Chapter Sixty

“I just got you back.”

“I know, but he needs to do his job. I’m not going to disappear if you let me go.” I laughed and coughed. I waved the doctor over and pushed my dad back to his seat. “A little breathing room.”

“Fine.” He sat back in a huff, and the doctor came and checked me over.

“Looks like your wolf did the heavy lifting. You are completely back to full health.” He patted my hand. “You had us worried there.”

“Sorry.” I settled back into my bed. I turned to my father. “What happened?”

“You killed the last wolf and fell.”

I gave my father a look, and he sighed. “We aren’t sure yet. Ronnie is looking into it.”

“How did she get away from Beck?”

“What?”

“How did Aurora get away from Beck?” It was the one thing that was sticking out for me. “Even if she could use a spell with no prep, she was tied up. She shouldn’t have been able to get free enough to hurt him.”

“What are you saying, Amy?” My father ran his hands through his hair.

“I’m not saying anything…yet.” I swiped my hands around the side of my bed, looking for the remote, but my father swatted my hand away and slowly raised my bed up so I was sitting. “I’m just saying I find it a little weird, is all. Ronnie and I left Beck and Aurora to come and save you. Aurora was weak, tied up, and fully secure. Unless she had somehow prepared a getaway before she was taken, or called in reinforcements, there is no way she could have overpowered Beck.”

“She could have used a spell.”

“I have barely touched the surface of my power, so you would know better than me, but every spell I looked at, other than the wisp spell, used preparation. They needed a fire, or candles, or other things to push the spell forward.”

“Most complicated spells would need prep, but it could be done ahead of time and then sealed in a talisman or necklace. So it’s possible.”

“Okay. I didn’t know.” I remembered Aurora’s necklaces and tried to settle my stomach.

“Talk to me.”

“It’s just…it’s not sitting well with me. Even if she was prepared for being caught, would she have prepared for everything? Being tied up with rope? Having to escape a cell and attack the gamma of the pack? It seems like such a far leap that no one would be that prepared.” I could feel my face fall more and more until my brows were furrowed.

“She could have been…” My dad’s voice was a little hopeful.

“I mean, you are completely right.” But my mind was already whirling onto the next facts. “But Aurora wouldn’t have had any knowledge of who was at post and who wouldn’t be if you called the pack to the Agora. She also wouldn’t have been able to give the rogues any information about whom to attack and where.”

My father’s eyes danced around, and then his face fell. “All the rogues attacked near places the women and children would hide.” I nodded.

Chapter Sixty-One

“It wouldn’t have been a very hard attack, but it would have shattered the pack.”

“If the pups, or mates, were killed, then the warriors would have shattered.” My father’s voice was dark, realization settling in.

“Isn’t Lynn the gamma female?”

“She is, but she isn’t Beck’s mate. He was still searching. She was just a transfer from another pack. Her father is a close friend. She has done wonders, but Beck is still mateless.” My father explained, but I shook my head. “Not what I was thinking. But Lynn and Beck should work together, yet I never see them around each other.”

“That’s because Lynn hates him.” He bent over his knees. “She has been trying to talk to me about him abusing his power for a while now, but I wouldn’t listen.”

“Why not?”

“He’s been my best friend since we were kids, Aim.”

“And that makes a difference why? Your job is to protect your pack.” I became agitated.

“I know. But I’ve known him since we were in diapers. He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t do what you are suggesting.” My dad stood. “I might have been a shit alpha, but I know my friend.” He turned to leave, but the door to my room burst open.

Ronnie stood there, panting.

“What’s wrong?” I pushed back my blankets and hopped off the bed.

“Beck…he’s…gone.” He panted and then fell to his knees. We both rushed to his side. The scent of blood and wolfsbane hit my nose once I got next to him.

“Let’s get him on the bed.” My father nodded and picked Ronnie up and went to the bed as I stepped into the hall. “Help! We need help down here!” I screamed down the hall and through the mind-link.