Spiral of Need (The Mercury Pack 1)

Nick laughed at her nerve, but there was nothing pleasant about the sound. “This isn’t a negotiation. You will tell us where Kerrie is.” His voice hardened. “All this time you knew what was happening, you knew your cousin was responsible for the hit and the subsequent attacks. But you didn’t warn us. You didn’t aid us. By siding with your cousin and protecting her, you’re against us.” She didn’t speak, just returned his stare defiantly.

“How many males in your pack are eager to take over your position as Alpha, Miranda?” Derren asked, playing his fingers across Ally’s collarbone.

“I’ll bet there are plenty,” added Eli. “Hell, I’ll bet even your enforcers here think themselves capable of it. They’d relish the opportunity to fight the other males for the position. And let’s face it, you haven’t been a great Alpha, have you?”

Miranda gasped, flushing. “How dare you!”

“You cast out every strong female, not wanting any threats to your throne,” began Derren. “Any male who claimed a dominant female as his mate was forced to leave for the same reason. Those who were cast out often took their extended families with them. All of that not only meant your numbers dwindled, but that the males had to either seek sexual contact outside the pack or fall into your arms. You basically treat that pack as a stable of stallions for yourself.”

“How many times did you lead on one of the males, let him believe you might make him your Alpha male, only to then cast him aside?” asked Eli. “I’m guessing it was pretty often.”

Nick spoke then. “Considering you haven’t been much good as an Alpha female, I don’t think your pack would care all that much if you suddenly . . . disappeared.”

“Do not think to threaten me,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Your submissive mate isn’t a match for me.” Shaya actually snorted at that, not looking at all offended.

Nick smiled. “You’re right. Shay’s stronger than you’ll ever be—and certainly a better Alpha than you could ever hope to be.” Miranda’s eyes flared with a simmering anger that scalded Ally.

“But it’s not Shaya you need to worry about,” promised Roni. “It’s me.” No one wanted Kerrie caught and punished more than Roni did, and Miranda was in her way.

One of Miranda’s enforcers cleared his throat to catch everyone’s attention. He cast his fellow enforcer a brief look before speaking. “Clark and I can take you to Kerrie.”

Miranda whirled on them. “Do not dare betray me, Jason!”

“Everything these wolves said is right,” Jason said to her, looking defeated. “Our pack was strong until you took it over. We’ve watched friends leave because of you. I don’t want to see any others leave. And I don’t want to be forced to go one day just because I might have been blessed to find my mate and she turned out to be dominant.”

“All that aside,” began Clark, “betraying our neighbors like this . . .” He shook his head. “It’s wrong.”

Nick didn’t appear totally convinced that their sudden willingness to cooperate was authentic. “If that’s how you both truly feel, you can tell me what I want to know.”

Jason nodded. “Kerrie’s on our territory.” Miranda gasped, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. Ignoring her, Jason went on. “She’s been staying in one of the guest cabins.”

“She’s obsessed with getting vengeance,” said Clark. “We thought about coming forward sooner, but . . .”

“But you’d pledged an oath, and it felt wrong to dishonor it,” finished Shaya, her tone one of understanding, though her facial features were still etched with infuriation.

Jason straightened his shoulders. “We caught the foxes that shot the grenade on your territory. We . . . disposed of them.”

Nick inclined his head. “It’s appreciated.”

Miranda went to lunge at her enforcers, but Jesse caught her and held her back as she ranted and raved at them for betraying her. She was screaming so loud that Willow woke up, at which point Shaya looked close to diving on her.

“Jesse, put this bitch in the toolshed,” ordered Nick. Jesse immediately—and happily—obeyed. Miranda could still be heard screaming from outside the lodge.

“We ask that you don’t punish our pack for Miranda’s actions,” said Jason.

For a moment, Nick remained silent. “You would need to leave this lodge without your Alpha female.” It was clearly a dare. Any reluctance by them to do so would indicate that their loyalty still lay with her. “And you would need to vow that your pack will not challenge ours to avenge her.”

“There will be no challenge,” swore Jason, to which Clark nodded.

“And we want Kerrie,” stated Roni.

Again, Clark nodded. “We’ll take you to her. It was never our wish to give her sanctuary.”

When Nick raised a brow at Ally, she knew he was asking if they were being truly sincere. “You can trust them on this. They’re being honest,” she assured him.

“All right then. Jason, Clark—wait outside while I have a quick talk with my pack.” Nick didn’t speak again until the enforcers shut the kitchen door behind them. “I’m not willing to rely on these guys handing Kerrie over. Not that I don’t trust your judgment, Ally, I do. And I think Jason and Clark genuinely want to get rid of Miranda. But there’s no saying the rest of their pack will feel the same. One of them might warn Kerrie before we can get to her. I won’t risk that.”