18. Eighteen

If Fiona stared at me any harder, her eyeballs might fall out of her head. She made my insides squirm the way she kept looking. I was afraid that she might devour me whole.

I ducked my head down and kept eating, but that only seemed to encourage her. She padded toward my table, her footfalls growing louder the closer she got, like she wanted to make sure I knew she was coming.

The chair scraped against the floor as she scooted it out and plopped down next to me, close enough for her leg to touch mine.

I cleared my throat as I scooted back, making like I was getting ready to leave.

She smacked her hand down on top of mine, flipping my fork up and splattering spaghetti sauce across the table. She laughed, which grated my ears like someone was running their nails down a chalkboard.

She trailed her finger up and down my arm as she gave me what I assumed was meant to be a seductive grin. It just made her look creepy. “Where are you going, Sawyer?”

I swallowed hard and fought the urge to wrench my hand away from her. She had no reason to be touching me like that. Only one woman should be, and she wasn’t here.

I grabbed some napkins and dabbed at the sauce before it stained the table. I indicated the busy kitchen, where more men filed in to get their dinner.

“It’s my dad,” I said. “He usually calls to check in about this time. I wanted to be someplace a little bit quieter to take it.”

It was a lie. I almost never knew when my dad would call or show up in my room. But fate was on my side because my phone illuminated, and his name displayed across it as it vibrated on the table.

Fiona pouted but thankfully let go of my hand.

I snatched my phone and my plate as I backed away. “We’ll talk soon.”

Unfortunately, we would have to.

I didn’t give her a chance to respond before I tossed my plate so hard into the sink that I was surprised it didn’t break and then hustled out of the room.

I jogged down the hall and hit the answer button. “Hello.”

My dad had to be outside, where it was either raining or super windy, and there was a lot of static on the other end.

“A few of them got away,” he said.

I glanced up at the ceiling and said a silent prayer. “From the Denning pack?”

He said something, but I couldn’t hear him on the other end.

I took the steps up to my room two at a time. “Dad, you keep cutting in and out. I can’t hear you.”

A car door slammed shut. At least, that was what I thought it was, and then it went quiet.

“A few of Charles Denning’s men got away,” he said. “I’ve got a few of the guys moving on to pursue them. But they’re not as good as your brother was at tracking people down.”

I shuddered. Mikey had been like a predator searching for its next victim.

I strode down the hall for my bedroom, briefly glancing at Lincoln’s as I passed. I missed the days when he was right across the hall. We’d never been apart for this long before.

I pushed that thought away. “You’re not going after them, then?”

I could almost hear his indecision over the phone.

“I hadn’t planned to be away for longer than a day,” he said. “You know we have more new recruits coming in tomorrow, and I had planned to meet with their alpha to make sure that he submits to me like he ought to.”

I opened my bedroom door and then shut it behind me, leaning against the wood as I let my eyes shut. “I’d be happy to meet with them in your stead, Dad. I am the next alpha. It would be a good experience for me.”

He went quiet for a moment like he was considering it. While he did things to prepare me, there were still a lot of things he didn’t want to relinquish control of.

“I know,” he said. “It’s just that I explicitly told them that I would talk with them. There are a few things that we need to iron out still for the joining of our packs.”

I slid down the door and sat on the floor, putting my forehead into my palm. An idea hit me then. “I can go after them and meet up with the team. I could leave tonight. Within the hour. I can take a team or go up by myself like Mikey did.”

I held my breath as I waited for his answer. I could almost hear the gears ticking away in his head before he finally responded.

“I was hoping you would get to spend more time with Fiona,” he said. “I expect you to mate with her soon. You know your week is almost up.”

Not really. It had been like two days, which meant I had five left, and I was already dreading them. I still hadn’t come up with a way around her.

I hoped my dad wanted to get to the Denning pack more than he wanted me to get to know Fiona.

“I know how important it is that we don’t let them get to Sloane or Lincoln or away at all, for that matter,” I said. “Fiona can wait a few more days.”

It sounded like Dad was grinding his teeth. “Yes, you are correct. Fiona can wait. I don’t want these fools to go to your brother or that bitch.”

I balled my hand up to my side. “So do you want me to leave tonight, then? I can pack a bag for a day or two and track them down. You trained me and Mikey together. There’s no reason that I can’t fulfill his duties now. I can catch up with the other team. Continue on my own. Whichever you think is best.”

If I was on my own and I got to them first, I could make sure they got to Sloane and Lincoln. I might even get to see them for real and not under dire circumstances like we had the last few times. That would be the best thing that could happen. I’d give just about anything for an hour alone with Sloane and Lincoln.

Dad sighed into the phone, making it crackle. “Do that. Get a bag packed and leave immediately. I want you to report in tomorrow morning.”

I fist-bumped the air and shot to my feet, and then I grabbed my duffel from the closet and shoved a few sets of clothes into it. Maybe if I played my cards right, I wouldn’t even come back.

I looked around the room and grabbed a few things I wouldn’t want to live without. I must’ve missed something that my father said because he growled at me, his voice low and venomous.

“Are you listening to me, boy?”

My heart stuttered, and I froze with a picture of my mom and sister clasped tightly in my hand. “Sorry, you must’ve cut in and out. The connection hasn’t been that great.”

His voice sounded low and threatening. “Don’t let me down, Sawyer. In fact, if you catch them heading to your brother, let me know. We might have something in store for them after all.”

I lifted a brow and gave my father my full attention. “Another attack against them? So soon?”

