Page 17 of Never Submit

Would it be the worst thing to at least talk to Torin and Noble? To see if they might have noticed something at the shrine that would help us both find this fucker?

Giving up on her, even reminding myself of her connection to Torin’s pack, is anathema.

“I always refused to work with Torin, even as a last resort,” I insist. “But you saw what happened on the mountain.”

“We can find out where Ren was taken on our own. The way we’ve always done. You’re out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m going to work with Noble ever again after what happened.”

His eyes dance with madness.

“I’m just saying you might not have a fucking choice. Someone’s got the answers and I’m willing to bet it’s those two assholes.”

“Fine,” Dax replies after too much silence. “Fine. We know Andras is close. Let’s find him and make him beg for mercy.”

“It’s time,” I agree.

The thought of Torin fills my mouth with the taste of something bitter. Logic can’t make me like him any better.

Dax growls, the sound filled with malice and dark promise. I taste violence in the air, but even that is preferrable, at this point.

“Let’s set up a meeting.”

Why does it feel like we’re submitting? Even to get the one thing I want more than anything else, it feels so wrong and off-putting to be friendly with the Steel Claws.

Too many years of having it ingrained in me that they are our enemies.

“We reach out, in a neutral spot, and if that doesn’t work—” I start.

“Then we slaughter them.”

I shoot Dax a sharp, thin smile. “You always know exactly what to say.”

He shrugs again. “It’s the truth.”

Yes, it is. And if things go bad, then we will both do whatever it takes to protect the Grey Valley wolves and Ren.

No matter what.

Chapter 5

Noble

“Eyes ahead,” Torin mutters under his breath to me.

He’s telling me to focus on the fucking meeting rather than the murderous urges bubbling inside.

Mathis and Dax are already there, and the former turns to watch our approach. Fuck, we’re late, which already gives them the edge. It might be enough to counteract the fact that they reached out for this meeting with us first. Maybe we’re even? I can’t even think.

Can’t keep my thoughts from tangling together.

I’d rather be smashed by a rampaging hippo. I’d rather have my toenails ripped out one at a time, anything but force myself to be civil with fucking Dax.

The dude needs to be put to sleep before he causes any more damage. For Ren, I’ll do all of that and more.

Standing in the forest clearing, our neutral space between pack territories where our alphas can meet to speak or exact justice, is no picnic either. Not when I’m waiting for Torin to crack the veneer of ice surrounding him.

A bonfire crackles merrily in a ring of stones but the energy is tense and constricting, an inevitable implosion while the four of us hold our breath and wait.

One of them will break first.

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