Something flickered across her face—surprise, maybe.As if the idea that he might actually protect her hadn’t occurred to her.
The mate bond flickered briefly, hopefully, sensing the crack in her armor.
And if they’re right?she whispered.If I am a threat?If everything I believe about your pack is true?
Conall watched as she finally released her death grip on the steering wheel, her hands trembling slightly.When he spoke, his voice carried absolute conviction.
Then I’ll still protect you.From his family.
These people were his world.The people he’d sworn to protect with his life.
And beside him sat a woman who believed they were murderers.A woman who might have been manipulated into coming here as part of some larger game they didn’t yet understand.
A woman he would defend against the world if necessary.
Even if that world included his own pack.
They entered the packhouse together, Nadine’s presence at his shoulder both comforting and deeply wrong.
She moved like liquid shadow, contained but ready to explode into violence at the first provocation.
The main hall fell silent as they appeared.Dozens of eyes tracked their movement—some curious, some suspicious, all wary.
Nadine’s scent would mark her as an outsider immediately, her defensive posture screaming potential threat.
Conall.Malcolm’s voice cut through the silence.The coalpha stepped forward, his massive frame radiating controlled power.His mate, Larissa, stepped up to stand beside him.
And there, standing slightly apart from the main group, was Quinton.
The sight of his twin staggered Conall.They were identical in every way that mattered—same height, same build, same dark hair and eyes.
But where Conall felt fractured, split between duty and the mate bond, Quinton appeared solid.Centered.Complete.
Everything Conall used to be before Nadine had crashed into his life.
Had it really been less than a week?
Report,Malcolm ordered, though his gaze kept flicking to Nadine with unconcealed suspicion.
We were taken by unknown operatives,Conall began.Professional team, well equipped.They had a facility approximately thirty miles east of here.
We?Larissa’s eyes narrowed.You were together?
The question carried weight.Implications.Everyone in the room would know what it meant for a pack enforcer to be found with an outsider under mysterious circumstances.
I tracked her to the abandoned miner’s cabin,Conall said.We were both ambushed.
How convenient,Quinton muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Nadine’s head snapped toward his twin, eyes flashing with anger.You have something to say?
Plenty.Quinton stepped forward, his usual reserved demeanor now brimming with hostility.Starting with asking why you were spying on our territory.Ending with what you really want from my brother.
The mate bond flared with protective fury.Conall moved instinctively, placing himself slightly between Nadine and Quinton.The gesture was subtle but unmistakable—and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Quinton’s expression shifted from suspicion to something like betrayal.In their entire lives, they’d never stood on opposite sides of anything.Had never chosen different loyalties.
Until now.
