Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Anything but the one thing that could make a difference.”
I had an inkling, but he was going to have to say it. “And that would be?”
Jered’s eyes went steely. “He is the wolf king. There is no doubt. Do you know how long our people have waited for a wolf king? So long that the last one is nothing but a myth.”
“He’s also young. He’s not ready to lead.”
“He would be if he’d taken his proper place in a pack.”
Now I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Sure, because a regular old pack would have taken in a wolf king. I’ve already had to save him from wolves who thought he was an abomination.”
“Lupus Solum does not speak for the wolf world. They are fringe lunatics,” Jered insisted.
They were. Lupus Solum was basically a cult, and Trent had grown up in it. Their entire existence had been centered on bring about the Lupus Rex. They did it in fun ways like forced breeding and oppression. We’d taken out most of one group, but I couldn’t imagine they were all gone.
“Are they fringe at this point?” Evan asked. “Because all my intelligence points to them recruiting. There’s a compound in Maine that’s almost as large as yours, and the word is they’re angling to make a deal with Myrddin. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that.”
“None of which would be happening if Fenrir would take his place at the head of the packs.” Jered’s hands were on the table, but they fisted now.
Fenrir growled low in his throat and those hands loosened.
I needed to understand if there was a political way out of this. If Fen could take over the great pack, that was absolutely to our advantage. “What would be involved in him taking his crown?”
“Mom,” Fen said.
I shook my head. “I want him to say it. I know he’s said it to you and to your father, but he knows I represent the royal family and I want him to say it to me so that I can officially inform your godfather, the King of all Vampire.”
We hadn’t had a ceremony or anything, but I like to think on my feet. I’d done enough service for the Donovan-Quinns that he wouldn’t hesitate to take the position.
Jered’s jaw tightened. “He cannot have a human mate. He must take a she-wolf. Even the king will understand. He has a companion. The vampires would never have accepted a human wife. I’m willing to negotiate. The king should understand this. He has his proper companion and his lover.”
Evan groaned. “And I’ve told you it wasn’t a political thing. My parents love each other. All three of them. My dad and mom did not marry to cover up his relationship with my papa. So tossing some rando she-wolf in for political expediency isn’t going to work. And before you plead with me to do the right thing and push Fen aside for the sake of all of wolf kind, you should understand I tried that. He didn’t go away.”
“She is my mate, and I will accept no crown that doesn’t include her. She is not some dirty secret to be kept hidden. She will be at my side always. No matter where I am,” Fenrir said quietly.
“Fenrir, would you be willing to accept the crown and your place among the wolves if they conceded that Evan is your true mate?” I wanted to see how far he was willing to go.
“Yes,” he said grimly. “I do understand that I’m needed, but I’m unwilling to sacrifice her.”
“Then you are not a true king,” Jered replied.
“Excellent. Then you don’t need to bother me anymore,” Fen said with venom. “I am fine with that outcome, too.”
“You have to see the position you are putting us all in.” Jered’s gaze moved between Evan and Fenrir.
“And you don’t see the position you’re putting me in at all.” Fen slid off the bench, holding his hand out to help Evan do the same. “You insist that I’m a king, that I give up my life to serve a bunch of wolves who would never have accepted me when I was a child. You can lie all you like, but I remember my father having to kill wolves who wanted to execute me for being an abomination. I agree to do this service to my species with one request—that I have what all wolves want. My mate.”
“She is not…” Jered began.
Fenrir’s fist came down on the table, cracking it in two. “Do not tell me my mate is not proper. She is mine. I don’t care that you do not understand, that you see her and think my soul can’t possibly be mated to hers. You don’t walk in my body. You haven’t heard my call to her. I will no more give up my mate than you would yours.”