Chapter 15

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He shook out his fur, and I sputtered, gave him a not-so-gentle shove. "Ugh, wet dog."

From one moment to the next, he'd changed from his wolf back into his human-like form. He actually wore a pair of jeans and was bundled in useful winter gear. Miracles never cease.

"I'm hardly a dog. And wet wolves smell divine. If we had more time and less of an audience, I'd show you." He smirked.

"Uh huh. Likely story."

"Besides, I'm here to help. I tracked you on the app. That sweet little ghost let me know you needed me."

"You talk to Molly?" That little meddler. I fought a grin.

He shrugged. "I'm full of surprises. Besides, I was thinking of you, too."

I wanted to grin like a fool, but held back. He then eyed the classic Cadillac. Tapped the hood with a knuckle. "Haven't seen this car before. She's a beauty."

Didn't miss the question in his voice. I kept quiet.

He bent down and stared through the windshield. Never saw teens sink so quickly in their seats as though it would make them invisible. That wasn't at all suspicious.

I waved him off. "I got it. No worries."

"Abe, if this is what I think—"

"I said I'm handling it." Could feel my raven's feathers ruffle. Wolves didn't have the instinct to acquire pretty things the way ravens did, so he wouldn't understand the kids' thinking.

He exhaled, his breath steaming in the late evening air. "You are so stubborn. I know you can handle it. I'm offering my help. Stealing a car's not a small thing. Tommy would be upset if he knew."

"Hopefully, he'll never have to know." I held up a hand before Michael could protest. "If I need to tell him, I will. Promise."

Michael seemed to consider this. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I trust your judgment. It's your roost. Mostly." He bent and looked through the windshield again. Like reverse jack-n-the-boxes, the kids all but disappeared from view again. "Who's the wolf? He one of ours?"

I nodded. "Tommy took him in shortly before we took this job with Kennedy."

His brow furrowed. "He usually introduces new wolves to me when they apply for asylum. It keeps all the lone wolves in line."

If what Shandra told me about Kai was true, I knew why Tommy hadn't introduced them. Michael bought into wolves' hierarchies, so would he be any kinder? No wonder Kai hung with a bunch of ravens. I opened my mouth to say it, thought better of it, and snapped it closed.

"What?" He stepped closer to me, his head cocked in such a wolf-like manner it was hard not to smile.

He deserved the benefit of the doubt. So, I kept my voice gentle. "Maybe Tommy thought you wouldn't be any more sympathetic to Kai than his original pack."

Even with my gentle tone, I could almost see Michael's hackles rise. "He's a kid. Why wouldn't I be sympathetic? What did he do?"

"He didn't do anything. He just identifies as a beta."

Michael blinked at me, the furrow deepening. "What's wrong with that?"

"He was born a gamma."

Took him a moment to process what I meant. Could see when it dawned by the raising of his eyebrows. "That's not . . ." He looked back at the car, then back at me. "Really?"

I nodded, tipping my chin up in challenge.

To his credit, he didn't blurt out something Kai might overhear. He absently ran a hand down my bicep, his face scrunched up in a thoughtful expression.

"Huh," he finally offered. "Has anyone been training him in the role a beta plays in a pack?"

I gaped. "What?"

"If he's a beta, he needs to know how a beta acts in their pack. You planning to teach him?"

"I-I'm not sure it's the same for wolves as for ravens." Was he serious?

"I guess I could mentor him," he looked dubious, "though I don't know all the instinctual parts of being a beta. We could probably figure it out."

"You don't have a problem with it?" My voice might have come out a little disbelieving. Mister ‘Wolves-are-Instinctual' was now going to roll with it?

"I . . . I'm not sure. Doesn't seem possible. But as my mate keeps pointing out, there are other ways to view the world. And I do listen to him and think about what he says. Also, I've heard of wolves who haven't felt they belonged to their designation, so it's not completely novel. It's more I don't understand it since I've never felt the urge to question my place." He kept stroking my arm. "If he's determined to be a beta, the kid needs to learn to act like one. Betas have certain responsibilities to a pack, and if he's avoiding other wolves—which he is or I would have met him—he'll never learn how to do that. He's too young to be lone. It's not healthy."

"You'd do that? Mentor him?" My pulse sped up, and I held my breath for his answer. Couldn't be with a guy who'd turn his back on a kid.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'd agree to almost anything. But yeah, he'll need another wolf."

Without thinking, I grabbed Michael by the back of the neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Excited squeals from the teens reminded me this wasn't the time or place. We broke apart, our breath steaming in the air.

"Wanna help me get this boat unstuck?" I asked, a little winded.

"I live to serve." He walked to the passenger side door and opened it. He slid the front seat forward. "You three, in the back, out. Your weight isn't helping us push this tank out."

"But we're in nice clothes!" Nyia protested.

"Uh huh. Should have thought about that before you stole a car in a snowstorm. Out." The alpha command in his voice had all three teens spilling out into the cold.

He shut the door, then stepped around me and took up position. I joined him and between the two of us, we pushed it out with ease.

The kids cheered, and without missing a beat, piled into the backseat.

Now to return the Caddy to its rightful owner. I brushed off my soaked clothes, the cold seeping into me. A heated car would feel real nice.

"You want me behind the wheel?" Michael asked. "I grew up in Montana, so I'm used to driving in far worse conditions. And rear-wheel drive's a bitch in the snow."

Those were some beautiful words spilling from his lips. I readily agreed.

"Let's check the trunk for tire chains. I can't believe anyone would have a beauty like this out on roads tonight without a set." Michael patted the hood.

Tire chains?

"I don't think it's likely. This is Baltimore, not Montana. Besides, they weren't planning to have their car stolen and probably had enough sense to stay indoors."

"Well, maybe they'll have cat litter or sand bags at least. If we get stuck again, we can use that to get some traction."

Unlikely. Still, couldn't hurt to check. "Pop the trunk, please, Shandra."

She searched around for the button. "I can't find it."

"Might be in the glove box," Michael leaned in, eyeing the steering column that had obviously been hot-wired. "A key would be really useful."

When the glove box turned up empty, I sighed and nudged Michael aside. I stuck my hand through the window and waited. A flurry of exchanged glances between the teens, and then Nyia reached in her purse and pulled out a set of lock picks. She handed them over.

Michael's eyebrow climbed practically to his hairline.

I chuckled. "Almost all raven teens carry them. Some even have holders in their phone cases. It's a raven thing."

"I'm surprised more ravens aren't in prison."

"We rarely get caught." I moved to the back of the car, took out the tools, and inserted them into the trunk lock. Seconds later, the latch gave an audible pop and rose half an inch. "Success."

"Um, Abe?" Shandra's voice came out high pitched. She waved a small piece of paper.

"What?"

"We, uh, might have accidentally stolen that news anchor—um, Sally DeSantos'—car. I found the registration."

Michael and I swore in unison. This had just got more complicated.

"Sally's going to have a field day with this one," I groaned. No way we'd keep it quiet now. I'd have to call Poe and Tommy. And Kennedy. Talk about a shitshow.

Grimacing, I opened the trunk. Michael and I stared.

No tire chains, though it wasn't empty.

Someone lay curled up in the back. I glanced at Michael. He inhaled, scenting. His eyes widened. Then he shook his head. "Dead."

Oh, shit.