24. Twenty-Four

Maybe I should have listened to Sloane and Lincoln. The dread that bubbled inside me suffocated me. I didn’t want to be home.

My heart pounded as my fingers hovered over the turn signal. Home was just ahead on the right. I could drive past. The road would loop back to the freeway. At the right speed, I could be back in Sloane’s and Lincoln’s arms in several hours.

I puffed my cheeks and blew out my breath slowly. Luna, did I want to do that. I would do just about anything to make them smile. Their hurt expressions as I’d left haunted me.

What if I’d made the wrong choice?

I gritted my teeth. There were more men here against their will. I was sure of it. This was how we’d win. By turning my father’s men against him. They weren’t really his to begin with. They were only here because they were terrified of him and doing anything they could to survive.

I flipped on my blinker and hit the brakes, slowing the car to a crawl as I turned down the dirt drive. I sighed and banged my palm on the wheel.

It would be hard to find men who were sympathetic to our cause without putting myself in danger, but it had to be done. We could dismantle my dad’s pack from the inside out. That had always been the plan Lincoln and I had. It was up to me to see it through.

I shifted in my seat, sitting up straighter as I drove down the winding drive in the dark. I’d stopped by a truck stop to take a quick shower to make sure I’d washed any hints of Sloane or Lincoln off me, so I arrived later than I wanted.

Dad lurked on the front porch as I got closer, his hands on his hips and his eyes zeroed in on my car. I pulled into my spot and killed the ignition.

Then I gave myself a three-count before climbing out. “You should have told me what was going on. We lost a lot of good men tonight.”

Dad stomped his foot on the wood porch so hard the whole awning rattled. “You saw no indication of any survivors?”

I shook my head as I marched up the stairs. “No. By the time I got there, the fighting was over. I would have been outnumbered and captured or killed. You should have had them wait for me. Maybe things would have ended differently.”

I stood toe-to-toe with him as I narrowed my eyes. “Why didn’t you?”

It wasn’t the first time he’d done something rash like this, so it wasn’t completely surprising, but the fact that he was getting so reckless concerned me. People did even crazier things when they didn’t care.

He flicked his gaze to mine, baring his teeth at me. “They should have been able to handle it.”

I huffed. “Sloane and Lincoln were ready for them. It’s like they were waiting to stomp them out and take on the Dennings.”

Dad jabbed a finger into my chest. “How did they know? How were they ready?”

I ground my teeth so hard my jaw hurt. Did he suspect? My heart pounded, and heat crept over my face. I needed to diffuse the situation.

“Lincoln’s not dumb, Dad. He knows you. He’s always been good at strategy, and Sloane is smart. There’s a reason her father selected her to lead the pack.”

His nostrils flared as he continued to glare.

I crossed my arms and tried to relax, but nothing I did would take the stiffness out of my neck. The muscles had knotted together.

“We underestimated them,” I said. “It’s not something we can do again. You can’t keep things like this from me. It cost us men. If they’d had a proper leader going in, things might have been different. They should’ve waited for me.”

It was a dangerous game to put the blame back on my father, but it took the attention off me, and I needed to know why he hadn’t confided in me.

Spittle flew out of his mouth as he seethed. “I’m tired of being one step behind them. Someone is helping them. I know it.”

I suppressed a shudder and continued to hold my father’s gaze. “Who? Someone in the pack?” I motioned with my arms. “Only a few people have access to the outside world. It would have to be someone in our house. A trusted member of our pack. Do you think that’s possible?”

I gulped, hoping I hadn’t said too much. If he truly thought someone within our circle was part of the betrayal, it would be a witch hunt.

I pumped my fists at my sides. “It’s also possible someone has a phone somewhere. The men are all over the place during the day hours. They could hear or see anything. I think we should look into it as a possibility.”

It would give me a reason to poke around at the houses, too. The other houses were considered beneath me, and I didn’t get many opportunities to go near them.

