Page 29 of The Wolf Prince's Fated Heart

"No, I don't think so," I answer curtly. "If I didn't think it was important enough to invite a human here, I wouldn't have done it."

Cassidy grows rigid.

My words were harsh, but I'm getting so tired of my older brothers doubting me. Every now and then, they try to undermine my self-respect. It's happened far too often, which, yes, is part of the reason why it's more pronounced now.

But, unlike what everyone might think, I am aware that I am being a jerk to her. It's the only way to force Cassidy's attention, but it hurts her and slowly turns her away from me.

Now, that's the last thing I want, but I can't let the radicals get the upper hand. In my experience, they are way ahead of me in this invisible cyberwar. The stakes are high, and a day hasn't passed without me wondering if I made the right choice by creating the software.

"There's more," I continue before anyone can silence me with their looks. "It's becoming harder to keep the existence of the radicals hidden from the humans. They've grown some balls and stopped caring about getting their killing spree caught on the video. Several of our content analysts have seen live footage of the recent attack. Cassidy and I still need to come up with a plan to get us out of that particular mess."

"Cassidy?" Leia speaks up, her tone curious.

Ah, shit.

Out of all the people in the room, it just had to be my youngest brother's wife, Leia, the social butterfly, who picks up on the sound of Cassie's name.

She could sense a mouse skitter across the room, my wolf explains.

I barely stop my teeth from grinding together.

"Yes?" Cassidy asks, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"Do you have anything to add to Graham's threat assessment?" Leia inquires.

"No," Cassidy replies flatly, meeting Leia's gaze evenly. "I think that Graham said everything that needed to be said."

She's no master of lies, my wolf murmurs. Though even she seems to realize the urgency of the situation.

Quit talking nonsense, I reply. If you really think she's an imposter, let's investigate her.

We should, he urges. As far as we know, she could be our inside man.

Woman, I correct him.

Whatever, he mutters. All I'm saying is that we should watch her like a hawk. Or, well, a wolf. And, she sure is something else to look at, even if her body's frail and skinny.

I think you're onto something, I allow.

Of course I am, he agrees. To me, Cassidy Strayed is the first threat we ever considered important enough to want to screw.

I chuckle in my head at his remark, once again ignoring his words, though I do see his point.

"Since we can't do anything about your software, that part is entirely on you," Garren says, then glances at Grayden. "You and Helia will get in touch with the witches while Gavin and I talk with the courts. Everyone good with that?"

"Excellent," Grayden responds with a short nod.

While we do our best to save the world and keep the peace, the grandparents will make sure that the kids are protected. We can't focus on what we must do if our little ones' lives are threatened.

"Did they put out any demands or make their reasons clear?" I ask, looking around the table. "I just think it's very weird that we don't know what they want. Even their targets don't make sense."

"To people like that, chaos and anarchy are fulfillment enough," Helia replies with a glint of sadness in her eye.

But she's right. These people are anarchists who want an unconventional experience while destroying society's structures. There are people who can't put the war between the species behind them, both wolves and witches, and some of them want the downfall of the institutions that guarantee our freedom.

Like the kingdoms and the covens or those of us who protect our species as much as we can by fighting the peace and civility between the two enemy types. The truth of the matter is, I don't know where the radicals stand. Hell, I don't even know who they are. I feel like a deer in the headlights. I definitely don't like it.

The conversation goes on for so long that Garren asks the servants to bring us some food. Cassidy is starting to relax and even begins to participate in the discussions. She makes some valid points, which earns her the respect of my family.

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