Page 22 of Wolf Sacrificed

Lincoln hugged my other side, pressing his lips softly against my cheek by the corner of my mouth. “You’re amazing. We have to think about who’s going to go to meet him.”

The smile slid from my face as I blinked. What did he mean? Surely he wasn’t insinuating that I wouldn’t be the one to go.

“I should be the one who goes to speak with him,” I insisted. “I’m the alpha.”

I stepped back, staring between the two of them. Sawyer had deep worry lines creasing his brow. Lincoln looked more frustrated than anything with a scowl on his face, and he kept shaking his head.

Lincoln scratched his jaw. “Sloane, your place is here with the pack. You leaving could be a big mistake. Your place isn’t cemented yet.”

I held up both hands and took a few steps back as heat crept across my cheeks. “I’m the alpha. I have to go.” I patted my heart with my right hand. “If it were me, I wouldn’t want someone else there besides the alpha. It would look weird and insincere.”

Sawyer blew out a breath as he massaged the back of his neck. “You both have excellent points.”

Lincoln swatted his brother on the arm. “I was hoping you would take my side.” He arched a brow as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not safe for her to go.”

I tossed my hands in the air. “It’s not safe anywhere.” I pointed to the floor and then the window. “Here or out there. Alpha Dane is coming back. Maybe not right now, but soon. We need to be prepared. I need to go, and I need to talk to Alpha Charles. He’s not going to come if I don’t. I have to show him a gesture of good faith.”

Lincoln exhaled loudly. I could tell by the vein throbbing in his temple that he was irritated. I didn’t care. I was the alpha. My word should be final.

I stood up straighter and jutted my chin out. “I understand where you’re coming from. But I’m the alpha, and it’s my choice. You’re not going to talk me out of it. We all know it’s the right thing to do.”

Lincoln dropped his hands down to his sides. He fisted them, balling them tight and then flexing them out. “Sloane, we’re just trying to protect you.”

I gritted my teeth as I blinked back angry tears. I understood where he was coming from, but I needed to do this. “I’m going, and that’s final. It’s my call to make.”

Lincoln reached out for me, but I backtracked, bumping into the end table and making the lamp on it wobble.

He held up his hands. “Sloane, listen to reason. Please.” He turned to his brother. “Sawyer?”

Sawyer looked down at the floor and opened and closed his mouth like he was having a conversation with himself, but I had no idea what he was saying.

He puffed his cheeks and then let the air out slowly. “I think Sloane’s right. She needs to go.”

Lincoln’s face fell, his brows knitting together. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I massaged my temples. This argument was starting to give me a headache. We got so little time together, and we were wasting it by arguing about this. I wanted to enjoy my mates. It could be days before Sawyer could visit again.

I looked at the floorboards and rubbed the toe of my shoe over a worn stain where something had spilled. “I’m still going.”

Silence filled the room except for the racing of my pulse.

The floorboards creaked as Lincoln backpedaled. He went to the door and fumbled with the knob, opening it. “I’ll assemble a team, then.”

He left the room without another word.

My heart sank into my belly. I’d upset my mate. What if he was right? What if I was making a horrible mistake?

My phone dinged with a new text. It was Alpha Charles.

I would find out if it was a mistake soon enough. I prayed to Luna that Lincoln was wrong, for everyone’s sake.

Eight

Sawyer

Negative energy charged the air. The frustration and irritation from both Lincoln and Sloane was too much.

I ran a hand down my face. The feeling reminded me too much of home. This was supposed to be my safe haven. The one place I could go and not have to worry about anything.

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