“What’swrong? Why didn’t you answer me?” Kai’s voice was pinched with tension.
Isaid the first thing I could think of. “Emma wants to leave the pack.”
“What!Why?” I felt his shock through the bond.
Itwas a perfect cover for my feelings and also true, I explained her sadnessabout living in the house she once shared with Devon.
Hesighed in relief. “She can have a new house. I’ll give her any damn house shewants.”
Ismiled. “That’s what I told her.”
“So,nothing else is wrong?” He questioned and I swallowed hard.
“How’sit going over there? Any sign of Layla?” I changed the subject.
Hesighed. “No. We questioned one of the vampires under duress. He said she isn’there.”
Duress.That was Kai’s code word for torture. Great, and Layla wasn’t even there.
“Yet.”Kai added. “We took out a huge shipment. We will keep at it until she shows upto retaliate.”
“She’snot going to show, Kai. She isn’t stupid. She will send lackeys to retaliate.We need to go forward with the plan to use me as bait. I’m the only thing shewants, the only thing she will risk exposure for.”
Kaisighed. “Aurora, there is another way–”
“Kai!I love you but you’re being selfish! There are ten females scared and locked upand possibly tortured right this second because you won’t man up and do what’sbest for the collective whole.”
Myskin tingled as the Devi stirred inside of me.
“Manup? What kind of man sends his pregnant mate into a vampire trap!” he roared.
Thiswas awful. I felt sad that we were fighting, I didn’t want this. This wasn’thow Kai and I were. He felt my feelings.
“I’msorry. I only do what I do because I love you. I want to keep you safe.”
Inodded as tears fell down my cheek. “I know, but I don’t think you can keep mesafe.”
“Don’tsay that,” he told me.
“Ilove you, Kai. We can talk about this tomorrow.”
Hispanic run through the mate bond. “Okay. I love you, too. Goodnight.”
Ihung up and wiped my tears. Enough was enough. I pushed my love for Kai deepdown inside of me. I had hopes and dreams for this baby, for Kai and I, andevery single one of them involved a world free of Layla. I pushed everythingdown that made me weak and then I brought my wolf and the Devi to the surface.It was time to end this. I would not bring a child into the world knowing itwould live a life of being hunted! If I died because of it, then so be it. Icouldn’t sleep one more goddamn night knowing that Layla was alive andexperimenting with my blood! My wolves! She was as good as dead. A growl rippedfrom my throat.
Iwas ready. My entire journey had led me here to this moment.
Grabbingmy car keys, I crossed the living room quickly and went into the garage. Aftersliding into the car, I pressed the button to open the garage door.
“Goingsomewhere?” a voice from the backseat asked.
Ijumped up screeching. “Jesus Christ! Max, you scared the shit out of me.” Myheart was in my throat. Bastard.
Maxwore a grin from the backseat. I inhaled. I couldn’t smell him. Shit, I forgot.He smiled.
“Thewitches took my scent, remember? Helpful when I need to spy on you.” His eyesnarrowed.
Think.Think. Think. I started the car. “Why are you spying on me? Get out. I need togo get a few things from my mom’s house.” I tried to keep my face calm to coverthe lie.
