“I don’t like you being out in the open and exposed.” Ryder ran a tired hand down his face. “Let’s get you inside, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
Ryder watched the rest of the guys fall into formation around Morgan and guide her inside the coven.
Inside their home.
He sighed and wished they had more time to actually enjoy the novelty.
Caedmon fell into step beside him, and his beast grumbled at his proximity. Though the man helped save Morgan, he didn’t trust the guy yet. He saw the look in the man’s eyes when he gazed at her—it was the same look Ryder saw in the mirror everymorning.
Hope.
Fear.
And such painful longing that it was hard to look at directly.
Not that he could blame the poor fuck.
Morgan had that effect on all her mates.
As much as he wanted to deny what he was seeing, Ryder feared it was already much too late. No matter what warning or threat he gave, Caedmon was too far gone.
And as Ryder’s gaze swept across the property, he realized that maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. No matter his personal feelings, Caedmon was an impressive warrior, and he very much feared they were going to need him in their upcoming confrontation, especially if Morgan proved to be stubborn and refused to accept their advice.
He wasn’t sure how the others would feel about welcoming another male into their group…or how the hell they were going to convince Morgan she needed another mate. She was already conflicted about having the other man near.
Even before stepping into the house, he heard arguing spill out from the library, and Ryder sighed. Living with six strong personalities was a challenge at the best of times, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world. He closed the front door behind him, then followed the loud voices. Despite being five against one, Morgan stood with her arms crossed, a stubborn expression on her face as she glared at the rest of the men.
“You’re not going alone.” Kincade was right in her face, his expression just as fierce, not backing down an inch.
“I propose a compromise.” Ryder stepped farther into the room, his eyes for Morgan alone. “The Alpha Assembly will not allow outsiders inside their meetings.”
He ran a hand over his head, his wolf preening at being the center of her attention.
“Caedmon and I will go with her to visit the wolves.” He held up his hand when the rest of the men opened their mouths to protest. “You work on discovering why her grandfather wants her back after abandoning her since birth. If we can figure out why he wants her, then we can maybe come up with a plan to keep her safe.”
Atlas crossed his arms, glaring daggers at both him and Caedmon from across the room. Then the elf sighed, dropped his arms and straightened. “As much as I hate to admit it, Ryder is correct. We don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing which threat to deal with first.”
Steam rose from Ascher as he turned away from Morgan, his scowl threatening to singe fur from his beast. “I should be assigned to her team. I’m enough of a shifter?—”
“You’re not a wolf.” Ryder held up his hand when the other man clenched his fists. “While the Alpha Assembly acknowledges other shifters, they consider them a weaker species. You will only be seen as a liability to her if you go.”
The fight went out of the hellhound.
Because as much as he wanted to protect Morgan, Ascher refused to be the one to put her in danger.
“I still don’t like it.” Draven tipped his head, his neck cracking as he paced the floor. “They’re up to something. Why would they come now?”
Kincade stilled before turning to look out the window. “It’s because we cleared out the wendigo.”
A snarl curled Ascher’s face at the mention of them. “What do you mean?”
Caedmon was the one who answered. “Because the danger is gone. They’ve come to investigate. They want to know how you managed to defeat them, and?—”
“They want it for themselves,” Atlas finished, the lavender tint to his skin darkening. The change happened more and more recently, the more Morgan was in danger, not that she seemed to mind. There wasn’t an ounce of fear in her as she gazed at her mate.
“If Ascher can’t go because he is a hellhound, then by that logic,loup garoushould be exempt as well.” She turned her striking, liquid blue eyes in his direction.
Ryder sighed, hating to be the one to disappoint her.
