Page 31 of Wolf Sacrificed

I pointed to a parking spot in a lot farther away from the park. “Let’s park over here.”

Brandon looked at me, his brow lifting in question. “The farther away, the longer the run if things go south.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Yeah, but look at this place. Nobody’s going to try anything right now. There’s a few dozen kids here with their parents. Alpha Charles would be a fool if he did anything.”

The police would be called, and then we’d both have some explaining to do. Keeping the law out of pack business was a priority for all of us. Except maybe Alpha Dane, but he was clearly delusional. It was already bad enough I’d spilled the beans to Sheriff Adam.

Brandon nodded. “Do you want me to stay here?”

He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel as he eased on the brakes. He could never sit still when he was nervous or on edge. It drove Mark crazy.

I put a hand on his elbow. “Did you want to stay in the car or come with us? I’m good either way.”

Brandon pulled into one of the parking spots and killed the ignition. “I can help. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

Lincoln leaned forward, both hands on our seat backs. “I think it would be helpful if you came. I count six enforcers with Alpha Charles. It would give us even numbers.”

Brandon pulled the keys from the steering column and opened his door. “Okay.”

I put my hand on the door handle but didn’t open it as Chance and a few of my other enforcers pulled into the spot beside us. Once their car was in park, I hopped out and moved to the front.

Lincoln reached out to me through our bond. Are you ready for this?

I stood up straighter, tilting my head from side to side, hoping I could work out the stiffness. Yes.

I sounded more confident than I thought I would. Maybe because I knew that everything depended on this working. I wouldn’t let my family or my pack down. I just had to tell Alpha Charles the truth. That would do it for me. I was sure of it.

Once the other enforcers were out of the car, I led the way toward the bench with them following me like my own personal posse. My knees wobbled and felt like they’d been shoved full of Jell-O. My stomach twisted, and I regretted eating breakfast this morning. It would be a bad first impression if I vomited all over Alpha Charles’s suede brown loafers.

Alpha Charles stood when he saw me coming. I held up a hand, and the rest of my pack fell behind me, stopping a few feet back as I closed the distance by myself. I needed to meet him alone.

I marched up to him with a conviction that I didn’t fully feel but knew I had to have and flexed my fingers as I reached out to him to keep them from shaking. “It’s good to meet you. I’m Alpha Sloane. Thank you for meeting with me so quickly.”

I didn’t think I would ever get used to referring to myself as alpha. It sounded odd but right at the same time. I forced what I hoped was a genuine smile.

He stared at my hand for a moment before slipping his rough, calloused hand into mine and giving it a firm shake. “It’s good to put a name with your face. I didn’t know your father very well, but I’ve heard many good things about him. I see that you have Ian Hampton with you.”

His gaze drifted over my shoulder to where Ian stood.

I fought the urge to glance over my shoulder at Ian even though I knew he was there. I didn’t want to appear weak for any reason. “Ian and Willa Hampton have taken refuge with my pack. Their parents and most of their pack were killed not that long ago in a brutal attack from Alpha Dane.”

Alpha Charles let go of my hand, his brow dipping into a scowl. “Yes, I had heard that. It is quite the tragedy, and it seems they are not the only pack to meet that fate.”

I motioned to the bench before walking toward it. I sat down and crossed one leg over the other before clasping both hands in my lap. Alpha Charles joined me at the opposite end, turning toward me.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, wishing I’d pulled it up today. The wind kept blowing it in my face.

“Alpha Dane has made it his mission to acquire every single pack that he can,” I said.

Alpha Charles inhaled a sharp breath and let it out. He tapped his thumb on his thigh. “Yes, I’ve heard something along those lines. He’s actually already reached out to me.”

My heart fell, and I slumped in my seat before forcing my spine to stiffen until I sat upright again.

“Oh?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice, so I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure what he offered you, but you should know that my pack originally had an agreement with his pack, and things did not go as planned.”

He gave me a tight-lipped smile. “As I’ve heard. It seems you are not the only one who has had an agreement where things did not go well.”

His gaze drifted to Ian, and he shook he sighed heavily.

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