Page 126 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

"That isn’t my problem." I shrugged, at a loss.

"It’s Carter." A vein in Griffin’s neck stuck out. "You can’t count on him to figure out something like that. He’s an idiot."

"In all fairness, he did get me into the supply closet and drug me." I hated to admit it, but the truth was just that.

The truth.

"I’m sure we can find something to throw out." One more thing to determine in the morning.

Can I talk to you?Griffin asked, his mesmerizing eyes locking with mine as his feelings of anxiety and worry slammed into me.Alone?

Crap.Of course.I stood, wishing I could tell him no. But I couldn’t. I knew how concerned he was about this plan, and I needed to hear him out. I just hoped the rest of our night wouldn’t be ruined.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I followedGriffin into our bedroom while the other two stayed with Rosemary as she ate her dinner. Luckily, we’d eaten our food prior to Rosemary getting here.

Well, correction… Killian and I ate while Griffin glared at him. I could feel how much this all bothered him, but there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. When I looked at it from every angle, this strategy was what I kept coming back to.

When I entered the room, Griffin shut the door behind me a little too hard. The doorframe shuddered at the force.

I’d been expecting his outburst, having felt it brewing inside him ever since Carter made the call informing us that the enemy had contacted him. For a second, I’d falsely hoped that we wouldn’t argue. Hell, we hadn’t officially had our first fight.

I guessed that changed now.

I want you to call this off.Griffin jumped right to the point.This is a bad decision. You being captured isn’t the right answer.His hazel eyes darkened to all brown, as if the warm green flecks had simply disappeared.

I kept a clear head and didn’t react as I wanted to because I had to put myself in his shoes. If he’d suggested using himself as bait, I wouldn’t be thrilled, either. In fact, I would be doingeverything possible to find a different course of action. But, unlike him, I would see the plan for what it was—our best chance.

This, again, went back to him not having the same battle strategy training I’d had my entire life. Without that training on his side, I would have to help him see things in a different light.Okay, then what do you suggest?

His head tipped backward as the tension around his eyes slackened. He nibbled on his bottom lip as his brows furrowed in confusion.

He hadn’t expected me to respond like that. He’d been prepared to argue.

Uh... Well, I can get Dick involved and see if he can help us find the culprit.Griffin nodded like he was convincing himself that what he said was the best course of action.

Dammit, I understood his gut reaction, but I needed to figure out a way to help him decide that it wasn’t a good idea to include that bastard.So, you want to put the person who is currently running Shadow City at risk and potentially lose not one council member, but two?The words tasted sour in my mind, but talking down to him wouldn’t work. Dad had used this strategy with me while I was growing up, and I believed it had helped me learn to think things through more objectively.I’m not sure he has our best interests at heart. I have a feeling about him.

Fine. Okay. I trust you.He blew out a breath as he ran his fingers into his now disheveled honey-brown hair.Then we wait until they contact Carter again when he doesn’t deliver you. Maybe you can say that was an odd morning request and you have other things to do.

They won’tgive Carter a second chance, and he would be more likely to inform them that we knew the plans and that he was compromised in order to save his brother. Not to mentionhis brother probably will lose a hand or worse.I sat on the bed and placed my hands in my lap, staring straight ahead.Then they could attack us again, knowing that we lost our temporary advantage over them.

Then we fight.Griffin nodded as he sat next to me.And you can stay somewhere safe like Shadow City in the meantime.

And leave others here to fight when these people are coming for me?That was the one option that I would never accept, even if Griffin tried to demand it.What kind of leader would that make me? If we want to lead Shadow City, side by side, that strategy is the worst option. No one would respect me or be able to view me as their alpha or, hell, even the alpha’s mate.

His hands clutched mine to the point of near pain. He practically yelled through our bond,Who fucking cares? At least you’d be alive and safe!

My wolf growled, infuriated that he’d spoken to us that way. We weren’t his pack member, but his equal. If I wanted to, I could force him to submit to me. But the silver wolves weren’t meant to lead regular wolves. They were meant to lead the other protectors and make the calls that were the most difficult to make.

War strategies.

Like these. But I would never talk down to him and insult him that way. Even if he had just done that to me. His reaction stemmed from emotions and caring; a good place, even if it was uncalled for.

Look.I tried to stay level-headed, but my irritation bled through.I can only imagine what you’refeeling.I turned my body and fully faced him, cupping his cheek with one hand. Our eyes caught and held.But your people not respecting me isn’t an option. My dad raised me to be the kind of warrior that people would respect, and what you’re asking me to do is something that would make him turn over in his grave.If he had one. Thatwas yet another thing I had to figure out—what those assholes had done to my pack’s bodies. If I could find them, I wanted to give each and every one of them a proper burial, as any shifter and fighter deserved.

The anger faded from his eyes, and his whole body sagged in defeat.I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that, but the thought of you walking into something and getting hurt when I could’ve done something to prevent it...it almost paralyzes me.

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