I managed to recover. “It doesn’t matter.”
He scrunched up his face. “Why not?”
“We’re…. Nothing lasts forever. There’s always been Bennetts. And because of it, we’ve always had to fight for our lives, whether it be hunters or wolves or witches. We lead because we’re told it’s what we’re supposed to do. But sometimes I wonder if it isn’t time to let someone else take charge. A new line. New blood. Crowns are heavy when you have to wear them all the time.”
“I get that,” he said. “But if not you, then who?”
“I don’t know. There are children in Caswell. Some will be Alphas. They should get the chance to do what we’ve done.”
He looked dubious. “What does Joe think about all that?”
“You’d have to ask him.”
He patted the back of my hand. “I don’t think it’s something we’ll have to worry about for a long time. You’ll be here when I’m nothing but bones in the ground.”
“You think so?”
He smiled. “I do. You’ve got a long life ahead of you, Carter. And one I hope is filled with happiness.” A clatter came from the kitchen, and we looked over to see Dominique chasing Gavin through the door, his mouth filled with bacon. She chased him around the counter, eyes flashing. “Yes,” Will said. “Every happiness indeed. And look at that, right on time. Larry’s here for his twelve-thirty appointment with our illustrious mayor. Fair warning, he’s going to bitch about quite a few things like he always does. Just smile and nod and let him vent. Then give him what he wants, because it’s not that big of a deal. Larry! You old cuss. How you been? Sit down, sit down. Mayor Bennett’s been expecting you.”
“HE CAME FROM THE WOODS,” Aileen said, her voice crackling through the phone. Ox had switched it over to the speaker, and we stood around the desk in the office, listening. “Human. On two legs. Found some clothes somewhere. He came to the wards.”
“Did he speak?” Gordo asked.
“No. Just… stood there. Watching us. He—wait. Here’s Patrice. He’ll tell you.” The connection was muffled for a moment as the phone exchanged hands thousands of miles away.
“Oxnard?” Patrice asked.
“We’re here,” Ox said, leaning over the desk, hands flat against the wood. “What did he do?”
“Don’t know,” Patrice said, and he sounded frustrated. “Not much, as far as I can tell. Just stood dere. Didn’t try and touch da wards. Didn’t try and cross dem. Eye was red.”
“What else?” Joe asked, because he could hear as well as the rest of us that Patrice was holding back.
Patrice hesitated. Then, “He wasn’t alone.”
Joe narrowed his eyes. “Who was with him?”
“Wolf,” Patrice said. “A Beta. A man.”
“How the hell did he get through the wards?” Gordo asked, looking at Mark, who shook his head.
“Can’t say,” Patrice said. “Shouldn’t have been possible. But it’s dere all da same. Recognized him too. Saw him once in Caswell. Santos, he’s called.”
Robbie grunted as if gut-punched. “Shit.”
“Santos?” Elizabeth asked. “Why is that name familiar?”
“He was in Caswell,” Kelly said as Robbie paled. “Robbie knew him. Livingstone used him to guard the house Dale was kept in.”
Gordo scowled at the mention of the witch.
“He didn’t like me,” Robbie said quietly. “I thought it was because I c
ame out of nowhere and Michelle made me her second. Maybe it wasn’t about Michelle at all.”
Ox looked at him, then back at the phone. “Patrice, the wards are still intact?”
“Oh yeah. But Ox, if dere’s one, den dere could be more. It’s a big place he’s in. We’ve got it surrounded, but….”