The table fell silent. Kane set his cup down with a definite thud and stood up, concern etched on his features. “Call Franz and Michael. We’ll set up a grid and go searching. I’ll meet you at the edge of the woods.” He turned to go then paused, looking back at Elise. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Nodding, Elise got up and followed him out of the room. Once they were by themselves, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Elise. It’s your first day here and all I’ve done is ignore you. I have to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I understand. Do you think something serious has happened?”
“Thomas has only recently mated and there’s no way he’d be late getting home. Last week we found a whole line of traps in the area he’d have been patrolling. I’m worried the traps were reset and he stepped in one.”
Elise paled, thinking of her mother. “I hope he’s all right.”
“Me too.” Kane stared off into the distance, squeezing her shoulders tightly. She winced at the pressure.
John popped his head in. “Franz and Michael will be here in five minutes. I’m heading out to the tree line.”
Kane nodded then looked down at Elise. “Carrie and Helen will take care of you. Ask them if you need anything.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss and then left.
Elise made her way back to the dining room and joined the other two ladies in clearing the table and putting away the leftovers. It had been a pleasant meal and she was sorry it had ended so abruptly and on such a down note. She’d never thought about how busy her father was as Alpha but now she was seeing a whole different side to the job. Maybe Helen was right and Kane would have to set up ‘office hours’—not that she was sure how much time she wanted to spend with him—but since they were mated for life, developing some sort of relationship would seem to be necessary.
After cleaning the kitchen and doing the dishes, the three women sat down to watch TV in the new recreation room. Large overstuffed chairs circled the high-tech flat screen and a fire was burning cheerily in the corner taking the chill off the room. Elise declined the honour of controlling the remote and Carrie flicked through the channels before finding a favourite show.
At first, Elise tried to concentrate on the drama unfolding on the screen but found her gaze drifting more and more towards the other two women. Helen and Carrie kept shooting each other glances and seemed to be exceptionally tense. Finally, Elise gave up the pretence of not noticing and when the next commercial came on, turned to confront them.
“I’ve noticed you two looking at each other. Is there something else going on besides Thomas being missing?”
“It’s probably nothing.” Carrie stared down at her belly, stroking the child within.
“That’s right. We’re just being foolish. Thomas is simply late.” Helen bounced to her feet. “Why don’t I make us some popcorn?”
“No, thank you.” Elise bit back the desire to growl. They were hiding something from her and she didn’t like it. “If this is to be my new home, I need to know what’s going on, don’t you think?”
“Well, yes...” Carrie twisted her fingers and looked towards Helen.
Sitting back down, Helen sighed. “We aren’t trying to hide things from you, Elise. It’s just that Kane indicated that he wanted to explain the situation to you himself.”
“What situation? And why does Kane have to be the one to tell me?”
“Because it involves Kane on a personal level and he wants you to understand where he’s coming from.”
Elise frowned. “How does Thomas not coming home, involve Kane?”
“Well, possibly it might not...” Carrie let her voice trail off and shifted in her seat. “We’re just not sure. As I said, it could be nothing.”
Throwing up her hands in despair, Elise flopped back in the chair. “You’re talking in circles. Kane said it was possible that Thomas stepped in a trap left by hunters. How could that personally involve Kane beyond the fact that he’s the Alpha?”
“Well, if it really was set by human hunters, then it wouldn’t involve Kane and we certainly hope that’s the case.” Helen nodded as if her positive thoughts could make the situation true.
“If it involves human hunters? What other kind is there?” Elise tried to wrap her brain around this new puzzle. What was there besides human hunters? Surely not... The very idea made her gasp. “Another Lycan setting traps? But why? That’s absurd!”
The two women exchanged anxious glances again and then Helen spoke. “It’s complicated. Suffice to say that there’s been some controversy and division in the pack. We’d hoped it was over, but recent events are leading us to believe otherwise.”