Page 40 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

“You said within your Pack. I assume they are part of a Tribe. So which Tribe, and if all the Tribe's are to be targets, why would this one be any safer?”

“I'm from the Sydney Tribe. We’re spread out and live more in our skin than our fur. It would be much harder to find all of us than a community like this, Campbell, or any of the other Tribes. I'd place you with a family I trust that lives outside the rest of the Tribe. I've already gotten safeguards put on them so the odds of anyone finding them are extremely small. I trust you'll be safe enough that I can reasonably do my job, complete my mission, save the dingoes, and return your sister.”

“That's it, then?” she asked sarcastically.

I grinned. “Simple as that.”

“Do I get a choice in this?”

“No. This is my last ultimatum and the only concession I'll make.”

She scoffed in defiance. I could easily see how spirited she was, and it only made me more determined.

“And if I don't agree?”

“Then I'll be forced to pull a Michael.”

“Kidnap me?”

“Yeah, and get you the hell away from this continent quickly. Few would begrudge me if you prefer that option.”

She snorted. “You aren't going to kidnap me.”

“Try me.”

I was dead serious, too. She was either going back to my home Pack or going home with me to my current one half a world away.

“Lachlan. . .” she started to protest.

I waited patiently.

“I can't just disappear.”

“I'll talk to your father and make my offer. With any luck, he's a reasonable man and will see that this is for the best.”

“And if not?”

“Then it's happening anyway. You are the most important person to me in this entire world. I can secure you and do my job, or I can take you away and make damn sure you're safe.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No ma'am. It's a promise.”

We were at a standstill, and I didn't know my mate quite well enough to know how she would react. Was she defiant by nature? I suspected there was some of that. But was she levelheaded enough to see reason? That remained to be seen.

“I want Kayla to come with me.”

“Who’s Kayla?”

“My best friend. We do everything together.”

If that made her more comfortable, then I would gladly do what I could to make it happen. But first I need to ensure she was cleared to go.

“I’ll talk to him and see what he says, but only after we have an extraction plan in place for you.

“Okay.” she finally conceded.

The relief I felt was unreal.

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