“What’s happening with Ronan?”
Trini looked up from the coffee pot. Ida was at the counter making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Fennel was perched on a dining chair with Cecil and the three-pawed kitten.
“We still don’t know,” Gladys said from behind me. “He hasn’t come back to the pub. Karen’s running it in his absence. Edie Blanton and I’ve been helping. Calvin Holland and some of the seniors from the Desert Oasis Apartments, too.”
I accepted a mug of coffee from Trini. “Floyd kicked him out of the pack, you know. He’s been forsworn.”
“I heard.”
“What I don’t understand is why no one could reach him through the bonds before then.” I set the mug down before I dropped it. My breathing quickened, hands shook. Terror filled me, beat on the insides of my skull, punched the breath from my lungs. “Why hasn’t anyone found him yet?”
“I don’t know,” Gladys said.
“Do you think he’s dead?” I asked flatly.
To her credit, the elder wolf didn’t flinch. “It’s a possibility, but not the only one. Not even, to my way of thinking, the most likely one.”
“Why not?”
“Because if Ronan were dead, Floyd wouldn’t be running scared. And he is. He’s summoned me into his presence five times since you disappeared. He thinks you’re hiding him.”
She sat on the chair next to Fennel’s and picked up the black kitten, stroked its triangular ears. The kitten purred, oblivious to the danger most cats would feel in the arms of their natural enemy.
“Did you tell him where I was?”
“Nope.”
“But Floyd’s your alpha,” I said. “You have to obey him.”
“I didn’t know where you were until a few minutes ago. How could I have told him?” She smiled. “Plus, I’ve got this. Helps me resist.” She dug inside her blouse and held up a necklace with a flat metal charm. One of Margaux’s.
The witch had been busy.
“Have you heard anything new from Alpha Lydia?” I asked the room.
“No, sorry.” Ida handed me a plate. “Try to eat, okay?”
Although the strawberry jelly was homemade and the peanut butter fresh, the sandwich was sawdust in my mouth. I washed it down with black coffee. I almost never drank it without cream, but today I wanted to feel the heat. I needed something to warm the iceberg in my gut.
Ice.
I had an idea. It was probably a terrible one, but anything was better than sitting around waiting for the rats to come up with information.
“I’m going out.”
Ida folded her arms across her chest. “Need company?”
“Not this time, thanks.”
“You’re going to look for Ronan?” The lines around Gladys’s eyes deepened. “Betty, it’s dangerous for you out there. Alpha’s on a rampage. You can bet he’s got wolves he trusts watching you. The second you step off this land, he’s going to do something.”
“I know.” I leaned down and whispered in Cecil’s ear.
The gnome nodded and took off for the garden room with Fennel.
“What if we ask the rats to help?” Ida dropped her arms and fished in her pocket. “I can call. Alpha Lydia and I are tight now. Found out she’s a Kpop fan. She likes Stray Kids more than BTS, but nobody’s perfect.”
“No, thanks. I need to do this alone.”
