Page 59 of Wed Or Dead

Billy lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You’re alpha. You do what the hell you want.”

Not when it meant that he hurt the ones he cared about. So he tried to explain, even though an alpha wasn’t supposed to justify.Just act. Rule. Dominate.There was more to Gage than that, though, there always had been. “Only you and Davis knew Kayla and I were at that cabin. And you two were both close with the other wolves who went missing.” It was easier to be lured out into the open, easier to be attacked, when the one luring you wore the guise of a friend.

Shamus had told him that both Davis and Billy were near the site when he was taken. He’d broken away from them and attacked the hunters. Been trapped, but the other two had both gotten away.

And when Faye had gone missing, they’d been there, too. Been there, but hadn’t managed to save her.

“So you shackled me in silver.” Billy exhaled and glanced away. “Damn painful, hoss. Damn painful.”

For the pack.“The silver wasn’t about pain. It was to make sure neither of you ran before I could find the real traitor.”

Billy peered back up at him. “You could haveaskedme first.”

Asked him. Asked Davis. One wolf would have lied, and no matter what the stories said, Gage wasn’t the sort of wolf who could actually smell a lie.

He didn’t think those beasts existed.

So Gage just stared back at Billy. “Davis wanted you to look guilty.” He’d been setting the other wolf up all along. Timing their guard duty together, even tossing seeds of suspicion out among the pack. “He planned to let you take the fall.”

“Yes, I figured that. The bastard probably thought he’d kill me.” Billy’s claws flashed out. “But I’m tough to kill.”

So others had discovered. There was far more to the shifter than met the eye. He’d run from his home in the South because he’d wanted a fresh start.

But Gage knew what he’d left behind. The death and hell that waited in the South was one of the reasons he’d suspected Billy.

“We can’t run forever,” Gage warned. It was a lesson they all needed to learn. Maybe it was time for Billy to face his own demons.

Time for them all to face that darkness.

Gage kept his hands by his side. “You want to charge at me, come the fuck on.” Billy deserved his pound of flesh. The first slice would be free. After that, Gage would slice back.

Billy shook his head. His claws were out, but he made no move to attack. “I don’t like fuckin’ silver.” He turned away. “But I like this pack. Pack first.Always.”

Gage knew that Billy understood. The pain didn’t matter. Not when there was a pack to protect.

“Next time,ask,” Billy snarled over his shoulder.

Before the wolf could storm away, Gage grabbed his arm. “I will.” He exhaled a rough breath. “And for now, right now, I’maskingyou to help me.”

Billy’s brows shot up as he looked back at Gage.

“We’re going after Lyle. Taking out the last SUV that comes onto our land because Kayla says he’ll be in that one.” Minimum bloodshed. Right. He knew that was what she wanted. Wolves—well, they liked the blood.

A lot.

But for her, he’d try.

“I want a scent blocker.” It would be the only way they could sneak up on Lyle. Lyle couldn’t know they were closing in if he couldn’t smell them. “I know you’ve got a stash.” Another reason he’d suspected Billy. “Get it.”

The shifter nodded and rushed away.

Gage watched him go. He’d try it Kayla’s way, for a time. He’d give the orders for all of the other wolves to stand down. But if her plan didn’t work, if one of those hunters fired at them first, then the wolves would be the ones to finish the battle that the humans had started.

Chapter Ten

The SUVs slidonto the old, broken road just after midnight. The vehicles crept forward in a long, snaking line, with their headlights off and their engines barely growling, just as Kayla had predicted.

“Now I know why you picked this place,” Kayla whispered from beside him. “One way in, one way out.”

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