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He could be dead.

Tears clog my throat and I blink them from my eyes as I put both hands on the bed and lever myself to my feet, skirting around him and walking to the other side of the room. It takes a second to gain control of my tears.

Shane stands. “How about a walk?”

I start to refuse when it hits me that I have a perfect reason to explore my new surroundings and potentially discover a way I can escape. It won’t be easy in my condition, but if I can get to a phone, I can at least tell Mack and the others where I am.

“I can’t walk for long,” I tell him, resting a hand on my belly. “I get tired easily.”

That’s true. But the more tired he thinks I am, the less likely he’ll expect me to run when I have the chance to.

He smiles. “You always liked walks, didn’t you?”

What I liked was being outside, away from his pack, who treated me like an outsider, and away from Shane who wanted nothing to do with me.

Gripping my arm, he leads the way out of the room before I can tell him I can walk without his help. But I think I’m going to have to learn to pick my fights, and this one doesn’t seem like it’s worth fighting over.

I try to look in the rooms we pass, but most doors are closed, and though there are sounds of people moving around inside, I don’t pick up anything useful. Whatever secrets are beyond those closed doors, I don’t hear even one of them.

There are a few people in the backyard when we find the back door. It’s the same construction workers I briefly saw as Franklin led me into the house.

All are shifters and they must be Raleighs. From their suspicious, silent stares as we pass, they must view me as much of an enemy as I view Shane.

“Are they rebuilding everything themselves?” I ask, briefly distracted from Shane’s hand on my arm as he leads us toward a bench just under a tree that backs onto the forest.

“They’ve been planning this for a while,” he says.

I twist around to watch the men continue their hammering and banging. “Why do they want Mack to lead? Surely, if they’ve done all this without him, why not continue on without him?”

“The Raleighs were great once before.” The familiar male voice makes me jump.

Franklin steps from behind a tree and I get the sense he wasn’t just hovering there. He was watching. Maybe even following us. “Mackcan make us great again.”

I glance at Shane. His expression is blank. I’m not sure if he knew Franklin was there all along or if he suggested this walk because he was told to bring me out here.

“But he has a new life now,” I tell Franklin. “I’m surprised you don’t want?—”

“Connall? Our old Alpha?” Franklin raises an eyebrow, and his voice drips with contempt as he continues, “He abandoned us to serve his own needs. We don’t need him.”

“Don’t you think Mack will do the same?” I say, playing devil’s advocate. Mack would never abandon his pack the way Connall abandoned the Raleighs. He wouldn’t abandon anyone. Once he gives his word, he means it.

“Mack has integrity.” Franklin strides over to me, not stopping until he’s standing far, far too close. He points his chin at the farmhouse that Shane and I left moments before. “He rebuilt, as you can see, learning on our own. Learning to become self-sufficient. We’ve seen what Mack has done in Winter Lake.He can do the same here. He will give us the home we’ve always wanted, and the leadership we deserve.”

While it’s disturbing to hear that he knows so much about us and the pack built in Winter Lake, it sounds almost like he’s living in the past. Or like he can’t let go of the past.

And it sounds like he has his mind set on this. That nothing I say will change his mind.

“What about you?” I look at the newer buildings they’re constructing. “You’ve done all of that, and you’re an alpha. Surely the men here must listen to you. Why don’t you lead?”

His smile is mirthless. “You are trying to discourage me.”

I shake my head. “I’m trying to understand why it has to be Mack who leads. It would have made more sense to me if you wanted his help before you built, but you’ve done all the hard work of rebuilding. Why not continue the way you have been?”

Shane’s hand tightens on my arm. I take it as a subtle warning to stop talking, but I ignore him to focus on Franklin, curious about his response.

“Do you know how long the Raleighs remained a powerful and respected pack?”

“My history isn’t great,” I admit ruefully.

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