“And True Mate,” Olivia added.
The Alpha remained quiet, seemingly contemplating everything that he had just heard. No one made a sound or even moved as they waited for him to speak.
As his fate hung on the line, every muscle in Eli’s body tensed. A hand wrapped around his and he breathed a sigh as Olivia squeezed his palm. While his nerves remained frazzled, his wolf lay down calmly at her touch.
“All right.” The Alpha leaned forward, clasping his hands together on top of his desk. “Eli McCall?—”
“Eli Blake.” That had been his name when he was born. “Or call me any name butthat.”
The Alpha’s expression remained stern. “You broke Lycan law because you entered my territory under false pretenses. Normally this would mean banishment. I could also bring you to the High Council and the human authorities and let them deal with you.”
Olivia’s hand gripped his tighter.
“However,” the Alpha continued. “I am also considering your circumstances, and personally, I don’t blame you for wanting to run away.” He let out a distasteful sound. “What Forte did was unforgivable, and I’m glad his victims will finally have justice. However, I can’t let others think they can just get away with infiltrating my territory. You must pay for your transgressions.”
He swallowed hard as Olivia’s grip tightened around his hand. “I accept whatever punishment you have to give.”
The Alpha paused for a moment before he spoke again. “Here’s what I’m offering you, Eli Blake. Five years under my command. You’ll have to live in New York and obey my ordersas if you were a Lycan under me. You’ll have my protection, but step out of line and you’ll face the consequences. Understood?”
Eli couldn’t believe it. That didn’t sound much like a punishment at all. He glanced down at Olivia, who let out an exhale as he met her eyes, which shone with hope.
“Understood, Alpha.”
“You’ll have to do as I say. Any order I give, you follow.”
“As long as you don’t ask me to hurt anyone, then yes.” Five years wasn’t so bad. It beat having to be apart from Olivia or going to Siberia. “I’ll do it.”
“Good.” The Alpha’s eyes flashed with the power of his dominant wolf. “First, you’re going to testify against Ronan Forte during his sentencing and your father during his trial.”
“Gladly,” he said quickly. He hoped they got sent to the deepest, coldest part of the Lycan prison facility.
“Next, you will travel to Boston to check in on the clan and then report your findings to me.”
Now that he didn’t expect. “What now?”
“You heard me.”
“But why?”
“Are you questioning me, Lone Wolf?”
“Of course not, Alpha.” He lowered his gaze in a sign of submission. “I’m only wondering why me? Surely you have others in your clan you can trust to do this?”
“I do,” he said. “But I can’t spare anyone right now, not when we’re still trying to rebuild from the war with the mages. The High Council has asked for my assistance in this matter, and they made it clear that it was not a request.” His nostrils flared. “The Boston Clan is in tatters. The High Council has offered leniency to members who were forced to do Ronan’s bidding, but anyone who doesn’t come forward themselves to confess will face consequences. But we have no idea what’s happening rightnow. There’s also the question of leadership. Ronan doesn’t have a child or heir presumptive, right?”
“No.” Ronan hated the thought of having to give up power. He would have held onto the title of Alpha until his last breath.
“I’ll go too,” Sloane offered. “I’ve lived there mywholelife, Alpha. I still have friends there.”
“I was about to ask you to go, so thank you for volunteering,” Anderson said.
“And I’ll come of course,” Jacob asked. “After being stuck inside for a whole month, I wouldn’t mind going on a road trip.”
“Me too,” Olivia added.
“What?” Killian said.
“You can’t come,” Eli objected at the same time. “You’re pregnant.”
