“Alpha MacLennan,” Peter Canid’s voice rang across the room, drawing everyone’s gaze, “can I offer my services?”
Conall was grateful but felt he needed to be clear with Canid. “You are under no obligation to do so.”
Canid’s expression darkened as he looked between Thea and Conall. “I would hope if our situation was reversed, you would offer a helping hand. We may come from different packs, but the world of wolves is one world. Our world. A human doesn’t come into our world and brutalize our mates and kidnap our pack members.”
“I like him,” Thea murmured under her breath.
So did Conall. “Then I welcome your help. Thank you.”
Peter nodded. “A few warrior wolves accompanied my family on this trip. They’re staying in Inverness. I’ll call them here.”
Conall nodded his thanks.
“Or,” Grace said, standing, “we go through with the switch. Give him Thea in exchange for Callie and James.” Her eyes moved to Thea, her fear obvious. “The lass is powerful. We can all feel her energy, humming against our skin. And look what she did with that knife. She can handle Ashforth. Callie cannot.”
The growl surged out of him before he could stop, long and low, rumbling and dangerous.
Everyone grew tense as the color drained from Grace’s face.
He didn’t care if she was like a grandmother to him. How fucking dare she. “Did you not see my mate’s back?”
Sympathy brightened Grace’s eyes. “Aye, I did. And I’m sorrier for it than I can say. But I cannae bear the thought of Callie in the hands of someone who could do that to a young lass.”
Mhairi turned on Grace, outraged. “This is Conall’s mate we’re talking about. How can you possibly look at what that bastard did to Thea’s back and ask her to return to him? If she was so fucking powerful, do you think she would have allowed that to happen to herself? Those scars …” Mhairi looked at Thea in horror. “That was no ordinary lashing.”
Conall tightened his grip on Thea as he felt her grow rigid.
“I’m sorry.” Grace had the decency to look ashamed. “I’m just … I’m scared for Callie. I’m sorry.”
Thea stepped out of Conall’s protective hold. “Maybe we should go through with the switch.”
It was his turn to tense. “What?”
“If you hand me over, then Callie and James don’t get hurt. Then you can rescue me instead.” She gave him a firm nod.
Denial flooded him. “We’ve already discussed this, and my answer is no. I willnae send you to face that monstrous bastard alone. We’ll do it together, once Callie and James are safe.”
She lifted her chin, and he knew she was getting ready to dig in her heels. “Maybe we should put it to a vote.”
Conall ignored the pack’s sniggers.
He took a step toward his mate, towering over her. “This isnae a fucking democracy. I’m alpha here and unless you want to go toe-to-toe with me, my decision is law.”
Thea bristled, her own energy building, matching his and then overwhelming it. Her indignation overpowered his, and her feelings now impacted every one of his pack. And that never happened to an alpha and his pack unless someone more powerful came along. But usually it had to be an alpha wolf.
Thea didn’t even realize her affect. “If your sister weren’t in trouble, I would so take up that challenge.”
The pack murmured but Conall could feel the excitement humming from them. Thea might not be a werewolf, but they knew they were in the presence of an exceptionally strong being. If she was a wolf, she’d be the alpha of all alphas.
Conall leaned down to whisper in her ear, “You’ll just need to take that anger out on me once we’re alone, Thea love.”
She shivered, and he pulled back to find desire mingled with anger flashing through her eyes. “Oh, I intend to.”The pack dispersed. They sent warrior members on a reconnaissance to see what they could learn about the defenses Ashforth had set up at Castle Cara.
Everyone else had been sent home to await orders.
Thea waited near the main exit of the Coach House while Conall had a private word with the Canids. She felt off, not herself. For many reasons.
One was the unreasonable jealousy clawing at her insides at the thought of Conall speaking with Sienna Canid. From Thea’s impression of the werewolf, she could see Sienna was potentially a good match for Conall.
A little hiss escaped her at the idea, and she turned away to lean against the wall, wishing Conall would hurry. Being left alone to her own thoughts was not a good thing.
But she couldn’t help it.
It wasn’t the fact that Sienna was a tall, athletic, gorgeous blond. It was her manner. She was cool, calm, and Thea could see the intelligence behind her lovely blue eyes as she listened and observed patiently. She was exactly the kind of woman she imagined Conall would have been happy to end up with.