Ezra stepped forward, his jaw hard as he looked at this assassin. A mix of hurt and steely resolve crossed his face. He wanted his freedom, but at the cost of someone who must have raised him. I couldn’t imagine that. He leaned down and put two fingers on his neck, nodding once.
“Our master is dead.”
“Kinky,” Cali scoffed, and I shot her a backward glare.
He rose and stood in front of me, pulling a bag over his shoulder, and handed me a thick leather file, “The jobs for the past month, you’ll find what you’re looking for there,” I took the file and passed it to Griffen. “We owe you,” he said, he and his new pack bowed their heads, their hands over their hearts, “You gave us our freedom.”
“No,” I replied, “You helped us too, you made this happen for yourself, let’s call it even. You are indebted to no one anymore.” I nodded back to them,
Ezra’s head lifted, and he met my eyes with something so deep and raw it made my breath catch.
“Thank you, Prince,” He said; a real smile danced across his face, lighting up his features, “We will deal with the aftermath and the bodies.” “No,” I cut in, “We will deal with the bodies.”
“Noted,” He nodded once, “See you around,” He said. Tension seemed to leave his body,
Him and The Packless turned to each other and walked away with such ease. They were louder on their feet; each step sounded in my ears.
I was grateful to them. If they hadn’t stood by, I knew we wouldn’t have made it out of here alive.
I looked at the ground. The Silent Assassin laying eyes opened wide, covered in his own fresh blood. The man that struck fear in so many was no more.
I don’t want to call it luck; I didn’t believe in such a silly notion. But something worked out in our favor, something aligned, and I threw a prayer and thanks to The Moon Goddess.
“Get rid of them,” I nodded toward Griffen and opened my hand for the folder.
I turned my back on the clearing and took a deep breath, happy that was over and longing for my mate and our child. I needed to get back to my real phone to fill them in.
I opened the binder and flipped through the pages, so many names, so many deaths.
I stopped when I saw Emmett’s name.
My heart clenched, and all the air left me. I was shaking, fighting to hold onto the folder as I scanned the page until I found the monsters name who was behind trying to steal my son. I roared, dropping the folder when I found it.
(Caspien)
We shifted faster than I ever had, that fucking bastard. I had a hunch we all did, but some small part of me didn’t realize he would have been this s.tupid.
I took off running, pushing through the thick trees that hindered us. I would run until I found him and rip his throat out.
I thought I felt anger before, but this was all-consuming. My vision was blurred, darkness seemed to puise around the edges. The only thing I heard was my heartbeat and the sound of my rushing blood. Everything inside of me was consumed by anger, hatred, and a need for his blood.
A light brown world jumped in front of me snarling. I growled back at Holden. I forgot how fast that fucker was. I pushed past him and he nipped at my heel. I turned to him growling again and he cowered under my aura. Stand down I commanded
He stood, on shaky legs, fighting me.
You know this isn’t the right way. You will fuck everything up, and there will be a s.hit storm in your w
I don’t care! – I yelled through the link, snarling at him.
You have to. You could start a war
Good – I snarled, but he had a point.
This isn’t the leader Emmett needs to see
I froze, that fucker.
I know that was low, but
I took a deep breath, still shaking, my anger wasn’t subdued, only leashed a bit.
I’m not leaving until you shift back
Holden was the only person that could get to me when I was like this. Griffen still questioned his role; he was too compliant.
Come on, man. He pleaded once I didn’t shift – Alpha Jasper isn’t in our jurisdiction. We need to speak to The Council and The Elders. Then he’s all yours.
I snarled at the mention of that bastard’s name, I wanted to run to him now and gut him in front of hi
Also, you’re running the wrong way
I sighed. Atlas, my usually puppy-like wolf, was fighting me. He didn’t want to give me back control, he demanded blood.
Fine
I promised Atlas that he would pay. Publicly. But it did little to calm him down.
I shifted back, but my body wouldn’t stop shaking. Holden shifted after me and looked relieved.
“You know I hate being the rational one,” He slung his arm around me and started leading us back to the clearing.
“I want the council on the phone in the car on the way back and a meeting with The Elders. Today. Tell them I won’t take no for an answer.” It was dangerous to make demands of The Elders, but that was the least of my concers. Holden nodded, “I’ll make it happen. The cars are waiting for us. Griffen will meet us back when it’s done.”
Cali appeared out of nowhere and Holden wrapped his other arm around her, “I have some duties to deal with, we have come to deal with,” He whispered into her hair, “But after, we are marking each other, and you are not leaving my sight for a minute.”
She laughed once, it was almost a giggle, and it was so unexpected for her. She was relieved, I couldn’t share that feeling. I wondered if I could feel anything besides anger or if this was it, that this would consume me completely with no way back. “I think that went well,” Cali said and Holden agreed letting out a long sigh.
“Now, onto the next step.” Holden said nuzzling his mate.
“Which is?” She asked.
“Challenging an Alpha, to the death,” Holden said and Cali froze for a second but then kept going.
“Legal b.ullshit,” I growled. Holden patted me on the back.
“The cars are this way,” Holden led us out.
The Council, or the ones that could take a call this last minute, agreed with what I already knew. We should talk to The Elders before challenging another Alpha outside our territory. They weren’t sure about the protocols as it hasn’t happened in their time but they thought we needed some kind of permission. I already knew that no matter if The Elders told me no I was going to challenge him.
All my respect for protocols would go out the window. This was just a formatily, in my mind Alpha Jasper was already good as dead. Atlas growled in my mind in aggreance.
“The Elders can take a call when we’re back,” Holden said. The car felt like it was crawling through the city.
“Let me out,” I commanded the driver, “Now,” He pulled over and I jumped out, we were a few blocks away and I needed to do something, to move instead of sit there.
I didn’t care that I was barefoot only wearing sweatpants, I let my aura out, just a bit, and anyone on the sidewalk steered clear of me.
I stalked into the packhouse and took the elevator, debating taking the steps to get some energy out but I needed to see them.
Ignoring the guards outside my door I walked in, my eyes scanning the apartment until they fell on Willa. She was sitting on the floor, her midnight hair reflecting the soft light, it was falling over her shoulder as she bent over to pick something up and hand it to Emmett. She froze when she sensed me, her green eyes meeting mine and a wide smile tugged up her full lips.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.