"I believe I'll explore the place myself, if that's acceptable."
Elizabeth's eyes flicker behind me. It's a microsecond of reaction before she plasters a bright smile on her face. "Of course, High Alpha. My home is your home."
"We have a couple hours before this banquet, correct?"
"Yes, High Alpha."
"Would you mind checking with Marsh about the hospital contact I requested? I'd like regular updates about my mate's condition."
Elizabeth's smile falters. A frown creases her forehead, and an acrid scent spikes off her.
Jack-Eye spins her around with fluid grace, lifting her chin as he brushes a kiss against her lips.
My eye twitches.
"You're a gem, Elizabeth," he murmurs. "Completely wasted in Fiddleback. What would they do without you?"
Her transformation is immediate, her discomfort disappearing as she softens in my beta's embrace.
He plays her like a violin. You should take notes.
No.
Jack-Eye's manipulation is effective, but his gestures are empty, lacking true affection. Grace and I have so much more between us.
Elizabeth remains silent for several beats, lost in whatever fantasies Jack-Eye planted with his feigned respect and admiration. Then she blinks, returning to the present moment. Her smile, when she turns back to me, seems more genuine.
"I'll contact Marsh right away, High Alpha. You should be getting your updates shortly."
I nod, watching her pull out her phone and step into her supposed office. The door clicks shut behind her.
"Subtle," I tell Jack-Eye once she's gone.
He shrugs, dropping the charming facade as we head upstairs. He lowers his voice. "While you were at the hospital with our new Luna, I did a sweep of this place. Nothing out of the ordinary. No obvious traps."
"But?"
"But there's no way this is her actual home. No personal items, not even a spare toothbrush in the bathroom cabinet."
I grunt. "That much was obvious."
"Oh? And here I thought I was being clever." He rubs the back of his neck with a sigh. "Something's off about this pack. They don't seem dangerous, but they're planning something. I can feel it."
Chapter ten
Grace: What Are the Chances...?
Lyre's pulled her phone out and frowned at it at least fifteen times in the past few minutes, driving me mildly batty.
My nurse fiddles with a new bag of IV fluids, having saved us from the incessant squawking of whatever machine they have attached to a pole. A few buttons beep, and clear fluid drips in steady rhythm once again.
I crane my neck around the nurse's blue scrubs, trying to catch Lyre's eye. What's with all the phone checking? But she doesn'tnotice my curiosity, her eyes fixed on whatever message is on her screen.
The nurse taps the IV bag once more. "All set, honey. Your fluids are running nice and steady now."
"Thanks," I mumble, distracted by my friend's increasingly pinched expression.
"Just hit that call button if you need anything. Anything at all," the nurse chirps.
