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“Just saying what I heard.” I held my hands up. “No fudging, elaboration, or falsification.”

“Now, you’re just trying yourself.”

“It happens occasionally. I can talk to Dom, to Anna, and Caleb. Figure out how to make it happen.”

“Little Anna?”

“She’s not that little. She was here earlier. She can talk to Caleb. He listens to her,” I answered, and caught her surprise. “There may be some mutual crushing going on there.”

“Caleb and Anna?” Sam repeated doubtfully. “Her parents are elders.” I nodded. “Caleb is Alpha now.”

“Yeah, is there a point here?”

“I….things have changed since I’ve been gone,” she replied, shaking her head. “You really think this will work?”

“I think we have to try.” I glanced up at the motel, catching a few curtains swaying. “They can’t stay here forever. If they’re not Hanleys then they need to find a new Pack.”

“Some might leave,” Sam murmured, her eyes scanning the forest restlessly. “Go back to their homes. Start over somewhere else.”

“And that’s fine. But they need to take the first step.” I poked her shoulder. “And they need you for that.”

“Alright, alright. I got the message,” she sighed, rubbing her shoulder. “I’ll talk to them.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” She shot me a look. “Okay, that’s not all I’m asking but it’s a start.” I glanced at the trees where I’d last seen Trent. “Why do you give Trent such a hard time?”

“I’m not interested,” she stated bluntly.

“Interested in what?” I asked baffled.

“In another wolf mate,” she spelled out.

“I don’t think that was the idea,” I told her hastily. “I mean Trent is a rogue. A lone wolf. He probably doesn’t even want a pack.”

“It might not have been your idea, but I know my brother. And it was definitely his plan.” She held out her hand. “Come on, Nicky. Bath time.” She chuckled at my astonished face. “You’ve got a lot to learn about how Pack life works. It still runs on the concept of father/provider and mother/caretaker. Dom will act as provider but only until he can find a suitable replacement.”

“Trent,” I murmured and she nodded.

“Bingo.” My expression must have concerned her because she continued. “It’s not a bad way of life, but I’ve had enough of being provided for, and so have most of the women here. You’re not wrong when you say things need to change, but it’s not just the Hanleys and the Navarres anymore. It’s the entire way of life.”

She walked back to the motel as Nicky waved at me, calling, “Bye, Bunny.” A smile lifted my lips briefly at what he’d decided to call me before quickly disappearing.

Something wrong? The thought tickled my mind and I knew Dom had picked up on my emotions.

No… I pushed the thought to him, still awed by our ability to communicate telepathically. It was a side effect of our mating bond – the one we hadn’t fully completed yet because I wasn’t ready to have sex with him or commit my life to a guy I’d known only a few months.

Yeah, I’m not buying that. What’s going on?

I waffled for a moment. Trent? You’re setting your sister up with Trent?!?

A beat of silence met my mental shriek. Is there something wrong with Trent?

How about the fact that she just ran away from an abusive boyfriend? Spouse? I’m not really sure what they were but I don’t think she’s ready for another big strong man to take care of her. Especially since she put ol’ Frank at the top of her hit list.

Hit list? He asked carefully. What exactly are you and my sister planning?

Nothing, I denied, locking my phone as I glanced around.

He snorted, the sound distinctly wolf like. You need to work on your lying.

I’ll keep that in mind, I answered, projecting an image of me rolling my eyes. We are planning something though.

I’m afraid to ask.

You weren’t eavesdropping on our conversation? I asked, knowing he had a better handle on the mental bond since he was used to the Pack bond.

I don’t eavesdrop, he growled, shaking his head.

Sure you don’t. I teased as I put my back to the wall and slide down to the ground. It wasn’t easy to have a mental conversation and walk.

I try to give you your privacy. You know that, don’t you?

I do, I answered, sorry I’d teased him about it. We want to plan a picnic. Well, I do and I think I convinced your sister.

A picnic?

On Pack lands, I stated, figuring it was better to get it out of the way.

His sigh was so loud I could almost feel it against my skin. You don’t do anything by half, he grumbled.

Sam said practically the same thing. Apparently, I’m asking the impossible.

She would know better than anyone would, he said cryptically. I can talk to Caleb, but we’re going to need more than that.