Page 20 of Forbidden Moon
He held up a hand before Maya could protest. “We understand the health and well-being of your wolves was primary when you all arrived on scene. I’m not making a judgement. I’m stating a fact. This may make it difficult for us to discern exactly who belongs and who doesn’t.”
“Typical,” Maya snorted, bitterness dripping from the word. As usual, Saranac was going to get away with their deeds.
Rafe laid a hand on her arm. “No, Maya. Caleb said difficult, not impossible. We don’t think it’s a good idea for you to interview anyone at Saranac.”
Garrett shook his head. “I doubt anyone would speak with her. Females don’t work in an enforcer role in Saranac. They have other roles, no less important.”
“Right, more submissive roles,” Maya muttered.
“Protecting and raising pups is very important,” Garrett said defensively.
“Sure it is, but a strong woman can do both, or more, even have a career. This is the twenty-first century, you know,” Maya shot back.
“We’re a more traditional pack, preferring to protect our females, cherish them.”
“Tell that to the females we’ve rescued.”
Garrett opened his mouth, but Caleb smoothly stepped between them. “Enough. This isn’t the time nor the place. We have pups to find. I’ll go with Garrett to talk to Saranac and Rafe will go with Maya to interview Dirigo. We’ll meet up tomorrow morning at the conference room in the hotel and report to Charles. Agreed?”
Everyone nodded, and the group broke up. Maya started to shrug out of the jacket, but Garrett stopped her. “Keep it. You can give it back to me tomorrow.”
He turned and melted off into the forest, a silent Caleb on his heels.
Maya waited a few minutes, then walked down the path to her car, Rafe falling into step beside her. “So, you two have a history?”
She shrugged. “I suppose. But we’re on opposite sides now. Nothing can overcome that.”
“Are you sure? I sense a mating bond forming between you two. Am I correct?”
She halted so quickly that he had to backtrack a couple of steps. “Why do you say that? Can you sense them?”
He shrugged. “Not exactly. We’ve been trained to look for the signs so we can diffuse situations during our jobs. Matings can complicate situations or they can solve them.”
“This would definitely complicate the situation,” she stated, resuming their trek to the car.
“I don’t know. Seems like a mating between two rival packs could bridge the gap.”
“Or cause a war. Trust me, nothing can bring our packs together. The animosity runs too deep. There would have to be changes in pack leadership on the Saranac side for change to occur.”
“And what would Saranac say?”
“We would have to be wiped off the earth for the rivalry to end.”
* * *
Garrett and Caleb drove silently back to Saranac lands and his father’s headquarters. Garrett had called ahead to ensure the enforcers assigned to the region were available for interviews. They spent the next several hours talking to uncommunicative wolves, some downright hostile, and all of them were clearly clueless about any activity on the Dirigo side of the border. In fact, Garrett questioned how many of them actually patrolled the border and how recently, given their answers.
Judging by Caleb’s frustrated scowl as the last enforcer left the room, he felt the same. He gestured to his former partner to take a walk outside where they couldn’t be overheard and they went out the French doors onto the expansive back yard area to talk. After walking a distance from the house, Garrett let out a breath.
“They knew nothing. Maybe they weren’t involved.”
“Or they haven’t been here long. They had no details about the border when I asked them, particularly about the updated map your uncle gave you. Some of the landmarks and locations. If they were patrolling regularly, they should have been familiar with them, unless they’re bad at their job.”
Garrett shook his head, remembering the rigorous training all males went through as soon as they could walk. “No, that’s not likely. Every Saranac wolf assigned to the border is strong and effective.”
Caleb stared at the dark forest beyond them. “Your cousin is a bag of crazy, wound pretty tight. Who holds his leash?”
Brandon had been insulting, antagonistic, and completely unhelpful in his interview. If anyone seemed guilty, Garrett’s money would have been on him. “Uncle Linc and my father keep a tight hold on him. He was on the western border with his father, but I guess they separated them for some reason.”