“We need eyes on the ground,” Dom explained. “Or better yet, a nose on the ground.”
I turned my head, thinking, and saw Dylan. I glanced back at Dom, tilting my head toward Dylan, and watched him tense as his gaze followed where I indicated. “He’s our best option,” I declared, and then gave Liam a sympathetic glance. “No offense.”
Liam grimaced, waving off my apology and then almost collapsing from the effort. Dom adjusted his hold on him and with a glance at Trent; they started to haul him back to the bed. “I can do this,” Liam protested. “I just need a minute.”
“More like a few days,” Leah chided, keeping a close eye as they lowered him back to the bed.
“Liam, our other option is Dylan,” Dom stated, crouching next to the bed where Liam sprawled, his breathing ragged. “Do you think he can get us to the Hanley compound without issue?”
Liam studied us for a second before nodding. “Yeah, I think he can. It took weeks for anyone to notice he was slipping away. When I followed him, I almost lost him a few times.”
“Does anyone know the path he took?” Trent interjected, skating around the real question of whether Liam had told the Hanley pack what Dylan had been up to.
Liam shook his head, “No. I lied and said I lost him.”
“You lied to your Alpha?” Dom questioned, his voice hard, and Liam stared at him cautiously.
“I told him a half-truth. He didn’t push very hard,” Liam replied defensively. “I didn’t want him to come at me.” He jerked his head toward Trent. “I also didn’t want to lead them back to him or the little she-wolf.”
Trent nodded his head, accepting Liam’s claim at face value. Dom eyed them both before standing and saying, “Alright, I believe you. But no more lies,” he commanded and Liam bobbed his head. “Let’s go. We need to prepare and talk to Dylan. Liam, get some rest and tell no one about this conversation.” The words held a strange cadence and Liam bowed his head in reply.
When we stepped outside the room, Dom waited until I’d drawn the door closed before speaking. “Do you think Wren is going to allow us to take her brother back to Hanley lands?”
I opened my mouth to answer when the person in question growled, “What?”
“No?” I answered, my mouth twisting, as Wren appeared from behind Dom.
“You want to use Dylan?” She accused her lip curling into a sneer as she stared at Dom. “I thought you were better than the others.”
“It was my idea,” I stated, stepping between her and Dom. “Dylan is our best hope of getting onto Hanley land unnoticed. He’s been sneaking back and forth for weeks.”
She stared at me, betrayal written across her face, and I sighed.
“Look, we both know he can. The question is do you trust us to keep him safe?”
“He’s my brother,” she replied.
“And they have my brother,” I reminded her harshly. “Trust me, I don’t want to see Dylan hurt, but I will also do whatever it takes to get my brother back. I’m sure you can understand that feeling?”
She crossed her arms protectively over her stomach, finally nodding, as she looked toward Dylan. “He’s all I have,” she whispered, her eyes pleading when she looked at me. “Protect him for me.”
I nodded, holding her gaze as I said, “I promise.” I ignored the low groan that came from Trent and the heavy exhale I heard from Dom. I would do everything in my power to bring Dylan back safely. I owed her that much.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are we sure about this?” Trent questioned, eyeing us. “Because I have reservations.” I blew out the breath I’d been holding, not wanting to admit my own reservations but as we stood at the edge of the Hanley border, I couldn’t deny my concern. Dom was about to shift and Dylan stood near us, trembling as we prepared to cross the line. He kept glancing over his shoulder back the way we’d come and I kept waiting for him to bolt back to his sister.
“Dylan, we need your help,” I said for the umpteenth time. “Remember, they have Monster and you can help us get him back.”
Dylan’s gaze came back to me and he bobbed his head nervously. I smiled at him encouragingly as Anna told Dom, “I should shift. I’m faster than both of you.”
“You’re also a hell of a lot more noticeable,” Trent answered before Dom could. “You have light fur. We’re trying to sneak in, remember?”
She glared at him and when Dom replied, “He’s right,” she turned her glare to him. He held up his hands. “You know it’s true, Anna.” She frowned but didn’t argue. We were dressed in black, my dark hair pulled back, while Anna’s lighter hair was hidden underneath a black beanie Trent had provided. Dylan stood still, waiting for us as he remained in human form. Wren had warned us that he was unpredictable and uncommunicative when he shifted, so it was my job to make sure he didn’t shift.