The wind rustled through the trees as we stood in the fading light. A sudden, tangible energy crackled like electricity between us.
“Maybe I should activate you,” Liam suddenly said uncertainly. “Take that power away from Castro.”
112
TY
The moment Liam mentioned activating Liza, my wolf surged to the surface, its claws itching to rip apart the man who dared suggest such a thing. Teeth bared, I lunged at him, only to be restrained by Liza’s unexpectedly strong grip on my chest.
“Ty, stop!” Her panicked cry pierced the air. “Let him explain.”
My thoughts spun like a tornado, caught between the fierce desire to shield Liza and the desire to listen to her plea. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I fought to control my wolf, forcing it back beneath the surface. Eventually, I managed to calm down enough to speak.
“Fine.” The word was no more than a low growl as I glared at Liam. “Explain.”
“Look, Ty, I get why that set you off.” Liam’s voice was steady despite the fact that he’d just narrowly avoided being mauled. “But, please, hear me out. If I activate Liza and then immediately deactivate her as her handler, Castro loses his leverage over her. She won’t be a weapon for him to use against us.”
I curled and uncurled my fists, trying to process what Liam was saying. It sounded too simple, too easy. What if something went wrong? Liza was more than just a weapon. She was my mate. Hell, she was entire life. The thought of putting her in any danger nearly stopped my heart.
“Is that really all there is to it?” I asked skeptically. “What if you can’t control her once she’s activated? What if she becomes... a monster?”
Liam shook his head. “Trust me, Ty, I know what I’m doing. With me as her handler, she’ll be safe. Ultimately, it’s Liza’s call.”
I turned to Liza, who was looking blankly at the ground. Finally, she raised her head and said, “We should wait. We have no idea what Castro is bringing to our door, and it might come down to using me as a last resort.”
“For fuck’s sake, Liza! You’re not a weapon for us to use.”
“Ty.” She reached out and stroked my arm. “When it comes to protecting our pack, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
I hated the idea, but I had to admit that she was right. We needed every advantage we could get against Castro, but what would be the cost to Liza if we utilized her abilities?
A tense silence hung in the air between us. Liza’s eyes, filled with longing and uncertainty, bore into mine, silently begging for reassurance and guidance. My wolf paced restlessly within, snarling at the thought of Castro having any sort of control over our mate.
“Fine,” I said reluctantly, though every fiber of my being screamed in protest. “But only as a last resort.” The words were laced with a growl, my inner wolf’s protective nature bleeding into them. “Until then, Liza shouldn’t answer any calls that could be from Castro.”
Liam nodded. His serious expression showed that he understood just how much this decision cost me. “We haveto be prepared for every possibility. We can’t afford any more surprises.”
But if sacrifices had to be made, then we would face them head-on.
Liza’s spine straightened. “I get it, Ty. I don’t want to be used as a weapon, but I will if it means protecting our pack.”
Despite my pride in her fearless courage, the thought of her being forced into becoming something she wasn’t continued to trouble me. If Castro got his hands on her and manipulated her like some expendable pawn, I’d tear his fucking head off his body and stick it up his ass.
If Castro was intent on bringing war, this was the reality we were now facing, and we had to adapt if we wanted to survive. “We need to strengthen our defenses and make sure everyone is ready for whatever Castro has planned. Most importantly, we need to remain united. We’re stronger as a pack.”
Later,I stood near the living room window, watching the darkening sky outside. The somber clouds above seemed to reflect the brewing tempest swirling inside me. As much as I wanted to rip Castro apart for everything he’d done, I had to be patient and wait for the right moment to strike.
Liam ended his call and walked over to join me at the window. “I have news about Rosalie.”
I turned to face him, my breath hitching in anticipation. “Well? What happened?”
“She was telling the truth,” Liam said. “The loan shark has been holding her sister captive. When I showed up, that bastard nearly pissed himself when he saw who he was dealing with.”
A small, satisfied grin found its way to my face at the thought of the loan shark’s terror. Despite my dislike for Rosalie betraying us, there was a sense of satisfaction knowing that her association with Liam had provided her with a degree of security.
“Did you get her sister back?” Liza rose from her chair and joined us at the window.
Liam nodded, his eyes warming when he looked at his sister. “Yes, we got her back. She appeared physically unharmed. Mentally? Who can say? I escorted them to Rosalie’s place and followed them as they drove out of town.”
