I wasn’t the only one doing the math. Mom looked shocked.
“I don’t think we should leave,” Michelle said. “I think this is the safest place, and I think we should get Gabby here, too.”
Winifred was already shaking her head. “Sam’s afraid she’ll run if he presses her. She’s in denial right now. We’ll have to trust him and her Mate to keep her safe. Joshua is willing to move near her, too.”
“If you’re right about us being targets, wouldn’t it be better to split up? We have some money set aside that we can use to add security to the Montana Compound,” Mom said.
Between her scent, facial expression, and what I felt over our connection, Michelle’s excitement was almost tangible.
“You’re right about the security.” She stood and grinned at all of us. “Make plans for us to leave tomorrow. I have some calls to make. Emmitt, tell your parents the good news.”
I smiled as she left the room.
“Good news?” Dad asked.
“Good and bad. Michelle’s stepfather left her everything, including a substantial amount of money that Blake wants very badly. To keep it out of his hands, she put the majority of it in two trusts. One for her brothers, and one for us.”
“What do you mean substantial?” Mom asked.
“In the millions, Mom. More than we would spend in ten generations with our way of life.”
“Will it draw attention to us?” Dad asked.
“No. She and the lawyer were very careful with how they set everything up. The bottom line is that she’s out there now making calls to ensure the Montana branch is a safer place.”
“What’s the bad news?” Mom asked.
“I know you want me to start a second pack and take on some of the responsibility you carry. But, I think splitting the pack will weaken us. I’m not saying to keep the families away. I’m just saying, they shouldn’t leave your pack and swear themselves to me. We need unity. Especially now. The number of men under Blake’s influence...”
“Far surpasses our own.”
I nodded. Dad’s pack was big. Bigger than any the old timers and Elders could remember. But if all those men Blake introduced to Michelle were in his pack, Blake’s numbers far surpassed Dad’s.
Mom looked at Dad. “Is it safe enough? Should we really consider splitting?”
“Families are crowded and getting restless. If we don’t open Montana and show we are expanding to accommodate, some will leave and be on their own.”
Mom sighed and nodded. It was better to be with others and near Elders than on their own.
“Michelle has something in mind. She wouldn’t be this willing to leave if it would put her brothers in danger.”
“Then we’ll just have to wait and see what she has planned,” Dad said, standing. “You know where to find us if you need us.”
I left them to find Michelle. She was pacing in our apartment with her cell phone firmly pressed against her ear.
“She’s been like that since she walked in,” Jim said, sitting on the couch. I joined him.
“What did I miss?”
“She’s talking to her lawyer about buying stuff,” Jim said with a meaningful glance at me. “Crazy expensive stuff.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Her stepfather left her a lot of money. She’s going to use it to make the house safe.”
He nodded slowly.
“That would explain the high voltage fences.”
Michelle’s plans took most of the night. Jim and I listened to her calls and watched her pace. By the time she finished, Jim had started snoring.
“Ready?” I asked when she hung up the phone.
“For bed? Yes. For Blake? We’ll see.”
* * * *
After a week back home, most of the security work was complete. The constant hum of electricity filled the air and made my hair stand on end when in my fur. I doubted Michelle knew just how annoyingly effective that alone would be to deter werewolves.
Mary, Gregory, Paul, and Henry had returned with us and taken my old apartment. Liam and Aden had willingly agreed to let me stay in their apartment. Michelle had them believing I slept on the couch every night when in reality, I slept in her bed. Just slept. Then, she kicked me out of her room every morning near dawn. The way she kissed me good-bye made moving to the couch worth it, though.
Grey and Carlos were living with Jim. Carlos wasn’t giving anything away, but I was positive Jim was annoying the hell out of him. He spent a lot of time with me, working on the other two apartments.