“Of course you did,” I groaned, following him out to the living room.

  The four men stared when we entered. Nervousness coursed from the Maine trio, and hostility rolled off of Cooper at an alarming rate. He really wasn't pleased with his babysitting role. Funny how he survived keeping an eye on me just fine.

  “So what did you guys figure out during your little outing?” I asked, needing to break the silence in the room.

  “Nothing,” Cooper said with great annoyance. “They only want to talk to you.”

  “Seriously? They didn't say anything?”

  “Not a word.”

  Cooper was hanging on by a thin thread. His distrust was apparent to all parties present, and unfortunately for me, Sean was completely on his wavelength.

  “And if I ask for answers?” Sean asked, his voice calm and menacing.

  Janner shrugged slightly. “That is an entirely different matter.”

  Cooper growled. I don't think he enjoyed being one-upped by Sean.

  I decided to try and sort the mess out, seeing that it was still either that option or a bloodbath in my living room. The little cooling-off period Sean had mandated the boys take hadn't done anything to help. There was too much testosterone in too confined a space.

  “You said you need refuge,” I started, trying to recall what Janner had said earlier. “But why here? Why do you think you're better off here with me? With us?”

  “Because of what you are,” Janner stated like that point was painfully obvious. “I have to admit that we were surprised that it was so easy to collect you in the woods that day. We thought we were possibly going on a suicide mission even attempting to approach you. But once we saw you sitting against the tree, you seemed so frightened―fragile even.

  We were far more concerned with your well-being at that point. More so than our own.

  “So we took you in and helped you, which afforded us an opportunity to see how the real you stacked up against your reputation.

  Pleasantly, we found you to be far more rational than we had been led to believe. Had we not seen you in action prior to that, I don't know that we would be here now, asking for your help. You seem as though somehow, unlike other werewolves, you and your wolf are polar opposites.”

  “Yes, well, I do seem to be a bit of an enigma,” I replied with a smile, trying to make light of his observation. He had hit the nail on the head and it made me uncomfortable. It seemed to have the same effect on Cooper and Sean.

  “So what you're basically saying is that you want to hide behind Ruby's skirt just in case your big bad alpha comes looking for you?"

  Cooper sneered. “You made your fucking bed. Figure out a way to sleep in it.”

  “I don't hide from anyone, you fucking prick,” Alistair barked.

  Cooper laughed.“I wouldn't even break a sweat killing you.”

  “Well, I guess it's good that nobody will be killing anyone tonight, so we won't have to test the veracity of that statement," I interjected.

  “Not yet,” Cooper and Sean chimed together. The two slowly turned to look at one another with the most unsettled expressions.

  “Anyway,” I said, trying to bring the focus back to the issue at hand.

  “You think that I'm going to take you in so that I can just invite trouble to my doorstep?"

  “My hope, Ruby, was that you would consider our situation and think about it before readily dismissing us. The stories that I've heard never spoke of your dual nature. You seem so very human to me. I wonder if our plight could possibly appeal to that inflated sense of humanity. If Tobias were to find out about our location...," he said, letting his lack of completion speak for itself.

  “You think he'd be dissuaded from coming after you because this seemingly too-human werewolf is actually a ruthless assassin."

  “If you're comfortable putting it that way, then yes.”

  “So I'm the 'just in case' plan?”

  “In a sense.” His expression was surprisingly unapologetic.

  The irony of the situation was too much for me. They wanted to be near me for protection, and I couldn't even take care of myself because Scarlet had taken a leave of absence.

  “I don't really know how to tell you this, guys, but I'm not really going to be able to help much because―"

  “Ruby!” Sean and Cooper yelled simultaneously. It was truly bizarre.

  “I think what Ruby is trying to say,” Cooper started, “is that she's on a tight leash these days. She can't just go and take care of your problems without consequence." Cooper shot a glance at Sean and then back to the boys. “He may be her mate, but her survival is dependent on keeping her nose clean. All you three seem to want to do is dirty it for her.”

  “I don't think it'll be an issue,” Janner countered. “If Tobias knows that we're aligned with you, I don't think even he would be dumb enough―or suicidal enough―to come after us. He enjoys breathing far too much for that.”

  “That's quite a gamble,” Sean added. “And one that none of us are willing to make.”

  “Agreed,” growled Cooper.

  Flanked by the two men in my life, I looked over at the somber threesome. Beckett's face was impassive, but Janner and Alistair had looks of uncertainty and the energy to go along with it. Their shields had been dropped the instant the conversation started, and whatever they had hoped to accomplish by coming to my house during the storm of the century wasn't panning out. It looked as though they were running out of hope as well as options.

  “Now that we've heard what you came here to say...,” Sean began, motioning toward the door.

  I watched as Janner took a deep, cleansing breath before giving Sean and Cooper both a curt nod and leading his men to the door. Beckett followed without argument or acknowledgment of any of us. I looked on, feeling as though something just wasn't quite right. It didn't feel good sending them away. When I brought my attention back to Alistair, he stood steadfast, staring at me with a pained expression. He looked desperate to say something.

