Eli strode into the living area, where Kathy, Kent, Caleb, and the pups were singing along to a Disney movie. Ally and Derren were just ending their calls when Eli rushed back into the kitchen and said to Harley, “You need to go down to the basement. The others are heading there now as we speak. The rest of us need to check . . . Harley, what are you doing?”
What was she doing? She was stripping naked so she could shift and go outside; that was what she was doing. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“You need to stay here,” Eli insisted. “If anything happens to you, Jesse will rip out my lungs.”
“Look, if there’s a bird shifter out there, my cat is the best chance we have of grabbing it. None of you can climb trees like she can. And none of you are used to hunting birds. I’m going out there. Don’t get in my way.” In only her underwear, she demanded, “Do you want to face my cat again, Eli?”
“Dammit! Let’s go.” He and the Betas melted away. Harley then removed her underwear and shifted.
Looking up at the basic tan brick house, Jesse said, “You sure Hector’s parents live here?” His human mother would be fine, but not her mate; it would be every shifter’s nightmare.
The house was small and narrow; hell, Jesse felt suffocated just looking at it. The garden was tiny and overgrown, meaning the male’s wolf would have no land to roam. The short, faded white fence provided absolutely no security, which would make any shifter feel edgy. It was situated on a very busy main road, so there was a lot of noise and activity. In addition, all the houses were closely clustered together, offering little privacy.
“It’s the last place you’d expect to find a shifter,” said Roni.
“Maybe that’s the point,” suggested Marcus.
“Nick and I will do the talking,” said Shaya as she opened the small gate. “If all five of us speak, they could feel overwhelmed.” Everyone nodded and then followed her down the narrow stone path and to the front door. Inhaling deeply, Shaya knocked twice.
Through the frosted window on the door, Jesse saw a thin figure. The door opened a crack, and a pair of distrustful blue eyes took them in. Jesse would bet that if the woman who answered had been able to scent they were shifters she’d have slammed the door in their faces.
Nick arched a brow. “Adriane Flynt?”
“What do you want?”
“We’re not here to harm you,” Shaya assured her. “Or your mate.”
Anxiety rose up in her scent at Shaya’s use of the word “mate.” “You’re shifters,” she said.
“Yes,” said Shaya. “We’d like to talk to you.”
“We have some questions,” began Nick, “and we need answers.”
Frowning, Adriane cleared her throat. “I don’t know anything that could be of any interest to shifters. We’re loners and we like it that way.”
“It’s about Hector,” said Nick.
Something Jesse couldn’t quite identify flashed in Adriane’s eyes. “Something’s happened to him?” she asked.
“No,” replied Shaya, trying to put her at ease. It didn’t work.
Adriane studied Nick closely. “He’s upset you somehow, hasn’t he?”
“Can we talk inside?” asked Shaya. “I understand this is your home and you may not want strangers inside. Tell me, Adriane . . . what would you do if someone tried to take your home from you?”
Realization dawned on Adriane. “Hector wants your territory.” Clearly she knew of Hector’s hobby. “My mate isn’t home right now.” And she clearly wasn’t comfortable meeting with them alone.
“You have my word that we are not here to harm you,” Nick told her. “We just have some questions.”
“We’re not in contact with Hector,” said Adriane. “We really can’t help you.” She tried to shut the door, but Nick shot out his hand to hold it open.
“Please, Adriane?” Shaya bit her lip. “This is very important. We wouldn’t have come all the way here if it wasn’t.”
“How did you find us?” It was a grumble.
“It was difficult.” Nick looked around. “Are you hiding from Hector?”
“No,” she said a little too quickly. “We just didn’t want to be found by any of the shifters he insists on offending.”
“If you need protection, we can offer you that,” Nick told her. “I don’t mean by joining my pack. You can stay right here. But if you ever need protection, you’ll have my backing in whatever way you need it.”
Shaya shuffled forward slightly. “Will you help us, Adriane?”
“I don’t see how I can.” They could tell she was wavering, most likely highly tempted by Nick’s offer of protection.
“Let us explain everything. Then you can decide.” Shaya clasped her hands. “Please?”
Muttering something under her breath, Adriane looked at Nick. “Is she always that hard to say no to?”
He sighed. “Yeah.”
Opening the door, Adriane said, “Follow me.”
The white-and-gray themed living area was so small it didn’t have room for more than a sofa, armchair, TV, and a fast-dying plant. There were photos on the wall of Adriane and someone who Jesse guessed was her mate, Thad, but not a single one of Hector.
The Alpha pair settled on the sofa while Adriane took the armchair. Jesse, Roni, and Marcus remained standing.