Page 69 of Welcome to Seaman's Cove: Part One
He looks away to take in the library, then sighs. “We won’t fight you on your claim to the discovery.”
Did I just hear that right? I look at my alphas, needing confirmation that I’m not hallucinating. There’s no way Branson would just step aside like that. It seems too easy. He’s never backed down from anything in his life, ever. If he can’t have what he wants, he manipulates until he gets it.
“But…” he says.
Here it comes.
“I want on the excavation team.” He looks at his packmates. “All of us.”
“After those fucking cats things are cleared out of here,” Rod mutters. “I’m not coming down here again until those fuckers are dead.”
I’m not going to kill off a whole species just for Rodrick’s comfort. But we’ll have to ensure the excavation team can work safely. I imagine there are biologists who would jump at the chance to study a previously unknown animal. They could probably figure out some way to humanely persuade the creatures into a new territory, or we can fence off certain sections of the city at a time to keep people safe while we work.
“And we want leadership roles.” Branson tries to cross his arms, but winces in pain. “And our names on any published papers about the dig.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Hunter grits out. Branson puffs out his chest, trying to stand up to my alpha, but Hunter doesn’t cave. When Phoenix and Caspian flank Hunt on each side, Branson deflates.
Seeing this side of Hunter does something for me. It’s gonna be hard to keep our relationship a secret when we’llbe working so closely together. I send all my horny love through the bond since I can’t show it externally.
Hunter’s eyes blow out, and his jaw ticks. I grin. I love knowing I affect him as much as he affects me. Gods, I can’t wait to get him out of here and back to my bed. Or his bed. Or any bed, really.
Honestly, it could be worse. As crappy as the Prescott pack is, it wouldn’t be horrible having them on the team. They have the resources and sway that an excavation like this would need. I don’t like the guys, but I can set that aside in the interest of professionalism for the greater good.
Realizing he isn’t going to make headway with Hunter, Branson meanders toward me with a smirk on his face I don’t like. He slings an arm around my shoulder like we’re best buds. “Looks like we’re gonna be working pretty closely together, Mads. Maybe we can play a little like we used to. Remember that trip to?—”
Hunter growls. Branson startles and lets go before I can push him off me. Is he for real right now?
Hunter steps closer, never taking his eyes off my exes. He doesn’t touch me, but alpha dominance pours off him with such strength it makes my knees shake.
Branson gives me an odd look, but says nothing more. My omega side preens. I love when my alphas get possessive. There’s caterwauling from somewhere above us, and we all look up at the same time.
“We should get out of here,” Hunter says. “We’ll need to report the find and come up with a plan for excavating safely.”
We all hurry back up to the receiving room, grateful that we don’t run into any more sea-cats.
“Do you guys know how to get out of here?” I askBranson. Since we came through the canal, I have no idea how far we are from where we entered the city or how to navigate our way out.
“I got it,” Rodrick says. “I marked the path as we went.”
That was actually pretty smart. And here I was, thinking Rod was just the muscle of the group. I spent less time with him than the others when I was part of their pack. Maybe that was a mistake. Not that it matters now.
I take Caspian’s hand and give it a squeeze. Hunter looks at our interlaced fingers with so much longing it hurts. But he keeps his distance. He gives Rod a quick nod. Then, we all set off to follow the path out of the city.
47
Dickrods’s trail does its job and guides us back the way they came. It isn’t the most efficient path, but it’s better than walking aimlessly. We pass more signs of rapid evacuation, but no clues yet as to what forced the inhabitants out of the city.
Compared to our trip into the city, getting back out is pretty uneventful. Surprisingly—though not unappreciated—no more strange beasts attack, though we hear a few of their unique howls off in the distance.
I know Madi and Hunt would love to spend more time exploring, but I, for one, am ready to be back where there are no murderous sea-cats, stinging fish, or meddling packs.
Well, the ruling’s still out on that last one since that pack of pricks is apparently now part of the excavation they’ll be doing. I’m still not sure Madi should trust them, but they’re at least playing nice for now. Hunter already assured me he’ll go straight to the president of the University once we’re out of here and make sure he knows Madi’s responsible for the discovery, so shegets the appropriate credit. We just have to hope Branson doesn’t change his mind and put up a fight about it later.
For now, I’m just glad we’re all safe.
It isn’t long before we’re back at the area we all split up. No one hesitates to head through the hidden passage we left open.
Branson tries to jockey for the lead, but I jostle him back. His packmate may have guided our way out, but that doesn’t mean Branson is our de facto leader.
