“He’s not a wolf. Doesn’t have the gene.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember something about that. They’re half-brothers, right? Caleb and Payne?” I glanced at Sam, who had her gaze focused on the ground now. “Who names their kid Payne?”
“It’s a family name. The Alpha’s first wife.”
“You know a lot about him,” I mentioned carefully.
“That’s what happens when you grow up pack. You know everything about everyone.” Her head came up suddenly and she growled low in her throat. I jumped at the sound, but it was nothing compared to Payne’s reaction. I had no idea how he heard her, but he spun on his heel and disappeared into the tree line.
“Good riddance,” Sam muttered through clenched teeth. “He always was a coward.”
“Harsh,” I stated, keeping one eye on her as I turned to face her. “It’s almost like he did you wrong.”
Her gaze flickered to mine briefly. “Don’t go imagining fairy tales where there are none.”
“Pretty sure most people would consider my life the stuff of fairy tales,” I answered, shoving myself upright. “Now, we have work to do.”
“Work?”
“Yeah, they need to see you coming out here, but it’s going to take more than one little spin around the yard to break the fear chaining them.” I was kind enough not to include her, but the way her gaze dropped made me think she knew. “None of you will be free until you live like you’re free.”
“They could grab any of them.” Sam gazed up at me. “Do you know what they’ll do to them if that happens?” I shook my head. “They’ll make an example of them. In the most horrifying way possible.”
“Then we don’t let anyone get caught.” I crouched down so I was eye to eye with Sam. “Don’t trade one prison for another, Sam.” My eyes flickered to Nicky. “Teach him what it means to grow up safe and happy.”
“You’re really annoying sometimes,” she grumbled. “I don’t know if I pity Dom or he’s getting what he deserves.”
I squinched my nose as I considered. “I’d say he’s getting what he deserves,” I determined finally and she laughed ruefully.
“You don’t take offense.” I shook my head and she sighed. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Seriously? I have to come up with a plan too?”
She stared at me until I couldn’t hold my smile back any longer. “He definitely deserves you,” she snapped, swatting at me. “I thought you were serious.”
“Welllll,” I started, dodging away from her long arms. “I don’t actually have a plan, but I thought we’d start with a picnic.”
“A picnic?” Sam repeated doubtfully. “What kind of picnic?”
“A Pack picnic,” I declared, proud of myself for coming up with the idea.
“A Pack picnic?”
“Is there an echo?”
She ignored my comment, her hands flying as she listed the reasons my idea wouldn’t work. “You need Alpha approval. The Elders’ approval. That’s if the women would go, if the Pack would allow them on their lands.” She paused for a breath, staring at me.
“So, we need to talk to a few people,” I shrugged. “Easy peasy.”
Her eyes almost bugged out of her head. “Easy?” she broke off with a gurgle. “Do you understand why I brought them here? On the outskirts of Pack lands? A neutral ground, you could say?”
I shook my head slowly.
“Because bringing them without invitation would have been a declaration of war,” she spit out. “It would have forfeited their lives if the Alpha chose.”
“So, we ask nicely.”
She groaned and I shrugged. “Look, I admit, I don’t know Pack laws or etiquette or whatever you want to call it, but it doesn’t have to be hard. We can make new rules. It doesn’t have to be the Hatfields and McCoys anymore.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Because it is?”
“There’s a lot of prejudice and bad history between the packs.”
“And I’m sure with good reason, but you’re a Navarre and the Pack respects your family. If anyone can make a change, its you.”
She smiled sadly. “They respect my father and brother. I’m the slut that ran away with a Hanley.”
“And now, you’re the slut who came home. The prodigal child.”
She gritted her teeth, holding back whatever she intended to say as she glanced at Nicky. “You are determined to make this work.”
“Nobody said it’d be easy.”
“Actually, you said easy-peasy,” Sam reminded me with a fake smile.
“For me. You, not so much.” I rested my hand on her arm. “I don’t think you give them enough credit. I’ve heard the whispers.” She grunted, her mouth drawn tight, and I shook her arm. “They talk about how brave you were to save the women. How proud they are of what you did. They whisper, ‘Of course, she did, she’s a Navarre.’” She glanced at me, startled, and I smiled. “They say your name with reverence.”
She swallowed, a gleam of moisture in her eyes as they met mine. “You better not be making this shit up, because I will hurt you.”