We spent the day together. I showed Michelle around the Compound and told her stories from my childhood. We crossed paths with her brothers, Jim, and Paul and Henry several times throughout the morning. Her brothers were always quick to excuse themselves so they could keep playing.
Occasionally people would say hello, and I would introduce her. As the day wore on, Michelle seemed to relax as she continued to meet the people I’d known most my life. I wasn’t naive enough to think she trusted them. But, she didn’t outright fear them, and that was good enough for now.
Gregory and Mary found us while we were on our way to dinner with her brothers. We’d managed to convince the boys to allow us to tag along. However, Michelle was quick to send the cubs ahead when she realized why Gregory and Mary were there.
We didn’t talk as we headed to the soundproofed room. I hated that Michelle was so nervous and afraid and hoped that, after the Elders told her we would stay here, she’d calm a bit. I understood her fears. I really did. But she kept forgetting she had us on her side now. She wasn’t facing Blake on her own.
When we entered, Mom was whispering at Dad, which of course I could hear.
“—have is bad ideas.”
She didn’t say more so I wasn’t sure what she’d meant by that.
Sam and Winifred stood just inside the door with Uncle Grey and Carlos. Uncle Grey closed the door behind us and grinned at Michelle. Carlos nodded to me. It had been years since I’d seen him. He seemed just as serious now as he had back then. Jim and I had done our best to pull him into some of our fun. But he never joined in. We didn’t hold it against him. His past was dark and deep and would take a lifetime to overcome.
I led Michelle to the table. Everyone else took our cue and found their chairs, too.
Both Michelle and I saw the airline tickets on the table at the same time. She was relieved. I was livid. My mom met my gaze, her concern plain. That’s what she’d meant then about bad ideas. Dad and the Elders wanted to send Michelle back into the viper’s nest.
“We spoke at length,” Dad said. “We think an information-gathering trip to your old home, with the protection of an Elder, is a good idea. Those tickets are only if you agree to our plans.”
“Jim and Nana Wini will stay with the boys at all times, as will Mary and Gregory,” he said. “Paul and Henry will be with them, as well, but no other werewolves will be permitted near them as a precaution.”
Michelle nodded slightly. How could she be okay with this?
“While keeping Liam and Aden safe, we will not let them feel isolated. We’ll keep them busy, just like today. In the event something does happen, Mary and Gregory will be their first line of defense, followed by Jim and Nana Wini. At that point, Nana Wini would put a call out. I promise you, the entire pack will answer.”
A jump in Michelle’s pulse reassured me. She wasn’t as okay with this as she seemed. I reached over and took her cold hand in mine. Then, she nodded again, agreeing to the trip.
“Good,” Dad said. “Next, let me introduce you to the men who will be protecting you. This is Carlos and Grey.
“Both Nana Wini and Sam have examined their intentions. In addition to that, I personally vouch for them. Grey is my older brother. He has been with me through many challenges and has never let me down. Carlos has been with the pack since the day he was born. Even as a youth, he displayed tremendous courage and loyalty at the risk of personal harm.
“We don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. Either Grey or Emmitt will be with you at all times, and you will not be going to your old home, yourself. The closest we agree you should go is to the city. From there, Carlos will act on your behalf.”
Winifred, this isn’t wise. Sending three of us with her against an unknown number? Why is it suddenly okay to risk a female like this?
Emmitt, I don’t like this decision. Yes, we are risking Michelle. However, continuing as we are without attempting to gain a better understanding of what we face risks us all. We did not reach this decision lightly or without great consideration for the consequences.
“Will Sam be coming with us?” Michelle asked.
Sam smiled slightly. “Grey is an Elder and can communicate with us as needed.”
“Oh. I thought there were just two Elders,” she said.
Michelle is at least thinking sensibly. A second Elder should accompany us. Here, pack numbers will keep everyone safe. When we leave, we won’t have that. She won’t have that.
Winifred frowned slightly as she answered Michelle.
“No. Although, our numbers do concern me.”
Sam heaved a sigh but didn’t speak.
“I think we need to give it consideration,” Winifred said, looking at Sam then Grey.
“Give what consideration?” Michelle asked.
“There is a candidate waiting to become an Elder,” she said with reservation.
“Waiting?” I said, almost laughing. Waiting seemed the wrong word to describe the hold the Elders had put on initiating Jim and Carlos.
You know both Jim and Carlos would take the oath now, I sent Winifred. Both are more than ready.
You’re not an Elder to make that decision. And, they are not the only candidates.
“We can’t communicate with this candidate like we should and hesitate to allow him to take the oath,” Grey said, speaking for the first time.
“He might be the key,” Sam said. “What Winifred experienced when those two came to challenge has been noticed before.” He sighed. “But, never to the degree she experienced. We don’t give commands very often. We believe in free will, so we’ve never tested the completeness of our communication with each individual. We just send out information when it’s needed.”
He looked at Winifred. “What you discovered is a bigger issue. We need to think of the possibilities. The candidate with this communication limitation might be able to communicate with the others like him.”
