Page 108

“I told you I would leave once I knew you were alright.”

“Well, now you know.”

He smiled at me. “Once you’re settled at home, I’m going to get her.”

To my surprise, there was no jealousy that filled me. I nodded, and we continued toward the carriage. “I’m coming with you,” I said. “No arguments.”

51

BROKEN BONDS

SYLVAN

Dawn painted the sky with streaks of pink so dark they looked like blood as I approached the invisible barrier to the place I once called home. It was an omen, surely. The hair standing up on the back of my neck further suggested that. My steps faltered, but I couldn’t take the cowardly way out. I couldn’t leave Clover behind when I knew what she’d been through. She deserved better. She deserved to make her own choices.

Leaving Aura behind didn’t help my anxiety, yet I felt her with me—in spirit, I suppose. She’d fallen asleep, and I took the opportunity to run off, knowing damn well she would be enraged when she woke up to find me gone.

A low growl came from nearby. I fought my wolf’s desire to take over, to shift, inhaling deeply to steady my heartbeat and keep my respirations neutral. Three massive wolves surrounded me, one with light brown fur standing directly in front of me. Rather than defend myself, I lowered my head, making eye contact with the ground. I waited, expecting at least Caleb to pounce at me, expecting pain and blood. But instead, there was the sound of cracking bones, and I spotted pale bare feet before I lifted my eyes from the ground.

Evander stared at me with thunder in his eyes. “What the fuck, Sylvan?” he said. His nostrils flared and around me the two growled. “Explain yourself.”

They closed in on me.

“I know I’ve been away, but I’m still alpha. Stand the fuck down.”

The alpha bark rumbled through them, and they stepped back. Evander crossed his arms over his chest as another snarl cut through the air. A black and white wolf came flying into the space right in front of me, between Evander, and Caleb and Zachary in wolf form.

Aura.

She bared her teeth at the other two who looked understandably confused, but quickly, she morphed into her vampire form. She thrust her arm in front of me, and I grabbed it. “What are you doing?” I snapped at her.

Her right eye glowed in my direction. “I am your mate! Did you think I’d just let you run off here by yourself?”

“You wouldn’t even let me out of the carriage when you dealt with Bellatrix!” Despite my words, despite my want to simultaneously shake her and kiss her, my heart swelled with pride.

“Your mate?” Evander exclaimed. His eyes widened as they settled on Aura’s form. Recognition sank in. The others shifted back to human form, varying degrees of confusion and hostility merging in the air.

“I’ve come to hand over my role as alpha and get Clover.”

Evander frowned. “You can’t just take Clover.”

“It’s her choice. We can handle this in a civil way. No fight to the death. Just a peaceful exchange. Evander takes over the role he’s been preparing for, and Clover gets the chance to walk free. A chance she should’ve been given in the first place.”

Caleb stepped toward me, but his twin grabbed his arm, shaking his head. I unfastened the first few buttons of my shirt and peeled it off. I shoved it over Aura’s head, and she scowled at me but slipped her arms into the sleeves. We were standing just outside the barrier with the other three now, toeing the more than metaphorical line. “Over a month ago when Aura showed up here, she had Lobofebris. Now she doesn’t. She’s cured by an elixir of her own making. She plans to produce more for our packs.”

They looked impressed. Good.

I looked to Zachary. “Get Clover, please. Ask her to bring whatever is very important to her, as well as an extra dress and a knife.”

The defiance in his eyes was no match for his obedient nature. He gave a brisk nod then took off running.

“She’s our omega,” said Evander, his voice soft. “You can’t just take her. There are traditions.”

“To hells with the traditions,” I said. “She belongs to no one but herself. She has the choice.”

“What are we supposed to do without⁠—”

“You’ll figure it out. Antoine brought her into our pack by branching out. You can branch out again. Form alliances. Get to know more of the world outside of the lycan territory. You’ll have to start attending the Ministry of the Occult meetings.”