He shrugged again. “It was Riley’s story to tell.”

Dominic arched a brow. “So it was okay for you to know, but not the rest of us?”

“I dug up her story because I needed to be sure that everyone—including Riley—was safe from her past. I wasn’t going to turn her story into a subject of gossip; she didn’t deserve that.” Tao turned to Riley. “Someone’s got to go with you. I want it to be me. If that isn’t what you want, I’ll stay behind.”

“Really?” asked Riley.

“No, but it seemed like a nice thing to say.”

She did her best to fight a smile, but she knew her lips twitched. “I’m done here.” Riley could argue with him all she wanted, but it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. The stubborn wolf wasn’t going to relent. “Where are the kids?”

“Baking cookies with Grace and Lydia,” said Makenna. “They got bored with me.” She pouted, making Riley laugh. All the pack members enjoyed spending time with the kids, but Makenna was always the most eager to do so.

Riley walked out of the living room and through the tunnels until she came to the spacious and modern kitchen.

Savannah looked up and grinned, her hands covered in dough. “Riley, look, we’re making cookies!”

“Cool, I want to help.” Riley spent the rest of the day with them, baking cookies, drawing pictures, and going for a run near the river.

Later that evening she guided them into their small bedroom, smiling as she breathed in the scents of baby powder, fresh linen, and crayons. What had once been a plain guest room was now a charming children’s room. Colorful posters of cartoon figures were tacked to the walls, books were stacked on the niche in the cave wall, and paper, crayons, and coloring books were scattered on a small desk.

As per their usual routine, she helped them change into their pajamas and then switched on the closet light and left the door ajar. Savannah grabbed a stuffed wolf from the overflowing toy box and Dexter chose a small red car before they crawled into their narrow beds.

Riley pulled the soft comforters over them and then knelt on the rug between the beds. “On Friday I need to leave here for a few days.” It would be best to tell them now before they heard it from someone else. It would be the first time she’d been away from them since first meeting them at the shelter, and she suspected it would be hard for all of them.

Savannah clutched the stuffed wolf tight to her. “Leave?”

“Only for the weekend. That’s not long.”

“Why?” asked Dexter, voice low and wary.

“I’m going to see my uncles,” said Riley. “They’re having a party and I’d like to be there.”

“I like parties,” declared Savannah. “Can I come?”

Riley gave her a rueful smile. “Not this time, baby.”

Savannah pouted. “You won’t go alone, will you? Taryn says we shouldn’t go places alone.”

“Tao’s coming with me.”

Savannah’s cute little face scrunched up. “But he’s mean to you.”

“And I’m mean to him.”

Savannah chuckled. “Me too.”

“You’ll be back?” asked Dexter, fiddling with his car.

Riley nodded and said firmly, “I’ll be back.”

The cub held her eyes. “You promise?”

Her chest ached at his plea. “I promise,” she vowed. And that right there answered the question of just how hard it would be for them and for Riley if she left the Phoenix Pack for good. It would be agonizing.

She’d loved the kids since the moment Dexter offered her a stale cookie while Savannah touched her hair, seeming mesmerized by the color. People tended to be wary of ravens, but they hadn’t shown any such wariness. Only curiosity and a loneliness she could relate to. She’d bonded with them in a way she hadn’t with anyone other than her uncles.

Leaving them to sleep, Riley gently closed their bedroom door and headed to her own room. God, she was tired. Dog tired. But for her there was a super-big difference between tired and sleepy. She could be absolutely exhausted and in serious need of rest, but that didn’t mean she’d feel sleepy. Often she lay there for hours, staring at the ceiling and praying that sleep would take her, but she’d be wide awake.

She’d had idiopathic insomnia since childhood, so she was kind of used to it. That didn’t make it any less of a pain in her ass. Since she felt far from sleepy now, she didn’t bother hopping into bed. Instead she stripped naked and went out onto the balcony. Opening her arms wide, she shifted. Bones cracked and popped while her body shrank and her raven surfaced.

The avian shook, settling into her feathers. Then she opened her wings wide and flew.

CHAPTER FOUR

Friday afternoon Tao slung his bag over his shoulder and stalked out of his room to find Dante waiting. Locking his door behind him, Tao tipped his chin. “Hey.”

“I’m driving you to the airport,” said Dante.

Tao nodded in thanks. Nick’s friend was presently using the private jet, which meant Tao and Riley would be taking a commercial flight. “I’ll get Riley and meet you downstairs.”

“You know . . . maybe you could use this weekend to smash down her barriers. Don’t try to tell me you don’t want her, that would be a damn lie. You might argue over everything and nothing, but it’s part of the chemistry between you. Like some weird kind of foreplay. It’s been hilarious watching the two of you circle each other like wary predators. If you want the truth, I think she would be good for you, and I think you would be good for her.”

Given that the Beta was big on control and demanded respect, it truly did surprise Tao that Dante had warmed to her. Riley lived by her own rules and resisted all attempts at control. “I didn’t expect you to like her.”

“Why?”

“She’s impulsive, unimpressed by authority, and her raven keeps shitting on Greta.”

Amusement lit Dante’s eyes. “Ravens have a vengeful streak, and Greta does enjoy giving Riley shit. I guess her raven’s just returning the favor.”

Tao snorted. “Whatever. I’ll meet you in the lot.” Clutching the strap of his duffel, Tao stalked through the tunnels.

He hadn’t actually seen all that much of Riley over the past few days. He’d been working the late shifts, guarding the territory’s perimeter, so they’d only really seen each other at the evening meals. He’d deliberately sat beside her every time, keeping his thigh pressed to hers and occasionally toying with her hair—a subtle possessive gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone.