fire in Wilder’s eyes and grabbed his wrist, squeezing it before he could say anything he might regret. Whatever reply he was about to use died on his lips, and he turned his attention from Callum to me. Glancing down at my hand on his forearm, he seemed to realize what it was I’d done, and instead of jerking his arm away, he gave me a nod.
Things could have gone downhill fast if Wilder had issued anything challenge-like to Callum. Kings hated to be questioned, and they liked it even less when people spat in the face of their authority. I wasn’t sure if Wilder had been a part of a different pack before returning to St. Francisville, but it appeared like he had a lot to learn about dealing with werewolf royalty.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me.” Wilder’s teeth were almost gritted together as he struggled to stay polite.
“Of course. And, again, we are in your debt for bringing Eugenia home to us.”
Wilder didn’t bother looking at Callum. He was staring right at me, and the sharp focus of his attention made me uncomfortable and exhilarated all at once.
“I was glad to do it,” he said, getting back to his feet. This time no one stopped him from going, but my hand felt empty without the warmth of his skin.
Callum turned to Amelia, who had remained silent through the whole revelation. “Have someone keep an eye on the younger Shaw. I’m not sure I believe he’s ready to put all his trust in us just yet.”
Amelia nodded and exited the room, leaving Ben and me alone with Callum.
“Are you all right?” my uncle asked me.
“Yes.”
“When I asked Amelia to call you home, I thought it was for your own safety. I never would have put you at risk if I’d imagined you might be hurt.”
I wasn’t even sure how he knew the details of what had happened to me on the road. I hadn’t called ahead because I didn’t want to worry him. So either Wilder had spilled the beans at some point, or the driver of the van wasn’t as human as he seemed.
Sometimes I forgot how deep the roots of my uncle’s power went in this town.
“I’m fine,” I assured him, and was surprised to find it was true. In spite of how scary the ordeal on the highway had been, and the following unpleasantness of the video, I felt safer being back with my family than I had in months.
“Your room is just as you left it. I think Lina has started dinner already if you’re hungry.” When he was done, he glanced at Ben and sighed. “That will be all for now.”
I imagined he had more to discuss with my brother, but nothing he wanted to say in front of me. That could mean any number of things, but I suspected it meant he was going to read Ben the riot act for his earlier behavior towards Wilder. I excused myself and left the room. Being in Callum’s office made me feel uneasy, and I needed to go somewhere that would remind me of the comfort and security of home.
Otherwise, why had I bothered coming?
Chapter Seven
The mansion’s kitchen took up the entire back half of the first floor. Huge picture windows let in all the warm, yellow afternoon light, giving the creamy-white walls and cupboards a homey, inviting feel.
Two large islands sat in the center of the room, one with two glass stovetops and the other a large butcher block for cutting food and preparing meals. All the appliances were restaurant quality, and there were two of almost everything. Two fridges, two double range ovens and two huge basin sinks. The only solitary appliances were the microwave and the dishwasher, both of which were hardly ever used.
Catalina Flores had her back to me when I entered the kitchen, but it would take more than quiet footsteps to get by her keen ears. Lina was a plump, cheerful woman in her early sixties, and she’d been with the pack since my grandfather Elmore’s era. She wasn’t a werewolf—necessity demanded someone human be around to make food for after pack runs—but she wasn’t altogether normal, either. I hadn’t yet sussed out what she was, and it seemed rude to ask, so I’d spent much of my life around Lina in a state of mystery.
What I knew with a hundred percent certainty was she was the best cook within two hundred miles of