I didn’t want to play this card but if it kept Caden safe, I would.
Brock gave me a condescending smile. “I do. But I won’t help you without the kid. Those are my terms.”
I swore an oath. I needed Brock’s help and he knew it. This was not cool. I wouldn’t put Caden’s life in danger for the sake of anyone else. Not even Melody. He had to know that.
“I like you, Aria. You’re a fighter and you’re a good fit for Declan. I consider you his mate, as do most of the Clans, but you’ve yet to go through the bonding ceremony and you’ve yet to formally accept your position within the Pack. Until both of those things happen, I don’t have to follow your orders.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s my choice.”
His words stung like a whip. “I’m not putting Caden’s life at risk. If I have to do this without you—so be it.” I ground out, trying to cover the hurt in my voice. I knew there was a mating ceremony or something that Declan and I needed to go through but he hadn’t mentioned it since I’d move back in and I felt awkward as hell bringing it up.
“He’s a werelion. He’s hardly at risk by doing a little sleuthing.”
“You don’t know that.” For all we knew whoever took Melody might come back. If Caden was there—No. It was too dangerous.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a drink, glaring at Brock over the edge of my mug.
“He’ll have two other shifters with him. He won’t be alone,” Brock argued.
Not good enough. Devin was tough as nails, but Eric Delaney was a recovering alcoholic and as a werewolf, that was saying something. It took a lot for any shifter to achieve a buzz let alone get drunk.
“You know Devin and Eric won’t be enough. Not if there is a fight.” I felt like shit saying that aloud. Eric was still finding his footing within the Pack after a several-year-long hiatus. His wife had left him. His son had been murdered. He’d lost everything, including his sobriety.
He was on the mend and he’d been sober for several months now, but he was far from fighting shape. If shit hit the fan, he wouldn’t be much help. If anything, he’d be a liability.
“He’s one of my best trackers.”
“But not one of our best fighters,” I countered.
He growled. “I don’t take orders from you.”
“Then leave. Like I already said, I’ll do this without your help,” I reminded him.
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?”
I took another drink and lifted a single brow. Sure did.
Caden fidgeted beside Brock. I was honestly surprised he’d stayed quiet this long.
Like I said though, smart kid.
Heaving a sigh Brock tugged on his lone gold earring and gave me a placating look.
“Caden is hunter born. It isn’t a title randomly bestowed. It’s in his blood. It’s who he is and there is no escaping that. He needs to learn to track and he needs to train. That includes fighting and walking into potentially dangerous situations. He needs to hone his instincts. But I’ll concede that Eric wouldn’t be much help and I understand you want more than just Devin for backup. If Robert agrees to go with them, will that suffice?”
I ground my teeth together. As head of Clan Canidae, Robert’s strength and dominance were right up there with Declan’s. He could take care of himself and he could protect Caden.
I still didn’t like it, but Brock was good at what he did and this was a prime example of his skills at work. He’d backed me into a corner. If I said no, I’d be insulting the Alpha coyote.
Robert would never let that slide and Brock would make sure he heard about it.
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?”
Brock smiled. He knew what he’d done. I didn’t have to spell it out for him.
“Fine. If Robert goes, I won’t make a fuss.”
“Thank you.”
He and Caden turned to leave, but before they made it to the door my words brought Brock to a halt.
“You know I’m not going anywhere,” I told him.
He inclined his head. “I do.”
“And Declan and I will have whatever ceremony it is that we’re supposed to.” At least, I assumed we would. I was his mate. I didn’t see a reason why we wouldn’t. But I also didn’t see why he hadn’t mentioned it lately. Was it because I wasn’t a shifter? Did he change his mind about me in some way? I mean, I knew we were mated for life but since I wasn’t a shapeshifter did he want me to remain outside of the Pack.
A sharp stab of pain pierced my heart but I shook the feeling away. Declan wouldn’t do that.
Brock nodded and tilted his head to the side in silent question.
“I wouldn’t suggest pissing me off just because you can. I hold grudges as good as the rest. If anything happens to him, I’ll hold you personally accountable.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” he said. And the two of them left.
9
Hours ticked by at a snail’s pace. I hadn’t heard from Brock, and the wolves and Caden were still sifting through the scents in Mel’s apartment. They were doing what they could to follow the trails, but so far, we had nothing.
I didn’t know what to do next. I was a mercenary, not a private investigator or
