Tobias had chosen neutral ground; state park land that butted up against the witch’s property. Easton had already warned me to keep an eye out for glamours or anything off, but the day was perfect.
Sunny, warm, and full of promise.
My wolf wished we’d run instead of driven, but I kept that to myself. Instead, I twisted my hands together as my nerves grew. East reached over and threaded his fingers through mine knowingly.
“It’s going to be okay,” he assured me, smiling as he glanced over.
“Yeah, I’m sure it is.” I smiled too, but it felt forced.
Nothing would be okay until I knew when East was leaving town. It was like waiting for the rug to be ripped out from underneath my feet. Packless was one thing, but I had no desire to do the lone wolf thing. And even though I knew jack shit about how it all worked, I had a feeling my beast had picked East as her mate—which meant I wasn’t going to get over him leaving a second time.
“Hey, how’s your mom?” I asked while we drove, mostly to change the subject.
We’d been to see her every day since I went through the change. One of the only things we’d left the house—and bed—to do. In the moments when East had left us alone, I’d found myself bonding with her. We’d both been hurt by men who thought it was okay to treat women like trash. And we were both healing in ways that went beyond the physical.
I liked her a lot. Spending time with her made the ache left by my parents’ death hurt a little less.
“Good. I told her we’d skip today’s visit.” He shot me a look. “We’ll do lunch tomorrow.”
Lunch. Not dinner. Was it a last stop on his way out of town then? Was spending today with me his way of saying goodbye?
“I have to go back to work tomorrow,” I reminded him.
“No way. You’re still adjusting to the change,” he said.
“I’m not going to see patients yet,” I assured him. “Besides, the amount of paperwork waiting for me there is probably enough to keep me chained to my desk for a year anyway.”
He flashed me a wicked smile. “Good to know you like chains. I’ll be sure to tie you up one of these days.”
“That’s not . . .” My cheeks heated.
He laughed as the truck slowed, but my amusement died the minute I caught sight of the small crowd already assembled and waiting. This was it. Time to choose: the pack or the man who was inevitably going to leave me behind again.
22
Easton
I took one look at the clearing filled with bodies and nearly drove right on by without stopping. But Tobias angry at me was one thing. I couldn’t let that anger include Cat.
“I didn’t expect quite so many people,” Cat said. The strain in her voice from nerves was obvious, and my wolf snarled at her anxiety.
“Me neither,” I muttered as I parked the truck.
We got out, and I took Cat’s hand firmly in mine, marching past the guys, several of which I recognized from high school. Eyes narrowed, I ignored their friendly greetings and strode straight up to Tobias.
“You said this would be a closed meeting,” I said, not bothering to hide my displeasure. Nothing personal against old friends, but protecting Cat came first.
“I apologize for not sending word,” Tobias said, surprising me with his easy acceptance of responsibility. “There’s been a new development, and I thought it best if the rest of the pack were here just in case.”
“In case what?” I demanded.
His eyes flicked to Cat.
“In case your wolf can’t be contained.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but something in his expression, like he was the one wary of me now, had me bracing myself. What could have happened that would make him gather this many men to subdue me?
“You said we were coming here to talk about Cat.”
“And we will. But there’s something you need to know.” His voice was even. Like he was trying to calm me.
“What?” I demanded.
Tobias’s gaze flicked to something over my shoulder. I turned in time to see the crowd parting as Angus came forward.
“Hey, brother,” he said solemnly.
A prickle of unease shot down my spine. I clutched Cat’s hand tighter in my own. “What’s going on?” I asked him.
He looked past me to Tobias, who nodded.
Angus sighed. “It’s about your old man.”
“What the hell’s he done now?”
Angus hesitated. “He violated the banishment order.”
My temper flared, and I pinned Tobias with a glare. “Well, what the hell are you doing about it?”
“Nothing,” Tobias said, and rage rose within me. Some of the pack edged toward me, and I realized this is why they’d been summoned. To keep me from attacking their alpha. But if he was going to ignore the problem, just like the cops had always done, the bastard deserved my wrath.
“Why the hell not?” I growled, my bones trembling with the urge to shift. To attack.
“He’s gone, East.”
Tobias’s voice was gentle. Too damn gentle for my father to have just run off. This didn’t make sense.
“What the hell do you mean ‘gone’? Of course he’s gone. You banished him for two weeks, and he couldn’t even obey that order.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Tobias motioned to a large tree stump. “Would you like to sit?”
“I’m good.”
“Your injury?” He studied my leg then looked back at me again questioningly.
“Healed,” I said flatly, stomach churning. “Where’s my father, Tobias?”
“Your mother was released from the hospital yesterday evening,” he began.
What the hell? I’d just spoken to her around dinnertime.
“She isn’t supposed to go home until tomorrow.”
“She was sent home early under the care of a neighbor who apparently left to get some clothes and personal items. During that time, your father came home.”
My body went numb.
I’d been so wrapped up in helping Cat with her transition I’d left