“You just changed your fucking mind?” Gabriel took the indignation down just a bit. Alex hadn’t seriously hurt him, so the chances of prolonging this conversation were relatively good.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” Alex said, arms crossed over his chest. “You’re the only one who doesn’t have their head shoved up their ass. But I don’t have a choice. Zion owes me more females and you’re going to figure out how to get them for me.”
“I don’t respond well to threats,” Gabriel insisted, gaze narrowed with displeasure. Patrick needed more time to gather reinforcements, but the wolf wasn’t making this easy.
“It won’t be a threat next time. You have one week to deliver my third of the females.” As suddenly as the wolves arrived, they retreated into the forest.
Gabriel stood there staring out into the darkened trees. What the hell was going on? Why climb up half the mountain side just to issue an ultimatum? This made no sense.
“Why would they leave?” Raphael echoed Gabriel’s confusion as he walked up beside him. “They were positioned to do some serious damage.”
Raphael wasn’t wrong, but there was a definite pattern to Alex’s attacks. His first raid—which had been particularly brutal—had been necessary to take over the lupine village. The attack on Eagle Village had been a response to Raphael’s raid on Alex’s mountain fortress, and the focus had not been taking out enemy males. It had been capturing females.
“The difference between Alex and Elias,” Gabriel summarized. “Elias wanted blood. Alex just wants females.” He might see Alex more clearly than the others, but Gabriel was done defending him.
“Well, he can’t have ours. So, what’s our next move?”
“That’s a very good question, Raphael,” a warm female voice reached their ears half a second before the woman stepped out of the darkness. “And I’m in a unique position to give you an unexpected option.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Gabriel snarled. He was still edgy from his conflict with Alex. The last thing he needed was a mouthy female.
The woman held out her hand, whistled a multi-tone melody, and ordered, “Come to me.” One of the swarmies zipped into view and gracefully landed on her palm. “I believe you’ve already met my eyes and ears.”
Raphael snarled and lunged toward her.
Six armored guards rushed out of the woods and surrounded her. Their lethal-looking weapons reinforced their silent warning.
“My name is Natalie Morgan and I’m here to assist you.” She released a nervous laugh. “That might seem hard to believe, but it’s the truth.” She tapped the nearest guard on the shoulder. “Lower your weapons. They’re not going to hurt me. Are you, gentlemen?”
“Where did you come from?” Raphael wanted to know. His arms were folded over his chest, and his expression was still highly suspicious.
“Earth, originally. The ship is in orbit above this village as of a few moments ago.”
Gabriel’s heart lurched in his chest. “You have a spaceship, here and now?”
Natalie sighed and shook her head. “We both know you can’t leave the planet, but I have a proposal that should please you. Give me fifteen minutes of your time and I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
Driven by urgency and anger, Patrick soared through the night sky. The strong, steady rhythm of his wings propelled his eagle onward. Would tonight’s betrayal be enough to penetrate Gabriel’s stubborn determination to trust the wolves or would he champion their cause to the bitter end? Patrick understood Gabriel’s position. He was driven by an inherent need for equality. Unfortunately, Alex was ruthless enough to take advantage of Gabriel’s compassion. They might want the same thing, but the alpha wolf was ready to sacrifice his new ally to get it.
The feline village came into view, a shadowy outline in the moonlight. Of the three hybrid villages, this was the largest and most easily defensible. Their perimeter wall was higher than Eagle Village, the guard platforms more frequent.
Patrick announced himself with a sharp cry, circled around the main gate twice to make sure the guards understood that he was no ordinary eagle, then he glided toward the ground inside the perimeter wall. He released his shift and manifested his human form, landing smoothly on the ground.
Four feline guards surrounded him, but their approach indicated curiosity rather than aggression. One of the guards stepped forward and handed Patrick a blanket. The gesture was meant to ward off the cold rather than cover his nudity. Shifters were left without clothing so often that no one thought anything of others walking around naked.
“Which brother are you?” the blanket-wielding guard asked.
“Neither. My name is Patrick.” He wrapped the blanket around his shoulders as he explained, “I need to speak with Zion. Eagle Village is under attack.”
“Why should I give a damn?”
Zion’s distinctly rumbly voice drew Patrick’s attention to his left. The pride leader strode across the clearing tall and imposing even in the moonlight.
“Gabriel wants out,” Zion reminded. “Raphael didn’t have his permission to join the alliance in the first place.” Each word was harsh and bitter, the cat’s resentment obvious.
Before Patrick could begin his defense, Gabriel’s telepathic voice sounded in Patrick’s mind.The wolves left with nothing but threats. Have you reached the feline village yet?
I’m standing with Zion now.
