Page 84 of Understanding Fate

“Can they send a personnel list so we can work out a schedule before they arrive?” Erik asks.

“I’ll have it to you in the morning,” I answer before sighing and saying what I need to say.

“This will not be an easy fight. We’ve known this was possible for a decade, but we always believed we would have our allies on our side. Without them, we are at a considerable disadvantage. The LLC has scheduled our appeal for Wednesday afternoon, but I can’t, in good conscience, leave the territory unprotected. Without Cain here, it’s too much of a risk. I’ll be sending Noah to the appeal on my behalf. My hope is that Marlo will go, which will delay his attack, but I have a feeling he will use that time to push into the territory,” I pause for emphasis.

“We will lose people in this fight—our people. I can’t prevent every death. All I can do is prepare us. We have a full-pack meeting tomorrow night. I need all of the council members standing with me. The pack needs to know we are doing this together. Win or lose, I will fight to keep men like Deacon Marlo from taking control of the state. My father believed in this pack. This is our time to prove we deserve that belief,” I say, makingeye contact with each of them when Quinn interrupts with a mind-link.

Quinn: The LLC just called. They have Cain in custody.

Shit!

Dante: How?

Quinn: They wouldn’t say. He said it was a courtesy call to inform us they’d arrested our Second.

Dante: Noah, I need you now! Pack a bag. You’re headed back to Colorado tonight.

Noah: Yes, Alpha.

My pause has everyone on edge, and I push back from the table.

“Apologies, I need to go. The LLC has arrested Cain. He’s in their custody. Pres, can you pull up the arrest record and see what they are charging him with, and then meet me in my office? I will see you all at the meeting tomorrow. Make sure we are ready. Pack First,” I say, placing my hand over my heart.

They mirror the movement.

“Pack First,” they say in unison, and we all exit the conference room.

Fuck.

Dante: What the fuck happened? How did you get caught? Where are you?

I send to Cain, attempting to push the mind-link through.

No response. Either they drugged him, or he’s unconscious, and knowing his wolf, I would bet on both.

What a shit show.

Dante: What happened? You were supposed to be hiding out.

Turning into my office, I flag Quinn to follow me.

Bri: They separated us. I’m being detained for a Reno pack representative. Cain’s been charged with witnesstampering, abduction, and failure to obey. They won’t let me speak to anyone. They won’t listen to me.

Dante: You’re a female. They will only listen to him, and he’s being charged. Hang tight. I’m sending legal to get you both out of this.

Quinn stands ready, a notebook in her hand.

“I need you to draft an email to Doug Martin asking him to hold Ms. DelaCourt in their custody until the appeal. She cannot—I repeat—can not go to Reno. It would cost us everything,” I say as Presley walks in. And get Yelena ready. They need to leave immediately,” I say before turning to Pres.

Quinn hugs her and whispers something in her ear before departing to complete my requests.

“What does the record say?” I ask, losing a bit of my control and slamming my fist into the desk, causing Presley to jump.

“He’s being charged. The court date is Thursday. It looks like trumped-up charges, but unfortunately, they could stick. None of them are wrong,” she says, and I rub my palms down my face, attempting to regain composure.

“What the fuck else are you going to throw at me, huh?” I shout at the ceiling, imagining The Fates up there, just adding problems to my life.

My elbows hit the table and I hold my face in my hands.

---