Chapter 16 #2
“Did you hear that?” I asked Adan.
“Yes,” Adan said into my mind. “The only way that’s possible is if these wolves are enforcers.”
We’d wondered if the wolf who’d attacked Laney was an enforcer.
Now we knew. And he was back with more of his kind.
Which meant they were here to kill Laney.
My pulse spiked as rage surged to the surface.
I stifled it. These were enforcers. This was not a fight I could win with brutal strength. I had to be smarter than them.
I stood there staring at the four wolves.
The largest one in the middle, was black with green eyes.
He stood slightly in front of the others, and he was the one who’d spoken, making me think he was the one in charge.
The wolf on the right was on the smaller side and gray with yellow eyes.
He was the one who’d attacked Laney. The other one in the middle was dark brown with brown eyes.
And the last one, the one on the left, was a lighter brown with dark brown eyes.
Enforcers had visited my hometown before, but my father had always been the one to meet with them, and I’d never been involved. I knew they carried out our laws, and we were to show them respect. That was about all I knew.
“Easy,” Adan said to me. “Don’t do anything rash.”
Easier said than done. Every part of me wanted to end these four wolves so they couldn’t hurt Laney.
However, I couldn’t touch them. Adan nudged my side.
I needed to say something. “We were out when we came across your scent,” I said to them.
“Did you need to talk to me? Or are you just passing through?”
“We are here on business that does not involve you or your pack,” the black wolf answered.
My gaze settled on Laney’s attacker.
“I see you recognize our friend,” the one in the middle said.
“I saw him attacking a girl at the university where my packmates and I attend.” My attention settled back on the gray wolf. “Why’d you go after that girl?” I asked, pretending I didn’t know what Laney was in order to hear what, if anything, they’d reveal.
“I smelled something on her,” he said.
“My friend here told us he came across a half-breed, so we’re investigating,” the wolf in the middle said.
If there was going to be a fight, I wanted to get as much information out of them before all hell broke loose. “Do you have any idea the position you put us in?” I asked Laney’s attacker. “A wolf mauling a girl on campus. Are you nuts? You could have exposed our kind.”
“She’s not a girl,” he said. “She’s a half-breed.”
“Who doesn’t even shift,” I said, wanting them to know Laney wasn’t a threat. “She’s extremely weak and knows nothing about our kind.”
The four wolves looked at each other, as if communicating amongst themselves. The wolf in charge shook his head slightly, then said, “Tell me, Rowan Ward, next alpha of the Ward pack, how well do you know Laney Lake?”
My muscles tensed. This asshole knew exactly who I was.
He wanted me to know that even though he wasn’t an alpha, he was untouchable.
I wanted to attack but had to force myself to stay where I was, my front paws digging into the dirt.
If I attacked an enforcer without reason, I could be reprimanded.
The only reason my previous attack went unchallenged was because I hadn’t known he was an enforcer.
Adan pushed against me, letting me know he was agitated. It terrified me that I might not be able to protect Laney from them. My guess was that Adan felt the same way.
“How well I do or do not know Laney Lake is none of your business,” I said with a growl.
The fact that they knew her last name meant they’d done some research on her.
My mouth started watering with the need to bite and tear these wolves apart to protect what was mine.
My legs started shaking, my body wanting to attack.
“You’re required to report half-breeds,” the dark brown wolf said.
“I wasn’t even sure if she was one,” I replied. “I’ve never come across one before.”
“Why do I smell the girl on you?” the black wolf asked.
“I don’t know. Probably because I’ve spent some time with her, trying to determine what she is and what she knows.”
“You’ve been investigating her?”
“I have. I pass the information on to my father so he can decide how to proceed.”
“But she is not from your pack,” the brown one said. “You should not have her smell on you.”
It was time for this conversation to be over before one of them realized I’d started to form a mating bond with a half-breed.
They’d probably kill me for it. “If you have questions or concerns, you need to speak with Caleb Ward.” I had the right to make the request. They had to listen.
I was prepared to use my alpha to command them to leave if necessary.
I’d never had to use it on an enemy before, and the prospect both thrilled and terrified me.
I let the corners of my lips pull up ever so slightly, exposing my fangs, letting them know I wasn’t scared or intimidated.
If anything, they should be afraid of me.
“Thank you for your time,” the black wolf said. “We’ll be on our way.” The four of them backed up a few feet before turning and sprinting away.
Without hesitating, I took off through the forest, heading straight for campus. Adan followed close behind. He was smart enough not to try to talk to me.
I replayed the conversation in my mind, wondering if the enforcers knew something we didn’t. Something important. Or if they suspected something. When I reached the part of the forest where I’d hidden my clothes, I shifted and got dressed. Adan was only a second behind me.
My muscles shook, my body wanting to be in wolf form so I could protect.
As soon as I shoved my feet in my shoes, I ran straight for Laney’s dorm. I heard Adan running after me. He could be worried about Laney, or he could feel the need to stay with me because I was the alpha. I didn’t know and didn’t care.
When I neared Laney’s dorm, I slowed. It was late, and no one was out. I remained in the shadows, surveying the area. The stench of the four enforcers lingered in the air. They’d been here. Not within the last hour, though.
“The light is on in her room,” Adan said, his chest rising and falling as he sucked in air, trying to catch his breath. “And I see someone in there. I think it’s Sarah. It looks like she’s talking to someone. It’s probably Laney, but I don’t see her.”
Those were all good signs. The urge to go up there and make sure Laney was safe became overwhelming. However, I needed to give her space. If I kept showing up and acting controlling, she’d never trust me.
