“We,” she corrects. “I don’t care what shifter law dictates. If anyone else tries to challenge you, I’m fighting by your side to stop them.”
I nod with an amused huff at my mate’s fierceness. “Together. Always.”
Someone passes us clothes. I dress her first, tugging an oversized sweater over her head to cover her. Then I jam my legs into a pair of pants and survey the room.
Liam and Hodge direct the guards to round up the rest of the traitorous Blackburns who survived the fight. Tobin restrains a spitting-mad Eugene, dragging him outside. I spot Ford kissing the hell out of Gabe and checking his mate over for injuries once more.
After a few minutes, Liam makes his way to us with a chagrined frown. He’s worse for wear, favoring his right leg, a gash oozing from his forehead, and a tooth missing from the numbers he fought to keep at bay from backing up Lorne and Cormac.
“A few ran before you finished Lorne off. We’ll send out scout teams to track them down.”
“Good,” I say. “They don’t get to choose their own exile. They’ll all face me for this.”
Liam bends his neck, his tone somber. “I failed you, Alpha. I couldn’t protect Avery. They captured us.”
I exchange a look with my mate, kissing her forehead before dragging my beta close for a one-armed hug.
“All that matters is that you fought with everything you had. I’m glad both of you are safe.”
He relaxes. “I’ll take care of everything and report to you when we’re done.”
I nod in gratitude. “Be careful. Don’t let your guards down until we’ve got them all.”
Jade and the witch who helped me liberate the patrol cabin come up to us, dragging a dark haired girl between them. Her arms are bound by a spell and she gives them a scathing look.
“Thank you for your help,” Avery says.
“I’m sorry about your friend,” I offer.
“Our sister knew the dangers,” Jade says somberly. “This is the one we’ve been after. She tried to intervene by casting a spell to control you.”
“Yeah, it sucked.” Avery shudders. “I never want to feel that kind of magic invading my mind again.”
I rumble, tucking her against my side. She lays a soothing hand on my chest.
“I was able to trace her magical signature to her hiding spot in the loft upstairs and stop the spell before she finished,” Jade explains.
I tower over the witch Lorne snuck in. “Why did you help Lorne? What did he promise you?”
She jerks against her enchanted bonds, sneering, “I’ll tell you nothing.”
“We’ll get her to talk,” Jade assures. “We’ll take her to the high council of witches for questioning. They’ll pass judgment for her actions to upset the balance.”
“We should deal with her here. She infiltrated my territory,” I say firmly.
“No,” the witch hisses.
She opens her mouth and whatever she’s about to say sticks in her throat. Her eyes grow wide and she starts convulsing. Black lines spread from her mouth, running down her throat. They stink of nasty magic, like rotten eggs burning over coals.
“What the hell?” Avery yelps.
She reaches out as if she wants to help. I snatch her back, edging her behind me with a growl.
The witch tries to claw at her chest with her bound hands, swinging a terrified gaze between all of us. Tears well in her eyes as they bulge larger, her strangled choking cutting off. She crashes at our feet, bile that smells like the same foul magic dripping from her mouth.
“She’s dead,” Avery whispers.
“Fucking Fates,” Jade mutters.
She kneels to examine the witch, shaking her head. Her coven sister casts a light yellow orb spell that roves over the body.
“A curse,” she confirms.
Jade sighs. “It was probably a pact amongst her coven to prevent anyone from finding out their secrets. The council won’t like this. We’ll need to leave as soon as possible to inform them.”
“Go. We can handle ourselves here,” I say. “When you know more, send word.”
“We will,” Jade agrees. “This won’t be the last we see of each other, Alpha Blackburn.”
“I hope it’s not so long next time. And under way better circumstances.” Avery hugs Jade when she rises.
Jade gives her a smile. I draw Avery away, rubbing her arm. Callie and Taryn appear in the doorway with Lena and Beatrix tucked under their arms. Avery gets choked up, towing me by her tight grip on my hand. They rush to us.
“You’re safe!” Beatrix reaches Avery first. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“Never,” Avery swears.
They hug and Lena joins them, wedging herself between the pair. Taryn throws her arms around the three of them and Callie collides against me. I grunt, embracing her tightly.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she mumbles.
“Nothing’s taking me down,” I promise.
“Whoa, Lorne’s headless,” Taryn says.
“I should’ve torn him limb from limb,” I mutter.
“If I had my wolf, I would’ve done the same,” Beatrix growls. “Then I would’ve peed on him.”
Avery releases a watery laugh, resting her cheek on Lena’s head. I chuckle, reaching over to rustle Beatrix’s hair.
Taryn searches the room, spotting Liam. She slips away from us to talk to him. I’m certain she admits she’s glad he’s okay. He stares at her, dumbfounded for a long beat before he pulls her into a hug. He catches me watching them with a raised brow, ducking his head.
The bond pulses, strong and warm, filling my chest. I meet Avery’s eye over her sisters’ heads and draw them all into my arms with Callie.
Avery is mine. My pack. My heart.
42AVERY
In the following days, Caden and his inner circle of loyal enforcers question everyone they’ve captured who were involved to find out how long Lorne and Cormac have been planning this. Turns out, they’ve been feeding their horrible ideals on how males are better than females to certain males in the pack for years, but it wasn’t until Caden took over the pack after his father’s death that they saw their chance to draw loyalty from the alpha.
They failed. Only a handful of the ones left alive cling to the delusion they deserve to live as Lorne promised.
For everyone else, loyalty and rank are held in the highest regard amongst shifters. The pack recognizes shifter law and knows Caden is the rightful Alpha, not Lorne. Taking control of a pack by force, claiming the rank of Alpha without earning the title, and interfering in a rank challenge all condemned Lorne’s disgraceful actions in their eyes.
Caden questions if we could’ve avoided this when we’re tucked in bed or swimming at our secret spring. If he should’ve exiled Lorne or killed him when he attacked me. I believe even if he had, Cormac, or perhaps someone else swayed by the desire for power, would’ve acted eventually. The only way to root this out from our pack is to eradicate anyone like them meticulously until the blight is gone.
I sit in on some of the sessions when Caden insists he wants my input in passing judgment for the traitors. Weston kneels before Caden in a narrow room of the lodge lined with windows, submitting to him with his neck bared. His boyish features are twisted with guilt and misery.
“I recognize Alpha Blackburn as the true Alpha of Silver Falls Pack. I repent for going against you,” he pledges solemnly.
Caden considers him for several moments. Liam stands guard at his side and I lean against the wall by Hodge. Caden shoots me an inquisitive look, seeking my thoughts. His jaw is clenched, yet the hardness in his eyes falters. I shake my head, believing in Weston’s will to repent. He nods in agreement.