Unhappily Ever After

Chapter 42 - Baited

"To your left. That's Alpha Vaughan," Jess whispered.

I glanced and didn't find it difficult to spot the guy, who towered over his mate. He was surrounded by a swarm of young fighters, all of them looking thunderous, and the closest was pointing at me and Jess. Near the edge of the group was a man I recognised, because he had once told me off for being late to a training session. The Beta. And he had a blonde girl tucked under his arm who couldn't have been older than eighteen.

"I see him. And is that the Beta's mate?" I asked, even though I knew the answer already. Her scent was human, and there was a faint whiff to it that reminded me of a pub in Wyst.

Jess looked over her shoulder to follow my gaze. "Yes."

"Then I think I'll keep her in sight, just in case anyone feels like shifting."

"That's not going to save you forever," she warned me.

"Oh, I know. I know," I murmured.

The song had ended and the next one had begun, and I changed our course to avoid Alex and Evie. Now that I had the Alpha's full undivided attention, I didn't want to turn it towards them. There was no turning back now — suspicion would fall upon everyone I came into contact with. Especially Jess.

But I would move heaven and earth before I let her suffer for anything I had done.

The Alpha and Luna went to socialise, because it was expected of them. The Beta danced with his human girl, and the two of them looked utterly lovesick. The others seemed to have been set on our trail like bloodhounds. There were a dozen pack fighters watching my every move from afar.

They were patient. They waited until Jess and I went for a drink, and then they started crossing the room, slow and casual, stopping now and again to greet someone. I saw them coming out of the corner of my eye and took Jess's elbow, tugging her deep into a crowd. They wouldn't make a scene in here; they were just trying to herd us somewhere quieter.

I was right. As long as we ignored them, they simply hovered nearby. Jess introduced me briefly to a score of people, whose names and faces all blurred together while I was busy eyeing my stalkers. Half an hour, we managed to play cat and mouse with them. The Saunders kept a careful distance — they must have noticed that we were walking, talking targets.

"I need the toilet," Jess whispered to me. There was an apologetic note to her voice. "I'll go, okay? Just stay here and—"

"I'm coming," I insisted. "Better they get us together. That way I can clear your name."

Jess flicked the palm of my hand, a subtle reprimand. "No. I don't need you protecting me."

"You have to live here. I don't."

"Exactly. The worst I'd get is a telling off. You're not from this pack. If they work that out, and who you are, you are dead."

"There's only one way they can work that out," I said gently, tapping her forehead. "Walls up, like I showed you. Don't worry about me. I've got more brains than all those idiots put together. Listen carefully, now, and then we'll go."

She made a face at me, unconvinced, so I leant very close to whisper in her ear. I told her what she needed to do, down to the very last word. By the time I'd finished, her scowl was fully-formed, but she had walled herself into her mind, so I could barely feel the unhappy flicker of her emotions through our bond.

"What, so I'm supposed to let you take the fall for me?"

I shrugged. "If you don't like the plan, I have an even better one where I take you hostage to make my escape. That one doesn't require your cooperation, but it's your choice, really."