Page 38 of Savage Prince

Chase pales. “Shit. That’s insane.”

Deciding the catch-up part is over and it’s time for me to step in, I perch on the granite coffee table in front of them. “Exactly. So, we really have to go. We need to get Maxim Thorn on the phone and convince to help us ASAP.”

Chase nods numbly for a moment. “Okay, yeah. And I’ll help. I know Maxim.”

Juliet sits up straighter. “You do?”

“Well, my dad does,” Chase clarifies. “He helped with Maxim’s campaign for leader of the unified packs. After his sister was cursed, Maxim became a lot more open-minded about supporting Variant rights and causes. Dad saw it as our chance to build a more inclusive future for our clan.” His voice drops and anger tightens his jaw again. “Dad’s been worried about the rise in extremist wolves for years. I used to think he was overreacting, that there was no way we’d ever go back to the days when Variants had to hide from wolves and big cats to survive, but if these assholes have taken Lost Moon…”

“Can your dad get us a meeting with Maxim?” I ask. “Preferably within the hour?”

“Absolutely.” Chase stands. “Come up to my room and we can jump on my laptop. I’ll call the rugby camp organizers, tell them I won’t be able to make it to the awards party tonight, after all, and we’ll get my dad on a teleconference. You can fill him in, and he’ll reach out to Maxim on your behalf.”

“Thank you so much, Chase. That sounds like a miracle.” Juliet cuts a glance my way before gesturing awkwardly at my chest. “This is Ford, by the way. My stepbrother. I’m sure I mentioned him a few times back in school. My father sold him into slavery, too. He’s the one who helped me escape the people holding me captive and get to Lost Moon.”

Chase thrusts a hand my way. “Thank you, man. Seriously. Thank you so much.”

I grasp his palm, giving it a reluctant squeeze. I want to tell him that he doesn’t need to thank me because Juliet ismine. Mine to protect and defend and service with my cock, but this isn’t the time for a pissing contest. We need Chase’s help, and he seems to be a legitimately good guy.

I settle for a brusque, “No need to thank me. Juliet’s family. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her.”

He exhales as he releases my hand. “Same. I’ll do whatever it takes to make up for letting her down in the first place. Come on. I have food in my room, too, if either of you is hungry. Coaching always leaves me starved at the end of the day.”

We head for the elevator and Juliet casts a look my way behind Chase’s back that seems to say “Just play along. I’ll break the news that we’re a couple later, after we have his dad and Maxim’s support,” but it isn’t necessary.

I know getting help for our friends and saving her mother’s life comes first.

And I’m not worried about the competition. Chase may be a rich, attractive, nice guy with important connections, but I’m her fated mate. I’m the one she begged to fuck her earlier. I’m the one who’s going to be by her side when she retakes Zion.

I’m also the one whose head feels like it might explode as Chase rests a gentle hand on the small of Juliet’s back as she steps into the elevator.

I want to cut that hand off and wear it on a chain around my neck as a warning to any other men who might think about touching my girl, but I’m sufficiently evolved to ignore that particular Alpha impulse.

For now…

EIGHTEEN

juliet

Less than an hour later,Chase’s father has worked his magic and Ford and I are face-to-face with the one and only Maxim Thorn via my ex-boyfriend’s laptop.

New York’s Alpha is a striking man with eyes such a deep brown, they’re nearly black, and a personal energy so fierce I can feel it prickling at my skin through the screen. He’s clearly enraged by the news of what’s happening at Lost Moon, but there’s a heaviness in his expression my gut says has more to do with grief than anger.

This man just lost his little sister, after all. Or so he thinks.

I want to tell him that Diana might come back to him so badly that I have to dig my fingernails into my palms beneath the desk to curb the impulse.

There may be a time for that in the future, but that time isn’t now.

We have to stay focused on the danger at hand. Clouding the issue will only make this more complicated than it needs to be and potentially cost my mother her life.

“I understand you’re Hammer’s children,” Maxim says, clearly having been filled in on a few things before jumping on the call. “And that you’re of age and prepared to take over in the event of Hammer’s death.”

“Completely prepared,” I answer. “And we wouldn’t waste any time grieving his loss. My father sold both my stepbrother and I into slavery two years ago. There’s no love lost there on either of our parts.”

“I’ll rip him apart myself,” Ford adds. “All I need is a way in.”

Maxim nods, clearly approving of Ford’s bloodthirstiness. But as the talk progresses, he divides his attention evenly between the two of us, a fact that makes me hopeful he really is the good man Diana thought he was. Most Alphas would automatically favor the massive male in a conversation, but Maxim seems to consider my input with the same measured efficiency that he does Ford’s.

---