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“I’m not sure I can.” Bennett’s body was full of tension and nervous energy. He wanted to move. He wanted to act.
“Fair enough.” Rex headed to the small bar in the corner and poured a bit of amber liquid into a small glass for each of them. “I think we could use one of these. Shit, you certainly look like you could, Bennett.”
“Fuck yes,” he growled as he took the glass. “With good reason.”
“I won’t argue with you.” Rex sat down with a sigh, taking the armchair Bennett had refused. “It’s not the first time we’ve had it happen, of course, but things get a little stressful when a human is changed into one of us. We can handle it, but it’s always a cause for concern. Annie’s situation was no less so, considering the extent of her injuries. Dawn just checked in with me a short while ago, though. She said Annie has fully recovered and is doing well learning about this new side of herself. And Stephanie’s okay, too,” he added.
A bit of the agitation within him unwound. Bennett wouldn’t stop worrying about Stephanie and Annie, but at least he knew nothing disastrous had happened. “That’s good, but we’ve still got a problem to solve. I know you’re concerned about the truce between the Silvergroves and us, Rex. I really do get it, but I’d say they’ve broken their end of the deal. This isn’t just about an old feud with them anymore.”
“Especially not after that attack at the clinic,” Kane added. “That was in broad daylight and against humans. I don’t doubt they would’ve done it even if the clinic had been full of patients. In that sense, we’re fortunate that Bennett and Stephanie had taken the preventative measures they did, or we might be looking at a much bigger situation. It would be harder to contain, too.”
“Mm. Yes.” Rex’s face was rigid and distant as he sipped his whiskey.
“I won’t take no for an answer this time, Rex.” Bennett was pushing it, he knew. This wasn’t how someone spoke to a respected Alpha. Rex’s reputation was what made this all the more frustrating. “The Bloodmoon Crew will come after Annie and Stephanie to finish the job. Emil Silvergrove is the one who hired me. He told me that Nelson and his men are confident they can have the entire Eugene area under their rule. Humans and shifters alike. This isn’t just a one-off incident.”
Kane nodded. “Crime has increased lately. I think if we took a closer look at everything through this scope, we’d find that the Crew is responsible for it.”
Rex tossed back the last of his shot. He rubbed his lips together as he considered his empty glass. “You’re right.”
Bennett stared at him for a moment, not sure if he’d heard him correctly. He’d expected to argue until he was blue in the face. Considering how quickly Rex had shot him down before, that only made sense.
“You’re right,” Rex repeated, “but the problem is how to pursue this. What they’ve done is unforgivable and certainly goes beyond the bounds of any truce or treaty we have with them. The problem is that the Bloodmoon Crew is an integral part of the Silvergrove pack. They’re the leaders, and they probably have at least some percentage of their membership following them loyally regardless of what someone else told you.”
“But it’s definitely not all of them,” Bennett insisted. “If it was just Emil, he could leave and join another pack. He told me about entire families suffering under Nelson’s rule, forced to pay for protection or work in his criminal schemes. They have to do it or face the consequences.”
“Yes, but how do we determine who those people are?” Rex asked calmly. “I’m willing to get out there and do this, Bennett. I want to be clear on that, but I also want to make sure we’re being smart about it and forming some sort of strategy. Battling half a pack isn’t the same as battling an entire one.”
“We had a similar experience with the Morwoods,” Kane reminded him.
“Yes, but we didn’t know what we were getting into with that. We didn’t know they were only supporting their leader because he’d put them under a spell. From our point of view, they were all still one entity. If we go in and take out anyone who stands in our way, we very well might be fighting those who are forced to do so. I don’t think that would make us any better than Nelson Silvergrove himself.”
Bennett balled his hands into fists. He completely understood what Rex was saying, but it made him feel more defeated than ever. “I’m not sure how we can possibly understand who’s on our side in a battle situation.”
“I might be able to help.”
He turned, but he already knew it would be Stephanie standing in the doorway as soon as he’d heard her words. Her voice was a bit shaky, and dark half-moons sat under her eyes, even though she’d slept for a bit. She looked completely exhausted, and all Bennett wanted to do was pull her close and show her just how much he yearned to take care of her.
Rex stood and waved to the chair he’d just vacated. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink? I pride myself on keeping some top-shelf whiskey in the cabinet.”
Stephanie looked up at Bennett as she passed him. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
“The offer stands if you change your mind. I know things have been stressful for you.” Rex leaned against the fireplace. “In light of that, I hate for you to be involved in this at all, but I’m curious. How can you help?”
Bennett watched her as she sat in that chair. Stephanie was a practical person, the sort who cared about function more than form, yet still looked so beautiful and graceful. He knew it’d been the right thing to bring her and Annie to the packhouse. It was the safest place for them—perhaps even safer than his own cabin at the moment—and Annie needed everything that could be offered there. Yet Bennett wanted nothing more than to be alone with her.
Stephanie took a deep breath. “I know this sounds odd, although maybe it’s not that crazy considering everything I’ve witnessed today. Anyway, I’m an animal psychic.”
The room was thick and heavy for a moment. Bennett took a step toward her and then stopped, not wanting to crowd or be too pushy. Kane had given him good advice earlier. As much as he wanted to set their relationship in concrete, this wasn’t the time. “What do you mean?”
“For a long time, I’ve known there’s more to my success rate at the clinic than my alternative modalities. I can actually communicate with the animals and get their input on how they feel.” Stephanie looked desperate as she glanced around the room. “I know it sounds insane.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Bennett said softly.
“Not at all,” Rex agreed. “The wolves in a pack are able to communicate telepathically with each other. I think, out of anyone you could tell this to, we’re probably the most receptive.”
“Yes, I’ve just learned quite a bit about that.” Stephanie picked gently at the upholstery. “Annie was able to shift. I won’t waste your time by describing it since you already know, but one of the most remarkable things was that I could still talk to her while she was in her wolf form.”
“Really?” Bennett’s heart had been twisted in all sorts of directions, and now it bent toward hope. Nothing could be more important to Stephanie than her daughter, and his carelessness had changed Annie forever. This, however, was a new angle he’d never imagined.
