“Look, this is a simple trade, with one condition. That you swear off attacking the pack and worrying about if they have their mates or not. That was your father’s agenda, wasn’t it, Trevor?”
The bear shifter lifted his chin in the air. “Yeah. So what?”
“So, you had to date Nevaeh for how long because of all that crap? You lost years when you should have just been here, in your den, with your woman.”
Woman? Women?
I didn’t know the terminology. And although I’d love to smash Trevor’s face in for what he’d done to Nevaeh in the years he’d been with her, this was a negotiation. I had to keep my cool.
“We can’t do that,” one of the younger guys said.
Trevor looked torn, so I kept talking, hoping to sway him.
“Hey, look. I’m handing myself over to you. If you want to show the den how strong you are, just destroy me. I won’t fight you. That’ll be enough. And you can leave the rest of the pack alone.”
My brain searched for another argument. I hadn’t really thought the bears would need convincing, but then it came to me.
“Leave them to their human mates. The wolves will never be as strong as you when the next generation comes through. Those kids might not even be able to shift!”
I had no idea if my daughter would be able to shift or not, I didn’t care. She was perfect and beautiful.
But the bears would care.
There was a rumble of ascent.
Trevor began to laugh. “That would be an even greater victory, wouldn’t it? To see that pack turned into a group of humans!”
He practically rolled on the ground he was laughing so hard.
And I let him.
Whatever he needed to believe to keep my mate safe.
“So, we’re agreed?”
“Yes. We’re agreed.”
That was great. But how was I going to make sure Trevor followed through with his deal?
“Does anyone have a phone, so I can let my elders know the deal’s done? Then I’m all yours.”
One of the younger kids was pushed forward and he timidly offered me a cell.
Again, strangest scene, ever.
I punched in the numbers for Sam’s cell. He never answered his phone.
His voicemail kicked in and I cleared my throat, now strangely tight.
“Sam, it’s Tayte. The bears have agreed to my terms and will take me in exchange for Celeste. They’ve also agreed to leave the pack alone, and everyone is to get on with their lives.”
I hesitated to say more while the bears still listened.
“So, you take care. Thanks.”
I hung up and my heart dropped, aching and bare.
Trevor clapped a hand over my shoulder.