Page 99 of Wolf Blood

"Rhone's right," Maverick agreed. "If we intervene, it sends a message that we support werewolves challenging me over vampires. If the Wilders are this invested, they're not going to be satisfied until the rest of the packs accepts vampires, anyway. Do we know who their turned vampire is?" He looked at me.

"No. I wasn't going to risk Harper's life by looking for an answer. Zane's not willing to talk about it, and they wouldn't let Harper meet them, so I assume him or Jace somehow fell in love with a turned vampire."

Maverick nodded. "I can't see any other reason why they'd suddenly be backing us on this, unless they werereallycharmed by Harper."

A few of the enforcers snorted.

I scoffed. "If they were that charmed, they'd be dead."

The meeting went on for another hour or so as we discussed the tower's security and our plan for the challenges that weekend.

We talked about our options with the Guild, but Holly Valenti was still underground with Neve. They'd surface eventually.Our team was still scouring the city, and we had ears in the other cities nearby.

The Neve issue was a delicate one, with her being both Harper's mother and a human.We weren't going to be able to kill her as soon as we found her.

Given my female's relative instability, I was really fucking dreading that conversation.The last thing Harper needed was something else to struggle with.

Mav and I always stayed to talk after meetings ended, so I waited in my chair while he chatted with everyone. Eventually, they were all gone, and he kicked back in his chair.

"What’s going on with you and Harper? Don’t tell me it’s nothing. I can smell her all over you."

"She’s still mine." I didn’t bother with pleasantries. "She decided she needs a mate to stabilize herself, so I offered to seal a bond with her."

Maverick stared at me for a long moment. "Did you make the offer just like that?"

"Obviously."

"Do you remember exactly what you said?"

"Something along the lines of mating if that was what she needed."

"Was it… romantic?"

"No. Nothing between us is romantic."

"What did she say?"

I grunted. "Why are we playing twenty questions?"

"Because you’ve completely fucked yourself over, and I’m trying to figure out just how bad it is. What did she say?"

A bolt of irritation tightened my gut.

Or maybe that was… worry?

"She wasn’t interested, but she’ll come around," I said.

Maverick shook his head slowly. "She’s not coming around."

"You don’t know that."

"Yeah, I do."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

"Bloom and Harper set up a bunch of meetings today."

"Meetings for what?"