He Scorned My Love, Now He Watches My Rise novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: The Crimson Pass

A wolf-run airline will not board Lara without a permit or the heir's signature, and the Alpha of Crimson Sand tells her the photo of her refund slip has reached every pack.

The agent checked his screen a second time and found nothing new.

"I can call the heir's office for you," he said. "A signature from Mr. Santoro would clear it in a minute."

That was the one phone call I would not make.

"No," I said. "Thank you. Give me a minute."

I stepped away from the desk and called my director.

She picked up on the first ring. "Lara? You should be through security."

"My territory permit is missing from my bag. The airline won't board me without it."

"Missing how?"

"It was in a zipped pocket. Someone took it out."

She was quiet for a second. "I can't issue you a Cedar Pass permit from here. Hold on. Stay on the line."

There was a click, and then a man's voice came onto the call.

"This is Cade Merrick."

He had a low, flat voice and no hurry in it.

"Merrick is the Alpha of Crimson Sand," my director said. "He's your project partner. Cade, this is Lara Whitaker."

"Ms. Whitaker," he said. "Which airline, and what's the name on the desk agent's pin?"

I told him.

"Put him on."

I walked back and held out the phone. The agent hesitated, then took it.

He listened. His shoulders went straight.

"Yes, sir. I understand. Yes, sir, I can see that standing arrangement. Right away."

He handed the phone back and started typing.

The printer behind him ran. He tore off a boarding pass and a second slip with a red crescent stamped across the top.

"A Crimson Sand territory pass," he said. "It's valid for any posted contractor. I'm sorry for the trouble, Ms. Whitaker."

"Thank you," I said, and my voice came out steadier than I felt.

I took the phone to my ear again.

"It's done. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Cade Merrick said. "That pass costs me a favor with this airline, and I'd like to know if it was worth it."

"What does it cost me?"

"Nothing. You owe me three years on the project, and you were already going to give me those."

I almost laughed.

"Worth it," I said.

"Good. One more thing. Permits don't fall out of zipped pockets."

"No. They don't."

"Do you know who took it?"

I thought of Gianna's hand resting on the front pocket, her voice warm.

I thought about saying her name.

"I think so," I said. "I can't prove it yet."

"Then don't say it yet. Prove it first." He said it plainly, as advice. "Walk through the gate. I'll have a driver at the other end."

I went through security with both cases and my steel cuff in a plastic tray.

The attendant waved me through without a second look. The pass worked.

At the gate my phone buzzed.

Gianna: "Luca hasn't slept. He's heartbroken, Lara. The hall is open until nine if you want to come home. Nobody will say a word about the watch."

I read it once.

I didn't answer. I turned the phone face down on my knee.

A woman across the aisle in the waiting area was watching me.

She looked away when I looked back, and she lifted her own phone and typed something fast.

I told myself it was nothing.

They called the flight. I boarded, found a window seat, and watched Gray Harbor shrink under the wing until the clouds closed over it.

Three hours later the plane was somewhere over the desert.

I opened my phone to message Cade that I was on my way.

He had already texted.

Cade Merrick: "Landing at 12:10. My driver is holding a sign with your name."

Then a second text.

Cade Merrick: "You should know before you land. A photo of your refund slip has been in every pack's group chat since Wednesday night."

Then a third.

Cade Merrick: "Seven back on ten. Whoever's spreading it wants every wolf from here to the border to read it before you walk in."

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