Whoa. Wait. WHAT? He plans to take over the pack? Could the missing money have something to do with that? Could he be planning to hire help for his hostile takeover? And what about the other guy? Is he a willing partner in this crime, or someone being coerced? It would fit the vision I had. The guy was so nervous, after all.
It takes everything in my power to hold my smile and not let him know I’m onto his thoughts, but I can’t concentrate the rest of the dance. Our conversation dies, and he assumes my silence is because I’m considering his offer. He pulls me uncomfortably close, as if we’re already lovers, and when the song ends, he grabs my hand before I can escape.
His eyes turn toward the doors, and his thoughts race. I can’t claim her without her consent. Rook would challenge me on principal. But if I could convince her to choose me, Rook is honorable… Perhaps she’s been telling the truth all night, and they aren’t romantically involved. Maybe he wouldn’t challenge me if she didn’t want him. I just need to win her over. I could use someone so well liked by the pack on my side. She’s a hero to them. They would follow her. “Would you like to go outside and take a break for a bit—get some fresh air?”
That sounds heavenly, but not with you, I think. I pull my hand from his and give him a smile I hope he can’t tell is fake. “I’d love to, but I’d freeze outside right now, and I’m technically Rook’s date to this party. I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings by sneaking off with another guy. Thank you for the dance, though. It was nice meeting you.”
I take off before he can say anything. I don’t think I’d be able to keep myself from telling him off if he tried to argue. Rook isn’t hard to find. In fact, he’s so easy to find, I have a feeling he’s been subtly hovering all night. “How’s it going?” he asks. His smile is pleasant, but his question is loaded. His eyes keep drifting to Jeffrey, as if I’ve given something away of my thoughts. Or perhaps Rook was already suspicious of Jeffrey.
“I’m exhausted. Is there someplace quiet we could go hang out for a bit? I need a breather.”
“Of course. Follow me.” He holds out his arm to me, and once again we start strolling about like a couple in a Jane Austen novel.
Instead of leading me outside where I would freeze and there are other wolves mingling about, Rook takes me through the empty clubhouse, down a dark hall past Alpha Toth’s office, and then past the accounting office, until finally we come to a door marked MAINTENANCE. Rook unlocks the door, and before me is either a small office or a large supply closet. It’s probably the same size as the accounting office, but it’s so cluttered with tools and random parts to things that saying it’s cozy inside is being generous. “This is your office?” I ask as he clears a pile of junk off the desk chair.
He pats the chair, gesturing for me to have a seat. “Home, sweet home.”
I sit in the chair, and he rests his butt against the desk that’s also cluttered to high heaven. “I suppose it’s a good thing you’re the handyman and not the janitor.”
Rook snorts. “I keep it like this so people are afraid to come in here. A lot of the wolves around here still think of me as their alpha and come to me with problems they should take to Peter. Having an office like this reminds them I’m not the alpha anymore. And hey, soundproof walls, so speak freely.”
I smirk. “Thought I just did.”
He shakes his head and chuckles again. “I can see why Wulf likes you. He’s always had a thing for sass.”
“Then why’d he try to pawn me off on you?”
Rook’s mouth twitches at the corners. “Because I like sass even more.”
I roll my eyes. “So about Jeffrey…”
Rook laughs at my obvious subject change.
There’s a quick knock on the office door, and then Alpha Toth slides in. “I can’t stay long.”
“We shouldn’t, either,” Rook says, indicating himself and me.
Both men look to me. I don’t have great news, so I take a deep breath and just blurt it out. No sense beating around the bush. “So Jeffrey’s planning to take over the pack.”
I don’t get the response I expect. Rook rolls his eyes, and Alpha Toth sighs.
“Are we not taking this seriously, then?” I ask.
Rook lets his alpha explain. “Jeffrey is ambitious. He’s always wanted to lead the pack. He’s challenged me twice before. Don’t worry, he can’t beat me, or he would have by now.”
I shake my head. “That’s fine and dandy and all, but this felt different. He was suspicious of Rook and me. He thinks we’re up to something. And I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but his thoughts felt solid. He felt like he had a plan.”
Rook pulls his shoulders back, blinking at me. “His thoughts?”
My face turns red as I cringe. “Busted.”
“You’re a mind reader?” Alpha Toth asks, eyes wide. “You hear actual thoughts?”
I sigh. “When I make skin-to-skin contact, yes, I hear thoughts and sense feelings. But that is very dangerous information, so I appreciate you both forgetting you know it.”
Both men frown at me. I raise my hands in surrender. “I know you won’t tell anyone. I just hate people knowing that. It’s not a talent people are fond of.”
“It’s a helpful one, though,” Alpha Toth says.
“Yes and no. I only get surface thoughts and feelings. I can’t just dig around in someone’s head. So I can’t necessarily find out if Jeffrey is Hottie McMoney Thief’s accomplice unless I straight up ask, and I can’t do that without raising suspicions. More suspicions. All I can tell you is that he is planning to take over the pack, and that he feels very confident it’s going to happen.”
“Hottie McMoney Thief?” Rook snorts. “Really?”
I groan. “Again, focusing on the wrong information here. I need to find out more. I may need to talk to Jeffrey again, though he gives me the creeps. And I really need to spend some time with—”
“Hottie McMoney Thief,” Rook supplies with a grin.
“Yes.”
“His name is Daniel McCrary.”
“Well. I had the Mc part right, then.” I stick my tongue out at Rook, and he laughs. “Fine. I need to talk to Daniel, but that means you have to keep Maya and the other wolves away from me for a while. No offense to your pack or anything, Alpha Toth, but those guys are acting like they’ve never seen a woman before, and they’re starting to annoy me and piss off all your pack females.”
Alpha Toth chuckles. “Ever heard the term fresh meat?”
“Gee, how charming.”
Alpha Toth shrugs. “You’re a novelty, and everyone’s curious. Can’t blame them for being interested in a beautiful, dominant, brave, sassy, confident woman who is rumored to be very powerful and saved the life of one of our pack’s favorite females.”
“Well, shit, when you say it like that, I feel like I need to be paraded around the complex on a float.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“We’re getting off topic again. Have either of you considered that Jeffrey could be using the stolen money to buy help if he’s not capable of taking you down himself? Or that Daniel may not be acting of his own free will? He did look scared shitless in my vision.”
“Daniel always looks scared shitless,” Rook says. “The man is spineless.”
“Spineless enough to steal from the pack if he’s being threatened by someone like Jeffrey?”
Alpha Toth’s eyes flash, and he stands up straight. He’s finally taking this theory seriously. “Possibly. As possible as Jeffrey stealing the money to pay mercenaries to take me out and using Daniel as a fall guy.”
I scoff. “If Jeffrey is such a disloyal bastard, why is he your second?”
“He’s the strongest wolf below me. That’s pack way. Besides, having him close, I can keep my eye on him.” His hands clench into fists, and he growls. His eyes start to glow faintly as his wolf rises to the surface. “Obviously, I’m not watching him closely enough.”