Chapter 40 #2
“Dad, don’t be embarrassing!” Mave groaned. “Just because he looks like something out of one of your online games….”
“It’s so freaking cool though!”
She sighed. At least he was in good spirits despite having a bullet shot through his shoulder ten minutes ago.
He struggled to his feet, leaning on his mate slightly. Mave’s mom had been quiet and stoic, but no doubt close to losing it given every single member of her family had been injured tonight.
“We should huddle up with the rest of the group and discuss where we go from here,” Jack said, nodding his head toward the others.
As we approached, Mave squeezed my hand then left me to go throw herself onto Ben. She buried her face in his neck, and I saw a lone tear slip down her cheek. It broke my heart into a thousand pieces.
This was supposed to be a happy night. We were going to be together under the moon and I was going to rid her of the plague that had been smothering her wolf and her soul.
I was going to prove to her that I was a worthy mate—that I loved her deeply and would do anything to see her freed to be completely herself again.
Instead, we were all here in the dirt on Pack land, bleeding, filthy, and terrified for our loved ones.
“Shh, Magic, I’ll live,” Ben cooed, rubbing her back. “But you don’t get to cry on me, though, not when you’re the one that put me through watching… that with the Alpha while I was laying on the ground hurt. And I couldn’t… get to you.” Then he sniffed and hugged her harder.
Knox and his crew had gathered around, fortunately having found pants somewhere. I was no prude, but I’d seen enough wolf dick to last me at least another month.
Knox cast a wary look around, then he cleared his throat.
“Mave,” he looked down at where she was now sitting next to Ben and Harriet.
“I don’t think I have the words to say how sorry I am for what my father did.
To you, and to Blake.” He looked at me without visceral dislike for the first time ever.
“I wish I could say that this is not the kind of pack we are, but I’m starting to doubt that.
And I wish I could say you will both be safe from him now, but I don’t know if I can promise that, either. ”
Mason chimed in, “My mom and Thad’s dad weren’t informed of the Alpha’s plans to drug or kidnap anyone.
They tried to help us locate Blake earlier tonight.
” He looked at Jack. “I can’t say for sure, but I think they’d both support you if you wanted to issue a formal challenge, given what’s happened here. ”
Jack shook his head. “I don’t want to be the Alpha of this pack or any pack. It would be a last resort.” He nodded to Knox. “Son, I think it has to be you.”
Knox just shook his head. I’d never seen him so despondent—not even the night Mave revealed herself as an Alpha.
“I can’t beat him. I know I can’t. At least not yet.
And I just… I know he’ll shut me out of everything now.
I won’t be able to guarantee Blake’s safety or that he’ll stop threatening Mave about our mating. ”
Mave cleared her throat. She gave both me and Ben a meaningful look.
“I think I have another plan. I need some time, but we may be able force his hand in a different way.”
I suspected what she was up to, and it was a smart move.
“Okay then. We also need to address everyone’s safety in the interim,” Jack added. “Mason, will your mom be able to keep an eye on you three?”
He nodded. “I think we will stick together and rotate staying at my house or Thad’s. We spend all of our time at my place anyway.”
“Good, and we’ll make sure Blake and Mave are never alone, as well.”
The group nodded. Ian spoke up next. “As soon as those goons—no offense, Knox—showed up to my place to try and snatch me, I knew we’d been made.
I called down to the coven and they are sending two memory mages this way as we speak.
They are first and foremost going to intercept the National Shifter Council representatives when they step off of the plane tomorrow.
They’ll make sure they think they’ve investigated the Alpha’s claim and found it to be a false alarm. ”
“What about my dad?” Knox asked.
“I don’t know that we’ll be able to get close enough to him to wipe his memory.
I think I know enough tricks to take care of those two”—he indicated the unconscious enforcer and Angelo Parker—“At least to leave them very confused about exactly what happened out here and why they are waking up naked in a field. I will teach Blake how to work the same spell, and he can take care of the Parkers. I think we will just need to be wary of the Alpha for now and on our guard.”
“I don’t think he’ll do anything right now, anyway,” Knox added. “He got his ass handed to him and he won’t want to provoke Jack’s ire. He’s probably just going to sit around and seethe and hope Jack doesn’t issue a formal challenge.”
“If we all act like everything is normal, I think he will relax and let his guard down since he knows I don’t want to lead a pack,” Jack added. “Let’s just keep each other safe until we can work out whatever Mave’s plan is.”
The group murmured its assent. I’d made my way over to Mave during the conversation so I could keep my hands on her, mostly to assure myself she was still alive and well after I had been forced to watch the Alpha almost kill her.
I held Ben’s other hand for a minute, too, earning myself a cold glare from Thad and a smirk from Mave.
“Also,” Ian said, “Mave and Blake, the night is still young. Don’t you two have plans?”
We both glanced up at the full moon shining brilliantly high above the trees, reminding us both what we’d originally set out to do tonight.
Mave stood and pulled me to my feet. “What do you say, Mr. Blaze? Still want to do some magic tonight?”
“Fuck yeah, Wolf Girl,” I replied. “I’m recharged and ready.”
“Then take me home.”