Chapter 273

“No,” Neil says. In a flash, his worry is buried behind a mask of calm. He even manages a smile. “Everything is fine. You handled my father perfectly, and I thank you for the compliment to me and my brothers.”

“You’re welcome,” Isaac says, though confusion now twists at his face. “But are you certain? You seemed very upset just a moment ago.”

Neil quickly waves it off. “I was merely concerned my father would say something out of turn.”

“Oh,” Isaac says, brightening somewhat. “No, he was most complimentary toward you and your brothers. He even asked after little Mia.”

“Yes,” Neil says. “How… kind.”

Isaac looks to me next. “And you, Chloe? Were you worried about the same?”

Neil is much better at concealing his feelings than I am. I couldn’t lie my way out of a wet paper bag. Isaac knows that. When he and Mom first started dating, I had been skeptical of the whole thing. I’d tried to hide those feelings. I’d succeeded until I opened my mouth.

“Uh,” I say now. Neil gives me a telling look, one that says, lie like you mean it! “Yes.” I figure the less words I say, the better.

That seemed to be the correct choice. Isaac accepts my word at face value.

“If you’ll excuse Chloe and me,” Neil says at once, “We have a few things to discuss before we turn in for tonight.” He looks at Mom. “Do you mind watching Mia for a bit longer?”

“Do I mind?” Mom scoffs. “Of course not.”

Neil thanks her, then walks toward me. With his hand on the small of my back, Neil starts to leave the room.

“Use protection!” Mom calls after us.

Even my ears turn red. “Mom!”

Neil keeps me moving forward.

Behind us, Isaac asks Mom, “Did I do something wrong?”

I don’t hear Mom’s reply.

Neil and I split up to gather the other brothers and Wyatt, then we all converge in the largest guest room, which was giving to Neil.

“Being the oldest certainly has its privileges,” Beau grumbles, taking in the large room. “My room is half this size.”

“Quit complaining,” Archer says.

Wyatt rolls his eyes. “Gods, you lot are insufferable. What is all this about? Why do I have to be here?”

“I really need to get back to installing the security system,” Steven says.

“This won’t take long,” Neil assures them.

“Your father knows we’re here,” I say. I can’t hold it back anymore. Neil asked me to get everyone here but to not tell them until we’re together. Well, we’re together. So now is the time to tell them.

Neil rubs his forehead.

“What?” Beau gasps.

Suddenly, I have the attention of everyone in the room. Well, except Neil.

“He called my step-dad while we were in the living room,” I say. “Isaac told him we were here. All of us. Including Mia.”

“Shit,” Archer grunts.

“He didn’t know…” I start.

“He still doesn’t know,” Neil finishes. “As far as Chloe’s parents are concerned, they are excited to have been called by the leader of the kingdom.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Wyatt says. He holds his hands up. Panic shakes his voice. “If the Alpha King knows you are here, won’t he try something?”

“Yes,” Neil says. “That’s distinctly possible.”

“What?! How can you be so calm?” Wyatt starts toward Neil threateningly. “Get the fuck out of here then!”

Archer’s arm snaps up, blocking Wyatt’s path. Wyatt growls in frustration. He glares at Archer but Archer just stares blankly back, like he’s bored.

“Even if we leave,” Neil says. “He won’t know that. He’ll still try something.”

Wyatt shakes his head. “You have to get out. I have to protect my dad.”

“We will protect him,” Neil says. “We’ll protect all of them.”

Archer looks to Neil. “We need a plan.”

I agree. I need to do something. I can’t just stand around and wait. I want to be prepared.

Neil immediately straightens, taking charge of the situation at once, like always.

“Beau,” he says. Beau nods. “Go with Steven. You two do what you can to install those security systems as fast as physically possible.”

Beau salutes. Stevens looks stressed but agrees. They both leave the room.

“Wyatt,” Neil says.

“I don’t take orders from you,” Wyatt grumbles.

Neil gives him a flat look. “You’ll want to. We need you to do whatever you can to keep your father from leaving the house for the next few days.” When Wyatt seems hesitant, Neil adds, “My father was trying to arrange a personal meeting with Isaac. If that meeting occurs… you can imagine what will happen.”

Wyatt goes a little pale. “Fine. I’ll do what I can.”

Neil says, “Thank you.”

Wyatt glares at him all the way to the door. When he reaches it, he turns and leaves.

“Archer. I’m trusting you to scout the perimeter. Get as familiar as you can with the neighborhood and the area, in case we need a quick evacuation.”

Archer nods, though he doesn’t move yet. Both brothers look at me.

I stand tall, ready for my orders.

“Chloe,” Neil says. “We need you to stay with your Mom and Mia.”

I blink. “Huh?”

“It will be easier for everyone if the ones we need to protect are in the same room,” Neil says.

Okay, maybe that makes a little sense, but I’m not some wilting flower who needs to be babysat. I’m a warrior-in-training! And with my wolf starting to manifest, I have quickened healing abilities.

I’m not going to let Neil delegate me into a corner, not when it’s my own family on the line.

“I can actually help,” I say. “Give me a real task.”

“This is a real task,” Neil says. “If you are in the room with them, you can react the quickest if something happens.”

It’s a bullshit reason and I refuse to let him gaslight me into thinking it’s a good one. The house is going to be fully protected, and with everyone’s werewolf speed, if something happens, the brothers could react faster, even if I’m in the same room and they aren’t.

Neil’s just giving me busy work to make me happy. It’s like giving a child a fake vacuum cleaner so they can help their parents by staying out of the way.

It’s bullshit. I won’t be patronized.

“Give me a real task, Neil,” I say. I keep my tone no-nonsense. I will not be shoved around.

I keep my stance tall and proud and glare into Neil’s eyes. He looks back for a while, just as fiercely. This feels like a battle of wills with neither of us wanting to be the first to cave.

Does he know I’ll hold out as long as it takes? Maybe he does, but he’s stubborn too. We’re liable to just stand here all night, staring at each other.

“I am a warrior,” I emphasize. “I can help.”

“You’re not a warrior yet,” Neil says.

It’s a cutting blow and it makes me growl a little.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Archer grunts.

I blink and look over at him, startled. Usually Archer isn’t the voice of reason. He doesn’t meet my gaze. Instead his attention is focused on Neil.

“Chloe can come with me.”