Page 24 of Rogue If You Want To
“Morning.”
Creven pulled out a chair, and I sat but didn’t touch my food. Auden was shoving eggs in his mouth and only pausing to sip his black coffee.
“How’s Otto?” Creven was always mindful of my mate.
“He’s better. The nightmares are fewer, and his otter is enjoying spending hours in the stream.”
I grinned, thinking of my pruney fingers and toes remark which was an understatement. If I spent half the time in the water my mate did, my extremities would barely be recognizable, and that included my length. I told Otto we’d never make love in the water, and he’d giggled, saying he’d make it work.
My wolf turned up his nose at my fried eggs and toast, saying he’d thought once we were living in a pack, he’d get to hunt more. But I was fearful of leaving pack land, and my beast had to be content with moseying around and waiting for a rabbit or another small mammal.
“Excellent.” Creven added sugar to his coffee while Auden acknowledged me with a grunt.
The pair shared a glance, and I braced myself for what was coming. We’d established a routine with the only differencebeing the location. They’d give me bad news, I’d ask questions and make suggestions, and they’d come up with a plan.
“Okay, hit me with whatever you’ve got.” I held up a hand. “But let me get caffeine in my system first.” I gulped three big mouthfuls and regretted it because the coffee was so hot.
“We’ve been hearing rumors.” Auden didn’t wait for me to pick up a napkin and wipe my mouth.
That got my attention because this was what we were waiting for. Information about Lutris or the bear he’d hired would help Otto’s case.
But neither the Alpha’s nor Auden’s expression suggested it was good news.
“We have a problem.” Creven folded his napkin while looking at me.
Of course they did. There was always a hurdle to overcome.
“While we’ve been investigating Lutris, it’s come to our attention that word is getting out about us harboring non-pack members.” The Alpha didn’t flinch from delivering bad news, and I appreciated him being straightforward.
They wanted us to leave or go into hiding, but Otto would be defenseless, only having me and my wolf to protect him.
“Specifically people who are running from something.” Auden was checking out his teeth in the knife's reflection.
I tamped down the desire to point out that was exactly how Creven and Larkin had made their way here and how they’d formed a pack with Auden. Maybe they weren’t aware gossipwent both ways and some of the pack members had shared that tidbit with me and my mate.
Instead of blurting out some truths, I waited because there was a point to them bringing this up.
“My contacts tell me strangers have been sniffing around asking questions about any unusual activity on our mountain.”
I gripped my fork so hard, my hand hurt. I had nothing in my history that would warrant people looking for me. I had no debts or enemies that I was aware of.
“It has to be regarding Otto, so it was either his twin or cronies working on his behalf.”
“That would be our guess.” Creven nodded. “He’s hired trackers to look for your mate. He probably doesn’t know about you yet, though.”
The eggs congealed on the plate, making my stomach revolt and my appetite vanish. People like that wouldn’t respect shifter boundaries, territories, or the Alpha.
“We can resolve part of the problem.” Creven attempted a smile.
There was always a but, a detour, or an obstruction, but it was best to get it out in the open.
“You can join the pack. Or rather I’ll make you pack.” Creven was expecting an answer.
Otto and I hadn’t discussed this. We liked it here and had begun to make friends, but with the looming threat, we hadn’t spoken of what came next.
“As a guest, the pack could vote to expel you from our land, but as a member, you would have had to commit a crime to be booted out.”
That was a huge decision, one that should be made with my mate.
