Henry’s arm tightened around me, trying to be reassuring, but all I could see were the people around us—they would all be hurt or killed if they ran up against Rocko without taking it seriously. Their blood would be on my hands as surely as it would be on Rocko’s.
Deirdre turned her attention on me, her glacial facade still in place. “He won’t be ready for you and me together. He asked what you were willing to trade for the wolf. Offer me.”
I reared back in horror at even the hint that she would go with Rocko, but before I could verbalize it, Miles barked, “No fucking way.”
Deirdre didn’t look at him. “Since my mate didn’t care about my opinion regarding the fae and how... involved they are in our life, I’m going to disregard whatever little temper tantrum he’s about to have. You and I will have to fight this, Ophelia, since we are the only ones who will take Rocko seriously and know how he will fight. He’s also going to underestimate us, isn’t he?”
I didn’t dare move, since it looked like Evershaw was going to rip into pieces from rage, and didn’t look away from her. “He’ll underestimate me, but he might give you a second look if you show up looking like your head is about to spin around and we’ll need a young priest and an old priest to deal with you.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up, which was even more disconcerting than when she frowned, and her feet settled back to the floor. “Make no mistake, I can make him believe I’m just a confused little witch looking for a some guidance from a clever older man. You just have to show him you’re desperate enough to trade someone else’s life for your own freedom. Can you do that?”
A knot tied up my throat. I wasn’t, not really. Knowing the hell I’d been through, I wouldn’t consign anyone to that fate. Not for anything. But I forced myself to nod. “I think I can. But neither one of us will get close enough if we have…wolves attached to us.”
Since Henry’s arms had tightened around me and he didn’t seem inclined to let me go. I also had serious doubts that Evershaw would let Deirdre anywhere near that empty lot, regardless of how scary she looked. The witch’s lips twitched. “He already thinks you have a relationship with wolves. Why not take advantage of that?”
“I’ll go with you,” a strong voice said, and I turned to find Nola standing behind her brother. She had her arms folded over her chest and her certainty was unwavering.
“You don’t have to,” Henry said. “Fran is already helping to track, and—”
“This is a pack matter,” she said. Her flinty eyes glinted in the light as she glanced at me and took a deep breath. “And my brother’s mate will not face danger without one of our pack beside her.”
A knot tied up my throat, but I didn’t know precisely why. Did that mean she accepted me as Henry’s mate? That she wouldn’t put any other wolves in front of him as better options? I didn’t wait for Henry to jump in but inclined my head toward Nola, trying to stand in my own strength. “Thank you. We’ll make Rocko regret underestimating us.”
“This all assumes that we’re going to allow this nonsense,” Miles said, a hard edge to his voice. “I’m not about to stand by while my mate and two females take on all the risk of this.”
“Allow?” I arched an eyebrow as I faced him, despite my guts clenching. I needed to practice standing up to someone terrifying if I had to face Rocko in a matter of minutes. At least I knew Henry wouldn’t let Miles browbeat me into hiding. “I’m not sure you have much of a choice. We’re not sworn to you, Mr. Evershaw. Not one of us. And Rocko is here for me, so if anyone but me shows up, you’ll never find Silas.”
His eyes narrowed and his face turned red as a loud “Ha!” escaped from Deirdre. I refused to budge or look away from Evershaw, even though Henry tensed next to me and waited.
It was stupid to challenge an alpha; even someone who hadn’t spent any time in a pack knew that just by the past few days. But I knew I was right—Rocko would see the wolves coming from miles away and he would disappear. We’d never find Silas, or we’d find pieces of him at a time as Rocko sent a message to me about what happened when I tried to make friends.
Henry cleared his throat and eased his hand around my arm. “Babe...”
“It’s true,” Nola said. She folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head at me. “And we’re running out of time to debate this. We need to get moving.”
“You’re going to have to look less like a raging bull,” Deirdre said as she eyed the female wolf. “Because right now I’d wager you look more intimidating than me.”
“You’re all out of your minds,” Mercy said in a whisper from the edge of the room, though she bounced forward. “Can I come too?”
“No,” Henry and Miles said at the same time.
The alpha looked around the room. “What the fuck is happening to this pack? Do I need to start kicking asses again?”
I got to my feet and took a deep breath. There wasn’t any more time to waste. “You brought witches into your house. Well, you moved into a witch’s house. I don’t know. We need to get moving or Rocko will assume I’ve run again.”
Deirdre headed for the door without another word to her mate, and I could practically see the steam still escaping from her ears. I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling at the way Miles scowled in her direction; his irritation lasted just a few seconds, then he chased after her, arguing and cajoling. Nola nodded to Henry and started out. I squeezed Henry’s hand and tried to look confident. “It’ll be fine. They’re both way strong enough to handle this. I’ll just hide behind them.”
His expression grew serious as he squeezed my hand back, and leaned down to kiss me. “I don’t like this. I don’t like even one small piece of this. I’ll be nearby. I’ll be watching. If he tries anything... I’m coming for you. Don’t think that I won’t be hunting you for the rest of my life if he somehow gets you away.”
My sinuses burned and I fought back tears, since that was my greatest fear—disappearing again and not having anyone look for me. It had taken forever to free myself the last time, when no one bothered to help or even care that I’d dropped off the face of the earth, but at least with Henry looking... It wouldn’t last forever. I could survive whatever torments Rocko dreamed up, as long as I knew Henry searched for me.
I started for the door before I lost my nerve. “Thank you.”
“Ophelia,” he said, and I hesitated, looking back. Henry turned so grave I feared what he might have said. Instead, he made a fist and placed it over his heart. “You are strong enough to handle this. Whatever strength you think you see in Deirdre and Nola—you are more their equal. I promise you. We will beat him and he will never bother you again.”
I almost choked but managed to nod, clenching my jaw against the emotion that threatened to completely break me down, and fled through the door before I raced back to hide in his arms. I had to do it. There wasn’t any choice. I had to face Rocko and get Silas back, and maybe earn my place in their pack—or in the coven that Deirdre seemed to offer.
If Henry believed I was strong enough to do it, then I was. I believed in him as much as he believed in me. If I couldn’t have that confidence in myself, then I could borrow from his. I squared my shoulders and strode to where Nola and Deirdre lingered near one of the dark sedans that the pack seemed to accumulate. Miles still argued with his mate, but she only smiled at me. “Ready?” she asked, and got into the car.
I wasn’t ready. I definitely wasn’t. But sometimes we didn’t have a choice on whether we were prepared for a big obstacle or not. Sometimes time ran out and we had to do the best we could.
I just hoped, for Silas’s sake, that the three of us in the car would figure it out in time.
