Chapter 5
Elodie
Ipulled on my tunic the next morning. Galyna’s quiet footsteps alerted me to the fact that she was already in the kitchen. A few moments later, the steady drip let me know she’d started a pot of coffee.
I was going to need a whole pot to myself. I barely slept, restless at the memory of the almost kiss with Valens. Then angry at myself for focusing on that instead of how to complete my mission.
Full-out war with the ODL was the worst-case scenario, but I couldn’t see how we’d avoid it. And Leigh was getting rounder by the day, her pregnancy advancing into the third trimester. How would I hide her, protect her?
I had no idea. The Romanian castle’s bunker was the best bet, but last we heard, it was still a burned-out husk, not yet habitable or anywhere close. Though, the butler, Cristian, was working on it. Eventually, it would shine again, but we’d have to live to see it restored.
I reached for my sword, then hesitated. The growing suspicion in my gut was that Valens was right. And if he was right, my remaining days of carrying this sword were limited.
Technically, I should have immediately reported what Valens said to Galyna, who was the senior partner. She’d have called the enclave, and they’d have… what? I didn’t even know. Surely they wouldn’t kick me out on suspicion of a mate bond, right?
I’d inspected every inch of my skin before getting dressed. I had no mate marks, no hard proof that anything had changed. On the outside, I was every bit the warrior maiden I’d always been. Inside? I was a mess.
But hiding out in my room wasn’t going to change a thing.
Slinging my blade over my shoulder, I strode out of the room with all the confidence in the world. And nearly ran straight into Galyna’s coffee mug.
She leaned against the edge of our small kitchen counter, contemplative gaze fixed on me. “Something’s off, and I want to know what it is.”
Never one to beat around the bush, my partner.
“What’s off?”
She arched an eyebrow, setting down the coffee cup. It was never a good sign when she put down the coffee.
“You tell me. Is it something about the new pack? Are you still injured from the power strike? If you are, I’m sure Olivia or Brielle would be happy to assess you again. We have to be at our best to protect them.”
My shoulders sagged with relief when she took the wrong path. Guilt gnawed at me for keeping things from her, but I shoved that shit down. I wasn’t hurting anyone, and I wasn’t pursuing the mate bond, so it was a nonissue.
“I slept like shit. But otherwise, I feel okay.”
She nodded, picking the coffee cup back up. “We’ll swing by and ask them to look. We’re meeting again for next steps, anyway.”
I nodded, skirting around her to pour myself a cup. It tasted bitter, but maybe that was just my own guilt.
“How long do you think we’ve got before they find us here?” I asked, taking the first sip before turning back her way.
Her one-shoulder shrug wasn’t reassuring. “Damned if I know. I’m frankly not sure why they’re not already on top of us, but I’ve got that niggling feeling that it’s no good reason.”
“I mean, we won at Wrenchet. Maybe they’re still licking their wounds?”
“We’re not that lucky. The Omega Defense League and Interspecies Governing Council are hugely powerful organizations. If they wanted to, they could bring down a combined force so large, we’d never stand a chance, maybe not even with all the packs on our side, which they likely won’t be.”
My fingertips drummed the side of my coffee cup as I considered. She was right. The ODL was large, but the IGC… It represented the combined might of almost every single magical species on earth. If they all turned against wolves… we would be wiped out.
They’d ended a wolf threat once before, during the wars. Taken the omega stone and shattered it in the wind. What was stopping them from doing it again?
“Yeah, your expression tells me you’re thinking along the same lines I am. But we don’t have time for that. Right now, we’ve got to check in with our charges.”
Ever practical, she was right. We weren’t responsible for winning the war, just keeping the Goddess-touched females alive. That was a big enough challenge for now.
We met at the front steps of the old mansion, the ostentatious building looming above us, reflecting back the sun from its many windows.
I had to work not to bristle when Valens walked up. He nodded to me politely, but kept his distance.
Somehow, that was worse than him getting in my personal space yesterday. Lucien was right behind him, Olivia tucked under his arm, the happy glow of the newly mated about her. She saw me and waved, ducking out from under his arm to jog over to me.
“Are you feeling okay? Any ill effects from the zap yesterday?” She gestured worriedly to my chest, so I pulled the neck of my tunic aside, flashing her the spot as I turned my head away. She prodded the area with gentle fingertips, patting me lightly on the shoulder when she was done.
“Looks normal. Which is good, obviously. It’s just so strange that it would attack you like that. It’s supposed to protect wolves, not hurt us.”
“Well, it didn’t feel great, but I survived.” I forced a big, joking smile; the kind that usually came with ease.
“Thank the Goddess,” she murmured, not at all joking. “We’ve had way too many brushes with death lately.”
That was the damn truth.
“You don’t have an omega seal on your palm, do you? You’d tell us if you did?” The question took me completely by surprise, and my face must’ve shown it, because Oli shook her head. “Never mind. I’m sorry. It’s just… There’s something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Just the same old me. Promise.”
She opened her mouth, seeming about to continue that line of questioning, when a throat clearing halted her mid-inquisition. The rest of the pack had gathered, and they were ready to begin.
“Have we made any progress on finding anything about the plot against our pack?” Kane asked, not wasting any time once we were all focused in his direction.
Reed lifted a finger, and all eyes turned his way.
“Actually, yes. Valens and Lucien found a lead in the Hungarian archives yesterday.” He held up a ragged-looking piece of paper.
“This is a receipt. I contacted Rudi, who used to be the pack accountant under the elder Varga, and he was able to give me some insight. Long story short? It’s a magical protection device purchase.
Petró was afraid of something or someone. Any ideas?”
Reed directed the question to Valens, which made sense as he was the late Alpha’s second. If there was something to know that affected the whole pack, Valens would have known it.
Valens rubbed his cheek thoughtfully. “I honestly have no idea. He was always behaving erratically. It’s hard to say if something was out of character for him.”
“That’s fair. Megalomaniacs aren’t necessarily easy to read,” Gael said drily.
“But I’d be happy to chase the trail. Did Rudi say who the purchase was from? Maybe I can pick up on something to put the pieces together.” Valens sounded determined, and I found myself struggling to stay in my usual rest stance. My body was drawn to the sound of his voice like a magnet.
“He only gave me one name: Sandrine.”
Valens’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I know where to go.”
“Good,” Kane interjected. “Pick a partner to go with you, though. We take no chances until this is over.”
When his eyes lifted to mine, my heart sank. “Elodie, would you care to join me today?”
There was no good reason to tell him no, and every member of this group knew good and well that I always said yes to an adventure. Saying anything but yes would only draw more attention and suspicion.
“Of course. Any chance to kick some ass.”
Galyna shot me a confused sideways glance, and I knew I’d missed the mark.
“If it’s okay with the Alphas, since I won’t be here with your mates today.” I deferentially looked between Lucien and Kane, but they both waved their wordless agreement.
I was spending the entire day alone with Valens.
Shit.
This was fine. I was a professional, and this was a mission, nothing more.
I just had to not touch him so there was no chance of our wolves building a bond between us. That couldn’t be too hard, right?