“Think she’ll spill to Finn?” Anders asked.
Mal shook his head. “She wouldn’t have told us if she didn’t want this done.”
“Unless it’s a trap,” Anders muttered.
But Ellen’s eyes were proof enough. Ellen had been kept by the Others, but she wasn’t part of their pack. One blue eye, one green eye—all the Others Mal had ever encountered had the same pale, almost colorless, eyes. Like their bastard Alpha: Cyrus.Whatever questions he had about the woman, her origins, and her loyalty, he had one answer. They shared a common enemy, and she wanted vengeance almost as much as he did.
...
Olivia took a bite of her apple, watching Oscar wriggle and kick on the floor. He squealed with glee, batting at one of the toys that hung off his play gym.
“Who’s the strongest little guy?” she asked, wiggling his foot.
Olivia had taken one look at Jessa and told her to go to bed. She didn’t know much about pregnancy or childbirth, but Jessa looked close to popping. Her poor feet and hands were swelling, too, something Hollis has sighed over before agreeing with Olivia’s nap suggestion.
“You’re going to be a big brother soon, Oscar,” she said, smiling down at him.
He smiled back, making a long gurgling noise.
“You don’t say?” She lay on her side. “What else is happening down here?”
Oscar turned his head toward her, those big, blue eyes fathomless. He blinked, inspecting her features carefully.
“Your dad looks at me like that sometimes.” Olivia giggled. “I’m pretty sure he thinks Uncle Mal has made a colossal mistake.”
Oscar gurgled again.
“No, no, I’m pretty certain.” She stroked Oscar’s little cheek. “But thanks for trying to make me feel better.”
“How is a one-sided conversation supposed to make you feel better?” Hollis asked, striding into the room. Hollis always seemed like he was late on the way to somewhere important, even when he was just getting a cup of coffee.
“We’re just hanging out,” Olivia offered.
Hollis glanced at her. “You and Oscar?”
She glanced behind her. “Tess was here a minute ago.” No matter how hard Olivia tried to engage the woman in small talk, Tess didn’t budge. She listened to everything being said around her, never interacting or responding. Most of them acted like she wasn’t there. But Olivia and Jessa kept at it while Ellen watched her with narrowed eyes.
“She does that,” Hollis said.
“What?”
“Moves on silent feet.” He came around the couch to sit, carrying his mug with him. “Ellen has the same knack.”
“I trip over my own feet,” Olivia said.
“You lo
ok tired.” Hollis peered at her, his gaze thorough. “Not sleeping?”
She shook her head. “Dreams.”
He nodded. “Vivid?”
“So real,” she agreed.
“What about, if I may ask?” He sipped his coffee.
“A white wolf—Cyrus, I guess.” She shrugged, making a silly face at Oscar. Oscar’s giggle was enough reward.