Chapter Fifty

Roan

Roan’s wolf skimmed the surface. He wanted to chase the bastard down and rip him to shreds. Roan had been sure that Duke was human when he caught his scent for the first time.

Why he would fake it with Sullen didn’t make sense.

He understood wanting to take over his pack to gain an army. He didn’t understand what Sullen had to do with any of this. Did he single out Roan’s pack because he was mated to Sullen?

Roan didn’t know, but his wolf grew angrier as he read the text messages that he sent Sullen.

“He called you little fox,” Roan mumbled.

Sullen nodded, worry written all over her face. “I don’t get it. Why is he doing this? He didn’t give two craps about me before, and now he’s hell bent on getting me back? What am I missing?”

Roan tossed her phone onto the bed, and placed his palms on the side of her face. “We’re both missing something. It’s not just you.”

Roan glanced around the room, looking for something out of place.

Someone had definitely been in their room before, and he could have stashed a camera or a mic.

Roan began to ransack the room, looking under the bed, and in the closet. His wolf begged to be let out. Shivers and sweat raced down Roan as he attempted to keep his wolf in.

The utter fury inside of him stripped Roan of any rational thought left in his body. Sullen’s hands gripped his forearms, and he turned to look at her.

She stared at him. “You need to calm down.”

“I can’t. My wolf wants blood, and I can’t blame him.”

“I understand. I’m just as pissed as you two are, but we have to keep our wits about us, Roan. If he is here, we need to be on our toes.”

Roan shook his head. “He’s too smart to be here, Sullen. He has someone here that is relaying everything back to him. We have to smoke out the mole somehow.”

Sullen stood up. “Do you think my dad knows who the mole is?”

Roan shrugged. “Maybe, but I bet he can find out who it is faster than us.”

“Let’s go right now.”

“No,” Roan said. “It’s late. I’m tired. You’re tired. I’m meeting Jacob down stairs in just a bit to get your dad settled. Now, this time, when I leave you with Liam, I want you to stay. Can you do that for me?” Roan asked.

Sullen sighed heavily, and folded her arms over her chest. “There are too many things to do, to worry about.”

Roan gripped her around the hips and tossed her onto the bed, covering her with his body. “All those things can wait until tomorrow. Relax. I’ll have Natalie bring some wine up for you, and I’ll join you when I get back. You need to relax, little fo...” He stopped and closed his eyes. Imagining her ex-boyfriend lingering on the pack lands, waiting to strike, it crawled under his skin.

He kissed her forehead as Liam showed up at the door. When Roan answered the door Liam gave Sullen a look over his shoulder.

“Are we going to stay in the bedroom now?” Liam asked. “Or are we going to jump ship?”

“I’m sorry,” Sullen said. “I smelled my father and I just ran.”

Liam mumbled under his breath, and walked over to take a seat by the window. “Lock the door on the way out so I’ll have time to get her while she tries to open it. No one is going to blindside me again.”

Roan smiled at Sullen who sat down and crossed her ankles. “Please hurry back,” she said.

Roan left them in the room, and went downstairs to meet Jacob. They stood in the main area of the pack house, but neither of them were speaking to one another. He dismissed the other two wolves with Jacob, and stopped in front of him.

“Everything go okay?” he whispered.

Jacob nodded. “Everything went fine. Mrs. Andrews had a lot to say to him, but other than getting her out of the conference room, it’s been pleasant.”

Roan looked at Mr. Andrews. “You ready to go to your room?”

He slowly stood. “I’d like a shower if I can.”

“There is a bathroom in your bedroom. You’ll be allowed a shower with the door open, and like I promised, there will be wolves watching you.”

He nodded. “I mean this with the most respect possible, but you need to put any of your extra wolves outside. I don’t know when they are planning to attack, but it’ll be soon. You’ll need the wolves to help guard the pack house.”

Roan wanted to believe him, because he had nothing else to go on, but there was still a seed of doubt in the back of his mind.

“You just worry about doing what I ask of you. I don’t need any ideas from someone I just met. Jacob, you head to bed. Get some rest.”

Jacob eyed Mr. Andrews up and down. “Sure thing, Roan. Call if you need me. You know I’m quicker than you anyway.”

Roan watched him leave. “Come on, we need to have a talk.”

Mr. Andrews walked with him toward the staircase. “I haven’t known your daughter very long. When she showed up at the pack house, I made a promise I would land my mate. It took some persistence on my end, some determination, but ultimately I got her here and she agreed to give us a try. Now, she’s fully accepted it. Even though her ex-boyfriend turned out to be a wolf, and in charge, potentially, of the pack of rouges, she’s here with me. That is where she is going to stay,” Roan said, and stopped at the top of the stairs. “Got it?”

He nodded slowly. “I understand. I gave up a life I knew for my mate. It nearly killed me trying to play two parts, and you see where it got me, but I understand the need to protect Sullen.”

“Then you understand why I need you to step up. No matter what happens with the pack of rogues coming for us, I need you to think of Sullen. You leaving her hurt, and I won’t let her get hurt again.”

“I do understand.”

“What do you know about the pack since you left. Is it the same people as when you were there?”

“Some of them are the same. Some have died, and there are definitely new recruits. Sullen’s ex-boyfriend is new to the pack, or he was a pup when I was there, either way, he hasn’t been in charge long. Which means we’ll be able to pick through his plan.”

“He’s going to come for Sullen out of pride. He isn’t mated to her, he’s doing this as a game, and I can’t let him win. Are you down to prove yourself to your family?”

“They deserve more than I can give them, but I’ll do whatever it takes to prove my worth.”

Roan walked down the hallway, and opened one of the guest bedroom doors. Three wolves were on the inside waiting on them. “Come on then. Take your shower, and rest. Tomorrow you can show us exactly how sorry you are for abandoning Sullen.”

He walked into the doorjamb of the room, and stopped. “Thank you for giving me a chance. You won’t regret it.”

Roan really hopped he didn’t.