I flinch in my bonds, wanting to struggle and get out of here to warn everyone.
Elias paces near the window, losing his calm edge. He’s excited. Excited about destroying my pack.
“Everything I told you about separating Bane and you five years ago was true. But in the years since, I found a new purpose. My pack doesn’t know why I’ve been pushing them harder, but I’ve been training my forces so we’re ready to act.”
The covens would never allow that. “You won’t get away with this, the witches—”
“Don’t insult me,” he scoffs. “I’ve been planning this a long time. Everything was all set, including how to justify our actions to the witches. I prepared for everything.” This time when he turns to glare at me, it’s withering. “Except for you.”
Oh. I’m starting to get it. “I’m supposed to help Bane fight.”
“Precisely. My plans revolve around coming together with my successor to eliminate our rivals. If you become the next Alpha’s Mate, I lose the support needed to succeed. You can’t fight with Bane today. I can’t risk putting you in a position to oppose my plans.”
Because if I’m the future Alpha Mate, I sure as hell won’t team up to destroy the pack I once belonged to. Both Bane and I will oppose his efforts.
“What about Bane? Are you sending him to fight his siblings alone?”
“That’s not what I wanted!” he roars. “Bane was supposed to find someone else and come prepared for the fight. But his selecting you meant that I needed to step in.”
“And now he has nobody,” I point out. “He’s facing the trained, deadly wolves you’re so proud of on his own.”
“I truly regret that. I hoped Bane might take my place. I looked forward to it. But my ideas for our pack are bigger than any one wolf.”
“So you’re sacrificing your son,” I counter.
“His siblings won’t kill him.”
“You don’t know that.”
“True,” he concedes, his face twisting with concern for a moment. “But I doubt it will come to that.” He shakes his head, resolutely insisting, “There were no other options. You two forced my hand.”
The Iron Pack Alpha would rather his son fight on his own and get hurt than have him win with me.
Getting out of here now and getting to Bane is all that matters. I call on my wolf to shift. The living room is narrow but long and packed with little knickknacks. Elias’s wolf is no doubt massive. If I shift quickly and maneuver around him—but nothing happens. My wolf is muzzled, unable to respond. Panic swells in my chest. I can’t shift, can’t escape.
Don’t give up yet. There’s still hope. There’s still magic.
Tentatively, I reach for my magic, focusing on the familiar tingle at my fingertips. But it’s faint and hard to manifest. I push harder, straining to summon even the smallest spark, but Elias notices immediately.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Elias moves from the window, coming closer to tower over me. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You’re being kept here, as you are. And your magic is tied up too.”
“What, what did you do?”
“All you need to know is that you’re going to stay here. You can’t escape. Your mother’s coven isn’t the only one willing to give exceptional customer service to an Alpha.”
Okay then. He bought some magical hindrances that confine my wolf and my magic. Guess there’s only one option left. I scream for help.
“No one will hear you,” he says calmly. “This cabin is on the far edge of our territory. Everyone is gathered elsewhere for the fight.”
Dammit. The only thing missing from his villain monologue was a ‘mwahahaha,’ though the smirk on his lips that can only be described as dastardly is doing a pretty good job without the evil laugh.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be harmed. Most of the wolves in the Clover Pack lack the discipline and strength required to join our ranks,” he explains. “They’ll have to flee or pay the price for staying. But you’re my son’s intended mate. You have a place with us.”
“Or you’re afraid Bane will kill you if you hurt me,” I suggest.
“In time, both of you will understand how this is for the best.” Like hell we will. “Now, I have somewhere to be.”
The same place I’m supposed to be.
