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.”