  “Ali,” Janner called from the doorway. “We'll find another way...”

  Alistair's eyes remained fixed on mine with a pleading gaze. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and started to go to his packmates, a slightly defeated posture overtaking him.

  “Alistair,” I called, lunging toward him. He startled at my approach, but halted all the same. “Is there something you want to tell me?

  Something other than what I've heard?"

  He looked to Janner, seeking permission with his eyes. Janner pressed his lips tightly and sighed before giving him a nod of approval.

  Without skipping a beat, Alistair dropped a bomb on us.

  “They've been going missing for a while now,” he told me, jumping right to the meat of his story. It left me completely bewildered.

  “Who? Who's been going missing?”

  “Pack members,” he said flatly. “At first, we thought it was coincidence. One or two had disappeared, but there always seemed to be a reason to explain away any doubt. Most were lower ranking members who weren't really in love with being a part of the pack. They would rather have been loners. Initially, we thought they'd all just buggered off."

  Again, he looked to Janner with an air of uncertainty clouding everything around him. It was apparent that this was a card he'd hoped to not have to play.

  “But later...,” I prodded, trying to drag it out of him.

  “Later, it was random members of the pack. And the last one to be taken, she was my mate. Someone took my Jemma."

  My shoulders sagged with compassion. The pain he felt was staggering, and part of me knew all too well what that felt like. The other part of me that also knew exactly what that felt like was still too AWOL

  to care.

  “When?” Sean asked, his booming voice startling me.

  “A few months ago,” Alistair said, trying desperately to compose himself. “She left to run some errands one day and never came back."

  “I'm so sorry, Alistair,” I whispered.

  “What does this have to do with you staying here?” Cooper blurted out from behind me.

  “Cooper!”

  “Well?” he snarled. “It's a sad story and all, and I feel bad for him, but that doesn't have anything to do with us. Maybe you should send Sean over there to figure out what's happening."

  “Have a little compassion, Coop! How would you feel if your mate were taken?”

  He looked at me angrily, but I could see him processing that thought. It eased the harshness in his face ever so slightly.

  “Please go on,” I urged.

  “The reason we killed the last alpha isn't quite what we let on before,” he said with hesitation. “The truth is that we acquired evidence indicating that he had been selling his own to someone for testing, but testing for what and by whom we never found out. I overheard him on the phone one night. He was talking to whoever had Jemma. He told them to kill the bitch if it wasn't working. He had her murdered.” He paused for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. “The rage I felt was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I tore him to pieces with my bare hands before I even realized what I was doing.”

  “And that's why you left,” I uttered as my heart fell into my stomach.

  “We had no choice,” Janner offered from his place in the doorway.

  “Had we stayed, the repercussions would have been immense. The next alpha couldn't have allowed that kind of mutinous behavior, so he gave us one chance to escape with our lives. We took it. It was only later that we learned that he might have orchestrated the entire event. I'm quite certain he used us.”

  “If you have served your purpose to him, why are you so convinced that he will come for you?” Sean asked frankly.

  “Like I said before, he has no honor. And, to be honest, I think he was a little frightened by Ali's display that night," Janner explained.

  “Many of the pack saw how easily he tore through our late leader. I was there. I've never seen anything like it in all my years, though I don't think it could be reproduced on demand. He was beyond lethal. Tobias will have that weighing on the back of his mind at all times, wondering if we'll come back for him. He was Deacon's right-hand man. He's known all along what was going on and decided to play both sides of the fence while it suited his purposes. I'm afraid he's still carrying out whatever had been started. From what we've heard through the grapevine, pack members are still going missing...”

  “Interesting theory, but I'm not buying it,” Cooper said, moving closer to me.

  “Would you not avenge Ruby if something were to ever happen to her?” Ali asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft and distant.

  Cooper growled.

  “I would stop at nothing to take down anyone or anything that harmed a single hair on her head,” he rumbled threateningly. "A point that you would be wise to remember― very wise.”

  “Then you understand how I feel, and you know it gives validity to Tobias' fear,” Alistair added. “My revenge isn't complete until all who hurt Jemma are cold and dead. All of them.”

  Sean stirred behind me and I jumped; I'd nearly forgotten he was there.

  “This Tobias,” he said, walking toward Alistair. “Do you have proof that he knew what was going on or that he's still doing it now?"

  Alistair's expression went grim. “No, not directly. Everything we had obtained about Deacon's involvement was through Tobias. Even the phone call I overheard; Tobias had tipped me off to it. When we left, all that evidence was left behind, and I'm sure has been long since destroyed.

  We were hoping that maybe the PC could assist us in locating some new information." Sean's eyes narrowed accusingly. “When we heard about Ruby, we also heard that she may have had some... influence with the PC.

  We were hoping that she would help us with that as well.”

  “Sean,” I said quietly, “I know you're uneasy about this, but Alistair is right. You both would go to any length to hurt someone that tried to harm me or anyone else you love. Can't you empathize with his situation?

  And, really, if there's some psycho selling off pack members to God only knows what fate, can you tell me you're okay with that?" He stared at me without responding, so I pulled out the big guns. “I was sold off...,” I whispered, moving closer to him. “Please, I want to help them. You have to understand why.”

