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  “IfImay,”Jannersaidwithhesitation,“Iwouldsubmitthatour formerpackismoreofthe'woundthemandthentakecareofthings manually'kindoffamily.Werarelyifeverhadsilverammunition availabletous.Eventhecleaningcrew.”

  “TheywouldhaveincapacitatedCooperwiththegun,thencome afterus.Theywouldhavedisposedofhimlast,”Beckettadded,hisvoice andexpressionimpassiveasalways.

  “AndRuby?”Seanasked,staringthetriodown.“Whatwouldthey havedonetoher?”

  Theylookedbackandforthamongstthemselvesnervously.

  “Wedon'tknow,”Alistairoffered,hissadeyeslandingonme.His shieldingenergythrewupawallaroundthethreealmostinstantly.

  “Sheisthemostlethalofyourkind,”Seansaidmenacinglyashe shookloosefrommygrasptoapproachthem.“Surelytheywouldhave hadaplantosubdueher.ItwouldbesuicidetochallengeanRB,basedon whatyouyourselfsaidyourpackknewherreputationtobe.”

  Again,thetrioshareduncomfortableexpressions.

  “Wetoldyouwhenwearrivedthattherewererumorsofalethal wolf...aRougeetBlanc,”Jannerstarted,clearinghisthroat.“Thereare otherrumors―manyrumors―someofwhichareofhowtheycanbe controlled.Contained.”

  Caged...

  “Howinteresting,”Seangrowled,hoveringinchesawayfrom Janner'sface.“Andjustwhataretheserumors?”

  Jannerswallowed―hard.

  “Idon'tknowexactly.Wewereneverhighenoughupthefood chain,butIdoknowthatTobiasknows.Andhe'sruthless.Who'stosay whathisorderswouldhavebeenforRubyifshehadbeencaught.He couldhavewantedherdeadsothattherewouldbenonemorepowerful thanhecouldeverbe.Maybehewouldhavecapturedher.Ijustcannot say.Iamsorry.”

  “Sean,”Iwhisperedfrombehindhim.“They allriskedtheirlives forCooperandmetoday,justasmuchasweriskedoursforthem.

  Please.”

  “WhatIwanttoknow,”Alistairsaid,pipingupattheworsttime possible,justashealwaysdid,“iswhyyouneedprotectingatall.If you'resolethal,whydidn'tyoujustwipethefloorwiththemsowecould beonourway?”

  IlookedatCooper,whohadbeenstrangelyquiet.Thelookonhis facetoldmewhyhehadbeen.Heknewthisquestionwasheadedour way.He'dbeentryingtofigureoutaviableliethatwouldbeeasily believedwithoutexposinganyvulnerabilityintheprocess.

  Iprayedhe'dcomeupwithonebecauseSean'slookwasmurderous.

  Hewasabouttosnap,andthatwasgoingtocomeatahighprice.He wouldnotallowmyweaknessestobeknown.

  “Becausewecouldn'triskherexposure,”Coopersaidwithasigh.

  “Wehavetotellthem.There'sjustnowayarounditnow.”Helooked pastSeantome.Iknewthatexpression.I'dseenitonmorethanone occasion.Itread'Playalongandwe'llgetoutofthiswithoutissue'.I hopedSeanwouldkeepittogetherlongenoughforCooper'splantowork.

  “Cooper,”Seansnarled,awarning.Seannevergavemorethanone.

  “TherearemanyreasonswhyRubydoesn'tletherwolfoutoften,”

  hecontinued,givingSeanthelookhe'djustgivenme.“Themainreason isthatherwolfisfarhardertocalluponandcompletelyunpredictable onceout.Therearereasonswhytheywerehuntedtoextinction―and quicklytoo.Seancanattesttothat.”

  Sean'seyesnarrowedonCooper.

  “He'sright,”hefinallyconcurred.“Thatkillingabilitycomeswitha completelackofconscience.Onceunleashed,there'snotellingwhatshe's capableof.Toletthewolfoutinacrowdedcitywhileunderattackwould bemadness.AnRB'sbloodlustisunrivaled.”

