Page 39 of Frank's Felon
“We have a lot to talk about, especially where you’ve been all this time and how you escaped the WSSO,” Damien said, motioning them to sit in the chairs across from the sofa where he and Tess took a seat.
Delilah tensed, and Frank ran his fingers down the back of her arm, reminding her she wasn’t alone. He shared her secret now, and he’d help her keep it. Or would he? This was his alpha. No one lied to an alpha, not without huge risk. Would Frank lie to Damien on her behalf?
Once glance at Frank’s face told her that her shifter was incredibly tense and didn’t want to be here. That made two of them.
“Not much to say,” Delilah said, spinning the story in her head as she sat down.
Frank was still standing by the door, as if he were eager to leave. Maybe he didn’t understand the art of pulling off a good lie. Standing there looking guilty wasn’t going to cut it. Sooner or later, Damien or Tess—maybe both—would suspect something was going on with him. If Delilah got out ahead of this, she'd take control of the narrative and reduce the chances of Frank telling Damien the truth—or worse, lying to his alpha. If he said something that didn’t mesh with what she’d told Tess already, Tess would know it. Delilah had never meant to put Frank in the middle like this.
“Tess said you left home in June, two years ago, right before your alpha sent her out on the raid. We thought you died with the rest of the pack. Granted, the authorities never recovered all the bodies, but there had been no record of you since. We checked the local police records.”
“I didn’t check in with them when I returned,” Delilah said shrugging as she looked to Frank. She really wished he’d move closer. His presence always made her feel stronger.
Tess’s eyes narrowed and flickered between her and Frank. Then Tess tilted her head. Light green eyes widened, narrowed again. Okay then, the cat had leapt from the bag and her sister had resorted to asking a myriad of questions with facial expressions. One less truth to have to worry about hiding at least. She’d deal with the sister stuff later.
“I thought Tess was dead with our father and the rest of the pack. There was a grave marker for her, beside mine and our dad’s.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Tess said, finally giving up the mime routine.
“Have a seat, babe. You’re making everyone tense,” Delilah said. She reached up and grazed Frank’s hand as he moved to stand beside her. He still wasn’t sitting, but at least he was closer. Even as he ran his thumb over the back of her fingers, she gave a slight tug. Finally, he sat in the chair beside hers, though he didn’t lean back. No, the shifter sat forward, as if ready to spring to his feet.
“I’m not even sure who took care of the funerals,” Delilah said as she turned her attention back to Damien and Tess. “The township maybe? I wasn’t going to stick around and ask questions. If whoever killed the pack thought I was dead, then so be it. But it didn’t occur to me that your grave was as empty as mine. I think I was too shocked to think clearly.”
Tess was fidgeting now, biting her lip. Damien pulled her close.
“I’m not trying to make you feel unwelcome, Delilah,” Damien said. “Far from it. I’m very glad you found your way to us, and you’re welcome to join the pack or come and go as you wish.”
“I’m still figuring out my plans,” Delilah said, hearing Frank inhale long and hard. She was waffling, but Damien had made an offer without knowing the full truth. Despite Frank’s promises to watch over her, she was still a danger to this pack and she didn’t want to endanger them.
There was a knock at the door. Two shifters she had seen around camp entered. They were arguing over the best take-down technique when going up against a bear.
“Neither technique is optimal,” Delilah said, not truly intending to butt in, but hey, she was feeling confident with Frank and Tess nearby.
“Excuse me?” the shifter with bright blue eyes said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you go for a bear shifter’s throat or the back of his neck. You won’t have time to do damage. Even if you sink your teeth in, he can easily kill you with a single swipe if he throws you off hard enough.”
“And how would you take him down?” Blue Eyes asked.
“With a gun.”
Frank chuckled.
“She’s got you there, Mason,” said the shifter with the wolf tattoo on his left forearm.
Frank pointed out each in turn. “This is Mason, our temporary enforcer.”
“Seriously, Frank? I was an enforcer before Callen decided to take his little vacation.”
“Hardly a vacation. He’s down there dealing with Drake’s pack.”
“The white wolves?” Delilah asked as she shuddered.
“Clearly you’ve met them,” Blade said as he extended his hand. “I’m Blade. Damien’s scout. I take it you’re Lily.”
“Delilah,” Frank corrected him with a growl until she put a hand on his thigh.
“It’s fine, Frank,” she said, adding a little squeeze to his leg to be playful and lighten the mood. Frank didn’t even crack a smile for her.
