9

I could cut the tension in the air with a knife, but I couldn’t stop myself. I hated relying on anyone or asking for help. The fact that Wyatt, of all people, had found me and called for help stuck in my craw and made it impossible for me not to try knocking him down a notch or two. My anger wasn’t even directed at him, really, but at myself for having fantasized about him.

Kolton rolled his eyes. “I took Wyatt on a run, then came by to check on you. Chill the hell out.”

“On a run?” I asked. “Now unofficial pack members go on runs?”

“Oh, stop. Both of you,” Dad said. “Can’t we all just be happy that Kira is okay?”

“Right,” Kolton said. “I mean, shouldn’t you simply be happy that Wyatt saved your life?”

I scoffed at him. “Zoe saved my life, not Wyatt.”

“Uh, well…” Zoe cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t have really known anything was wrong if Wyatt hadn’t called Jayson. Then Jayson called me a few seconds later and demanded I get him there fast. You would have bled out and died. So, um, Wyatt did kinda save you.”

I loved my best friend more than anything, but at that moment, I could have strangled her. She was telling the truth, but I’d have preferred her to go along with my memory of events.

Wyatt looked like he was trying to hide a smug smile. From the look on my parents’ faces, I needed to end the argument. I sighed internally and steeled myself for what I was about to say.

“Umm, yeah. Thank you, Wyatt,” I said through gritted teeth.

Wyatt waved a hand at me. “No problem. I’m sure one day you’ll find a way to repay me for all the times I’ve stepped in to save your sorry butt.”

The words struck me like a volley of flaming arrows, sending rage swirling within me. My eyes widened, but before I could unload on him, Mom interrupted us.

“Now that Kira is on the mend, we need to make sure everything is in place for the official mating ceremony tomorrow.”

My mouth dropped open. I’d pretty much told myself the ceremony had been postponed. “So, it’s still on?”

Mom nodded. “Yes. And a good thing, too. The rumors of war are intensifying each day. The sooner we bind our packs through this ceremony, the better. We’ll need a strong ally to survive, so we decided to keep it on schedule. We didn’t want to postpone unless you were still unconscious or in bad shape. That was actually what we were coming to check on.” She smiled at me, a big beaming grin that spread across her entire face. “I’m so happy you and Jayson are finally becoming official.”

“Yup,” Zoe said in an emotionless monotone. “Really happy.”

Kolton had vanished at the mention of the ceremony, disappearing back to his room downstairs. Wyatt, for some reason, was still standing there, acting like he was part of the conversation.

I lifted my hand and shooed him off. “If you’re looking for another thank you, you’ll be there in a few decades. Can we have some privacy?”

He scowled and opened his mouth to say something, but Mom continued gushing about the ceremony.

“I’m sure Jayson will be so happy to finally have you as a mate. Goodness, you’ll be gorgeous in that dress. I bet you’ll be more beautiful than the Moon Goddess herself.”

Wyatt left while she spoke. I breathed a sigh of relief. Neither he nor Kolton was happy about my betrothal to Jayson, but it would help our pack’s standing, and I was ready to do whatever I needed to make that happen.

Lower-ranking packs were desperate to maintain the ancient status quo and prevent the mingling of species, whereas higher-ranked packs were more open to changing things. What should have been a simple disagreement between neighboring factions was rapidly becoming a raging inferno of dissent. There’d already been some incursions into pack lands by rival packs. Even out here in the Eastern Wilds, Tranquility operatives had their hands full quelling small fights between the packs that had broken out. War was coming—everyone could feel it—and if my mating with Jayson could help my family and packmates survive, I’d do it a hundred times over.

“Where did your brother go?” Mom asked when she finally realized he was gone.

“Didn’t want to stick around and hear all about tomorrow’s festivities,” Zoe said. “He’s not Jayson’s biggest fan.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t say I am, either.”

“This is about more than happiness,” Dad said. “Kira is binding our pack to the Ninth Pack. It’s important for us to ally ourselves. We’re on the outskirts and nowhere near as strong as the higher packs. The Ninth’s strength will be more than we can defend against if another war breaks out between packs. Like your mother said, the rumors are intensifying.”

Little skirmishes were always breaking out between packs, but there’d been more drama and aggression going around in the last few years. There was a definite sense that things might escalate to an all-out war. That’s why my family had been so happy when I’d matched with Jayson as my fated mate.

“This way,” Dad went on, “Kira is at least doing something to make our pack proud.”

That stung. It was a point of contention in the pack that I was a latent alpha. But I refused to let my wolf out and had suppressed it as deeply as I possibly could. It was not normal and a badge of shame on my family—one I happily ignored, even though I knew my parents had always hoped a strong alpha would emerge from our family.

Suppressing my wolf had been my decision. Even thinking about letting it out brought back dark memories that were better left buried. The pack could be displeased all they wanted, but they didn’t get to tell me what I could and couldn’t do with my own body. Mating with Jayson was the best way for me to give Dad what he’d always wanted: a stronger pack.