Page 68 of To Keep A Wolf
“Fine,” I say. Knowing what he really means, I add, “She wanted to kidnap me and run me out into the hills where no one would find us. Let you guys have all the fun.”
He grunts. “Not a bad idea.”
“Don’t start,” I warn.
“I’m just saying,” he says, clearly having fun with it now. “Your mom and I finally see eye to eye on something.”
I roll my eyes. “Have you guys heard back from Frankie?”
His half-smile vanishes. “No.”
“And Grey?”
“He’s with us, but he’s staying put for now. He can do more good on the inside.”
I don’t bother to speculate about reasons for Frankie’s silence. None of them can possibly be good for any of us.
“I’ve put out the call though,” he says. “For the pack or, at least, the ones who ran off when Jadick took over.”
“Is that a good idea?” I ask, startled. “I mean, won’t Jadick sense it and figure it out?”
He shakes his head. “If he never bonded with them, he has no way of knowing. And if they’ve put distance between themselves and Blackstone, the sooner I put out the call, the better. Time is not on our side.”
I tense at that. He’s right. We have no way of knowing what time yesterday Jadick executed Jim. Or what time he’ll do it again today if we’re not there to stop it.
“Do you sense anyone close?” I ask.
“Not yet.”
I turn away as he finishes up, capping the red can and the fuel tank.
“They’ll be there,” he says to me, and I glance at him, giving him what I hope is an optimistic smile. But it feels more like a grimace.
In minutes, we’re back on the road, and I start scanning the horizon for some sign that the Jades have found us. But traffic is light, and no one flags us down as we pass through town after tiny town.
When we reach the outskirts of pack lands, we pull over again.
The guys off-load weapons where my father has apparently cataloged our options and divvies them up between him and my mother. I don’t bother to listen to his explanation of what’s what. My mom taught me to fight with my hands—or claws—or not at all. I’m not going to change it up now.
Levi and Tripp crowd in close, though, taking guns and tucking them into various hidden parts of their clothes. We’re all loading back into the cars when someone calls out for Levi. A female voice, still distant, though I spot her quickly.
Across the road, an abandoned gas station sits with one end partially collapsed inward, thanks to years of rotting and disrepair. Just beyond the edge of the overgrown parking lot, a figure hurries toward us.
My wolf sight locks onto her, and my eyes widen.
“Nely?”
I start for her, but my father grabs my elbow.
“She’s a friend,” I say, but he doesn’t let go.
Levi and Tripp hurry across the road, and apparently my dad decides that’s enough of a reassurance. He lets me go, and I race after them, catching up just as they all reach one another.
Nely is breathless, sweaty, and exhausted if the bags under her eyes are any indication. But the sight of her boosts my hope in the plan.
She’s answered Levi’s call.
More are coming, I know it.