  “Rubyhaslivedthislongfortworeasonsalone,”Coopercontinued, pickingupwhereSeanhadjustfinished.“She'slearnedhowtocagethe beastandsheisSean'smate.ButevenSeanhassaidthathewilltakeher downifhehasto,andweallknowthistobetrue.It'salmosthappened.

  She'sonashortleashwithbothhimandthePC.”

  “Andpackornot,”Seanadded,“shecan'tberiskedforyour benefit.”Heleanedforwardintotheirfaces,hiseyesblackpoolsof darkness.“Iwon'tallowit.”

  IstaredatSean,bewildered. Pack?

  “Understood,”Jannersaidrespectfully,withanod.

  “Excellent,”Seanpurredinresponse.

  AsmallsilencebrokeoutwhileSeanposturedinfrontoftheboys.

  Hewantedtoemphasizehispoint,andhewasdoingsobrilliantly.Weall readhimloudandclear.

  “Sean,”Coopercalled,breakingthegrowingtension.“Shouldwe expectothers?I'mconcernedthatiftheytrackedthephonesinBoston thentheylikelyknowwherethetriohadbeenstayingtoo.”

  “Agreed.Wecan'taffordtotakeanychances,sonobodywillbe returningtotheapartmentuntilweknowit'ssafe.”

  “Um,”Istarted,raisingmyhandinquestion.“Howwillweknow whenthatis?”

  Seancastmehisall-knowingglance,andIshutmymouth.It figuredthathe'dhavehistacticsallworkedoutandlikelyinplay.Iwas alwaysasteportwobehind.

  “You'llknowbecauseItellyouitis,”hesaidcoldly,hiseyesadeep huntergreen.“Youaren'tgoingbackthereuntilTobiasiscoldanddead.

  Asfortheothers:Ihaven'tdecidedthebestplanofaction.”

  “Ithinkthefourofusshouldgoback,”Cooperoffered,stepping towardSean.“Ifwesuddenlydisappear,they'llknowsomethingisup.

  Weneedtoproceedasnormal.Luretheminwithafalsesenseofsecurity andthenambushthem.IfTobiasisasarrogantasthesethreesayheis, there'snowayhewouldn'tbuyit.He'llthinkwewerestupidand complacent,andthat'sexactlywhatwewant.”

  Seanlookedthoughtfulforamoment.

  “Andwhataboutthestore?Wecan'tpossiblyhaveRubyrunningit untilweknowwhoandwhatiscoming,orifthey'recomingatall.Peyta either.EspeciallynotPeyta.”

  “IguessI'llhavetoshutitdownintheinterim,”Isaid,tryingto thinkonmyfeet.“Alotoftheshopshavebeendoingheavyremodels overthepastfewmonths.Idon'tthinkitwouldlookstrangeformeto newspaperoverthewindowsandputupasignsaying'Closedfor renovations'.”

  “Excellent.I'llhavesomeoftheboysgetonthatimmediately.”He lookedpleasedwithme,asifI'dcomeupwiththemostgeniusplanever.

  Itsurprisedtheshitoutofme.“Cooper,”hecontinued,“takethemback homewithyou,butI'mgoingtohaveTreyandtheboyssetupafew things.Ifthere'sanysortofattack,you'llknowbeforethey'reinside.And I'llknowtoo.”

  “AndRuby?”Cooperasked,notlookingpleasedwithmenot stayingbyhisside.Hewasmyalphaanditwashisjobtokeepmesafeat allcosts―atleastthat'swhathethought.

  “Shestayswithme.Ifharmisheadedthisway,Iwanthernowhere nearit.”

  Cooperlookedpainedbutresolved.Heknewitwastherightplay evenifitputhimonthesideline.“Agreed.”

  “Gladtoseewe'reonthesamepage,”hesaid,eyesstillpinnedon CooperinwhatIperceivedtobeabattlefordominance.Itwasa pointlessone.ImayhavelovedCooperdearly,butinafightbetweenhim andSean,thedark-eyedonewouldwineverytime,andIknewit.Cooper knewittoo.“I'mgoingtogoletTreyknowwhatheneedstodo.I'llbe rightback,”hesaid,comingtomyside.“You'llstayherewithme.I'll havetheboysdiscreetlybringsomethingsoverforyou―thingsIdon't alreadyhave.”

