Page 20 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

“Well, I don’t know anyone here or what threats lurk here. So Kayla stays with me or I’m just not going anywhere.”

“Whatever. I swear, you’re a child.”

It took a lot for me not to reply, “Takes one to know one.” But I knew that would be beyond immature. Then again, if it helped me to get out of this arrangement without causing issues for my own Tribe, then I’d be okay with that.

“Get moving!”

I jumped at his words, but scowled the whole way.

Despite my behavior whenever he was around, I was far from a child. I was twenty-six years old. My suite may be in the Alpha House with all the perks of living there, but it was still my home and I’d lived on my own there and been a vital part of my Pack and the King Tribe for nearly a decade now. I may not have been raised to be a she-Alpha, but I’d been raised to be a leader and knew that required personal sacrifice. In a lot of ways, I’d been groomed for the possibility of just this moment, even if I didn't want to admit it. So why did everything feel so wrong?

“Who’s that?” one of Aiden’s guys asked as our little party stopped to watch six men exit what I presumed was the Alphas’ house.

“I don’t know. Never seen them before. Come on.”

For just a second, Aiden didn’t sound like the arse I’d so far gotten to know. There was concern in his voice, like just maybe he did have some emotions locked up inside him.

They quickly ushered us towards the building and inside.

“Dad? Who were those men?”

“Aiden, you’re back just in time. Did you bring Michelle back with you?”

He cringed and gritted his teeth. “Not Michelle. This is Danner’s younger daughter, Matilda.”

He practically spat out the words.

“The younger daughter?”

I cringed at the anger in his voice.

“Trappers took my sister while out on a run. Just a few days ago.”

The large Alpha stiffened. “Taken? Are you certain it was trappers?”

I shrugged. “That’s what I’ve been told.”

“Why?” Aiden pressed. “And who were those men that just left here? You didn’t say.”

“That is Westin Force Delta team. Bravo is also here in Australia but assisting a different Tribe today. They didn’t say which.”

“Westin Force is here? But why?”

“Michelle isn’t the only shifter to disappear in the area. They say the Collectors are in town.”

“Here?”

“Not here, as in our territory, but here in Australia. They are awaiting word for the location.”

“Who’s Westin Force?” Kayla whispered.

“I’ll tell you later.”

We all knew about the Collectors. Thanks to Westin Force, word had spread worldwide alerting everyone to those guys, insanely rich humans with a desire to collect the most unique among us.

“What do the Collectors want with us? I thought they only collected witches, yeah?”

“Or the rarest of shifters. Apparently, they have put out a statement that the last six dingo shifters will be amongst the latest auction.”

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