Page 39 of Their Mate
Edward’s calm tone cut through the rising tension. “Then tell us. If you’re so convinced we’re doomed and that you’ll escape eventually, there’s no harm in talking. Might as well share a little information. Who exactly are you, Sera Moore? How did you end up hunting wolves for your precious Watch?”
I hesitated, suspicion narrowing my eyes. He was baiting me, testing my defenses. Still, I realized bitterly, perhaps he was right. Why not indulge them now, answer their pointless questions, bide my time until I could find an opening? Eventually, I’d slip away, report back to the Watch, and return to finish what I’d started.
“My brother,” I finally muttered, voice bitter, edged with old pain. “I lost him years ago. A wolf killed him. It tore him apart. I joined the Watch to ensure no one else would have to experience a loss like that ever again.”
Aidan frowned slightly, clearly troubled. “I’m sorry about your brother, but we’re not like the wolf who hurt him. Ferals are our enemy, too. You’re judging us for crimes we didn’t commit.”
I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat, forcing my voice to remain even. “You’re all the same. Wolves destroy, kill, take what doesn’t belong to them. Just like you’re trying to takemenow. Don’t expect sympathy or forgiveness just because you talk about some ridiculous mate bond.”
Logan exhaled slowly, clearly frustrated. “The Elder Lycan is a threat to all of us—human and wolf alike. We need each other, whether you want to accept that or not.”
I remained silent as I turned my gaze forward again, stubbornly planning my next move. They could say whatever they wanted. My loyalty belonged to the Watch and to humans. As soon as I could escape, I’d return, report everything and then, no matter how much it might twist something that felt traitorous within me, I’d fulfill my duty. I’d end these wolves.
We moved through the streets in tense, heavy silence after that, broken only by the low murmurs of the pack discussing Declan. My jaw remained clenched tightly, shoulders squared, my eyes fixed forward, stubbornly avoiding even a glance toward the wolves surrounding me. I refused to acknowledge the faint, dangerous tug deep within my chest that threatened to betray me every time one of them brushed too close.
I reminded myself, over and over, of who and what I was: Sera Moore, trained assassin of the Watch. Wolves were targets, enemies. They were dangerous beasts who destroyed lives, shattered families, left ruin in their wake. Every gentle touch, every concerned glance was a carefully constructed lie, nothing more.
I wouldn’t be fooled.
Ahead of me, Logan’s soft voice broke through my silent thoughts, tense with urgency. “Aidan, tell us exactly where you last saw Declan. We need to pinpoint a location if we’re going to have a chance at finding him in time.”
Aidan exhaled roughly, his voice strained, clearly battling his own guilt and pain. “We were about half a mile from the main street leading toward the docks, right by that old church on Mill Street. That’s when the lycans hit us, but then the Elder Lycan showed up, and everything went to hell. He took Declan and dragged him away heading south, toward the old warehouses near the waterfront.”
Edward’s voice sharpened with obvious calculation. “Warehouses are a good location to hide. Lots of cover, plenty of exit points.”
Jamie nodded grimly. “Plenty of blind spots and ambush points too. We move in carefully.”
Aidan’s voice dropped lower, strain evident in every syllable. “If he got bit… we don’t have long. I can’t lose him too, Logan.”
I stubbornly kept my eyes forward, refusing to let myself sympathize with the anguish in his voice. They were wolves, monsters even. They didn’t deserve compassion or sympathy. I knew their kind, knew the pain and destruction they could bring.
And yet… a faint, traitorous whisper lingered in the back of my mind. The raw anguish in Aidan’s voice was familiar, a mirror to my own buried pain. He’d lost someone too.
I quickly shook myself free of the thought, tightening my jaw and pulling in a calming breath. It didn’t matter if he’d felt loss or not; these wolves were still dangerous creatures. I couldn’tlet myself forget that simple truth, no matter how familiar their pain felt to my own.
Finally, the familiar outline of the pub appeared through the darkness ahead. A soft glow of lamplight spilled through the windows, promising warmth and safety, at least for them. For me, it represented nothing but a temporary refuge, a place where I’d be forced to pretend a little longer, until I could escape and return to the Watch. A place filled with enemies.
Logan moved ahead, opening the door and stepping aside to allow us through, his gaze watchful as he ushered us inside. Warmth washed over me instantly, along with the smell of wood smoke, whiskey, and something savory cooking in the back. It would have felt welcoming if my entire body wasn’t tense and ready for any opportunity to slip away.
Before I could even gather myself properly, footsteps echoed from the stairway at the back of the pub. One by one, unfamiliar wolves came into view, their gazes quickly scanning us.
“Logan!” a woman said abruptly, relief clear in her voice as she pushed forward, her dark hair swinging behind her. This must be Zara Yorke, Logan’s sister. Her eyes were intelligent, assessing, and she paused for just a moment, gaze flicking suspiciously toward me before she wrapped her arms around her brother in a warm hug.
Logan hugged her back briefly, then pulled away, his expression grave. “We’ve got trouble, Zara. Big trouble.”
Behind her, the others filed in—five wolves whose identities I already knew well from my intel.
The largest stepped forward first, with silver-gray hair and green eyes glittering with cautious curiosity. Magnus O’Rourke. Hemoved like he owned the room, quiet confidence radiating from him even though he wasn’t officially their alpha.
“About bloody time you lot showed,” Magnus drawled, a lazy smirk on his lips. He eyed Logan, then glanced at me, a brow arched. “And you’ve brought company. Didn’t realize we were expanding.”
Logan scowled slightly, clearly not in the mood for Magnus’s teasing. “We’ll explain later. Declan’s missing. He was taken by a creature called the Elder Lycan.”
Magnus’s humor vanished instantly, a deadly serious expression taking over his face. He glanced back at two wolves standing behind him, one dark and brooding, the other younger, warmer. Tobias and Callum McDonagh. Brothers. I remembered their dossier clearly—Tobias intense and protective, Callum gentle and empathetic.
Tobias immediately straightened, stepping forward. “Declan’s been taken? How? When?”
Aidan grimaced beside me, pain clear on his face. “Not long ago. Near the old church on Mill Street. We got jumped—regular lycans at first, then the Elder Lycan appeared. Bigger, stronger. He dragged Declan away. By the time I got free, they were gone.” His face conveyed his dread eloquently.
