Page 45 of Understanding Fate

I won’t forget it.

We follow her out of the building and make a beeline for the car. I rush to open the passenger door, quickly tucking Briin before sprinting to the other side. Dante’s mind-link comes in just as I pull out of the space.

Dante: The panel ruled in favor of the Reno Pack 3-2. Marlo has been permitted to retrieve Brielle once the paperwork is completed this afternoon. Noah and I are headed for the jet. Did you get her out?

Cain: Leaving the hotel now. Jess is on her way with Nyxon.

Dante: Good. Pres should be sending you a location where you can swap out vehicles. Leave all your tech with the car, and we will get someone to retrieve it. I’ll reach out when we have a plan or things settle down.

I can feel the tension in his voice, and guilt fills me.

This is on me. The pack’s at risk because of me.

Cain: I’m sorry for getting the pack mixed up; this is my responsibility.

Dante: It absolutely is. But never forget who we are. Pack First. We’re family, and we will fight for our own. Keep your girl safe, and the rest will fall into place.

Cain: Thanks, D.

The echo of the hotel alarm blaring has me refocusing on our exit. I press my earpiece as I turn from the lot.

“Pres, where am I headed?” I ask, my eyes scanning the mirrors to ensure we aren’t followed.

“Head southwest toward Dakota Ridge. I’ll text you the address. When you get there, leave everything. Take the keys from the center console and disappear. They already know she’s gone. Alerts will be out within the hour, so you need to go dark and stay dark until we fix this. D probably won’t say it, but I will. We’re at war now. We have no allies. Don’t die. It would be a shame to go to all this trouble for nothing,” Pres says, aiming for a bit of humor, but her tone gives her away.

She’s worried.

“Got it, Thanks little P. Keep them safe for me while I’m gone,” I say, using her old nickname in the hopes it will let her know that I care about her, too.

I turn off the earpiece and turn my attention to the road. Bri sits like a statue beside me, not saying a word, her eyes glued straight ahead.

Shit.

Instantly, I slow down, remembering her aversion to riding in cars.

“Sorry, Firefly. Do you want to drive? I can pull over,” I ask, ensuring I keep both hands on the wheel despite wanting to reach out to her.

She will feel better if she can see I’m in complete control.

“It’s okay. I’m fine; besides, I can’t drive in the snow,” she says quietly.

The white on her knuckles, as they grip the door handle, would probably disagree, but I make a concerted effort to keep all of my movements slow and steady so as to not make her anxiety worse.

My wolf paces beneath my skin, wanting to relieve her stress, calm her down, and take away her fear.

She’s strong. She can do this.

“Talk to me, Firefly. Distract yourself from the ride. Tell me about the interview,” I say, attempting to help.

“You mean the adjudication with the vampire? That was surprisingly fine,” she says, and I hear the absurdity of that statement.

“They didn’t hurt you, did they?” I ask, my head whipping to look her in the eyes before I see her tense and return my eyes to the road.

“No, he was surprisingly professional. Even after I offered him a drink, which, in hindsight, is laughable because he could have assumed I meant me. Not that I knew what he was then,but still, I imagine most people don’t go around offering up their blood to them,” she says, causing me to smile.

“You’d be surprised. Apparently, their venom has an aphrodisiac effect. Many become feeders just to feel the lust-filled high it gives them,” I say, watching her jaw drop at the information.

“Well, maybe I should have been more insistent with that drink,” she quips, causing my wolf to come to the surface, my eyes flashing silver at her while a growl rumbles in my throat.

---