Apollo's mouth dipped into a deep frown. "That would be the question of the day, but I suggest that we figure it out soon or things could get a lot more interesting around here. I refuse to let them have Molly."
Iben's eyes narrowed. "They won't get their hands on that adorable little girl, not if there is a breath left in my body."
Considering the abilities that Alpha Ibenré Khenti had, that said a lot.
"I think we need to call a few of our friends and figure out what the council is after, and if they are indeed after Molly, then why." Iben's hands fisted, his anger a living entity in his eyes. "I refuse to sit in the dark any longer."
"Who do you suggest we call?"
Iben's grin was bone chilling. "I have a few ideas."
Chapter 10
Grayson stood on the far side of the room and stared at the two strangers Iben had called in. He was a tall man, a muscular man. These two men were not nearly as big as he was. They were more Iben's size, and yet Grayson feared to go near them. Every time either of them scanned the room, Grayson felt like all of the oxygen had been sucked out of the place.
Their eyes were red, like … bloodred. Grayson wondered if they were contacts. He couldn't imagine anyone using red contacts unless it was Halloween, and it wasn't. Of course, the fear factor from the crimson orbs was pretty damn good. Grayson knew he didn't like it when he fell under their steady stare. He felt like those eyes could see right down into his soul.
Even Ares seemed wary of them, and according to Apollo, that was almost unheard of. The only thing Apollo could think of that his brother was afraid of was something happening to Simon. And yet, Ares gave these men a wide berth and plenty of respect.
Grayson juggled Molly in his arms and leaned his head down toward Apollo, whispering, "Just who are these men again?"
"Humans, if you can believe that," Apollo said. His voice was filled with awe. "Iben said he met them in Paris several years ago. They were being attacked by a group of rogue shifters. Iben stepped in to help, and apparently, they feel that they owe him. He called. They came, no questions asked."
"Well," Grayson said, still whispering, "maybe you should ask then. I'm not sure I'm real comfortable with letting our little secret out to complete strangers."
Even as he spoke, the dark-haired man lifted his head and looked straight at him as if he could hear Grayson speaking from across the room. Not even Iben had heard him, so Grayson wanted to believe his words had gone unheard, but the glint of interest in the man's eyes said differently.
Apollo pursed his lips for a moment before answering, "I think Iben already told them about Molly."
"What?" Grayson swung around to stare at his mate, fear pounding through him. "And he didn't think to ask us first if that was okay?"
Apollo's features softened, his clenched jaw loosening. "Honey, I'm sure that Iben would have talked to us about it if there had been time, but there just wasn't. He needed to bring these guys in as fast as possible and as quietly as possible."
Grayson's lips parted in surprise. "Why?"
"The Righteous brothers are here only for one reason, and Iben doesn't want anyone to know what that reason is."
The Righteous brothers?
Really?
"Considering this has to do with Molly, I think I need to know."
Apollo chuckled. "No, I meant anyone else. Iben doesn't want the council to get wind of the fact that we're going to start investigating them."
Grayson's eyebrows climbed up his face in his shock. "We're investigating the council?"
Was that even allowed?
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Apollo didn't ask that question. He was too busy standing there with his mouth hanging open. Grayson slowly turned toward the man who had spoken, and then looked down. Geez, the guy was even shorter than Apollo.
"Do you have a problem with us investigating the council?" the dark-haired man repeated.
"No," Grayson answered honestly. He would not be intimidated by a man almost a foot shorter than him, no matter how lethal he was. "I have a problem with people making decisions about my family without talking to me first."
The man's eyes became flat and as unreadable as stones. "Fair enough."
That surprised Grayson. He didn't think the man would agree with him when he was the decision in question. "I'm sure my alpha meant the best," he said, trying to soothe over any perceived insult. "And as my alpha, he doesn't have an obligation to share his plans with me. But this is my niece in question and-"
One dark eyebrow curved up. "Niece?"
Oops.
"Never mind," Grayson said quickly.
"Oh, now you have me curious."
"Yeah, well." Grayson smiled as he pressed his lips together, praying a large hole would open up and swallow him. "It's probably a good thing you're not a cat then."
"No, I hear being a wolf is so much more exciting."
Yep, big ol' hole.
Grayson shoved his hands into his back pocket and began rocking on the heels of his feet. He really needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut. This was probably the reason he wasn't part of the inner circle. He had zero filter on his brain.
Grayson was saved from having to stick his foot any further into his mouth when Zack opened the front door and two older men walked in, one of them looking slightly familiar.
When Iben gave them a welcoming smile and walked up to hug one, shaking the hand of the other, Grayson relaxed. It was obvious now that they were standing together that the one Iben had hugged was his father. Grayson didn't have a clue who the other one was.
Almost the second Zack closed the door he opened it back up. Grayson felt his face flush when Alpha Sanchez walked in, carrying his daughter. Another man, one that was obviously a beta by the way he scanned the room and then stood silently next to his alpha, followed him.
"This is like a horrible nightmare," Grayson whispered. He had used a supposed connection to Alpha Sanchez to gain access to the Aberdeen Pack, more specifically, to Alpha Iben.
Apollo just chuckled, the traitor.
Grayson stiffened when Alpha Sanchez set his daughter on the floor in the middle of the living room with Molly and then walked over to stand in front of him. His expression was stoic, almost assessing.
Grayson tilted his head just enough to show the alpha respect.
"I understand that we're related."
Grayson gulped as he rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Alpha Sanchez's inquisitive-and oddly amused-gaze. "Uh, well … uh, about that … "
Grayson felt like he was up against a firing squad when Iben walked up with the two older men, all of them staring at him. The slight twist to Iben's lips was the scariest of all. The alpha was up to something.
Alpha Sanchez folded his hands together in front of him, a friendly smile making him seem years younger. "We're going to miss you at the Sanchez pack, brother."
Brother? Grayson's eyebrows shot up.
"I'm going to especially miss my niece and nephew," the alpha continued as he glanced toward the middle of the room where the kids were playing. "After the passing of their mother, I can understand why you would look for a mate outside of our pack. It has to be really hard on you after living there so long, raising a family with your human mate and then losing her when Molly was born."
Grayson carefully cataloged everything the alpha was saying because he knew it was important, even if he was pretty sure the man had lost his ever-loving mind.
"I'm just glad you found another mate in a pack so close to our own. It'll be good for Teresa to be able to play with her cousins."
Grayson swallowed hard when Alpha Sanchez looked back at him. "Yes, I know how much family means and it's important that Molly and CJ grow up where they are happy and safe."
"Exactly." Alpha Sanchez's grin grew wider. "I believe it's really important for Molly and Teresa to grow up close to each other." The man's jaw firmed, the smile sliding from his face. "After all, they have so much in common, what with both of them losing their mothers at birth."
Grayson glanced at the two small girls. They were about the same age, maybe just a few months difference. Grayson knew that the alpha was telling him something beyond the fact that they had both lost their mothers at such an early age-especially considering Molly hadn't lost her mother at birth-and he was pretty damn sure he knew what it was.
"Paolo and his beta are going to stick around for the barbecue we had planned with my father and Elder Fielding, help us keep an eye on the kids," Iben said, turning the conversation away from the two small girls. "I've already promised Apollo that I would make a plate for you both. It'll be in the fridge waiting for you when you return."
"Return?" Grayson glanced at his mate. "Are we going somewhere?"