Chapter 222

Sarah POV

Two days after our “day off,” we were flying to Orleans Territory, where we would meet up not only with fifty-odd Pack Alphas but also the full complement of Operation Lieutenant.

Zane saw me smiling to myself and leaned in to murmur over the roar of the Gulfstream, “Something fun to share?”

“Our conspiracy group,” I said. “We’ve never been all in one room together before. What if it turns out we don’t actually like each other?”

He chuckled. “You just watch. I bet the Torrins will adopt Delia.”

“I still can’t believe they didn’t warn us about Matthew’s revolution.”

Zane shrugged. “Loose lips. The ambassador had a lot on her plate.”

“So, tell me why there are fifty Pack Alphas at this summit when the last one had two hundred.”

“Because the purpose of the annual summit is to have everyone brush elbows, which is why I didn’t mind skipping it this year. This is a meeting to actually get work done.”

I looked over to the girls, who were working on their tablets. They’d asked if we could bring Dr. Hayes with us, but it wouldn’t have been practical. Instead, he’d been sending them practice exams for the end of term.

“I swear, they’ve grown a foot in the past week,” I sighed.

Zane nodded but looked distracted. “What?” I asked.

“I know you sort of just did the social bit at your last summit. I’d like you to play a more active role in the politics, however tedious they can get.”

“Sure, but why?”

“In the six conversations I’ve had with other Pack Alphas about this meeting, you’ve been mentioned six times. They’re all intensely curious about you.”

“About what you and I are to each other, you mean?”

“Nothing so prurient, or gossipy.” He looked at me. “You’re an enigma, Sarah, not a wolf but not really just human either, and you know it.”

“The fact that I can spirit walk doesn’t mean I’m not human.”

“They know the Luna Temple tried to keep you, and I hear Janine’s been telling her lawyer and her cellmate that you’re a Moon Wolf.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re an unknown, and Pack Alphas don’t like the unknown. I’m not asking you to form any peace treaties, but I need you to stay with me and get to know these alphas as people, not just pack leaders.”

I nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

We landed a couple hours after that and were whisked away by security to Pack Alpha Colette’s third or fourth palace, where our luggage was taken and our security was briefed on their roles. Unexpectedly, the Pack Alpha greeted us personally and invited us to her apartments.

Once at her opulent but tasteful personal parlor, we met two pups, one a beta girl a little older than Grace and Chloe and one a slightly older alpha male.

“These are my pups, Philippe and Jaqueline,” she told us.

“Jackie, Mom,” the girl said with a roll of her eyes.

“Pups, where’s your father?”

“Making sure everyone gets to their rooms,” the alpha boy said, eyeing Grace and Chloe with open curiosity.

“Well, these are Chloe and Grace.”

The children all said hello to each other, standing there somewhat awkwardly.

“I was hoping you could all play together for a bit while I talk to Pack Alpha Zane and Miss Astor.” She smiled hopefully.

Philippe and Jaqueline looked at each other then back at the girls.

“You wanna see our horses?” Philippe asked.

“Yes!” Chloe said. “What kind do you have?”

The pups all but ran from the room, and their mother looked after them with open affection. Then she smiled at us.

“I hear you like tea,” she said.

“Love it,” I said as Zane nodded amiably.

She led us over to a grouping of red chairs and a settee around an ornate coffee table. She rang a bell, and a gamma walked in with a tray.

“You have a lovely parlor, Pack Alpha Colette,” I said.

She waved a hand. “Please, it’s just Colette when it’s just us. And may I call you Sarah?”

“Please.”

She looked uncertainly at Zane while the gamma put out the tea set. “I’m not sure I can be bold enough to call you Zane without an invitation.”

“Consider yourself invited.” Zane smiled warmly.

She nodded at the gamma, who left, and then picked up the teapot and poured what smelled like jasmine pearls. “So, no hard feelings about Matthew?”

“It’s not how I would have done it,” Zane said somewhat carefully. “But it is, after all, done. So far, the fallout hasn’t been too bad.”

“Well, that’s what we’re all here to discuss, I suppose.” She watched as we picked up our cups, picked up her own, and leaned back. The red fabric of the chair was lovely against her pale skin and complimented her deeply black hair.

“But if you don’t mind terribly, I just wanted to get to know you both.”

Zane sent me a look while Colette was busy stirring her tea.

“In particular,” she continued, “I was hoping to learn a bit more about this ‘Operation Lieutenant’ I keep hearing about.”

I laughed but then smothered it when she and Zane just looked at me. “What would you like to know?” Zane asked.

“Well, what it is, to start with.”

“It’s a group we’ve formed to help us with various affairs connected to domestic issues, such as the human trafficking ring we’re still trying to see all wind up in jail.”

“Ah yes, horrible business that. You’ve convicted almost a hundred wolves at this point, and I hear Maldrid Territory has jailed almost as many.”

“Yes, they were foolish to flee there just because Pack Alpha Joaquin is young and supposedly inexperienced.”

“Agreed.” She nodded with satisfaction. “He’s got one of the best Territorial Guards in the hemisphere with a beta general who’s got more smarts than any ten alphas put together.”

“That general is your brother, I believe,” Zane said.

She laughed lightly. “So, you put together a sort of task force to help you with things like that?”

“Yes.” Zane smiled.

Colette put down her tea cup and leaned forward. “Zane, I recognize your need to show strength with other Pack Alphas, but there’s no need to be reticent with me. Just because Ambassador Torrin and her son have both refused to discuss the particulars of your ‘lieutenants’ with me doesn’t mean I’m in the dark about the rogue attack on Grace, the assassination attempt on Sarah, or the other attacks on your household.

Zane didn’t answer as he set his own cup down.

“Let me be blunt,” she said. “Cavendish Territory is one of the strongest allies Orleans has, and I have no desire to see your household weakened by some craven anti-human fanatics. In short, I want to help, if I can.”

Zane thought about that, then nodded slightly to himself and then to me. “Thank you. I will let you know.”

“However, I do confess to wanting to ask a favor.”

“Oh?”

“As you may have heard, music is something of a passion for my territory, and I’m particularly devoted to it. Would it be possible to hear your daughter sing while you are here?”

Zane looked at me, and I shrugged. “I will ask Grace. Ultimately, it will be up to her.”

“Of course.” Colette took up her teapot and poured another round.