We arrive back at the compound with no issues at 4pm and find Alpha Peter waiting for us out the front of the pack house.
"Let's go into my office," he says as we get out of the SUV, so we follow him inside.
Alpha Peter closes the door behind us when we enter his office and then walks around his desk and sits in his chair, and Jason and I sit across from him.
"So what exactly happened today, Jason?" Alpha Peter asks.
"I told you most of it over the phone, Alpha. I noticed the car pull onto the highway shortly after we did, but I didn't think anything of it at first. It wasn't until they sped up and started tailgating us that I felt something was off. Then, when they managed to run us off the road, Athena chased after the one that shot at us," he says, looking at me.
"Yes, it looked like it was the private investigator, Derek, that I told you about," I tell Alpha Peter. "It would seem that he wants me dead. Which would explain why he disappeared after sending me to meet with a hunter. I'm guessing he thought that meeting would have a different outcome."
"I see. Well, there were only five people in the doctor's office who knew you were leaving the compound. And I know four of us wouldn't have said anything…," he trails off, looking at Jason.
"You think someone in that room is involved in all of this?" I ask.
"The only person it could have been was Doctor Shields," Jason says. "Do you think he's finally making his move?" He asks Alpha Peter.
"What are you talking about?" I ask in disbelief.
"We've suspected him for a while but had no proof," Jason explains to me. "He was away the day that we were attacked. He took his wife and kids on a day trip to Phoenix. So we think he knew the attack was coming. Plus, he knew all the wolves we were working with and what packs they were with… He knew everything. Now there's been an attack on you after being at our compound after meeting with him…," he trails off.
"If he's involved, I'm going to rip his throat out," Enyo pushes her way forward and says to Alpha Peter.
"You'll have to beat me to it," Jason scowls.
"What are you going to do about this, Alpha?" Enyo asks angrily.
"Watch your tone with me, Enyo. I've let your behaviour go once. I won't let it go again," he says bluntly.
Enyo nods and lowers her eyes in submission.
"Thank you. We need to keep a close eye on the Doctor, especially with Nicholas Teresi coming to the compound. It could be a trap for him. So, Jason, I need you to get in contact with Nick. Give him a heads up and try to get him here tonight without anyone knowing."
Jason nods and stands. "I'll be in my office," he says and leaves, closing the office door behind him.
"Is there anything we can do?" Enyo asks.
"I think you should stay out of sight. Maybe spend time in your room," Alpha Peter suggests.
Enyo tries to argue, but I answer instead, "yes, Alpha. I'll go over the folders the Doctor gave me. Maybe there's something in there."
"Good idea. I'll send Jason to come and get you when Nicholas gets here." He stands and walks me to the door of his office and says, "I believe Carol has taken your things upstairs."
"Thank you, Alpha," I say, and I head upstairs to my room.
#
"There's nothing here," I say with a sigh and fling papers across my bed in frustration. I get up from the bed and look at the clock on the bedside table. It's 1am. It's been such a long day, and I'm exhausted. I walk over to the open window and place my forehead on the cool glass as I rub my temples, trying to soothe a headache that won't go away.
"Why don't we go for a run?" Enyo asks.
"Alpha Peter wants us to stay in our room," I say, looking out the window over the dark backyard of the pack house.
"He isn't our Alpha," Enyo says, stretching out with a yawn.
"We still need to follow his rules on his territory, Enyo, you know that," I say as there's a knock on the door.
"Come in," I call out, and Jason comes into the room.
"Hey, you okay?" He asks as he comes and stands behind me, placing his hands on my waist.
"Just feeling a little claustrophobic," I say as he kisses my neck.
"Nick should be here soon with some warriors from the Red River pack. It's safest for you to stay up here until then."
"I know. We're just frustrated. We could do with a run," I say with a groan as Jason starts massaging my shoulders.
"We can go in the morning if you like…," he trails off and kisses my neck again.
"That would be great," I say, turning to look at him and placing my hands on his chest. I hear cars pulling into the pack house driveway and then the opening and closing of car doors. A wind picks up, and as the cool breeze creeps over my back from the window, Jason stiffens under my touch.
"Nick is here. We should go downstairs," he says in a weird tone I don't recognize, and he abruptly walks out of the room in a rush, not even waiting for me.
