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Which is why he brought me. It’s on me to keep this quiet. My job’s to keep him from blowing our cover. One shift in front of this crowd, and it's not just Raul—we’re all exposed. Last thing we need is these rich fucks looking into why a giant wolf crashed their party.

“Helena would’ve lost her marbles around here,” Raul mutters, breaking the silence. “Some of these houses are bigger than our whole damn neighborhood.”

I shrug, keeping my eyes locked on the glove compartment. I can’t let him go in there. If Jack is at this party…I have no idea how I’m going to keep Raul from killing him.

“Yeah, I guess.”

He glances over, narrowing his eyes and almost growling.

“What? What are you thinking?”

“How do you know she’s here?” I ask, shifting in my seat to face him. “Maybe she went for a drive to clear her head. You two were going at it pretty hard.”

“She left Dawson!” he growls, gripping the steering wheel so tight I’m surprised it doesn’t break. “An hour before we left she went to Stacy’s place and a limo picked them up.”

That name slams into me like a punch. My head jerks so fast it almost wrenches my neck.

“What? Them?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“Yeah,” he says, narrowing his eyes. “That got your attention? Stacy is with her at this party.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I ask, my voice raising.

“Would it change anything?” Raul growls, still staring at the party, like he could burn it down with a look. “You’re within spitting distance of her, but we’re still outside. Unless you want to crash a mansion full of rich assholes?”

I can’t deny that the urge is there. I inhale sharply and hold it.

“It’s not about her. What if you catch Jack’s scent? What if he is here?” I ask, trying to clear my head by distracting him.

“I’ll handle him,” he says, clenching his jaw.

“That’sexactlywhat I’m afraid of,” I bite out. “You lose control in there, and we’re done.”

“Relax,” Raul says, patting my wrist like that’s supposed to soothe me. “If he’s there, I’ll have Monica lure him out. Plenty of dark corners around here.”

“You think she’ll suddenly forgive you and help lure her ex to you?” I ask. “Fuck.”

I lean my head against the seat right as the bass line hits hard enough to rattle the glass. The bass is so deep it vibrates my teeth. The whole house thrums like it’s about to crack open.

“We didn’t even need the address,” I mutter. “Could’ve followed the noise and we’d find it.”

Raul smirks, glaring at the river of taillights stretching down the block from us. Dozens more cars waiting to get in. Must be the party of the goddamn century.

“We have to keep this chill,” Raul says, breathing steadily.

“You think?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’m not the one we have to worry about. It’s not my mate in there.”

But Raul isn’t snarling. He’s watching me with something softer. Almost... pity? No. That’s worse.

“Right, well you’re here. Captain Calm,” he says.

I roll my eyes as I shake my head.

“We’re too far back,” I say, hand on the door handle. “Doubt we’ll smell anything except gas fumes.”

“Let’s go,” Raul agrees with a nod.

As soon as I step out of the truck the scent of chlorine stings my nose. Carefully curated palm trees line the curb, casting shadows over manicured lawns. The mansion looms like a goddamn temple. Warm light spills from arched windows, casting golden halos over rich idiots. A buzzing chatter of dozens of humans, blended with drunken laughter, fills the night air, competing with the thundering music. This isn’t a home, it’s a goddamn kingdom.