My mate…even thinking it still feels so out of place, but I’m not going to deny it to myself. It’s the truth, too.
“So you see the problem,” Caleb says finally, looking at me.
“I see your perspective,” I correct.
“And?” he presses.
“And I don’t agree.”
That earns me a few incredulous looks, as if I’ve finally lost my mind. They expect me to be the cold, detached one all the time. The one who doesn’t share much, but still comes through anyway. This is the other side of that same coin: when I dedicate myself to something important, whether they see it or not.
“You don’t agree,” Caleb repeats. “Zane, she just admitted it.”
“I heard her.”
He blinks at me with complete disbelief. “And you’re still defending her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” Luke demands, looking more agitated, knowing his mate also has skin in the game.
Because she’s not what they think, because she was following orders, and she didn’t have a choice. Because everything is different now. I stop myself before I can air out those words, regardless of how loud they are in my head.
“They’re targeting wolves with magic,” I say instead. “She’s part of that, whether you like it or not. That makes her a target for them, not the enemy.”
“That doesn’t erase what she is,” Caleb says. “She’s a Voss. Her family has done nothing but cause harm.”
“And?”
“And that means something.”
The longer this goes on, the less I can bring myself to stand for this. I’m well aware of their opinions of her, but if they say something remotely negative about her, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself.
“We initiated a bond,” I say without giving it more thought, needing something to shut them up. And it does.
At once, they fall into total, absolute silence. No one speaks as that shock and disbelief set in, and I don’t make any effort to cushion it or to defend myself.
Dominic’s brows go up as he lets out a low whistle, failing to break the stifling tension. “Well…that’s not what I was expecting.”
Naia’s still staring at me with an expression unreadable, and she mutters under her breath, “You didn’t have to announce that.”
“I did.”
Hunter drags a hand down his face. “Right when I didn’t think this could get any worse.”
“If anything, it’s clearer now,” I counter, unwilling to show them any shame. Even if I wasn’t always on board with mates and settling down, this is the last thing I should feel ashamed about.
“Clearer?” Caleb returns, still aggravated. “You just tied yourself to an Alpha’s sister…from Wraith Peak, no less.”
“I’m aware.”
“And you think that helps our situation?”
“I think it changes it,” I say, not pulling back.
“It complicates it,” Caleb utters, looking like he has far more to say to me.
Everything about the impromptu gathering feels volatile and riddled with issues that still need to be addressed. This isn’t about strategy or politics anymore. Now, this is personal, and they all know it.
