Page 184 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

Sava watched both of us with disgust. “Excellent. Two grown wolves remembered the furniture is not an enemy.”

A knock came at the door. Not a polite one. A hard, urgent rap, followed by Cormac opening it before anyone granted permission.

He took one look at the room and stopped. “Wonderful. Everyone is clothed enough for politics.”

Sava closed her eyes. “I hate this pack.”

Cormac’s usual dry edge was there, but it had been sharpened thin. His expression carried none of the lazy amusement he used when delivering bad news he had already solved.

This news was not solved.

Ronan turned. “Report.”

Cormac stepped inside and shut the door. “The dead wolves were not lawful challengers.”

The room changed. Even Cassie felt it. Her gaze moved from Ronan to Cormac, attention cutting through pain.

Cormac reached into his coat and withdrew a strip of dark cloth sealed inside a clear evidence sleeve. “Thorne field cloth. War-cut. Hidden under the outer wrap on the largest male. The other two had the same stitching under the shoulder seam.”

Ronan took it and his face went still. I knew that stillness. It meant death had become strategy.

Sava’s face hardened. “They masked their entry.”

“They masked more than entry,” Cormac said. “They were soldiers, Ronan. Not offended witnesses. Not reckless young wolves answering Evelyn’s challenge. Soldiers.”

Cassie set the water down carefully. “So the murder maze was less traditional than advertised.”

Cormac looked at her. Something grim and respectful crossed his face. “Yes.”

I moved toward the foot of the bed. “Who placed them?”

“We are tracing the handlers now,” Cormac said. “Two boundary guards are missing. One may have run. One left blood at the post.”

Ronan’s hand closed around the evidence sleeve. “Silas?”

“That is the next problem.” Cormac’s mouth tightened. “No one has seen Silas Thorne since Evelyn made the challenge.”

Silence.

Even Sava went quiet.

Cassie looked between us. “I’m going to assume that is bad.”

“Silas does not miss a public humiliation,” I said.

Cormac nodded. “He especially does not miss one involving Ian, a disputed mate, and a chance to make Ronan look weak in front of both packs.”

Ronan’s voice dropped. “He set the board and left before the blood hit it.”

“That is what it looks like,” Cormac said. “Evelyn is still performing outrage downstairs. Loudly. She is demanding punishment for the deaths of Thorne wolves during a lawful trial.”

My vision narrowed.

Cassie’s voice cut through it. “That woman has incredible stamina for bullshit.”

Cormac’s eyes flicked to her. “She does.”

Ronan looked at me. “Don’t.”