“So they’re dead, then?”
Michael sighed. “Yeah.” Killing Simon had been necessary, and Michael couldn’t deny he’d got a lot of satisfaction from ending his life. He was dangerous, manipulative, and power-hungry. The world was a better place without him in it.
But Paul? With what Isaac had said about him, Michael had hoped there was a chance he could find a place for himself in their new normal. He felt like he’d failed.
“How’s Smith?” he asked, shaking it off. Paul might be gone, but there were other people he needed to worry about.
Nick’s face immediately fell.
Oh no.
He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “Bad. They were working on him when I left.”
“You could’ve stayed,” Michael said, voice soft.
Nick shook his head. “I couldn’t watch him...” He bit his lip.
Michael clasped his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go back and see how he’s doing. How all of them are doing.”
Nick turned on his heel and led the way up the stairs.
He opened the heavy double doors, holding them while Michael helped Isaac through into the main area. And... wow.
“It’s like a war zone,” Isaac murmured, gaze swinging back and forth as he took it all in.
Blood spatter covered the floor, heavier in places. A white sheet covered the bodies lined up on one side of the room, and Michael quickly looked around, trying to find the people he’d arrived with.
Finally he spotted Jacob, who jogged over to him, phone in hand. Michael patted his pockets, realising he hadn’t seen his in quite a while.
“This is yours,” he said, handing it over. “All the other alphas have checked in. Some suffered more casualties than others, and there are some pack members who escaped rather than joined us, but we now control all thirty-two packs in the London area.” He grinned. “It’s over.”
They had a lot more work to do yet, they all knew it, but for now, they could celebrate.
“Where are my pack?”
Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Cole and Aaron are keeping an eye on the HRU members we have in custody. Logan is with his parents while they get patched up.”
“They found them?” Michael looked around for them but couldn’t make them out amongst everybody.
“Yeah. They looked a bit worse for wear, but they’ll live.”
“And Smith?”
Jacob’s gaze flicked towards Nick. “Stable for now. But we could do with getting him to a hospital. He needs stitching to make sure he heals properly.” He smiled at Nick then. “He was asking for you.”
Nick ducked his head, cheeks pink. “I’m just going to...” He gestured to somewhere over the other side, then hurried off.
“What now?” Jacob asked.
“I want to help with the wounded and then go home,” Isaac said at the same time as Michael’s, “Baker and I need to sort out our pack.”
Michael’s heart stuttered as he met Isaac’s eyes and saw resignation. “I need to be here. We have so much to do. I can’t leave and—”
Isaac covered his mouth with his fingers. “I know, and I would never ask you to. But as soon as I’m finished here, I need to get back to my pack. I need to go home, Michael. I need to smell the sea air. Feel the sand under my feet and forget that Simon tortured me.”
Michael sucked in a breath. Every part of him wanted to grab Isaac and take him back to Mothecombe now, to do everything in his power to help him forget.
But the London packs were in chaos.
