Page 30 of Forbidden Moon

Garrett bit back the angry reply, knowing it wouldn’t help him. Calmer heads would serve him better. “Someone had to go to the Council. Should you have sent Brandon? You and I both know how that would have gone.”

His father shrugged. “We might have been rid of him. He’s caused more trouble than he’s worth, though he has his uses. However, I suppose you’re right. He might have brought the Council here, poking their noses in where we don’t need them. We have you for that.”

His father got to his feet slowly. “The time has come, son. You need to decide. Saranac or rogue. When I’m done with you, the Council won’t take you back. So choose wisely. Keep in mind, your uncle has a welcome home gift for you.”

Garrett’s heart chilled at the words and the smile his father directed at him. “What gift?”

“Your uncle knew that your mating has been a bit—challenging. So we facilitated it for you. That’s what family does. We’re there for each other.”

Holy. Fuck. His wolf rose sharply, threatening to take over. His father took an involuntary step back, possibly at the gold that Garrett knew was in his eyes, sensing the dominance that rushed out of him. Garrett throttled the wolf back and regained his center, even as his whole being was terrified for Maya. He locked down his emotions as he’d learned as an Enforcer and faced his father, but he let the wolf and his dominance remain in his eyes, along with the threat of death. His father shrunk back, stunned by Garrett’s strength.

“Where is Maya?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Maya struggled awake, her head pounding and her mouth dry. She was lying on a thin pallet, and it was cold and damp. She shivered and opened her eyes to see damp rock all around her and the worried eyes of a familiar teenager.

“Sloane! Oh, my goddess. Are you okay?”

Sloane looked thinner, dark circles under her eyes, and a haunted look in them. Maya didn’t want to ask about the nightmares that lurked there, that should never exist for a teenager, or anyone for that matter. Sloane wordlessly helped her to a sitting position and then sat next to her.

Maya scanned the surroundings only to see that there were three pups huddled in a pile in the corner under a thin blanket, appearing to sleep. She wanted to go to them, but she was a little shaky and Sloane held her back.

“Let them sleep. It’s the only escape from this nightmare. How did they catch you?” Sloane’s voice was harsh, raspy from disuse, or maybe something else. Screaming, perhaps.

“We’ve all been looking for you. They snatched me in the parking lot. Who was it, Sloane? Where is everyone else?”

“You’re finally awake. Nice of you to join us, Maya.” An oily voice spoke from the entrance to the small cave where they were seated, and Sloane shrunk against Maya.

Maya wrapped her arms around the younger female and hugged her close. “What the fuck are you doing, Colvin? So much for not being involved.”

He shrugged negligently. “Whoops. I guess some of my pack were involved. Or maybe it was rogues. Or maybe it was the Tri-State pack remnants. Either way, no one will tie it back to me.”

Fear gripped Maya’s chest, but she got to her feet, shielding Sloane and the now awake pups behind her. “What’s your end-game here? What are you trying to accomplish? Another war? What will that do for you?”

He moved so fast that she had no time to prepare. She was pinned to the wall and his snarling face was inches from hers. “What do you know about it? You’ll be mated and under my nephew’s control, which means my control, or you’ll be dead. Choose wisely because there are a lot of lives resting on your decision.”

He flung her to the side, and she collapsed next to the Sloane and the pups, who were crying. She gathered them up and soothed them as best she could. After a moment, Linc and his nephew, Brandon, exited, leaving them alone.

“Are you okay? Where are the rest of the pups, Samuel?”

Sloane shook her head sadly, and Maya wanted to howl her anger and grief at the loss. She gripped the younger female’s hand, hesitant to ask but knowing the Saranac pack’s proclivities. “Are you okay?”

Sloane nodded. “They left me alone. For now. They spent their time with Samuel. I think he made himself a target to save the pups and me.” She swallowed hard. “He died last night.”

Maya pulled her close to comfort her for the pain the younger wolf was feeling. “He’s with the goddess now. We will avenge him. I promise you.”

Dully, Sloane nodded, as if all hope had faded. Maya only hoped she wasn’t too late.

* * *

Garrett followed his father through the forest, along the game trail to the old mining entrance. A couple of wolves stood at the entrance, wolves he didn’t recognize and didn’t scent of pack.

“You’re using rogues now for your dirty work?”

His father glared at him, but the dominance in Garrett’s voice was still controlling the other male. “Plausible deniability. No one can tie attacks back to us.”

“Until you need to get your jollies and join in the attack,” Garrett muttered. How had his pack gotten so sick? Was the alpha condoning this, unaware of it, or worse, encouraging it? The answer was unsettling at best, disturbing at worst.