“And Bessemer riffled the pages,” I finished for him. What secrets had he unearthed that warranted setting Aisha on my trail? “What are you going to do?”

“Close it.”

Dread balled, a firm knot twisting my gut. “Your grief will rebound.”

The reason for the mental Band-Aid was to grant him a reprieve. Graeson had until the next full moon to get his revenge for Marie’s death or Bessemer would announce an open challenge to fill his position, that of beta in the pack. The bond was a temporary fix, one with an expiration date fast approaching. Apparently Bessemer felt it wasn’t approaching fast enough.

“Oh, you caught a rabbit. I thought I smelled one.” Dell hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Do you want me to clean it for you?”

In all the excitement, I’d forgotten about what had tempted me outside in the first place.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll pass.” Accepting gifts of unknown origins was not a thing fae did lightly. “I’ve decided I’m going to give it a proper burial.”

“Is there something wrong with it?” Nose wrinkling, Dell flared her nostrils. “Why would you toss dirt over a perfectly good meal?”

“I found it on my steps right before you and Graeson arrived.” As much as I hated for even a tiny life to be wasted, that decision had been made when the gift-giver abandoned the kill, well-intended gesture or not. “I don’t trust it.”

A nearby bush rustled as if a bird had shaken its limbs taking flight, but what prowled forward was no swallow. Thick and muscular, a gunmetal-gray wolf with a gleaming silver streak down its back emerged from the shadowy forest interior, sat on its haunches and inclined its head.

“Get in the house,” Graeson said under his breath.

“Wargs are predators.” I planted my feet. “If I show weakness now, it’ll eat me alive later.”

“I have to do this alone.” He walked me up the steps backward, shoved me inside and closed the screen door between us, standing close enough to talk through the mesh. “I promise I’ll explain everything when I get back.”

“I doubt that.” I snorted when his eyes twinkled in reward for my sass. “Be careful.”

“I’m beta for a reason.” He shucked his shirt, hands dipping to his fly and zipping down, holding my gaze the whole time. “Trust me.”

“Trust is earned.” Graeson had manipulated me one too many times for his own gain. Blindly trusting what he said or did wasn’t going to happen. “I expect you back in one piece.”

The now-familiar cracking sounds as bone rearranged itself held me captive at the threshold. Graeson embraced the change in steady increments, which must have increased the pain tenfold. Muscle flowed beneath his skin as he went to greet this newest visitor.