Clay only nodded, but he was obviously relieved.

We took the bags up to our room. Clay barely got through the door before he was cursing. I passed him and walked to the other side of the room, which took about five paces.

"This is the Hilton, isn't it?" Clay asked.

"Yep."

The room was decently appointed, but showing its age, and was roughly the size of our en suite bathroom at home.

"Let's just hope we don't spend much time in here or we'll go stir-crazy."

Clay threw the bags onto the bed. "All this wide-open country and they can't afford to build decent-size hotel rooms?"

"Let me call down and see if they have a bigger-"

Clay caught me around the waist. "I'm sure Jeremy booked the best they had. It'll do."

"We could switch hotels. There must be-"

He cut me off with a kiss-a hungry, fingers-in-hair, leg-around-hips, who-needs-oxygen kiss, ending only when my cell phone chirped. His head whipped toward it, eyes narrowing, and I was glad I'd left it out of his reach or I'd have been picking pieces out of the plaster.

I untangled myself from him. "Normally, I'd say to hell with it, but considering we're waiting for a call… "

He strode over, snatched up the phone, then tossed it to me. "It's Dennis's landlord."

Charles had the GPS coordinates and directions ready to text to my cell. He apologized for taking so long. His wife had stopped at a friend's after shopping and, as he said, "You know how that goes." Actually, I didn't, but I understood the concept.

He warned us not to head out to Dennis's cabin tonight-it was already dark. I thanked him and promised to call back with any news.

When I hung up, Clay was already at the door.

"Eager to be off?" I said.

"Eager to be off before I decide it can wait five minutes, and five minutes wasn't what I had in mind."

"Me neither. Let's get this trip over with, then we can call it a night."

UNEASY

WE'D GONE ABOUT ten miles when I said, "So, how long have you known that Jeremy planned to make me the next Alpha?"

He looked over. "You want to talk about that now?"

"I think I need to."

"Good." He adjusted the rearview mirror. "I've known for just over a week. He's been giving you extra responsibilities since before the kids were born, but I only recently started thinking it might mean something. I asked him a couple of times, but he brushed me off. I was getting pissed, because I knew the one person who hadn't figured it out was you, and that's not right. I didn't like keeping my suspicions from you-it felt like a secret. So I called him on it. He admitted that he's planned to make you Alpha for years. The kids just slowed things down."

He whizzed past a truck. "Is that what's been bothering you? You thought I've known for a while and hadn't said anything?"

"Jeremy would have made you keep it a secret until he was ready. I'd understand that."

"You'd understand if I kept something that big from you? You shouldn't Because I wouldn't. That's why Jeremy wouldn't confirm it. If there's a conflict between loyalty to mate and Alpha, Jeremy knows better than to test me on it."

And if that mate was also his Alpha? I turned to stare out at the dark waters of the inlet.

"You didn't suspect?" Clay asked after a moment.

"I noticed Jeremy's been asking my opinion more often, encouraging me to make decisions in the field, but that's been, gradually happening for years. I thought that was just because I was getting more experienced and he felt more comfortable handing things off, knowing I wouldn't run off to Toronto again. Once he started seeing Jaime, it made sense that he wanted someone who could take over when he goes away for the weekend. But take over for good?" I took a deep breath. "No, I didn't see that coming."

I watched the rising moon skate across the waves and, for a second, thought I saw the white back of a beluga. I kept staring, telling myself I was just waiting for it to resurface.

"So how-" Clay began.

"Is Jeremy crazy?" I cut in, twisting to face him, seat belt digging into my neck. "I know, I shouldn't question his decisions. The Alpha's word is law and I should instinctively obey."

He laughed. "And since when have you done that? Plus in this case, I can safely say you're wrong. Sure, I had my doubts about Jeremy's sanity when he hooked up with Jaime, but I'm over that."

"You know what I mean. The ascension of a new Alpha is supposed to prove to mutts that we're as strong as ever, and bolstering the leadership with fresh blood. What's a female Alpha going to tell them? That we've lost our collective minds."

"Which is why they won't believe it." He swooped past another vehicle daring to obey the speed limit. "They'll think it's a clever way to make me Alpha. If we announced that the crazy guy was in charge, they'd be arming themselves for Armageddon. By saying you're Alpha, it signals that we don't want to panic them. They'll be edgy for a while, but when they see it's business as usual, they'll relax."

"And then you'll take over?"

"Hell, no. You're Alpha."

"And you're okay with that?"

He turned off the highway. "No, I'm pissed right now. Fuming mad. Can't you tell?"

I gave him a look.

"Deep down, I'm furious. I'm just a master at controlling my emotions."

"Ha-ha."

"If I was fuming, you'd know it. If I was mildly annoyed, you'd know it. I'm not, because I'm not Alpha material. Mutt steps over the line? You and Jeremy say beat the crap out of him, and teach him a lesson. I say kill the bastard and save ourselves any future problems. Not Alpha material."

"But you're the best fighter. Everyone expects it will be you. Do you want to be Alpha?"

"No." He looked over, meeting my gaze and holding it. "I didn't expect to, and I wouldn't accept the post if he offered it. I like being second-in-command. If having you as Alpha means I get to keep doing that, then I'm happy. All that political shit?" He snorted. "Can't be bothered."

"We could be co-Alphas. An Alpha pair, male and female, like wolves."