So I open my mouth once more, unleashing another wave of power. Only this one is amplified by the howls of Caius and Volt. The three of us sing in unison, capturing the night with our dark and deadly song.
Silence greets us when we’re done.
I wait.
Alpha Crane appears several minutes later with only two wolves at his side.
Volt has his gun drawn. Caius, too.
But I just hold the phone, waiting for an image to appear.
“The Elders will hear about this, Tieran,” Alpha Crane says, his disgust palpable as he takes in Alpha Bryson’s dead body. “Using guns instead of teeth. It’s despicable.”
“I agree,” I tell him honestly. “But Bryson is known for his silver tactics. I merely beat him at his own game.”
A true wolf fights with claws and teeth.
But Bryson proved long ago that he wasn’t a true wolf.
“Tell the Elders,” I add. “I look forward to finally presenting my case.”
Alpha Crane’s brow furrows. “What case?”
I don’t grace him with a response. He hasn’t earned one. But I do offer him one final comment. “When I ascend, I’ll be calling a meeting. I suggest you attend. We have a few items to discuss.”
One being Clove’s mother.
I continue checking the phone.
There are no sounds coming from it now.
Come on, Clove, I think. Tell me you’re okay.
It’s almost an appropriate punishment—me not knowing.
“You can go,” Caius says calmly, his words for Alpha Crane. “We'll be in touch.”
The Santeetlah Alpha bristles at being dismissed, so three of my wolves step forward without guns. They simply snarl.
And Alpha Crane stiffens.
He has a pack of weak wolves, similar to the one we just destroyed.
And he came without weapons.
I meant what I said about the guns. But that doesn’t mean he trusts me to honor him in a fair fight.
He believes all the rumors, which are helping me in this situation.
Because he accepts our dismissal with a low grunt, making his displeasure at the insult known, and leaves with his tail tucked between his legs.
“That’s Alpha Crane’s heir?” Volt asks, sounding entirely unimpressed. “His son, right?”
“Yeah, the shaking one was his son,” Caius confirms.
Volt snorts. “He looked ready to piss his pants.”
“This phone doesn’t appear to be working,” I tell Caius, handing it to him.
He fiddles with the black screen, his brow furrowing.
I try my comms again and find them still busted. “Anyone else able to connect via comms?”
All my men shake their heads.
I hate this sensation of not knowing what’s happening. Clove went quiet too long again. The last sound I heard was her roar before Beta Gafton dropped the phone. Or I assume he was the one holding it since it was his voice that told her to smile.
Caius throws the phone on the ground. “It’s broken.”
“We need to go,” I say, my heart in my throat. I fucking hate this. I hate that I can’t feel her. I hate that I can’t hear her. I hate that I have no idea what’s happening to her right now.
“I’ll reach out to Alpha Pan as soon as we get to the jet.” Caius sounds as concerned as I feel.
I quickly put three of my men in charge of cleaning up here, and tell them to head to Black Mountain Pack territory when they’re done. I’ll call my father on the way to let him know the plan.
“If anyone tries to hurt a Carnage Wolf while I’m gone, there will be hell to pay when I return,” I say to those at the bunker on our way out.
Most of them are staring at me with reverence.
Some possess a hint of unease and distrust.
And only a handful glare at me. That handful is promptly taken by Alpha Ion. He’ll start by questioning them first.
I start toward the path we came in on when the little alpha calls out to me. I turn toward Jimmy to see him chasing us down.
My heart is torn between embracing him and running toward my intended mate. But the wolf in me makes me squat to his level as he reaches me on a pant.
“You kill papa,” he tells me, blinking innocently with the childlike words.
I swallow, but nod. I won’t lie to this tiny being. “Yeah, we did.” All the enforcers here are dead. So unless his father ran, which is doubtful, then his dad is no longer with us.
His lips twist and he nods. “I take care of mama.” He sounds almost relieved by that, making me wonder how his father used to treat his mother. Because he isn’t upset at all. Just accepting, almost to the point of thankfulness.
“Yes, Jimmy. Go take care of your mum.”
He beams. “Thank you, Alpha.”
My heart warms at the clear designation in his tone. His mom is waiting for him just beyond the trees, her eyes wide.
“He’s a good kid,” I tell her. “If you seek refuge with Black Mountain Pack, we’ll turn him into an alpha that can lead.” Because he has the genetics. I can sense it in him.
She looks ready to cry. Not necessarily in sadness, but maybe with a hint of shock to it.
I clear my throat and stand, then ruffle the kid’s hair. “Go be a good little alpha and take care of your pack. I’ll be back.”
I turn away, just for the mother to say, “I hope Clove is okay.”
All the hairs along my arm lift as I face her again. The entire pack probably heard that display with Bryson. We are nowhere near their cabins, so if the speakers are out this far, then they likely span the territory. Also, everything went down near the bunker.
So yeah.
They heard everything.
“She’s a good wolf,” the female adds.
“She is,” I tell her, my lips almost curling. “And she’s fine.” I say it with a confidence I don’t feel.
But I’m determined to believe it.
“He told us she was dead,” the female adds. “Bryson. He said she went feral and killed her mom.” She swallows. “Clove would never kill Serena.”
“Another one of his lies,” Volt says as he steps up to my side. “And we really need to go.” He voices it gently, but with a touch of urgency.
She nods. “Yes. G-Gafton isn’t a bad wolf. He’s… he’s just under Bryson’s control. But Kin…” She shudders, her shoulders turning in on herself as Volt and I share a look. “You’re not like him.”