  I reached up onto my toes, not caring that everyone in the room was staring, and kissed him softly. His forest green eyes penetrated mine, telling me that he was willing to concede, but less than thrilled with the idea.

  “I will have one of the brothers go to London to check on matters there,” he said, speaking over top of me to Janner. "And I'll alert those already there to be on watch for anything suspicious. Perhaps a mild crackdown will strike a little fear into this Tobias' heart, if he has one.”

  “That would be much appreciated,” Janner replied with great sincerity.

  “Thank you,” Alistair added. He looked so vulnerable standing in the middle of my living room― young and grief-stricken.

  “Cooper,” I called as I turned to face him. “Can you accept this?”

  He audibly sighed.

  “I can. For now. But we're going to have to set some serious ground rules first. If it comes to a choice between our safety and theirs, those bitches are going down any day of the week."

  “Cooper,” Janner said, lowering his head slightly to avert his gaze.

  An act of submission. “We do not wish to bring harm to you or yours. If it becomes a situation where that is the bottom line, we will happily give ourselves up so as to divert any violence away from you both. Will that appease you?"

  “It's a start...”

  “Okay then,” I said, walking down the hall to the linen closet.

  “Looks like we're going to have a good old-fashioned sleepover."

  “No,” Cooper and Sean barked just seconds apart.

  “They are not staying here,” Sean informed me. It was clear by his tone that there was no negotiating that point.

  “Well, they could stay upstairs,” I offered in compromise. He looked at me dubiously. “Sean, it's late. Just for tonight. It should be fine.

  It won't even be comfortable; they'll be miserable, doesn't that make you feel better?"

  “Immensely.”

  I loaded up my arms with every extra sheet, blanket, and comforter I could find. I didn't have extra pillows, so I stopped by the couch to swipe all the toss cushions I could find off of it. Cooper and Sean watched me intently as I did, neither one of them lifting a hand to help. It was their silent declaration that, though they had conceded to my desire to help our little stray wolves, they weren't happy about it. They were growing more and more alike every day.

  “Here,” I said, loading up Alistair's arms with the bedding. “Follow me.”

  I made my way out onto the landing and led the trio up to the third floor with Sean and Cooper pulling up the rear. I opened the studio up and flipped on the light. With a grand sweeping gesture, I showed my guests their accommodations.

  “It's the best I can offer.”

  “We're happy to take it,” Janner said, looking around the room. “I'll get everything else set up here. It's been a long night. You should get some rest."

  “She doesn't need your advice,” Sean threatened.

  “Of course,” Janner replied with a small bow.

  With that, I was ushered down the stairs and back into my apartment, which was fine by me. The testosterone cocktail I'd been swimming in all night was starting to drown me, and I was thankful to find myself in my house with only half as much of it to deal with.

  Cooper made a show of locking the door behind us before making his way over to me to give me a huge hug goodnight. Sean seemed to take it well until Cooper planted a long and gentle kiss on my cheek. It wasn't sexual at all―his energy told me as much―but he knew it would rattle Sean's cage so he did it for one last jolly before he went into his bedroom and shut his door for the night.

  Sean's eyes were glued to the hallway that Cooper had just disappeared down.

  “You know he just does it to rile you up, and you take the bait every time,” I informed him as I headed to the bathroom. He didn't follow. "Are you staying?” I asked while my stomach did a little flip.

  He eyed me strangely in response.

  “Of course, I'm staying,” he replied as though my question had been utterly ridiculous. Perhaps it was. "But I think I'll be staying out here tonight. Wouldn't want one of the boys to wander in while we all are sleeping.”

  “Through the locked door?” I asked incredulously.

  “Exactly,” he replied with a mischievous grin. I loved that grin.

  “Suit yourself.” I shrugged and continued on my path to the washroom. “It's really too bad though. I wasn't quite ready to go to sleep."

  I flashed him a mischievous grin of my own.

  “Jesus Christ, you two.” Cooper's muffled voice groaned from his bedroom. “If I have to put up with this from now on, I'm moving out."

  “No, you're not,” I quipped. “Who would you have to boss around all day? You know that's your favorite activity."

  “Ugggh,” he lamented. “I hate it when you're right.”

  “Love you too, Coop.”

  I looked back to see Sean smiling at me.

  “I see you two have straightened a few things out. I'm glad to see that,” he said, with an impish grin that implied he knew Cooper was my alpha. I don't know why it surprised me.

  “Yep. We sure did, though it probably would have been easier had you just told me you knew.”

  “I tried,” he said, suddenly right in front of me. I could never get used to how quickly he could move. "I was rudely interrupted by the Rev at the time. After that, there was always a crisis to attend to. That seems to be your gold standard, does it not?” The wattage on his playful grin turned up even further.

  “It certainly is, so I'll let you off the hook this time,” I said, leaning in to kiss him gently before catching his bottom lip between my teeth and giving it a light, punishing tug.

  “How gracious of you,” he replied with a whisper. “Now...how about we go and try to remedy that little sleep issue of yours."