“But—”
“We don’t have time, and Ryker will go straight for Evan. He’s already vulnerable, and if I put Jaxon’s pack, or any pack from the district, in a compromising position, then more wolves are going to die because of me, and I can’t live with that.”
Zara shakes her head. “But most of his pack is dead.”
“Who’s to say that he doesn’t have another army? You’re right, we might be able to take him out now he’s lost some men, but I still can’t risk Evan’s life. Okay? I can’t do it.”
“At the expense of your sanity?”
“I don’t have a choice, Zara!” I exclaim. “We all know he’s practically indestructible—with or without a pack. And I’m not dragging anyone else down because of him. He’s my blood, and I am going to deal with it alone. It’s no one else's fight but mine.”
They all stare back at me as the room turns silent.
“I’m the one he wants,” I grit out. “And I’m not letting anyone else die. So I need you to stay put.”
Felix curses and starts to pace. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing, Caleb.”
“You have to.”
“You’re asking for the impossible.”
“I need you to look after the pack,” I say as I approach him and place my hands on his shoulders. “Keep everything in check while I’m gone. I trust you with my life.”
Felix’s jaw clenches. “Then let me save you.”
I shake my head once. “No one can save me.”
I’m the only person who can get myself out of this situation.
“What happened at Jaxon’s?” Zara asks gently.
My chest quivers at the memories. Our matebond is gone. And I’m barely holding on by a thread.
“I rejected Evan.”
They all stare back at me, wide-eyed.
“Fuck. Are you okay?”
“No, Zara,” I confess. “I’m far from okay. I’m fucking broken.”
“I’m so sorry, Caleb,” she whispers as she steps forward to wrap her arms around me.
When she pulls away my head falls into my hands as my body starts to shut down from being drained of all my energy.
“Don’t look for me,” I demand again. “Please.”
Felix’s nostrils flare. “I want to kill him with my bare hands.”
A cold laugh escapes my lips. “Trust me, you’re not the first.”
“What if he hurts you?”
I shrug. “Better it be me than anyone else.”
“Alpha–” Carson steps forward with a cautious expression.
“Whatever you’re going to suggest, save it. I’m not allowing you to put your lives at risk and everything else.”
