Page 32 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

“You know what I mean. You know what? Forget it.”

I put my earbuds back in, crossed my arms over my chest, closed my eyes, and at least pretended to sleep.

“I hope this doesn’t bite us in the ass,” Walker said.

I successfully ignored them and kept my thoughts to myself for the rest of the flight.

Once we landed, I grabbed my bag and was the first one off the plane. I didn’t have a clue where we were and I supposed it didn’t matter. I’d be saying goodbye soon and off on my own. Maybe I wouldn’t even bother saying goodbye. It wasn’t like they cared anyway.

Michael put an arm around my neck and pulled me along with him.

“Welcome to King Tribe.”

I knew this one. I wasn’t that far from home in the big scheme of things.

While my Tribe lived in what was now considered part of Sydney, the Kings were the next closest.

My Tribe functioned a bit different. We were scattered throughout the city living in our small Packs, which usually just consisted of a family unit, but united together in our Tribe made up of many Packs. Many of the Tribes further out, like the Kings and the Campbells lived all together more like a wolf Pack.

From what I had heard, human civilization was quickly encroaching on King territory. I didn’t know what that felt like, because it had happened to us before I was born, but I had heard the stories from my ancestors and knew how hard it had been for them. Adapt, move on, or die out. Those were the options.

At least from here I could find my way home, reset, and make my plans to get back to Campbell. I just had to wait for the right moment to make my move, and that certainly wasn’t now.

Michael was going to be keeping a close eye on me for fear I’d do something stupid. After all our sessions, I knew him well, and I knew how his inner mind worked. Hell, I knew them all probably better than they knew themselves. I could use that to my advantage. I’d do what was necessary and use whatever advantage I could find to get back to my mate.

Psychology worked in more ways than one.

“You’re going to stay with me for the time being.”

“Great.”

He gave me a skeptical look and right he should.

As we went to meet the Alpha and she-Alpha, I was on my best behavior. I knew it was creeping them all out. Tucker kept eyeing me suspiciously. Good.

I didn’t mind screwing with them until I found my exit. It would serve them right. Not a single one of them stood up for me and my mate. I didn’t give a shit that she was meant to be she-Alpha. I knew what a huge role that was, and maybe that meantmore to her than a true mate bond, but she should at least give me the opportunity to plead my case with her and try.

And my team should be encouraging that.

They’d all made boneheaded mistakes during mating and some caused significant damage to missions and alliances. Logically, I understood that was the biggest concern here. We were trying to save my kind and here I was ready to alienate an entire Tribe.

But no one had ever said mating was logical.

I’d seen it firsthand on so many occasions, but now I truly understood it. Logically I understood what they were doing and even why, but none of that mattered when my heart and inner animal were united in our desire to find this girl and make her mine.

I didn’t even have to close my eyes to see her beautiful face. It was a constant image overshadowing everything else around me.

I made a quick vow to myself and to her, whoever she was. I would find her. I would find a way back to her. And I was ready to get down on my hands and knees and beg, pledging my full allegiance to her. I would do whatever it took to have her for myself. She was my mate. I deserved nothing less, and neither did she.

With that settled, I put on a smile and did exactly as I was told.

Listening to the story of how the Alpha’s daughter was kidnapped right under their noses would normally have appealed to my need to help. I would have offered to counsel anyone struggling through this hard time. But not this time.

I kept my head down and my mouth shut, offering nothing more than what Michael asked of me.

“Both my daughters remain here in the Alpha house. I know they are more than of age. It just never felt right to me to have them move out before mating,” he explained.

I shuddered at the thought. He sounded overbearing to me. I already knew these weren’t kids. The oldest, Michelle, was in her thirties and the other one, Matilda, was only a few years younger.

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