Page 88 of Dark Moon Secrets

There had to be more going on, and it wasn’t a time to be flippant. What was pushing me out of the pack? Was it Rafe?

I couldn’t be there for any fight. I was finishing the pyre. Though, technically, I might well have finished and had been hunting Tanjie. Had he found out?

“Glad you give a shit, though that’s not always like you. And why aren’t you fighting with them?”

“Why aren’t you fighting, Tala? I know you like a good fight,” I added. Was there even going to be a bonfire tonight? It felt like something I couldn’t explain had changed. I didn’t like being in the dark like this and not knowing.

“Was told to come here… they had it under control.” She huffed, turning away, the anger clear on her face.

Where was my call to come? I didn’t even get one? Had I missed it?

My chest tightened. I had to find and help them. That was the only option to get me out of this mess and save face.

I turned, took a few strides, and then heard something ahead in the scrub. I froze, muscles tensing, ready to fight. The fire brigade had been bribed, right?

Or was this the Wild Fire pack coming to get us?

My wolf pushed to get out, but I kept him contained. Not yet.

Rafe strode out from the cover of the bushes, head high, shoulders squared, blood on his face. Tyr limped into sight behind him, followed by a few others he trusted—all seasoned fighters and injured.

“Where were you?” demanded Rafe, striding up to me.

Fuck, this was it. I had to get him to believe my biggest lie yet.

“Here, getting ready for the bonfire.” I held his gaze unwavering. Willing to believe what I was saying.

“You were called.”

“I didn’t hear the message. If not built right, the bonfire wouldn’t light, and I had to do it all myself. I was too focused.”

Rafe growled, pausing.

It wasn’t a good sign I wasn’t connected to the pack, but it was the best lie I could come up with.

“You wouldn’t need me anyway. You’ve got your best fighters with you.”

“We could’ve done with your skills,” piped up Tyr.

Rafe turned and glared back at Tyr, silencing him from speaking further.

“Doubt it,” I added quickly, trying to dispel the building tension.

Rafe rubbed his shoulder. “Could’ve sorted them out quicker if the witches hadn’t turned up.”

“What? Why? And there’s a peace agreement between the packs.”

“Not anymore. They got wind of what we are planning on doing.”

The way he looked at me turned my stomach. I was in so much trouble I didn’t think I could get out of it.

“Someone told them we’re going to have a bonfire and challenge the witches,” said Rafe.

He was blaming me. Fuck, and my alibi was a witch.

“It wasn’t me, so don’t even think it,” I said.

“No? Would be just the thing you would do.” Rafe stepped forward, inches away from me, as we faced off. I could smell him and the hints of magic energy from the fight. I could tell the witches had gone in hard to separate the packs.

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