Page 63 of Clash of Kings

“Is he still our Alpha?” someone called out.

“He is,” Sebastian answered. “As Dakota said, I wasn’t fighting Kingston to take his place. I am King of Gargoyles, so I have my own Clan.”

“I was referring to Dakota. Her Wolf commanded us, and we had to listen,” the male countered.

“King is still your Alpha. Dakota is my Queen, but she’s also one of you. Should you ever find yourselves in need of assistance, we’ll be there.”

“We don’t want your help,” Arthur growled.

Kingston turned toward Dakota’s parents. “Shut up, Arthur. You don’t speak for this pack unless you would like to fight me?” Arthur lowered his eyes and bared his neck. “If anyone wants to challenge me, do so now.” When no one stepped forward, King turned to Dakota. “You proved today that you are the strongest of us all. I felt your power the day I met you, and that is why I wanted you as Alpha Mate. Together we would have raised some powerful pups. I won’t apologize for fighting for you. I was doing what I thought best for the pack. As for assistance, I appreciate the offer. I won’t say we’ll never need it because no one knows what the future will bring.”

Dakota spoke the words to change her swords back to bracelets. King’s eyes widened, and Dakota might have smirked if she wasn’t still raging on the inside. “I’m going to check on Jolee, and when she’s well enough, I will be taking her to live with me. In a few weeks, we will be back to retrieve our belongings. Until then, I would appreciate it if you would make sure both our homes are left untouched.” King said he would, and Dakota turned to leave.

“Kody!” Diana called out. She was standing a few feet away from Arthur, looking lost. Dakota took hold of Sebastian’s hand, and he walked with her. And even though she hadn’t asked him to, Rafael joined them.

“Mom.” Dakota held her arms out, and Diana rushed forward, embracing her daughter tightly. “Do you want to come with me?” Dakota whispered.

“I can’t. My place is here.” Diana stepped back and placed both hands on Dakota’s cheeks. “Promise you’ll visit.”

“I promise.” Dakota kissed her mother’s temple before walking away, ignoring her father. He could kick rocks as far as she was concerned. Dakota called out, “Hey, Maveryck?” The Gryphon looked her way, and Dakota twirled her finger in the air. “Do your thing.”

Maveryck inclined his head. He nodded to Kayden who shifted to his Lion and roared, getting everyone’s attention. Maveryck crossed his arms over his chest when the wolves were silent. “You will tell everyone in the pack the truth of what happened today. As for you males, going forward every one of you will be respectful of your females and treat them like the treasures they are.” Major was supposed to be the one to “voice” the wolves, but he was on his way to the hospital, and Maveryck had been in on the discussion the night before. Regardless of the outcome, compulsion had been in the plan. The fight wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been, but any loss of life hadn’t been necessary. Except for Sloane’s. Dakota wished she could bring him back just so she could kill him herself. He’d always been an asshole, but to abuse Jolee that way?

Dakota felt the Gryphon’s compulsion, but since it didn’t pertain to her, she continued to the SUV with Sebastian and Rafael beside her. Bas opened the passenger door for her, but Dakota turned and waited on the rest of their group to make their way to the vehicles. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the wolves, but she wanted to make sure no one – namely her father – didn’t get a last second itch to retaliate.

Kingston called everyone into the pack house. As he waited on the porch, he stared at Dakota with a look she’d never seen on his face – resignation. He had three funerals to plan, and that was on him. She climbed into the vehicle and buckled up, blowing out another breath. It was over.

When Bas was in the driver’s seat, he reached over and grabbed her face, kissing Dakota soundly. He didn’t ask if she was okay. Instead, he said, “I’m proud of you,Cucciolina.” They remained in their bubble as the others filled the SUV. Someone’s phone pinged, and Sebastian moved back to his side of the vehicle.

Rafael said, “That’s Gregor. They were on their way to Welch when Jolee woke up and freaked out. Anthony got her settled, then she shifted. Gregor said they stopped in the Panther Forest so Jolee could get out of the car. I’m forwarding the coordinates to your phone.”

Sebastian started the SUV, then tapped his screen, and the address popped up. He put the vehicle in drive and headed away from the pack house.

“Does anyone know how Lydia is?” Dakota asked.

Nikita was in the back row with Madsen. “She’s rattled. Her dad’s going to take her home with him for a while.”

“First kills are the worst,” Knox said sagely.

Dakota wouldn’t know, thanks to Anthony, and she prayed she never found out.

Chapter 24

Sebastian no longerhad to reach out with his shifter senses to gauge how Dakota was feeling. Their bond was amazing. His mate was stronger than he ever imagined. When she threw her head back and howled, dropping the shifted wolves to their bellies and those in their skin to their knees, Bas felt it. He felt her power down to his soul. Now he felt her anxiety. Her worry for Jolee. Bas didn’t give her false platitudes of how strong her friend was, or how she’d be fine. He didn’t know that, and he would never lie to his mate.

After Knox made the statement about the first kill being the hardest, no one said anything. There were those in the vehicle who had killed and those who hadn’t. Sebastian had come close to knowing what that was like. When he held King in his grip, Bas was close to ending the male’s life. His beast demanded it, then Dakota brought everything to a halt with her Wolf’s voice. He thanked the gods for his mate’s timing.

Rafael called Kaya and let her know it was over and everyone was safe. As soon as they got Jolee squared away, they would be back to the hotel. Sebastian found the others easily enough, and when he parked behind their vehicle, Dakota was out her door before he got the engine turned off. She stopped long enough to speak with Tessa, then she was running through the woods. Sebastian and the rest of his crew exited their vehicle to join Dante, Major, Gregor, and Tessa.

“What’s going on?” Rafael asked Dante.

“As bad as Jolee’s injuries were, shifting took care of most of them. She was chained up in Sloane’s bedroom so she couldn’t shift and heal herself.”

“Why is she in the woods and not out here with you all?” Bas asked.

“She probably feels safer in her fur,” Tessa said. “That, or she doesn’t have clothes for when she shifts back.”

“We need to get clothes for her then,” Bas said. “We can’t take her to the hotel as a wolf nor naked.”

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