Page 71 of His Mate

The room went still as he marched through the center, cutting straight toward the leaders gathered at the front of the tribunal. No one moved to stop him. He didn’t slow down, didn’t waver.He had the look of a man who had already decided he belonged, and everyone else was just trying to catch up to that fact.

He stopped in the middle of the room, his eyes sweeping over the Resistance leaders, then locking on Sorin for a brief moment. He didn’t even glance at Rowan or me as he stood there, taking control of the room with little more than his presence.

The man cleared his throat, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the tense silence.

“We need to talk.”

His words weren’t a suggestion—they were a command, plain and simple. The Resistance leaders exchanged glances, clearly unsure of who this man was or what he wanted, but the confidence with which he had entered left no room for doubt. He had come for a reason, and whatever it was, it was serious.

Sorin was the first to speak, her eyes narrowing as she regarded him. “Who the hell are you?” she asked, her voice cold and sharp.

The man’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He gave a small, respectful nod, but there was nothing apologetic about his posture.

“Name’s Silas,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “I represent a group that’s been watching the movements of the wolves for some time now.”

Sorin’s expression didn’t soften, though I could see a flicker of interest in her eyes. “And what group would that be?”

Silas held her gaze for a long moment, then finally looked around the room, his eyes sweeping over the gathered Resistance members before landing briefly on me and Rowan.“A group that’s interested in keeping humans alive,” he said evenly. “And right now, that means you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

A murmur went through the room, some of the Resistance soldiers shifting uneasily.

Sorin’s jaw clenched, and I could tell she was fighting to maintain control of the situation. “We don’t take kindly to uninvited guests walking into our meetings unannounced,” she said coldly. “So, unless you have something of value to offer, I suggest you?—”

“You’re going to be overrun,” Silas interrupted, his voice steady but forceful. “You thought the attack yesterday was bad? It was just the beginning. They’re mobilizing and from the looks of things, they’re coming straight for you.”

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. The room had gone deadly quiet, every set of eyes on Silas as he spoke.

“They’ve been planning this for a long time. They knew you were out there, they just didn’t have a handle on your location,” he continued, pacing slowly as he spoke, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. “And now that they know where you are, they’re going to hit you with everything they got. You won’t stand a chance if you try to hold them off on your own.”

Sorin bristled, clearly not used to being spoken to so bluntly. “And what exactly are you proposing?”

Silas stopped his pacing, turning to face her fully. “I’m proposing an alliance. You’re not the only group fighting against the wolves, Captain. There are others—some bigger, some smaller. But none of us can survive alone. If you want to make it through what’s coming, you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

Another murmur went through the room, and I could see the uncertainty written all over the faces of the Resistance leaders. Sorin remained silent for a moment, her eyes scanning Silas as if trying to figure out his angle.

“And why should we trust you?” she finally asked, her voice laced with suspicion. “You barge in here, demand an audience, and expect us to just fall in line?”

Silas shrugged, his expression calm, though there was an edge of steel in his gaze. “Because the alternative is death.”

Sorin stared at Silas for a long moment, her expression hard, but I could see the gears turning in her head. She didn’t trust him—that much was obvious—but she wasn’t foolish enough to ignore his dire warning. If what Silas said was true, the wolves were gathering, and the Resistance was going to need every advantage they could get.

Finally, Sorin let out a slow breath, her posture stiff. “Fine. We’ll talk,” she said, her voice clipped. “But don’t think for a second that means we’re on the same side.”

CHAPTER 22

Rowan

Silas cleared his throat and the sound cut through the silence like a blade. I could feel the room’s tension as every leader in the Resistance processed what was happening, their eyes darting from him to Sorin and back again. He held their attention like a commander familiar with battle, one who had more than a little experience staying a step ahead of danger, and we could use every bit of that right now.

“We tracked the retreating wolves from the attack yesterday,” Silas continued, his voice level but commanding. “My scouts found them regrouping a few miles out, at a larger encampment. They’re planning something—something big.”

I watched Silas closely as he spoke, noticing the way he carried himself, the way his eyes moved around the room, quick and alert. There was a sharpness to him, an almost unnatural ease in the way he read everyone here. His posture, his confidence—it was more than human. I knew what it felt like to wear thatcalm mask, to blend in among humans while hiding something far more primal beneath the surface.

Silas was no ordinary man. He was one ofus.

A wolf.

I glanced over at Sorin, but she hadn’t caught on. She was listening intently, calculating every word he said. I didn’t plan on revealing him either. If Silas wanted to play his cards close, I’d let him—for now. But it gave me an edge, knowing that Kendra and I weren’t the only wolves in the room.

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