“Yes. Someone, someshifterknows who’s doing the killings. And I’m sure you’re going to tell me that it’s no one in your pack, but I’d rather not take that chance, if it’s all the same.”
Sam put his hand on Isaac’s arm. “You sure? As alpha, the welfare of the pack is my responsibility.”
“Yes, it is.” Placing his hand over Sam’s, Isaac gave him a pointed look. “And as one of your betas, it’s my job to do it when you can’t. And accompanying Harry on Thursday is one of those times.”
Sam slid his hand up to Isaac’s throat, left it there for a second, and then stepped back. “Since Isaac’s happy to accompany Harry on Thursday, then so am I. Harry?”
“Yeah. I’ll feel much better with Isaac there.” He visibly relaxed as he said it, and Aaron wondered if he’d thought he’d be going alone.
Nudging him with his thigh, he whispered, “We wouldn’t have let you meet those arseholes on your own. Regardless of whether the SCTF are involved or not.”
“I know.”
Aaron wasn’t convinced he did, but the main thing was that Harry wouldn’t be going alone and had Isaac as backup—with his beta strength. Aaron pitied anyone who decided to mess with him. Guns or no.
“Right, I think that covers things for now. We’ll be back Thursday afternoon with the money you’ll need for membership and to make sure you’re ready.” Archer stood, and Coldwell did the same. “See you Thursday.”
Isaac saw them to the door.
Aaron watched them go, then collapsed back against the sofa cushions. It might only be lunchtime but it felt like they’d been at it for hours. And he was starving.
His stomach rumbled as confirmation.
Rolling his head so he faced Harry, he said, “Fancy going out to get food?”
Harry gestured to Aaron’s face. “Won’t you need to fix a few things before we go out in public?”
He doubted they’d actually see anyone from Friday night, but there was always a chance. And now he needed to keep up appearances more than ever. “Yeah, I guess.” He blew out a breath, not looking forward to making himself look beat up again. He’d thought he was done with all that. Thank God he hadn’t thrown all his stuff out like he’d been tempted to. “Give me twenty minutes when we get back to our building and I’ll be ready.”
Sam cleared his throat, staring at them both. Aaron had been so relieved the morning was over, he’d forgotten where they were for a minute. “I would suggest you get yourselves ready and then go with Isaac to meet your new unit since that was your goal for today. I’m sure he’d be happy to include lunch in that, and I think a little pack normalcy will do you both good.”
Aaron happened to agree. The last few days had left him feeling vulnerable and on edge. Being around pack was exactly what they both needed.
“Yes, Alpha.”
The sound of the front door closing was followed by Isaac’s voice moments later as he entered the living room, phone in hand. “I’ll pick you both up in half an hour. We’ll be meeting most of my unit for lunch at one thirty. Okay?”
Both Harry and Aaron nodded.
With that decided, Aaron stood and offered his hand to Harry who took it and hauled himself up. “See you in a bit,” he said to Isaac. Then he turned to Sam. “I’m sorry for putting us in this position.”
“Me too,” Harry added.
“I know you are.” Sam sighed and stepped forward. He laid a hand on each of them, palms resting at the base of their throats. Aaron relaxed immediately under his alpha’s touch. “And I’m proud of you for coming to tell me in the first place, even though you could have kept quiet. If I’d had to find out about all this first from the SCTF detectives, I’d have been disappointed in both of you.”
Which would have sucked.
Thank fuck they came to see him when they did.
“I’m also glad you decided to cooperate with the police. Whoever’s killing humans needs to be stopped. I don’t care what pack they’re from, they’ve crossed a line and no longer deserve our protection.”
I really hope it’s no one from our pack.
He couldn’t see it. Sam ran a tight, law-abiding pack, but then every alpha probably thought that.
When Aaron’s stomach rumbled for the second time in quick succession. He gestured towards the door. “We’d better get going.”
“Of course.”
