by Ally Parker
A quick movement of lips that couldn’t quite be labeled a smile flashed across Thane’s face. “I’ve always valued your no-bullshit approach, Ryker. It’s a shame you’ve gotten yourself tangled up in this situation.” Thane blew out a breath and shook his head. “Ryker Bennett, you’ve been accused of abusing Council resources, withholding information, obstruction of justice, high treason after the fact.
Ryker stiffened. “Treason?”
Thane glanced toward her. “Kali Sinclair conspired with the enemy. You harbored her even after knowing about her interactions with Delmac.”
Ryker took a step forward, his fists clenched. The tang of copper hit her senses just as the first drop of blood dripped off his claws and melted the snow where they hit. “Kali was a victim. The Council failed her…”
Thane held up a hand, silencing him, and Ryker growled. “Kali Sinclair not only committed treason, she also violated numerous shifter laws during her time in the Outlaw pack—theft, trespassing, brutality, and assault.”
Energy flashed fire in her veins. He said it like she had a choice in being in the Outlaw pack. Not like she hadn’t tried running. Her heart pounded up in her throat. Everything Thane had said was the truth. And because of her past, it was going to cost her future. The scent of crisp linen filled her nose, and she realized Saul had moved closer to the clearing. Thane’s gaze flickered to hers and there was a note of sadness gleaming there. Her wolf hovered under her skin, baring her teeth. Saul was dangerous—of that she didn’t doubt—and it looked like he was ready to pounce.
“And what of your charges?” Ryker’s voice sounded thick and rough. His wolf present in every world added a growled note. “The Council failed my mate. Who is accountable for no one investigating the deaths of her pack? What about the years of abuse? Does the Council not process a duty of care to those in which they are bound to protect? Who will be held accountable for not protecting my mate?”
The air reeked of fur. Her wolf felt caged. Experience urged her to attack. Every muscle coiled and ached to launch forward. Her wolf snarled, right under the surface. Fighting the desire for combat was nearly impossible. If she attacked, Saul would spur into action and all hell would break loose. The air sizzled with his anticipation.
Yes, Ryker had made mistakes. Were they worth death? No way in hell. Even now, facing execution, he was still defending her. If she didn’t find a way to neutralize the conversation things were going to accelerate. Blood would be shed, and she didn’t know if they’d win against the likes of Shifter Council.
Mouth dry, she licked her lips. “I have something I want to say.”
Her stomach roiled. She didn’t know if her words would make a difference, but she had to try.
“What are you doing?” Ryker growled.
She spared him a glance, hoping he’d understand. Unable to tolerate the fear shining in his eyes, she tore her gaze back to Thane. “Has Ryker made mistakes? Yes. Those decisions were based off evidence, not knowing how deep the corruption ran in the Council. I’d even argue that he made the only decision that protected the welfare of our kind.”
Thane’s brows kicked up. If she’d crushed his ego, too bad. Up until now the only focus had been on all the wrongs Ryker had done. She had to draw light to the truth. “Ryker.” She gestured to him. “My male was willing to sacrifice everything to protect our kind.”
“Kali.” There was a note of warning in that one word. There wasn’t a hope in hell that she could bite back what she needed to say. Not when there was a sliver of a chance that it could change their fate. Consequences be damned.
She shook her head and turned to face Ryker. “No. He needs to hear it. You killed your own flesh and blood to keep us all safe.” She glanced down at her hands. Hands that had given her own father mercy in his moment of need and swallowed hard. “That alone is a sacrifice no one should bear. You could have at any moment run to save your own skin. Did you? No. You made sure that nightmare crumbled from the inside out. You should be getting some kind of award, not this… this… ridicule.”
Ryker’s eyes softened around the edges, and he reached out for her, sweeping a lock of hair out of her eyes. A small smile lifted his lips, but it looked sad, as if he was resigned to the fact these were their last moments together.
“Kali, how have I survived without you all these years?”
Her heart clenched. As much as it pained her, she left the warmth of Ryker and faced Thane. His face was a mask of indifference. He could have been waiting in line for a coffee. Did the male even have a heart? She wasn’t so sure.
“What you say about me is true, and I’m willing to accept your punishment. But I beg that you show leniency towards Ryker. He is a good male and a valuable asset to the Council, and as a mated shifter he would be even more valuable with no risk of turning rogue.”
Tremors of adrenaline rocked her body. She’d said her piece and could only pray it would make a difference.
26
Curses rolled off Ryker’s tongue as if they were his native language.
“Like hell I’ll allow my mate to suffer for the decisions I’ve made.” Ryker’s body hummed with fury. He couldn’t quite believe the words that had poured from Kali’s mouth.
“Damn it, female. Don’t give him ideas. I need you here with me.” What in the moon was his mate thinking? Jesus! The female was going to shed years from his life. Anything could result from that kernel she’d offered up. If the Council saw fit, they could very well take Kali, keep her under lock and key, and as long as she survived, he’d have control of his beast.
“I need you to survive.”
