Page 88 of Wolf's Endgame

“We can do this,” I told him with a confidence I was sure I was channeling from Cannon.

“We better, it’s death otherwise.”

I stopped in the street. “Death?”

Kris frowned as he turned to face me. “Obviously, Kezia. You think we just get our knuckles rapped for rebellion?”

“They kill us?”

“Why are you freaking out? You know this!”

I gawked at him before I found my voice again. Pointing at my face, I glared at my brother. “Does this look like the face of someone who knew this?”

Kris scratched his jaw. “What did you think would happen?”

“He said we would be exiled, and I said I would be exiled with him.” I had given absolutely no thought to the consequences of our actions if we failed. “Everyone dies?” I whispered.

“Most likely just the alphas, the betas, other important instigators.”

Once more, I was gaping in horror at my brother. “Luna, Kris! Why didn’t you tell me this?”

He stared back at me in confusion. “Why didn’t you know this before you ran around talking about rebellion?”

“Oh my Goddess! You know me almost better than anyone. Have you ever, ever known me to think through things first?”

“No, but you have a mate now.”

“You think Cannon is thinking for me?” I snapped.

“Well, he better be thinking of his pack!”

“Why are you both shouting in the street?” Nikan asked casually as he joined us. “You’re loud.” He gave a tight-lipped smile. “It’s not a good look for the pack leaders.”

“Nikan,” I breathed out loudly, hoping the tension in my chest would ease now Nikan was here. “What happens if we don’t win?”

“We die.” He looked similar to his brother, his hair lighter, the green of his eyes not as deep, his face almost boyish, but still, the no-nonsense attitude was exactly the same.

“You say it so casually.”

Nikan shrugged. “It’s war, Zia, people die.”

Looking at my brother, I almost kicked him in the shin when I saw his I told you so look.

“I don’t accept that.”

“Then you’re an idiot.”

“Nikan!”

He shrugged. “What, Zia? We’re not going to exchange pleasantries and share a cup of tea. They tried to kill my brother. They beat and tried to rape you. If they aren’t dead by the end, it means we will be. That’s what fighting is. That is war.”

Taking a step back from them both, I shook my head. “Not everyone has to die.”

“True.” My brother held his hand up to stop Nikan from speaking. “But the ones responsible for all of this, for what happened to our parents, to us, Cannon, Cass, fuck, even Landon…” His eyes softened. “Their mom, Claire. They need to be held accountable. The Pack Council needs to be held accountable for the wrongs they have let slide because money was being put into their hands. They chained us with silver, Kez. They put silver into the hands of the humans and let them hunt us.” Kris licked his bottom lip as he looked away. “They need to be stopped. We will stop them.”

“Or die trying?” I snarked back at him.

“Or we die trying.”

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