Page 4 of Catnip

The Scions weren’t the only reason why he was so wound up, though. Nor was losing a friend - a long-time friend he’d loved like a sister. Tracy would be missed andremembered.

But Tracy didn’t make him pace through the dining room, muttering tohimself.

“I’m fine. Rain cleaned my wounds,” hereplied.

Thankfully, he’d had a witch on hand. He might not have managed otherwise, as he knew how to take care of Lorren’s venom, but her silver, wolfsbane, and belladonna blend of poison acted fast onshifters.

“I wasn’t talking about your wounds,” Rye replied. “I haven’t seen you so agitated in a longtime.”

Coveney closed hiseyes.

“There was an eagle,” he said, finally. “A female, I think. She saved my life today; got in the way of one of Lorren’sarrows.”

Rye lifted a brow. “We don’t have eagleallies.”

A lot of eagles were hired by the shifter council, and no Alpha of their kind made allies amongst other races. Their laws forbidit.

“I know,” hesnapped.

This made absolutely nosense.

“It could be that girl,” Daunte piped up. “You know? The one who came to warn us. She applied to be part of the pride, I remember her face. Then, Clari jumped her in thewoods.”

“Oops?” his mate wincedguiltily.

“She never turned up afterthat.”

Rye nodded, acknowledging every piece of information he’d just been given. Then, he came to the conclusion Coveney had anticipated. “Sounds pretty weird to me. I’m grateful she helped us, but if she’s lurked around for weeks without reaching out, she could very well be a spy, for all we know. We’ll send someone to track her, and interrogate her, when things calm down. Right now, I need every one of you in the pride house, making sure no enemy is lingering around us, waiting for a chance tostrike.”

Yeah, he should have kept his mouthshut.

Coveney considered explaining himself; there was no one he trusted as much as Rye. But he found himself at loss for words, unsure of how he could formulate what he wanted to say. The girl was poisoned, sure, but it wasn’t a Wyvern problem. Rye wouldn’t care. Coveney shouldn’tcare.

Make him care,his tigerroared.

He stayed silent. He’d never asked a favor of his Alpha, and he wasn’t going to start now. Not when he already owed him so damnmuch.

He paced some more, for all of three minutes, before his steps led him out of the diningroom.

He hadn’t even crossed the entry hall when the door opened behindhim.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Daunte half barked, half whispered, careful not to be overheard by anyone in the diningroom.

Shit. Everyone had seemed occupied, and Coveney was hardly the life of the party; he hadn’t believed his absence would be noticedimmediately.

Coveney had anticipated Rye’s order because he understood it. Therewasa good chance that there still were enemies at their door, away from their wards, but close enough to catch an opportunity to strike against them. For now, their enemies might have lost, but they still wanted the pride’s kids’ lives. Their absolute priority had to be protecting the pride. Coveney knew that. As Head Enforcer, he was familiar with pride politics. He also didn’t give a shit. He needed to go find the bird. He needed it more than he needed his nextbreath.

He’d changed drastically after the incident in the Royal Pride. Not only because he learned what it was like to find himself considered a criminal and watch those he trusted turn their backs on him. He changed because he also saw people, who didn’t have one reason to, give up everything for him. There was no way he could ever repay Rye and the others for leaving their pride to be with him. That slate would never be wiped clean, however much he tried. But, from that moment onward, he decided that he’d always get even. If someone was doing him a favor, he returned it. And he owed the damn bird. Bigtime.

He might just be going overboard. There was a chance she was just fine. But if he was right, if she’d beenhit…

The least he could do was findout.

“You can’t go against Rye’sordersright now. We’vejustbeen attacked,dammit.”

He stared at Daunte. His guilt trip was working, but he wasn’t going to let it show. He didn’t want any member of the pride to worry; he just didn’t care as much as he cared about finding thegirl.

Finally, the Beta gave up on their little stare-off, with asigh.

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