Page 56 of Understanding Fate

I’d never broken my word. I’d come to their aid when requested. Shared resources, technology,and pack members, and after twenty-seven phone calls, I now know that while they won’t be joining Deacon, none of them will stand by us either if there is a fight.

Fucking cowards.

I stop my tapping and reach for the coffee, which I know will be my favorite dark roast brewed at the strongest setting and left black. I don’t bother testing the temperature because I know Quinn has already ensured it is cool enough to drink. When we first started working together, I’d burned myself several times before she’d given up on telling me it was hot and just brought it to me once it was drinkable.

“Can you try contacting my aunt again, please? They have double the resources we do. We need them,” I say, returning my attention to the spreadsheet on my center screen.

“Of course, she should be available by now. Her Second mentioned an Awakening ceremony they conducted had gone long,” she replies, turning to head back to her office.

Before she reaches the door, I call out to her again.

“It’s your birthday,” I say, aiming for a lighter tone.

She scrunches her eyebrows, confusion evident on her face.

“Umm, no, actually…” she starts before I interrupt her.

“The alarm code. It’s your birthday. I remember you setting it to that a few years ago when I forgot it and last-minute scheduled all-day meetings that I needed you in. The next day, I recall you saying something about ‘I guess you don’t get to forget it now, do you?’” I say, copying her inflection and smiling at her.

Surprise flashes across her face before her sass returns.

“Well, I guess it worked because you haven’t missed it since,” she says before walking out.

Hopefully, neither of us miss the next one.

Damn. How can I protect them all?

My phone rings a few minutes later, and I know that Quinn has gotten Aunt Juliet on the phone.

“Stone,” I answer.

“Now I thought you knew better than to get mixed up with those litigious assholes,” she says, and I soak up the familiarity of her voice.

I haven’t seen her since the funeral, and my heart aches when I think about how broken we both were. I don’t even remember if we actually spoke after.

I should have been better about staying in touch.

“How bad is it, nephew?” she says without hesitation.

“Worse than the odds were in Detroit,” I say, and I catch an audible gasp at my honesty.

“What can we do to help?” she asks, a calm seriousness entering her voice.

“If we’ve got any shot at holding our territory long enough to appeal the case, we need manpower. Currently, I’ve got just under two thousand shifters that can fight, with a few dozen more returning within the week. I can hold a perimeter around the city with my forces, but if anyone is injured or killed in the first onslaught, I don’t have replacements.”

“Two thousand is solid. Reno can’t have that many up there?” she says, almost posing it as a question.

“Their pack will only have a portion of our number, but they have alliances in Utah, California, and Arizona that will side with them, and they have the LLC on their side, so it’s possible they will also supply pack members for this fight, since they won’t listen to reason,” I say anger building.

Brielle is Cain’s Mate.

They never should have considered anything else.

All I can hope is that they will hear our request quickly before Deacon Marlo tears my pack apart.

“Let me run some numbers and see what we can afford to send you while keeping our territory protected. I’ll call you back this afternoon with more information.”

“Thanks, Auntie J. I appreciate it more than you know,” I say, emotion filling my voice.

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