Page 98 of Wolf's Endgame

Cannon’s head tilted back as he laughed loudly. “Goddess, I love you, Kezia.” Wrapping me in his arms, he looked down at me. “You’ll lead the pack while I’m gone. They’ll listen to you. Barbara’s trick proved that.” He scowled in remembrance. “She told me it was for the good of us both. I never thought it was for the good of the pack.”

“Showing me I could lead, and showing you that they will listen to me?” I guessed.

“Showing me that they trust you. That I trust you.” He kissed me. The kisses led to more, and soon our clothes were on the floor, and I was gasping his name.

Which was fortunate, because he didn’t need to realize his trust was misplaced. Not yet. They were leaving in under twenty minutes, and I fully intended to be with them.

CHAPTER 25

Kezia

I stood on the edge of the packlands as I watched the pack leave. They left in groups. Cannon was the first one to go, and I’d had no embarrassment as I kissed my alpha goodbye and told him to come home quickly. The shaman had blessed them with Luna’s grace before they left, and then Cannon had shifted, and I’d watched the massive wolf lead his pack to war.

Kris had been with him, and I didn’t think I had ever been as scared as I was right then when my brother and my mate left me behind to go fight a battle that I was at the center of.

I felt helpless, but not for long, I vowed.

Royce led the next team out. Team was probably the wrong word, but they looked like they were split into teams, so that’s what I was calling them. Royce went in a different direction, and I didn’t need to ask, because I knew the plan of attack.

I knew all of it, which if you thought about it, was Cannon’s own fault when he found out I had followed him.

Leo and his team left next, in human form, which surprised me because I knew how fast Leo was as a wolf. His cheery grin and wave as he left made me smile. The big bulky shifter Ned was with him. He didn’t smile or wave, but the wink he gave me was as good as.

It was dawning on me that perhaps Cannon’s pack had more than a touch of eccentricity running through their veins.

Your pack.

My breath caught as I heard him through the link. How far out before we lose this?

Not being a radio frequency, I can’t answer that.

My huff of laughter had the shaman looking at me curiously. “Pup?”

“Nothing.” I watched the last team disappear over the horizon before turning to the shaman again. “Have you seen Cass?”

“She chose not to come down,” he told me quietly. “I believe she’s resting.”

I saw Hannah talking to some of the pack who were left behind. There were twenty-four of us, and we had our orders. A perimeter around the town was already in place, and the children and older shifters were in the hall together. Keeping us contained and together.

I was to regularly check on all aspects of the guard Cannon left behind. Hannah was well-versed in what to do, so I wasn’t feeling too guilty about my plan to ditch them. Which wasn’t true at all—I felt like shit—but he was my mate, and Luna knew he wouldn’t be sitting back if it were the other way around.

Feigning patience while my insides screamed at me that I needed to move fast, I went back to the house on the pretense of checking in on Cass.

The shaman was heading to the hall when he stopped and looked back at me. “There are herbs on the counter, take them.”

“I’m good, thanks.” My pulse had spiked, and I felt like I’d been caught even before I did anything.

“Kezia, take the herbs.”

I was glad he was partially sighted so he didn’t see my eye roll, but I grumbled my agreement, and with urgency snapping at my heels, I made my way to the house. Running up the stairs, I yelled out to Cass that it was only me and then threw myself into Cannon’s bedroom.

All of my things had been moved in here from the guest bedroom where I had stayed at first. This was now our bedroom. He’d explained about the hole in the wall, and we’d both reflected somewhat sheepishly at how hardheaded and stupid we’d been about fighting the mating bond. If we had just completed it sooner, would any of this have happened?

Stripping off my shirt, I pulled on a formfitting black T-shirt. Kicking off my jeans, I pulled on a pair of leggings. The door opened and I turned quickly to see Cass leaning against the doorframe.

She looked me over and smiled. ”Knew I could count on you.” It was only then that I realized what she was wearing. A black shirt, black jeans, and a black hoodie.

“What are you doing?”

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