Chapter 11 Ezra
EZRA
We’d had two days to ourselves, forty-eight hours where we weren’t running and looking over our shoulders.
We’d talked, gotten to know one another, and been intimate.
But we understood we were on borrowed time.
Until Viktor agreed not to retaliate and he signed the treaty, we couldn’t begin our lives together.
I stood at the window and half turned as Reign stirred. He had one leg out of the covers, while the sheet was draped over his nether regions. Damn, I wanted a peek at the cock I’d licked and pumped last night.
But the peaceful morning was shattered moments ago when I received a text from Boaz, telling us he’d arranged a meeting with Viktor. The Alpha had only agreed to it on the condition that Reign was also present.
My first reaction was to say no. I refused to put my mate in the middle of a confrontation.
He’d already suffered enough. But Boaz explained all of our siblings would also be there.
I was confident that with six against one, we’d prevail if Viktor tried to seize Reign.
Boaz assumed he’d have a Beta or two with him.
He’d be a fool if he came alone, and while the pack’s finances were in a deep red hole, the man wasn’t a sucker.
We were meeting on neutral territory to discuss how to move forward, hoping Viktor’s intentions weren’t to start a war. But I needed to wake Reign and give him the news because we’d have to leave here in an hour.
“What are you doing out of bed?” My mate patted the mattress beside him. “Come back, but maybe bring coffee.” He giggled and stretched.
Coffee I could do, as it was already brewing some, and when I returned with a steaming cup, Reign was sitting up and brushing hair off his brow. He took the mug and blew on it.
“You’re there, and I’m here.” He sipped the hot brew.
“Mmmm. There’s been a development.”
The coffee sloshed but didn’t spill, and I put both my hands around his, the warmth from the mug and his body seeping into my bones.
“Doesn’t sound good. Can I stick my head under the covers and pretend you didn’t say that?” His eyes locked on mine. “I guess not.”
I detailed what was happening, leaving out the bit about him coming with us until the end. Anticipating his reaction, I removed the mug from his grasp and put my arms around his trembling body.
“I can’t. I don’t want to face him.”
“He stipulated that you must be there.” I placed my lips on his head and inhaled his aroma. I would have told Boaz no, but understood in order to sever the link to the Stravons, we had to do as Viktor asked.
“My wolf and I will protect you, and my five brothers will cordon themselves around you. Nothing will happen, I promise.”
Reign sat back, his eyes glistening with tears. “Is this the only way forward?”
I nodded. He sniffed and used my shirt to wipe his eyes. Thank gods my brothers were bringing us clean clothes, because the ones Boaz and Keane had left here didn’t fit us.
“Can we run and not meet him?” He gripped my shirt with clawed fingers.
I considered my answer before replying. “We could, but the problem would follow us.”
Reign took a deep breath and flung off the covers. “I’d better get clean. Don’t want to meet anyone smelling of sex.”
I slapped his bare butt as he leaped out of bed and hoped that tomorrow morning, wherever we were, would be more carefree.
A car rumbled in the distance, no, two, while my mate was showering, and I grabbed the gun even though I recognized the sound of Boaz’s vehicle and Maynard’s.
We could have met them elsewhere, but Boaz wanted us to appear united, and he needed to make sure there’d be no ambush as I drove to meet my siblings.
My brothers sported grim expressions as they emerged, and I was pleased Reign was still in the bathroom.
“Iron out your frowns, please.” I glanced inside the cabin and lowered my voice. “I don’t want Reign to pick up on the tension.”
My brothers, minus Boaz, mimed ironing their foreheads, and I rolled my eyes.
“You’re hilarious.”
They lined up, ready to meet Reign, and I hissed at them not to look like an execution squad. They fumbled around, one putting a hand in his pocket, the other ruffling his hair. It didn’t do any good, and I hated that my mate had to meet them like this rather than around a dinner table.
