“Only one way to find out.” Daryl gestured towards the centre of the building where large double doors stood open, light spilling out from inside. Two similar doors were open on each wing, their luggage visible through the gap. Beckoning Jason to follow him, he walked over to join Jenn and Rachel. “Thirty minutes to get settled in, then meet up to have a look around?” They might be in the safety of the alpha council lands, but that didn’t mean Daryl could easily relax. For his own peace of mind, he needed to know as much about where they were staying as possible. Just in case.
“Sounds good.” Rachel rolled her shoulders. “It’s weird having so many alpha scents around, yet none of them are Cam.”
“Yeah.” Daryl wholeheartedly agreed. He wasn’t used to sleeping anywhere that didn’t smell like pack, like home, and his skin prickled with unease. Even without realising, he noted, he’d moved closer to the other betas. “Since we have no idea where our suite is exactly, we’ll meet you by those double doors.” He pointed to the centre ones. “That okay with you, Jenn, Jason?” They both nodded.
Cam hadn’t appointed him the one in charge, but it seemed to be heading that way. Daryl had been a beta for longer than the others, as far as he was aware, and he liked to be in control. If they were happy to let him take the lead on certain things, then it suited him fine.
The double doors opened up into a large foyer with a staircase off to one side and three other doors markedKitchen/Dining,Living Room,Laundry. On the wall next to the staircase a sign readSuites 1-4with an arrow pointing up. Daryl was itching to explore the ground floor, but since he’d agreed to wait for Jenn and Rachel, he grabbed his suitcase and slung his rucksack over his shoulder, waiting for Jason to do the same. “Ready?”
“After you.” Jason grinned, as he looked around. “I’m assuming it’ll be obvious which one is ours,” he said, following Daryl up the stairs. “And I wonder why we’re in a suite instead of one of
the double rooms—not that I’m complaining or anything—but it makes me curious as to what’s in store for us.”
“Mm,” Daryl grunted. He was actively trying not to think about what pack-bonding exercises Alpha Cornell had in mind for the two of them. “Maybe it was the only central room available.”
The top of the stairs led to a long corridor going left and right. Off to the right a door was wide open.
“D’you reckon that’s us?” Jason looked unsure, and Daryl had to admit he didn’t like all this cloak-and-dagger crap. Why not just tell them their room number and give them a bloody key? Surely all this wasn’t part of their pack bonding?
Daryl scented the air, pleased to note Jason doing the same.
Their eyes met and Jason shrugged. “I only smell Asha and Anya.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Not that he was expecting anything to happen to them here, but Daryl still moved with caution as they approached the open door.
Peering inside, he relaxed when faced with an obviously empty room. Two double beds took up one side, while on the other was a small sofa. It was nice enough, if a little basic.
“No TV?” Jason asked, looking around. Clearly not the suite he’d imagined.
Daryl huffed. “I suppose that’s all part of the experience.” An ensuite bathroom was tucked in the corner—small, but it had everything they needed.Just like Cam promised.Daryl gave a wry smile. He’d give a lot right now to know as much as Cam did about what they’d be facing.
“Which bed do you want?” Jason had shucked his backpack and was standing in between the two beds, looking at Daryl expectantly.
Daryl shrugged. “Either is fine, I don’t care as long as I have one.” He dumped his rucksack on the spare one after Jason chose his and set his case on the floor. Unpacking could wait until tomorrow.
As Jason began putting his clothes in drawers, Daryl made for the landline and called Cam.
He answered after the first ring. “Hello?”
“It’s Daryl. We’re here. Just checking in.”
“You made good time.” Cam’s voice soothed his wolf, and Daryl felt himself relax.
He sighed into the phone and ran a hand over his eyes, more keyed up than he realised. “Yeah.
No traffic at this time of night. Not the way we went anyway.”
“Everything okay? You all settled in?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. There’s no reception here, though, so if you want us, you’ll have to try this number or call the council direct.”
“Hopefully I won’t have cause to.” He paused, and Daryl felt certain he heard a smile in Cam’s voice when he spoke next. “Has Alpha Cornell given any indication of what to expect while you’re there?”
“No. But then, you know she won’t,” he added dryly.
“You won’t be totally in the dark, but yes, I did request that she keep some of the details to herself.”