I follow him out of the room and downstairs, where I see him almost knock Alpha Peter out of the way to get outside.
"What's his problem?" Enyo asks as we reach the front door.
"MATE!" We hear him yell.
I freeze. "Did he just say mate?" I ask Alpha Peter, who comes to stand next to me.
Jason runs towards a woman standing by one of the SUVs and almost knocks her over. They look at each other excitedly, and both say, "mate!"
"Well, would you look at that," Alpha Peter says with a big smile. He walks over to Jason and the woman and whispers something to them, then they take each other's hand and start walking down the street together.
"Well, this is awkward," Enyo says. "Aren't you glad you didn't sleep with him?" She asks in a mocking tone.
"Shut it," I say, and Enyo laughs.
"Well, looks like I'm about to lose one of my best warriors to you, Alpha," a man in his late twenties, with shoulder-length blonde hair and green eyes, says as he walks towards us.
"It's good to see you, Nick," Alpha Peter says as the two men shake hands.
"Nick, I'd like you to meet Athena from the Blood-Moon Pack," Alpha Peter introduces us.
"It's nice to meet you, Athena." Nick offers his hand for me to shake.
"You too, " I say and shake his hand. "Considering the circumstances."
"Yes, indeed. I believe there are a few things for us to discuss," he says, turning to Alpha Peter.
"Why don't we head into my office, and we can fill you in." Alpha Peter extends his hand to lead us inside. "Carol will organise your warriors and their rooms while we discuss things."
Nick nods his head and calls one of the other men over. "This is Lucas, my most trusted warrior. I'd like for him to join us," Nick says.
"Of course," Alpha Peter says and leads us inside to his office.
#
We get settled in Alpha Peters' office, as one of the Omegas organises coffees for us.
"So why the cloak and dagger to get me here earlier, Alpha? Your Beta wasn't exactly clear over the phone," Nick says, settling into one of the couches in the office, with Lucas standing cross-armed behind him.
"First, we need to ask why Doctor Shields rang you and invited you to come here," Alpha Peter says and sits across from him.
"He called me three days ago to let me know you had a wolf coming to visit your pack that I would be interested in meeting," Nick explains.
"He called you three days ago?" Alpha Peter asks in disbelief. "He told me he only called you this morning."
Nick leans forward and takes the coffee that the Omega places on the coffee table for him. "I assure you, Alpha. He contacted me three days ago. He led me to believe that the wolf coming here was like me," He says as he turns to me. His eyes change colour as his wolf comes forward, but instead of the usual yellow, they're a deep shade of blue.
Enyo gasps excitedly, and before I can stop her, she pushes herself forward and shows Nick her eyes.
"Beautiful," he whispers.
I take control back, my eyes changing back to green. "I swear you can't control yourself, Enyo."
"He's like us! Who cares about control?" She says excitedly.
"Three days ago was before I had even met Athena. Before I confirmed she was like you," Alpha Peter explains to Nick. Alpha Peters' eyes glaze over as he briefly mind-links with someone.
"It seems your suspicions are true then, Alpha," I say to him.
"What are you talking about?" Nick asks.
"We asked you to come here earlier so that Doctor Shields didn't know when you would arrive," Alpha Peter explains. "There was an attempt on Athena's life today, and we believe he was behind it. As well as other things," he says solemnly.
"And you think that asking me here was a trap?" Nick asks.
"I do. It seems that Athena coming to Arizona has set things in motion, and I'd like to see if he makes another move," Alpha Peter says.
There's a knock on the door, and Jason walks in.
"Jason, I want you to organise for some of our warriors to impersonate Nick and his pack. I'd like for them to head out to the airport and leave from there at the time Nick was supposed to. Let's see if anything happens," Alpha Peter instructs Jason. He nods and leaves the office again.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Nick asks.
"Doctor Shields seems to be getting bolder. I'm wondering if he's bold enough to have someone attack your convoy," Alpha Peter explains.
A small yawn escapes and I blush. "I'm sorry, but I'm exhausted," I say. "I'm going to go to bed. Alpha Peter can fill you in more about the details, Nick. It was nice meeting you," I say, and he stands to shake my hand.
"You too, Athena. I'd like to talk to you tomorrow if that's alright with you."
"Of course," I say with a smile. I say goodnight to everyone and head upstairs to bed.