Chapter 176-1
Troy
Nothing about killing Evalina brought me peace. Instead of the forgiveness in the old woman’s eyes, all I could see was the horror in Kiana’s and the guttural screams ripping from Lunessa. The fear in Irene. Even Jenson and Willa were sneaking me furtive looks.
I’d killed the matriarch of Darkwyn Coven. It didn’t matter whether it was with her permission or with her encouragement. It didn’t matter that it was to save others. She’d made some horrible decisions, but she wasn’t guilty of breaking any of my laws, and I’d executed her. The worst part of it was everyone thought it was over. They thought they were safe. Was Evalina the only one who knew that Lunessa was her grandchild and Kiana’s cousin? If Claudine found out, the horror and
fear would start all over again.
I visited the families of every one of the twenty-seven wolves that we’d lost. London and Elonso’s men were put under constant surveillance. Shocked, London was doing a deep dive into the two wolves who’d betrayed him, and I showered. It was almost dawn,
Kiana wasn’t in our room, but that didn’t surprise me. I could still smell her, so I knew she hadn’t been gone long. She was cloaking her mating bond, and that also didn’t surprise me. I knew she was hurting. When she asked me for an explanation, I wasn’t able to give her one. I needed to think. To work through what I’d done.
A large part of me wanted to seek her out and hold her. Beg for her forgiveness and tell her what Evalina had told me, but it wasn’t what she needed. After what I’d done, taking away someone that important to her, it might be a long time before she looked at me like that again.
The blood and dirt had washed off my body, but I could still feel it. Doubts crowded my head, but I pushed them aside. If I’d given anyone else a chance to save her, it would be over. Kiana would be the only target left, and London’s wolves had just proven that we couldn’t trust anyone. For all I knew, half my pack was waiting for Claudine’s signal to take Kiana.
That bitch was literally ripping us apart.
I needed sleep, but I knew there was no rest for me. Instead, I sought out London. He was sitting at a large conference table with Elonso, both of them on laptops and not saying a word.
When my friend looked up, his gaze was heavy with guilt. “I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely.
“I want to rip into you right now, but only because I can’t rip into Claudine,” I said grimly. “She’s playing us against each other, and I have to remind myself that if we let her play us, we’ll have lost.”
Elonso cleared his throat. “Do you know how Claudine got to them?”
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Chapter 176-1
Clam
“They both had sons who’d requested to go rogue. I have a feeling that Claudine is holding them hostage. It’s the only way that they would betray me. They’re both loyal. It’s why I chose them to travel with.” London slammed his hands on the table and took a deep breath. “If their sons are alive, and they aren’t in league with Claudine, it’s my duty to free them.”
“The rest?” I asked in a clipped voice.
“They’re clean, as far as I know.”
“Elonso?”
“Morven didn’t let anyone leave the pack,” he said simply. “But I don’t trust anyone. They all need to
be watched.”
“Then they will watch each other.” Exhaustion crept up in my voice, and I rubbed my hand over my face. “The two of you should get some sleep.”
“As should you,” Elonso pointed out. “I suppose, as we are no longer needed, we will make our way
back, although I am not opposed to leaving tomorrow to execute Claudine. Do we think the loss of
her plan has weakened her at all?”
The loss of her plan. I needed to tell them. They couldn’t blindly continue about their day thinking
that the nightmare was over. It was just over, for now.
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