  Hegracefullytookleaveofhisapartment,headingdowntooneof theotherfloorsinhisplace.I'donlyeverseenoneotherthanhis apartment,andIdidn'treallywanttorelivethatmemory.WhereverTrey was,Ididn'twanttoknowthedetails.

  “So,”Coopersaid,wrappinghisarmaroundmyshoulder.I instinctivelyleanedintohisembrace.“You'regoingtobeokayhere withoutme?”Hewasjokingontheoutside,butIcouldfeelhisunease withthesituation,anditcalledtoapartofmethatw
aslessthancertain thateverythingwasgoingtoworkoutallright.HeandIhadbeenthrough morethanourfairshareofclosecalls.Oneday,thatluckwasgoingto runout.

  “Ithinkso,”Irepliedsarcastically.“Thequestionis,areyoufour goingtobeokaywithout me.I'mthemindlesskillingmachine, remember?”

  Hechuckledslightly,givingmealittlesqueeze.

  “You'resomething,allright.”

  “She'samazing,”Alistairsaidearnestly,takingastepforwardto breakawayfromtheothertwo.“Youbothweretoday.Imaynothave beenChangedthatlongago,butIknewwhathavingafamilywaslike beforethatanditwasrippedawayfromme.TheLondonpackwasnever familytome,”hesaid,lookingoverhisshoulderathisfriends,“butthese twowere.TheyhelpedguideandmoldmeintowhatIamnow.”

  IheardCoopermuttersomesmartasscommentunderhisbreath, andIelbowedhimintheguttoshuthimup.WhileCooperexhaled sharply,Alistairreachedunderthecollarofhist-shirtandpulledapairof dogtagsfree.Twoseparatesilver-coloredchainshungovertopofhis chest,onesignificantlyshorterthantheother;itwasmuchtoosmallfora mantonormallywear.

  Asifheunderstoodwhatwasgoingon,Jannerreachedintohisshirt andproducedtwosimilardogtags,thoughhiswereequalinlength.

  “Ruby,”Alistairsaidsoftly,approachingCooperandmeslowly.“I wantyoutohavethis.”Hepulledthesmallerstainlesssteelchainover hisheadwithsomeeffortandpresentedittomeinhishands.“Thiswas myJemma's.It'sallIhaveleftofher.”Hewastoocrippledbyemotions tocarryon,soJannersteppedinonhisbehalf.

  “Theyneverfoundthebody,”hesaid,placingahandonAli's shoulderforcomfort.“Tobiasgavehimthosebeforehetrickedusinto killingDeacon.”Hepulledhispairofdogtagsupoverhisheadbefore presentingthemtome.“ThesewereDeacon's.Atfirst,Iworethemasa trophyofsorts.ButnowIwearthemasareminderofwhoIknewhimto be,whathestoodfor,andthealphahewas.ThemanIknewbeforewelet thechaosandfeartakeover.”HepinnedfearsomeeyesonCooperbefore continuing,anditcompletelytookmeaback.Jannerhadalwaysseemed complacent,almostdocile,butinthatmoment,hewasaforcetobe reckonedwith.“IwaswrongtoletTobiasmanipulateusintokilling him.”Hiseyescouldn'tholdtheirconfidentattitudeasheutteredthose words.Hisguilttingedtheairaroundhim,andhesuddenlylookedmore tiredandsadthannormalashecontinued.“Ilethimdown,”he continued,extendingthetagsouttoCooper.“Ivowtonight,infrontof thesewitnesses,thatIwillneverdothesametoyou.”

  “AndI,”Alistairadded,drapingthechainovermyheadtofall lightlyagainstmychest,“vowtoprotectyoubetterthanIwasableto protectmyJemma.”

