Page 23 of Destined Bear
I shush him, waving my hands frantically as my eyes shoot back toward the house. I can’t see Millie, but my instincts tell me she’s nearby. She’s trying to hone-in on our conversation.
Pulling on his arm, I lead him toward the car, my eyes slits of aggravation. “Now you care what I have…”
I trail off as I see Heath’s bike on the road, two enforcers in animal forms next to him. My eyes narrow more. They were the same two enforcers following the car on the way up to Ember Hollow territory. They must have come here directly from meeting with the Ember Hollow Alpha. What did Nox say to him?
My gaze travels back toward Emeric’s intense stare, and he waits expectantly for me to answer him. “Well?”
“Why the sudden change of heart?” I’m more curious than annoyed, but I am irritated.
“Do you want me to look into this or don’t you?”
His brusque tone does little to hide the fact that he’s staring at me with so much longing, it makes my heart ache. I have to look away.
“I told you everything I know.” I avoid his steady stare. “What else do you want me to say?”
“Seline is her name? The healer?”
I peek at him through the thick of my eyelashes. “Yes. Well, that’s what she told me, anyway.”
“I want to talk to your nurse.”
Again, I look toward the stone cottage and back at Emeric with a shake of my head. “I don’t think you should.”
He scoffs loudly. “Now youdon’twant me talking to her?”
“Not until we know what’s going on,” I urge him quietly. “If she realizes we suspect she’s up to something, she could disappear or destroy evidence. For now, I’d settle for getting her out of my house and away from my mother. I don’t trust her.”
“Then fire her!” He stares at me like he doesn’t know who I am anymore. “Since when do you have a hard time speaking your mind?”
“I want to, but my mom…”
The front door opens, and I sputter to see my mother’s trembling form hovering over a cane. Another wave of fury toward Millie flushes through me. How could she just let my mom get up and wander around like that in her condition?
“Alpha?” Mom squints, and I take another step back from Emeric. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Hello, Circe. It’s good to see you up and looking better.”
My eyebrows shoot straight up at his observation. This is not the Circe that anyone remembers, falling over herself. I rush to her side to help her.
“Mom, what are you doing out of bed? Where is Millie?”
“I heard we had visitors. I wanted to know why they weren’t in the house.” Her wise stare fixes on Emeric so hard that he looks away first.
“It’s a nice evening. No reason we can’t enjoy the fall before it gets too cold for outdoor conversations,” Emeric responds.
I steady Mom on her feet, and I can tell she’s not buying his explanation.
“What brings you here?” she challenges.
I look at Emeric pleadingly as Millie appears in the shadows behind my mom, her face drawn and concerned.
Don’t show our hand yet, Emeric. Don’t do it!
“I wanted to discuss some council matters with Vivienne on my way home,” he finally says, and I exhale audibly.
“Like what?” my mother questions. “I can still be involved, you know.”
Emeric gives her a patient smile. “Right now, you need to focus on your recovery.”