Dad wiped the back of his forearm across his mouth. “I’m not sure.” He pointed his finger at my face, getting it so close I was afraid he would stab me in the eye with it. “But I’m going to find out.”

I looked out at the pack houses that dotted the far corner of the property. “Anything you want me to do to help?”

It would give me a reason to go there and talk to people. Dad only had me here with the other enforcers who stayed in the main house. But the back houses were where not only prisoners were kept but wolves that my dad considered lower in ranks. Aka ones who he had obliterated and forced to swear their loyalty to us.

He followed my gaze. “No. I’ll deal with them. For now, spend some time with Fiona. She says you have been avoiding her. You’re young. What kind of boy avoids a beautiful, willing woman?”

One who had already found their mate. Or really, someone who had standards, even.

I arched a brow at him. “Dad, I’ve been busy. Things have been crazy.” I sighed.

He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I know, I know. There are more important things to worry about, but an heir is important too, Sawyer. Soon.”

He waggled his finger at me like he was giving me a stern lecture and not begging me to get laid and impregnate a girl.

I licked my lips. He wouldn’t let up, and I should have known he wouldn’t. This was important to him.

I shifted my feet and cleared my throat. “It’s not that I don’t want to have an heir. It’s…”

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might pop out of my chest.

Dad growled, his face turning into a sneer.

I maintained eye contact with him. “It’s Fiona. There’s something about her that just… It rubs me the wrong way. I’ve tried to like her, but…”

I didn’t know what else to say. It was the truth. She unsettled me, and everything about her grated on my nerves.

The glare he gave me was nasty enough to kill. I’d never been on the receiving end of it before, but I’d seen people who had, and they didn’t live long after it.

Everything was fine. I could tell him this. I had to. Anything to get him off my back about Fiona. She was a snake. I had to keep my cool and not give anything away.

An idea popped into my head then.

I forced myself to yawn and took a few steps back so I could lean against the railing of the deck. “She’s just overly eager, Dad. She seems opportunistic. I don’t want a doormat like Willa, but I want someone who’s going to fall in line with our way of thinking. Fiona seems like she is only worried about herself and not our pack.”

The disdain slipped off his face, and he gave me a small smile. “I suppose I can see where you’re coming from. But no one here has a higher standing in the pack than you and I do, Sawyer.”

I wiped at a spot on the railing where some idiot had put out a cigarette. “I know that, Dad. But I also don’t see her as being motherly.”

I glanced at him as I stood straight. “I want someone more like Mom. Someone who will be caring for the kids while I’m away at other packs. I need to know that they will be loved and taken care of in my absence. That the mother of my children will care for them and not worry about herself and her position in the pack. You did say Fiona wouldn’t be the only woman I have a child with, right? Does she know that? I don’t think she’ll take that well. She could take that out on our children. Or on the other women.”

Dad’s eyes glazed over, and he looked away from me as he rubbed at his jaw. “Your mother was a fine woman and an excellent mother. You’re right. Fiona is nothing like her.”

I pushed off the railing and put both hands on my dad’s shoulders. “Let me go down to the houses where we’re keeping the females. I’m sure there are a few in there who would be better suited to be the mother of my children.”

Dad followed my gaze to the houses before finally nodding as he clapped one hand on my bicep. “Fine. Yes, of course. It should be your decision anyway, after all. You’re the one who will have to be with her.”

He heaved out a sigh and pulled me into a hug, clapping me on the back. “I’m sorry, Sawyer. It’s just with Lincoln betraying us and Mikey gone…I need to know that our pack will go on when I join your mother in the afterlife. We’ve worked so hard for this. Only our blood should lead it.”

I let my eyes slide shut as I relaxed into his hold. “I know, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

But I would, and there was still a small part of me that wanted his approval. It was stupid, though. He’d gone mad, and I couldn’t follow in his footsteps. He was past the point of return, but I wished to Luna that there was a way I could make him see reason. There were moments like this when he was almost the same man I’d loved and looked up to as a boy.

He held me in his embrace for a few more moments before pulling back. He ran a hand under his nose as he twitched it back and forth.

