"I've got no idea who they are, but we're going to need to do a background check," I say, with a frown as I peer out of my bedroom window. Nathan nods slowly, and I can tell he's holding back his shift, desperate to go and investigate. "Calm down, Nathan. This is not the time to engage without any cause."
"Don't tell me to calm down," he growls, proving how extremely unstable he is. "Don't you think it's a major coincidence that a family of wolves move in when we're about to undergo the most dangerous mission of our life? The house has been vacant for so long, and I haven't heard a single thing about someone being interested."
"That's why we're checking them out," I say, ignoring the dangerous mission part. It shouldn't be as bad as he's making it sound, but the school is in a precarious state right now. "I'll give Victor a call and get him on it, and alert Alpha Blackbourne to the potential danger. That's all we can do for now."
"I don't see why—" Nathan starts.
"Kota? Nate?" Luke calls, before we hear footsteps coming up the stairs. Scenting both Luke and Gabe, I turn and raise an eyebrow at their relaxed states. They're not meant to be here, and they know it. Both of them lower their heads quickly in a sign of submission, before getting comfortable on my bed.
Luke immediately starts rifling through my side-table, searching for snacks.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
"What, you don't love us?" Luke asks, feigning a pout.
"Luke." There's a hint of growl in my tone, and he freezes.
"That assignment was a fail. Nothing at all happened. I'm glad North and Silas came and took over from us."
"Me too," Gabe adds, kicking off his shoes. I ignore the way they're strewn across the room, and look back out the window. "This school thing is going to kill us off, I'm telling you."
"I said from the start it was a bad idea," Nathan mutters, still glaring at the house across the street. "It's not worth my life."
"We voted, and agreed," I say, cutting off his snarls. He's agitated about the wolves across the street, not the school. Even if both are going to be an issue. "That's enough on the matter. Now, I'm going to call Victor and then you two can fill me in on your case properly."
"What's wrong with Victor?" Gabe asks, sitting up. "Does he need us?"
"He's fine," I reply, soothing his wolf along the bond. "I just need him for something."
"What are you looking at?" Luke asks, going over to where Nathan is standing and peering around him. "There's literally nobody there."
I let Nathan fill them in, as I reach for Victor through our pack link.
"Victor," I say, bypassing the barriers he has in his mind. It's an ability afforded to me as second-in-command, and not one I take for granted.
"Yes? What's wrong?" he asks.