An icy chill snakes its way through me at his deadened tone.
Gerry frowns at Kain. “What happened? Did a Hunter get to him?”
“I think you know that’s not true or you’d be a little more concerned,” Emery says, sarcasm thick in his voice.
“Asshole was working with the Hunters,” I manage to grit out.
Gerry’s features tighten, the only visible sign of his unease. I don’t really know how to describe the expression on his face. He doesn’t necessarily look surprised. More…disappointed, as if he knew this was a possibility and hoped things would go differently.
But if he knew Kain was capable of this…
If he allowed him to walk around free…
I take a deep, calming breath, attempting to shove my rage down. It’ll do me no good to lose control of my emotions.
Locked away, my wolf begins to whine, his haunting cries clawing at my brain.
“What the fuck is going on, Gerry?” Emery snaps.
He must’ve seen the same thing as me—proof that Gerry knows more than he’s letting on.
Betrayal floods my veins, thick and acerbic, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Shifters like him and the others relish in secrecy and deceit. The Council has remained in power as long as they have not by brute force but by stealth and cunningness.
Traits I don’t possess.
But come the fuck on. If the Council expects us to lead when we get older, then surely we should be privy to this information.
Gerry steps away to make a quick call, speaking low enough that I can barely make out his words, even with my enhanced hearing. Shortly after he hangs up, two shifters I recognize as working for the Council appear. They immediately cuff Kain, haul him to his feet, and drag his unconscious ass away.
“We’ll keep him in a cell until we can perform a proper interrogation.” Gerry throws Ashton a disapproving frown, but if Ashton sees it, he doesn’t acknowledge it.
He’s no longer looking at his hands, but he’s not looking at anyone else, either. He simply stands there, staring blankly ahead, a glazed sheen to his eyes that makes me uneasy.
“You need to tell us what the fuck is going on!” Emery explodes, the fuse he has on his temper ablaze. He throws his hands in the air. “Why was Kain working with the Hunters? Why don’t you look surprised? What are you hiding? Where are Izzy and my brother?”
He’s shaking by the time he’s finished speaking.
Gerry keeps his voice calm. “I can’t answer all of that.”
“You can’t or you won’t?” Emery snaps.
Gerry simply says, “Both.”
“Because it’s not safe for us or something?” Emery scoffs. “We’re supposed to be the most powerful pack. The future Council. Maybe this entire situation could’ve been avoided if you just fucking trusted us!”
Gerry’s eyes narrow, though he doesn’t respond to Emery’s outburst. Instead, he takes a deep breath, rolls back his shoulders, and shifts slightly to address all three of us.
“Are you guys coming or not? We don’t have time for temper tantrums.” This last barb is directed at Emery, who immediately lunges forward, teeth bared.
I grab at my friend and squeeze slightly, wordlessly telling him to back the fuck up.
I trust Gerry with my life. After my parents abandoned me, Gerry and his husband did what they could to look after me. Protect me. Hell, they even offered to foster me, but I refused, knowing I was one stain I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, let alone someone I consider a friend. Despite my refusal to join their household, they made sure I had everything I needed over the years.
If he chose not to tell us everything, there must be a reason for it.
Emery calms down, though a tremor still reverberates through him as if he barely has his wolf contained.
Gerry takes a breath. “Look, I’m sorry. There’s a lot we need to discuss. Today has just been…stressful. First with the gunmen, then Lissa, now Izzy?—”
