Page 31 of Wolf's Endgame

“Why take Kezia?” Nikan asked.

I knew the answer immediately. “Landon,” I breathed. “That little prick wanted her. Bale wouldn’t care. I get the impression Bale’s never cared about her. Why start now?”

“Moonstar?” Royce asked.

I shook my head. “No. Kris kept that secret very close to his chest. He never told his sister; he wouldn’t risk anyone other than the shaman knowing.”

“Which means Bale never knew his biggest threat was the one he wasn’t paying attention to?” Leo said. “Pity Kezia escaped.”

My rage erupted so quickly that I’d taken two steps towards him before I got a hold of it. “Never say that again.” I watched the younger shifter nod his head rapidly, eyes wide as I fought for calm.

“You okay?” Royce asked quietly as they watched me rein my temper in.

“Yes.” I shared a look with him. “No,” I conceded. “I could be slightly on edge.” I felt the tension ease as more than one of them relaxed. “Just don’t…” Taking a deep inhale, I looked at Leo. “Try not to be careless in what you say. The bond, it’s riding me closer than I thought.”

“Understood, Alpha,” Leo said. Nikan nudged him. “Sorry, Alpha.”

“We need to strike Anterrio Pack.” I knew they were all staring at me. “What? This is what you wanted when we walked into this room. Why so surprised?”

“And it wasn’t what you wanted,” Royce reminded me. “Why change your mind? Kris?”

“Yes.” Looking at Doc, I addressed him. “You said you thought you could break the bond, with your science.” He nodded as I spoke. “It’s not just this pack that seems to have embraced science and technology. Bale’s manufacturing silver weapons. What else has he been able to make?”

“You think he will try to break the bond between his daughter and Kris?” Royce realized.

“I do. The pain of a mate’s death is allegedly so powerful that the one who remains fades rapidly. He’s a prick and a pile of shit, but he cares for his children. He won’t want her to suffer. When we searched, we never found a recounting of a broken bond. There’s no way to tell if it has the same effect as the death of a mate.”

“Because we don’t think it’s possible,” Royce reminded me.

“I think it is,” Doc spoke quietly. “In this world, anything is possible. You think he will break it and then kill Kris?”

“I do. I think we need to act as if this could happen at any moment. We need to move and move fast.”

“An attack?” Leo asked. “Or a rescue mission?”

Excellent question. A stealth grab and take, or an act of war? “We go to war.”

Their eyes met briefly before shifting to me. Three stood up, their heads inclined in deference. My gaze lingered on Doc, who remained firmly seated.

“Never could agree to causing death.” He kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke. “I heal, not kill.”

“I have a council,” I spoke calmly and clearly. “But this is not a democracy. We go to war with Anterrio, make no mistake about it.” With my eyes on Nikan, he straightened when he saw my look. “How soon can they be ready?”

“They’re ready. They’ve been waiting for you to wake, Alpha.”

He took my tight-lipped smile for what it was, approval. “Good.” Turning to Royce, I saw my beta was more than ready.

“The ones who remain with the vulnerable are all armed, and we have enough food stocked.”

“Hannah?” I asked him about his wife, a fierce fighter but also the mother of his children.

“Will remain with the girls.”

I nodded even though my lips quirked. “And have you told her that yet?”

“No, Alpha.” He swallowed. “That’s a conversation for later.”

Nikan failed to hide his snort.

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