Chapter 3
Misti had expected talking to Anders to be awkward. Honestly, how could she have expected Anders to stop with his flirting? He had been flirting with her since they first met.
And she didn’t want the teasing, the flirting—hell, even the touching—to stop.
But it had to because they couldn’t jeopardize all of this. She hadn’t gotten married for nothing.
Her biggest fear, though, wasn’t death, not any longer. If the others insisted that she and Talon were claimed before they marched… The idea of being bound to another werewolf was almost too much to contemplate. Even with Anders, for that matter.
It wasn’t until he had made a comment about his being willing to marry a daughter if Kastner had one instead of a son that she had even thought about that. And the thought of Anders with another woman, him touching her as he had touched her, kissing her as he had kissed her, loving her as he had loved her…
Did Anders love her? She knew she loved him, but love wasn’t enough.
Survival alone wasn’t enough either, though.
Last night, she had sought him out, and the feel of him driving into her, her leg up high so the angle was just right… It had been amazing. Beyond amazing. The perfect goodbye.
So why did she still find herself looking for him? Wanting to talk to him? He couldn’t be her future. Not if she wanted to have a future.
Tia glanced back at Misti curiously. She was standing beside the doors she’d opened. Trying not to blush, Misti hurried forward.
The meeting room was large, and a huge circular table rested in the center. Four werewolves stood around it, looking over a map. Dunn Kastner, Talon, Jon Golden, and a werewolf she hadn’t seen before. The last was tall and thin, a scarecrow of a man, the oldest of those present in the room. She assumed him to be Kastner’s second.
She approached the table, Anders right behind her.
Kastner glanced up, his eyes cool and calculating. “Good of you two to join us.”
“Let’s get started.” The last thing she wanted everyone to dwell on was how long it had taken her to bring Anders here.
“David, give us your report from last night.”
The old man straightened as best his slightly stooped back would allow. “The night guards reported seeing a single wolf out beyond our walls last night.”
“An animal?” Misti asked.
“Doubtful. Wolves tend to leave us to our own devices.” Kastner didn’t look at her as he said this, and his smile looked almost eerie.
She shuddered. While she had only come across a few wolves throughout her life, she had always felt a kinship to the animal.
“A spy?” Anders cut in. He crossed his arms. His biceps bulged beneath his tight shirt, and she glanced away.
“That would be my guess.” The old man turned his gaze on Anders and her. He seemed shrewd, but for some reason, she already liked him better than Kastner.
“You lead them here.” Kastner glowered at Anders.
“Impossible,” he said coolly. “If they knew we were here, they would have already started their attack.”
Kastner let out a harrumph.
“If it was a spy, we should consider marching on them,” Misti suggested. “We can still claim the element of surprise that way.”
“Unless we are still being spied upon,” the alpha countered.
“So, we kill any spy we find during our march.” Talon walked around his father and David to stand next to Misti. “It’s a solid plan.”
“And how soon should we leave?” David asked, as if it had already been decided that they would march.
“If we leave as soon as we are able, there won’t be time for…” Golden glanced at Misti and Talon and then lowered his gaze to the map.
No claiming. Misti held her breath. It would be up to Kastner what they did. She had no choice in the matter.
“Which would you rather?” Kastner’s eyes seemed to penetrate his son, and Misti was glad he wasn’t staring in her direction.
“Everyone’s safety is paramount,” Talon said without hesitation.
“So, march then.” Kastner nodded. “I agree. Spread the word. We will march within the hour.”
Tia was waiting for them outside the doors. “I will gather provisions for you both and place them in your rooms shortly before we are to depart.” Then she turned toward Misti. “Once we return, you will move into Talon’s place. He is a good man. You’ll see. I know things have been rather rushed, but that is how we do things here. Short courtship. Long marriages. Happy unions. Everything works out. It always does.”
A sound suspiciously like a snort came from Anders, but he said nothing verbally.
Misti also kept silent. A march to battle. To glory? Or to doom? How many Wild Shades would lose their lives because of her and Anders coming here? What if Dunn Kastner should fall? Talon would be alpha, and she was his wife, soon to be his mate once he claimed her. Would the rest of the Wild Shades rise up and revolt against them?
“Misti, a moment.” Talon jogged to her. “Please.”
She nodded and halted, while Tia and Anders continued on. Anders didn’t look back, she noticed.
“I just want you to know that the Wild Shades, the entire pack, is behind us. Some of us, especially the older ones, never felt at home here. To have a reason to reenter the fray, to try and dominate the packs hellbent on destroying each other, well, this is our best chance at reclaiming the mountain.”
“What are you saying?” she asked.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
Thank you for possibly leading them all to their deaths.
She glanced at the gate surrounding their community. Maybe it would be better to stay here, to wait until the others found them. It would happen eventually, sooner if the spy truly was a spy.
But the she-wolf in her longed for battle. Yes, the march was best.
“I will fight,” she said.
“I will be honored to fight by your side.” He nodded and walked away, back to the alpha’s quarters.
She watched him leave. Was there honor in fighting?
Did it matter?