She swallowed hard at that. She either had very powerful friends she didn’t know about or very ruthless enemies. They’d just painted a huge target on her back. “Which means?”
“Congratulations. With your background, you’ve been grandfathered into the force without all that rigmarole. Sign the papers and you’re in. You will be issued a gun, a badge and the right to review every criminal case involving anything paranormal.” Scotts sounded as world-weary and tired as any cop who had over ten years in service. “Oh, and lousy pay.”
Raven blindly looked at the innocent crumpled envelope, half determined to toss the thing in the trash.
“Think very carefully before you decide.” Scotts disappeared within the bustle of the stationhouse without another word.
She didn’t know if the advice was a threat or plea, but she knew that if she didn’t take this step, she’d just worked her last case for the police. After the way things had ended last night, she thought maybe that was for the best.
She turned on her heel and left, desperately in need of air. The bright sun kissed her skin, but did little to penetrate the deep cold leeching away the last fragments of warmth her body had hoarded.
Taggert stepped in front of her, blocking her exit on the sidewalk. “Jackson wouldn’t have left voluntarily. If he left at all, it was because he had to follow orders.”
“Would he? Now that he has his wolf back, would he really want to stay and do his baby-sitting duty?”
Taggert’s jaw tightened at her taunt, but he didn’t back down. “He wouldn’t leave you without a direct order. Even if he’d wanted to stay, they wouldn’t have allowed him.”
She glanced away, and Taggert shifted to stand in front of her again, his whole body filling her vision. “You can’t believe everything you see or hear in other packs. They deal in politics. No pack is willing to work with another without compensation. They deal in lies. They steal. If they see you as weak, they’ll attack. He’s useful to them again, so they recalled him.”
“And the rule about us not being allowed to be alone? The whole reason for the chaperone?” She was grasping at straws, but didn’t care.
“Pack can recall their enforcers at any time.”
“No matter if it left you in danger or not.”
Taggert shrugged. “You can petition the council, but since you already mated me, I’m not sure it would matter.”
Determined to retrieve Jackson and fulfill her promise to him, she lifted her chin. “Where did they take him?”
Taggert touched her arm. “If we go now, they’ll see it as an act of aggression.”
“Jackson’s back to being the enforcer. He’ll be safe enough for now.” Durant spoke for the first time, his voice a rumble at her back. “The conclave gathers in ten days. You’ll have a chance to express your interest in him then.”
Though Durant might not like Jackson, he was willing to help her retrieve him. For her. “And they’ll just hand him over?” Her hands curled into fists at the thought of being denied, her skin crackling as energy swirled to life around her.
Durant and Taggert didn’t look at each other with so much as a flicker of an eyelash, raising her suspicions. “As long as his alpha or the council approves the mating.”
She narrowed her eyes and braced herself. “Tell me the rest.”
“You’re a new alpha. Though unlikely, someone could challenge your pack status. Another complication is the meeting takes place during a full moon.” They both paused and gazed at her as if she was supposed to know what the hell they were talking about.
“And?”
Taggert winced while Durant smiled. “What they say about the full moon having an effect on the shifters is true. The animal side of our nature is more pronounced, and the need to mate increases.”
“So?”
“What he’s trying to say is now that you’re pack, you might be affected as well.”
She licked her lips, uncertain where this was heading. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Durant smiled again, a wickedness gleaming in his gaze. “The meeting will also be a place where other packs scope out potential lovers. If you’re there, you’ll be sure to receive offers.” Now his smile disappeared, and a shiver passed over her when his gaze sharpened possessively on her face. “You will be one of the few female alphas present.”
“I can take care of myself.” Neither of them said a word. “Anyway, I’ll have my hands full focusing on Jackson. No one will approach me.”
Durant and Taggert shared a glance that all men share when they thought a female was being unreasonable. She hated that look. Taggert broke the silence first. “They won’t give him up without a price. You didn’t mark him when he had leave from the pack, so if you want him, you’ll either have to fight for him or bargain with his alpha to get him back.”