I took a few steps back and motioned with my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to go for a run. Sitting in a car all day has my wolf on edge.”

He bowed his head. “Of course. And you’re right. Start an investigation. Someone here is still feeding information to Lincoln. I want to know who.”

He frowned and narrowed his eyes as he stared off at something in the distance.

I took that as my cue to leave and turned on my heel, heading back down the porch and toward the trail that led to the housing.

The property was split up into groups. The main house was where my family stayed, along with our trusted enforcers and members. Then there was another set of housing where other loyal members lived. Then down toward the bottom was where we kept the women we’d taken and men we hadn’t deemed as trustworthy yet.

They were allowed outside under strict supervision so they could shift and get sun and air. It wouldn’t be a stretch that someone overheard something, but to pass the info along would be difficult. I had to be careful to make sure that no one took the fall. It wouldn’t be right for an innocent to get caught up in my lies.

My back pocket buzzed, and I gulped, realizing I’d left the burner phone there. I’d need to find somewhere to stash it. The caves. I hadn’t been since that last time Lincoln, Sloane, and I were there, but it would be a safe place to keep my phone. A go bag might not be a bad idea, either.

I glanced around, making sure the coast was clear before digging the phone out. It was a simple text with a list of names.

I sent a quick reply. Can we trust them?

The world hummed as my brother connected with me. They were all mentioned by the wolves we brought back. Some of them came up more than once, and we questioned them separately.It could be a trap. But it might not be. Up to you to decide if it’s worth the risk since you have decided that you have to stay there.

His words cut deep. Didn’t they understand that this was for them? Our best chance to win was to dismantle my dad’s pack while growing Sloane’s pack the right way.

I dragged a hand through my hair. I thought you, of all people, would understand why I came back. You and Sloane won’t be in danger until Father is neutralized.

Lincoln tossed his arms in the air and shook his head as he marched toward me only stopping when he was in my face. At what cost, Sawyer? Your life? That’s what’s going to happen.

I sensed Fiona before I heard her. I jammed the phone back into my pocket and tried to push Lincoln out of my mind.

“There you are! I heard you were back.” Her voice sounded like nails grating down a chalkboard.

I plastered a smile on my face as I turned around. “Hey, Fiona.”

She marched toward me, pushing her chest out like she was trying to make her boobs appear larger. “Are you going for a run? Maybe I could give you some company.”

Lincoln stood beside me. Who the hell is that?

I did my best to ignore Lincoln, but it wasn’t easy when I could literally feel him breathing down my neck. Anger rolled off him in waves.

She skimmed her finger down my arm as she waggled her eyebrows.

I took a step back before I could think better of it, which made her pout. Now that I had Dad’s blessing, I could let her down. Lincoln was also watching, and I could feel his rage bubbling higher with every second.

“I’ve been doing some thinking, Fiona. I’m not sure this is going to work between us.”

Her brows drew together, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Why not?” Her voice turned harsh and cold.

I glanced away and put my hands on my hips. It was probably best to just come out with it rather than beat around the bush. “I just don’t feel a connection to you.”

She closed the distance between us and put her hand over my heart. “You haven’t tried. Give me a chance, handsome. I guarantee I’ll rock your world. I’ll be a good wolf and give you a few pups, too.”

I put my hand on her wrist and plucked it away. “Fiona, it’s nothing personal. I just don’t think we fit together. Not like that. I’m so sorry.”

She smiled and tried to sidle up to me again as she batted her eyes. “Give me a chance, Sawyer. I promise you won’t regret it.”

I pushed her hand away and put distance between us. “I’m sorry. It’s not happening, Fiona.”

Red tinged her cheeks, and she stamped her foot on the ground. “Mikey was right about you. You’re weak!” She narrowed her eyes. “You’ll be sorry you didn’t choose me. That’s a promise.”

I turned back to look at my brother, his gaze focused on the ground.

“So, this is what you’ve been keeping from us,” he said.

Then he disappeared.