Chapter 204: Jack-Eye: The Old Ways

JACK-EYE

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I stare at the screen to make sure I’m not hallucinating.

But no, the display is very clear, announcing I’ve been on the phone with contact "King Dumbass" for forty-seven seconds.

There’s only one "King Dumbass" in my contact list, and he’s thankfully oblivious to what I’ve named him. It changes every so often. For a few months he was Alpha Shitface, until Caine happened to see a message thread and asked who it was. Still can’t remember what lie I pulled out of my ass that day, but it worked.

It’s a perk of being best friends; you can name your boss whatever you want and probably survive when he finds out because he’s so sick of your bullshit he’ll just let it slide.

"I’m sorry, say that again, boss?"

Caine’s irritation is palpable even in the slightly staticky silence. "I said we’re putting together a forum to listen to their goddamn complaints."

Okay, that’s what I thought he said.

"You are?"

"Yes."

"Without me?"

Sigh. "Yes."

When I pull the phone away from my ear again, it still declares I’m on the line with "King Dumbass".

"Who’s helping you?" I ask suspiciously, because there’s no way Caine’s capable of the amount of patience this kind of thing requires.

"Do you think I’m incapable of gathering a few wolves and listening to what they have to say?" he snaps, and I nod vehemently, wishing he could see me.

"Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying."

Silence for about two-point-three seconds, then, "I’m going to kill you."

"No, you’re not. You’re too dependent on my pretty face and you have no idea how to add appointments to your calendar app."

Silence again. "Why the hell are you even calling?"

Ah.

Right.

"Just updating you. Doesn’t look like we have signal down in the tunnels, still haven’t seen even the tip of Halloway’s tail, but we’ve rescued about thirty-five shifters. I know you’re busy there in Blue Mountain, but I think you should send Dylan up here."

Caine grunts. "Fiddleback isn’t a large pack. The territory can be absorbed by their neighbors."

"Agreed, but the problem is the mess they’ve left behind. I’m not sure what a neighboring alpha might walk into, and we don’t need them following Halloway’s footsteps."

Another grunt. "Not Dylan. He’s helping me with the forum."

the phone. "So you need help after all,

Caine snaps, his voice carrying that special strain of annoyance he reserves just for me. The one that

No need to antagonize him further when I need something. "If you can’t spare Dylan, perhaps send someone from home. We need bodies here. Every time I head back underground, the victims are

his temple. It’s like he’s here in the room with me, only better, because

it often.

mutters, popping into my

I’ll get a team out there. How

so should be

me the address so

you know how to

"I’ll figure it out."

I’m sure Dylan’s going to have to help Caine. It’s a sad sight to see a grizzled old wolf teaching the younger one how to use

it, boss. Send a healer,

not kidnap

I’m not leaving Lyre to deal with the tunnels

not? She’s

spine straightens. "Seriously,

bro again and you’ll be an omega before the

the current generation

hand. "Something’s going on. She can’t use her

"How did that happen?"

You know how

acknowledgement. "Okay.

if you

grunts, sounding rather sour. "Don’t even ask. I did everything she asked and she still looks at me like I’m some sort

I feel like there’s more to the story. "What

to the pack, so

little, warning bells going off in my head. There’s no

you mean, how? I told them she isn’t my

send up a prayer to the Moon Goddess to keep my king in her good graces. "Did they think she was your

supposed to know? I just made

Sad, horrible, but painfully true-to-character sense. "Maybe don’t be so

"What, am I wrong?"

it. With a flamethrower. "No, boss. Just saying, she probably wanted control over it. You should have waited

effort to save my own skin, and I send up an additional prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking her to intervene if Grace tries

quiet again.

percent. You know

been the best at communicating, so hopefully my "help" will never come up, and I’ll never have to

of sending Fenris

literal sign saying ’This is my mate, don’t

claimed the children. I can always say he’s

"You claimed the..."

hell am I even entertaining the man? Let him dig his own grave. I have more important

that a

The best idea. You’re doing great, boss. Oh, no, my signal’s fading! Can you

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