Page 252 of Psycho Pack

I take a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. "It has to be me. I'll go alone if I have to."

"Like hell you will," Whiskey growls, stepping forward. "I'm going as your guard."

"That's not—" I start to protest, but Ivy cuts me off.

"So am I," she says firmly, rising from her perch on the sofa.

"Oh, hell no, you're not," says Whiskey.

I stare at her. "They specified one guard."

Even Wraith, who's always the first to do whatever Ivy wants, growls softly in concern and signs something to her I don't quite catch.

"They won't see me as a threat," she points out, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm just an omega, remember? Their prejudice works in our favor. I can be an extra weapon they won't expect."

"Absolutely not," I say, even as part of me admires her logic. "It's too dangerous."

"We're a pack," she says simply. "If you're choosing to do this, so am I."

I close my eyes, taking another deep breath.You can do this,I tell myself.You have evolved. You're not the same alpha you used to be.

When I open my eyes again, Ivy is watching me with a mixture of challenge and hope in her gaze. To everyone's visible surprise—including my own—I find myself nodding.

"Fine," I say grudgingly. "But we do this smart."

Whiskey grunts, crossing his massive arms over his padded stomach. "She does have more places to hide weapons," he mutters.

Thane does a double take, his dark eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Where the fuck areyouhiding weapons?"

Whiskey flips him off. "Nothing goes in my ass, if that's what you're getting at," he says, giving me a pointed look. "Nothing, bro."

I roll my eyes. "We don't have time for this," I say tersely. "The messenger said they want to meet at dawn. We need to move."

"Where's the meeting point?" Thane asks, clearly trying to steer us back on track even though it's like herding cats. Cats with rabies.

"An abandoned church in the neutral zone," I reply, grateful for the change of subject. "It's about two hours from here."

"Perfect place for an ambush," Whiskey mutters.

"Which is why we need to be prepared for anything," I say, already moving toward the door. "Get your gear. We leave in ten minutes."

As the others disperse to prepare, I catch Ivy watching me with an unreadable expression.

"What?" I ask, going to her.

"Nothing," she says, a small smile playing at her lips. "Just... you've changed."

I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to Ivy's lips. Her words warm something in my chest I thought had frozen over years ago. "You should change into something they won't recognize you in," I murmur. "Something that won't draw attention."

She nods, breaking away. I don't miss the fact that she stops by Wraith, leaning up to whisper something in his ear. His hands move quickly in response, too quickly for me to make out more than a few words, but I catch one part.

Be careful. Please.

And then he folds down his middle and ring finger to his palm, his index and little fingers sticking up, thumb out. I don't know sign language all that well, since it's only recently Wraith has been communicative with us beyond simple gestures and growls, but I know what that sign is.

I love you.

Ivy signs it back to him with a soft smile and he bends down to lean into her hand affectionately. She stands up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his jaws through his scarf.