After reminding Carolyn where to get the seeds for the vegetables she plans to grow, I turn to look at Ash, who has watched on in awe throughout this ordeal.
“What?” I ask my friend. Ash just shakes his head.
“Nothing, just amazed that someone managed to put Jupiter in his place,” he says with a chuckle. I scoff at this, reminding Ashthat I’m the beta and don’t care who I have to put in their place when they refuse ideas from their peers.
Kurt says he plans to return to the packhouse, and I offer him a ride. We’re making our way to my truck when I spy a black wolf walking toward the open entrance of our pack dungeons.
“Is that Lucas?” Ash asks, brows furrowed.
“Looks like him. Who is he following?” Kurt asks, pausing from opening the passenger seat as we all stare in the same direction.
“It is him,” I answer, feeling the mate bond hum from my mate being in eyesight. “I’m going to see what the hell is going on,” I add, deciding that my work at the packhouse can wait. Lucas left in a hurry earlier, and I want to know why.
Marching towards the pack dungeon—a three-story basement with the entrance being a stone cottage just on the edge of the forest line—I call out to Lucas, who pauses mid-step before the open door. I can feel his worry for me through the bond, and my frown deepens.
[Kaylee, go back to the packhouse,] he says calmly through our link as I reach his side. His scent of vanilla and mint wraps around me, and for a moment, I wonder if confronting him about why he is here is a good idea.
“No,” I say, deciding that I need to know what is happening inside my pack as its beta.
“You ran off without talking to me, and I want to know what was so important,” I add, marching past him and toward the dungeon entrance. Lucas moves quickly, his large black wolfblocking me from entering the stone cottage as he lets out a small whimper.
[Please, Kaylee. I can’t do my job as my uncle’s beta with you here,] he responds, nudging his head against my shoulder. I sigh, feeling how important the task David gave Lucas is to him. It’s a way to prove he has changed from the playboy future alpha to the loyal mate and beta he’s been working hard to become.
“Does this have anything to do with Devon?” I ask softly, running my fingers through his soft black fur.
[It does,] he answers, eyes closing with each pass my fingers make through his fur.
“Lucas, what is taking so—oh. Kaylee.” David walks out of the stone cottage, looking shocked to see me standing there with Lucas blocking my path. “What brings you here?” he asks, looking at Lucas with a raised brow.
“I was dealing with a situation at the greenhouses when I saw Lucas here, and I came to find out why,” I answer with a shrug.
David mulls over my words as he looks towards the greenhouses. Ash is still standing by my truck, a look of confusion on his face as he respectfully waits for me to rejoin him.
“Since you’re here, you might as well join us inside. Lucas, link Ash and tell him we need a few buckets from the pack house filled with ice,” David says, motioning for the two of us to follow him. I look down at Lucas, who stares between the dungeon entrance and me, worry gnawing at the bond.
[I will stand near the exit if it makes you feel better,] I link my mate, watching his tense body visibly relax.
[Please do that. I don’t trust Devon and need to know you’re safe.]
Placing a soft kiss on his furry head, I walk past Lucas and head into the dungeon. If David had told me to return to the packhouse, I would have, but I’m glad he invited me into the dungeons. If there’s a threat to my pack, I would rather know right away than learn about it from someone else.
29
Lucas
I feel anxious watching Kaylee walk into the stone cottage that houses the dungeon entrance. Only a handful of people know about her pregnancy, and the thought of Devon finding out while interrogating him brings a sour taste to my mouth. If we aren’t careful, Devon might be able to hand this information to Ramos and place my mate and unborn pup in even more danger than we’re already in.
[Ash, Kurt,] I call out through our mind link, feeling it buzz slightly in annoyance.
[Let me guess, Devon did something stupid?] Kurt immediately asks. I sigh, turning to face the two men who lean against Kaylee’s truck, watching on from a distance.
[Yep. Uncle David wants you to grab a few buckets of ice and join us for the interrogation. You can use Kaylee’s truck,] I answer back, feeling Ash’s confusion through the mind link.
[Who is Devon?] he asks.
This time Kurt sighs, confirming that he and Ash will be back with ice before telling Ash that he’ll explain everything on the way back to the packhouse. Thankful for Kurt’s help, I enter the stone cottage housing the dungeon entrance.
Kaylee is waiting for me inside, watching me silently while I move to the side room, shifting to my human form and changing into the clean clothes put aside for me. Re-emerging into the main room, I hold my hand out to Kaylee, who takes it silently. The two of us descend the staircase in the far-right corner. I can feel the tingle caused by the mate bond calming me down while the thought of needing to protect my pregnant Kaylee from Devon bounces around my mind.