  Tearssprangforthfrommyeyeswithoutwarning.Theweightof theirwordscombinedwiththatoftheiremotionswasmorethanIcould bear.IlookedatCooper,whowasstaringattheofferingJannerheldout beforehim.Hisenergywarredinternally―taking itmeanttaking them.

  Hisanimaldesiretoprotecttheboysfoughtwithhislingeringdistrust andhisfearofbecomingtheonlyotheralphahe'deverknown.Hiseyes metmine,andIsawthefearwinning.

  “Youwillneverbelikehim,Coop,”Isaidsoftly,takinghishandin mine.“You'llbeexactlywhoyou'vealwaysbeen―thesameamazing manwhorescuedmebackthenandhascontinuedtorescuemeever since.”

  Withasqueezeofmyhand,hisgazereturnedtoJanner,andhetook thetokenofferedtohim.Janner'spledgetobeoneofus.Asheslippedit overhishead,IcouldfeelsomethinginCooper'senergyshift―apower washoverhimandsettledeepinside.Itmademesmile.

  JustasBeckettjumpedintotryandlightenthemood,afaint ringingsoundedinthestairway,growinglouderandlouderasfootsteps ascended.Seanbrokethroughthedoorway,storminghisapartmentwith cellphoneinhand.

  “Answerit,”hesaid,throwingthephonetoJanner.“Anddonotlet onthatanythinghaschanged.Youshouldsoundlikeyou'reshakenand onthedefensive.”

  Withanod,Jannerhitabuttonandputthephonetohisear.

  “Tobias,”hebitoutasthoughthenamewaspoisononhistongue.It was,asfarasIwasconcerned.“Yes,wedidhavearun-inwiththem.”

  Silence.IwatchedasJanner'sfaceflinchedonlyslightlyon occasion.Ifelthisenergygoincreasinglyvacantastheone-sided conversationcontinued.Itmademenutsknowingthateveryoneinthat roomcouldhearwhatwasgoingonexceptforme,butIknewenoughto knowthathewasbeingthreatened.

  Myangergrewuntilarageboiledjustbelowthesurface.Iwas startingtounderstandwhathavingfamily―apack―wasallabout.Imay nothavebeencrazyabouttheboysallthetime,andGodknewCooper wasn't,buttheywere ours.Wecouldmesswiththem,butnobodyelse wasgoingto.Notonmywatch.

  “Isee,”Jannersaid,finallybreakingtheeeriequietonourend.

  “Andifwedon't...?”

  IlookedatCooperasmytemperwasthreateningtospiketoepic levels.

  “What'sgoingon?”Iasked,whisperingasloudlyasIcould.

  “Tobiaswantsthemtocomeback.”

  “Why?”

  “Sohecankillthem.”

  “Andiftheydon't?”

  Coopergrowled.

  “He'scomingheretokillthem.”

  “Soeitherway,theydie?”

  “Yes,thoughallegedlylesspainfullyiftheyturnthemselvesin.”

  Itotallyflippedmyshit.

  “Givemethatfuckingthing,”Isnapped,lungingforthephone.

  IwantedtoletTobiasknowjustwhatIthoughtofhisoffer.

  26

  Surprisingly,nobodytriedtostopme.Ididn'tevenhavetostruggle againstJanner'sgrip.Heletmehavethephoneandtookastepbackas mytemperflaredalongwithmyuseofthef-word.IsupposetheyknewI couldonlygetintosomuchtroubleoveraphone.

  “Tobias?Here'sthedeal.Youcan'thavethem.And,ifyoucome heretogetthem,you'llbegettingaworldofhurtinstead,understood?”

  “Well,well,well,whathavewehere?Havemyboysstumbledupon a femaletoallywith?SurelyI'mfrightenedbeyondbelief.”Hismocking wasdulynoted.Ifhewantedaforcetobereckonedwith,Icouldgive himthat―verbally,anyway.

