They were back at square one. Romano still didn’t see a way for them to come eye to eye when their positions were opposite sides of the spectrum. The Council cared about the magic and what it would mean for the mages, and the wolves, well, they just cared about Kalinda.
An impasse could only be handled by a fight to the bitter end or retreat by one side. But even with a retreat, he’d have to make sure they couldn’t be followed. He needed a fucking barrier.
Holy. Shit.
“We’re not here to fight, Lennox. That was never our intention.”
Romano let Dominic keep arguing and inched closer to Zoey. Giuliana cut her gaze at him. Years of working together put them in good stead, and she slid forward. Wolves didn’t stalk, instead using freeze frame movements like cats. They hunted as a pack. The loudest wolves weren’t what their prey had to worry about—it was the silent ones who would kill them.
Giuliana moved forward, closer to her Alpha, and started arguing with Amalia too. With each passing moment, Romano was closer to Zoey, and he thanked his lucky stars the Three Stooges had chosen a solarium for the meeting place.
“Zoey,” he whispered. She may not have shifted, but carrying a wolf pup made her sense of hearing much better than any human’s. She twitched but otherwise made no outward show she’d heard him.
“I’m really going to need that need that poopourri stuff you can do. I’m talking Tarzan-in-the-jungle wild.”
“Kalinda?”
“Giuliana will get her.”
“Yes, we’re wolves but …”
Romano didn’t listen to the rest of Giuliana’s words to Amalia. Her stressed “yes” was her way of telling him she heard him, and that’s all that mattered. Dominic was right near his mate, and Romano caught him grabbing her hand.
Look likes it’s all a go then.
“Game on, Zoey.”
Romano grasped Zoey’s other hand in his, and … felt nothing.
Well, that’s a let dow—
Vines pushing through the ground. That’s the only way he could describe how his blood flowed through his veins. Deep, moist earth separated under the strain of new life bursting through to the sun. His flesh tightened, pulled taut with magic, and his wolf howled, welcoming a new moon.
Zoey was life, pure and simple.
And in the background, nearly so quiet he almost didn’t catch it, a pup yipped, laughter bubbling up around him.
Dominic, she’s beautiful and so strong. Dude, you’re having a girl! This is going to be epic.
A loud, fierce growl ripped him from the sensations he’d pulled from Zoey—his Alpha’s call. Instantly, Romano was back in action, dragging Zoey close to his chest and keeping their hands glued together. All around them, plants and vines shot up, bursting through the windows and filling the solarium.
“Burn it, Lennox!”
Amalia really liked screeching, but Lennox listened, his hands working fast to create fireballs. He shot them at each plant, withering them, but another grew in its place. Giuliana slipped through the foliage, leaving her heels behind.
“Romano, you so owe me a new pair of Louis.”
She snatched Kalinda up in her arms and raced back toward them. Romano looked for an escape and saw a rapidly closing hole in the wall.
“Let’s go!”
Amalia sneered. “They’re taking her. Yon, stop them.”
“I can’t. I’m grounded.”
Whatever that meant, but it worked in their favor. The group rushed toward the window and leapt through.
Dominic curled around Romano and his mate the best he could, cushioning their fall to the hard-packed earth. Zoey cried out, but Romano couldn’t feel pain through their connection, just a moment of fear.
