Page 68 of Wolf's Providence

“Don’t call me that,” I grumbled.

“Why? You’re still an alpha.” His hard eyes held mine. “No matter the fact you have no pack, that’s your choice.”

I glanced around the bar before answering. Even here, among strangers, it felt risky to speak so openly, but if there was anyone I could trust with Willow’s safety, it would be Eamon. He had never run from a fight, and his loyalty was to himself, but once…once it had belonged to me.

“Willow is human,” I confirmed. “She’s gotten tangled in something, and it’s putting her at risk.”

“I heard she was tangled around you,” he told me, pausing while two glasses of whiskey were placed in front of us.

“Will you shut up?” I hesitated as I registered what he’d said. “You heard? Heard fromwho?”

“Shifters talk, always have. Talk travels.” He took a drink, and when I didn’t resume my conversation, he sighed dramatically and leaned forward. “You were on packlands with a human;everyonewho’s a shifter knowsthat.”

“That may be so,” I admitted. “But who didyouhear it from?”

Eamon considered me as I waited. “One of the males from Blackridge Peak was running his mouth at a drop-off a few weeks ago. Said you and her took the tourist route to the ridge, and when you got there, your scent was all over her.”

Because we’d had sex in a car, my scentwasall over her. “His name?”

“No clue.” Eamon shrugged. “Know his pack, know his alpha, he was with the alpha’s brother. He shut him up before I could.”

“Willow is important to me,” I told him through a clenched jaw. “Her knowing me is putting her at risk. I don’t need gossiping pack to run their mouths about her.” I felt my anger building. “I need her safe, Eamon, but I can’t watch her every second.”

“Which is where I come in?” he guessed. His curiosity was piqued, and I knew I had him. “You want her involved in this?” The look in his eyes shifted from amusement to serious. “You serious about her? A human?”

I held his gaze. “This is more than that. Willow’s tied to…something.” I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “She’s connected to things she doesn’t understand, and honestly, neither do I.” I lifted the glass and downed the whiskey in one go. “There’s something about her, something worth protecting.”

Eamon watched me, his gaze intense. “Alright. So, what’s the plan?”

Briefly, I ran through what had happened up to this point. Eamon listened, his demeanor changing as he took his task seriously.

“So it’s a trap?” he surmised. “You’re using this girl—who’simportantto you—as bait?”

I felt the sting of rebuttal in his tone. “It’s a trap,” I confirmed. “We need her to go about her life as usual, but I know she’s being watched. I don’t know who or why. Or even how many. But if they think I’ve left her vulnerable, then they may strike. I need you close. Keep an eye on her, but keep your distance. I’ll track down anyone suspicious.”

Eamon nodded, his expression thoughtful. “And this Willow, how much does she know?Reallyknow?”

“About this? She knows it’s a trap to draw out my enemies.”

Eamon rocked back in his chair as he watched me, letting out a low whistle. “Your enemies, huh?” His fingers drummed against the table. “And does she knowwhyyou may have enemies?”

“She does.”

“Alright then. You’ll owe me big for this, Caleb.”

It was my turn to smirk. “You’ve always known where to find me.”

“Have I?” He looked up at me as I stood, his eyes guarded. “You’ve been alone too long, man. I’ll do this for you, but if this is your paranoia because you’ve lost your marbles, I walk.”

“I’m not imagining the threat to her,” I growled.

“Yeah? As long as the threat isn’tyou, you mean?”

“We doing this?” I demanded. “Or are you going to shut up and do the job I ask of you?”

“Well, look at that,” he said, downing his drink. “There’s an alpha in you after all.”

Eamon stood, holding out his hand, the silent agreement hanging in the air between us. I took the offered hand and shook it once. Pulling him into me, I lowered my head to speak in the shorter male’s ear.

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