Page 66 of Roguefinder

Stefanos. The supernatural world’s most dedicated cock blocker.

I stabbed my fork into my rigatoni.

Jesse pulled out his phone and put it to his ear. “Van der Meer.”

I stuffed pasta in my mouth so I wouldn’t say anything that would get me in trouble.

“I spoke to the Council,” Stefanos said. He paused, and I swallowed my pasta—and a moan. Consolata was a goddess.

When Stefanos spoke again, his voice seemed to gain an edge. “The elders agree that the absence of other wolves is unusual but probably nothing to be alarmed about. Our people move around. Ulfrik remains your priority. You and Caleb need to use caution at the opera tonight. I don’t trust Carlo Gesualdo.”

“That makes two of us,” Jesse said. “Do you think the witches are masking Ulfrik’s scent?”

“We have an eye on the covens,” Stefanos said.

Not a no. I raised an eyebrow at Jesse before spearing a tomato on my fork.

“What about the Fae?” he asked.

Stefanos’s tone turned wry. “The Umbrals would rather seal off Undersomm than mingle with humans. The Fae haven’t meddled with affairs on this plane since iron drove them away. They have no reason to start now.”

Jesse frowned, thinking it over. “The vampires have speed and strength, but their blood magic is good for little else besides wards. That leaves the witches. We should speak to Sterling again.”

“It’s being handled,” Stefanos said lightly. Another pause. “Congratulations on rediscovering your gift, Caleb.”

I stared at the phone. Jesse stared at me.

“Thanks,” I said.

Stefanos let the silence stretch. “Be careful tonight, Jesse. You⁠—”

“You’re forgetting something,” I said.

Jesse stiffened.

The silence on the line turned frosty. Fuck. Me and my big mouth.

“What have I forgotten?” Stefanos asked, each word carefully placed.

Too late for a mulligan. Jesse gave me an expectant look, a spanking dancing like sugarplums in his eyes.

“Werewolves,” I said. “We know they can go rogue. But what if a werewolf is just a shitty person? With the right motive, they could turn on their own kind. Maybe the call is coming from inside the house.”

Jesse didn’t move. I waited for Stefanos to tell me I was being stupid.

“A smart theory,” he said finally. “What made you think of it?”

Tension eased from my shoulders. “My dad works in insurance. Internal fraud is a big problem. No one wants to think their own people are stealing, but it happens. His company has a whole unit for it.”

Stefanos was quiet for a second. “I’ll look into it. In the meantime, stay alert.”

The line went dead.

Jesse lowered the phone. “That was a good catch.”

“Do you think I’m wrong?”

“You’re thinking of every possibility. It’s smart, just as Stefanos said.”