We ran for hours, staying well away from the pack house and the dead caves. Nix and Megan kept me company as I processed my thoughts. Megan rested her head on my lap as I sat against the tree I’d attacked earlier. “Do you think they’re still looking for us?” she asked softly.

“Probably not,” Nix called back. “I haven’t heard anyone in a long time, and they probably figured we needed space.”

I shook my head. “They have to keep a low profile. No one can find out they’re still alive.” I ran my fingers through Megan’s fur.

She cocked her head, staring up at me with one eye. “How does no one know the pack is alive?” She twisted, rising to her feet. “I’ve been thinking about this—I have no idea how no one has figured out the pack survived.”

Nix stopped. “I’ve never thought about it until now. But Megan’s right. You’d think someone would have checked, right?”

I snorted. “Hubris.”

“What?” Both my wolves sounded confused.

“I can’t be certain, but knowing the players…Aurora, Verity, Vince…without ever meeting Garith, I can honestly say they’re all the same. They’re cocky, full of themselves. Searching for a dead person is a waste of their time.” I looked at Megan. “Someone saw my dad die, and they ran with it.” I shrugged. “There’s a ninety percent chance my dad is using magic to cover his tracks, but it boils down to them being too full of themselves to double-check if someone they think is dead, is really dead.”

Megan snorted. “Stupid.”

I nodded. “But it works in our favor.” I sighed, pushing myself up from the ground.

Megan followed. “Are you ready?”

I nodded. “A few hours of self-pity is enough. It’s time to face the music.”

Nix chuckled. “I doubt it’s music waiting for you back home.”

I pushed forward. “You’re probably right.” I started running back to the pack house. “But if we’re lucky, Rowan will be back at his castle, and I only have to deal with my father and Ronnie.”

Both my wolves growled. “I understand not telling us the truth for a bit. But keeping all this hidden and then pushing us toward Rowan to, at the very least, forgive him—that’s where I draw the line.” Nix stalked toward the clearing.

I chuckled. “You two talk to his wolf.” They both turned to me. “Did you know?” I thought I was joking, but as soon as the words left my lips, I knew I wasn’t. We’d spent the last few years strengthening our bond, but they’d met Erubus behind my back. So maybe they knew.

“I know you’re hurting, but that hurt,” Nix settled back on her haunches. “I thought we were past questioning each other.”

“That was before she found out we’d been talking to Erubus behind her back,” Megan lay down on her stomach. “And before she found out, I’d rejected Brandon in my first year of school without telling either of you.”

Nix looked between us before sighing and sinking to her stomach. “Okay, I’ll agree we’ve done a few things that might make you question us.” She laid her head on her paws. “But I can say with utmost sincerity that I had no idea. Erubus never told me anything about him being Thoth.”

Megan sighed, making my stomach clench. I stumbled as she turned to look at me. “I don’t know if you’ll even trust my words, Amy.” She looked down. “I know I haven’t been the most honest with you. But I swear, I didn’t know. I would have told you if I did.”

Her words comforted me. “I trust you both,” I whispered. “I just feel like if Ronnie, my mom, and dad knew, who else knew? Toya, Wendy? Cass?”

“If Cass knew, she would have called. We know that,” Nix snorted. “Playing dead or not, we would have gotten a call. She wouldn’t stand by and let that happen to you.” Nix’s words eased my anxiety.

“I hope you’re right.” We ran the rest of the way in silence. By the time we reached the pack house, it was night. The house looked empty, not a light on. I shifted as I opened the door. Lights burned my eyes. “What the fuck?”

“Magic bitch,” Cass jumped on me. “I missed you so much.” I pulled back and then dove into her arms.

“I missed you too.”

She smirked. “I’ll have dinner delivered to your room. Go shower, then we talk.” She rubbed her hands together.

“Okay!” I ran upstairs, excited to spend the night with my best friend. I showered quickly, wrapped myself in a towel, and returned to my bedroom, turning on the lights.

“You’re going to need to put clothes on, rabbit.”