Page 45 of Moon Fated

“You think he’s taking the dagger there?” Mara talked over her.

“Evelyn’s sure.” I shuddered as my wolf gnashed his teeth. As our bond strengthened, I felt more from her, and the sensations that flooded the bond as she spoke of the pools made my spine turn to ice. Nathan had planned to take her there. To force her into being his mate.

"Ready to crash their party?" Lana quipped, but her humor didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Something like that." My jaw tightened at the thought of Evelyn caught in the middle of this mess. I met each gaze in turn, letting them see my resolve. "They’re going to be ready for us.”

Nathan knows I’m here. I needed to hit something.

“Easy.” Jasper braved a hand on my shoulder, and I flinched. “You’ll get your moment, Alpha. I swear it.”

"Anyone want to fill me in on the actual plan?" Lana muttered.

"Simple," I growled. "We take the fight to them before they can bring it to us."

"Suicide mission, then?" Jasper's eyes gleamed. "Just another Friday."

"Better than waiting for whatever power they’re working to unleash," I shot back. He was kidding, but I wasn’t in the mood. Especially since Blake Ash was insisting on being a part of our group. “We've got forty-eight hours.” That damn clock ticked in the back of my mind. Two days. I only had two more than that. If Evelyn didn’t accept our mating bond—if we didn’t consummate it—it would begin to fade for her. I couldn’t accept that, but I also wouldn’t force her paw. My wolf whimpered at the thought.

Mara’s face hardened. "I'm ready to tear Nathan apart."

“You can start with Justin.” Tori’s eyes flashed. “We have him sedated and restrained. Happy to let you have a go.”

Blake had already called dibs on him, and I was happy to acquiesce. I wondered how much it was costing him to betray his alpha. As third of Kitimat, he had to be suffering. I didn’t fully trust him like Evelyn did, but I could respect him for that. Just like I respected Evelyn for finding a way out.

"Patience.” I lowered my voice. "We move as one, or not at all."

The meeting broke soon after. I was the last to leave, the weight of leadership heavy on my shoulders. As I passed through the doorway, Jasper's voice halted my exit.

"Rowan.” He jogged up behind me. "What's your play?"

“I already told you?—”

“No, dipshit. Your play with Evelyn. If I keep feeling all of this—” He circled his hand over my chest, “through our bond? I’m going to lose my everloving mind. Or sleep with someone I shouldn’t.”

“Please don’t piss off the mayor again.”

Jasper threw his hands out. “I’m just sayin’. Under your control, buddy.”

I scoffed. “Clearly.”

“You need to lay all that alpha charm on thick.”

Terrible advice. That was probably the worst thing I could do with Evelyn, but I didn’t correct him. Jasper hadn’t found his mate yet, either, and he only wanted to help. “Thanks, bud.”

“Worst case, she dumps your ass, right?” He gave a lopsided smile that I guessed was supposed to be comforting.

“You say that like it won’t damn me to an eternity of loneliness.”

Jasper clapped his hands on my shoulders. “You’ll never be lonely. And there are plenty of she-wolves that would be happy to?—”

“Not going to happen.” I clenched my fists at my sides. I knew what he was thinking. Our pack was already struggling. We needed new strength. New numbers. As alpha, I would need to strengthen the pack. I’d need to procreate.

Revulsion twisted in my gut. "The thought of taking anyone else..." I couldn’t finish. It was unthinkable. The very idea scraped against my insides like thorns. My wolf snarled within, possessive and single-minded. "I'll win her over," I vowed, more to myself than to Jasper. Something flickered in his eyes. “What?”

He took a step back, shoving his hands in his pocket. “I’d never question you. Never. But as your second, I have to ask you to consider?—"

“Spit it out, Jasper.”

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