Page 44 of Hunter

“Vik.” Hunter slammed his palm onto his desk. “Focus. Now.”

“Yes, yes.” Viktor casually brushed a wolf hair off the arm of the chair. “Continue.”

“Willa needs to go to Guatemala. I need you to flash us there then to New Orleans.” Hunter turned to address his beta. “I need you to keep things running while I’m away. I’ll be gone a day. Two tops. The rogues are going to keep after Willa, so they probably won’t be back.”

“Guatemala? Where in Guatemala?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re staying here.”

“I’m no detective but I’m pretty sure returning to the scene of the crime isn’t going to be a good idea,” the beta challenged.

“I hear you. But she’s got some business she has to attend to before we do anything else. She was doing research. Sounds like someone might be after it.”

Viktor’s eyes grew darker as he thought on the Alpha’s statement. “Something they wanted? I imagine it must have to do with Hell. Why else would the wolves want it?”

“The details aren’t important right now,” Hunter hedged. “What’s important is that she destroy it.”

“No worries. I’ll keep the pack safe,” Remus told Hunter.

“I need you to keep watch over Julian. He checked out with Jake, but I don’t trust him. That said, I don’t want him harmed. Got me?”

“Yeah, all right.” Remus stared blankly at his Alpha.

“Just keep him here in the house. If he leaves, don’t follow him. I don’t want any trouble.” Hunter scrubbed his beard.

“I sense an issue, oh great one. Do tell, do tell.” Viktor’s face flashed with a devious smile.

“Look, you’re both gonna find out sooner or later.” Hunter sighed, his eyes on the vampire. “Julian is her brother.”

“What the hell? No, that dude needs to go,” Remus insisted.

“I don’t trust him, but I’ve got no choice. The bottom line is that he’s not just her brother. He’s Jake’s brother too. Julian told me he helped catch the rogue. Is that true?”

“He was with him. Fighting. But still. Just because he had him pinned to the ground, that doesn’t mean he’s innocent. He’s playing us.”

“We’ll soon see,” Hunter began. “Keep an eye on him. If he’s Willa’s brother…”

“Willa is some bitch you rescued in Hell. Now that she’s fucked you, she’s got your mind all screwed up,” Remus challenged.

The Alpha sprang to his feet and rushed toward his beta. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, slamming him against a wall.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that again. Am I making myself clear?” the Alpha growled.

“Yeah, sure.” Remus broke free of Hunter’s grip and rubbed at his chest.

Hunter turned around and averted his feral gaze, aware of his exaggerated response. Fucking hell, what am I doing? What’s wrong with me?

“This really is going to be interesting to watch.” Viktor gave a small chuckle.

“Shut it, vamp. I’ve got enough issues going on without listening to your shit.”

“Hmm…let me think on it.” Viktor cocked his head as if he were deep in thought and gave a broad smile. “No.”

“You’re an asshole, you know that, right? I should have left your ass in Hell.”

“Ah, my dear Alpha. You don’t know me very well, but I am loyal to a fault. While I do appreciate your heroic actions, I’m not going anywhere.” The smile disappeared from his face, his expression serious. “I owe Willa. I could have hurt her.”

“But you didn’t.”