“We’re asking important questions,” she said. “Questions we have every right to ask.”

“About whether I hurt my parents on purpose?”

“How do I know they weren’t in on it?”

“Logic, for one. What do you want?”

“You’re an obstacle, and I want you out of the way.”

The straightforwardness was almost refreshing. “An obstacle to Connor—or the Pack?”

Her smile was mild, as if we were businesspeople discussing a transaction. “Both.” She leaned in. “The man you’ve gotten your fangs into is a wolf. An animal. You need to grow up and face the truth. Maybe Connor likes you. Hell, maybe he loves you. Doesn’t matter. The Pack will never accept you. You should step aside. Do you even care what you’re doing to the Pack? What that will do to Connor?”

It was a question I didn’t like, but it also wasn’t the first time Connor and I had discussed it. “Doesn’t that help your cause?” I asked. “Increase the odds the Pack rejects him as Apex?”

“It’s useful in one scenario,” she said with a sly smile. “But I’m also considering taking the more direct route. Taking him for myself.”

Monster and I became enraged at the same moment. “Lay a finger on him,” I said, and felt my eyes silver, “and you will feel my wrath.”

She snorted. “As if there’s any chance he’d pick a vampire over the Pack. He just hasn’t met the right shifter yet.”

I gave her a flat stare. “And you think you’re that one? A shifter who’s trying to break the Pack apart instead of focusing on getting the Apex back? On getting his mother back? Do you think he’s going to thank you for that?”

It was her turn to look furious.

“Spoiled little vampire,” she said, stalking toward me, her eyes flashing gold like a wolf in the night. “Too used to getting what you want. We’re going to change that. And you’ll never interfere with the Pack again.”

She turned and left, leaving her last words floating in the air.

“Fucking shifters,” I said loud enough that the admin poked her head around the doorway.

“Everything okay?”

No, I thought. No, it really wasn’t. But it wasn’t her fault, so I gave her a nod. “Fine, thanks.”

I needed air. I waited until Breonna was gone, then walked outside to a spot beneath some trees—where I couldn’t be seen by anyone else—and breathed. I needed darkness and cool air and the sounds of creatures scurrying in darkness, a reminder that drama and treachery weren’t the only parts of life.

* * *

When I was calmer, I went back inside. Gwen was already gone, and Roger was back in his office. Theo and Petra were at workstations and swiveled around at my entrance.

“What’s the story?” Theo asked.

“Basically, she told me to drop Connor so she could have him, which is her backup plan in case the interlopers don’t win the Pack the old-fashioned way.” And I was going to have to warn Connor about the nonsense, which just infuriated me more.