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He nodded. “But anything requiring an ounce of brainpower and you would easily win.”
She laughed. “I lost to Lukka a fair share, though. Emma too… That’s my point. You have your strengths, and he has his. I know Lukka isn’t your favorite person, but the way his father would pit you two against each other… I think you’ve grown accustomed to seeing yourself only as he did—as his prodigy, nothing else. But, you arenotLukas.”
“I know,” he rasped.
That was the point—Lukas would have never found himself in such a mess.
“He would have found a way to have Loren accepted, politics be damned.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Sonia turned away from him, but from the set of her shoulders, he could tell that something was on her mind. “I know you idolized the man, but I think you would have made for a very different Alpha.”
“How so?”
She eyed him, biting her bottom lip. “You are fair and just, and you are willing to risk everything for what you see as right. The old laws deserve respect, but you won’t let yourself be restrained by them.”
“You think Lukas was restrained?”
Sonia shrugged. “I think he’s gone. You’re here now, and you shouldn’t punish yourself because you didn’t do things exactly the way he would. You want to know how I think you should handle this? Your way. No one else’s. If you didn’t kill that Eislander, you need to prove it. Find out who did. Contact their Alpha if you can. They’re fond of the old ways. Use that to your advantage and think of some way to prove your innocence.”
“How?”
Her eyes glittered with that cunning intelligence that made her a dangerous opponent in any game of wits. “I’m sure you can think of something.”
“And what about you? Do you need to head back now and tell your Alpha to shove his summons up his ass?” He felt an irrational urge to find any excuse to make her stay. At least for a few more hours. A full-blooded female lycan was a much-needed buffer between a half-breed and a newly made wolf.
“I’ll stay until tomorrow night to help you as best as I can,” Sonia suggested. “Then the rest is up to you.”
Bill didn’t know how to interpret that comment. As a threat? Or encouragement?
“I need the help,” he said, rather than question.
“That’s an understatement,” Sonia said with a playful grin. “You went from no women to two within the space of a week. You have no idea what you’ve just taken on, do you? I tried to keep them occupied as best as I could. I made dinner, too, if you want some. And I gave the boy some old clothing I could tell you haven’t worn in a while.”
“Thanks, Sonia. You have no idea how much I appreciate you.”
“Then prove it. Go in there right now and talk to Loren.”
He groaned. Anything but that. “Buy me a few more hours. I need to think, and whether I reach out to them or not, I’m sure the Eislanders will be back soon. I should scout some more, just to be on the safe side—”
“Then you tell her.” From her tone, Sonia wouldn’t drop this subject any time soon.
He hung his head in defeat. “Then I’ll tell her.”
“Good. The least I can do is hold down the fort. And I’m sorry to tell you that your fridge is practically empty by now. I’ll head out and grab some groceries if you want.”
“Thanks. And, I hate to use you as my middle man, but—”
“I’ll tell the blond one to go home tonight. She should tell no one, blah, blah, blah. As for Loren, I’ll handle her as well.”
He felt like a coward for running. Maybe he was. A selfish part of him couldn’t resist holding onto the lone rogue status for even a few hours longer, putting off the growing responsibility that had fallen onto his lap. A run would do him good, if only to give him time to convince himself that breaking the bond, and avoiding the pack were the only decent outcomes in the end.
Even if they went against every fiber of his being.
10
Loren lingered near the kitchen window, fighting for a glimpse of McGoven and Sonia between bouts of pretending to do the dishes.
It was wrong to eavesdrop, not that she could hear much from here. Her only consolation was that their conversation didn’t seem to be intimate. They stood near the center of the porch, and Bill had his arms crossed while Sonia intermittently shook her head.
