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The Beta girl looks at me. “Oh, hey, Cheryl. I was just…”
“I need you to look after Vi for me while we’re out,” I tell her, knowing giving her something to do will get her back on track.
“Of course,” she says. “We’ll be in the kitchen…”
“Maybe lay off the coffee now, too,” I add.
She nods after a second’s pause. “I might have had a cup too many.”
“The lounge has been cleaned up. You could hang out through there.”
“Sure, good idea,” she says, as she heads back to the kitchen.
I look at Amanda. Rachel’s new friend is a pretty girl with mousy brown hair that hangs down to her waist and the brightest green eyes I’ve ever seen. The dress she’s wearing is a deeper shade of green. Her wedge sandals are probably going to be impractical for a walk through the woods but considering it’s not a long way she should be fine. The cardigan seems excessive for the mild weather, but she does seem to like covering up.
“Hey,” she says, folding her arms under her chest.
“Hey,” I echo, realizing this is the girl Rachel spends all her time with now. The same way we used to spend all our extra time together at high school.
Things have changed so much in such a short space of time. It’s easy to miss how things were, but I wouldn’t be the person I am now if I went back and made different choices to keep things from changing the way they did. I miss seeing Rachel every day, but I don’t regret a thing.
“We’re going to look around the place where it happened,” I tell Amanda.
Amanda nods. “Rachel said that should be our first priority.”
I head back to Rachel and lead them both to the back door.
I get it unlocked and we’re about to head out, when the doorbell rings again.
Ivy comes to the kitchen door, Vi right behind her.
Everyone stares at me in shock.
I should have guessed this would happen.
“They’re early.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Noah
Ihearthedoorbellwhen I’m in the shower, and I know it’s Cheryl’s coven. She was calling them yesterday before she went to bed. We need them here to make sure the other pack are playing fair. I have my doubts that they will. Something stinks about this whole thing. I just can’t put my finger on exactly what that something is.
I get dressed and go back into the bedroom, only to find it empty.
There’s a hint of arousal when I check for scent trails, which is likely why everyone left.
Now isn’t the time to service Cheryl’s heat. We can’t afford any distractions.
I put sneakers on before I head out into the hall. I can hear showers running in the surrounding spare rooms. Everett and Oscar had the same idea to get ready in other rooms then.
Cheryl’s trail leads to the staircase. She already went to greet her friends.
I can hear talking in the hallway. Sounds like Ivy’s been studying for a test.
I head for the stairs, just as Cheryl’s voice cuts her off. I can’t hear exactly what’s being said, but I’m halfway down the stairs when the doorbell rings again and freezes me in place.
It’s barely six a.m. If that’s the other pack, they’re early.
