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CHAPTER TWENTY
My dad took a seatin the office in front of the ham radio, repeated his call-sign into the mic, and waited for an answer. Brutus walked me, Seff, and two sleepy little females back to my yurt. He stayed, talking with Seff while I helped the twins up the stairs into the loft and into bed.
“Do we really have to go with her tomorrow?” Arteisma whispered as I hugged her.
“Yes, but only because we need you to be safe away from the mountain and from the hunt.” Though it was the truth, my heart tore into tiny pieces with each word.
“But she doesn’t get to keep us, right?”
I brushed Nereida’s bangs out of her face. “There’s going to be a tribunal. I’ll have a chance to tell a bunch of Alphas why Seff and I are worthy of keeping you and your sister in our family. Viveca will do the same thing. Then, the Alphas will decide.”
“Do we get to tell them who we want to live with?”
“I’m not one hundred percent positive, but I think so.”
“We want to live with you and Seff.”
I looked away, straightened the quilts, and blinked back hot tears. I cleared my throat. “I want that, too.” Turning to face them, I swallowed hard. “And so does Seff. More than anything.”
I stood and walked to the spiral staircase, then turned and pressed my fingers to my lips and blew them kisses just as I did every night since they came to live in my yurt—our home.
“I love you both so much.”
They blew kisses back and chorused, “We love you, too.”
After drifting down the spiral staircase, I stood, staring at nothing, struggling with conflicting emotions—red-hot seething anger at the rogues, deep sorrow for those who died, and the helplessness I felt giving up the two females I loved. The separation was temporary, but still not what I wanted.
My wolf was eager to hunt down murderers.
I was ready to accept the male who was mine by sacred bond and mate with him.
Ready to get on with what needed to be done.
“Desarae?” Seff took my hand.
I settled my gaze on mysakana. “Yes?”
Cocking his head, he studied me. His chest expanded on a deep inhale. Then, a grin tipped his lips up. A thick eyebrow arched as he gave me a quick nod.
Brutus looked from Seff to me and said, “Desarae, there’s something you need to decide now, and no one wants you to feel pressured, especially since...” He paused, his face full of sympathy.
“What?”
“I’m going back to the cookhouse. We need to discuss plans...” He paused again and took in a deep breath. “We need to remove the bodies and their belongings. Either you or Seff should stay with the twins. Not that I don’t trust that other female because I don’t know her, but her motives seem pretty damn clear, and I think it would be wise for someone to stay here just in case this Viveca gets a wild hair and does something stupid. However, this is your pack, Desarae. You have every right to be there during this process.”
An involuntary shudder raced through me as I shook my head. Nope. It didn’t matter if it was my right or not. They didn’t need my input with plans. I’d done my part.
The wolf inside me rebelled at what seemed like the coward’s way out.
