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“Raine is my choice. While I feel a connection to you, I love him.” She looked for a sign of anger or aggression, but none was forthcoming.
“I had to ask. I can’t explain it, but I feel the need to protect you. My cougar went crazy the minute he saw you, alone. I believe he thinks you’re his mate.”
Raine snapped a twig as he approached them. “She’s mine.”
Colton turned towards Rain. “If that were true, she wouldn’t be wandering the forest alone. As her mentor, you should be with her at all times.”
Raine’s eyes flashed with blue fire. “Maddock and Steele were having a meeting. They made a request that I didn’t agree to. I’m sure you’re aware of your father’s fascination with Dannika.”
Colton huffed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. My father is not interested in Dannika in the way you assume. Her emergence interests him. He thinks she is the next evolution of our species. He is not looking to mate her. That part of his life is over.”
“Why did Steele ask me what it would take for me to give her up?”
Colton shook his head. “You lie. My father would not ask that.”
Raine grabbed Colton’s shirt. “You know I’m not lying. You’re just like your father, talking about clan cooperation and protection of our species while conniving behind our backs.”
Colton’s eyes flashed with golden fire. Claws emerged from his knuckles as Raine’s did the same.
Dannika sniffed the air. The scent of danger and approaching predators had her turning toward the trail.
“That’s enough,” Steele snapped as he stepped from the pathway.
Raine and Colton retracted their claws and stepped back.
Maddock and Steele approached, stopping before their men. “There is no need for hostility. Steele and I have made an agreement. One that will benefit both our clans.”
Raine growled. “What agreement?”
Maddock smiled at Raine. “Dannika is now a member of the cougar clan.”
CHAPTER6
“Are you suggesting dual citizenship?” Raine asked. He attempted to keep his tone even while fighting with the beast within. His shadow was ready to attack Maddock. If his eyes weren’t completely black, they would be soon. The sneer on his adoptive father’s face incited his wolf further. His control slipped, bringing him closer to a showdown he wasn’t sure he could win.
Maddock glanced at Steele. “We have made a pact. The wolf and cougar clan will unite. We will train together, and fight together.”
Colton stepped towards Steele. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re suggesting. Surely, you don’t mean living together under one roof. Our clans can be allies, but our animals won’t tolerate that proximity for extended periods.”
Steele cleared his throat. “We need unification. The drawbacks outweigh the benefits.”
Raine shook his head. “I agree, but not like this. Our animals are too territorial. How do you expect this to work? You and Steele are both alphas.”
The look of triumph and power on Maddock’s face made Raine wary. His leader had accomplished something, and he doubted it was clan unification.
Both Raine and Colton flinched when Steele looked down: the sign of submission, so unnatural for an alpha.
Maddock puffed out his chest. “Steele will step down and I will rule both clans. He will remain a clan head. This will strengthen us, and the bear clan will have no choice but to fall in line when the time comes.”
Colton grabbed his father. “What the hell were you thinking? You can’t do this. Our members will revolt. Some will turn reaper. We will lose so much.”
Raine didn’t want to feel sorry for his cougar competition, but Colton’s anger was understandable. “I agree. Even if Maddock is the overlord of both clans, it will cause dissension. We need to be allies, not bunk mates.”
Maddock narrowed his eyes on Raine. “We have made the decision. The wolves and the cougars will acclimatize to the new order, or suffer the consequences.”
“This isn’t a dictatorship. We are a family,” Raine said.
Maddock huffed. “Your human weaknesses are showing.”
