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“My daughter,” he softly corrects me.

I struggle to believe what I’m hearing. “So you stepped aside?”

“The Boones have a new Alpha. They will be fine.” He nods firmly. “I thought I knew everything about the world, but it turns out that it’s possible to learn something from my daughter.”

When he gets up, I watch him turn to go inside, still struggling to comprehend that he would give up leadership of the pack just like that.

“What did you learn from me?” I call after him.

“That there’s more to life than leading. That I don’t want to be an old man with just a reputation for being a good leader.”

He walks inside and I remain sitting outside, staring at the sky.

I wince when Thumper kicks me. The kick is another reminder of why I can’t shift and charge into the Raleigh home and save Mack.

He took my place in there so he could be in the perfect position to help us when we attack and save the omegas.

Slowly, I get to my feet and make my way inside, more tired now than I was before I sat down.

Inside, everyone has once again made the dining room the war room. They’re all crowded around the table with a big piece of paper at the center. As I approach, Helena gets up from her seat and offers me her chair.

I’m refusing it when Bennett pulls Helena into her lap and he nods at me. “Take the chair.”

Smiling gratefully, I sink into it and realize they were paying attention to every single word I told them about the Raleigh property.

They have sketched out the buildings in detail and even noted where they believe the omegas are. And more importantly, they have drawn crosses. Since one cross marks the drivewayto the house, I assume the other crosses mark other possible entrances and exits.

Clary’s phone vibrates. He picks it up from the table and, grinning, gets to his feet. “My pack is here.”

Outside, we hear the approach of a car engine.

It sounds like there are two or maybe three vehicles. Which makes sense. He said he had ten members in his pack.

“I’ll go get them,” Clary says, headed for the front door.

“And I’ll go with him,” my dad adds. “Just to make sure it truly is them.”

They’ve walked outside when I hear the approach of more vehicles.

“Uh, why does it suddenly sound like there’s a whole heap of traffic out there?” I ask, twisting to look at the front door.

“Good question.” Bennett helps Helena to her feet.

“How about we check it out?” Helena suggests.

“Let’s do that,” Connall adds, following them out.

22

MACK

Someone is running the tips of their fingers down the length of my spine.

The touch is light. Female.

Woken by the feminine touch, I’m smiling into my pillow when the memories of Aerin’s tear-stained face as she slid behind the wheel of my car jackhammer into the forefront of my head.

Aerinleft.

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