“Don’t be foolish.”
A vein throbbed along his neck. “It was your decision to bring him into the pack. We don’t leave one of our own behind.”
“I recognize some of these shifters.” Dina’s soft voice broke through the argument, and Dominic’s confusing comment about pack.
“What?”
Dina didn’t lift her attention from the pictures. “Three of them were part of my Recovery Group.”
Her words confused Raven more. “What group?”
Raven had pulled people out of the rubble when the labs were destroyed, doubling back to ensure that the guards wouldn’t be able to track them, but she didn’t recall any such recovery group after everyone scattered.
Dina’s normally soft, doe eyes were hard when she glanced up. “Some of the shifters released from the labs weren’t ready to be set free into society. I created a group to help them adjust to civilization.”
Hurt flickered through Raven at being excluded. After she’d destroyed the lab, she’d suffered severe burnout, her powers flickering on and off unchecked. Afraid that she’d actually hurt people if she lingered, she’d put all her concentration into pulling out every bit of technology from in the labs. People needed that money and those files to help make a clean break.
She hadn’t even realized they needed her help. Though she wasn’t a true shifter, she was desperately jealous of the pack Dina had created.
Dina shook her head as if to deny her thoughts. “You had other things on your mind. You did enough by rescuing us all. I saw the toll it had on you.” She touched the papers on the desk. “You brought us together, you made us a pack. These people didn’t have anyone. Some of them were born behind those bars. They didn’t know how to handle outside people or wide open spaces. I created a network where they could rely on each other to survive.”
One word slammed into her mind.
Pack.
They considered her pack.
After years of always being on the fringes, afraid to get too close, hearing that they considered her one of them sent turmoil swirling.
“And as pack, we don’t leave anyone behind.” Dominic nodded to the desk. “Explain what this means. Something flickered in your eyes when you viewed the pictures.”
Air in the room became thin. She couldn’t allow them to stay. She couldn’t allow anyone to hurt them. Without them, she had nothing.
Jackson’s palm covered her shoulder. She jumped, tried to jerk away, only to have his grip tighten.
“Breathe.” The word was soft enough only she heard it. Fresh air filled her lungs. It smelled of Jackson and wolf.
The phone rang, but no one moved, waiting for her to spill what she knew. The answering machine picked up.
A man nervously cleared his throat. “Uhm, Raven? I know you’re not on the case anymore, but there’s another body delivered this morning that you need to see.” The man cleared his throat again. “This is Ross.” The call cut off abruptly.
Raven ignored their stares as she rose.
“This isn’t over.” Dominic sounded resigned, but didn’t object to her leaving.
Jackson ghosted her movements. When they reached her room, he shut the door carefully and advanced on her. She resisted the urge to back up.
“You have a plan.” There was no question in his oh-too-casual voice. He crossed his arms over the large expanse of his chest.
She had to admit he was impressive...er...imposing. Neither meant he would get his way. “Working on one. Why don’t you take the shower first?”
His smile was all teeth. “I think not.”
Raven resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I believe I can manage to find the morgue by myself.”
Jackson grunted.
“You heard Ross’ call. It’s not like I’m trying to sneak out.”
“Fine.”
His easy acceptance threw her. She never expected him to relent, and it left her off-kilter. The bastard was up to something. She narrowed her eyes, wishing she’d listened to Dominic when he said shifters were tricky bastards. “Fine?”
“Promise to come right back.”
She pursed her lips, but didn’t answer.
“Promise or I’ll follow you.” It was a threat. He crowded near, his wolf so close to the surface that it splashed over her in waves. Delicious heat radiated from him. Inviting her to touch. She curled her hands into fists, unable to back away from the temptation. It was all she could do to remain still.
“I promise.” She agreed more in hopes that he’d back away and give her room to breathe. Lord knew she didn’t have enough strength to walk away from him and the need building inside her.