Page 35 of Midnight Hunt
“Last time, hybrids were still in hiding,” Kolton replied. “Last time, they had noreasonto help us.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And this time?”
“This time,” Griff spoke up, “the entire werewolf community has been affected. They need our help just as much as we need theirs.”
When we all agreed to move ahead with the meeting, I spent the entire morning and afternoon working on invitations. It was nearing evening when a text lit up my personal phone. I quickly checked it and froze.
We need to talk, was all it said.
Seeing that it had come from Reid, panic fluttered in my chest. I grabbed the phone and quickly responded,Sure. What’s up?
In person, he immediately texted back.
The panic intensified until I thought my heart would burst. Cursing under my breath, I stood from the office chair and went in search of Kolton. Thoughts of what Reid wanted to talk about followed me the whole way, making my body tremble with nerves.
Was he tired of waiting for my reply? Did he need me to make a decisionnow?
I’d been so busy the past few days that I’d barely given a thought to his last words to me. Since then, we hadn’t texted or called each other. It would have been too awkward.
He was waiting for me, as usual, and apparently wasn’t willing to be patient this time.
I couldn’t blame him, though. He’d been incredibly understanding about Sable’s dislike of him and Griff’s closeness to me. But the only waywewere going to become closer was if I spent more time with him.
He’d been more than patient with me these past eight months, and it was time to tell him my decision.
I found my brother in the kitchen helping Mom cook dinner. Nora and Griff were in the kitchen too, each holding a baby. When I entered, Griff’s head snapped up, and our eyes met. A second later, he looked away.
It had been like this between us ever since I’d told him what Reid had said. Other than to discuss the hybrid disappearances, we’d barely spoken to each other these past few days. I felt an ache in my chest every time he intentionally avoided me, but I understood why he was doing it. Still, I already missed our conversations and, dare I say it, his teasing.
Feeling that ache start to form again, I blurted while I still had the nerve, “I’m heading to Boston.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing to gape at me, even Griff.
Before they could start arguing with me, I rushed to add, “Only for a day. You’ll barely even notice I’m gone. Reid and I really need to talk in person.”
Kolton opened his mouth, clearly about to tell me no. One look at Nora, though, and he slowly shut it. Setting down the knife he’d been chopping onions with, he instead said, “I’ll let you go on two conditions.”
“Name them.”
“You take the jet.”
“Done.”
“And you let Griff go with you.”
Now it was my turn to gape. “You’re joking, right?”
“Deadly serious. It’s too dangerous for you to travel by yourself right now. Griff goes, or you don’t.”
I threw a pleading look at Nora, but she just gave me a sympathetic smile and shook her head.
Great. Just great.
Kolton was calling my bluff. He thought I would back down rather than face an awkward as hell situation. They’d all noticed how tense things were between me and Griff ever since the football game. They also knew that Griff was the main reason why Reid had asked me to move in with him.
Well, the joke was on him, because I didn’t break that easily.
“Fine,” I said, lifting my chin. “But I want to leave within the hour. Reid has a game tomorrow.”
