CHAPTER 22

It took two days before I could get out of bed. My muscles were slowly rebuilding, but Denise was right, my hip would never look the same.

I'd spent the days in bed fuming and plotting.

Thostchild.

What the hell did it mean? Was it a place? A business? I'd expected it to be something terrible, like another criminal syndicate or something. Something where shipping military grade weapons to would make sense. But medical equipment?

And what was with the vampire? She'd definitely been working with the others in that facility. I'd been scouring the internet for news about the underground warehouse. We'd left it exposed and I'd been hoping that the human authorities might dig up some dirt I hadn't been able to find. Only there was nothing at all in the news or otherwise about it.

I tapped at my new phone, the old one was buried in the facility along with my torn clothes and backpack with my gun and other tools. I wasn't too worried. Everything in the bag was replaceable and I'd followed Rob's protocol for burner phones. None of my true information was on it. Unfortunately, I'd lost the pendant along with the other items.

What was it exactly? Some device that identified workers coming in and out of the facility. But how was it tied to Thostchild? Was the shipping company separate or part of the whole thing? And where the hell was I going to go from here? It wasn't like I'd found a viable clue. The knowledge that there was medical equipment en route gave me absolutely nothing to go on. If only I hadn't been discovered, I might have followed the shipment or something. It burned me up that I lost my parents' murderer too.

There were no wolves in the foyer when I'd finally limped all the way down the stairs but there were voices coming from the media room down the hall. I followed them, hearing Anthony's deep tones.
He hadn't really explained what he'd meant, that Rob had forbidden him from...what? Coming on to me? Kissing me? I wasn't really sure. He had, however drilled me for information on what I'd been looking for, the exact events that happened in the facility and specifically the vampire.

I reached up and rubbed the back of my neck. The puncture wounds were long gone and I still didn't feel any different. Well, I didn't burn up in sunlight or anything anyway.

Tentatively I checked in on my wolf. She'd been brooding for the last few days. Angry that we'd lost our prey, and furious at our own weakness while we healed.

There hadn't been a single mention of our power spike. Knowing that the other organization members could feel our strength I half expected to be barraged with questions I didn't know the answer to.

*I'm keeping it from them*. She told me, her mood slightly better now that we were up and moving around. *The same way I don't ever show my full self, unless we're alone. The blond one is right. They behave like a pack, and a pack must protect itself at all costs. We are different. More so now. And if our strength continues to grow...*

*We will become the threat they have to protect themselves from,* I finished the thought.

*Especially this one,* she indicated the voices from the room, foremost that of Leanne.

"I've arranged the meeting with the Capos and Caporegimes, as you asked. They will be here in three hours, I have the office being prepared for their arrival. I've also taken the opportunity to alert security and have most of our men present at the time, a strong show of support for your position. They will think twice before they issue a challenge. Joseph is already leaning toward full support so I don't think his people will give you any trouble. I placed him at the head of the table, he would be good as your man in the field."

"You've thought of everything," Anthony sounded pleased. "I appreciate your dedication this last week. I doubt I could have pulled any of this off without your help."

"Of course, Alpha. It is my duty and pleasure to help." She put extra emphasis on the word pleasure. Ugh. "I've also finalized the funeral arrangements for Friday. The church and the graveyard will be secure."

I walked into the media room.

I'd already scented that several wolves were there, what surprised me more was that the room had been entirely repurposed as I rested. The televisions and other screens had been taken down from the walls, and a large rectangular table now took up most of the space. It looked far more like a war room than when I'd last entered.

"Raven," Anthony nodded to me as I entered. Leanne frowned. "Are you feeling better?"

I shrugged. "Still hurts but I can walk on it now. I was wondering if I could get a ride home?" I needed a few things and I wanted to check on the place.

The pleasant look on his face fell.

"We've talked about this. Your place is here at the manse. I don't want you leaving, especially in your condition."

Everyone stared at me. I stared at Anthony. Was he commanding me? Forbidding me from leaving?

I didn't like that one bit.

"I..."

He interrupted before I could get a word out.

"No, Raven. There is no negotiation on this."

And just like that my desire to play nice dried up. My wolf, too growled. He might be alpha, but we were not easy to push around.

The others were looking at me now, waiting for God knew what. An explosion maybe, though I'd never thrown a fit in front of any of them before.

Leanne had a strange mixture of righteous satisfaction and distaste on her face, she glanced at the man on her right, one of Rob's higher security officers and raised a brow. A silent acknowledgement, as if she'd talked to him about me before.

It wasn't the place or time to assert myself, so I nodded, calmly, and walked back out, shrouding myself in stealth as I climbed back up the stairs and straight out the window of my room.

He obviously hadn't expected my disobedience. Generally an alpha had pretty tight control over those in the pack, so perhaps he thought I'd be forced to obey. Or cowed...or whatever.

But my wolf was right, we were far too strong for that.