Thatvoice was familiar. Kai’s eyebrows pinched together. He recognized it too.
“Whois this?”
“Thisis the president of the United States of America.”
Kai’smouth dropped open. I swallowed hard.
“Iwould like you to know that I have pulled the funding on RAIDOS. Any futureactions on their part are not backed from the US government. In other words,they have gone rogue. There is no going back from what you did so we can onlymove forward into this future together.”
Achill ran up my spine. If they were no longer linked to the government thanthis would be a blood bath; they were here to kill. No one to keep themaccountable.
“Well,your news is timely, sir. They are currently descending on my mountain in full force.”
“Well,then I guess I need to know where you stand. Are you an enemy of the humans ofthe United States of America?”
Kaistood stiffly. “No, sir. I am an enemy of the vampires and any human that triesto come after my pack.”
Therewas a pause. “Good enough. I will be contacting you again in the near future.”The president hung up.
Justthen, we heard the roaring of jets. I looked to the sky and grabbed my ears. Agroup of fighter jets raced over our heads and approached the oncoming RAIDOS helicopters,attempting to push them back. There was a tense moment where RAIDOS didn’tmove.
Alexahad her blue fire hands raised and ready, but the helicopters began theirretreat. Kai leaned over to me. “Those are F twenty-two fighter jets. Theywould be stupid to engage them.” They were being escorted away. The militiacheered and we all joined in.
Ilooked at Kai, smiling, but my smile dropped when I saw his sullen face.
“What?”I asked him.
“Theimmediate threat is over. Now we bury our dead.”
Thenit hit me. Devon, India pack, and some of the human militia had died. This wasnot a time for celebration. Layla was out there with my blood running throughher veins and she was hell bent on getting pregnant. A small victory didn’tmean the war was over. My pregnant best friend had to put her mate in theground because of me.
‘No,’Kai said.‘This is no one’s fault. Devondied with honor. Don’t take that from him.’
Iheld back tears and nodded.
Goodbye
Itwas an unusually sunny day on the mountain. We were all assembled in Emma’sbackyard. Raj had arranged for the bodies of the Indian pack to be sent backhome. The militia’s dead had been buried at the cemetery where Max’s wife was,but Emma insisted she wanted Devon closer.
Kaiaddressed the hundreds of people gathered. “No one takes the loss of a wolfharder than an Alpha. It’s my duty to protect all of my wolves and I couldn’tprotect Devon. In the end, he died protecting my mate, an honor for which Iwill be eternally grateful. To honor Devon, I will make sure his mate and childare well taken care of for the rest of their long, long lives.”
Istared at the white painted casket that held Devon’s body. I glanced at Emma’sdelicate hand which clutched mine and then to her large belly. Her eyes wereswollen, but she held her head up high. I squeezed her hand and she returnedthe gesture.
“AfterDevon heard about my visit to the vampire nightclub and learned what was goingon, he made me make him a promise!” Kai roared. “He said to me, ‘Don’t let mydaughter or son grow up in this world the way it is.’ We need change. Theremust be justice!” Kai roared.
“Justicefor Devon!” the pack echoed. “Justice for the humans!”
Maxand Kai lowered Devon into the ground and placed the dirt over his body. Emmasobbed and turned to me. My heart ached. How was this happening? Death was suchbullshit. Why did people have to die? This was not the world I envisioned whenI found out I was a werewolf. I had bonded with my new family and I didn’t wantto bury any of them.
‘Nomore,’I told Kai.‘No one elsedies.’
Kaimet my eyes. I saw so much pain there. Being an Alpha was a huge responsibilityfor anyone, but Kai took it all to heart. Every person in the pack was like anadopted child or sibling. He would carry this weight forever and I would carryit with him.
“Takeme home. He’s not in that body anymore,” Emma told me as she pulled her handout of mine and walked back into the house.
Iwatched my pregnant best friend waddle back into her home and I made myself apromise. The world would be a better place for Emma and her baby, free ofheroin dealing vampires. It would definitely be free of little vampire spawn,even if I had to die trying. I owed her that much.
Emma’sparents, who were both wolves in a Utah pack were on a flight to be with her. Ihadn’t met them, but I knew they must be worried sick. I waited with Emma untilshe fell asleep and then I went to find Kai.
