“My mate is in the compound,” she revealed softly. I finally understood.
“I didn’t know you had a mate,” Curtis said as he looked at her, looking a little surprised.
“I do and he’s here,” she stated confidently.
Curtis gave a shrug and Blake turned to look at me.
Do you believe her?he asked through the mind-link, making sure to keep Crystal from reading it.
I studied her for a moment.
Yes, I replied.I believe her.The love of a mate by far outweighed any friendship, so I understood how she could do what she was planning on.
“This is going to be dangerous,” I reminded her. I needed her to know what she was getting herself into before she made the decision and I sent her out.
“I know,” she replied.
“I don’t think the rogues would look at her as a threat. It would be easier to plant a female in the pack than a male,” Blake added.
He was right. The rogues would be more suspicious of a male than a female.
“I want to talk to her alone for a moment,” I said. Blake and Curtis left me alone with Crystal.
I needed to know that she was making this decision on her own without feeling obligated or intimidated by anyone else. She had to make this decision without sway from someone else.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked Crystal softly.
She nodded.
“There is a chance that something could happen to you. I need you to understand that you might not come back,” I reinforced harshly as I watched her clasp her hands while she held my hard stare.
“I understand the risks,” she told me.
“Okay,” I said.
You can come back in, I instructed Blake and Curtis.
“We’ll need to figure out a way to place her into the rogue pack without anyone becoming suspicious,” I instructed Curtis.
“We also need to find a way to be able to get information from her without blowing her cover,” Blake added.
My eyes were focused on Crystal. She still had her hands clasped and her gaze averted. There was more to this story than I knew, but the truth was we had no other options and this was the only way we could defeat the rogues. I didn’t like it but I had no choice.
Once Crystal and Curtis left, Blake closed the door and turned to face me as he leaned against the door.
"I'm not sure that sending Crystal into the lion's den is a good idea," he admitted. I bit my lip. I was thinking the same thing.
He pushed off the door and walked to the bed I was still sitting on. Despite the stress and anxiousness I was feeling, I couldn't stop myself from yawning. I was tired. I'd definitely overdone things and I was being punished for it. My stomach ached and my head was starting to pound. I rubbed my forehead as I tried to ease the slight headache.
"I don't think we have a choice," I replied, feeling disheartened that the only plan we had put one of my pack members in danger. Something about Crystal made me curious. She wasn't your typical strong and heroic female werewolf. She was shy and soft-spoken. It was like her personality didn't match up with her actions.
It just reinforced my thought that her actions were propelled by her love for her mate. I looked up at Blake. I'd do anything to keep him safe, even if it meant sacrificing myself. It was an automatic decision; I would always put his life before my own.
"So what did you talk to Cade about?" Blake asked as he stood beside the bed.
"I just wanted to clear the air between us," I explained as I leaned against the headboard.
Blake stood, watching me with a pensive look.
