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Chapter Seven
Once practice ended, I headed to the Jeep with Caleb and we found Anna curled up in the backseat asleep.
She blinked her eyes at us sleepily and stretched as I started the Jeep. “What have you got to be tired about?” I joked and she gave me a dirty look. She’d definitely started to relax around us more I was pleased to see.
“Pulling all-nighters studying?” Caleb added, smiling at her and her cheeks flushed.
“Not exactly,” she murmured, staring out the window. “Mom and Dad were up late discussing….” She didn’t finish but I could guess.
“Jess?” I offered, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “She is the biggest news to hit our Pack since Sam ran off.”
She traded a startled glance with Caleb at my casual mention of my sister but didn’t comment on it. “No, actually, they were talking about,” she hesitated clearly not sure she should be telling us. “The pack to our north,” she finished in a rush, her gaze darting around the cab.
“The pack to the north,” I repeated, wanting to make sure I’d heard her correctly and Caleb glanced at me. “The Alpha mentioned them the other day. Apparently, he’s interested in sending me to them to perform stud duties,” I explained and Anna tucked her legs up under her chin, not denying my claim.
“What?” Caleb exclaimed, glancing back at Anna for confirmation. She nodded shallowly, her eyes barely visible behind her knees. “Why am I just now hearing this?” He accused, poking me.
“Because it wasn’t relevant,” I answered, shaking my head as I turned onto the road to the Pack community. “I have no intentions of going.”
“He could force you,” Caleb argued, upset. “Then what?”
“He won’t,” I promised, eyeing him. “You know he won’t.”
Caleb didn’t seem as certain, staring broodingly out the window. “I’ve never even heard of this pack,” he muttered. “What are they? A bunch of wild wolves?”
“Possibly,” Anna murmured, her low voice grabbing our attention. “That’s what my parents were talking about. People who go there don’t come back.”
“Sounds creepy as hell,” Caleb mumbled under his breath. “Maybe you should go, Dom. Find out what their cult is all about.”
“I doubt it’s a cult,” I answered absently, meeting my Dad’s eyes as I drove into the village. “Something happened,” I remarked, slamming on the brakes and jumping out of the Jeep. Caleb and Anna quickly followed as I strode toward Dad. “What happened?” I asked him urgently, recognizing the way his eyebrows dipped – the last time I’d seen it was when he’d told me Sam had left. “Dad,” I snapped and he tilted his head, indicating we needed to go to the Pack House. I resisted, jogging back a few steps as I prepared to go check on Jess.
“She’s fine, Son,” he said sharply, his gaze demanding obedience. “I promise.”
Caleb and Anna watched the byplay between us and I nodded reluctantly. Whatever it was concerned the Pack as a whole and I made my way slowly to the wooden doors as they followed behind.
Once we were all inside, I could see the Council elders gathered. Anna’s parents, Gregory, my Dad and the Alpha. We were a small Pack, a fact that weighed heavily on me now that I had Jess to protect.
“The Hanleys made a play for Jess,” Dad stated and I snapped to attention, my body tensing. “They were not successful,” he stressed, his gaze focused on me. “They followed her to the motel.”
“What?” Anna gasped, her hand going to her mouth. “They were waiting for her?”
“That’s my impression,” Dad agreed. “They came into the motel parking lot, probably intending to kidnap her as soon as she got out of the car.” A growl vibrated in my chest at their boldness. “They backed off as soon as they saw me,” Dad continued, keeping a wary eye on me. “But they know where she lives now or at the very least suspect. It won’t be hard to pick up our scents since we’ve been patrolling the area.”
“What are we going to do?” Caleb burst out. “The Hanleys can’t get away with this.”
“We do nothing,” the Alpha stated quietly. “They haven’t broken any laws.”
“Are you kidding me?” I roared, stepping forward. “They tried to provoke us. This was an intentional insult.”
“We don’t know that,” the Alpha replied coolly. “We have to assume they were doing the same as us and investigating a potential breeder.”
“Stalking, you mean,” Anna spoke up, startling us all. “They will hurt her,” she continued, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s already scared. I can only imagine how she feels now. Probably the same way I do every time I run into a male I don’t know.” I flinched at Anna’s bald statement, recognizing the fearful anger. “Except I have claws and teeth to protect me,” she reminded us, baring her teeth intentionally. “She has no way to protect herself, not even knowledge of what they are. We deserves our protection.”
