Page 63 of To Hunt A Wolf
“Trackers don’t work for free,” I say darkly, thinking of the one Thiago sent after me.
“No,” he said, “They don’t. But it would have taken someone with great power to cover their tracks. My father’s alpha power couldn’t penetrate the tracker’s mind during interrogation.”
“I never even knew he tried.”
“My family worked hard to keep these details secret. If word got out there was this much bloodshed among us, we’d become a target for others as well.”
“I get it, but… if alpha power couldn’t penetrate the interrogation, what does that mean? Thiago’s just not that powerful,” I say, shaking my head. “Sure, he has motive but not necessarily means.”
“You’re as smart as they say,” he says.
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
He laughs, which seems a bit out of place given the topic of our conversation. But then, he’s spent his life under the weight of Thiago’s hatred. Maybe he’s learned to live with it. “Not surprised. Delighted.”
He winks, and I look away, uncomfortable. But Jadick goes on, clearly unbothered by my reaction.
“I am skeptical myself,” he says. “Maybe my brother is more powerful than I gave him credit for.”
“Or maybe he’s working with someone,” I say.
He gives me an appreciative look as if I’ve somehow impressed him again. “Maybe,” he agrees.
“Is that why you ran?”
My words have a bit less bite this time around, but the accusation is still there. I can’t help it.
“I left because he tried to have me killed. And I realized I was no longer sure I could trust the people around me not to help him. Thiago’s not a kind person, but he’s convincing when he wants to be.”
They have that in common then.
“He’ll promise you whatever you want to hear if it gets him what he wants,” he adds.
I think of Kari. Of the deal I struck to bring Levi back to take her place.
And I remember Levi’s warning to me. That Thiago never intends to let her go. Not while he considers her a threat to his position.
“Okay,” I say, “All of this history is interesting, but it still doesn’t explain what you plan to do to stop him or to rescue Kari. Not to mention why you need me.”
We’re nearly back inside the hangar now. Close enough that I can see Levi still waiting for us where I left him. My mother and the others are gone along with Tripp. I don’t know whether to be pissed about that or grateful that he’s given me space. He and I will have our own sort of showdown later. But for now, I keep my eyes on Levi as Jadick goes on.
“The Jades were created to stand in the way of stolen power,” he says.
“An army to overthrow Thiago,” I realize, looking around at the faces of the men and women working to unload vehicles or transport supplies. At his words, I see them all in a new light.
Maybe I don’t resent them after all. Maybe we all want the same things.
“Levi thinks we need bigger numbers, but I disagree,” he says as we make our way to where Levi waits for us.
“What do you think?” I ask.
Levi scowls as we come to a stop in front of him. Whatever he feels about my swift exit, it’s not showing on his face now. Instead, he looks solely focused on Jadick and whatever master strategy he’s about to lay out.
“Thiago’s ego has always been his downfall,” Jadick goes on. “He’ll show his hand soon, and when he does, we’ll prey on that weakness. Use it as leverage to draw him out. He’ll sabotage himself. He always does.”
“Uh, he’s managed to bypass his own father and you as the heir. And he’s current pack alpha,” I say. “I’d say that looks less like self-sabotage and more like success.”
Levi looks like he wants to agree.
