Page 103 of Confusing Hearts

I laughed. “Probably a good plan.”

Jenna and I discussed trying to reach out to her parents one last time in attempt to stop it all, but the Grand Council forbade it, explaining there would be time just before the call for war began. The King had written in a negotiation period, making it very formal and civilized. We all knew that was up until the point he didn’t get what he wanted.

I spent a restless night holding my mate as we whispered until the wee hours of the morning. Exhausted and nervous after awakening, we met with Kyle and the Grand Council. A group of about one hundred would be walking out on the battlefield to meet with Jenna’s dad first. If all went south from there, which we expected it would, the remainder of the wolves would present themselves. If the sheer number did not make him stand down, then we’d fight.

“You ready for this?” I asked Jenna when the time came.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she said a little too cheerfully. I could feel her nerves through our bond, betraying the smile on her face.

“Liar,” I said, making her laugh and smack my arm playfully just as her parents came into view. I didn’t have to ask for verification; the scowl on her father’s face gave him away.

Jenna wasn’t looking at them though, but she was beaming up at me, still caught up in our playful banter. I heard her mother gasp at the sight. I’m not sure what they had been expecting, but we clearly weren’t it.

“Beautiful, they’re here,” I said, nodding towards her family. As we approached, Tessa shot us both sad, apologetic looks as she stood with their parents.

Titus, as the largest and fiercest looking Grand Councilman, both in wolf and human forms, was chosen as the representative for the wolves.

“Edmond,” Titus spoke, greeting the King informally. “I am Titus. We spoke over the phone.”

King Lockhardt seemed thrown off by the informality for a second. “Yes, of course. I see you brought my daughter, but I’m sorry to say that wolf, who has corrupted her, appears to still be alive.”

“The Council has met, along with the Alphas from fifteen of our largest packs and we all have heard them out, and deliberated. We have unanimously agreed and found no reason to intervene here. Their bond has been tested, Edmond. They are true mates and we do not interfere with pairings ordained by God himself. That is a sacred bond to the wolves. And we will not do your dirty work for you by killing one of our own and devastating another, because make no doubt about it, Jenna as Chase Westin’s mate is one of us. She will be protected by her pack which has aligned with fourteen others ready to go to battle, and fight to the death, if needed, for Jenna and Chase.”

“Do not speak of my daughter so informally. She is a Princess of the panthers, part of this royal family, and I will do whatever is necessary to keep our bloodline pure, before she destroys us all,” her father spat back at Titus.

“My apologies, Princess,” Titus said to Jenna, otherwise ignoring her father.

Jenna nodded. “I thought you were only scared of the lions, Daddy? I beg you, please don’t do this. People do not need to die needlessly over this.”

“No one needs to die needlessly. Turn the boy over to me for execution and come home, and all of this will be forgotten,” he said coldly.

Jenna held tighter to my arm, finding my hand with her own and linking our fingers. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, Daddy. Why can’t you see that? He’s a good man. Just give him a chance. Please. I’ve never asked anything of you before, but I’m begging for this.”

I saw her father soften. His eyes showed remorse and confusion, but he quickly straightened his shoulders back and huffed his chest in a sign of dominance. It set my wolf on edge and I pulled Jenna behind me, raising my chin to meet his gaze in defiance. The challenge wasn’t quite as impactful as it would have been to a wolf, but it stirred the other wolves as they recognized my show of power, something I had rarely ever done. I was an Alpha, too. It ran strong in my blood. As the baby of the family it was often overlooked and unnecessary, but it was a part of me and fueled my wolf’s aggressive side.

“Your show of power does not scare me, boy,” the King said, but the scent he was giving off betrayed him. He was scared and my wolf was seeing blood because of it.

“It should, sir,” I said. Titus glared at me, but I didn’t care.

“You show your hands too quickly, Titus,” Edmond said. “I have brought ten times this pack of mutts.” He scanned the hundred or so people gathered with us. His eyes stopped and confusion, then anger flashed across his face. “You, you’re Doug Williams boy,” he said, calling Matt out. “You get confused along the way, son? You’re supposed to be back at the hill.”

“No sir, I’m not. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” Matt said, walking forward and placing his hand on my shoulder. “Once a dog, always a dog.” Howls broke out throughout the group, causing an eerie noise as it echoed across the land.

“Brothers for life,” I said, as he squeezed and side-hugged me.

“Damn straight,” Matt said.

“You were ordered to fight with your kind,” the King reminded him. “Your father will pay for your insubordination. What an embarrassment you have brought to your family today.”

“No sir, my family is proud of my decision to stand with my friends and fight for their right to love. If anyone is an embarrassment here, it is you.”

The King started to make an aggressive move towards us, causing a growl to bubble out of me before I could stop it. It halted him on the spot.

“The signal of war has not been given, Your Highness. An act of aggression towards these boys will void all your requests, and my wolves will be forced to act,” Titus warned, and even my wolf, already worked up and looking for a fight, cowered.

“Daddy,” Jenna tried one last time. “It’s not too late to stop this.”

“It’s not too late for you to come home,” he reminded her.

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