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Jimmy shook his head. “No. We’re the only ones. And we don’t tell anyone about us.” He fidgeted in his seat. “Promise.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Ezra said. “Most people wouldn’t understand.”
Malik cleared his throat and spoke for the first time. His accent was thicker than I expected, sounding sweet and almost musical. “And you should be studying for finals since you’ve finished, correct?”
Jimmy groaned.
John rolled his eyes.
“Yes,” Malik said. “Such a terrible life you lead. Up, up. I’ll take care of the chores tonight. Jimmy, I want to see that math book open. John, I’ve looked over your essay and made some suggestions. Read through it and make any changes you deem necessary.”
Jimmy looked like he was going to argue, glancing at me, but John grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the stairs.
Shannon looked up at the ceiling as the boys made enough noise for a dozen people. “They’ll hear every word you say, even if they’re not supposed to listen in.”
“We’re not listening!” Jimmy shouted from somewhere above us.
“I’m sure they will,” Ezra said with a chuckle. “It’s not every day they get to hear from another pack.”
Malik and Shannon exchanged a look. “We’re fine on our own. We don’t need anyone else.”
“Wolves are pack creatures,” Ezra said.
“And we have a pack.”
Ezra sipped his tea. “I can see that. Your mother took them in, correct? After they had no one else?”
“Yes. They’ve been with us since they were little. They don’t know anyone else.” Her eyes narrowed. “And they won’t have to. They’re not going anywhere.” It was a challenge.
I was alarmed. “Oh, hey, no. Of course nothing’s going to happen. That’s not why we’re here.” And, because it felt right, I added, “And I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Alpha Hughes spoke highly of her.”
Shannon stared at me without acknowledgment.
“Why are you here?” Malik asked.
“Because Alpha Hughes was worried,” I said. “She cares about all the wolves. She’s not trying to take anything from you. Not your pack. Not your territory. All she wants are open lines of communication. We’re better off together than we’ll ever be apart. There is strength in numbers.”
“Protection,” Shannon said, flipping the spoon next to her plate over and over.
“Exactly,” I said, relieved.
“From what?” Malik asked.
I blinked. “From the outside world.”
Shannon snorted. “And what would you know about that? Alpha Hughes sits on her throne in her little walled kingdom. She doesn’t know shit about us. What it means to be in the outside world.”
I glanced at Ezra. He didn’t look at me. “That’s not true. She… she would be here herself if she could.”
Shannon picked up on the traitorous skip in my heartbeat. “I doubt that.”
“Be that as it may,” Ezra said, “it wouldn’t hurt to check in every now and then. It prevents… complications. Shannon, if we could—”
“Alpha Wells.”
Ezra wasn’t ruffled. “Alpha Wells, if we could speak privately. Just the two of us. I’m sure I can impress upon you what my young friend here means when he says strength in numbers.”
There was a long moment of silence. I tried to catch Ezra’s gaze to tell him that was a bad idea, that Michelle wanted us to stick together, but he only had eyes for the Alpha.
