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Zack nodded. It was soundproof, so they all four trooped out. Alex was sitting in the playroom with a book. “We’ve got some calls to make,” Riley said. “We’ll be in the office. Let Zack know if Mo or Victor come down.” He paused. “Talk later.”

Alex nodded, knowing they were going into the office so they had privacy from shifter hearing, and that Riley had just told him he would explain why later.

“Where’s Noah?” Zack asked, expecting him to be with Alex.

“Upstairs with Tyler on his PlayStation. They both have homework to start after that.”

“You good?” Riley asked. Alex grinned mischievously and cracked his knuckles.

Zack chuckled and followed the other guys into the office, each taking a seat. “You’d better update me.”

“We’ve told the school the family is coming down with flu,” Martin said. “Mo included. We have at least another week before the school might wonder where they are. Daniel’s doing his best, but we haven’t got any further.” Martin paused and Zack picked up on it immediately.

“What?”

“Two more of the missing kids have turned up dead,” Riley said.

“Shit,” Zack groaned.

“The only good thing is that no new ones, as far as we know, are missing.”

“Yeah, but didn’t Daniel say that these kids were the vulnerable ones? The ones people might not miss immediately.”

“Raschid went ballistic with his pack. Told them all that what had happened to Amelie Connors was the fault of the entire pack, not just her dad. Reminded them if she hadn’t been a hybrid, her absence would have been noticed immediately. Put the blame squarely on his and the pack’s shoulders and said that if he ever heard or saw hybrids being treated any differently, then the wolf at fault would be shunned and expelled from the pack. He’s bringing who he considers to be at-risk pack members into the pack house until this is sorted.”

Zack breathed out a sigh. Kids being hurt always sickened him, especially seeing the state some of them were in when they arrived in Hunter’s Creek. Then something else occurred to him. “How come we still have Noah? Wasn’t his dad getting back last week?”

Martin made a sound in the back of his throat that sounded like it had come from his wolf. “The bastard has gottenheld upon business. He’s back today and coming to see Noah here, along with Helen Reynolds. Helen says they won’t know until he arrives if he’s a shifter or not.”

“Noah's still not talking?” Zack asked.

“No, but he’s keeping out of trouble, mainly because of Alex. I know he only had one session with Mo, but he seems to have taken to him. He’s asked every day where Mo is.” Martin continued. “Alex has told us he explained shifters and heats to him.”

“Alex did?” Zack repeated in astonishment.

“We didn’t know what he knew,” Riley added, “and I’m sure he thought we’d buried your bodies in the yard or something, so Alex and Mac gave him the shifter version of the birds and the bees.”

Zack winced. Asher shrugged. “I think it was better coming from them. I also think he’s got a huge case of hero worship for Alex.”

Zack scoffed. “Every kid we have has a huge case of hero worship for him. It’s like he’s a kid magnet. I can’t wait to see what he does after college.”

“FBI, so he says,” Martin said proudly. “Daniel’s taken him to work a few times, and they’re thick as thieves over colleges.”

“I thought he wanted to stay local like Mac.” Christ, he felt like he’d been missing six months, not six days.

“He does, and he’ll graduate with most of his AA credits under his belt. Daniel’s already talked to him about Quantico, and he’ll have to travel for that,” Riley pointed out.

Zack knew Alex was interested in a bachelor’s in cybersecurity, which meant his two-year job experience—another FBI requirement—could be done with the family.

Riley’s phone sounded with an alert and Zack realized he’d left his upstairs. “Alex says Helen Reynolds just called. She’ll be here with Pearson in an hour.”

Zack stood. “I’ll take some coffee upstairs and warn Victor.” Not that Victor needed any warning.

Martin and Asher left, but Riley lingered, then pushed the door closed. Zack groaned. “Not in the mood for the third degree.”

“Wasn’t gonna give you one,” Riley said. “Just wanted to say I’m really happy for you.”

Zack smiled despite himself. “You had to shut the door to tell me that?”