Page 6 of The Renegade Mate

“Are you saying,” I began, wanting to be absolutely clear, “that he’s offering us sanctuary?”

Shya nodded, her jaw set in a hard line. “He said you, us, we’re all welcome.”

This was too good to be true. Could we trust another Alpha, another Pack? Especially after the betrayals from our own Pack? I cast a quick glance at Ryan, searching his face for a hint of what he was thinking. His features were unreadable, his gaze locked onto Derek and Shya.

“Why would Michael offer us sanctuary now?” I questioned, suspicion gnawing at me.

Derek shifted uncomfortably. Ryan was quiet beside me, but I could see his mind whirring, weighing the options.

“What’s the catch?” I demanded.

Shya was silent. She didn’t know or didn’t want to say?

“Maybe there isn’t one,” Mason said.

I slid my gaze to Mason, and he immediately lowered his eyes.

“There’s always a catch,” I replied.

The room was silent for a moment.

“I think we take the offer,” Ryan said finally.

“What the fuck, Ryan?” My patience snapped. “We can’t just go marching into a rival Pack and set up home!”

“It’s not like we have many other options, Mai,” Ryan shot back. “We need a place to regroup, to plan. We’re sitting ducks out here.”

“So, we just trust some Alpha we barely know? What if it’s a trap? What if—”

“Mai,” Ryan stepped close to me, his eyes burning into mine, “I’ll never let anything happen to you. I know you’re scared. But we need to think rationally about this.”

Rationally? He did not just say that.

For a moment, I thought my head was about to explode. Although, better yet, I wanted to make Ryan's head explode.

I narrowed my eyes and put my hands on my hips. “Rationally, huh? And exactly how rational is it to just waltz into another Pack's territory? Tell me, Ryan, do you have a master plan hidden in that pretty head of yours? Or are you just hoping they'll have a nice welcoming committee for us with strawberry champagne and scones?”

"Oh, I've got a plan, Mai. It involves us not getting killed out here."

I leaned in closer. "And what if your master plan ends with us in a trap? We escape from Brock and Hayley only to willingly offer ourselves on a plate to Michael and Camille! You think your charming smile will get us out of that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "My charming smile worked on you, didn't it?"

That was it, I was going to punch that smile right off his face.

I don't know if Shya saw what I was planning but she quickly stepped forward. “My father isn’t the enemy here. You don’t know him, I get it. But I do. He’s a good man, a good Alpha. He’d do anything to protect his Pack, and right now, that includes us.”

“No offense, Shya,” I said, swinging my gaze to her, my voice tight, “but it’s a bit hard for me to trust anyone right now.”

Shya lowered her eyes. I wasn't sure if it was to keep me calm or because she saw me as a higher rank than her. And that was one hell of a scary thought. The Bridgetown Pack determined their succession through blood lines rather than combat. She was the nearest our kind had to a Pack princess and was next in line to be the Pack Alpha.

“I get it, Mai. I really do. And I can’t make you trust my father. But, please, trust me. I’ve worked for Derek for these last few months. I’ve never passed bad information. I’ve always done what is best for both our Packs. I would stake my life on this. My father will help you.”

Ryan tilted his head to one side. “He doesn’t want Brock and Hayley in charge of the Three Rivers. They worked with Tristan to overthrow him. They are a direct threat to his Pack. It makes sense for him to court us as the alternative Alpha pair. If he offers sanctuary now, we’d owe him. And if we defeat Brock and Hayley, then all of a sudden, he has a friendly neighbor next door. Which only makes it safer for his Pack.”

“You’re asking me to trust a man I’ve never met,” I said, my voice soft but steady. “To put our renegade Pack …” I swept my hand around the room. This was our Pack, small though it was, but they were everything to me. “You want me to put their lives in his hands.”

“Yes,” Ryan replied, meeting my gaze head-on. “Because it’s our best shot, Mai, at protecting them.”

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