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Anna ignored me, darting after us. It didn’t take us long to catch up to them as they circled one another. The other wolf was rangier than Caleb, but older and I knew the second he spotted Anna. He let out a howl and zigzagged around Caleb, headed straight for Anna.
Trent slammed him, knocking the other wolf sideways as Anna skittered backwards. Caleb came back around, his gaze intent on the Hanley wolf.
“Anna, home,” I commanded, my tone brooking no argument and she disappeared into the trees. The Hanley wolf seemed to realize he wasn’t getting her tonight and made a run for it.
“Don’t let him escape,” Caleb ordered, the force of the command making me wince. Trent seemed to understand without being told as he pursued the fleeing wolf, but we were close to the Hanley border and he crossed before we could grab him.
Caleb barreled past me, headed after the Hanley wolf, so intent he didn’t notice the border or didn’t care. I went after him, herding him away from the border as he snapped at me. Trent came alongside us and Caleb gave up with a snarl.
“What the hell were you thinking?” I growled, shifting back to human and advancing on Caleb. Trent shifted, but hung back, watching us carefully.
“Stopping him from reporting back to the Hanley pack about Anna,” Caleb yelled, shoving his fist against my chest as he got in my face. “What you should have been doing!”
“I got Anna out of there,” I disagreed. “And I stopped you from crossing the border and breaking Pack law.” I pointed at the border. “You heard him howl. They were waiting and you almost fell into their hands.”
“They know about Anna,” he shouted, pacing in front of me. “Killing that damn wolf was the only chance we had to protect her secret.”
“It wasn’t worth your life,” I replied and he spun around, his eyes glittering as they met mine.
“That’s not your choice,” he spit out. “It’s mine. You follow my orders.”
“No.” My blunt answer stunned him into silence. “My job is to protect you. Even from yourself.” I shook my head. “Anna shouldn’t have followed us, but she was worried about you. I’m sure she’s blaming herself right now, but it doesn’t matter.”
“Don’t say that,” Caleb muttered, shaking his head.
“We make mistakes, Caleb. Tonight was one of them,” I said quietly, blaming myself. “Go talk to Anna. Make sure she’s okay.” He nodded, not glancing at Trent as he made his way back toward Pack lands.
“You don’t think he’ll go after the Hanley wolf?” Trent questioned, coming up to me.
“No,” I said briefly. “But I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“Check into the motel.”
“Alriiiiight,” he drawled, staring at me. “What’s with the sudden turnabout?”
“They’re going to make a move. The motel is the easiest place to do it.”
“How do you want to explain my presence?”
“We’ll say your an old college buddy. Close enough to the truth. But don’t let her know you’ve been here watching her for weeks. Act like you just got here.”
“I’ll check in tomorrow,” Trent answered, popping a sucker in his mouth. “It’ll be nice to sleep in a bed.”
Chapter Seventeen
“A little help, man.” The SOS call came from Trent while I was on my way over to the motel where he was supposed to be checking in.
“Is it Jess?” I asked, concerned.
“Uh, you could say that,” he replied as I came in sight of the motel. I almost laughed when I saw why he was panicked. Jess held a gun on him and he had his hands up even though he could have disarmed her before she pulled the trigger.
I hurried to the second floor in time to hear her say, “Who’s your friend?”
Trent didn’t answer her, his eyes meeting mine as my arm came around her, forcing the gun down.
“Me,” I answered and she sagged in relief.
“You failed,” I continued and she frowned, knowing I was right. “You should have shot him. No hesitation.”
“Hey,” Trent cried, finally lowering his hands.
“He could have taken you in a second. Next time, take the shot,” I continued, ignoring Trent as I admonished Jess. She nodded, shame flickering across her face.
“Did you really just tell her to shoot me next time she saw me? I’m staying at this hotel,” Trent grumbled, clearly not upset.
“Motel,” we corrected him in unison and he rolled his eyes.
“Motel, hotel, it’s better than my truck,” he mumbled, hitching his bag higher as he reached out to shake my hand, playing his part to a tee. “I’d say it’s good to see you again, man, but you just sic’d your girlfriend on me.”
“You’ll understand when I explain why I asked you to come,” I answered, unconcerned. “I appreciate you coming.”
“Anything for you, man.”
“You’re friends?” Jess asked carefully and we glanced at one another.
