Page 55 of Wanted

“Everybody in Mike’s knew about it…” He wheezes and coughs up more blood but I don’t feel an ounce of empathy for him.

“Keep fucking talking.”

“S-sh-she and that bitch sister oof!” He coughs and groans when I kick the side of his head.

“Watch your mouth.” No, I’ve never met Ashley but protectiveness over her spurs me to want to hurt this scum for calling her a bitch.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Everyone in Mike’s Bar knew it. The night she came in looking for her sister. We knew she was trouble. She’s part of the Alliance’s plan to get rid of all of the lone wolves in the country.”

“Who told you this ridiculous bullshit?”

I don’t bother telling him, Emery had no idea wolf shifters even existed. Let alone, knowing about the dynamics between pack wolves and lone wolves.

“Rumors have been going around for years. We lonies knew the Alliance was plotting against us. They even tried to blame us for what that son of a bitch Rufus Dalton did last year. Lone wolves always get blamed!”

He has the nerve to sound indignant.

“You believed a human coming into Mike’s Bar searching for her sister was a plot against your way of life?”

“They’ve done it before!” he accuses.

“Who?”

“The Alliance. Every lone wolf knows about the Alliance’s attempt to get rid of us a century ago. They even made a pactwith the witches, giving us to them as play toys to get rid of all lone wolves.”

I glared at the fool on the floor. What he’s saying doesn’t make any sense. Pack wolves don’t trust lone wolves and for good reasons. Yet, there’s never been an active war to destroy lone wolves.

“What does this have to do with Emery?”

“She’s part of their plan! First, her sister comes into Mike’s Bar asking questions about weres and shifters. No one talked to her and once she went back to wherever she came from, here comes her sister asking more questions.

“It’s obvious the Alliance sent them to get information about all of the lone wolves in Florida so they could tag us.”

“Tag you for what?”

“To get rid of us!” He groans in pain again when I kick his ribs.

“Don’t fucking yell at me.”

No, I can’t hear his tone but the seething expression on his face tells me he’s yelling.

Suddenly, I remember back to the conversation I had with Ms. Cynthia. She mentioned lone wolves wanting a seat on the Alliance just for them. I couldn’t be sure, but my gut told me this is related.

After Rufus Dalton’s deceit I didn’t fully trust anyone on the Alliance’s council. Yet, it doesn’t make sense for them to have a vendetta against lone wolves.

This bastard gave me more questions than answers.

“You fucking killed my brother,” I read on his lips when I look back at him. He’s glaring at me with pure malice through his swollen eyes.

I imagine I’d look at someone the same way if they even thought about touching Chael. No, I don’t have to imagine.

I know I’d decapitate the asshole who attempted to harm my brother, or anyone else in my pack for that matter.

Then I remember this piece of shit came after Emery.

“It’s time for you to meet your brother in Mother Moon’s hell,” I grit out.