“The what?”
“You’ll see.”
The slow-roasted pig proved succulent. And delicious.
Despite being full, they ate some more. He flicked his belt looser, and since he went first, it was fine now for her to pop a button.
Sated, she stopped eyeballing food to focus more on the party.
She wasn’t technically doing security for the event. The pack had a team on duty, keeping an eye. Outsiders wouldn’t be allowed into the neighborhood tonight except for the Hubbards, who’d been invited. A test run of sorts to see if they could get a feel for the family before rendering a final decision on their fate.
To their credit, Nimway noticed how the Hubbard people seemed to have no problem blending in with the pack. Nanette had parked herself with the other matriarchs and, by their faces and laughter, exchanged stories. Raymond, the less-seen brother, had found the one table with the nerd crew. Those rebels sat parked on their asses, their faces illuminated by screens. The others in his family were mingling and smiling and flirting.
All in all, a party going well, and yet Stefan appeared suspicious.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she led him to the dessert table. They had to fill their plates again before they wandered off to eat their prize.
“It occurs to me that the kindness we’re seeing here is contrary to the way your brother initially approached us.” He spoke of their confrontation with Dominick, when they’d kidnapped his girlfriend.
Not their finest plan. In her defense, they’d had to move fast once they realized someone might be drawing attention to their territory.
“At the time, we had no idea if you posed a threat or not.”
His lips twisted. “I take it, since we’re in the heart of your neighborhood, we’ve been deemed harmless.”
“Not exactly.”
“Meaning what?”
“That the pack will soon decide on your fate.”
“The pack or your brother?”
“They usually follow the will of the alpha.”
“And as his number two, does that make you his enforcer?”
“If needed.” She didn’t see a point in lying.
Rather than recoil, he actually tried to poke at her conscience. “And you’re okay with murdering people because he asks you to?”
“The pack is everything.” She’d learned long ago to wall away any sympathy when it came to the safety of her people.
“Implying you’d kill my family if you thought them a threat.”
“I would.”
“But now that we’re getting along, does this mean we’ve passed your test?”
“Do you really care?”
He leaned against the wall on the side of the house where they’d gone for some privacy. “I was doing just fine before you all came along, and I’ll still be okay if you’re not around, too.”
For some reason that stung. “If you believe that, then why did you even bother coming?”
“To ensure my family’s safety.”
“Is that all?” Had he truly only come for one reason?
“No.” He ducked his head. And whispered, “I know I shouldn’t. But I want…”
For a second her lips parted. Want? Yes, I want—
“I need answers.”
His statement snapped her reverie. “I don’t think so.”
“I haven’t even asked any yet,” he exclaimed.
“Doesn’t matter. The last time we spoke, you argued with everything I said.”
“Did not.”
A rude sound erupted from her. “He says even as he’s doing it again.”
“Can you blame me for questioning what you say? Can you grasp the fact it’s hard to accept that you, morphing, werewolves, and packs, all of it is real?”
“How can it be hard? You’ve experienced it.”
“I thought I was a freak of nature. One in a million.” At least he didn’t deny it anymore.
“Oh, you’re still rare, baby. Just not as rare as you thought.”
He slewed an angry gaze at her. “Not funny. I would have never wished this on my family.”
“Stop acting as if it’s a curse or an illness.”
“Isn’t lycanthropy a virus?”
That brought a chuckle to her lips. “Stop getting your knowledge from movies and television. I’m here to tell you, right now, that werewolves are born. Would you like me to arrange for you to watch the next birth?”
He paled. “No thanks.”
“We don’t come out hairy or with teeth by the way. That usually only starts around the six-month mark.”
“You turn into wolves that young?”
She frowned. “You sound surprised.”
“Because I was a teenager my first time.”
Her mouth rounded. “That old?”
He winced. “I take it that’s unusual.”
“Almost unheard of. A side effect perhaps of whatever was done to you.” Which she had to admit she was curious about. “Do you remember anything at all from your time in captivity? Did all of you come from the same place? The birth records I’ve seen all show you being three years old when you were adopted, except for Dominick and Jessie. They were both slightly older.”
“How do you know so much about my family?”
“It’s my job.”
“You’re good,” he muttered. “Too good. But it won’t do any good. I tried looking into our past. I found nothing.”
“That’s because you don’t have our resources. What about memories?”
He shook his head. “I can’t remember shit.”
“You’ve tried?”
“Well, yeah, but nothing really concrete.”
“Even under hypnosis?” Nimway asked.
He blinked at her. “Like fuck.”
“It might help you recall the early years.” She couldn’t help but prod.
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
“Don’t you want to know where you came from?”
“Not really. Those who made us are sick, murdering bastards.”
“Which is why it’s important we figure out who they are, and if they’re the ones currently investigating your family.”
He turned pale. “What a clusterfuck.” He pulled out a cigarette, but before he lit it, she knocked his hand away.
“No smoking. There are kids around.”
“In the yard.”
“No. Smoking.” She grabbed his hand and shredded the cigarette.
“When agitated, I either smoke or fuck. Choose.”
“We could get a beer.”
“I don’t drink.” Flatly spoken.
She’d noticed him getting juice but hadn’t clued in he’d remained dry. “You shouldn’t smoke.”
“My body, my choice.”
“You’re an ass.”
“I’m being as annoying as you,” he stated. “Giving me half answers about everything. Telling me my family is in danger and then no other information, making it harder for me to protect them.”
“Don’t worry about them. They’re safe for the moment. We planted something for the watchers to follow. They took the bait and are on a wild chase, but they might be back.”