Page 89 of Wolf's Endgame

My head was reeling. Was I so naive? Probably. I was rattled and I couldn’t think properly, but I could focus on what I could fix. “You need to go to the house.”

Kris looked at Nikan and then sighed in defeat. “Cass will tell me when she’s ready.”

I blinked. Had I heard right? “What?”

Kris reached out and ruffled my hair. “I know, Kez. She’s my mate. Of course I know.”

“She hasn’t told you though.”

“She’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

Weirdly, I wanted to cry. “I think I’m overwhelmed.”

Nikan slung his arm over my shoulder. “Welcome to the Blackridge Peak Pack, Zia. You’re in for the ride of your life.” He dipped his head into mine. “And I don’t mean when my brother’s rocking your world.”

When my brother punched him for his smart mouth, I laughed out loud, and just like that, the world was right again.

We had right on our side, and I had faith in the Goddess that she knew that.

CHAPTER 23

Cannon

I’d sent a team out with the backpacks during the night, scouts I knew and trusted to move without being seen. We’d approach the Anterrio Pack as our wolves. Some of us would fight on two legs, some on four. The packs were for those of us who would choose to fight in our human form.

They had supplies of clothing, weapons, provisions, and medical kits. The blankets that Kezia and I had folded were in there too.

Standing at my kitchen counter, I heard the faint footsteps as she approached from the stairs. It was the dead of night; she should have been sleeping. Instead, she looked surprised to see me standing in my kitchen.

“Cassandra. Can I help you?” It amazed me how she was friends with Kezia. Kezia, who was so fearless, so ready to tackle anything, and this young wolf was just…none of those things. They said she was just as mischievous as Kezia, and I just couldn’t see it. She jumped at her own shadow, whereas my mate would have already been challenging it to a fight.

“I just wanted some water, Alpha.” She spoke with her eyes down, and it was that which pissed me off more.

“You can call me Cannon,” I reminded her sharply. “After all, we’re practically family.”

Cass looked up in surprise and quickly looked away again, her lips twisted into a semblance of a smile, but there was no humor in it. “Of course, one would be an alpha, and the other mated to an alpha.”

Resting my butt against the counter, I crossed my arms over my chest as I watched her. “You sound as if you don’t approve.”

Cass took a few steps closer, still indecisive, but it seemed the darkness of the kitchen gave her courage. “I love my mate with everything I am,” she told me huskily. “I’ve always been drawn to Kris. Dad knew it and hated it.” She snorted lightly as she looked past me once more. “Now that I hear all these horrible stories about who my dad is, I guess I know why.”

“Stories?”

Cass let out a shaky breath. “Stories. Facts? I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Reaching over to take a tumbler out of the cupboard, I placed it on the counter. “Get your water, Cass, and go back to bed.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t move, her timid stare became bolder. “Why Kezia?”

“Why Kris?”

Rubbing her lower belly, she shrugged. “The Goddess likes to fuck with us all. Right?” She saw me watching her hand, and she dropped it immediately to her side. “I can’t help it.”

I heard the tears in her voice, and if she was one of my pack, I would have offered her comfort. But she wasn’t, and as much as I respected Kris, I didn’t trust his mate one bit.

“You regret this?” I indicated her abdomen, and she shook her head so quickly that my worries about her intent eased slightly.

“No.” With a shaky laugh, she once more placed a hand over her stomach. “This is perfect.” I saw the tears trickle down her face.

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