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“What? Where did they go?” My eyes widened as I gasped, “Not back to the Hanleys?”

Sam shook her head jerkily. “No. None of them are that stupid.”

“Then why?”

“They feel the outcome is too uncertain. If Caleb fails, they’d be back in the same situation they were before they left. Worse in fact.” She shot me a quick glance. “When we left, we didn’t anticipate the Alpha being killed. Now, the Navarre Pack can be perceived as weak and some aren’t willing to take that chance.”

“But alone out there….”

“A few were going home. Their packs will take them back in. A couple…well, they were tired of needing to rely on anyone,” Sam explained, a weariness in her tone that hadn’t been there before, as she scanned the field.

“He’s over there,” I pointed helpfully and she jerked my hand back down.

“Don’t point! He’ll see you,” she hissed, ducking her head. “And you don’t even know I was looking for someone,” she blustered, her cheeks flushed as she eyed me.

“I do now. He who?” I asked, like I didn’t already know the answer.

“No one,” she dismissed, but I noticed her gaze stray to where I’d pointed and the disappointment when he wasn’t there any longer.

“Are you staying for the…?” I started and then paused before trying again. “Should you? I mean, why are you here?”

“I’m here to, hopefully, watch my bastard ex get his throat torn out,” Sam said helpfully, her hands over Nicky’s ears as she spoke.

“Oh, well in that case,” I said faintly. “Fingers crossed.” She nodded sharply and I wiggled my fingers at Nicky. “Should he be here to see that?”

Sam gave me a vaguely pitying glance. “He’s seen worse.” I blinked at her tough words and wondered what could be worse than seeing your father’s throat torn out. Sam patted my shoulder awkwardly, seeming to feel bad at her bluntness but it didn’t keep her from explaining, “This world is brutal. Better they learn it now.”

“I guess so,” I admitted, remembering the ease in which Dom had killed the two Hanleys and then how casually the Hanley wolf from the previous day had ripped out his friend’s throat. “It’s just hard to wrap my head around it sometimes.”

“You’ll learn,” she stated, her eyes hard as she glanced at me. “You have to if you want to stay Pack.”

I swallowed, my gaze finding Dom instantly even in the crowded space, as he stood next to Caleb, who wore nothing but shorts as he readied himself for the fight of his life.

“Ladies,” a smooth voice spoke behind us and I turned, noticing Sam sidle sideways at the appearance of the newcomer. When I saw who it was, I understood.

“Payne,” I replied, nodding and ignoring the slight grimace he gave when I used his name. Nicky waved at him as best he could with the stranglehold Sam had on him.

“Come to steal my son again?” Sam asked hostilely, making it a point not to look at him. It didn’t seem to matter as he stared at the side of her face a second longer than what would be considered appropriate. I lowered my gaze to my toes, the moment feeling intimate and my presence unwelcome.

“You know better than that, Samantha.”

Her hands balled into fists and she burst out, “It’s Sam. And I don’t know what you’re capable of…not anymore. I never would have thought you’d break up with me, either, but I guess I was wrong,” she accused, finally focusing her attention on him. He gave her a pained stare but didn’t refute her words.

“I’m gonna go somewhere,” I murmured to no one in particular as they continued to stare at one another. “Not here. Not that you care.” I backed up a few steps but it didn’t disturb their tense standoff. “Cue the sexual tension,” I muttered under my breath.

“Talking to yourself again?” Trent questioned, giving me a sideways glance as he straightened from the tree he’d propped himself against.

“It’s only talking to yourself if no one is listening, and I have you for that,” I retorted, thumping his stomach as I passed. “Who are you stalking today?”

“You and Anna,” he admitted easily. “Mostly Anna since there’s a chance they’ll do a smash and grab while the fight is going on.”

“You didn’t lock her in a closet somewhere?” I joked, except it didn’t really fly when he gave a disappointed shake of his head.

“Wouldn’t work. She’s stronger than she looks, especially in wolf form.”

“That was a joke,” I clarified and his eyes widened as he shook his head.

“Nah, we would never lock her in a closet. We’re not Hanleys,” he tried again, not convincing me at all. “Besides, the more eyes on her the better.” He nodded to the crowd where restless eyes roamed from person to person as the shifters interspersed themselves among their Pack.