If they were separated that’s all he’d be doing… surviving. He couldn’t live without Kali. He didn’t want to even try. Thane stared at Kali with cold, hard eyes, his face an unreadable mask. Even his smell didn’t give anything away. A shifter capable of hiding their scent spoke volumes of Thane’s strength, and Ryker could see why he was in a position of power. Still, that wouldn’t stop him from tearing out his entrails if he thought to harm his female.
“Alpha, the men are ready. Do you want us to take position?”
He’d hold off to the last moment to attack, just in case the odds went in his favor. “Stick to the shadows. No one is to know you’re there. Not yet. Be ready.”
Eyes flashing with his wolf, Thane squared his shoulders dropping his hands to behind his back. His gaze bounced between Kali and Ryker, and it drove his wolf mad not being able to anticipate Thane’s next move. Any creature normally gave off something, a smell, an increase in breathing or heart rate. He could have been conversing with a rock with how little information he gleaned from the male.
Thane stared at Kali for a moment and dragged one of his hands over day-old stubble. “An interesting concept you bring to the table, Kali. An idea I admit to entertaining myself. However, locking you up would result in Ryker being consumed in finding you, which would hinder any benefits the arrangement might carry.”
Kali’s body stiffened. “No. Ryker is strong; he would do what is required.”
Panic flared through their connection. This close it was hard to keep their feelings secret no matter how hard they might try. He wanted to wrap his mate in his arms and never let her out of their safety again. However, that might restrict fighting—which was a real possibility in their situation. Instead, he rubbed his pinky along the palm of her hand, infusing as much comfort as he could into the small gesture.
Thane’s lips lifted at the edges to almost a smile. “You underestimate the power of the mating bond, female. Ryker wouldn’t be able to control himself. He’d be driven mad with the need to see you to safety.”
Kali opened her mouth to argue. He could feel the worry coursing through their bond. He opened their connection wide and gave her everything he had. Her eyes widened, and she swayed toward him. He poured all the love he felt for her, the happiness she’d brought into his life in such a short period of time. How grateful that he had been able to shar
e even a glimmer of happiness with her.
Thane shook his head, cutting off his mate’s next words. “After much deliberation and considering of the circumstances a decision has been made.”
Thane nodded toward the shadows and Saul stepped into the clearing. Saint straightened, standing to the left, Thane dead center and Saul to the right, effectively closing in around them. His relationship with Saint had always been strained. If the time had come where he’d needed neutralizing, Saint would have done the job. After everything that had happened, would his brother attack given the situation? That would be a low blow even for Saint. Yet there they were facing off, and his brother’s weight shifting to his front leg ever so slightly—a telltale sign he was preparing for a fight.
Thane paced between Saul and Saint, the snow crunching beneath his weight with every step. His hands were clasped at his lower back as if he didn’t hold their lives in his hands. “There won’t be any jail for these crimes.”
Ryker’s muscles shifted, his bones preparing for remold to his wolf. His teeth lengthened, jutting out past his lips. Both Saint and Saul stepped forward. Fur scaled over his skin. Clearly, negotiations were done, and he wouldn’t stand idly by and allow them to deliver so-called justice. He wanted to attack, but thanks to Kali gifting him control, he reigned in the instinct… for now.
A growl laced with the promise of death ripped out of his throat. Kali leaned against him, her hand snaked out and wrapped around his, giving him a squeeze. Jesus, he couldn’t let her get hurt. Not now, not ever.
“Kali and Ryker Bennett of the Dark Falls Pack, you have been found guilty.”
The pounding of Ryker’s heart drowned out every other sound. Time crawled to a snail’s pace. He looked over to Kali, her chest pumped fast, and the stench of fear rolled off her. She meant everything to him. As a shifter he didn’t need the sentiments of humans getting to know each other. Her DNA called to him on a primal level and he accepted it easily. So much had happened in their short time together. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to show her what pack could look like, and now it was about to be ripped away.
He’d do anything to protect her. Anything! Even if that meant starting a war with the Council.
Funny, when people talked of close calls with death, they often mentioned how time slowed down. The possibility of being executed seemed to have the opposite effect for Kali. Everything sped right up to top speed except for her brain. She couldn’t think of a way to get them out of their dilemma. All her mind could focus on was that the situation wouldn’t be as dire if she’d been different, if she’d simply accepted her fate with the Outlaws or fought harder to escape.
“Never think that! Do you hear me Kali? Make no mistake, you survived the best you could. Never be ashamed of that.”
Emotion tightened her throat. She tossed thoughts of what could have been away and swallowed down the guilt.
“Be ready. If he issues a death sentence I’ll attack while you get the hell out of here.”
She would be ready. Whether that meant she could bring herself to leave Ryker was something else entirely. If things turned bad he had to know how much he’d impacted her life. “You mean everything to me.”
Thane shifted his weight. With a laser focus, she honed her attention to the small movement, trying to learn his tells. Everyone had them, and if she had enough time, she’d be able to pick them up and as tiny as the information seemed, it could mean the difference between life or death.
“I asked Saint and Saul to accompany me bearing witness for this hearing. I, Thane Carver call upon the power granted to me through the Council.”