  “Yes,theyhave,fuckwad.Theyhaveanewalphanowtoo,soI wouldtreadlightlywhenthrowingthreatsaroundmeormyboys,ifyou knowwhat'sgoodforyou,”IspatintothephoneasSeanandcompany lookedon.Coopermovedtotakethephoneawayfromme,butSean stoppedhimwithanextendedarm.Forwhateverreason,hewantedtosee howtheconversationplayedout.“Theproblemwiththat,Tobias,isthat youclearlydon'tknowwhentowalkaway.Iwouldn'tunderestimateme oranyoneIalignwith.Ihaveconnectionsyoucouldn'tevenbeginto comprehend.Youfuckwithme,youmeetyourend.Period.”

  “Andwho,praytell,isthiswhodarestothreatenmesobrazenly?

  I'dliketoknowyournamesoIcancallyoubyitasIcutoutyourheart andstuffitdownyourthroat.”

  “Ruby,”Irepliedwithasadisticgrin,“butyou'llnevergetthe chance,myfriend.YourbloodwillrunfreelongbeforeIevenbreaka sweat.”

  “Ruby...,”herepeatedasifrollingthewordaroundinhismouthto seeifhelikedthetaste.“Youwon'tkillme, willyou,Ruby?”

  Istartedtosweat.Hewascallingmybluff,buthowcouldhehave known?

  “ThehellIwon't!”Iblustered,hopingthat,ifIputenoughanger behindmywords,theywouldcarrymoreweight.

  Helaughed.

  “Whydoyoucarewhathappenstothem?They'renotyour wolves―yourpack.TheyareminetodowithasIplease.”

  “Wrong, Toby,”Imocked,hopingtogetunderhisskin.“Itseems they'vechosenadifferentfamilynow,and,havingspokentoyou,Ican sureashellseewhy.”

  “Oh,”hesaid,feigninginterest.“Havetheynow?Andhowexactly didtheydothat
?”

  “Theyvowedtheirallegiancetomyalphaandme.Theyare ours.”

  Helaughedagain .

  “ Listen,”hesnapped,hislaughterabruptlycomingtoanend.“You willgivethemtomeoryouwilldie,andifyouthinkforonesecondthat theywouldprotectyoufromme,youaresorelymistaken.”

  “Theywill,”Isaid,glancingovertowherethethreemenstood, theirfacessolemnbuttheirenergiesfierce.“AndI'mwearingproofof that.”

  “Oh,that'sjustdarling.Didtheybuyyouapromisering?”

  “No,”Ireplied,calmingtherageinsideme,“thedogtagsofafallen mate.Afemalethatyouundoubtedlykilled,eitherdirectlyorotherwise.”

  Suddenly,Tobiasseemedtobeatalossforwords.“Soyoulistentome, yousmug,limeybastard.IfyousomuchassetfootonAmericansoil,I willpersonallyseetoitthattheonlytimeyoueverseeyourhomeland againiswhenyouflyoveritasdustinthewind.TrymeandseeifI'm goodforit.”

  Afterhisgrowlingceased,hemanagedtocomposehimself,ifonly slightly.

  “Words,Ruby.They'rejustwords.Webothknowyou'renotgoing tokillme, don'twe?”

  “Actions,Toby.Ipreferactions.Webothknowyoudon'tstanda chance,don'twe?”Iretortedsnottily.

  “Sayit,”hepressed,hisvoicelowerandscarierthanbefore.“Say youwon'tkillme.”

  “No,”Iretorted,tryingtokeepmyheartfromjumpingoutofmy throat.“Say this:'I'madeadman'.”

  Inevergottohearhisresponse.Sean,havinghadenoughofour posturing,grabbedthephoneanddidwhathedidbest―intimidatedthe shitoutofTobias.

  “I'mgoingtofindyouandendyou.Keeprunning,”hepurred,eyes bleedingtoblack.“I lovetochase.”HecutthecalloffandtossedJanner thephone.“Theothersarereadytogotoo.Hecan'ttraceyounow,butwe sureashellcantracehim.”

  “That'swhyyouletmetalk,”Isaid,thinkingitwasstrangethat nobodyhadmovedtotakethephonefrommewhileIblusteredmyway throughtheconversationuntilSeandid.Hewantedmetokeephimonthe line―justlongenoughtofindoutwhereTobiaswas.