Page 72 of Cursed Wolf

Stone leans forward, staring at Lortell across the table. “They’ll turn on him the first chance they get.”

“Absolutely, but by then, he’ll have gained so much power and support from those who will turn loyal, he’ll be untouchable.”

“We take him out before this happens.” My muscles flex as my wolf growls in my throat. In the past two months, the situation has grown dire. I’m under no illusion that he’ll make moves to claim the sector, but to hear he’d grown so big this fast leaves me tense as fuck.

“He has a death wish, turning so many against him,” Lortell snarls. “So, this pack is preparing, knowing it’s only a matter of time before he comes knocking here. I also spoke to the others in our team from different packs. Martell told them to kill you on the spot. He’s put a target on your back and on anyone who supports you, for that matter. The bastard has it bad for you. Rumors have spread that you stole his fated mate, which is why he’s gunning for you.”

Stone bursts out laughing. “Fucking moron. As if his attack has nothing to do with Ragnar gaining allegiance with at least a dozen packs already in this sector.”

Lortell shrugs. “Just telling you what’s going around.”

The more I hear, the harder it is to hold back my aggression. Irritation pulses in my veins. “Where’s the bastard staying?”

“As of two days ago, he was in the valley with the Crescent Wolves.”

“So, about an hour’s travel on foot,” Nikos murmurs, shifting his attention to me. “That should be easy. We head out at night, sneak into the camp, find him in his bed, and slice his throat.”

“I won’t be that easy,” Lortell corrects, his lips drawn into a tight frown. “Heard the guy’s paranoid as fuck and sleeps with twenty guards around him.”

“More fuckers to destroy,” Crius growls. “I’ve never backed down from a challenge.”

“Then count me in.” Lortell grins, cracking his knuckles. “I’m bored as shit in this pack.”

“What do you say, Ragnar?” Stone asks. “I’m ready to knock this bastard off his pedestal.”

We came here for Martell, and the longer we delay it, the more time we give him to find us first.

“Let’s make it happen,” I growl. “We’ll leave after supper, collect our men from the other packs along the way, then take out the fucker.” Slamming my fist on the table, a surge of excitement soars through my veins. The others join me, the thumps of our fists loud.

“There is no room for failure. Tonight, he dies,” I roar, adrenaline lacing my blood. War is not always won by sheer size. Many are fought behind the scenes. Take out the Alpha, and most of the time, the rest will fall.

A scream pierces the air.

My mind racing to Narah, I jolt up, my chair hitting the floor behind me as I rush toward her bedroom. Bursting inside, I find Narah still in bed asleep, not stirring. I could have sworn it had come from inside the house.

Crius, Stone, and Nikos shove into the room and let out relieved sighs.

“Fuck, what was that sound then?” Crius mutters.

“Ragnar, we have a problem,” Lortell yells, and my stomach turns to rock.

I shove past the guys and find him at the end of the hallway with the door partially open. Before I take a step forward, I hear Martell’s commanding voice. My shoulders bunch with tension, my knuckles white from how hard I fist my hands. Sucking in a sharp breath, I glance at my men, who know full well the demon has found us.

I run toward Lortell, who steps back to let me peer outside. In the far left corner of the compound, Martell is talking to the pack Alpha. Behind Martell are at least a dozen Alphas, big fuckers. Nothing we can’t take down, but what lays beyond the open gates has me worried. A wave of his followers, maybe fifty, linger out there, intimidating muscle to scare any pack into submission.

No one’s looking this way… yet. Shutting the door quietly, I turn to my men. My gut is tight as hell as I try my best not to show the dread I feel that we’re cornered. I wrack my head for an escape plan.

“We need to steer Martell away from Narah.” That’s my priority. “Stone, you’ll accompany her, using your magic to protect her. Whatever it takes. Once we go outside and begin the challenge, sneak her out the back with and get as far from here as you can.”

He nods, though the tension in his stance shows me he’s wary of leaving the rest of us.

I turn to the other three. “I’m going to call for a Lup Challenge, which he can’t deny.”

“Are you certain?” Nikos asks, the bridge of his nose scrunching. “This is Martell we’re dealing with.”

I shudder at the anxiety dancing over my skin. This isn’t how I intended things to go, but we have to make do.

“He’ll accept, trust me,” I snap, the pressure of our situation building inside me.

---