Shepherd lifted his wineglass. “Cry me a river.”
“I’ll help with the candles,” Niko offered.
Wyatt glowered. “You can’t even see the wick.”
“Exactly.”
“Nobody asked you, buddy,” Wyatt muttered as he picked up his sandwich. “Says you.”
Shepherd looked at Hunter and pointed his fork at Wyatt, who was talking to himself again. “That’s why you don’t do drugs.”
Gem chewed while studying her plate. “I think I should have used the green jelly beans.”
“The girl can’t stay here,” Christian said, twisting the stem of his wineglass. “What’s your plan?”
Viktor buttered a heel of bread. “We have no choice but to return the child and hope the pack does not seek compensation. We have no reason to keep her from her family, and they will come for her if we do not send her back.”
Blue leaned into view. “Something’s not right with that pack.”
“We have no evidence. She is not ours to keep. Shepherd, how is her health?”
Shepherd set down his glass. “Better. She won’t talk to me, but she’s up and about.”
“Then it is settled. The girl goes home tomorrow.”
“No!” a voice cried.
We all turned toward the doorway. The young girl had on a nightgown that was too big for her—probably one of Kira’s. Her eyes darted between the group of adults before she ran behind Blue and clung to her.
“Please don’t let them take me back,” she whimpered.
Niko shifted to face her. “How old are you, little one?”
“Twelve.”
She sure as hell didn’t look twelve, and everyone else was thinking the same thing. Maybe she just looked young for her age, but she also didn’t look well-fed. Her arms were thinner than they should have been and her cheeks concave.
Blue coaxed the girl to stand between her and Niko. “What’s your name?”
“Marelle.”
“Are you hungry? Do you want some pasta?”
She stared at Blue’s plate. “I’m not eating that.”
Wyatt chortled. “Smart kid.”
Gem elbowed him, and he shut up.
“Are you feeling better?” Blue asked.
“Uh-huh.”
“We’re glad to hear that. You had us really scared.”
She guiltily looked around the table before lowering her head. “Sorry.”
“Why did you get in my car?”
Marelle shrugged.
“You can’t stay here. We have to take you home.”
“Please don’t.”
Claude’s nose twitched, and a black look crossed his face before he sat back. Gem caught it, and she gripped his arm.
Blue swept the girl’s hair away from her face. “It’s not up to me. You need to ask Viktor.”
She peered at Viktor and shook her head.
I reached out my hand. “Come stand next to me. My name’s Raven.”
Blue nodded, and the girl quickly walked around Christian and stood on my right side.
“I bet you’ve never seen anyone with eyes like mine,” I said, trying to distract her.
She looked at me, and her expression shifted. “Oh cool. Are those real?”
“Yep. No contacts. Pretty neat, huh?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want to go home? I bet your mom misses you.”
“I don’t have a mom.”
I rubbed her back consolingly. “I’m sorry, Marelle. I lost my mom too.”
“You did?”
I nodded. “My dad took care of me, and he’s a really good guy. I bet yours misses you.”
She looked down at her feet, one of them sweeping against the floor. “I don’t know who my dad is.”
Viktor shifted to face her. “How do you not know your parents in a pack?”
Marelle shrugged.
“Who takes care of you?” I asked.
“I take care of myself.”
Viktor sighed. “I am sorry for your parents. But your Packmaster is your protector, and we must return you to him.” He reached for her hand.
Marelle recoiled and clung to me. She was trembling, and just then, Claude’s chair flipped over.
“Son of a ghost,” Wyatt exclaimed. “Someone get him out of here.”
I couldn’t turn my head with her arms around my neck, but I knew that Claude had flipped his switch.
“We can’t take her back,” Niko said, not inviting any argument.
Viktor’s face told it all—he was in absolute agreement. Chitahs could pick up emotional scents, and when Claude flipped his switch at the girl’s fearful reaction, it was clear something sinister was going on in that pack. And Niko must have seen something in her light.
I gave the girl a gentle hug. “It’s okay.”
Viktor sat back. “You will stay here until we find a solution. This is a safe place. It is not your home, but if you are in danger, I will protect you.” He scratched his silver beard, a pensive look on his face. “I will call your Packmaster and threaten to expose him if he comes after us.”
The girl eased her hold, and when I looked at Gem, she had tears welling in her eyes.
Gem shot to her feet. “Do you want to sleep in my room tonight? I have lots of pretty rocks and fairy lights all over the place.”
Marelle shook her head. “No, I like Kira’s room. It’s small, and I feel safe in there.”
“Then what are you doing out here?” I asked.
She gave me a sheepish look. “Kira fell asleep, and I wanted to see if you had any snacks.”
Wyatt snorted. “Kid, we got snacks. Tell me what you like, and I’ll get it for you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Marelle stood behind me. “Do you have any cookies?”
Wyatt twirled his hat between two fingers and then draped it over his shoulder. “Do you like chocolate or peanut butter?”
“Um…”
“I’ll bring you both. I’m all finished with dinner,” he said, making air quotes.
Blue dropped her napkin on her plate. “I’ll take her back to Kira’s room. Marelle, you have to stay in there. You can’t wander around without one of us.”
“I’m sorry. I like your earrings,” she said as they left the room.
Viktor steepled his fingers. “How many children were in that pack?”
I shrugged. “Blue mentioned there were a lot of girls but only a couple of women.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Shepherd asked, the tip of his steak knife twisting against the tabletop.
Hunter grabbed his jelly beans and raced out of the room.
With that, Shepherd scooted his chair away from the table. “I’ll be back. This kid’s gotta eat.”
“Maybe some soup,” I suggested.
Gem hopped up. “I can make soup!”
Shepherd gave her a skeptical look.
Gem took off her apron and folded it over the chair. “From a can, Mr. Grumpy. I was just experimenting tonight.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather eat meat.”