Page 46 of To Keep A Wolf
“Not for very long,” Levi says tightly. He doesn’t look at me as he says, “I’ve been working on the same mission myself since high school. Tripp joined me early on, and we began getting pack members out of town, helping them defect so they couldn’t be tracked. Our relocation services started with Tripp’s mom and went from there.”
Pain flashes in Tripp’s eyes at the mention of his mother. I feel guilty for not asking about her before now. Sending her away had to be painful for him; they’d been so close growing up. I’d been close with her too. All those times my mother would run off to bag a mark, leaving me home, Tripp’s house had been a safe haven. His mom had been like a mother to me too back then. I haven’t seen her in years.
And the expression Tripp wears now tells me those years are hurting him.
“The apple didn’t fall far,” my father says, approval lacing his words and drawing me back to the conversation. “It’s a dangerous mission you’ve taken on.” He glances at me and Tripp. “All of you. This situation you’re in now—it sounds like your cause was gaining traction. Otherwise, the alpha wouldn’t be pushing back.”
“That’s a nice way of saying he’s trying to kill us,” I say darkly.
“But you’re free now,” my father says. He leans back in his chair, assessing me. I want to ask what he sees, but I don’t dare. “You’re safe. And you’re welcome here as long as you like.”
Tripp glances at me. “Speaking of safety,” he mutters, and my shoulders sag with an invisible weight. I know what he’s hinting at. What he wants me to tell my father.
On a sigh, I say, “We learned Jadick has sent someone to hunt me down and bring me back.”
“I see.” My father eyes me carefully, and I know he’s working it out already. Who, I mean. “A bounty hunter?” I nod. “Your mother.”
I nod again.
Raw emotion darkens his expression, but he blinks, and it’s gone. Interesting. Definitely a better poker face than I gave him credit for. But it helps to know he’s maybe more ruffled about my showing up here than I originally assumed. At least, I’m not the only one struggling to navigate the weirdness of it all.
“She’ll find you,” he says matter-of-factly.
I can’t argue it. But that’s not the issue with this scenario. It’s what I’ll do about it when she comes that makes this so incredibly difficult.
“I won’t let her take me back,” I say quietly. I force myself to hold his gaze, mostly so he can see how much I mean it, and I can see whether he plans to get in my way.
In that quietness, he reads my intent.
“You’ll fight her.”
“If I have to.” The words make me sick to my stomach, but I mean them. I won’t go back to Jadick. I won’t be dragged to my own death. Not even by her.
My father is silent.
Tripp and Levi exchange glances. I don’t meet their eyes, but I can feel their worried gazes cutting to me. Like they want to tell him the whole story. About the Jades and the fact that we plan on fighting back. But I’m not ready to trust him that fully yet.
I stare down at my empty bowl, bracing myself. If he defends her, I’ll leave. If he doesn’t believe me, I’ll leave. If he downplays the danger, I’ll leave.
I can think of so many ways he can undermine me right now. So, when he finally speaks, I stop breathing, as if that will stop the stabbing through my heart.
“We should fortify the doors. Set some traps outside. Try to keep her out as long as possible.”
My gaze whips up, but he’s not looking at me. Instead, he’s looking at Levi.
“What?” I manage, but they both ignore me.
“You really think that’ll be enough?” Levi asks.
“No,” he admits. “But it will slow her down, and hopefully, I can use that moment to talk some sense into her.”
Tripp snorts. “Has anyone ever successfully talked sense into Vicki Quinn?”
No one laughs.
My father pushes back in his chair. He rounds the corner to the stone hearth. There’s a rustling sound, and then he re-appears, a rifle in his hand.
My eyes widen.
