Page 98 of Bitter Discord

Everyone in the family on that side of the line turned to Davor.

“It was just… monitoring equipment and stuff,” he explained to them, looking a little scared of the attention. “I figured if she was going to live with werewolves, she would need the extra stuff to keep herself safe.”

“Well, it helped,” I said, trying to smile. Meeting my gaze, he wasn’t angry or furious. Davor was changing, and I avoided him so much that I missed how the slow tide morphed his emotions toward me.

“I’m really glad,” he said, nodding. “Anything for the sister who found my mate’s murderer.” He winced as if he regretted his words. “Anything for family. If you need an explanation for anything, just call. I’ll answer.”

Those words stabbed me in the heart. Jabari reached for Davor, grabbing the back of his shirt. He pulled Davor under his arm and held him there. Niko looked a little relieved, then went back to silently searching for something.

“Dirk isn’t here,” I told him. “This isn’t his… scene, but I know he’s hoping to visit in the spring, so look out for that email or call or something.”

“Thanks, Sis,” Niko said, a tired smile forming. “I’m glad he’s found a place here. It’s just left Germany… feeling empty.”

I looked at Hasan again, and the man gave a world-weary sigh when he realized I had my attention on him again. He looked me in the eye, and for a moment, I wondered if he would stay his hand even though he’d told Zuri he would do it.

“Bring forth the prisoner,” he said, waving to those behind me. “I have considered the crimes and have decided I will accept the trade and the judgment of my daughters will hold. For endangering the lives of two of my daughters, I will do it.” He looked at William as Heath and Landon shoved the werecat the rest of the way. They were strong enough if they worked together. Heath and Landon didn’t back off once the prisoner was on the ground with no escape. Hasan looked up, his gold eyes full of fury at their behavior. “Thank you, Heath Everson, for the considerate decision to allow a werecat to be executed by his own ruler.”

“So long as justice is done for those hurt my pack, I am more than willing to present this small offering of cooperation.”

I nearly snorted. It was smug, yet he delivered it with the perfect amount of deference.

“Thank you,” Hasan bit off.

I stepped back with Heath and Landon, staying at my fiancé’s side. Zuri stood on my other side as we waited for what would come.

“Fool,” Hasan said to the kneeling William. “To meddle in the affairs of my family. Fool. You followed the same path as your father, and your reasons don’t matter to me.” He looked at the other werecats. “Let this be a reminder of what happens to those who believe they can outsmart and hurt my children. There’s a reason we rule and no one else.”

He grabbed William’s jaw gingerly, almost lovingly, as if he was his son, then twisted suddenly, turning William’s head and snapping his neck. Hasan yanked and tore William’s head from his body, throwing the head to the feet of the other werecats. They didn’t react, looking at William’s head, then each one of them bowed.

Hasan stepped back from the bleeding body as it dropped to the ground and turned around. After three steps, I realized he was leaving.

“That’s it?” I asked, stepping forward.

“There’s nothing else to discuss,” Hasan said, looking over his shoulder at me. “Not here. Call if you need anything.”

He kept walking, but my siblings didn’t follow. I went to the border with Zuri and let Jabari throw his arms around both of us.

“Damn sisters,” he growled. “I hope this got you what you wanted.”

“I might not have made many friends, but I think Zuri and I helped my cause,” I said, shrugging.

“Helped?” Marnar said. I looked over to see they were all moving closer to us. Hasan was still walking. I didn’t know where they had parked their vehicles, but clearly, it wasn’t close.

“Yeah, I think you did more than help your cause,” Abraham said, chuckling, an odd sound to hear after an execution. “Look, most of us don’t get into trouble with werewolves. A lot of us are younger than the war, so we don’t see the point in opening old wounds and doing it again. The werewolves near us are also younger than the war—”

“I was talking,” Marnar snapped at him.

“Then continue,” Abraham said, stepping away from her.

“You showed us a community that is possible for any of us willing to build friendships with someone we should see as the enemy… but not all of us have ever seen werewolves as the enemy. Like you, not all of us were taught to hate them and can’t always summon it when others can.”

“You taught some of us to see things a bit differently. I’ll always hate Wagner in Phoenix, but Wagner and the boy are two different people,” Lonan said.

“I don’t like Wagner on most days, so you’re not alone in that,” Heath said, getting a smile out of Lonan.

“You and him are different,” Lonan said.

“I’m glad to hearthat.” That comment from Heath made Lonan laugh. It made Landon laugh too. I looked at Jabari as he narrowed his eyes on Landon Everson and remembered how Jabari wasn’t comfortable with Heath’s son.

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