Chapter 135

Sarah POV

“How did you know the servers were alphas in disguise?” Melissa asked.

We had both sat down in large, comfortable armchairs that faced each other over a small coffee table. If it weren’t for the twenty monitors on the wall, it could have been the living room of someone’s apartment. There was even a little side table with drinks.

“Do you think there are MREs in the closet?” I asked back, then realized I was being rude again. “That waitress who took my plate was wearing contacts and had dyed her hair.”

Melissa looked at me blankly, and I told her my usual explanation about having to watch werewolves closely to pay attention to social cues. Then I explained about the other server and the cart.

She nodded, and we watched the monitors together in an oddly comfortable silence. One screen showed all the elevators had been recalled to the ground floor and another showed people flowing smoothly out of the front entrance.

As we watched, a large white van pulled up with the words Bomb Disposal written on the side. Some of the people who saw it turned around and walked the other way. Meanwhile, several people in bulky bodysuits exited the van, put on helmets, and made their way inside the hotel.

“I can’t imagine doing that job,” Melissa said quietly. “Hey, there’s a bomb. Let’s go walk over to it and poke at it.”

A nervous laugh escaped me. “I’m seriously hoping they’re better at their jobs than that, but yes, I wouldn’t want to do that work.”

A firetruck pulled up next, and I saw the hotel’s staff moving cars out of the area and redirecting foot traffic. Another screen caught my eye, and I saw two hotel staff members helping a human teenage boy leave his room in a wheelchair. He looked worried, but the staff were obviously trying to be reassuring.

I watched as the bomb squad walked into the lobby. I noticed hotel staff were moving their large bell carts from the doors even as another screen showed staff clearing the hallways of housekeeping and room service carts.

The lead bomb squad person was telling what looked like the day manager something, waving around the large lobby. The manager nodded and got on their phone. Soon, all the hotel employees were leaving, though they were being careful to help guests out the doors as well.

“When we’re interviewed about this later, I hope we can explain how brave and sensible everyone is being,” she said next.

“I didn’t realize hotel staff were trained to look after guests like the crew of a ship looking after the passengers,” I said. “But of course, it makes sense.”

“As long as this hotel isn’t named the Titanic.”

I laughed again.

“There’s Buddy,” I said, pointing to the screen showing the lobby. He was pointing toward what I thought was the conference room.

“His name is Buddy? He looks like a Liam.”

“He has a very particular set of skills,” I said with a rough voice, getting her to laugh this time.

We watched as four members of the bomb squad gathered around the leader. They all turned to look at a side entrance, and through the double doors rolled a robot with a wheeled platform holding what looked like a small white-and-blue submersible.

Another bomb quad person walked behind the contraption holding a device that must have been steering the robot, which was making its slow, careful way across the marble floor.

“Think they’re going to put the bomb in that thing?” Melissa asked.

“Yes.” I sighed and tried to relax. “I sure hope the girls aren’t watching this on TV.”

“Grace and Chloe? Yes, I hope so too. I was sorry I didn’t get to meet them when I visited you and Alpha Zane.”

“You’ll meet them next time, I’m sure.”

“Are they in school right now?”

“Yes, and if I find out some numbskull has pulled them out of class to worry about this, they’ll be hearing about it.”

“I don’t—”

The phone rang. I all but leapt out of my chair to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Sarah? That’s you? Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine, and so is Melissa. We’re in a safe room.”

“Yes, Buddy told me. The entire hotel could collapse around you, and you’d be fine. I’ve told them I want you kept in there until the bomb’s been taken care of and they’ve given the hotel a complete sweep.”

“All right.” I looked around the room at a sudden worry.

“I’ve also been told there’s a restroom for you in there and a closet full of food.”

I laughed. “Do they have any idea who’s behind this?”

“Not yet, but I’m coordinating with the emergency teams and the police. We’ll find out, but I’m betting it’s that same group that took a potshot at you outside the hospital.”

“We’ll be fine in here, Zane. You do whatever you need to do.”

“I hear you’re the one who raised the alarm.”

“There were two alphas dressed up as gamma servers.”

“Well done. And don’t worry, I’ve made sure the girls aren’t told a word about this.”

I sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, Sarah, for everything. I’ll call back as soon as there’s anything you might want to know.”

“Goodbye for now, then.”

“Yes.” We both hung up.

I returned to my chair and told Melissa how safe the room was and that the girls were being kept away from the TV.

“Good.” She looked at her watch. “I expect I’ll be getting a call soon as well from one of my handlers.”

“Your what?”

She waved a hand vaguely, then turned serious.

“You do realize why I’m here, right?” she asked.

“You’re here to see if Zane and you will mate.”

“Sort of. I’m here to see if Alpha Cavendish wants to form an alliance with Alpha Thibodaux, one which may or may not involve a mating.”

“What sort of alliance?” I asked, then I noticed something on a screen. “They’ve gotten the robot to the conference room.”

“Yes.” We watched together as the machine edged its way into the cavernous meeting room.

“Those chandeliers,” I muttered.

“What?”

“The lights, I noticed them before. Even if that’s a small bomb, all that broken glass raining down on everyone would have done so much damage.”

“Lots of blood for the cameras,” she agreed darkly. “An economic alliance, mostly. We’ve had a nonaggression pact with this territory for generations.”

“I know. I’ve wanted to visit Thibodaux Territory. I hear you have some lovely mountains.”

“The Grand Tetons? Yes, I went rafting down the Snake River twice now, and I want to do it again.”

“I’ve never been on a river in my life,” I said absently, watching the robot creep toward the cart. The probably-a-bomb got bigger every time I looked at it.

“That’s right. You had a somewhat modest lifestyle before you and Alpha Zane met, I believe. You’ve adjusted admirably, and I say that honestly. You’ve handled instant fame better than everyone I’ve ever seen.”

I wanted to look at her and smile, but my eyes were glued to the screen now. “Thank you.” A thought struck me. “You’re very good at it too.”