Chapter 26
Henry
Something changed after Fran left the kitchen. Henry knew that much, although he couldn’t put his finger on why. Ophelia went from melting in his arms to suddenly tense and withdrawn. She even hesitated before sitting next to him. The wolf didn’t like it. The wolf wanted to get Ophelia alone again so he could figure out what happened. There was no use guessing, he knew that much. Henry had never been good at figuring out what women were thinking. Instead of agonizing over it, he preferred to just ask.
He’d told Evershaw that—a lot—but the alpha still liked to assume he knew everything about what Deirdre thought and planned, and it caused no end of trouble. Which just confirmed for Henry that asking was the right road to take.
But that didn’t make for a comfortable dinner. At least Mercy was there to drive the conversation to safer topics, like some of the drama at the warehouse and with the rest of the pack. She carefully avoided any mention of the trouble Nola caused, and instead gave Evershaw a list of things to deal with over the next week. Todd had retreated back to his apartment at the warehouse, so wasn’t there for dinner, but Silas and Dodge both offered their opinion on what the alpha needed to do.
The running commentary and genial arguments that followed gave Henry plenty of time to ponder Ophelia’s silence next to him and the surreptitious looks Nola sent her way. He hadn’t wanted his sister alone with Ophelia for even a second, in the off chance Nola decided to drive the witch away and said something that Henry couldn’t undo. Maybe that had been a mistake though, since Nola looked like she’d burst with questions for his supposed mate.
He caught Ophelia’s hand under the table and squeezed her fingers, more than a little relieved that she didn’t immediately pull away. And he was grateful he held her hand as Nola found a lull in the conversation and turned her attention to him. “We should start planning for when you will return to Montana.”
Henry clenched his jaw. “Now is not the time, Nola. I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with…my mate.”
He braced for some kind of shock and dismay from Ophelia, then looked over as nothing happened. Ophelia shrugged, untangling her hand from his, and concentrated on making another fajita. “If your family needs you, then you should go.”
Nola’s eyebrows arched in surprise, and Henry swallowed a groan. Mates didn’t react with indifference when their other half proposed to disappear out of state for an undetermined amount of time. He leaned his elbows on the table and ducked his head. “We can talk about it after dinner. It won’t be forever. A few months. Just until they find a new alpha.”
Ophelia glanced at him, forehead wrinkled as she searched his expression, then she blinked. “Oh. Right. It can’t be forever, obviously.”
Henry draped his arm along the back of her chair. She’d remembered the little deception they played, although from the look on Nola’s face, the damage was done. His sister definitely questioned Ophelia’s commitment. Before his sister could comment, Deirdre spoke up. “And perhaps Ophelia can go with you to Montana, since it will only be three months.”
Ophelia blinked and looked around the table. “Uh... I’ve never been to Montana.”
Nola forced a smile, though it lacked any sincerity. “You’ll enjoy it.”
Henry cleared his throat and put more chicken on Ophelia’s plate, wanting to feed her in front of the others so they all knew that he claimed her as his own. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Deirdre smiled with all her teeth as she redirected the topic to something Evershaw had done, and the conversation moved on without Henry or Ophelia. Henry wanted to immediately get up from the table as the wolf grew more agitated with Ophelia’s silence. He didn’t like her thinking he wanted to leave the city for Montana, even for a short period of time, when it meant leaving her behind. It hadn’t crossed his mind when he’d agreed to return to the pack that he’d go alone. In his head, Ophelia was there at his side.
Silas leaned back in his chair, across from them, and jerked his chin in Henry’s direction. “We found more of those strange footprints two blocks south of here. Thought we’d patrol again tonight, if you’re up for it.”
“How many?” Henry frowned as he studied the other wolf.
“Half a dozen.” Silas picked up a piece of chicken and swallowed all of it, then his gaze went to Ophelia. “Good work on dinner. Tasted better than anything Mercy’s put together in months.”
Henry growled in warning as the other male paid too much attention to Ophelia, and Silas grinned as he reached for more chicken. Henry fixed him with a dark look. “Cut it out.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Ophelia said evenly, as if Henry hadn’t said anything at all. “Except I think Mercy does an admirable job.”
He seethed as Silas lobbed another compliment at the witch, and the wolf nearly broke free to teach the other male a lesson. Henry even reached across the table after Silas offered Ophelia food, and would have started a fight right then if Evershaw hadn’t snapped, “Stop it,” and slapped his hand against the table.
Ophelia jumped, startled, and stared at the alpha, then at Henry and the unrepentant Silas. Henry scowled at the other wolf but swallowed down a claim of “but he started it” since the alpha wouldn’t care. Henry was third in command and outranked Silas; Henry ought to have had the self-control to deal with an upstart and his mockery. The last thing he wanted was to scare Ophelia, and it was obvious she remained nervous around the wolves.
Which made taking her to Montana a very bad idea. He didn’t know what kind of shape the old pack was in, but chances were the wolves weren’t anywhere near as well-behaved as Silas. Shoving Ophelia, with her control issues, into the middle of a tense situation was just asking for trouble. His chest tightened to realize he might not be able to take her with him, just for her own safety and peace of mind. She could end up traumatized, and... he’d be in a fight every moment of every day if it meant protecting her. He’d end up the alpha of the pack by accident after kicking every male’s ass for looking sideways at Ophelia.
Evershaw frowned down the long table at him. “Just for that, you take the early patrol.”
“That’s—” Henry started, reaching for Ophelia’s hand.
“Do it.” The alpha wasn’t sympathetic in the least. “Start now.”
Henry growled as he shoved to his feet, gesturing at Silas to get up as well. “Go. Now.”
The other wolf heaved a sigh and took another handful of chicken for the road, winking at Ophelia, and Henry shoved him to get him moving. He didn’t like leaving Ophelia, not before they had a chance to talk, but when the alpha said to go... he went. He clenched his jaw and figured a patrol was a great opportunity to beat the shit out of Silas in payback.
Maybe being the alpha in Montana wouldn’t be such a terrible thing if it meant he could adequately punish guys like Silas for being assholes.
