10

While living in Zeke’s pack, I’d learned how dangerous hope was, but the thought of having allies to rescue Bodey had caused that emotion to surge within me, and here I was, devastated again. I should’ve known they’d say no. It wasn’t their fight.

She hung up and placed the phone into her back pocket.

Michael asked what I already knew. “What did they say?”

That was the thing about this group—they’d never had the odds consistently stacked against them, so they needed confirmation.

Jasmine smiled sadly. “Russell had hoped to bring a hundred wolves here to help us get Bodey back, but King Sutton didn’t approve.”

There it was, the answer I’d heard in her voice.

“He said he didn’t want to get involved until he could see that our region had a chance to win.” She rubbed her hands together. “If Queen Kel manages to take over this region, the last thing he wants is for her to attack them in retribution.”

I couldn’t blame him.

“Yeah, but she’ll pivot to the Midwest territory eventually. She’ll