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I look up at him, frowning for a beat before his point lands with the weight of an avalanche.
The tracking device. In the shock of coming face-to-face with my dead mother, I forgot all about it.
As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. I have to go back to the safe house and play nice with the people protecting me, even if it’s just long enough to get this Hammer-summoning beacon ripped out of my arm. If my father picks up on it, he’ll no longer assume those two bodies they found in the motel belonged to Ford and me, and we’ll be in more trouble than ever. If I’m spotted this close to Lost Moon, Hammer will realize exactly where I’ve come for help.
Andto whomif he knows my mother is the head of the university. I don’t care what happens to Coralie, but I don’t want to send the university to war with my pack. That will only lead to more innocent people being killed.
“All right, but come find us once you’re inside,” Alexander says, bending to scoop hedgehog Catherine into his hands. “We’ll be behind the museum a half hour before the welcome mixer tonight. By then, you should have a better idea what we’re talking about, anyway.”
Ford takes my arm, drawing me back the way we came, but keeping his focus on Alexander as long as he’s still in pouncing distance. He clearly doesn’t trust these potential “allies,” a fact that makes me wonder if my suspicious nature is rubbing off on him. “Maybe. We’re not making any promises until we get a read on things ourselves.”
Alexander nods. “All right. But if you love your sister as much as I love mine, I think you’ll want to hear what we have to say.”
“She’s not my sister,” Ford snaps with a territorial energy that’s all wrong for our cover story. He clears his throat and swiftly adds, “We’re old friends and we’ve done a fine job of looking out for each other so far.”
“Whatever you say, Big Guy,” Alexander says, before adding with a soft laugh. “The big guy part was Catherine. She’s trying to flatter you, but she’s right. We could use more big guys on our side. And you could use our expertise and knowledge of all things Lost Moon. You only have two weeks to get your shit together before the Blood Trials and the Alpha-holes are doing their best to make sure no more Variants get in.” He nods my way. “She’ll have a target on her back the second she comes through the front gate.”
Ford backs away faster. “So, you say.”
“So, I know.” Alexander raises his voice as we turn to run back up the mountain. “Don’t tell the wolves what you are, Blondie. They’ll use it against you. Keep them guessing as long as you can.”
I glance Ford’s way, but he doesn’t slow to chat about what we’ve just learned. He runs faster, and I do my best to keep up, hoping I haven’t already screwed up our fresh start beyond repair.
But what are the chances my father will notice my tracking signal was active again for all of fifteen minutes?
Decent,the voice of doom whispers in my head.You ought to know by now—he’s always watching.
But not even my father can have eyes everywhere all the time, and it’s four in the morning West Coast time. He and most of his security staff will still be asleep.
I cling to the thought as we climb back up onto the porch to find an unamused Natalie waiting in the doorway, shooting “I’m very disappointed” energy our way with the full force of her eyeballs.
The only good news is that mummy dearest is nowhere to be found.
two
FORD
Surprisingly,Natalie doesn’t read us the riot act.
She simply warns Juliet not to run off again—especially not before her implant is removed—and to refrain from mentioning that her mother is the president of Lost Moon.
“Just pretend she’s a complete stranger,” Natalie adds, “and all should be well until you two have a chance to speak more in depth.”
“Sheisa complete stranger,” Juliet shoots back. “That was literally the first time I’ve met her, Natalie. I thought she was dead. She let me believe she was dead.”
Natalie sighs, seeming conflicted. “I’m sorry, darling. I honestly had no idea. I still have no idea what happened there or why Coralie didn’t say anything about you being her child before sending me to fetch you. But I promise you, your mother is an incredible woman. She’s fair and fierce and an unfailing protector of young shifters in trouble. She’s someone you can be proud of.”
Juliet snorts and rolls her eyes.
“But I know that might be hard to believe from your perspective.” Natalie cuts a glance my way, looking for backup, but I can only shrug.
I don’t know the story behind Juliet’s mom deciding to literally ghost her daughter, either, but I’m inclined to agree that it’s bullshit. I’d sure feel betrayed if my mother had done the same, especially leaving me with a father like Hammer.
“Well, then.” Natalie props her hands on her hips with a firm nod. “We’ll let that go for now. Gather your things. We leave in fifteen minutes. I’ll call the guard at the gate and let them know we’ll be arriving around nine a.m.” She flashes a strained smile. “You’ll be able to grab second breakfast in the dining hall if you’d like. Kim’s crew cooks on weekdays and they make a fantastic quiche of the day.”
Juliet starts down the hall to her room with a weary sigh.
I move to follow her, but Natalie stops me with a hushed, “Ford, please.”
