Page 53 of Lycan’s Hunt

“Which elder?”

She laughs. “Nice try, I see what you are doing, not that it will help you anyway. It’ll only get you killed like it did her. She should have minded her own damn business. But like the entitled bitch she was, she had to run to council elders and her husband. She was getting too close, asking the wrong questions. She didn’t know when to stop, and that’s why she had to go.”

“Too close to what?” I snarl.

“Jeez, Aubrey, you still haven’t figured it out?” she rolls her eyes. I have. However, information is key. “Rhett’s father figured out what Rhett was really doing—dealing in trafficking and the blood trade of humans. The fool just couldn’t turn a blind eye to it. It was for the betterment of the pack. He tried to go to Soren but when he couldn’t, he went to her at the council. Had he handed down the pack to Rhett, and remained ignorant, he’d still be here. Rhett took his death hard.”

“Ignorant to what? Trafficking humans to the vamps?” I ask, disgusted.

“No, foolish girl. The Vampire King has been building an army. We knew the only way for the pack to survive was to ensure we were on the winning side when the war broke out. So Rhett cut a deal with the Vampire King. He was only trafficking the humans to build his trust.”

“How did his father find out?” My hands grow slicker in the ropes, as they loosen more.

“His father? He found out after catching Rhett loading the trucks with unmarked containers. Rhett warned his father, but the idiot ran straight to the council and the queen. We couldn’t have that. His father threatened to expose everything to the rest of the packs, and that wasn’t part of the plan.”

My blood runs cold. “So he killed him? Rhett killed his own father?”

Bianca shrugs nonchalantly as if it’s no big deal.

“You’re both monsters,” I whisper.

“No, we are trying to save the pack from becoming collateral in a war that is inevitable.”

“What war!” I growl. There has been no pack tension in years until now.

“With the humans, who else. Aren’t you sick of hiding on full moons, sick of having to bend to their governments?”

Bianca’s lips curl into a smirk, and she steps closer, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “And once we have control of the ports, once you mark him, we’ll be untouchable. The council will have no choice but to back us. Rhett will own the biggest pack; he’ll get his place on the council, ensuring his vote for the Vampire King. And all of this mess will be forgotten.”

“It won’t work.”

I look at her, disgusted. “And what, you’ll be okay with me marking Rhett? With me mating him and carrying his heir?” I chuckle.

“Who said anything about an heir? You’re only needed while he takes over.”

I laugh even harder. “You stupid bitch, you keep speaking of him getting rid of me, like he has promised this to you. But there are only two ways Rhett keeps my pack. One he keeps me and makes me his Luna, two I provide an heir. My father’s pack won’t answer to him and Rhett knows this!”

“You’re wrong!” she screeches.

“Am I, because he already killed my family, so why didn’t he take my pack when he took me?” I pause, letting her think.

“Because he needs me; only I can command them to bow to him and he knows that won’t happen. He killed my family so he has no leverage against me unless I’m carrying his heir.”

She chuckles darkly. “After we’ve solidified our position? You’ll be sold to the Vampire King as a blood bag, Rhett told me this himself.” This time, I can’t help the fit of giggles that overtake me. He has done a real number on her when I just laid it out for her so plainly yet she thinks I’m the idiot here.

“If I mark him, our bond will ensure that doesn’t happen. Rhett is playing you. He isn’t going to hand me to the Vampire King and weaken himself.” How is this woman still not understanding what I am telling her?

I can’t believe he has managed to brainwash her into thinking our mate bond won’t affect him if I claim him. Mate bonds go both ways once we are marked and mated. And she calls me naive and stupid?

“Once you’ve marked him, he has no need for you,” she states confidently.

“You really are as stupid as you look. I felt you with Rhett every time you two fucked. I can only imagine the agony he would be in once I mark him. Yet you still think he’ll hand me over to the Vampire King as his plaything and personal juice box? That he would endure that agony for you?” I laugh, but I’m seething now, my blood boiling at the thought of everything they’ve done and everything they plan to do.

“I don’t know if I should pity you for your stupidity at believing him or laugh, knowing if I mark him, he’ll know what a conniving lying bitch you are.” I snicker.

Her hand whips out so quickly I don’t even see it, only feel it. Her hand connects with my face and my head whips to the side with the force and I feel every single claw. The sharp sting of tears at the slash on my face reopening it, deepening and creating more wounds. “You dare speak to me like that. I’m your Luna!” she hisses while blood pours and drips from my face. My shirt is instantly soaked through with blood.

I should shut my mouth, stop provoking her but she has added fuel to fire that was already blazing in me. “No, Bianca, I’m technically yours. Say I do mark him, how do you think Rhett will take it when he learns you were the one who really robbed him, not me. Then loaned him his own money back, claiming your family was fixing my mistake.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If Rhett forces me to mark him, I’ll be sure to tell him what you did. Good luck convincing him otherwise when he can feel me completely and will be able to feel if I deceive him.”

She pauses, and I see the hint of worry in her eyes.

“Excuse me?” Okay, that wasn’t worry that was her stupidity showing again, she isn’t getting it.

“Once I mark him, Rhett will be able to feel if I’m lying or not. He’ll feel it through our mate bond, just as I can feel his desire to come back here and check on me. And if I do mark him I will be sure to tell him you framed me for stealing the money from the pack.”

“Rhett doesn’t want you!” She laughs, but there is no humor in it as she finally gets what I am telling her.

“He doesn’t have to want me, but he marked me, and now his bond is nagging him to mate me. So I wonder how he’ll take the news that he banished his mate for his whore who lied to him.”

Bianca’s face twists with hatred so strong I know this time I’ve pushed her too far and that she’ll go for the kill.

“You fucking cunt!” she snarls, stalking over to me, her claws extended and I smile, feeling my hand slick with my blood slip free of the ropes.