Chapter 173

Michael POV

Shawna is in the shower when I get the call from my father. I had asked him to look into Cedric's involvement with the investigation. Shawna was extremely nervous about leaving her sister in the fate of Cedric, especially after their phone conversation the previous night. "Did you find anything out that I should be aware of?" I asked my father.

"Not really. He's definitely assigned to the investigation and he was instructed to protect Lynn. The council has identified some other concerns, but they largely believe the two women were purchased solely to increase the pack size and bring more females. I am not sure yet on the entirety of the situation regarding Malik's mate. She still will not say anything against him or about her pack. They did discover where she came from though and someone is going there to look into her situation further."

"So basically, you feel like what Cedric has told us is the truth?" I ask.

"I do. Have you heard from them this morning?" he asks.

"Not so far. It's still early though. As soon as Shawna is ready, we will get on the road. I think we will be home by afternoon, providing there are no issues," I tell my father.

"Great son, I'm happy to have you back. Your brothers are looking forward to you taking over the warriors as well," he says.

"See you soon then," I reply and we hang up.

Shawna's phone begins to ring, so I look at the caller i.d. and see it's her sister calling. "Hey Lynn, everything good?" I ask.

"I can't believe what these assholes did to Clint's truck," she yells into the phone. I pull it back from my ear until the ringing stops.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"Last night, we did what Cedric suggested. We got up this morning and he told us that our windshiled was busted out of the truck," she cries.

"Well did they catch the people who did it?" I ask.

"Yes, but what good is that going to do us right now? The closest place that can replace the windshield said they can't get one for two days. We have to stay here two more days," she's now sobbing.

"Lynn, where is Clint? And where is Cedric?"

"Clint is outside, talking to the insurance company. He said I was being to hysterical and he needed to think." She's crying harder now.

"Let me get Shawna," I saw, uncertain how to handle this. Besides, I should probably talk to Cedric. She did say they caught the vandals. I knock on the bathroom door. Shawna says to come in. When I open the door, she's just wrapping herself in a towel. "Your sister," I say, handing her the phone. I mouth quietly, "she's hysterically crying." Shawna gives me a look, takes the phone and motions for me to shut the door and leave the bathroom.

I waste no time in calling Cedric. "What the hell is going on?" I ask as soon as he answers. "I've got a hysterical pregnant woman on the phone with her sister, which means in a few minutes, mine is going to be losing her shit. What's this about Clint's truck?"

"Calm down," Cedric replies in his rich deep voice. "It's being handled. I don't think we will have any more issues after this one."

"We shouldn't have had any to begin with. You were supposed to be looking after them, protecting them," I spit out.

"They aren't hurt, now are they?" he growls. "I can't be in multiple places at once. My guy heard the noise and found these two smashing the windshield. He apprehended them. Unfortunately, they had already smashed the glass. We will it replaced, it's just going to take a couple of days."

"Where was your guy and who did he catch?" I ask. "Details matter you know."

"He was in the horse trailer, hiding. It took him a few minutes to get out and around to the front of the truck. We apprehended a woman who says she is Malik's mother, Marjorie, and some young man who apparently is a newly trained warrior from the pack. He was in town at the store, the Alpha had someone contact him and told him to stay in town. Marjorie and this young man were instructed to follow them, but not to hurt anyone unless the Alpha told them too, to just delay their travels."

"Why on earth would Marjorie have anything to do with this?" I ask. "She has no vested interest in Lynn and Clint."

"No, she doesn't," he replies. "He has an interest in Malik and his mate. His mate being one of the purchased women, if you don't recall. The young warrior was just following his Alpha's orders. He did say that breaking the windshield was Marjories idea. She's a bit of a hot head," Cedric chuckles. "Also she thinks she can get her way by rubbing herself all over men."

"Sounds like her," I said. "So now what?"

"Well I've detained them until the council gives me further instruction. It's going to take a few days to get this windshield replaced. I obviously can't leave the unguarded so I'm hoping to get a call soon and have one of my men transport these two some place for further interrogation or punishment or whatever they want to do with them," Cedric said. "Personally, I'm not interested in being a babysitter."

"That's exactly what you are, you are a guardian. Your entire job is to babysit people and make sure nothing happens to them," I say.

"Yes well it's normally men, who can fight if they need too. I'm not accustomed to emotional women, humans and oddly paired thugs," he says.

"I see your point," I reply. "Make your partners watch the two thugs, sit on Lynn and Clint yourself. You did give Shawna your word," I say. "She's holding you to that."

"I didn't want to be holed up in this little town like this, but at least the horses are taken care of," Cedric replies. "I don't know much about horses and I don't want to learn. It's probably the only animal that I'm sure I don't want to tangle with. Those things can toss you a hundred feet if you let them, break your neck without thinking about."

"So can I," I say.

"Funny," he replies dryly.

"Not really, it's true. I can easily do both of those things, I had the best training," I point out. "As did you."

"Fair," Cedric replies. I hear some noise in the background and he covers the phone so it all sounds muffled. I can't make out what is being said, but I'm not surprised when he uncovers the phone and says, "I think I need to find a place to put this crazy ass she-wolf. She is going to disturb people in this hotel. I will have to call you back," he says.

"Crazy she-wolf? You don't mean Lynn," I say.

"No. Marjorie. She's losing her mind." Cedric hangs up and at the same time, Shawna comes out of the bathroom, fully clothed and looking mad as hell.

"How long would it take us to turn around and get my sister?"