Page 73 of Secrets and Ruin

“What?” she snapped.

“If we bring Mother, we bring everyone. Aisha, Makalo, Kushim, and Amir. I know Kushim was a warrior for a long time, and Aisha isn’t a pushover, but neither of them would be enough to protect Makalo and Amir if someone decides to take advantage of our absence. We’re in a bad position, and I don’t want to take the risk. They can hide in Niko’s house while we’re out in the Black Forest, but I want them close by so we can protect them.”

“That’s your paranoia talking, but I understand,” Zuri said, nodding as she rubbed her temples.

“I just want to know if anyone can reach Jacky or Landon,” Heath said, sitting down to put his head in his hands. “Please.”

“I wish I had that magic, but I don’t.”

Zuri was apologetic, but it left Heath wondering if he was going to see either of them again. They would both be furious if he left Teagan, Jenny, and Carlos defenseless. He was the last defender of the pack and territory now and couldn’t move everyone, so he could chase after those two.

“You know Dirk is a werewolf, right?” Davor suddenly asked. “Father is going to hate learning that when I have to ask everyone to come here to help.”

Father. Hasan. Damn it.

“Ha.” Zuri nearly bubbled with laughter as Heath’s head went up. “Yeah, everyone in this call knows.

“I didn’t do it,” Heath said quickly, wanting to make sure that was clear. “Neither did Landon. He was mauled during the attack on us by the Dallas Pack last year.”

“You’re right, though. Father will hate finding out.” Zuri groaned. “He, Mischa, and Hisao are the only ones who don’t know now, it seems. I take it you could smell Dirk in the house?”

“Yeah, but it didn’t cross my mind to care, not with everything else happening. I knew a werewolf had already been here, Landon, so it actually took me a minute to realize some of the wolf smell was Dirk and not him.”

“It’s something to note because Father will notice it immediately, Hisao as well. Mischa might take a minute, but I dread the moment she realizes, almost more than I do when Hasan learns.”

“Sister…” Jabari stood and came closer. “You know what this means, right? There’s no way we’re getting through this without ending up in Germany. Already, I don’t like that Davor wouldn’t have reached out to us for hours. I want to go now. Two of our siblings are in a land we don’t understand, but it’s clearly dangerous. If we go, though, everyone will wonder why we’re all congregating in Germany to bother Niko and Dirk without making it a family affair or why we’ve left our regions unattended without an explanation.”

“This is going to be a mess,” Zuri agreed.

Heath was watching Davor at just the right moment, seeing his eyes go wide.

“What?” he asked, hoping the werecat would trust him enough to say something.

“Hasan just messaged for Niko. I forgot I was using his account,” Davor said, licking his lips and shaking a bit. “He apparently tried to reach me. My staff at home answered and told him I had left to visit Niko and Dirk to teach Dirk some things to help Jacky.”

“You normally don’t make those sorts of mistakes, Davor.” Zuri seemed worried now. “Tell him—”

“He knows I’m on a call with both of you, but he really means Niko, not me. He can see it active. He has that privilege on his account—”

Heath moved to disconnect but wasn’t fast enough, cursing at himself for getting complacent.

“Don’t go, Everson,” Hasan said mildly as he appeared on the call.

Heath let go of the mouse, and back away from the keyboard.

“Hasan,” he greeted, inclining his head a fraction to give some respect to the ruler of the werecats and member of the Tribunal.

“I wasn’t expecting this. I was expecting Zuri, Niko, and Jacky,” Hasan said, crossing his arms. “Anyone care to explain?”

“Father, why don’t you just disconnect and let the adults handle things?” Zuri snapped. “You know, the adults who don’t spy on their children or each other.”

“What is going on?” he growled softly. “Where is Niko, and what the fuck does Jacky think she’s doing, letting a werewolf use this program? Why didn’t either of you put a stop to it? Go get her, Everson.”

Heath didn’t move, putting his hands in his pants pockets.

“I can’t,” he answered honestly.

And I would never. Not for you, not while you’re taking that sort of tone with her.

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