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I understood. Asking for help had always been challenging for me, too. I was raised to be independent to a fault, but people weren’t designed to live in isolation from each other.
“Why did you tell West about me?” It seemed ironic that she’d betrayed me only to want to resuscitate me now.
“Because I thought I could handle things on my own.” She rubbed her forehead. “Obviously, I was an idiot to think so.” Her gaze met mine. “I need you to understand something, though. You and me—this isn’t a budding friendship. I will steamroll over you or anybody else who gets in the way of the pack.”
“A reluctant partnership. Got it.”
She squinted at me. “Shouldn’t you be offended or something?”
I shrugged. “What you’re offering is my comfort zone.”
Her face contorted as she processed my reply. “You’re a strange lady, Clay. S’pose that’s because you’re not really a lady at all.” Her gaze swept the interior of the Castle. “Well, maybe, of the manor.”
At least she didn’t call my house the Ruins like the rest of the pack. I considered it progress.
“Tell me what I can do to help,” I said.
“Unknown wolves were spotted by perimeter guards about thirty minutes ago.”
“And you think they’re on the way to kill West?”
“I doubt they’d kill him here. The alpha would want to make a display of it. Show the old pack that the Davies line is officially wiped out.”
My palm started to sweat. “Where’s West now?”
“At home.”
“And you haven’t warned him yet?”
Anna waved a hand at the empty beer bottle. “Why do you think I needed a drink? I’ve mishandled the whole damn thing, and I know that. There’s a reason I’m not alpha material.”
Panic began to crawl from the pit of my stomach. “Hold that thought. I need weapons.”
I raced upstairs to my bedroom and threw open the trunk.
“Is there a problem?” Sian asked, poking his head in.
I continued my weapons selection. “Nothing for you to worry about. Stay here. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Are you certain? I can assist you.” He held up his hands with their baby smooth skin. “These are capable of more than woodworking.”
I strapped throwing knives to my thighs. “I appreciate the offer, but your mother is already down one child and a husband. I need to return you in the state I found you.”
Sian lowered his hands. “You do not know my mother. Why show concern for her?”
I sheathed my sword. “Because stranger or not, I don’t want to be responsible for that kind of pain.” I knew what it felt like, and I didn’t wish it on anybody, even though I knew it was inevitable. Life and pain were inextricably linked; that didn’t mean I had to be a willing participant.
I started toward the door. “And don’t even think about following me.”
Anna was waiting for me by the front door. I stopped at the coat rack and fished the keys to my truck out of my coat pocket.
“Why do you think it took so long for them to find West?” I asked as we left the house.
“America’s a big country. I guess it’s like searching for a hop in a vat of beer.”
I wasn’t sure that was the best analogy, but I let it slide. Now didn’t seem the right time to quibble.
Anna’s phone trilled. Her face paled as she looked at the screen. “I need to go.” She bolted across the bridge.