Riggs handed me two sets of clean clothes, and I raced inside and changed before knocking on the bathroom door and hanging Reign’s clothes on the handle.
When the bathroom door opened, I took my mate’s hand. Droplets of water from his wet hair dripped onto his clean shirt. I jerked my head outside, and he straightened his spine and took a deep breath.
“What if I don’t pass inspection?”
“They care about you already because you’re family. There is no inspection.” And while that was true, I crossed my fingers, hoping my siblings wouldn’t make the meeting more awkward than it had to be.
I did the introductions, and my brothers either raised a hand in greeting or patted his shoulder, though Lake hugged him. Reign gave me a wan smile as we were bundled into one of the cars.
I kept a hand on Reign’s thigh during the drive, hoping it would remind him he wasn’t alone. But as we pulled off the road, into what was an orchard, my mate gripped my arm and his breathing sped up.
“I’ll never let anything happen to you, and my brothers are extra layers of protection.”
“Okay.” His voice was barely above a whisper as Thiago opened the door and we got out.
We strolled through the apple and pear trees, careful not to tread on any of the windfalls. But as we rounded a corner, my brothers and I hissed at the lineup of men waiting for us.
Reign yelped and muttered, “Father,” while tugging on my arm. “No, don’t make me face him.”
Ignoring Viktor and the Betas, I picked out Kalen from the random people on either side of Victor.
Reign resembled his father but in looks only.
His description of him didn’t match my mate’s personality or his character, and I made a note of Kalen’s cold eyes and dismissive stance.
I slung a protective arm around Reign’s shoulders as my brothers flanked us, with Boaz in front.
“If I’d known it was a party, I would have invited more guests.” Boaz wasn’t letting Viktor’s sabotage unsettle him.
The Alpha made a face and retorted that Boaz didn’t expect him to come alone when he brought his army of brothers. “You took what belongs to my son.” He glared at me.
“I took nothing.” Reign flinched beside me. “Reign is my fated mate. That's not a choice either of us made.”
“It’s theft,” the Alpha spat out.
“You must understand the mate bond is untouchable.” As Boaz spoke, I studied Kalen’s expression. He didn’t flinch or raise a brow, so he must know about shifters.
“Your brother delivered a treaty, and without waiting to meet me in person, took off with Hawthorn’s, my son betrothed. That's not fate.”
“Reign was terrified," I cut in, unable to stay silent. "Hiding in a storeroom, begging for help. Was I supposed to leave him to be forced into a relationship he didn't want?”
Viktor narrowed his eyes. “Then why did you flee like a thief? You could have come to me and explained.”
“My mate needed help, and I wasn't going to wait around for permission.”
The bar Beta sneered. “Sounds like kidnapping to me.”
My wolf snarled, but Riggs placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered to cool it.
“Reign came willingly.” My mate’s palm swam with sweat. “He's not a prisoner.”
“Then let him speak for himself.” Viktor's gaze moved from me to Reign. “You.” He beckoned as if my mate were a dog. “Step forward.”
“I… I… can’t.” Reign swayed, and I propped him up with my body, worried he was going to keel over.
“You can do this. We’re right behind you.”
“Be the man I know you aren’t,” Kalen snapped.
Those words must have fueled a fire in Reign because he strode forward, arms at his sides. Instinct and my wolf told me to drag him away and run for our lives, but we’d pay for it, maybe with our lives.
Viktor watched him approach while Kalen looked smug.
“Well?” Viktor asked. “Ezra Grey claims you're his fated mate, and that you weren’t forced to go with him. Is that true?”
Whatever Reign said next would determine whether we walked away or if blood would be spilled.
I trusted him, but I was helpless. We all were. Everything hinged on what Reign told them.
“Tell them the truth, boy.” My belly roiled as Reign’s father used the word boy to describe the man his son was. “Tell them how you belong to the Stravons. How this was all a misunderstanding.”
Reign clenched his fists as everyone on the other side glared at him.
“Speak,” Viktor yelled.