She had made her way to the town hall two hours ago, confused by the failed rite of passage when she had heard the news.

She hadn’t dared to go to the law office because she didn’t want to know the truth, but now she had learned it from the police chief.

Her gaze focused, and she looked up at the policeman.

“I’m begging you, Graham,” she began in a shaky voice. “Keep those details to yourself. The last thing this town needs is a war.”

She would keep her own mouth shut. Because if Nickolas or Gloria found out what had really happened, it would only be a matter of time before they rolled out their secret war plans on the tables and resorted to more radical means.

“As long as possible,” the policeman replied, nervously glanced outside, over to the law office, before looking back at her and stepping closer to the table. “Please, Amara...” His voice was insistent. At least give us a search warrant for the DeLoughreys.”

Something tightened inside her.

“You know that won’t work,” she said quickly. “They want us to become their enemy, too. But as long as we’re neutral territory, Nickolas’ pack is protected.”

She didn’t want to admit it just yet. And she didn’t want to keep getting caught between the fronts when she actually belonged to one of them.

Every day was a balancing act.

“Keep calm,” she finally sighed urgently. “And put more patrol vehicles on the border areas.”

The police chief didn’t expand on this, and withdrew from the mayor’s office with a tense nod.

She looked out the window, past the black raven-studded rooftops, to Graham, who was trying to fight his way through the crowd of reporters outside the town hall.

This town was a minefield. And she knew she wasn’t strong enough to keep all the mines from exploding.

Chapter 41

Emely

“Why are you walking so fast?” My steps quickened. “Why don’t you slow down?”

I was usually fast. I could keep up with everyone, especially my brother. Only today he was running so fast, probably because of the conversation with Alarik.

If there were two people in our pack who were always at each other’s throats, then it was the two of them. Alarik rarely turned, but when Nash took it too far, the two of them would face each other in wolf form on the big meadow behind our house.

“You’re protecting him, even though he’s not part of our pack!” my brother had growled in anger when I’d turned up on the lawn thirty minutes ago to find out if Father had been watching the news. And five seconds later, a white wolf had pushed Alarik’s upper body to the ground. Alarik hadn’t put up with it, of course, because even though they were both betas and Alarik took things calmly, as our uncle and the Alpha’s closest advisor, he was above Nash.

At some point, Nash would have to pass the alpha trial, and that wouldn’t be a piece of cake for my brother.

Anyway, Alarik had also turned and beaten my stubborn brother in a heated duel.

It reminded me of when Nash had fought with Kieran and Julian and not Alarik when all four of us had roamed the woods.

And there they were again: The thoughts of someone I should let go of. And I didn’t mean my best friend, who was currently spending time in the US and who I had reached by phone this morning.

Again, I tried to focus on my brother, who had arrived on campus and was walking to our spot under the oak tree with his gym bag draped over his free torso. This time, though, at a human pace.

“Nash, honestly. We have a much bigger problem now.”

I had caught up with him by now.

“Hey, Nash!”

Two pretty dressed-up blondes walked past us and waved at my brother.

I would have loved to hit them, because I was getting really annoyed at how all these human girls were glued to my brother 24/7. As if it wasn’t enough with Mady back then.

“And wear a T-shirt next time, for fuck’s sake,” I added with anger as three more girls walked past us and waved at Nash.

Nash didn’t seem to notice any of this. He was just staring at the screen of his cell phone, as usual.

“Nash, what’s wrong?” I pulled him by the arm and stopped.

“Nothing, Emy, okay?”

“We have to...”

“That’s the problem. You always want to do something. Yes, someone’s been murdered and yes, those bastards are probably behind it.” He pointed across the campus to the DeLoughreys’ still empty parking spaces. “But it’s enough to make Father go nuts already.” His jaw ground against the taut skin of his face. “At least keep your cool and wait until Father has spoken to Alarik.”

Father had indeed lost it. I had arrived at his office, where he had been pacing around in a state of complete agitation, and had suddenly knocked over his chessboard. He had cursed, loudly, so that Nash and Finn had also come into the office.

Now, Nash tore himself away from me and went to the guys, where his mood seemed to change abruptly when the Jones brothers, Harry and Hunter, greeted him.

Sometimes I really didn’t understand him. How could he ask me to keep my cool when Father obviously needed help?

Thoughtfully, I shook my head and turned toward the parking lot, where I had intended to go. I caught sight of my target. Of course, he was there early, and he seemed to be waiting for someone.

I gritted my teeth with suspicion.

This weird witch girl wasn’t with him. Good for her.

Determined, I set off to catch him before he could notice me and quickly disappear.

He stood there like a lone wolf, watching the growing stream of students as if he had nothing better to do.

“Julian...” I called out loudly, and my brother must have heard me because I felt his gaze on the back of my neck.

“Ems,” Julian said, looking past me to Nash.

I had been right.

“Your brother seems to have a problem with you talking to me.”

I gave Nash a look of mock annoyance.

“Although, he probably has his reasons,” Julian continued with a grin, and I automatically grinned back. I tucked my loose dark hair behind my ears, feeling sheepish.