Page 101 of Tides of Fate

“No, you’re right, pretty. We have to call the police.”

It’s the worst idea Jay has ever had, and everyone’s face shows they agree. But like Jay, Gideon can’t see another way around it.

“That’s crazy. Tell me we are not telling them our superhero omega went allrawrandgrrr,and now we have a dead body twice his size in the driveway without its heart.” Luca states.

What he doesn’t add is that they’re due in court in two days, and there’s no way Nix is flying under anyone’s radar in prison—just like he hasn’t in real life.

There’s also still the matter of who Dill Pickle is and who sent him—although Gideon has an inkling, the idea doesn’t bring relief.

Nix whines at Luca’s words, and Grayson pulls him close, rocking himgently from side to side. He’s been so quiet otherwise that Gideon starts to worry—maybe he’s in shock.

Surely Finn would recognize it?

Or not. “I hate being in the dark,” Finn mutters to no one in particular. He means about the fight, but it could just as easily apply to everything about today.

Rowan pops up from behind the car, dusting his hands off. For the first time since they came through the gate, he joins the group, standing away from the body. “We are literally standing in the dark, Finn.”

Shifting the scent-relaxed Luca across his lap, Leo presses a kiss to his mate’s forehead. “Why don’t we see if Sentinel can help?”

It’s a fine idea—except anyone with the power to decide is in seclusion with their brand-new daughter. Gideon doesn’t want to think about babies and new life right now and shoves the thought away.

Instead, he pokes at Leo, shocked to hear it—because morally, Leo is straight as an arrow. “What? No cops? Leo! I amshooketh,” Gideon mocks.

“Fuck you. Look, all I’m saying is this guy is a Bad Guy. Capital B, capital G. And who’s going to be looking for him? More Bad Guys, that’s who.”

“I say let them come,” Rowan growls, cracking his neck, fists clenched.

“No.”

It’s the first thing Nix has said out loud since calling Gideonmine, and his dark tone brooks no argument. “No more bad people in, on, or near my den. No. Think of something else.”

“Alright, baby boy. I’ll tell them it was me. We can scrub the camera footage to be sure, and—” Jay already has his phone in hand, scrolling for a number.

It’s Gideon’s turn to say, “No.”

There is no way he’s letting his alpha take the heat. Being a pack leaderanda celebrity in the middle of starting up their new label is already bringing them more than enough attention.

“I’ll do it. I’m fucking bloody already.” Besides, unlike Gideon, Jay looks like he stepped off the cover ofGQ, not straight out ofTrue Crime.

“No one is taking the blame but me. I did it. Me,” Nix starts, but the packis having none of it.

The abrupt commotion startles Tsuki enough to bark…and bark…and bark.

“Angel, even Tsuki thinks that idea sucks. You can’t go to jail. You smell like candy and look like you fell from heaven. They won’t allow you scent blockers, and Were prisons are no fucking joke,” Grayson pleads.

Grayson couldn’t really know anything about the viciousness of the Were prison system or its inhabitants. None of them could. Even Gideon hadn’t spent time incarcerated—but he had friends in low places.

He was raised by the king of thelowest.

He’d also grown up listening to well-trained criminals talk about life inside. Prison is the last place someone as pure as Nix should ever be. He’s already seen more evil up close than he ever should have.

“Kitten, you are not taking the blame for anything. You protected your family and your home,” Gideon says firmly. “Besides, Hayes is in a holding cell in city lockup. He was transferred in for the trial today. That’s the last place you’re going.”

Burnt vanilla scorches through the tight circle of mates before Nix sucks it all back up like a vacuum.

Gideon hates that he’s the cause, but he can’t go easy on this. He hasn’t put his foot down in any real way, but Nix will not spend one millisecond behind bars.

Not one.

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