“I’m positive,” the youngmale said as he stood among the three other scouts. Veltris hadsent them to spy on the Blood Wolves, who hadn’t made a move toharm any pack members in the last few days. He was so used to themcoming after his people relentlessly that the sudden drop inattacks made him wary. He didn’t want to hope that they’d beenkilled off suddenly.
“Tell me again,” he said.He folded his arms and looked at the males.
The young male—Rahley—cleared histhroat. “They’re building a house outside of their tunnel. They’vecleared the land and felled trees.”
Lerrin nodded. “Wrath has a matingtattoo.”
“That’s not possible,”Veltris said. “Who the hell would mate that male?”
“She’s definitely human,”Rahley said. “And she’s tamed the Mytan.”
“Impossible,” Furio,Veltris’s theto, said with a snarl. “The beast kills everyone whocrosses its path.”
“She was petting him, Iswear to the great wolf,” Lerrin said.
“So a human mated Wrath.And you’re certain she has the tattoo?”
“Yes,” Rahley said. “Shetook off into the woods with two males and the Mytan. They’reheading toward the mountains. We left Pahn to follow them andrushed here to tell you.”
Veltris thought over the informationhe’d just received and made a quick decision. “Furio, gather asmany males as you need and bring her to me.”
“How will we do that withthe Mytan guarding her?”
“Use a smoke bomb,” Veltrissaid. His third-ranked male nodded sharply, barked orders forseveral of the males to follow him, and hurried away.
Gemma frowned. “What are you doing,Veltris?”
He looked at his mate, who only thatmorning had ventured out of their home. It was the first time sinceher abduction that she’d been willing to be outside. He put his armaround her and kissed her temple.
“I’m going to killWrath.”
“You just told Furio totake the woman, though.”
“If she reallyis his true mate, thenhe’ll come for her. I’ll kill him when he does.”
She pushed on his shoulder, and hereluctantly released her. “Why would you take her?”
He looked at his mate. She was pissed.“I will do whatever necessary to ensure our people’s safety,particularly yours.”
“I’m safe now.” She put herhands on her hips and blew out a breath. “I heard what the scoutssaid. Wrath has clearly had a change of heart now that he found histrue mate. They’re building a house for crap sake!”
Veltris snorted. “Be that as it may,he’s a menace. All the Blood Wolves are. Make no mistake,sweetheart, but I will take them all out, starting with Wrath.” Heleaned a little closer to her, dropping his voice as he cupped herface. “You know I love you, but I won’t have you come at me likethis in front of my people. You want to bitch at me, do it inprivate, not in public.”
She jerked back like he’d struck her,her eyes wide with confusion. She seemed to gather her witsquickly, because she squared her shoulders and said, “As you wish.Alpha.”
She turned on her heels andstalked away. Veltris could feel her fury through their connectionas mates. This was so not something he needed to deal with now. Gemma was feelingsorry for Wrath’s mate, but there was a big difference betweenVeltris and Wrath—Veltris wouldn’t harm Wrath’s mate. She was apawn, and he’d use her to lure Wrath to his death. She’d mostlikely die of heartache, but that wouldn’t be on him. It wasn’t hisfault that her true mate was a murderer and a threat to everythingVeltris held dear.
Gemma would get over this. She’d seethat he’d made the right choice to send his males after Wrath’smate. In the end, the pack’s safety was paramount, and the only waythey’d be safe for good was if Wrath and his band of mutts werewiped off the face of the earth.
ChapterTwelve
It took them about ten minutes to getto Mytan’s lair. When the cavern that was carved into the base ofthe mountain came into view, Mytan howled happily and raced ahead,ducking into the cavern, and disappearing inside.
“Hold on,” Creek said,stopping and opening his pack. He pulled out a candle and lit itwith flint and a rock then handed it to Jet.
“You always carry a candlewith you?” Trinity asked.
“Well, I didn’t always. Buta couple months ago, I was out picking fruit and a storm came outof nowhere. I ran for cover and had to wait it out. By the time thestorm had moved on, it was pitch black out. I can see okay in thedark because of my wolf, but not when there’s zero natural light. Ishifted and navigated home by smell, which was not nearly as easyas if I’d had a way to light the path. Ever since then, I carry acandle when I leave in the afternoon.”
“That’s smart,” shesaid.
Jet looked at the candle and said,“This won’t do much.”
“There are lanterns in thecavern,” she said.
He arched a brow at her. “Thereare?”
“I created it,remember?”
He shook his head with a smile. “Ikeep forgetting you’re not from here.”
They walked to the entrance to thecavern. The big beast had needed to duck down to enter, but Trinityand the wolves were able to walk in with ease. Jet moved to thefront, holding the candle high. The tunnel turned sharply to theleft, and when they’d walked a few more feet after the turn, theyfound themselves inside the cavern itself. The huge circular roomwas carved out of the rock, with a smooth floor and glitteringblack walls.
Mytan was snuffling around the room,his nose to the ground.
On a carved ledge were lanterns filledwith oil. She took one down and lifted the glass. Jet lit the wickwith the candle, the brightness illuminating the cavern.
Jet blew out the candle and gave itback to Creek.
“Damn,” Creek said, lookingaround the room. “What kind of rock is this? I’ve never seen itbefore.”
“It’s granite,” she said.“Where I’m from, people cut big slabs of it, polish it, and makecounters and floors out of it.”
Jet hummed. “So aside from the prettywalls, what is Mytan the guardian of?”
She gave Creek the lantern and walkedto the far side of the room. Mytan slept in this spot on a bed madeof animal hides. The big beast joined her, sitting on his hauncheswith a curious whine. Creek and Jet joined her, Creek lifting thelantern high, which cast
