Shaya’s brow slowly slid up as she stared at her mate. “Then I’ll bet you and he get along quite well.”
Ignoring Eli’s chuckle, Nick slashed a hand in the air. “I’m not having a Seer in my home.”
“If Cain’s part of The Movement, he must know a lot of people,” mused Jesse. “Dangerous people who could easily deal with this for him.”
“He does,” verified Derren. “But we all know how The Movement ‘deals’ with things.” It involved blood and death. They’d simply go in there, destroy the pack, and then go out for pancakes or something. “Cain doesn’t want them involved. They’d lead the humans right to Ally.”
“How long before Cain’s out?” Zander asked.
“Four months,” replied Derren.
“I tell ya,” began Eli, “I wouldn’t like to be the Beta pair of the Collingwood Pack when Cain gets out.”
“Why?” asked Kent.
Eli arched a brow. “How, exactly, do you think a sociopath will protect and avenge his mate, whether he’s claimed her or not?”
“He’ll go after the people who hurt her,” deduced Bracken.
Shaya nodded. “And how, exactly, do you think said sociopath will react if Derren doesn’t live up to his word and keep the guy’s mate safe—especially if something happens to her in the meantime?”
Bracken looked at Derren. “He’ll go after you. Maybe even punish our entire pack because we all refused to help her.”
Shaya nodded again. “And all because some jealous heifer decided to make life hell for her mate’s ex.” Softening her expression, she sat next to Nick. “If this happened to Willow, and she needed help, wouldn’t you want someone to be there for her?”
Nick growled. “No one will ever lay a fucking finger on her.”
“Yes, we all know that if anyone even thought something offensive about your baby girl, you would disembowel them before they could blink. But what if she didn’t have any of us to protect her, if she was pretty much all alone in the world . . . wouldn’t you like to think that someone else would protect her?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Playing the Willow card is below the belt.”
“Ally would only be staying here for four months. That’s not long. And unless you want Derren and Cain having serious problems, you don’t have much of a choice anyway.”
After a long moment, Nick sighed. “You sure about this, Derren?” Translation: Are you sure you want to be around a Seer, considering how you feel about them?
“I’m sure.” Being a man of his word sucked.
Nick sighed again. “Fine. We’ll help her. But, Derren, she’s your responsibility while she’s here.”
Despite being relieved that he wouldn’t find himself at loggerheads with Cain, he couldn’t help resenting the situation. Even if he didn’t have very personal issues with Seers, he wouldn’t be looking forward to watching over a flaky, free-spirited wacko with a sense of entitlement.
After the evening meal, Derren and Eli headed for Collingwood territory. Soon enough, they were sitting in Matt Ward’s office. The guy had happily welcomed them, wanting news on how Nick and the rest of the Mercury Pack were doing.
Once the chitchat was over, Matt asked, “So, what can I do for you?”
From the chair opposite the Alpha, Derren shrugged carelessly. “Well, it’s simple, really. You and I both have a problem, and I figure we can help each other.”
Matt’s brow crinkled. “Oh? And what problem is that?”
“Alyssa Marshall.”
The Alpha stiffened, but he didn’t speak, just moved his startled gaze from Derren to Eli.
“She’s a member of your pack, correct?” prodded Derren.
“Yes.” The answer was hesitant.
“I have it on good authority that she’s having a hard time here at the moment. That she and your Betas are having some . . . issues.”
Matt’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you hear that?” He was clearly affronted at the idea of outsiders knowing his pack’s personal business.
Derren waved away the question. “The good news, Matt, is that I can help you with this.”
“How so?”
“I can take her with me.”
Matt looked wary, most likely expecting Derren would want something in return. “Why would you do that?”
“Let’s just say that her safety and happiness is very important to someone you do not want to fuck with. Here in your pack, she’s neither safe nor happy. And that’s a problem for him, because it’s a problem for Ally. That makes it a problem for you.”
Panic flitted across Matt’s face. “Who is this person you’re referring to?”
“That’s not important.”
“I protect all my wolves,” insisted Matt defensively, “including Ally. Why would you want her?”
“The person who wants her protected trusts me to ensure that that’s exactly what she’ll be.” Derren held Matt’s gaze with a determined look. “Give her to me, and the current issue in your pack will be gone.”
Matt swallowed nervously. “Who wants her?”
“I told you, that’s not important.”