easy. But isn’t. Birdcat doesn’t understand. Tried, tried to shift. But can’t. Is why need pack to speak to The Bitch, explain mates! The Bitch needs to know. Is pack! Shouldn’t keep secrets from pack!*
“Yes,” Birdcat said, tone sharpening. His scent sharpened too, a feral mix of big cat and eagle becoming more prominent. “Let’s talk about that. Why didn’t you tell us Lupa was your sister?”
His tail curled between his legs at his alpha’s clear disapproval. *Wanted to. But…feared pack would not understand.*
“I don’t understand,” Birdcat said. “But I want to try. I can’t do that if you don’t talk to me. You’ve been distant with everyone ever since you met Lupa face-to-face, during that business with Callum and Diana. That was when you realized, wasn’t it? Did Lupa recognize you then too?”
*Yes. Didn’t know before. Don’t think sister knew either.*
“You never mentioned that you had a sister,” Birdcat said. “You’ve never wanted to talk about your family at all. You always claimed that you didn’t remember.”
*Don’t. Past is past. Dead and buried.* He twitched an ear, as though shaking off a fly. *Only two-legs go digging up old bones over and over, long after all the meat is gone.*
“Then how do you know she’s your sister?”
*Pack is pack. No matter how many seasons have passed since last together, pack always knows pack.*
Birdcat rubbed his forehead. “You may consider Lupa to be pack. But I doubt she sees you the same way. She certainly considers the rest of us to be enemies. Look at what she tried to do to Joe, or Callum. Or the Thunderbird, for that matter.”
He squirmed, harness rubbing uncomfortably against his flanks. *Know sister has gone a long way down dark paths. But bared teeth will just drive her further away. Is why went hunting for her alone. To howl to her, let her know is missed, is loved. To tell her she can still turn around. Can still come home.*
“She’s working with the demons, Fenrir. She’s got Uncegila in her head, thanks to that mark. Do you really think she can be redeemed?”
*Don’t know.* His mental voice was just a whisper, barely reaching beyond the confines of his own skull. *But have to try.*
Birdcat shook his head. The griffin's scent was still harsh and guarded, prickling Fenrir’s nose. It was the smell of an alpha standing stiff-legged on the edge of the territory, ready to face down an approaching threat.
“We’ll talk about this more later,” Birdcat said. “Let’s go back inside. Darcy will get suspicious if we spend too long muttering behind her back.”
Fenrir was certain that The Bitch was already suspicious, and rightly so. Sure enough, when he went back into the cabin her scent was sharp, tense. She knew that they weren’t telling her something.
Oh, my mate. With all his heart, he longed to speak to her. But no matter how he stretched, her mind was like a hard, polished stone. She had built so many defenses around her soul, not even he could touch her.
“Right.” The Bitch sat up straighter, pushing her glasses up her nose. “We can’t let some psycho run around summoning demons and raising a private army of hellhounds, even if she is Fenrir’s sister. You guys need my help.”
Icehorse’s mouth hung ajar for a moment. “We…do?”
*Told pack so,* Fenrir murmured in all their minds, smugly.
“Yep.” The Bitch folded her arms, chin setting. “I’m a private investigator. Finding people is what I do. And I’m damn good at it.”
Birdcat was shaking his head. “I appreciate the offer, but we can’t ask you to risk yourself like that. And it’s not necessary. There are a couple of shifter agents already working on the case-”
Fenrir interrupted him with a growl, showing his teeth. *Without finding so much as a footprint. Sister can avoid even own nose. Shouldn’t be possible, since am pack, but trail kept vanishing into shadows.*
“Fenrir’s right,” Stone Bitch said. She turned to The Bitch. “Fenrir says that the shifter agents haven’t had any luck finding Lupa. Even he’s had trouble tracking her. And he’s a hellhound—they’re renowned for always being able to find their prey. Yet Lupa seems to be able to vanish without a trace. Maybe we do need the help of a private investigator, Rory.”
Birdcat looked less than convinced. “But she’s just a human.”
“Like me?” Stone Bitch asked, pointedly.
Birdcat winced. “Sorry. That came out wrong. I only meant that it could be dangerous.”
“I can handle it,” The Bitch said. “And trust me, I’m more than