Page 13 of Stalemate

I always do.

“I care about all my people,” he finally says.

“You don’t.”

“I do,” he says. “Especially you and your pack…even if you’ve sworn loyalty to each other over me.”

I can’t help but flinch, cursing myself for always wearing my emotions on my sleeve. I didn’t want to be the alpha of my pack—Aisling’s prime protector—but here I am, having to take the lead.

I wasn’t ready for this.

“Vance, that’s not what it was about,” I mutter. “I heard that the tattoos could be useful in protecting her from these…these fucking psychos roaming the streets.”

“I understand,” he says.

I cock my head. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he says. “And I didn’t bring you here to chastise you about the tattoos. Look…you’ve been loyal to Aisling over me for a long time. I didn’t expect you to come back into the fold. I brought you here because things are heating up, and I need you to leave the city with your pack.”

I lean forward, ignoring the food and the wine. “We can’t leave Pacific City. Not yet.”

He finally glances at me, those bright blue eyes drilling into mine. “You need to disappear, Gunnar.”

“Ais won’t go,” I say, straightening up. “Not until she finds out what happened to those girls from Dreamland.”

Vance leans back, fingers laced over his midsection. “I’m aware. And I’m working on it.”

“Working how?” I ask, my tone more accusation than question.

“Behind the scenes,” he replies, his gaze steady. “Things you don’t need to worry about.”

“Except it’s Ais we’re talking about,” I push back, frustration simmering in my gut. “She’s not going to sit around waiting for someone else to clean up the mess.”

“Neither will I,” Vance says, and there’s a weight to his words, a promise or a threat.

I can’t tell which.

“Why are you so into this, Vance? Why the sudden care for what happens to us?”

His eyes flicker, just for a second, and I know I’ve hit a nerve.

“I’m trying to keep this city from tearing itself apart, and I don’t want your blood or Aisling’s on my hands.” His voice is still calm, but his fists clench, blue eyes blazing with a fire I rarely see. He always plays it cool, even when he’s using brute strength.

Not now.

“You ignored me for a decade and kept me waiting in the wings—”

“Because I never forgot about…” he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shakes off his anger. “About what your father did for mine. The Solace family will always owe a debt to the Finches. That’s just the way it is.”

“And you’re sure it’s not Ais you’re after?” I shoot back.

Vance slams his palm onto the table. The sound echoes, a crash in the silence that follows.

“Is that what you think this is about?” he barks out, standing tall. “You think I’m chasing tail while the city crumbles?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time an alpha went sniffing after her,” I reply, every muscle tense, ready for anything.

“Get your head out of your ass, Gunnar.” Vance’s voice is like gravel, rough and grinding. “This is bigger than any one of us. Bigger than your petty jealousy.”

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