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“Mer?” Riley says, touching my hand.
“Hmm?” I ask, snapping out of the trance I seemed to be in.
“I asked if you’re okay. I’ve been talking to you for the past five minutes,” he says, keeping his voice low.
“Oh yeah. I’m fine. Just zoned out there for a minute,” I respond, placing a confident smile on my face even though I don’t feel confident at all.
“Good. You had me worried,” he says, his blue eyes glinting in the lights, though they don’t light up anymore on their own—not since River left. He tries to put his best foot forward. To be happy. But anyone who really knows him can tell that he’s struggling. The longer she’s gone, the harder it is for him.
I place my hand on his shoulder.
“You’re a good friend, Riley.”
“You are too, Mer,” he says with a wink, shoulder-checking me.
“All right everyone, show time,” Alaric says, his eyes following a group of humans and what must be their bodyguards as they move through the hotel toward the conference room. Rather than tactical gear like us, they're all wearing suits. The only giveaway is the guns on their hips and tiny earbuds in their ears.
As one, the group of enforcers stands, moving to join our assigned person. Me with Samara, Riley with Alaric, Nik with Loukas, Lennox with Darren, and Zander with Sebastyn. Not that any of them need us to protect them. Not really. They are all more than capable of taking care of themselves, but Rayne said it would make the humans feel less threatened by them if they acted like they needed guards. Not two or three per person like the politicians we’re following, but one apiece would do the trick.
As we walk, my tiger’s pacing increases and my nostrils flare as I catch the scent of something amazing. I inhale deeply, the citrusy scent getting stronger the closer we get to the room.
“Riley and Zander will join us inside. The rest of you, find positions outside the door but within earshot,” Alaric says, and my tiger roars inside my head.
What’s wrong?I ask her.
She doesn’t answer. Instead, she just claws at me from the inside until I’m moving forward toward the door. The closer I get, the more she calms, and I furrow my brows in confusion. I take a spot next to the door, nonetheless. As soon as I turn my back to the door, my tiger redoubles her efforts at clawing her way out, and I gasp.
Are you okay?Samara asks through our link.
I look at her.
I don’t think so. I think I need to be in that room.
Are you sensing danger?
I don’t know what it is,I admit. It’smy tiger; she’s going crazy. She wants—no—needs to be in that room.
I’m going to pull Alaric into our link, she warns, and I give her a nod.
Samara and I have a bond because she is the alpha of my pride and, despite his reluctance to accept the results of the recent election, Alaric is now the Alpha-King or King Alpha. Because of this, he now shares a mind-link with every alpha on the island. It’s also why Darren is now the alpha of the Westwood pack and no longer Alaric’s beta.
You’re sure that your tiger wants you in that room?Alaric's deep voice filters through the link.
My eyes dart to his, and I do another quick check-in with my tiger.
I’m sure.
Okay,he says through the link.
“Change of plans. Riley and Meredith will join us in the room. Zander, you stay out here and be ready.”
Zander’s eyes widen in surprise and then curiosity, but he dips his chin in agreement.
Thank you,I tell them both, taking Zander’s place in the formation while he takes my spot by the door.
I scan the room as I walk in, steps in front of Samara. I stop short as my eyes land on a tall man with white-blonde hair and bright green eyes.
My tiger roars in my mind.
