The moon had risen high by the time we pulled up outside Gabriel’s house and parked. I stared at the familiar brick walls and felt a wave of dread sweep over me. Gabriel had always been a father figure to me—more so than mine—but that wasn’t reassuring. I knew Gabriel’s priorities, and they’d always been Reagan first, then the pack, then everything else. I honestly wasn’t sure where I fit in. Throughout my life, he’d teasingly called me the daughter he’d never wanted, but it’d be foolish to hope he’d ever treat me like Reagan.

Still, I remembered our younger days, when Reagan and I used to chase each other through the massive grounds with Gabriel shouting in the distance. He’d always had a clear image of how to raise Reagan, and frolicking through the grass had never fit in with his plans. Reagan’s mother on the other hand…I’d adored that woman—more so than my own mother. When Amalie passed, I’d felt the blow as keenly as Reagan. My mother was nothing more than a hot mess, constantly jumping from one relationship to the next. A needy soul, completely incapable of being alone. More often than not, I’d always felt smothered by her. Amalie had fulfilled the role of the steady mother for me.

Reagan reached across the front seat and took my hand. “Everything will be all right.”

I squeezed her fingers as I eyed the centuries-old ivy climbing the pristine walls. The house might have been built in the eighteen-hundreds, but Gabriel had always employed people to handle the upkeep. Gardeners, cleaning staff, maintenance workers, whatever money could buy. As the alpha, he had to keep up appearances.

“It’s Tuesday,” Reagan continued. “Which means he’s all alone in there. No meetings until tomorrow.”

With Reagan at my side, we had a little more control of the situation. Gabriel was one of the sternest men I knew. He’d raised Reagan with the notion that tough love would make her into the best version of herself. But deep down, he adored her. Everyone knew that. Which was why Jerrik was now a part of our pack. With luck, maybe Reagan could work a little of that magic for Leif.

“Okay. Let’s do this.” Reagan exited the vehicle and started up the sidewalk.

With a deep breath, I followed suit, noting how Leif and Jerrik followed behind me. The three of us seemed to linger in the paved driveway. Seemed I wasn’t the only one dreading this. Jerrik and Gabriel were far from friendly. Cordial at best, for Reagan’s sake, but nothing more.

Reagan strode inside without ceremony, leaving the door wide open for us. I could hear her inside, calling out Gabriel’s name. And when I caught the sound of his rough reply, my heart slammed into my ribs.

“Lucy…” Leif brushed his fingers against mine. “What are you so scared of?”

I scoffed. “Who says I’m scared?”

The corners of his mouth tugged upward. “Really? Did you forget we can smell emotions?”

“You just couldn’t play dumb, could you?” I rolled my eyes. “You’ve never met Gabriel. If you had, you’d be scared, too.”

Laughter burst past his lips. “Please. I’ve faced things far more frightening than an alpha werewolf.”

“Gabriel’s more than that,” I argued. “He’s run this pack for more than five hundred years. You know any other alphas who’ve managed that?”

“So what?” he asked with a shrug.

“How do you think he’s held onto his leadership for so long? The man is powerful. And terrifying.”

“To you, maybe,” Jerrik interjected.

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

For the first time since they’d laid eyes on each other, the two shared a laugh. No one seemed more surprised than Leif. After a few moments, he gestured to Jerrik and himself. “Gabriel might be the big bad wolf in this part of the world, but we’re far older than him.”

“Old or not, Gabriel’s still the alpha. If he decides to execute you, he’s within his rights.”

“I wouldn’t stand around and just let that happen.”

I exhaled and ran a hand down my face. “So, what? You’d just kill my best friend’s father? The man who practically raised me? Our alpha?”

Leif’s silence was answer enough.

I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “And you wonder why I’m scared. No matter what happens here today, someone is going to get hurt.”

I turned and stalked toward the house, all the while knowing that someone was going to me.

* * *

I followed the sound of Reagan’s voice into the main living room where she and Gabriel sat across from each other. He lifted his head as I entered, but his gaze skipped past me and landed on the two men hovering at my back.

Fury rippled over his face, and with a vicious, hair-raising snarl, Gabriel lunged to his feet, eyes blazing like molten gold. I was no stranger to Gabriel’s fits, but this was something else entirely. Something I’d never seen before. The air prickled with power as the scent of fur swelled within the room, and heat licked against my skin—all emanating from our alpha. A voice screamed in my head, telling me to run, to protect myself and the little nugget growing within me.

“Gabriel!” Reagan shouted. She leapt to her feet and dove in front of him—in front of me—shielding us with her body.

“Move,” Gabriel snarled, sounding for all the world like the wild animal within. “Now.”

“Not until you hear me out.”

“Now!” he roared.

