Lies of Omission are Still Lies

       Ebony sent the guys out to get comfortable with their surroundings of the camp. She’d already ensured they knew all the communication equipment. Where to first aid kit, and other equipment for their various jobs. The satellite radios they’d carry were charged, and they ensured we’re working so they could contact her if they had questions or got lost. But she got a funny feeling this wasn’t needed. If they got lost, they could get themselves straightened out.

       With time to think, she returned to the male wolf. He couldn’t have moved on because she could swear his scent was stronger. When she entered the cabin, its air was warm and on the verge of stale. Ebony entered only when she needed to. But it quickly became obvious to her that his scent was there, too. But she’d locked it like the tower. The door wasn’t damaged when she checked. 

       His scent was stronger now in here. Ebony couldn’t figure it out. She couldn’t shift to improve her tracking skills. This was one of those times she wished she were a natural tracker. A shifter that could track while in human form. 

       She sniffed around the cabin, and tried to find the source of the scent. Oh, she found it alright. They piled the gear they brought with them in one room. The gear could only smell like the shifter if he’s the shifter. Her mind flashed back to her first thoughts of the scent when she’d first picked it up. He or they. It made sense oddly. Outside, she must have been up wind to them. Later, the spaces they’d been in were all spaces the male shifter was in previously. Explained how they got here so fast and why their packs were so light. A wolf, even their size, could only carry so much. They’d been in the area for at least two days.

      Ebony was pissed. Not miffed. Pissed. She hoped they were having a good laugh at her expense right now. Because they wouldn’t be soon enough.

       “Can everyone meet me at the base of the tower? Over.”

       “Be right there. Over.”

       She watched as the men talked to each other as they assembled. When they appeared done conversing, she left the cabin to meet them. Their looks told her exactly what she must look like. She would have laughed had she not been so angry. Three male wolf shifters scared of a female who wasn’t their momma or their mate.

       She was dwarfed by them separately, together they were intimidating. They had a job to do. This wasn’t a place to lie. Withholding information got people killed.

       “What’s up boss?”

       Female shifters were traditionally in charge of social hierarchies, business within the pack, and such. Male shifters often dealt with security and interactions outside of the pack. It’s just how things usually ran. Right now, it wasn’t set in stone.

       “Have you all had your laugh these last few days? Pulling the wool over my eyes?” Ebony crossed her arms under her chest and glared at them. It wasn’t comfortable to cross them over her chest. Her chest was large enough to have been called a rack on several occasions.

       She had to uncross them when she realized where Franco’s eyes were riveted to. Perv.

       “Which one of you broke into the tower before I arrived? What? Did one of you win a bet? I hope one of you won for how long it took me to figure out you’re the new shifters. I have a nose, you know.” She couldn’t keep her hands from her hips now that crossing her arms was off the list. Her right foot started tapping as she waited for one of them to respond. 

       Franco was still staring at her chest and now Benedict was watching her hands, or her crotch. She wasn’t sure which.

       Peter was the one to clear his throat. “Sorry? It just didn’t feel right to interrupt you with what’s obvious.” He shrugged.

       “Obvious?” She choked over the word. “I don’t know you from Adam. If it weren’t for the photos in the file they sent me, I’d question if you are who you claim to be. What pack are you affiliated with?”

       “We’re lone wolves. Bonded.” After Benedict took over the conversation, Peter backed out. Benedict was the dominant, clearly. Gods, bonded lone wolves were a handful. They made their own rules, and they ignored the rules of shifter society when it suited them. They barely tolerated bonded packs for these reasons.

       “Gods, bonded… Do we need to talk about anything else? I need a run to blow off some steam? You can take over the watch while I’m gone.”

       “Right now? Not that I know. But keep your radio on you. While I was out there, I found evidence there’s human activity. You won’t be safe alone out there. Either keep it with you or one of us goes with you.” One of them going with her defeated the purpose for taking the run alone. She hated Benedict for dictating to her like that.

       “I’m the senior member. That means I’m the lead here. You believe you can tell me what to do? After you lied by omission. No one’s told me who broke into the Tower.”

       “I’m the alpha wolf here. It is my right to tell you how to stay safe.” 

       Well, crap. How would she argue with that? “We’re not pack. There’s nothing that says I have to abide by your demands. So, do your job while I’m gone and don’t screw up again.” Ebony stormed off. She wouldn’t give them the pleasure of stripping and shifting before them. She was the object of at least two men's sexual interest. A glare over her shoulder made that three as Peter stared at her butt while he actually licked his lips.

       It wasn't the start of a good working relationship. She saw trouble if they approached her in any way. Male wolves were territorial about their lovers and mates. Bonded wolves could sever their bonds because of jealousy and aggression between them over a female.

       Now, she needed to do some thinking about what she’d do next. Ebony shifted into her red wolf form and, verbally grumbling to herself, she took off running, leaving her radio behind. Just cause she could.