Thane’s eyes glowed and changed to the fire of his wolf. She couldn’t help the way her heart thudded so damn hard the vibrations surely rippled across the snow in a ten-foot radius.
“I hereby sentence you both to the establishment and coordination of Sanctuary—a place of security and protection for those victimized by the establishment known as the Pit. The duration, ongoing and pending my approval.”
Had she heard that right? Shock rippled through her body, making her arms and legs tingle with unspent adrenaline. They were going to live? But they’d lose everything. For the first time since she was a child, images of the future had filled her dreams.
She’d only just tasted what life with a pack meant. The entrée to her new life had left her starved for more. Her heart clenched for the loss of knowing what family felt like. So close to happiness and in the blink of an eye, it had been ripped away.
Over the sadness riffling through her an overwhelming combination of dreed and grief stole her breath. She staggered back under their weight, and while she felt consumed with the loss of her new life, she knew instantly the anguish came from Ryker and all he was losing.
From beside her Ryker’s body tensed, his jaw pulsing in time with the pounding of her heart. He shook his head and cleared his throat. By the moon, his pain was worse than anything she’d experienced.
“But… Dark Falls… my pack.”
“Dark Falls pack will no longer be your concern for the duration of your sentence. They will fine under the care of your beta, will they not? After all you had enough faith in Grayson to run things in your recent absence.”
Misery ripped through Ryker where he stood. She felt it down to each thread that connected them. Tears filled her eyes, and she fought to hold them back. Ryker was a good male. He’d worn a tarnished shield, but deep down he’d always strived for greatness.
“Ryker…”
Words escaped her. Nothing she said would be able to take the pain he was suffering away. Being hopeless to protect someone you loved was a punishment all in itself. Unable to stop herself, she reached out and entwined her fingers with his, infusing as much strength and love through their link.
Ryker nodded, his shoulders deflating as he blew out a misty breath. “Grayson is a good male and will not let Dark Falls down.”
Guilt echoed in his mind. “Like I have.”
Ryker was wrong. She could feel how he kept the males together. The fact that they’d gone to so much effort with Christmas knowing it was her first spoke to the generosity each male possessed. That wouldn’t have been there if Ryker hadn’t given them a home to encourage the culture of family. Her life had mostly been on the darker side of pack, and she’d been able to spot the difference between the two instantly. A small twinge tightened in her chest. The men had gone to so much trouble for Christmas, it was a shame she’d never get to experience the holiday after all.
“Then it’s settled.”
Huh. He’d said the words like they’d come to some kind of agreement. As if they’d had a choice.
Thane held out his palm and Saul rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper, placing it in Thane’s outstretched hand. “In forty-eight hours you both will be collected and transported to Sanctuary. This time is my Christmas gift to you both.”
The lie tasted sour in the air. Though it was an amazing gift for her, giving wasn’t his motivation for their delayed departure. Interesting.
“However, make no mistake of my generosity. If you flee you will be hunted down and killed. If you try to attack, you will be killed. If you plan to rebel against my decision, you will be killed. This is your only chance of survival. ”
Survival. The word hummed in her mind. Surviving at all costs—it had been her motto, what she told herself late at night to keep the nightmares at bay. Only, nothing kept the nightmares away. She’d had to live with the consequences of her actions, and she’d have to live with them now. There was more than her fair share of mistakes in her past.
Her only constant; she was a survivor.
There was no doubt in her mind she’d survive. She squeezed Ryker’s hand. Thanks to the male standing beside her she had learned a steep life lesson… Life was made up with choices no matter how the odds seemed. Those choices contributed to the person you became. They didn’t define who you could be. And she wanted to be so much more than so
me cutthroat survivor.
Ryker pulled her closer, his heat warming her in the deepest part of her soul. She’d make sure he came out on the other side of their sentence too. She’d do her best to make sure that he didn’t have to simply survive the situation. Hell, who knew, maybe the mystery location would be close and they could visit Dark Falls? Visiting might soften the blow of all they’d lost. “Where will Sanctuary be located?”
“Alaska. More will be disclosed during transportation.”
Alaska. That would be more than a Sunday drive.
Ryker squeezed her hand. “I love that you thought of it anyway.”
Thane stared at the paper for a minute, all animation sucked out of his face like the reaper was at his neck. “As a mated couple I know you both will be highly motivated to succeed not only in Salvation but to protect one of the members who will be residing within the pack.”
Striding forward, he shoved a picture towards Ryker. She glanced down and saw a strikingly beautiful female with hair a mixture of gold and strawberry blonde that rolled down to the waist of her athletic frame. The female stood with her arms crossed and shot daggers at them with her gun metal gray eyes. It looked like she could handle herself; then again, she knew better than anyone looks could be deceiving.
“This female is to be protected at all costs. Do you understand me? If anything happens to her, you will wish I had killed you here and now.”
Energy arced from the Councilor licking over her skin like an electric whip. She felt the promise of the threat with each word.
Just who was this female and what did she mean to the Councilor? One thing was for certain. If they failed, she didn’t doubt that Thane wouldn’t come through on his promise.