Chapter 323

"Anyway, we will see you back at the pack. I know you said you were busy tonight, and we understand, but I’ll need you at the pack house first thing in the morning." I smiled and nodded as Vince turned away. "Brandon…let’s go." Brandon looked at me, and I wanted to gag. He was leaning in, and I wanted to pull away, but Vince called him again. Thankfully. "Brandon!"

He jolted back from me, gave a pained smile, then trotted after his father. Toya turned to me with a grimace. "That was…"

"Illuminating." I nodded toward the door. "Let’s head out. We have a lot to do today." Toya sighed and turned on her heels. We headed out the door to see Sterling loading the last of my bags.

"This is everything." He nodded to the truck as he swung up the tailgate. Then he turned to us and bowed at the waist.

I reached for him, but he held up his hand. "Sterling." My voice was soft, but he bowed again.

"It has been an absolute pleasure serving you here, Amy." He stood and then bowed to Toya. "You as well." He stood back up. "You both have proven to me and my mate that not all alphas are assholes. Not everyone throws their weight around just to feel like they have power, and I know Jora and I appreciate it." He bowed one final time. "Thank you."

"Sterling." I grabbed his hands. "You are my friend. Please stop." His smile was wide as he pulled me into a hug. "You have become family. Never forget that." I pulled back and looked up into his face. "Family," he said again, and I smiled back at him.

"I’ll message you when I’m settled, and we can set up a dinner."

"I’d like that." Then he released me and headed back inside.

Toya sighed. "I’m happy I got my hug yesterday."

I laughed. "You can go get one now."

She shook her head. "He’s a male, and he is emotional. He feels like he is losing a part of his family, and he won’t want to be seen like that." She headed to the passenger door and hopped into the truck. "Let’s go."

I hopped into the driver’s seat. Then I sealed the truck. I knew she was going to ask me questions. I pulled away and she pivoted to face me. "So what the fuck is going on?"

I threw back my head and laughed. "What are you talking about?"

"Rowan and Verity," she tossed out. "You know she is using magic on him, but you haven’t saved him."

I wiped my face. Right into the deep end. "Rowan is…" I struggled to find the words. "He has spent the last twenty years being surrounded by people who have been working against him. I’m not stupid enough to believe that Verity is the only wolf around him that has powers. If I cut her off, then I alert them that I know. I have to play this smart. So does he."

"You are worried." She could hear it in my voice.

I nodded. "Someone killed his father, tried to kill ours, and he is the primary target. If we show our cards before we know everything, then it’s over. We need to take our time and wheedle out who is working against us, or else Rowan…"

Toya slammed her back against the seat. "He’s dead." I nodded. I wasn’t too stupid to believe that they wouldn’t kill him instantly. "Then why did you save me and Micca?"

I tapped my fingers against the wheel. "That was a test."

Her face scrunched up in confusion. "A test?"

"I’ve been thinking about it." I pointed at her with my lips, while keeping my eyes on the road. "She used more power hiding herself than actually attacking you." My eyes darted to hers. "She could have had you all turned on me before the battle if she had focused fully on it. We had no idea she was even there. After I cast her out, I tried to find a spell, or whatever, that she could have used. The attack she corrupted is almost instant. She just had to get past your defenses."

"Then why didn’t she?"

I switched lanes and debated my answer. "Because." I glanced at her. "That wasn’t her main goal. Not really. She used most of her power to hide who she really was and chipped away at you. Testing our bonds, my abilities, and most importantly, my power."

Toya chewed at her lip. "She wanted to find out how powerful you were." She turned to me, and I hummed my agreement.

"If she broke our bond, she would have been extremely happy. Two birds, one stone, but it was just about seeing how strong I was, how observant I was, if I would catch the attack before it was too late. She used both her sisters as decoys, thinking I would get past both."

"But you did," Toya pointed out.

I nodded. "And now she is being super vigilant. If I so much as glance at Rowan the wrong way, then he’s…" I turned into my driveway and sighed.

"He’s fucked," Toya finished.