Page 55 of Wolf's Fate
He nodded. “I know that. Willow is…more.”
She was. I knew that, and I didn’t like him saying it.
“And…” He considered his next words. “There have been revelations over the last few months that we didn’t know, which put usallin danger.”
“Like what?”
“We aren’t as unknown to some as we thought.”
It was a diplomatic, careful way of saying humans knew about us. More than they should.
“How bad?”
Cannon looked away. “Very.”
“I’m going to need more details,” I snapped at him, our frustrations bubbling once more.
“When I trust you, and you trust me, we’ll talk.” Cannon looked past me. “You shouldn’t leave her unprotected.”
“I need to know who is hunting her.” Running my fingers through my hair, I looked to the hospital entrance. “Once I know that, I’ll return.”
“Or, you stay where you are. You staywithher, and when she can, you take her to us.” Cannon’s voice was firm. “She can’t do this alone. Neither can you… I don’t think you’re in the right place to face this without…”
“Withoutpack?” I almost growled at the suggestion, but I held it back. Cannon watched me control my temper, and I changed the subject back to Willow. “She’s stronger than you think,” I told him, though I knew that wasn’t good enough, not for this. Staying with her, I wanted to, I did, but I thought of the kiss I’d given her. I hadn’t meant to. She just pulled me in.
“I don’t think she’s weak,” Cannon responded calmly, interrupting my thoughts. “But strong willpower isn’t enough for what’s after her. You know that as well as I do.”
Feeling restless, I started to pace. My instinct was to move. Act. Chase. Waiting here? That went against everything in my nature. Yet, I didn’t knowwhomy enemy was. Or what they wanted with Willow. While I wanted to act, I also wanted to know more.
I’d thought Cannon and his pack would know, and I was disappointed they didn’t. My fingers flexed at my sides, the fighter in me wanting me to do something other than justsithelplessly in a hospital room.
“Caleb?” Cannon was waiting patiently while I wrestledwith the choice. “You’ve lost too much already. I think Willow means more to you than some human you need to protect. Doesn’t she?”
Tilting my head back, I looked at the sky, bright blue and hardly a cloud to be seen. The sun shone brightly so many thousands of miles away, as out of reach as perhaps my answer to that question. My gut churned. I wanted to run, hunt, and kill whoever came after her. But the image in my head of her body, practically lifeless, on the forest floor was seared into my mind.
She was all alone in that room. She had no one to call for help. Except me.
I should stay.
I didn’t have to like it. I didn’t have to be comfortable with the decision. It didn’t mean I was listening to Cannon. It didn’t mean I cared for her more than I should.
It just meant I was the best choice to protect her right now.
With a resigned exhale, I looked back at the alpha in front of me, the weight of my decision clear on my face as I saw Cannon give a nod of approval. “Fine,” I grunted. “But only because I’m the best choice. The minute I know who’s responsible for this…I take them down.”
“Agreed.” Cannon’s jaw tightened. “I’ll be right beside you.”
“I need a phone.” Wordlessly Cannon handed me one, and I took it with increased suspicion. “You knew I would stay?”
“It was a fifty-fifty chance.”
Ignoring him, I turned toward the hospital entrance. “I want updates,” I called over my shoulder.
“You’ll get them.” He was already walking back to wherever the hell he came from. “I want updates too.”
“If I don’t lose your number.”
I didn’t hear his reply; I was already inside. I took the stairs to Willow’s room. Pushing open the door to the hall, I paused. What was that smell? Shifter?