I gave Robyn a small head shake, calling off my fierce, beautiful would-be defender, even though every cell in my body wanted to watch her rage.

She frowned, but then nodded reluctantly.

“It’s only temporary,” Drew assured her. “Just until everyone’s adjusted to the transition.” He hesitated. “I don’t know how else to do this, Robyn. In the wild, one Alpha fights—and often kills—another to take over a territory, and obviously that’s not what we want here. But the Pride members need some signal that this change is real. Something symbolic, that they can understand on an instinctual level. A clean break is the best thing I could think of.”

“If you’re looking for a Titus palate cleanser, I think you’re going to have to move out of his house,” she snapped. “You can’t subconsciously cut him out of their lives as long as they’re surrounded by his scent, not to mention all those family pictures.”

I shook my head at her again, silently asking her to dial down the anger, despite the fact that I was still bathing in it, but she only turned away from me. Her refusal of my order raised the hairs on the back of my neck, blurring the line between angry Alpha and proud lover. How could I be irritated at her and pleased with her at the same time?

“Where are you and Titus staying?” Drew’s voice had a still quality, like the surface of a calm lake.

“We’re…at a hotel.”

“Then why would Titus go out for breakfast instead of ordering room service?”

Robyn turned to me, frowning. “Because I don’t like room service.” She rolled her eyes, obviously frustrated by her own improvisational skills.

I stifled a smile. But Drew was silent for several seconds.

“Robyn, are you sure you’re okay? Titus isn’t being aggressive? He hasn’t…tried anything?”

“You know he would never do that!” Her eyes flashed with anger, and gratification at her reaction flooded me.

“Until yesterday, I would have agreed with you. But if he’s been out there infecting people, we don’t know what he’s capable of.”

She rolled her eyes. “Drew, Titus didn’t—”

I shook my head firmly. She couldn’t tell him about Justus. Not until I’d figured out what had happened to him and come up with a strategy to defend against the charges that would inevitably be leveled against him.

“He didn’t what?” Drew asked.

“He didn’t try anything. He’s not being aggressive. He’s giving you the space you need and upholding his promise to keep me safe. He’s not a bad guy.”

“You seem to have gotten to know him pretty well.”

Robyn rolled her eyes again. Want me to ask about Spencer? she mouthed, but I shook my head. “Yeah, I guess. Okay, I gotta go. Tell the other guys I said hi?”

“Of course,” Drew said. “And Robyn, call me if anything changes. I can be there in less than an hour.”

“Okay, thanks.” She hung up the phone and frowned at me. “How does he know he can be here in less than an hour if he doesn’t know where we are?”

“I’m sure he’s figured out I’m visiting my brother. Which isn’t great, but as long as he doesn’t know Justus has been infected…” I shrugged. “Can I use your phone to call Spence? I understand where Drew’s coming from.” Though it pissed me off. “But I still need to find Justus.”

She handed me her phone. “Where is Drew coming from?”

“He’s trying to be a good leader and to protect you. They all legitimately think I infected Corey Morris. Which means I could be capable of anything.”

“If they know you, they should know that’s bullshit.” She picked up her burrito and took a big bite.

I gave her a grateful smile, then I dialed Spencer. He answered on the second ring. “I don’t know this number. Who is this?”

“Hey Spence, it’s Titus. I’m on Robyn’s new phone. Don’t hang up.”

“Hey, man, we’re not supposed—”

“I know Drew told you not to take my calls, and I’m sorry to put you in this position. But I need some information. It’s important.”

For one long moment, he was quiet, and I heard a voice speaking over an intercom system. “What do you need?”

“Are you at work?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be quick. I just found out that my brother went to your ER two weeks ago. Can you get to his record?”

“Your brother lives in Jackson?”

“Yeah. He goes to Millsaps. Can you help me?”

“Maybe…” Spencer exhaled heavily. “What’s going on, Titus?”

“I’m not sure yet. But I wouldn’t be asking if it weren’t very important.”

Another long pause. “Why can’t you ask your brother?”

I hesitated, trying to decide how much to tell him. Spencer wasn’t an enforcer and didn’t live at my house, which meant Drew wouldn’t know I’d called him unless Spence reported the call.

Holding the last two inches of her burrito, Robyn nodded at me, encouraging me to tell him something. To trust him.

“Spence, my brother’s…unaccounted for. I came to his place when I left the house, but he was gone and I can’t get ahold of him. I really need to find him.”

“I’ll see what I can do. What’s his name?”

“Justus Alexander. J-u-s-t-u-s.”

“Okay, I’ll get back to you if I find anything.” He hung up.

“You think he’ll do it?” Robyn asked around a bite of burrito.

I shrugged. “There’s an equal chance he’ll tell Drew I called and wash his hands of the whole thing.”

“This isn’t right.” She dropped the rest of her breakfast onto the paper plate, evidently too disgusted to finish it. “They shouldn’t think you’re dangerous.”

“They should always think an Alpha is dangerous. And in this case, that’s better than them thinking Justus is dangerous.”

“Is it?” She tilted her head in an adorable gesture of acute skepticism. “He’s newly infected. Don’t you think they’re more likely to forgive a newly infected stray—a kid—for acting on ignorant impulse than an experienced Alpha, who doesn’t have any excuses?”