Chapter 46 #2
She shakes her head, making a tsking sound. “You wolves are so predictable, so easy to manipulate. All we have to do is go after your mates, and you’re like putty in our hands.”
I keep my focus on the end goal here and don’t let her get me distracted. We need information, and we need it yesterday. “What’s your end game? You can’t touch our alpha and his mate. There’s nothing your master can do.”
“There’s not? Huh.” Her voice is syrupy sweet and yet so full of venom. “I guess our master must not have thought of that.”
The mention of the master makes me still. “Where is he?”
She smiles slowly. “Somewhere where you’ll never find him.”
“Oh, we will. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Maybe,” she concedes. “Buuuuut, is it a win if you lose everything in the process?”
“We haven’t lost anything,” I remind her.
“Yet,” she says clearly and distinctly. “You haven’t lost anybody yet.”
“And we won’t,” I tell her fiercely.
“You will.” She pretends to think a moment, putting a finger up to her chin. “Isn’t there another one of them?”
“Another what?” I growl.
“Another unmated female? One who is worth so much more than the first two. This one has real alpha blood in her. And not just any alpha blood.” I force myself not to react to her words.
“The blood of my master’s enemy.” Then she whispers.
“The blond was just a practice round. We just wanted to try a few things on her.” I can barely keep from killing her right now.
I force myself to remember that Tessa is safe.
She changes the subject so quickly, I can barely keep up with the whiplash.
“I heard your mate’s taken up a new hobby.
” Her words confuse me a moment, but not for long.
“Sleepwalking.” I growl low in my chest, and she just laughs. “That was fun; I have to admit.”
“You were the one doing that to her?” I demand, my voice like ice.
“Me? No, although I wish it were me. I would have made her do some in-ter-est-ing things. I would have had so much fun with that.”
“Who was it?”
She shrugs. “Somebody else.”
“If it wasn’t you, then who? Jace is dead.”
“You think it was just Jace and I?” Sam grins. “Oh, you simple boy.”
“Who else?”
She smiles slowly, and it’s so cold and evil. “But that would ruin all the fun, wouldn’t it?”
I grip her neck and tighten my claws around her throat, and drops of blood drip down her neck. “Who?” I demand.
“You’re not going to kill me,” she says, grinning broadly.
“You’re just like the alpha’s son—too nice.
” Then she stares up defiantly at me. “I’ll never tell you.
You all deserve to die. The master is much more lenient than me.
If it were up to me, Evie and Tessa and the spoiled brat would all already be dead. ”
I stare down at her, at the person who’s made my mate’s life miserable.
This was the person who was responsible for the pain Tessa was in, who tried to keep us from touching each other, and from being able to bond together.
She’s also the one responsible for hurting Evie, and now, she wants to go after Riley.
I won’t let that happen. We’re not safe until she’s dead.
I tighten my fingers around her windpipe.
There’s nothing redeeming in her; she’s too far gone.
She’s been warped by the dark magic and can only be evil.
I lean forward. “You’re forgetting something,” I say in a low voice.
“Oh yeah? And what is that?”
“I’m not Zane.” And then I end her. When her body drops to the ground, I step back, not feeling an ounce of remorse.
“You did the right thing,” Quint says with anger in his voice. “If you didn't, I would have.”
I turn away. “Let’s go.” My wolf has confirmed there’s no one else here. I connect with Zane as we head back. We’re headed back.
“Why do you think she was so full of hatred?”
“I think the dark magic corrupts their minds,” I tell him after thinking about it.
Zane is waiting for us when we get back. “What happened?” he demands.
“Call your dad,” I tell him. He takes in my serious tone and doesn’t question it.
“Hey, Son,” Alpha Blackwood says.
“Hey, Dad, sorry for the late call. Slate and Quint are here as well.”
I can hear the change come over him. “What happened?”
I explain to him everything that went down tonight, only leaving out the threats that Sam made about Riley.
When I finish, Alpha’s voice is heavy. “You did the right thing.” I know I did, but hearing him confirm it makes me feel that much better.
“Slate, let’s get you through this game.
You focus on that. When you boys get back, we’ll have a pack meeting and talk about how best to go forward. ”
I nod. “Thanks, Dad,” Zane says.
“Stay close to the girls and keep your eyes and ears open.”
“We will,” Zane says. He hangs up and faces us. “Thank you.” He drops a hand on my shoulder. “I owe you.”
“No, you don’t.”
This is my job. Someday, soccer will be behind me.
Joe will be ready to step aside from his responsibilities, and it will be my turn to take over as pack enforcer.
I can only hope I’ll be half as good an enforcer as Joe.
Zane must read my thoughts because he turns to me.
“You’ll be ready when the time comes. And you’re going to be a really good enforcer. ” He sighs. “Let’s get some sleep.”
“I’ll run you back,” Quint says, grabbing keys.
I check on Tessa one more time before I leave, and then I head outside. “Why didn’t you tell them about Riley?” Quint asks as soon as we pull away from the house.
I knew this was coming. “I will, just not yet. It’s not something Alpha needs to hear over the phone. And it’s not something Zane needs to hear about his little sister when he’s a long way from home. I also want to tell Reid first.” I watch him carefully, but he doesn’t look at all surprised.
“What?” he asks and then grins. “You think I didn’t know? The guy’s made it so obvious for years.”
I smirk. “Yeah, well, Riley certainly hasn’t picked up on it.”
“She will.” I nod because he’s right. “When we get back, I’ll tell Reid everything; and then we’ll tell Alpha and Zane.”
Quint agrees. “You going to be able to sleep tonight?”
I take a deep breath. “Actually, I think I'm going to sleep better than I have in a long time knowing that that particular threat to my mate is gone.”
Quint parks in front of the hotel and tuns to me, his face serious. “Will you tell Tessa?”
“I will when the time is right.”
He takes that in. “Night, Slate.”
“Night, Quint.”
For the first time in months, there’s a lightness to me as I drift off to sleep. The threats aren’t done, but the immediate threat to my mate has been dealt with. And that makes sleeping tonight so much easier.