“Who is this?” Flint askedDavid.
“Wait a sec…” Jericho stepped closer to me, squinting. “The long black hair… The sexy dark eyes… Is this that raven-shifter guy you were telling usabout?”
I blinked at David. Apparently he had alreadyexplained.
“Yes,” David muttered, “but I’m pretty suresexywasn’t the wordIused.”
Jericho shrugged with a grin. “I call ‘em like Isee‘em!”
“Hello, Jericho,” I said. “It’s good to formally meet you, andMason.”
Mason smiled. “Your… um… mate was the one who saved me,right?”
“Yes. Hector,” I confirmed. I glanced at David and curiously raised my brow at the wordmate.He shrugged and mouthed,I had afeeling.
Well, he wasn’t wrongaboutthat.
“I don’t think you’ve met these two before,” David told me as he gestured to the unfamiliar faces. “This is Ken, and this isWesley.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ken said, shaking my hand. He was the alpha, so the other one must have been theomega.
But Wesley didn’t say anything. He was still frowningatme.
“Is something wrong, Wesley?” Ken askedhismate.
“I know who you are,” Wesley said, not breaking eye contact with me, “you’re Virgil. One of Gunner’s elitealphas.”
“Yes,”Isaid.
“Why areyouhere?”
A few of the others seemed shocked that Wesley was so blunt, but I didn’t hold it against him. He had a right to be wary, if he already knew who I was before David’sexplanation.
“I suppose I should explain the situation to everyone. Scarlet Ridge is a mess. It needs new leadership. But for that to happen, Gunner has to be taken out,”Isaid.
Flint and David werenodding.
“We were going to launch the final attack tonight. We have about twenty of us at camp, including omegas, who want to fight. We have about eighty more recruits lying in wait inside the town. But I’m afraid it won’t be enough. That’s why I need your help, if you’re willing togiveit.”
David’s mind was already made up. “I’m going. You saved Niko and I. I owe you my life, but I also owe you this as afriend.”
“Thank you,” I said. Turning to the others, I added, “I know this is dangerous, and I’m asking for a lot. I won’t hold it against anyone for refusing to come. This isn’t a decision to be madelightly.”
Flint and Charlie exchangedglances.
“I want to help,” Charlie said, “but I’m not a fighter. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much of anasset.”
“I’ll go,” Flint growled. “I want to avenge my suffering my mate went through because ofGunner.”
“Me too,” Jericho added, a serious expression across his usually light-hearted face. “For what Mason wentthrough.”
Mason gripped Jericho’s arm in an affectionate gesture. Then he said, “I’ll come, too. Hector saved my life. And I’dloveto kick some Scarlet Ridgealphaass.”
I turned to Ken and Wesley, who were murmuring to each other. I didn’t think they would be interested in joining, given Wesley’s apparent distaste for me and anything ScarletRidge.
But to my surprise, Wesley said, “I’m in. I want Gunner to pay for what he didtome.”
“I’m coming, too,” Ken added. “I will protect my mate, but I’m also a doctor, so I’ll be there to help with any injuries in thefield.”