The barest ripple of skin caught my attention, something small, but wholly terrifying. If Gabriel shifted here, there’d be no controlling the situation. As an alpha, he should have had more control than this. But the past few months hadn’t been easy on any of us—least of all him. The attack on Reagan had opened Gabriel’s eyes. The past few centuries, he’d believed the pack impenetrable. He’d worked his ass off to make us strong, and in a matter of months, the European pack had nearly decimated us. If they’d succeeded, we would have lost both our alpha and heir. Our people would have been left in the care of that rat-bastard, Benjamin. That Gabriel had trusted him made matters utterly worse, a betrayal that had left a mark on our alpha. Jerrik had earned his place in the pack. It was only because of him that Reagan still lived, and Gabriel knew that. But Leif? Gabriel had no reason to trust him.

Reagan held up her hands and spoke in a soothing voice. “I’m not moving until you listen to me.”

His power flared like a hot lash against my skin.

“Listen to me,” Reagan pleaded. “Please, Father.”

It must have been the father bit that gave Gabriel pause, enough so for the golden fire in his eyes to ebb. He’d raised Reagan to always call him by his first name, as though that would toughen her up. It was a rare moment to hear her address him any other way.

“Trust me,” Reagan urged. “I would never do anything to bring harm to the pack. You know that. Leif is here to help us with the vampire problem.”

The blaze reignited, and his upper lip curled back from slightly sharpened teeth. It was like staring into the eyes of a mad wolf. “I can handle our problems!”

“Of course,” Reagan placated. “But we thought he might be helpful.”

His lips peeled back from his teeth. “So, you decided to bring yet another ancient wolf into my territory.”

“He can help us. Leif’s the blood wolf, he—”

“I know who he is, girl,” he rumbled, his voice deep and gritty. “Now, move.”

“No.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, my eyes wide as I watched their exchange. Anyone else, and Gabriel would have torn out their throat as a lesson. But not Reagan. With a savage snarl, Gabriel unleashed the full brunt of his gaze on her, not that she cowered back. He’d raised his daughter to be as strong and stubborn as him. He’d just never expected her to have the gall to use those talents on him.

“Things are unsettled enough right now,” Gabriel yelled, “without adding another wolf into the mix. The pack is only now starting to bounce back, and you let this wolf stroll brazenly into my house—”

“Because he can help!” Reagan shouted above her father’s voice.

My jaw dropped. I’d never heard her yell at Gabriel before. And it seemed he was of the same opinion.

“Girl…” he growled. “This is the last time I’m going to tell you to step aside. Move, or—”

“Or what?” Jerrik barked, unleashing a threatening growl that rumbled from deep in his throat.

Just what we needed. Another riled-up wolf.

Gabriel’s fiery gaze darted to him, his jaw clenched. A flicker of something danced across his face. Was that…fear? I’d never known Gabriel to fear anyone.

“Maybe everyone should just calm down,” I murmured.

Not that anyone listened. Seemed common sense wasn’t present in this conversation. Instead, Leif brushed past me, his own wolf on the prowl. So much testosterone in one room—it was enough to choke a girl.

“I’ve been in your territory for nearly three months without your knowledge,” Leif announced, drawing Gabriel’s ire with a few simple words. “I’m sure a few more weeks won’t hurt anyone.”

My eyes fluttered shut. Nope, common sense had long since left the building. “Could you not antagonize him?” Everyone could clearly see the alpha was hanging on by a thread. But hey, let’s keep poking the bear—said no one ever.

“He can stand over there posturing all he wants, but we all know how this would go down in a fight. So, why don’t we stow our egos and have a nice chat before someone gets hurt.”

Gabriel’s whole body tensed, and I winced. Holy. Hell. My baby’s father was a complete and utter idiot. Here was hoping it wasn’t hereditary. Now was the time to try and calm Gabriel, not instigate matters further. Without thought, I took Leif’s hand. I’d only meant to hold him back, to keep him from pushing into Gabriel’s space, seeing as the man was a hair’s breadth away from igniting. But the second my fingers closed around Leif’s, Gabriel’s lambent gaze darted toward us and his dark brows slammed into a severe frown. Too late, I pulled back from Leif. I shouldn’t have touched him.

But then Gabriel’s nostrils flared, and his gaze dipped south. He’d caught the scent of something—or someone—else. Surprised dampened his heated gaze, which shot toward Leif. Reagan had warned me my scent had changed. In all the excitement, I hadn’t considered it. From the look on Gabriel’s face, though, he’d quickly put two and two together.

Before he could utter a word, the whole house suddenly went black, and the chilling sound of shattering glass assaulted my ears. The dark didn’t scare me—never had. Too bad I couldn’t say the same for the creatures that came crawling through the smashed windows. I hadn’t bothered to memorize the vampires’ scents earlier, but I sure knew it now.

And it was a scent I’d never forget.