Page 53 of Dawn of the Pack

But I know better. Azalea wants something from us, badly, and in order to get it, she’s decided to play ball.

Once the contract is drawn up and signed, and Shuya confirms that it’s magically binding, I issue the carefully worded decree allowing them to pass through the barrier.

“Here you go, princess,” Azalea tosses me the keys. “Don’t get too attached. Oh, and if you don’t mind, fill her up before you return her? Premium, if you please.”

Jared takes the keys and Landon follows the retro sports car in his Jeep, promising they’ll meet us in about half an hour.

Once the security team has Azalea tucked in the back of one vehicle, I escort Shuya to the second one and help her inside.

“It’s good to see you again, Lilliana.” She pats my hand and smiles.

“It’s nice to see you again too, Shuya. We’ll go have some coffee and something to eat, unless you’d prefer tea?”

“Tea would be lovely, dear. Dandelion, if you have it.” She settles in her seat and tugs on the seatbelt.

“I’ll see what I can do,” I promise, then close the door.

Once Milo and I climb into the third vehicle, we make our way back to the safety office, where a room has already been prepared for us.

It’s a bland, corporate-feeling space, but it holds a reasonably sized conference table and comfortable chairs. Minutes after we sit, a delivery arrives from the Painted Moose. I offer Shuya and Azalea a variety of breakfast sandwiches and treats, and once they’ve made their selection, I encourage the security team to help themselves. Milo snatches a few things quickly, pulling them close to his chest.

When I fix him with a raised eyebrow stare, he replies, “For Jared and Landon!” I’m not convinced the entire pile is for them, but I’m glad he’s thinking of my other two mates.

The Painted Moose didn’t have dandelion tea, but Shuya seems happy enough with chamomile. The security team pours steaming cups of black coffee from the paper carafe box, and once everyone’s received their food and drink—including Milo with his flat white and my mocha—it’s time to get down to business.

“Alright Azalea, you claim to want to help Derrek, so let’s hear it.”

“Listen princess, I haven’t even had my coffee yet. Why don’t you-”

My patience thins. “I’m not here to entertain you, witch, and I certainly don’t intend to hang around all day. You may call me alpha, Lilliana, or Lily. If you can’t stick to one of those three, I’ll have the security team take you back to the barrier right now.”

She smirks to herself, pleased to have gotten under my skin. “Sheesh, I didn’t mean anything by it. Sorry to have offended Lily. My sincerest apologies.”

“Let’s cut the bullshit already,” Milo interjects cooly. “No one here is under the delusion that we’re all friends. You’re clearly here because you want something, and you’ve offered us something we want to get it. So let’s lay it all on the table, shall we?”

Shuya continues sipping her tea, her eyes darting between her granddaughter and me and Milo.

There’s a very pregnant pause, and then Azalea affects a half-hearted sob. She lifts her gaze to mine, tears welling in her eyes and a sorrowful expression on her face. “I’m sorry, alright? Sometimes I get so turned around I can’t tell the enemy from a friend. I didn’t exactly have a great upbringing, and I don’t trust anyone.

“But Grannie likes you, and she wants to help you. And I feel terrible for helping them take Derrek. Believe me, I didn’t know what I was doing. And I didn’t have a choice. I’d already signed the contract with them, and I have to honor it. But I thought Nielsen just wanted to recover his missing son and make him his heir. How would I know they were going to lock him in the dungeon and torture him like that? I had to fight my way into that house yesterday because Nielsen didn’t want me to see what he was doing. And then he threatened me!”

I am one-hundred percent convinced that this is all an act. “If you ‘didn’t know what you were doing’, it’s interesting that you’ve helped so much. I’ve heard some interesting things about what’s happened to Derrek since he left here.”

Her expression goes neutral in a nanosecond. “What have you heard?”

I fix her with an indulgent grin. “Why don’t you just admit to what you’ve done, and assume I know everything.”

Sipping my coffee, I wait patiently for her to decide what to say. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, wondering how much I could know.

Abruptly she sighs, dropping her head with apparent shame. “I made him a collar that basically prevents him from using magic against Nielsen or any of his cronies. I admit it! And I’m not proud of it, but like I said, I had no choice. As the pack witch, I’m bound to follow orders and protect Nielsen. I can’t even turn my magic against him. So I had to.”

“You may have been told to stop him from using magic, but somehow I don’t believe you really had to be so sadistic about it,” I reply in disgust. Turning my gaze to Shuya, I continue, “Do you know what she did? What she really did? Anytime Derrek so much as tries to clear his throat, that collar magically shocks him. He’s locked up in some dungeon torture chamber with a shock collar around his throat, thanks to her.”

Shuya’s eyes narrow, and she turns angrily to Azalea. “You did not tell me some things, it seems. Why would you do that to Leaf? He’s always been a good cousin to you!”

Azalea’s voice is even more remorseful now. “I know, Grannie, I’m sorry. It seemed like the simplest solution to give Nielsen what he wanted. I wasn’t trying to be sadistic.”

“Save your apologies for your cousin. We’re here so you can make amends and help them rescue Leaf from that horrid man. So tell them what you know.”

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