Heartsong (Green Creek 3)

No one answered.

Ezra and Michelle returned to the compound as the rain began to let up later that afternoon. I watched them as they approached the house. Ezra was soaking wet, though he didn’t look as if he minded. Michelle held an umbrella.

“Robbie?” she asked. “What are you doing here?”

I shrugged. “Daniel needed a favor. Figured I’d help him out. Courting is a lot of work.”

“It is,” Ezra said slowly. “Not that you would know anything about that yet.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m twenty-nine years old. I have plenty of time.”

Ezra and Michelle exchanged a look. Michelle said, “You don’t need to worry about this place. It isn’t your job. We have plenty of people who—”

“It’s fine,” I said, and Michelle narrowed her eyes at the interruption. I added, “It was a good deed, you know? I hope those crazy kids make it. And I’m sure Santos or someone else will be back soon to take over for me.”

“Santos is off-compound,” Ezra said. He stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up at me. “On assignment.”

I kept my expression neutral. “Is he? Where did he go?”

“It’s not your concern,” Michelle said sharply.

I arched an eyebrow at her. “I’m your second. You said so yourself. Shouldn’t I know these things?”

Her eyes flashed red. “I don’t appreciate your tone.”

I nodded as I felt her pull like a hook in my brain. “My apologies, Alpha. I don’t mean anything by it. I just thought… well. I thought I’d be kept in the loop should anything happen.”

“And you will be,” she snapped. “If I feel it needs to be brought to your attention. This didn’t.”

“Okay.”

She blinked. “Okay?”

“I believe you. If you say I don’t need to know about it, then I don’t need to know.”

Ezra stared at me thoughtfully. “Did yo

u go inside the house?”

“I did. Thought I heard something.” I shook my head. “It was nothing. Guy inside was sitting in a chair in his room.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

I laughed. I felt cold. “Didn’t seem like he was aware of anything at all. He didn’t act like any wolf I’ve ever seen before.”

“No,” Ezra said, “I don’t suppose he did. Why are you here?”

“I told you. I was doing Daniel—

“A favor, yes. I heard that part. But why?”

“Because he’s a good guy. Deserves every happiness. Don’t you think so?”

“Of course I do,” Ezra said. “I just…. Would you hear me, dear? I worry about you.”

The stress drained from my body, shoulders slumping. I was very tired, and it wasn’t helping that I didn’t know what the fuck I’d seen in the house. What it meant. “I know. But you worry too much. I can handle myself. I’m not a cub.”

“I know you’re not,” he said gently. “But there are things at play here. Things that go beyond your understanding.” He raised a hand before I could speak. “And it’s not because we—I—don’t trust you. You know that’s not the case. But there’s a need for sensitivity, for… discretion. And with these dreams you’re having, it’s probably not helping matters. You’ve been out of it for a few days, you know.”