Dad cackled. “No, not yet. I’m thinking if we pin them down when you find them, they’ll call for help. Maybe we can take out some of your brother’s men. Maybe if we’re real lucky, he and that girl will come too.”

If Sloane and Lincoln knew that Alpha Denning’s men were being chased, they would come and try to protect them to bring them into the pack. I would have to find a way to warn them.

It would be tough to connect with them, though. I would be driving. I couldn’t exactly zone out and talk to them at the same time, but I’d figure it out.

I fumbled under my mattress, digging until I found the small burner cell phone and charger that Lincoln had given me forever ago. It was so old I wasn’t even sure it would work anymore. But it’d be worth a shot. I could call them with it and talk to them for real.

I shoved the phone and car charger in my back pocket. “I’ll let you know, and I’ll communicate with the team so we can work on boxing them.”

It sounded like Dad beat his hand against the steering wheel. “Good. Good plan. We’ll talk soon.”

The phone clicked off.

I made sure my shirt covered my back pocket with the burner phone inside, then I finished grabbing the last of my things I would absolutely need and shut them in the bag.

I took one last glance around the room. Was this it? Was now the best time to leave? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t going to commit to anything yet, but at least I could get my important things to my brother and Sloane so they’d be there when I was ready. I could have the debate about whether to come back or not with myself later.

I walked back down to my car in a daze and didn’t even realize that I’d gotten in it until I stuck the key in the ignition and put it in reverse.

Fiona came running out onto the front porch, waving at me with both hands. She yelled something, but I couldn’t understand it.

She jogged to the car and smacked both palms on the window. Sighing, I put the car in park.

I grumbled under my breath as I lowered the window for her and plastered on a smile. “I’ll be back soon. A few days at the most.”

She propped her hip against the side of the car and pushed her boobs up and out at me like that would make me change my mind. “I was looking forward to getting to spend some time with you, Sawyer.”

She reached out and put her pointer finger on my lips. “I almost feel like you’re purposely avoiding me.”

Bile crept up my throat, but I fought the urge to move away and continued to grin. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been super busy. Being the alpha’s son has a lot of duties, and I have to go. I promise I won’t be gone long.”

I took her hand in mine. Her rotted stench flooded my senses, making me want to barf. “As soon as I get back, we’ll spend time together.”

She batted her lashes at me and then pulled away. “Until then, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

She made a show of backing up and then swinging her hips wildly as she walked back toward the house.

I rolled my eyes and put the car in reverse.

Once I made it to the main road, I pulled my burner out of my pocket. I dialed Lincoln’s number, the one that he’d had since forever but my dad definitely didn’t know about, and held my breath as it began to ring.

When Lincoln answered, he sounded out of breath. “Sawyer? Is everything okay?”

I could hear the panic in his voice.

I stretched my hands out on the steering wheel. “I’m fine. I’m out on a solo mission with Dad’s blessing. Some of Alpha Charles’s men got away. He’s sending me after them.”

Lincoln sighed. “His pack fell.”

It wasn’t a question.

I stared out at the open road. The sun was setting, another reminder that tomorrow was not promised. My heart clenched, knowing that we’d lost a few good wolves tonight.

“Yeah,” I said. “He didn’t say how many men made it out. Just ‘a few.’ He’s got a group of enforcers that he took with him out looking already.”

Lincoln grumbled. “That’s not our only problem. The police tracked the car from the accident back to Sloane. The sheriff’s here now talking to her and her mom and brother.”

I gritted my teeth. We needed to catch a break.

To add more salt to the wound, I said, “Dad wants me and the team to lure the remaining outliers into a trap. He’s hoping that you and Sloane will come for them and that we can take you out too.”

Lincoln huffed out a laugh. “Does he think we’re stupid?”

I shrugged even though he couldn’t see me. “You know Dad. It’s hard telling what he’s thinking.”

Lincoln hummed his agreement.

I flipped on my blinker as I made my way toward the highway. “Just promise me you will stay there until I check in. I do want you guys to intercept them. I think they’d be more than willing to come with you now. But I also need to make sure that the two of you aren’t walking into a trap.”

Lincoln went quiet for a long moment. “Yeah, we will need to intercept them. Have you thought about your endgame here, Sawyer? You can’t just help them get away and not expect Dad to find out. You can only play this dangerous game of cat and mouse for so long. I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you that the cat always ends up winning sooner or later.”

I merged onto the highway, blindly staring at the empty road. There weren’t many cars at this time of day. “I don’t know yet, Lincoln. There are benefits to me staying there.”

I didn’t need to see my brother to know that he was shaking his head.

“The longer you stay,” he said, “the more danger you’re in.”

He had a fair point, but with Mikey out of the picture, my dad was less focused on me, and he didn’t have my brother putting toxic ideas into his head either, regardless of how true they might’ve been.

“My objective has always been to protect you and Sloane,” I said. “As long as I can continue to do that here, I think I have to stay.”

There was a slight issue with Fiona that weighed on my shoulders. I didn’t know how I would get out of that. I couldn’t tell Lincoln that. I had to make this decision up on my own. Keeping my mates safe was what really mattered.

I should’ve known better than to think about Fiona while on the phone with him. While he couldn’t read my mind, he could sense my turmoil.

“There’s something you’re not telling me. What’s wrong, Sawyer?” he asked.

I didn’t want to get into it with him, and thankfully, I didn’t have to. My phone chimed, and Stewart’s name appeared on the dashboard. He was one of the men pursuing the Dennings.

“I have to go,” I said. “The team is calling me. I’ll check in with you as soon as I know more.”

I ended the call too fast. Lincoln suspected something was amiss. I didn’t need him finding out about Fiona.