Page 97 of Dark Sold Mate

“It’s not just for tracking people. It is for keeping track of threats, or perhaps priorities. When I was with Carter, I could hear a ringing in my head. Like it was trying to tell me that he had a direct relationship to the operation. But when those shifters first attacked us, Carter was no longer important. The ringing shifted directions and priorities.”

“It took you to the auction,” Rael said, understanding dawning on his features.

“Exactly. It moved from tracking Carter to a much bigger thing—the auction warehouse. I do not possess healing gifts or fighting powers. But I can find things. People, places, threats. My body is a working tracker.”

“That’s invaluable,” Javi muttered. “Assuming you can control it.”

“I can’t. Not yet.” Elle admitted. “I do not know how to make it focus on what I want it to follow or not to divert too much. But I am learning to understand the signals and what the different ringing in my head means.”

“So, if there’s a next auction, you can track it or something?”

“I think so. I can feel and trace it if I am close enough.” Elle glanced about the table to the faces of the pack members who had become her family. “I cannot say that I will always be in a position to trace what we really need. But I assure you, I will continue to work at this.”

“That’s all anyone can ask for,” Rael gave her a small smile.

They spent an hour sorting out the details—the evidence they gathered, the follow-up work, giving practical attention to the care of the rescued women, and what to do with Carter. By the time they were done, Elle’s injury throbbed painfully, leaving her drained and a bit dizzy.

It was Javi who started it.

He had mostly kept silent during the debrief, and this was unusual enough to draw the attention of Elle. He was sitting back in his chair, with crossed legs, and every few minutes she saw him looking at her with an expression which she could not make out, something between amusement and satisfaction.

“So,” Javi started. He did not look at anybody particularly. “Will we or will we not talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” Silas asked, reaching for a bottle of water.

“About your mate.” Javi tilted his head at Elle. “Specifically what she is.”

Silas set down the bottle. “Javi.”

“What?” Javi spread his hands. “I had my suspicions. Her smell was never that of a human, or of Beta.”

Elle turned to Rael.

Rael had the decency to appear slightly diplomatic. “I noticed it too. Fairly early on.” A pause. “We were waiting for Silas to bring it up.”

All eyes turned to Silas. Silas rubbed his thumb against his jaw. “I was waiting for the right time.”

“She was in heat. We could smell it. You and Margaret weren’t that slick. She had a complete heat and you still—”

“I told her.”

“How long after?”

“None of your business.”

“Sure,” Javi snorted.

August, who had been silent at the window, chuckled low. Elle glanced in his direction..

“August,” she said slowly. “Don’t.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You have that face.”

“I always have this face.”

“August.”