Chapter 4
[I’m calling in a favor.]
That was all the message had said.
The sooner Raze Nightbringer found out what his friend meant by that, the better. Because, despite being on the visitor’s side of the protective glass, Raze wanted nothing more than to get the fuck out of there.
Being in this place, surrounded by guards; bare walls; the bleak atmosphere; and the scents of fear, oppression, and dejection… it all brought back memories that he didn’t want to think about. Memories that had his wolf pacing with angst.
A door far behind the glass opened, and a number of shifters in orange jumpsuits began to file out, each heading to their visitors. Raze straightened in his seat when a man he hadn’t seen in five years came striding toward him wearing a crooked grin.]
Raze owed Talon Holt a favor–never a good thing when the guy had turned into a sociopath. []
They’d been friends since juvenile detention, where brutal guards had broken Talon’s ability to feel. Now Talon was locked up again–this time for working with The Movement, a shifter group fighting anti–shifter extremists.
The thing is, cops thought they’d caught the real leaders. They hadn’t. Guys like Talon were just the public face, drawing attention while the true bosses stayed hidden. []
Now Talon was back in a cell, and Raze wondered how his damaged friend was handling being caged again.]
As Talon took the seat behind the glass and put the telephone receiver to his ear, Raze greeted him simply:“Talon.“[]
The man nodded. “Been a long time.” Although they had remained in contact over the last five years, they hadn’t spoken in person. “We can talk freely. My guard kindly removed the bug from this phone.”
Most likely out of blind terror, thought Raze.
Talon glanced around. “Brings back a lot of memories for you, doesn’t it?”
Too many.
“Heard you were made Beta of the Moonvale Pack. I’d say congratulations, but I’m doubting you’re happy about it.“[]
Talon was right. Raze disliked responsibilities. Why? Because responsibilities meant being committed to something, and being committed to something meant losing freedom and choices.
It was a lot to take on for someone who was particularly averse to responsibilities. He would have turned the job down if his Alpha, Nick Axton, hadn’t been one of the people who watched his back in juvie. Raze owed him. He supposed he should be thankful the pack was relatively small. Many of his pack mates had commented on how well he “fit” the role, given his personality and temperament.]
Raze had been stripped of the ability to trust a long time ago. But he didn’t lament it, didn’t view it as a weakness. Being wary of others, reminding himself that even the people closest to him could be capable of betrayal, would ensure he was never taken off guard again. Nick was the only person in whom he’d invested any real degree of trust, but the guy had earned it.]
i
Still, confiding in people wasn’t Raze’s style, so he stuck to the subject at hand. “I got your message.” ]]
“You always pay your debts, which is why I knew getting you here wouldn’t be a waste of my time.” Talon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “You remember I told you my pack was slain when I was eight?” At Raze’s nod, he continued. “There were only two survivors–me and one pup; she was just six. I took her with me to stay with my uncles in the Brook well Pack. You probably saw her when she visited me in juvie. Brown hair, huge eyes
Raze remembered a pair of mesmerizing emerald eyes. Remembered his wolf’s curiosity, how the animal had wanted to take a closer look.[]
“I got word that her packs giving her a hard time,”
“Hard time?”
“It turns out she was seeing some guy the Beta.” Talon didn’t sound too happy about it. “Then, a few months ago bam he found his mate. The female’s been making things difficult for Ava. Two nights ago, she actually accused Ava of coming at her from behind and trying to kill her.“[]
“Did she try to kill her?” Kaze was expecting Talon to bristle, but the guy smiled, It was strange what Talon would be offended by and what he’d find amusing.}]
“Look, my Ava’s a fierce little thing I should know, I taught her every combat move she knows. But she wouldn’t attack from behind. That’s not who she is.“] “Did her Alpha cast her out?“}}
No. Maybe he doesn’t believe the Beta female’s account, or maybe it’s something else. I don’t know.“]
Chapter 4
“Who is her Alpha?”
“Matt Ward.”
Raze knew Matt well enough, since the guy’s land bordered the territory of Raze’s old pack, where Nick had once been Alpha before forming the Moonvale Pack. Although Raze didn’t know the Beta as well as he knew Matt, Raze had judged Zarek to be good at his position. []
“If you’re right and Ava is innocent, then what’s happening is a shame. But I don’t see what it has to do with
“It didn’t have anything to do with you before, but it does now.” Talon’s tone turned grave. []
