“Anna.” I gestured to my big red friend. “Mari.”
The girls giggled and petted Trix, who was in instant doggie heaven.
“Let her go,” Cara suggested. “Even if the entire field wasn’t fenced, I can call her back.”
I unsnapped the leash, and Trix immediately started running in excited circles. The girls shifted back to fur and chased her. Their sturdy little bodies were not built to run, but Trix slowed down to let them catch her. Complete happy chaos ensued.
Mari laughed, a deep, booming sound.
Cody had a huge grin on his face, and even Kitani was smiling.
Ryan looked, if anything, relieved. “If you ever need anyone to look after your dog, we’d be glad to do so. They’re a match made in heaven.”
I perked up. “Are you serious about that? Because I was trying to figure out what to do with her while I’m busy doing the physical training.”
My gaze moved to the one who likely made most of the decisions.
Kitani, obviously following my train of thought, grinned. “I don’t have an issue looking after her. She’ll sleep like a baby afterward, and hopefully, they will too. Drop her off whenever you like. We’re in apartment 312.”
“That would be great. She’ll love it.”
We watched them play, but I noticed that Cody seemed distracted. He’d released Kitani and looked back toward the building. I followed his gaze and saw two men beneath the roofed stone arbor that ran the full length of the castle.
One leaned against a support pillar, the other stood with crossed arms. Both were staring at us.
Darius and Aaron.
A chill raced up my spine, and I glanced back at Cody. He’d lifted his lips back from long canines as he took a couple of steps in their direction.
For a moment, it was a standoff. Then Darius turned and vanished back through the doors, with Aaron in his wake.
“That guy is just creepy,” I said.
“Who?” asked Kitani. She frowned and stared toward the castle, but Darius was long gone.
I hadn’t even seen Cara notice Darius, but her words belied that assumption. “I think we need to keep an eye on that young alpha.” Cara’s voice was calm, but her face reflected her concern.
“Alpha?” Kitani’s eyes flared. “You talking about that Darius guy?”
“Yeah. It was him,” Cody said. “Watching us.” His gaze drifted over the girls, their adorable furry forms now rolling on the ground with Trix in the midst of it.
His tension shattered the happy mood. Kitani and Cody each grabbed a twin, and I snapped Trix’s leash back on. As we headed back to the castle, I pondered Cara’s words.
“You don’t trust Darius?” I asked her.
Cara’s mouth twisted. “You will need to find a way to work with every team member, including him.”
Okay, then. I could read between the lines. She didn’t trust him, but she wasn’t going to kibosh our team before we’d even had a chance to try.
Her bright-blue eyes assessed me as we walked. “Just watch your back,” she added. “And if he steps too far out of line, let me know.”
I swallowed. She’d already admitted that she couldn’t always be here. But the giant stomping along quietly beside me was a reassuring mountain of muscle. And although Matt having an inner wolf meant he couldn’t stand up to Darius, I knew he’d do whatever he could to help me.
I wasn’t without friends here. Or resources, either.
Could I do this?
My inner voice coached,Just do it, Anna, and stop debating.
