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It was touching that so many people had come to check that she and Alex were fine, but a lot of them were also pissed and demanding answers that nobody had. It wouldn’t take much for things to turn ugly out there—pallas cats tended to pick fights when feeling mad or helpless. The other omegas would thankfully be on top of that.
Many pride mates had gone out with Luke and some of the enforcers in search of Paxton. Bree would have gone with them if Vinnie hadn’t needed to question her.
“Has anyone looked into whether the polar bears worked for Marino’s agency?” asked James.
“No need,” replied Tate, standing next to his father in front of the fireplace. “I recognized them as lone shifters for hire. I’m glad the sons of bitches died hard—they deserved it.”
They’d definitely deserved it, because the motherfuckers had killed the two enforcers who’d patrolled the woods behind her yard. One of them had been Benny. Luke had found the bodies stashed near the roots of an old tree.
Bree’s eyes fell closed. The back of her throat ached. The males had died for no other reason than that they’d been trying to keep her safe. Though she knew she held no blame in that, guilt churned in her stomach all the same.
Her hand clenched around the now-cold cup of black tea that Valentina had given her earlier. Bree hadn’t even taken a single sip. She couldn’t. She felt sick all the way down to her soul.
“Where’s the young hyena who was paid to stare at the house?” Mila asked.
“We let him go,” replied Vinnie. “He had no idea why he’d been asked to watch Bree’s home, let alone what the bears had planned. Tate checked out his personal details; he doesn’t belong to the Silva Clan, but I think the bears deliberately chose a hyena to act as a distraction, hoping we’d assume he was part of that bastard clan. Which we did.”
Valentina glared at the Alpha. “Tell me what you are doing to find these hyenas. You say again and again you are ‘working on it.’ That is lazy term, no? Bree was almost taken. My son was almost killed. We lost two enforcers—”
“You don’t have to remind me of that,” said Vinnie, a strain in his voice. “I’ve consulted just about every source I have on Dale Bray and the Silva Clan. I’ve checked out every tip I’ve been given on their whereabouts—they all came to nothing.”
“Is it possible that Calvin could have given his watchers the slip and ventured to the woods?” James asked his brother in a much gentler tone than his mate’s.
It was Tate who answered. “Anything is possible, but I doubt it. Too many things point to his twin being back on the scene. Bree didn’t see Paxton in the woods, true, but whoever helped her called her ‘little cat.’ That was Paxton’s endearment for her.”
“Which Calvin knows well,” Elle cut in. “What better way for the guy to make everyone believe his story that his brother is back than by posing as his brother?”
“I had that same thought,” said Mila. “But I agree with Tate—too much has happened that suggests Paxton’s back.”
Done with his soup, Alex laid a hand on Bree’s thigh. “You’re not going to like what I have to say but let me finish. I think it would be a good idea for you to stay with me in my apartment for a while.”
Yeah, she’d been expecting him to say that.
“You’re too exposed here,” he added. “My complex is a lot harder to break into. And if anyone managed to get inside, there’s no way they wouldn’t be noticed. Plus, Vinnie just lost two enforcers. If he assigns two others to your house, that means he has less enforcers doing their everyday duties, which will affect the entire pride. But if you really want to stay here, I’ll move in with you and—”
“No,” Bree cut in. “I’ll stay at your place until this is over.” She didn’t like that she was effectively letting the hyenas chase her out of her home, but if Alex was hurt again because of her pride … no, she wouldn’t be able to take it.
His face softened. “Good.”
She could see he believed that she was cooperating in a bid to better protect herself. He was wrong. She was agreeing because it seemed the best way to protect him.
As much as she liked to tell herself that her “savior” in the woods could have been Calvin, she knew better than to cling to straws any longer. It had to have been Paxton. He’d warned her to stay away from Alex. If the wolverine moved into her home even temporarily, Paxton—the twisted bastard—might try to kill him. He wouldn’t be much happier about her moving in with Alex, no, but at least they’d be harder for Paxton to reach.
