Jesse could understand that, but he also understood Nick’s reasoning. In the past, people had attacked their pack by distracting the strongest members, dividing the pack to conquer it.
“You, Eli, and Zander will come along with me,” said Nick. “I know you might be reluctant to leave your mate, given that your protective instincts will be hypersensitive right now, but you have to trust that she’ll be safe here.”
Jesse was in fact reluctant to leave Harley, especially when she wasn’t fully comfortable with his pack mates, but he was sure that the females would have her back. Not that Harley needed their protection; she could take care of herself just fine. Scratching the underside of the margay’s chin, he asked, “Have your contacts found out anything about Hector?”
“A little. His human aunt and uncle raised him from the age of fifteen—his uncle had been the brother of Hector’s human mother.”
“His parents died?”
“No. His parents, Adriane and Thad, were the Alpha pair of Hector’s pack. Then one day they stepped down. Soon after, the three of them left the pack and became loners. But then Hector went to live with his aunt and uncle, which was considered unusual because Thad and Adriane weren’t neglectful parents.”
Jesse frowned, unsure what to make of all that. The cat climbed onto his shoulders, practically curling herself around his neck.
“I have people working on tracking his parents. If there’s anything worth knowing about Hector, they’ll have that information.”
“And if they don’t tell us anything we can use against Hector?”
“They will. Two allegedly good parents don’t give up their child without reason. If they had no problem doing that, they’ll have no problem sharing what they know in exchange for my protection—the lone shifter lifestyle is dangerous, after all.”
He was right. Being a shifter without a pack meant you had no protection; loners were vulnerable to attacks from extremists and other shifters. An offer of protection from Nick was nothing to sniff at.
“And if that doesn’t work, we bring them here and make them talk,” said Nick. “It’s not something we haven’t done before.”
No, it wasn’t. And it would no doubt work as well as it had in the past.
Nick then walked off, and Jesse turned in the direction of his lodge. The cat jumped down and then quickly climbed the nearest tree with that amazing agility that made her kind so unique. She kept pace with him as they headed home, leaping from tree to tree like an acrobat. When they finally arrived and he opened the door wide, she made a point of territorially clawing the porch before padding inside.
“Shift back, baby.” Bones snapped and popped, and then he had a naked Harley in front of him. As she stretched, he snaked his arms around her and nuzzled her neck, breathing her in, letting her scent pour into him where it belonged. “Your cat sure knows how to shred a man’s pride.” He figured Eli was mostly pissed that she’d taken him off guard and managed to bloody him.
Curling her arms around his neck, Harley shrugged. “He should know better than to act like an asshole toward you.” Or to talk smack about her.
Jesse pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “I don’t know what his problem is, but Nick doesn’t seem to think it’s about you.”
Yeah, well, Harley didn’t care either way. She wouldn’t allow her mate to be used as an emotional punching bag by anyone. “I’m sorry that he did that to you. I know it had to have hurt to be baited by your own pack mate and used to vent his problems.”
“You made him pay for it.”
Her cat had enjoyed it. “I was preparing sandwiches and salad when Ally started fretting about Derren. They’re almost ready.”
“Good. I’m going to take a shower so I can get this blood off me.” Jesse scooped her up, and she locked her legs around his waist. “You’re going to help.”
“I am?”
“Yes. Then we’ll eat . . . but not until I’ve had a long taste of you.”
Well, she wasn’t going to fight him on that.
“Had any other visitors?” he asked, carrying her upstairs.
“Nope. Although Shaya did call earlier to ask if I was okay and if I needed anything. I think, like you, she was worried I would be bored on my own.” Harley pointed at herself. “Hello, feline.”
In the bathroom, he said, “Promise me something.”
“No.”
His mouth twitched. “Promise me that if you ever do feel bored, you’ll tell me. I’ll fix it.”
“How can I be bored when I have my violin and I’m surrounded by books? Trust me, I’m content.”
Too much time alone might change that. “Promise me something else.”
“No.”
His smile widened. “Swear you’ll play for me sometime.”
“You mean the violin?”
“No, Scrabble. Of course I mean the fucking violin.”
“Your language is fucking awful,” she said as he urged her into the shower and turned on the spray. “And maybe I’ll play for you sometime. We’ll see.” It was much easier to play for an audience of strangers than to give a private performance to someone she knew well.
“You will play for me.”
“And giving me orders is supposed to achieve what?”
“You will play for me.”
“You know . . . I’m starting to wonder if it’s not that you lack caution lights; it’s that you only gargled from the fountain of knowledge.”