Thinking logically, the enforcers had obviously been here. Maybe they’d shown up before Laney returned. Regardless, we’d run into them in the forest, and they’d asked about her. I’d come straight here, so they couldn’t have gotten to her before me. She had to be safe.
“Let’s go,” I muttered, heading toward our place.
“You’re not going to check on her?” Adan asked, throwing his arm out and pointing at her window.
“I want to. But no, I’m not.” I balled my hands into fists, fighting the impulse to turn around and go to her.
“Do you want me to?”
“No,” I replied, irritated. Even though I knew he didn’t have romantic feelings for Laney, I didn’t like how close he was to her. He was a better friend to her than me. I planned on changing that.
Back at the house, I ran up to my room and grabbed my phone, sending a quick text to Laney asking if she was safely in her dorm. She replied that she was there, adding a smiley emoji.
Relieved, I headed back downstairs where Danny and Jacob were sitting in the kitchen.
“I’m surprised you two are in here,” I said. It seemed as if everyone else was in the TV room playing a video game. “What’s the status of things?” I asked, taking a seat at the table with them.
“Everyone is accounted for,” Danny said.
“What about the girls?” Em, Marlow, and Kara.
“They’re here. They’re in the guest bedroom in the basement. Like I said, everyone is accounted for.”
“What happened?” Jacob asked. “We were worried you might not make it back.”
“The enforcers are just passing through.”
“Did they tell you why they’re here?” Danny asked.
I rubbed my forehead, not wanting to tell him. “One of them was the wolf who attacked Laney a few weeks back. He went home and reported he’d run into a half-breed. He returned with three others to investigate.”
No one said a word. But I knew they were all thinking Laney was a heap of trouble.
Jacob went over to the fridge and grabbed the bottle of whiskey sitting on top of it. “I think this warrants a drink.”
I stood. “None for me. I need to go call my dad and let him know what happened.” I exited the kitchen and headed down the hallway. At the entrance to the TV room, I leaned in. “No one leaves the house tonight. Understood?”
They all agreed.
I ran upstairs and jumped in the shower, trying to figure out how to phrase what happened so my dad didn’t lose his shit and show up here tonight. I got out of the shower and pulled on my sweatpants, then headed to bed, stretching out atop the covers.
Still not knowing what to say to my dad, I sent a text to Laney instead.
Rowan
You asleep?
Laney
I should be but I’m not. You?
Rowan
I’m in bed but not tired.
Laney
Same.
Rowan
I had a weird night. It kinda threw me off.
Laney
You okay?
Rowan
Yeah. But something happened. I’m gonna need to talk to you about it.
Laney
You don’t want to talk to me about it now?
Rowan
No. I’m not ready.
Laney
But you’re okay?
Rowan
I’m fine.
Laney
Is your light off?
Rowan
Yes. Yours?
Laney
Yup. I’m in darkness. Sarah is passed out snoring.
Rowan
Did you have a nice weekend at home?
Laney
Yes. I’m glad to be back though.
Rowan
Why is that? It’s me, isn’t it? You missed me.
Laney
Ha! You wish. I just discovered a few things and I’m trying to process it all. Plus, I kept getting this strange feeling like someone was watching me. Crazy, I know, but it scared me.
My body shook. I knew the enforcers must have been tracking Laney this weekend.
That meant they knew where she lived and who her family was.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. If they’d wanted her dead, she’d be dead already.
Maybe they were trying to see if she shifted before they decided what to do with her.
However, the whole point of enforcers was that they enforced our laws.
And half-breeds weren’t allowed. They knew about Laney and were obviously here for her. They could strike at any time.
Laney
You still there? Or did you fall asleep on me? That’s it. I bored you to sleep.
Rowan
I’m still here. Just debating how to say this without upsetting you.
Laney
Just tell me.
Rowan
My weird night might have to do with you feeling like you’re being followed.
Laney
You’re following me? You’re right. I’m mad.
Rowan
No, not me. Someone else. I ran into him tonight. He didn’t come out and say he was following you. But he asked about you. It freaked me out.
She didn’t need to know there were four werewolves stalking her. I rubbed my face, wondering how I could have a relationship with someone who didn’t know all of me. There was no way I could tell her I was a wolf. Unless she shifted. Which she didn’t.
Laney
Okay, I’m scared. I’m going to call the police.
Rowan
They won’t do anything until a law is broken.
Laney
I can’t do nothing and let someone follow me around.
Rowan
Your door is locked. You’re in your dorm and that building is locked. For now, you’re safe.
Laney
I need you to tell me who’s following me and why. Seriously. You can’t keep this from me. My safety is involved.
I wanted Laney here with me. In my room, in my bed. But she’d never agree.
Rowan
How about you and I get together tomorrow so we can talk?
Laney
In person?
Rowan
Yes.
Laney
Why can’t we just keep on texting?
Rowan
Because this is a serious conversation that needs to happen in person, not over texting. I want to make sure you understand what I’m saying and there are no misunderstandings.
Laney
Maybe.
Rowan
Fair enough. Sweet dreams.
Laney
Night.
I set my phone on my nightstand. I don’t know what hurt more, that Laney didn’t know if she wanted to see me in person, or that she might not be ready to face the truth.
Adan had told me she got the results from Teagan about her insulin not being insulin.
Yet, she hadn’t said a word to me about it.
I knew she didn’t fully trust me. Yet. Which was why I needed to handle this enforcer situation carefully.
I hadn’t planned on telling her about them, but she knew she was being followed.
I had to tell her something so she understood the gravity of the situation and was careful.
I just couldn’t tell her too much and freak her the fuck out any more than she already was.
It would be so much easier if she would stay in my room and let me take care of her. Damn woman and her independence.