Page 40 of Wolf's Endgame

“Owns them?” That was Doc. “What does that mean?”

Kris was shaking his head. “He owns them. He’s got so much dirt on them, and they’ve earned so much money off his extra income, they’ll do whatever he wants.”

“What’s the extra income?” Nikan asked, glancing at me.

“I didn’t know,” Kris blurted. “Landon told Cass. Just before we were taken. I see no reason for him to lie about it, not to her.”

“Told her what?” I asked. “That he knew they were going to put a collar around her neck?”

“No, he’s a dick, but he would never have rested with his sister locked up. Definitely not with silver on her.” Kris looked at me, his eyes begging me to see reason. “He’s a dick, but he’s not that kind of dick.”

“So just their father, then?” Nikan quipped sarcastically.

“Then what is it he did know?” I snapped irritably, and I saw his face and I already knew. It made so much sense. So much fucking sense. “The fights.”

Kris nodded. “Bale organizes the fights that Kezia was fighting in. It’s where all the extra men have come from. He sends his shifters there to train and to earn money for the pack.” He cleared his throat. “His other pack.”

“Other pack?” Royce demanded, his attention on me now.

“He knew where she was the whole time?” Nikan asked at the same time.

Kris was nodding, his anger evident. “He was keeping tabs on her. I think it was Bale who covered up the death of those humans.”

“It was Bale who gave the order to kill her. He told them to shoot her with silver.” I was on my feet, rage rolling off me in waves of fury. “Why her? Why Kezia?”

“I don’t know, but I think…” Kris’s head was lowered, and he raised it to meet my anger with his own. “That he’s always wanted her…us? Dead.”

“There’s a woman here; she knew your parents. She told us Bale was obsessed with your mother.” Kris looked interested, but my thoughts were already racing. “But that makes no sense for him to obsess over Kezia.” Running a hand through my hair, I closed my eyes. “What am I missing?” I was asking myself more than them.

“A psychotic break.”

Opening my eyes, I looked at Doc in question. “It’s a human term. Who knows, it may occur in shifters too. It’s when a person has a medical condition that affects the mind, or experiences something so traumatic that their mental health deteriorates.” His eyes flicked to mine. “They lose touch with reality. It makes them delusional. Sometimes dangerous.”

“And this is relevant to who?” I asked cautiously.

Doc shifted in his seat. “What if Bale isn’t fixated on Kezia like we think?” He looked over at Kris. “What if it’s you?”

“Me?” Kris turned to the shaman as he spoke to Doc. “I’ve known him most of my life. Why would I be the reason he’s suddenly gone mad?”

“Cass.” Royce rubbed his jaw as he thought about it. “His daughter. You turn up at his pack as a child, when you’re supposed to be dead, and you have a wild untamed sister with you. He takes you in, the son of his former obsession. He keeps you close so he can watch you.”

“And you hide the fact you’re an alpha from him.” I knew where Royce was going. “I did it with Rek; I understand why you did it. But then his daughter has her first heat and finds her mate. You. Alerting Bale that you’ve been lying to him all along, and now the son of his enemy?—”

“Enemy?” Kris questioned.

“Your dad got Bale’s girl. I was told he sent his pack to fight him the night your dad and mom went back to see her family. Doesn’t sound friendly to me.” I waited until he had a moment to think about it. “And then you’re revealed as Cass’s mate. Because you are an alpha. And she’s his only daughter. And he…breaks.” Nikan looked at me with a what the fuck look. I agreed with the sentiment entirely.

“That would do it,” Doc agreed.

“You think we’re right,” I realized as Kris stared wordlessly at the shaman. “Don’t you?”

“I think so.” Kris’s concern matched my own.

“He’s been building this for years,” I mused. “That compound, those males there, they don’t happen overnight.”

“The mate bond accelerated his plan?” Royce asked doubtfully.

I sighed long and loud. “I don’t know,” I admitted, banging my hand off the wall in frustration. “But it feels…right. He’s been building and preparing for something, but what? Just to feel prepared as he isn’t an alpha?” I looked around at them all. “And if we’re right, none of us are safe. Plus, he has the Pack Council in his pocket.”

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