I sat down on the bed as I thought. The fact that she wasn’t tied to us—the only female allowed to be lone—made so much more sense. Donovan had ordered it.

“I wasn’t close with your father. He’d only gained the pack from his father a few years before, so I thought Ciara might trust him. He agreed as a favor, which I’ve yet to repay. But I gave her my protection. I’ve had my second watching out for her mother. I won’t let her lose anyone else. But I don’t have any bloody proof. No one has seen Vivian doing anything against our Law. She’s covered up her scent, not left a strand of hair, and no one will come forward with anything against her. I need three pieces of evidence to call the tribunal and I haven’t got even one. All I have is what Ciara said, and she didn’t see Vivian committing these murders. She’s just assuming a lot of it.”

So we needed proof. I could put cameras throughout the stronghold. I’d catch her. “You know she’s probably causing all kinds of problems while you’re away.”

He laughed bitterly. “She’s causing massive problems. Has been. There are constant rumblings along the bonds, keeping me up at all hours. I’m breaths from the pack blowing up. It’s a right mess, but I haven’t the time to fix it. I’m rushing all over for the Seven. And now the problems with the fey… I don’t have time to catch my breath. And, yes, I know Vivian’s goin’ around tellin’ people that she’s my bloody mate, but ’tisn’t true. Everyone who has half a sense knows that. And once you and I are mated, everyone will see through her lie. It’s not worth the fight.”

That stung. It felt like he was saying I wasn’t worth the fight.

He sighed. “I’ve hurt you now, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

I waved him off. “It’s fine.”

He hissed. “Kiss of death. Isn’t that what you call that word?”

“Aye.” I copied his accent. “It ’tis.”

He sat next to me. “We don’t need to go to Ireland for a while. If I get called back, I can go without you. Just give me some time to take care of this problem, and you won’t have to deal with her.”

I squeezed his hand. “You idiot. Your messes are mine now. We’ll deal with it together.”

He shook his head. “Vivian’s an extremely clever wolf. I don’t want you anywhere near her.”

I gave him a shove. “Hey! I thought you said I was strong.”

“It’s not to do with you, but more with her. You can’t predict what Vivian will do.”

“Donovan. I’m a Wayfarer.” I could help him. Fixing packs and taking care of mad wolves was in my DNA.

“Yes.” He grinned. “I’m aware.”

“You know that means that I’ve seen mad wolves and packs in all kinds of distress. Right?”

“Aye. I do. But Vivian’s different.”