Page 134 of A Warrior's Fate

“What rogue attacks?” Sebastian said, tone harsher.

“Are you okay?” Adrien followed.

“It’s not important,” Isla said. “It’s handled, but this…neither of you have heard anything about it? It hasn’t broken our news yet?” They both made sounds of disagreement. “Adrien, when was the last time you spoke to your father?”

“Yesterday afternoon,” he answered. “Then there were Council meetings all day.”

Isla’s ears perked in interest, though meetings of the Council weren’t out of the norm. “You didn’t go?”

“I had…things to handle, and I don’t think he wanted me there anyway.” Adrien paused, and then spoke carefully, having connected some information. “Are you and the alpha mated?”

Isla bit her cheek, saying lowly, “We may as well be.” Before the boys could ask, she elaborated. “It’s a long story, and we still have things to figure out, but, even if we aren’t…” She trailed off as the thought that came to mind, selfishly, was, I can’t lose him. “According to reports here, the challenge hasn’t been approved yet. It’s only been lifted to the Imperial Alpha and Council for deliberation.”

“Who’s calling for it?” Adrien asked.

“No one knows, or at least, it isn’t public information,” Isla said.

“Kai doesn’t know?” Sebastian said.

“I haven’t seen him since yesterday. I’m not sure, and I can’t get to him. It’s a frenzy here.”

“You’re mates. Why can’t you link?”

“I haven’t tried, but the bond—it’s still incomplete and all over the place. I think it’s too weak to do anything like that.”

Adrien, who’d been quiet during the exchange, asked, “Should I tell them he’s your mate? My father and the Council. Your father.”

Isla swallowed, prepared to tell him yes. Maybe it could sway the decision. Or at least, her father’s stance. Make him fight harder against the approval. But the more she thought—of the past, of the way mates had been used against challenged alphas, of Kai’s suspicions—she opted for, “No. No one can know, and no one can know I called either.” A hard knock rattled the door behind her, and she cursed under her breath. “I don’t have much time.”

“Why? Where are you?” Sebastian’s tone was edged with concern.

“Just a place to make the call,” she brushed off before saying, “I need you to do or say whatever you can to convince them against this. Both of you.”

“I’ll get in Dad’s ear when he gets back today,” Sebastian said.

Isla furrowed her brows. “Where is he?”

“Charon.”

Sebastian found nothing in the words, but Isla’s stomach hollowed. “Charon? Why is he—”

The line cut out.

A lingering rage stirred in Isla’s gut along with the weight of homesickness baring on her chest. The woman had purposely notified her at thirty seconds rather than sixty.

As she stepped back into the bright sunlight of the square from the call center, she shifted her gaze to what she could see of the Pack Hall. She wanted the world to swallow her up. Somewhere into a void where she could be alone—or to take Kai away from all of this.

She had a gnawing feeling that their talk about where they stood, about the bond, had been unofficially postponed…but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t see him.

If Kai didn’t show up at her hotel, then she’d go to him. Whether he wanted her there or not, whether it meant fighting through every reporter and guard, she would be there.

He wasn’t going through this alone. As long as she was around, he wasn’t meant to.

Along the streets, Isla noted the guard and city workers that were assisting the owners in cleaning their shops. She wanted to offer her help, guilt rising amidst the anger and sadness, but the warriors would be departing for training within the hour, which meant she either had to catch one of the trolleys or go for another sprint.

She cast a hand above her eyes as she angled her head against the glare, searching for a sign pointing to the nearest station. But as she did, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and her wolf went on high alert. Though it wasn’t for Kai this time, as it had been a lot recently, it was familiar. And she swore as she turned, she caught something moving so quick it was a shadow-like blur in her periphery.

The self-preserving part of her pleaded for her to let it go, to head to a station and not be late for training, but she let instinct guide her instead. Moving along the cobblestone until a flicker of red cropped in the corner of her eye.

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