Rick would have all the power to force her to do whatever he wanted. It would either be that or become a lone wolf like me.The biggest problem was that Rick knew her family. If Cameron tried to run, then he could threaten her mother and brother. That prick would use them as leverage in a heartbeat.
I could sense her growing panic. Her scent had changed, and my wolf urged me to take her hand again and comfort her. I slid my hand onto the bed, and to my relief and joy, she absently slipped her fingers between mine. The feel of her skin on mine was enough to calm my wolf. Cameron sighed contentedly at my touch.
JC glanced down at our hands and raised an eyebrow in question. “That’s something else we need to talk about.”
Cameron flinched and made to pull her hand from mine, but at the last second, she relaxed, leaving our fingers intertwined.
“If there is something going on between you, it needs to be kept quiet,” JC explained. “Nate and I discussed this earlier. I’m not sure this will all blow over, but until we know how this will turn out, I need you two to act like friends and nothing more. The next few days will be difficult enough, but having a newly turned shifter in a relationship with a lone wolf is not a good idea. I don’t give a fuck, but others will. It could be used to undermine my authority. It’s dumb as hell, but I know how tough pack politics can be.”
“Couldthis blow over?” Cameron asked.
JC chewed at the inside of his cheek for a moment before answering. “Doubtful, honestly. Something is coming, I just don’t know what. My gut says Rick’s little freak-out with the gun today has escalated things, and if Lincoln is gonna try something, it’ll happen soon.”
Cameron’s hand was warmer than it had been a few moments before. I could sense her emotions in a way I could barely comprehend, her stress and worry. When I looked at her face, I saw exactly that.
“What’s going to happen?” she asked a little breathlessly, clearly getting overwhelmed by it all.
“Calm down, Cameron,” JC said, noticing the color rising in her cheeks. “I’m calling a council meeting. I’ll bring in the highest-ranking elders of the pack. We’ll do a thorough investigation. Once the truth is uncovered, even the elders in Lincoln’s pocket won’t have a leg to stand on. We need proof, though. Would you both be willing to testify? Give your sides of the story when the time comes?”
I opened my mouth to ask a question, but JC stopped me before I could. “Before you answer, you need to know that the two of you will have to make yourselves scarce until that happens. I have zero doubt that Lincoln will do his best to ensure our star witnessesdisappear.”
“I can’t just vanish,” Cameron protested. “What about my family, my job? It was bad enough when Ollie wanted me hidden for a few days. This sounds like I’ll have to be away for much longer. What if?—”
“Hang on,” JC cut her off. “I don’t want you worrying about your mom and brother. Obviously, since they’re human, they aren’t official pack members. It’s highly doubtful Lincoln or Rick would go after them. At least notyet,” he added grudgingly. “I’ll have some men watching over them, though. They’ll stay out of sight, so your mother and brother won’t feel like they’re being encroached on. I get the idea your mom is questioning things, and I don’t want to add fuel to her suspicions.
“As for your job, I think we can use Ollie’s police connections to keep your editor in line. He can spin some sort of line.”
“He probably won’t get too upset,” Cameron admitted. “If he knows there’s something dangerous going on, then he’ll be more likely to let me slide on assignments. He’s a good guy.”
She was calming down. Her fingers still gripped mine, but JC’s promises were sinking in and putting her at ease.
“I doubt this will take more than a week,” JC said. “All I need is for you two to hide until I call for you. That way, Lincoln and Rick won’t have the chance to silence you before you testify in front of the court of elders.”
“I’ll do whatever I need to do,” I said, then looked at Cameron.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Okay. I’ll do it.” Her face hardened, and I could see the steel in her eyes. “Rick and his father need to answer for what they’ve done. Those poor women.” She shook her head sadly. “Justice needs to be served.”
“Right,” JC agreed.
“There’s one thing I was wondering about, though,” Cameron said. “Was there… I don’t know… something wrong with Rick when he was taken into custody? He was acting strange. Not like himself. I also noticed it that day when he accosted me on the street outside my friend’s apartment. It’s like he’s going crazy.”
“Not sure,” JC said. “Lincoln has kept Rick hidden away since he posted bail. He’s even balked at my direct order to see him. As alpha, Icouldforce his hand, but I don’t want to use up too much political capital before the trial.”
Packs. All one big political machine. A political machine that dated back centuries. Would the old prejudices stand firm?
“Is there really any point in me testifying?” I asked. “I’m a lone wolf. Barely better than a feral in the eyes of most shifters.”
JC wasn’t fazed by my question. “If it comes to that, I’ll do what I can to mitigate things. I’m working on changing a lot of the old ways, and I’ve ruffled feathers in the process. That’s probably how Lincoln managed to get some elders on his side. But some things are worth fighting for.” He winked at me.
I’d be damned if I didn’t like this guy. For the first time in my life, I’d met an alpha I could see myself following.
35
Cameron
After a nap and another full bag of IV fluids, I felt like myself again. Considering everything that had happened, I’d thought I would need a few days to recover. Nate and JC explained I healed faster now that I was a shifter. It was also why I’d managed to run nearly sixteen kilometers through the woods in only a little over an hour.
“When can I get out of here?” I asked JC as the nurse removed the IV.