Who is he talking about?
Winfred gave me an annoyed look before silently answering.
Joshua.
Joshua was relatively new to the pack. I’d met him. He was older and quiet. Seemed nice enough. But Michelle was more likely to trust someone she knew.
Jim would be a better—
We are not sending a second Elder. And I will not allow either Jim or Carlos to become an Elder until they’ve aged past the point of looking for a Mate.
Winifred turned to Michelle.
“An Elder has vast power and a huge responsibility to that power,” she said. “When a candidate approaches us, we inspect their mind thoroughly. If we allowed a candidate to take the oath without making sure their intentions were honest and true, they could die. When we take our oath, we are bound to serve the pack’s best interest. Always. Our decisions may not be right all of the time, but they must be made with the right intentions. If we ever did anything knowing it would cause the pack harm, or wasn’t in the pack’s best interest, we would die instantly. It’s the tie to all of our kind that controls us as much as we control them.”
“So, because you can’t inspect his mind, you don’t know his intentions?”
“He’s been waiting for three years. He has studied with each of us. We’ve tested him in many ways, but we haven’t been able to inspect his mind. We can touch areas of it, just like I was able to with the two who appeared last night, but not all of it. And, just like the two who appeared, he can choose to ignore a direct command.”
“So, if he’s an Elder, he might be able to control them?” Michelle speculated.
“He might. Or, he may die taking the oath,” Sam said.
“We can decide this later,” Mom said. “Right now, we need to finalize the trip. I still think it’s too dangerous for Michelle, even with an Elder along. No offense intended, Grey.”
Grey winked at Mom but remained quiet.
“I think it’s worth the risk,” Michelle said quietly.
“All right,” Dad said, standing. “The flight leaves at ten a. m. We’ll see you at breakfast.”
Michelle shook as she stood. Mom saw it and quickly hugged her.
I couldn’t see Michelle’s face, but I saw my mom’s. Her eyes widened and she paled. Her breathing grew shallow, and she met my gaze.
“Mom?”
She opened her mouth but only managed a gasp.
“Michelle?” I said, reaching to pull her away from Mom. Michelle wasn’t holding Mom tightly so it was easy to pry them apart. But as soon as I did, Mom’s legs gave out. Dad caught her on her way down.
Michelle came to herself and made a distressed sound when she saw Mom on the floor. As Michelle moved to kneel down by Mom, I caught her by the arm and tugged her away.
“No,” I said, gently. Something happened when the two of them touched. That much was obvious.
Dad tapped Mom’s cheek. “Charlene,” he said. “Come on, honey. Open those pretty eyes.”
“What happened?” Michelle asked, turning back to me.
“One minute she was hugging you, the next she started breathing funny and fainted. Did you have another vision?”
“Yes. No.” She glanced back at Mom. “It was different. I think my ability is changing again, but I don’t know how or why. I think I did that to her.”
She looked so worried and afraid that I didn’t have the heart to agree with her.
Mom made a small sound of denial as she came to.
“No, it’s just part of my gift,” Mom lied while Dad helped her up. “I’ll tell you about it some other time. You need to go spend time with your brothers. I’m fine.”
She didn’t look fine. She looked pale and shaky as she moved to sit on a chair.
But, it was obvious she didn’t want Michelle to worry. I gave Michelle’s hand a quiet squeeze of reassurance.
“She’s stronger than she looks,” Dad said to both of us.
“She’s still here and listening,” Mom said with a roll of her eyes. I winked at her before nudging Michelle toward the door. Dad would probably want to have a private word with Mom.
“Michelle, could I have a moment with you? Privately?” Dad asked.
I stopped and looked at Dad. He was entirely serious. What did he have to say to her that he couldn’t say in front of me? What was so important he had to say it now when Mom was still recovering from whatever had happened?
Dad glanced meaningfully at the door. I scowled and, without much choice, left the room.
I paced in the hallway and wondered what was being said behind the closed door. If I were lucky, Dad was trying to talk Michelle out of going on this trip. Somehow, I doubted that.
When the handle moved, I stopped my pacing and faced the door. Mom and Dad walked out first. Then I saw Michelle. Her face was flushed, and embarrassment oozed from her. What the hell?
She didn’t look at me but gave a small wave to Mom. Mom gave a small smile in return and walked away, letting Dad support her.
Alone, I took Michelle’s hand in mine and tipped her chin so she would face me. She gave me a half-smile and nodded toward the end of the hall where my parents had disappeared.
“Let’s go eat.”
Although I knew something important had been discussed, I didn’t ask. She would tell me when she was ready.
Together, we walked to the commons. Her brothers were waiting for us. As we ate, they talked excitedly about everything they’d discovered during their day. It didn’t take them long to finish their meals. To their disappointment, Michelle insisted they come back to the apartment with us. We played a few games of Go Fish before getting ready for bed.
She went to bed with them, snuggling them tightly. I tried not to let my disappointment show as I went to our room alone.