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That’s Rory Campbell, Miles answered.
So she’d killed the man’s grandson, she thought, and suddenly the exhaustion hit her. Cass came from somewhere, shoved some sweats at her, and let her lean against her. “Good job,” Cass approved. “Can you make it to the buffet table? Or do you want someone to bring you food?”
Jessie looked down at the body at her feet. “I’ll make it to the table,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Foodandwater.”
Duncan was waiting for her at the tables and handed her a bottle of water. “Drink it all,” he instructed, and she followed his instructions. Jason handed her a roast beef sandwich, and she grabbed it hungrily. Wolfed it down, she thought, verging into hysteria.
Where are you?she asked Ryder.
We’re at the pack house,Ryder answered.Titus thinks we should stop here, get help for me, attend the pyre. But the Hat Island team leader says no, to bring me in to you. I’m leaning that way myself. I’m in no condition to make a strong appearance before the pack.
“Ryder is near the pack house, but he’s still weak. There’s debate —weak and at the pyre. Come here, and heal, and skip the pyre if necessary,” she said. “What say you two?”
“He should come here,” Duncan said promptly. “Weak isn’t good. Not yet. There are still those who would attack him if they could. Angus Campbell for starters.”
Jessie passed that on and got assent. He was coming here. She almost collapsed with relief.
And then she made a mistake. She headed toward her cabin to get clean clothes, passing by the headless body of her attacker. She grimaced. As she turned to her cabin, a man lunged out of the shadows, and grabbed her. She screamed.
“Move it, bitch,” the man growled in her ear. He pushed her toward the center of the lawn. “You killed my son. And now you’ve killed my grandson. And you will pay.”
He held a knife to her neck.
Ryder!
Chapter 23
Day 160 of the re-emerged Hat Island pack, Thursday, Nov. 14, near Kamloops, B.C.
Benny-wolf knew whereto go. But like the good hunter that he was, he didn’t go there directly. Instead, he headed south out toward the road, and the circled around to where the sniper was still watching.
Watching for what, Benny-human wondered. What was he waiting for? Another chance at Ryder?
Or waiting for Ryder to die? Would shooting an Alpha at a distance constitute a challenge? Benny didn’t think so. But maybe the sniper had some plan in mind to grab the pack bonds if Ryder was dying.
But he’s not, Benny thought fiercely. Ryder was alive, and he was going to stay that way.
