologize,” she groaned and hung her head again.
“I’m sure if you make him dinner, he’ll forgive you.” I patted her hand. Her eyes went wide, and she started stammering.
“What? That man is all about food,” I said innocently. “I’d be willing to babysit. Just saying.” I chuckled, walking out of the room while she continued to stammer incomprehensibly.
I went back to my office and started unplugging the cellphones that belonged to pack members. I took a deep breath before I turned on the first one and turned on the pack’s database as well as Guardian Moon’s.
The phone had a pretty couple on the lock screen, and I sincerely hoped that they were alright. I didn’t want to start by violating someone’s privacy, so I thought I’d look at the list of the deceased first to see if their faces were on there. Thankfully, they weren’t, so I unlocked the phone and started looking for a name. The phone had no signal, which boded well. It meant the phone was turned off when a new one was acquired.
I opened the Facebook app and found the name. I looked it up on Crescent Moon’s database and couldn’t find it. Same with Guardian Moon. That left either a visitor or a Blue Moon pack member.
I pulled up the contacts and found one that said “Mom,” so I grabbed my phone and dialed.
“Hello?” A feminine voice answered.
“Hi! Is this Bethany’s Mom?”
“Yes? Is she alright? Did something happen?” I could hear the panic rising in the woman and cursed myself for not remembering everyone in our three packs experienced recent trauma.
“I have her phone. She dropped during the full moon and it came into my possession so I could find its owner. I was hoping you could help me locate her so I could return it to her.”
“Oh. Oh! Yes, she got a new one, but I’m sure she’d love to get the pictures off it. Can I provide her with your number so she can call you?”
“Of course! I can have someone drop it off as well. Let me know when you have a pen.”
I found two others, and on the third, I recognized the woman with a little boy in her arms from the list of the deceased. I got a hold of her mate, and he began crying on the phone. I was pretty emotionally drained afterward and decided to go for a walk, leaving the last two phones for a later time.
Chapter Eight
Cory
After consoling James about putting his foot in his mouth, we went back to work. Close to lunch, I decided to run the parameter of the pack land borders. I wanted to make sure all the cameras and patrols were in place. I’ve had everyone checking, but right now, Tenoch wanted a run, and I finished my morning schedule early. I got nods and bows as we ran around the parameters and a bit further out to check on the scent markers. I didn’t have to worry about the borders shared with Guardian Moon, but Tenoch felt better if we checked theirs as well since Uncle Helios was away, so I ran to the bridge connecting our two packs.
The guards knew me well. They knew Tenoch as well, so when they saw us running, they simply nodded and alerted the patrol that I was around the pack. We ran the perimeter, then doubled back a few hundred yards past the borders. I could smell Uncle Helios’ scent markers getting fainter, and when I couldn’t smell them anymore, I began my run back, satisfied with its range. We were almost at the river that bordered both packs when Tenoch smelled something else.
It wasn’t a wolf, but there was a similar marker to that of Guardian Moon. There was something similar to it, but not quite. The scent was faint, so they hadn’t been here too recently, but I would need to ask Uncle Helios about it. Maybe it was one of his siblings. I had noticed the same scent was stronger in them and in his warriors. I was on my way back through the bridge when I caught the smell of cinnamon and caramel. Before I could do anything, Tenoch took full control and ran off toward the smell.
Stop! Go back! I ordered, trying to take control back.
I want to see her, he answered, not slowing down even a little.
You’re going to scare her, I told him.
She’s seen me before.
Not in years.
Just let me see her. I’ll be good, he growled.
What are you planning on doing? I asked, skeptical that he was capable of doing it.
I just want to see her. Will you relax?
Will you behave? I questioned, giving in. In truth, I wanted to see her too. This morning was cut short too quickly.
I settled in the back of our mind but alert in case I needed to take control. Tenoch’s feelings for Evie matched my own, but his feral nature made it more dangerous. He was likely to act inappropriately and scare Evie away. I knew we couldn’t have her, but I needed to have her in my life, even if it was just as friends, so I couldn’t risk him scaring her away.
