Page 11 of Ruthless Moon

My attention moves back to Imogen. Her expression is guarded, but I sense the emotion under the surface. Fear, pain, anger.

She notices my gaze and looks away quickly. But not before I catch a glimpse of her sorrow-filled eyes and see a tear roll down her cheek.

My breath catches in my throat and all the pieces fall into place—she is accepting her fate. Doing her duty even as it breaks her heart. Both of our hearts.

I should be so selfless. So brave.

Aiden and Imogen are trying to do what’s best, but I can’t stop the hatred sprouting in the bottom of my heart for my alpha. He’s taking something from me that I won’t be able to replace. Stealing it from me and from Imogen.

I won’t be able to stay in Colorado.

I won’t be able to live knowing she’s so close and I can’t have her. Not only am I losing my fated mate, I’m going to lose my family. My home.

“Bro. What’s going on? You look as angry as Aiden does standing next to the Gallagher woman.”

“Bast. Shut. Up.” I bite out my words in a tone my brother doesn’t deserve.

He blinks, surprise and pain flaring in his gaze, but he doesn’t speak again.

We stand shoulder to shoulder until the announcement is over.

Imogen’s father takes her arm much more roughly than I or my wolf appreciate, and leads her away. I can’t do anything. I can’t say anything and it is tearing me apart.

Aiden walks away from the restaurant in the opposite direction.

“Should we tell Aiden about Meredith being missing and possibly locked up in Oliver’s house?” Bast asks, his words tentative, like he knows there’s something important going on and he’s willing to wait for the explanation. I appreciate that about my brother—his intuitiveness.

“There’s no time,” I say, my tone softer. “And we can’t afford to jeopardize this engagement. It’s the only way to keep an all-out war from starting between the Gallagher alphas.”

“Sometimes I think it might be better if we let them rip each other apart.” His words are bitter, but I know he doesn’t really mean what he’s saying.

“Wolves killing wolves is never good for anyone. If those two packs really go at each other, we’ll all suffer for it. They’ll destroy the whole valley.” I wave at him to follow me. “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot to accomplish tonight. First up is figuring out why people think Meredith is at Oliver fucking Gallagher’s house.”

Bast and I quickly walk through town to the biker bar where I parked my truck. We cruise slowly down the side streets until we see Oliver’s big SUVs head out. We have to be careful to stay behind their vehicles and out of sight. If they see us tailing them, we’ll endanger the whole deal.

Sundown is complete and the road out of the valley is dark and winding. But I know the road well and I’m grateful for the distraction of my new mission. We’ve scouted the Gallagher house and surrounding area multiple times before. It’s always good to know what your enemies are capable of.

I park about a mile below Oliver Gallagher’s house on a gravel side road that leads up the mountain to a back door in the garage. Though calling it a house is like calling a Ritz-Carlton an inn. There are two pools, multiple levels, and three wings to the compound. At least six to ten armed men guard the property at any given time.

We take our rifles from the truck bed toolbox and sling them over our shoulders. I hope we don’t need them, but it would be foolish to go up this mountain unarmed.

Bast and I hike along the winding mountain road, the only sound the crunch of gravel beneath our boots. The air is crisp and cold, and I suck in deep, cleansing breaths.

I need to focus on the mission.

Not on Imogen.

Moonlight glints off something shiny. Another vehicle?

I give Bast a silent nod, indicating the trees. As he slips away, blending seamlessly into the shadows, I continue my path down the road. Every muscle in my body coils, ready to react.

I use my wolf’s vision to bring distant shapes in the dark into focus. Rustling leaves. Whispering of the wind. A gurgle of water from somewhere. My wolf amplifies it all.

Adrenaline burns through my veins, warming and preparing me for whatever might come. I pause, tilting my head slightly, sifting through the nocturnal symphony for any heartbeat out of place.

There’s nothing that makes me suspicious...at first.

Once I’m close enough to see the truck ahead is empty, I motion Bast in from the trees. I take a deep breath and my lip curls in anger. I recognize the scent on the truck of the two out-of-towners we encountered earlier today.

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