Emily followed Janine downstairs to the kitchen. “Now dear, we need to get food together on the road. That rain last night was quite bad, and we don’t know how the cliff will respond to it. I don’t want to be here if or when it goes finally. So, I’ll make something portable to eat. You pack up what’s in the kitchen. I seriously don’t know why my son keeps this place stocked. It’s not safe, and it’s encouraging people to come here.”             “I can see where you’re coming from, really, I do. But it’s done for those in desperate need. Hikers and such. A night or two with a roof over their head. Someone checks on this place regularly, so we don’t have people taking up residence here.” Emily automatically explained their reasoning for the decision to keep the old

             Thomas sat there after disconnecting the call with Damon. This was a mess. He’d offered so much to get this contract through quickly. If he needed to back out the contract, he’d look like a fool and all the favours he used would have gone for nothing. Now he didn’t know what he’d do if push came to shove, and his pack needed help.             There was one call he could make but thinking of placing this call proved to him he’d hit rock bottom. Calling Asia meant he’d failed as alpha, and she’d won. She’d predicted he’d come crawling back when he chose his pack over mating with her while she ran her pack. Her pack structure differed completely from any other pack he’d encountered. She inherited it from her mother. They didn’t have an alpha. Only a Luna and as far as Thomas could t

             Eva’s eye cracked open just a little. She couldn’t believe what they’d done, and they weren’t in Los Vegas, so there wasn’t any of that what stays in Vegas mentality. Resisting groaning in regret, she slipped out from under Damon’s arm and the bed they’d found at some point in the night.              She groaned after she locked the bathroom door. But it was a relief. She didn’t remember biting him and she didn’t see or feel any bites on her. Eva thought she might have gotten out of this without needing to tell Emily that she betrayed her with her future mate.              Eva couldn’t think straight even now she knew how twisted this was. Damon was her fated life-mate, not Emily’s, but an unsigned contract said otherwise. Men and their need to complicate life. A hundred years ago, this wouldn’t have h

Emily was extremely aware of the wolf sitting beside her. She couldn’t fathom what he was thinking, and this disturbed her more because she couldn’t think of a response to what he’d say. So, it was silent much of the way back.“Do you think Janine might have left the keys deliberately in the car to strand us there last night?” That wasn’t what Emily thought he’d lead off with, but it was something she guessed.“She does that every so often. Mostly when her mind’s tied up with worrying about something important. I wouldn’t see anything more than that in her actions.” Emily would not tell him that Janine used her flighty nature as smoke and mirrors for her true motives. Now Emily questioned what Janine said to her. This was exhausting.“I hope the boy straightens out and does right by you and your pack.”“It won’t be my pack much longer. I’m stuck between a rock

             Haden waited for the others to come down for dinner. However, no one else came down tonight for dinner but Janine. For Haden, this tied in perfectly with his plans. He’d spoken with James earlier and they’d agreed if they could save the old packhouse and build a proper road into it. They’d take it further and go into the private resort business. This would be a location for only wolf shifters. It’d be a project that would take years to get off the ground, but he needed to know where Janine stood on it. For she must be her pack’s representative.             “Well, it’s just the two of us here for dinner. Eva and Damon are eating alone tonight to come to an agreement about their possible mating. James and Emily aren’t speaking currently. That I don’t see lasting long.”