Page 4 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“I don’t know what is going onbetweenthe two of you. Whatever it is, it’s affecting the Pack,” Hunter growled.

“Hunter,” Becca admonished softly.

Liam and Alec were silent.Of course,they were silent. God forbid they actually speak to one another about the tension that had been riding them and undermining their friendship for years.

“It’s none of your business.”

Alec’s low growl surprised Liam, and he turned to his friend at his words. He hadn’t expected Alec to say anything, and yet…

And yet Liam had known walking into the house that things were about to change.

“I need a Beta and a Tracker,” Hunter repeated. “If I don’t choose soon, I’ll have to let the sanctioned fights begin, and we’ll end up with others at my side. Where will our Pack be then, guys?” He ran a hand over his face, his body weary. “I’m tired. I lived through hell. Literally. And yet you guys are sending me to the brink of hell again.”

Hunter met Alec’s gaze, then Liam’s.

“I know it’s technically none of my business as Alpha what goes on between you. However, you’re also my best friends, and if you can’t figure out how to deal with the…tension…then I don’t know what happens next.” Hunter paused. “And because I’m not only your friend, I’m also Alpha, I need to protect the Pack as well as both of you. So, I’m sending the two of you away on a mission.”

Liam stood quickly. “What the hell?”

Becca gave him a sad look before putting her hand on her mate’s knee. “Let him finish, Liam. Please.”

He didn’t sit. However, he did keep his mouth shut. His wolf pushed at him, needing to fightsomethingbecause it couldn’t do anything else.

“There’s a rogue wolf in the human realm, and it killed a person.”

Liam blinked. His wolf clawed at him, wanting to protect, to search. “What?”

“You heard me,” Hunter snapped. “We aren’t the only Pack on the outskirts of the human realm. Wearethe closest, though. And while lone wolves are out there, they’re rare.Nowolf is allowed to go rogue and kill humans. That’s our number one law.”

“What do you need us to do?” Alec asked. His best friend stood so he was shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Liam did his best not to shiver at the slight contact.

“Find the rogue,” Hunter ordered. “Take care of it if you have to. Bring him back here if it’s an option. Take care of it.” He paused. “And figure out how to work side by side like you used to do, or things will have to change when you get back. I don’t want to lose either of you. If whatever is going on between you makes it soneitherof you can be my Beta or Tracker, then maybe we need another answer.”

Liam’s heart kicked at the thought of not being in his Pack…of not being with Alec even as Packmates.

“We’ll find your rogue,” Liam said after a moment. “We won’t let you down.”

Hunter met his gaze. “Good. Because you’re both my right hands, and I can’t imagine running this Pack without you.”

Liam nodded, aware that Alec wasn’t looking at him. However, he could sense his best friend at his side. Quiet. Unyielding. Like always.

No matter what happened on this hunt, he knew that when they came back, he and Alec would have to find a way to work together.

Apart.

Or as mates.

Either way, their time of cautious tension was over.

Finally.

ChapterTwo

Alec rubbed at his jaw and contemplated growing a long beard and becoming a nomad. He’d add flannel and eventually end up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere where he wouldn’t have to talk to another soul. Wouldn’t have to see or think of the man that haunted him.

Maybe if he did that, the relentless ache in his bones would ease. Of course, knowing him, he’d just find something else to screw up along the way and end up searching for an ever-elusive peace that would never come.

His wolf nudged at him, and he sighed. He couldn’t stand in his house any longer, staring at his duffle bag and not following his Alpha’s orders. Hunter had told him that he needed to work with Liam to find this rogue, and that’s precisely what Alec would do.

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