Instead, her smile tilts in relief. “Good.” Then, she steps closer and adopts an interrogative slant to her brow. “Roderick Jameson, do you love your brother?”

I pride myself on the ability to keep my thoughts from showing. As the leader of the pack, it is important that I act as the unmovable, reliable axle that everything else turns on.

But this unexpected question hits my blind spot, and I find myself jerking back in surprise.

She wants to know if I love Warner?

He is my blood. My pack.

He is also the one person in my life who I believe I could say anything to without fear of judgment. Not that I experiment with that. But the knowledge of the freedom provided by that connection still exists.

Do I love him?

Of course I do.

Intrigued despite myself, I nod.

“As you should.” Her satisfied grin gives me the sense I would’ve gotten chastised if I had answered any other way. “Warner deserves your love. And he deserves to be treated with respect, doesn’t he?”

For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like a wolf.

Instead, I sympathize with a rabbit, slowly being led into a trap.

Still, I nod.

“Exactly. So, when this wonderful man, deserving of respect, who you love dearly”—her addition of words has me suppressing a reluctant smile—“is wronged by someone, he is unequivocally owed an apology. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Something has me hooked, and I wonder what her conclusion to these questions will be. I’m already caught up in the snare, dangling helpless from a branch.

I nod.

“Good. To review, we’ve established that you love your brother. If he is wronged, you believe he deserves an apology. And that you know where he is at this very moment. Have I got that all right?”

The truth would be easy enough to give, but for some reason, I feel like this woman has tricked me into revealing valuable information.

Still, I don’t lie if I can help it, and I can’t imagine any way another nod would put me at a disadvantage. So, once again, I tilt my chin.

“Perfect. Now, I must admit, with a great deal of chagrin, that I have wronged Warner. And by our previously established logic, you would be betraying your morals and the love you have for your brother by not telling me where he is. Because if I don’t know where he is, I cannot apologize. And Warner deserves an apology.”

I was right. She is trickier than a fox.

Zoey Gunner hasn’t even bothered to ask me to point her in the direction of my brother. She’s simply explained why I am going to.

If she had asked, I could’ve said no. But now, that would only make me look like an ass.

Plus, I think I can see why Warner is fascinated with this woman.