Page 96 of Exiled Heir

“Good. Each team will use one. Shifts are four hours long. At the end, the next team will use the tracker to meet up with the previous shift. Exchange information on-site, then return to the house and check in with me. Any questions?” The wolves who weren’t standing in a tight-knit group with Tyson shook their heads. Tyson’s crew turned to him, waiting for his verdict.

I didn’t say anything else, staring into his eyes, waiting for him to make a decision. Finally, he nodded.

“Go now. I’ll continue making teams. Team two will meet you at”—I glanced at Jay because I didn’t have a watch or my phone. He flashed his phone in my direction—“seven tonight.”

“You got it,” Coral said. She raised her chin at Tyson. “Let’s go.”

The two of them left, although by the heavy stomp of Tyson’s feet, he wasn’t happy.

Jay took notes on his phone as I divided up the rest of the wolves by those loyal to Tyson and those who had been standing apart from him and his little brat pack.

“Go back to your mages. Get as much sleep as you possibly can. I don’t think this attack is going to be the only one.” I stood, surprised when most of the werewolves stayed. “Was there anything else?”

I glanced at Jay, but he was staring at his phone, so I looked at Nia. She raised an eyebrow, scrunching her face together and shaking her head once like she was trying to dislodge a pesky fly.

For a woman who didn’t say anything, she definitely made her opinions clear.

“I know most of you don’t know me. I’m new to the house, and what happened with Jesaiah was regrettable. But I’m here to protect the house. I’m here to keep Cade safe and anyone else who claims House Bartlett as sanctuary.” I looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each wolf. “I know what it’s like to lose a pack, to lose a family. I came here with no last name, no pack name. I am going to doeverythingin my power to keep this house and this family safe.”

I glanced at Nia, who pursed her lips and tilted her head, offering half a shrug. It would do.

“Go home. Sleep. You will be called to protect the house soon.” I watched as wolves trickled out. They looked a little more relaxed, relieved. Even the wolves that had stood with Tyson seemed to have heard me.

I ran over the words in my head, like tracing my thumb over a river stone. I was trying to keep the family that had killed my own safe? I was trying to protect the house that had slaughtered my parents?

But when I thought about House Bartlett, I didn’t think about the murder of my parents, the unmarked graves their bones had likely been tossed into. I thought about Cade’s blue eyes, the frozen blue that I could drown in.

“You gave me a partner and a shift. Theo too,” Jay said when we were alone.

“You’re a wolf of House Bartlett. Is there a reason I shouldn’t have?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

Jay looked down, speaking into his phone. “I’m weak. I’m not like the other wolves.”

“I don’t know who told you that. You’re a wolf of House Bartlett. You’re one ofmywolves. And it doesn’t matter who told you that you’re weak because youaren’t.” I watched as Jay shook his head, pulling his lips back from very human teeth. He sniffed in and out shortly but still wouldn’t meet my eyes. Standing, I gestured for him to follow me. We walked up the stairs, through the house, all the way to Cade’s bedroom.

At the door, I hesitated, then opened it, gesturing for Jay to enter. It was the only place in the house I knew we’d have privacy, and Cade made it seem like he let in servants, so clearly, it would be fine if Jay came in for a moment.

With the door closed, I put both hands on his shoulders. “I am an alpha. It is myjobto know the wolves under me. The wolves in my pack.”

At my words, Jay startled, trying to tug away, but I didn’t let him, staring into his eyes.

“Iseeyou, Jay. I see your strength. If every wolf in a pack is powerful physically, there would be no pack. There would befights. You are one of the wolves that keep a pack together. You have empathy and mercy and kindness. That’s the only sort of strength that matters.”

Jay’s mouth fell open, his chest rising and falling, but he was no longer struggling to escape. Tears leaked from the corner of his eyes. Finally, he nodded.

I let go. “Take as long as you need. I’m going to go get freshened up.”

Jay sniffled. “Oh, yeah, the soirée.”

I stilled. “Are youkiddingme?”

ChapterThirty-One

The soirée was for the dryads. Apparently, even with the wholemurder attempt, House Bartlett was pressing on with an enormous party to celebrate the dryads’ arrival. The house usually had events for any visiting dignitaries—politicians, other houses, power players.

It had been a focus on the council meetings, but I’d thought that it would have been postponed until everyone’s adrenaline had settled or at least until we could confirm dessert wouldn’t be interrupted by a rival house sending inmoresentient statues.

As Jay explained how the balls usually worked, I stared at him, wondering what kind of dinner my parents had attended. Had they danced before their execution?