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“Not sure,” Theo said with a shrug, only now letting himself consider it as a real option. He could stay. Here with his family. The pull was so strong he lost his breath.

He had wanted to pretend he didn’t miss his pack. That he didn’t still feel like a piece of himself was missing. But every day felt like that was going against instinct, like grazing on grass when all he wanted was a damn steak.

They’d treated him like shit, but still he wanted his brothers, his friends, to just fucking care about him.

It was too pathetic to say out loud.

“Nah, he’s gonna stick with that little nymph he brought,” Silas said with a laugh.

“What tree did you find her in?” Felix asked. “Is there like an orchard around here somewhere?”

“Fuck off.” Theo shoved Felix’s arm and the man laughed, shoving him right back. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?” Silas’s gaze was intent on his now. “You show up here with Rafe after all this time, with two small women in tow, demanding to see Knox. What the hell are we supposed to think?”

Theo bristled at Silas’s tone, but the man wasn’t wrong. The whole thing was fucking bizarre. And while most of his pack had welcomed them, he knew there were others who weren’t pleased with the brothers’ arrival. Or with their new friends. “We told you. We’re looking for Ruby’s sister, and we think Knox might know where she is.”

“She’s not here, man.” Felix had stretched out his legs, arms behind his head as he leaned back in his camp chair. “And we haven’t seen Knox in days.”

“Right!” Theo’s voice rose. “Exactly. Isn’t that fucking weird? Where the hell is he?”

Ryder shrugged. “It is kinda strange. But he goes on long hunts all the time.”

Theo huffed. “Some Alpha.”

“Better than fucking Devon,” Silas snapped.

A low chuckle from Felix. “That’s not hard.”

Theo hadn’t been back long enough to have a handle on how his brother ran the pack. He would have to admit that it certainly didn’t seem to be through fear. The pack seemed to be … peaceful at the moment.

But they still seemed so vulnerable, so open to attack, so close to losing everything. Just like they’d always been.

“I’m just trying to help,” Theo went on. “This Lena chick has been missing for days, and Ruby is really worried about her.”

“Theo to the rescue.” Felix grinned. “Saving damsels in distress.”

Theo laughed even as pride swelled in his chest. He didn’t hate that. Theo to the rescue. Wouldn’t it be nice if his pack thought he had a purpose. “Yeah, well, we haven’t found her yet.”

“She’ll turn up. You should stay here in the meantime,” Felix said. “I’m sure Knox won’t care if you keep that nymph around.”

“Her name is Phoebe.”

“Phoebe,” Felix repeated with a wolfish grin. “I’m sure Knox wouldn’t mind if you kept your friend Phoebe around.”

“You think so?” Silas asked, turning toward Felix. “You know how nymphs are.”

Theo bristled at his friend’s tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know.” Silas laughed. “Can’t trust ’em. Sneaky little things.”

It was bullshit his father had spread for years. Devon had hated nymphs, humans, anything that wasn’t wolf.

“Fee’s not like that,” Theo ground out. “That’s some ignorant shit to say.”

Silas held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to insult your friend,” he added with a grin.

Felix was still studying him, even as Silas closed his eyes, soaking in the warmth of the fire and Ryder toyed with the cigarette between his fingers.