Page 47 of Master of Kayos

“Yeah, Dad.She loves Nikita more than her real kids.”A teen standing off to the side of the porch had her arms crossed, her face as dark as Blake’s.

Bethany took a step toward the girl but stopped when her daughter lifted her chin.“No, I don’t.Why would you say that?”

“Because she’s a dire wolf.You all think she’s so much better than the rest of us, even Nathan, your own heir.She’s not even an alpha, and yet she’s the golden child.”

“That’s enough,” Blake hissed.“Who told Nikita where to find the River Canyon pack?”he asked, his prime Alpha voice in full effect.

Karen rolled to her knees, her head bowed.“I did.”

“Mom?Why would you do that?”Blake stared at his mother like she was a stranger.Maybe in that moment she was.

Karen lifted her face to her son.“It’s like Carrie said; you dote on Nikita like she’s the goddess incarnate.And that one”— Karen pointed at Quinn — “killed my mate.”

“I’ll deal with you later,” Blake seethed.

They were getting nowhere with the family bickering, so Quinn asked, “When’s the last time you spoke with Mercy?”

Before Blake could answer, Kyllian’s phone rang, and he held up his hand.“Nobody move.”He tapped the screen and put it to his ear.

“Kayos,” Bishop responded.“I’m afraid I don’t have good news.I didn’t call until now because I’ve been working nonstop, but here’s the thing.Jeremy texted someone with a cryptic message.All it said was ‘it’s time.’It took forever, but I finally tapped into the receiver’s phone and figured out it was someone named Kinsley.”

Kyllian tilted his head.“Kinsley, Kinsley...”

“That’s Jeremy’s mate,” Quinn reminded him.

“The last location for all their phones was just outside New Tulsa.That was an hour ago.Either they’re waiting for something or someone, or they left the phones and are traveling without them.Nikita hasn’t sent any new texts to Tarryn either.”

Kyllian growled low, and Quinn understood.It was a frustrating situation.“Why would Nikita tell Tarryn that Blake commanded Mercy to return to the pack?”

Quinn brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.“Either to throw someone off, or Mercy gave Nikita that excuse as to why they didn’t take her to Poppy’s.”

Kyllian took Quinn by the arm and led her away from the pack.Whispering, he asked, “If the Alpha gives a command, does a wolf have to obey?”

“If he uses the Prime Alpha voice, then yes.It’s much like your compulsion.”

“What’s a Prime Alpha?”Bishop asked.

“In wolf hierarchy, there are alphas, betas, and omegas.The alphas are the more dominant of the species.The Prime Alpha is the leader of the pack.His word is law, and that’s usually enough to have the pack obey.When he wants to make sure of it, he uses the power of the prime position to ensure it.”

“So it’s possible he didn’t use the prime voice and Mercy disobeyed?”Bishop asked.

“It is.But I don’t understand why she wouldn’t answer our calls if that’s the case.Why not take Nikita to Poppy’s like planned?Kyllian...”Quinn didn’t know what to ask for.Her mind was going several directions, each scenario worse than the last.

Kyllian took her hand with his free one as he returned to where Blake was struggling not to shift.“Did you speak to Mercy yesterday and tell her to return Nikita here?”

“No.She won’t answer her fucking phone.”

“Where’s Kinsley?”Quinn asked.If she was texting with Jeremy, she had to know their plan.

Kyllian’s phone buzzed, and he looked at the screen.“Bishop, I’ve got a call coming through from an unknown number.I want you to trace it if you can.”

“I’m on it.”

Kyllian tapped the screen, then put the phone to his ear.“Hello?”

“Kyllian, help.”Quinn’s knees about buckled at the panicked voice.

“Trouble, is that you?”

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