“The phone footage?”
“Same problem. It doesn’t prove I didn’t record it after killing him. She had no reason to trust me.”
“And now?”
“She’s already overwhelmed—with the arranged marriage, Claymore pack, everything.”
“So what’s your plan?” Vance steps closer. “Please tell me you have one, because this is spiraling.”
“For now, I keep her safe. If they find out she’s my mate, Alpha Samuel will use her to get to me.”
“He’s best friends with Joseph.”
“Is he, though?” I scoff. “Only because of Linda. Not because he wants to be. My relationship with Samuel’s built on necessity. His alliance with Joseph…”
I trail off, thinking. How can you be friends with your ex-wife’s mate? I’m not blind—I know he had a hand in Cleo’s mother’s death. I just don’t know how or why. Thinking back I remember the fight he had with my father the week before the attack on their pack.
“We’ll keep patrols at the university,” Vance says. “But for now, keep your distance from her. If you really want to protect her, you need a better plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“Alpha Grayson told Aunt Andrea that Dane and Joseph are still pushing the marriage alliance.”
“When?” I ask, tension rising.
“The day after she comes of age.”
“Why the rush? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Joseph owes Dane a massive debt.”
“How much?”
“No idea. I wasn’t there. Aunt Andrea mentioned it—that’s how I found out about Deacon.”
My stomach knots. Deacon’s name is a sharp reminder of the truth I’ve kept from Cleo—and the fallout I’ll face once shelearns it. However, it’s also a reminder of why I have to keep her safe.
“That’s why Grayson thinks Joseph killed Deacon,” Vance says. “To clear the way for the alliance.”
“So he’s going to declare war on Joseph?”
“Seems like it.”
“I’ll speak with Grayson,” I say. “Set up a meeting.”
“What will you tell him?”
“Everything. I’ve never had issues with him—and he hates Samuel. If this goes to war, I’ll need his pack behind me.”
“I’ll arrange it and send the details.” Vance heads out and I head back to bed so I can I spend a little longer with my mate.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
Can I convince Cleo to stay? Probably not. She’s too stubborn.
Chapter 12
• Cleo •
