Page 15 of Sasha's Wounded Wolf

“Jesus Christ,” Anthony muttered.

“The next day, Rowan was killed in an accident, and I was attacked and presumed dead. Tell me what you’d think?”

“No.”

Raina shook her head in denial, but my gloves were off. The raw, bitter hatred that had forged my backbone made its presence known.

“Richard Byrd either ordered the attack on me or knows who did. I’ll also share the fact that I question Rowan’s accident,” I declared, and it was as if a bomb had been dropped in the room.

Those who’d remained seated came to their feet. I could have cut the tension in the room as they all tried to process what I was accusing Raina and Rowan’s father of. Raina was the one who broke the silence.

“You can’t think my father had anything to do with what happened to my brother,” Raina denied, head shaking. “My brother was his whole world.”

“It would make sense to take Rowan out of commission before attacking my sister,” Nico stated. “Maybe the accident went a little further than he planned.”

“You believe this?” Raina asked me, pain swirling in her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Then he’ll pay. If my father had anything to do with your attack or my brother’s accident, he’ll pay. I swear this to you.”

She shook out her hand, bringing claws to the tips of her fingers and scored one over her palm, breaking the skin so that blood welled to the top.

“I swear this to you,” she repeated, crossing to stand before me, blood running up her arm as she held her palm toward me.

I knew what she offered. I used my claws to cut open my palm and held it out to her. Flesh met and our blood flowed together, binding us to a promise she uttered for a third time.

“I swear to you.”

I nodded then offered a pledge of my own.

“If Richard Byrd had anything to do with Rowan’s death, I’m going to kill him. Slowly. Painfully.”

She never flinched as she accepted my vow.

“I’ll help you.”

Chapter Six

~Rowan~

Lincoln hadn’t been able to track down Nico. He’d made some calls. To Anthony and even a few of our former pack. Nobody had answers. Anthony had moved up their meeting, though. We were meeting mid-morning, instead. I was okay with that. I knew Nico was here, and I expected him to be there when Easton and Lincoln met Bastion. I would be there, too. I’d borrowed clothes from Easton and Lincoln as well as a few of the others, covering my scent with theirs. They would see I was there, but hopefully, neither my sister nor Nico would be able to pick up my scent. They were the only two I was worried about.

“Ready?” E called, and I nodded as I pulled on Damien’s jacket, zipping it and pulling the hood over my head.

“You smell like a fucking mutt,” Lincoln told me, wrinkling his forehead.

“I smell like all of you,” I agreed with a shrug. “So, if the shoe fits…”

“Fuck you, Alpha,” Damien growled, bumping my shoulder as he passed. “I smell the way a woman dreams her man will smell.”

“Must be why you’re single,” Cody said with a snicker.

The rest of the group tossed in comments until the mood was more relaxed. I loved these men. Every single one of them. Along with Easton and Lincoln, seven others had left to watch over and protect me. Seven strong male wolves whose only goal had been to guard their wounded alpha. They’d each walked away from their lives in Rigton County. For me. It wasn’t something I’d ever forget. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to repay it, either.

“Let’s roll out. We move together,” Lincoln reminded everyone. “Rowan stays in the middle. Protect him at all costs.”

“Any of you get hurt trying to cover me, and I’m going to be pissed,” I warned, knowing it would do no good. Each of them would die for me, the same as Patrick and Josh had.

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