Chapter Thirteen

 

Sedona

 

My father and I drive two hours up to Flagstaff to visit Rosa, the shifter from Mexico. I fiddle with the radio, but every station gives me a headache. For four days I’ve lived in a stupor. The pregnancy makes me tired—I sleep fifteen hours a night—but some of the fatigue must be depression.

I see the worried glances my parents exchange when they think I’m not looking. Everyone treats me like I’m made of glass. It’s exactly what I didn’t want when I first came back from Mexico. Fates, I feel even worse now than I did then.

I was confused, then. Now I’m wrecked. Carlos ruined me for all other males. Ruined me for love. I seriously don’t see any light in my future.

No, that’s not true. I have this baby to look forward to. At least that gives me purpose.

We pull up to a tiny cabin out in the woods. It’s a sweet domicile for a wolf—all of Flagstaff is, a small town surrounded by mountains and woods.

A short, sturdy Latina woman comes out onto the wooden porch, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. She watches me get out of the car with a steady gaze.

My father marches over and shakes her hand. For some reason, my heart’s beating faster than normal. She’s a little sliver of Carlos—someone from his pack.

I follow my father up the steps and into her little cabin. She waves us into seats at her round kitchen table, which is nestled in a corner under a big picture window. Her backyard sports a few pine trees and a dog house. The dog, a black lab, is parked right beneath the window, sitting politely, ears cocked and tail wagging.

She pours coffee and brings a carton of half and half to the table, along with a bowl of sugar. I dump two spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee and pour enough milk to turn it blond.

“So,” Rosa says, sitting down with us at last. “How can I help you?”

“As I said on the phone, my daughter was taken by the Monte Lobo pack. We have her back, but we want to know everything you can tell us about them.”

“They took you for their alpha? As a prize?”

“Yes.” I clear my throat. “For Carlos.”

“Carlos, yes. I remember him, of course.”

She doesn’t go on, but my father and I both wait, leaving the space as an invitation.

“I’ll start by telling you why I left. You must have seen the disparity between the rich and poor.”

I nod.

“I was one of the poor. My father worked in the mines, my mother worked agriculture. It was a good enough life, I didn’t know any differently. I mated young, followed in my parents’ footsteps.

“I had a hard time keeping a pregnancy. I only carried one pup to full term and even though he was perfect, to me, when he hit puberty, we found out he couldn’t shift. Happened to a lot of pups in that generation—too much inbreeding, I know now. We were all related in that pack. Don Santiago, one of the council members, took him from me. Said he could make him better. He drove him down to Mexico City But he never brought him back.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “He said he didn’t survive the procedure. When my husband raised a fuss, he was crushed in a mining accident.”

My father leans forward. “Are you implying it wasn’t an accident?”

She shrugs. “Any pack member who made waves disappeared in the mines. It’s an easy way to get rid of troublemakers.”

A growl sounds in the room. At first I think it must be my dad, then I realize it’s coming from me.

“There are alphas who rule their packs with an iron fist, who punish their pack members, even mete out death as a consequence. As wolves, we follow, we obey. It’s in our nature. But nothing about that council is natural.”

The hairs stand up on my arms. I growl again.

“Sneaky deaths, silent deaths—it keeps the pack afraid, and quiet. The council’s spies are everywhere. No one speaks up, for fear they might be next. But after my husband died, I knew I had to leave. My sister, Marisol, helped me escape. She wouldn’t leave her husband, but she told me to get out while I still could.”

“What about the alpha?” my father asks. “Couldn’t you go to him for help?

“They killed him.”

My mouth drops open. Carlos hadn’t told me that. Did he know?

“If they can’t control an alpha, he dies. All they care about his keeping the alpha blood line pure. They don’t care about actually having an alpha to rule. Your Carlos, he’s in danger now.”

“Now?”

She nods, her eyes haunted. “Now that you’re pregnant. They’ll have no need for him.”

 

~.~

 

My legs are weak when we get back in the car. I knew Carlos’ pack was troubled, but I never considered he might be in danger.

But I should have. They had so little respect for him, they caged him in a cell with me. Their own alpha. My mate is in danger. The father of my pup.

My hands shake as I pull out my phone.

“Who are you calling?” My dad’s watching me with concern.

“Garrett.”

“Why?”

I shake my head impatiently and dial the number.

“Hey sis. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. No, not really. Hey, could you text me Amber’s phone number?”

I can practically hear my brother grind his teeth. “You gonna tell me what this is about?”

“I just want to check out some information Dad and I got from a shifter up in Flag. She’s from Carlos’ pack.”

“Okay. But just know that Amber’s not entirely comfortable with her gifts yet, and she doesn’t like to be put on the spot.”

“Isn’t that what you did with her to find me?”

“Yeah, smart ass, it is. Never mind. You’re both adults, you can work it out between the two of you.”

“Thanks.”

“Let me know how I can help, okay, sis?”

“Yeah, I will.”

“You coming back to your apartment here? We’ve got you all moved in.”

I glance over at my dad, who scowls at the road. Of course he’s heard every word. “Maybe. I don’t know. I have a lot to figure out.”

“I know.” His voice is soft with sympathy, which I don’t want, so I hit the end button, quickly.

When he texts me the number, I hit dial right away. Amber answers in her professional voice, “Amber Drake speaking.”

“Hi Amber, it’s Sedona.”

“Hi Sedona. What’s up?”

“Can I ask you a question? A yes or no one?”

Amber’s silent a moment, and I’m sure she’s thinking of how to politely tell me to stop using her this way, but she says, “I can try.”

“Is Carlos in danger?”

She’s quiet for a moment, then I hear her suck in her breath. “Mortal danger,” she chokes.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “Thank you. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.” I hang up.

My dad frowns. “I knew I should’ve torn that pack apart the day we picked you up.”

“No, Dad,” I snap. “Because you would’ve taken down Carlos, too. And none of this is his fault.”

My dad’s brows draw together. “We’ll go back. Take out just the council. Then you’re free to make the right choice about your ma—about Carlos. I don’t want your decisions clouded by fear for your safety or your pup’s or even the pup’s father.”

I nod mutely. This is why I love my dad, as much of a controlling ass as he can be. He takes care of things.

Carlos would do this much for our daughter, too. For some reason, I’m suddenly certain our pup is a girl. His vision of the pack has been obscured by lies from the council. If he knew they killed his father, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t take swift action. He’s not a coward, not my Carlos. He’s just concerned with doing the right thing for his pack.

And for me. I realize with utter clarity the reason he let me go. It’s not for lack of caring. It’s because he cares enough. Both times I’ve left, he let me walk. Because he would never hold me against my will.

Tears leak out of my eyes, but unlike the ones I’ve cried over the past several days, these aren’t full of self-pity. My chest is filled with love. Love for my mate, for Carlos.

And he’s in danger now.

Yes, I believe my dad can take care of the council, but I want to be there first. To tell Carlos what I know, and help him sort things out before my dad comes in with the big guns. I can’t tell my dad, though, he’d never allow it.

Tonight. As soon as I get back to Phoenix, I’ll find a flight out.