‘Thea?’

She started. ‘I – I’m sorry.’

‘For what?’

‘Check his mouth,’ she suggested weakly.

‘What?’

‘The body. Beckett likes to leave notes in the mouths. He finds it funny, like the corpse can still talk.’

Ugh. That was sick.

I raised an eyebrow at Greg and he clambered around the body. It took a bit of an effort, but he managed to pry open the corpse’s mouth without breaking any of his bones. Grimacing, he pulled out something. It looked like a small plastic bag that you’d wrap a sandwich in. Inside was a note. It was hard to take the bad guys seriously when they wrapped their threats up like a BLT.

‘Open it,’ I instructed.

Greg pulled out the note and carefully opened it. ‘I’m coming for you,’ he read aloud.

‘And?’

‘That’s it.’

‘That’s a pretty shit threat.’

‘Not when it comes in a body.’ He had a point.

Noah had climbed out from the driver’s seat and was looking at the corpse. ‘Shit. It’s Rob.’

‘Rob?’

‘Yeah, he’s a loner. Hewasa loner. I met him at the black tourneys when I went with Mark.’

‘Rob Jones,’ Thea said softly. ‘Loner. Formerly of the Devon Pack.’

So it was someone Thea knew. ‘Wait,’ I said. ‘Is this message for me or for you?’

Thea shook her head. ‘I don’t know, but either way Beckett is gunning for the Home Counties Pack.’ She bit her nails anxiously, spitting bits of broken nail onto the gravel drive. ‘I should leave. If it’s me he’s after, I should just go.’ Anxiety and fear were radiating off her.

I couldn’t imagine feeling that way about my own family, and I couldn’t imagine what it had been like being raised with a psychopath who thought leaving messages in a corpse’s mouth wasfunny.

We are not sending her back to THAT alpha. We are not afraid,Esme growled.

Speak for yourself. I’m a little afraid.

A little fear keeps us cautious, but we will not be governed by it. We will not be cowed by his meaningless yapping,she said firmly. Sometimes – often – Esme is a better person than me.

‘You’re not going anywhere,’ I said firmly to Thea. ‘Let him come. We’ll be ready.’

With tooth and claw.

And guns and knives,I suggested.Maybe some potions.

We will use all our weapons.He will not find us weak.

No, we’re not an easy target.

We’re not a target at all. We’re a hunter. And when he comes prowling, we’ll prove it to him.Her certainty was reassuring.