Page 42 of Callum

Thatcher led them into the lodge, through the busy kitchen and into a quiet room, which Callum assumed was probably his office. Though it was void of any family pictures, it had a few of Thatcher with friends, one of Thatcher bare-chested on a boat wearing aviators and holding up a big fish. Another wall held a few rifles, and an impressive-looking dagger collection.

Rounding the desk, Thatcher took a seat. The rest of them remained standing.

Thatcher rested his hand on the wooden surface, his gaze focused on Duncan.

“I just received some news.” He glanced at them all. “Last night, Mercer and a few others attacked King’s pack.”

Shock erupted in the room.

“What?” Duncan roared.

“Why?” Elliot questioned.

Thatcher looked to the alpha. “It appears he was aiming to burn down one of their buildings.”

“It appears?” Rafe leaned against one wall, his arms crossed over his chest, a confused frown on his face.

Duncan looked from Rafe to Thatcher, before pointing a finger across the desk. “You did this! What the fuck did you do to my brother?”

Elliot grabbed Duncan when he would have charged across the desk. Callum heard his cousin growling for Duncan to stop.

Rising, Thatcher slammed his hands down on the desktop. “Calm yourself down and remember who you’re speaking to. Your respect and loyalty are to me. Fuck that up and I’ll make sure you never find out what happened to your brother!”

Duncan’s fists clenched, and his nostrils flared, but the sunglasses shielded his gaze. Though anger still rolled off Duncan, he pushed out a fairly sincere, “Sorry, Alpha.”

Thatcher nodded. Seating himself, he restarted. “I sent Mercer to cause a little disruption to King’s birthday celebration last night.”

Duncan’s knuckles turned white.

“Your anger is misplaced,” Thatcher explained. “Your brother could have refused the mission but he didn’t. In fact, he agreed rather quickly. I was surprised.”

“Why wasn’t I informed of this mission?” Elliot accused, releasing his hold on Duncan to face the alpha.

“This was an opportunity for Mercer to prove himself. It didn’t involve you.”

“I train your soldiers.”

“It was time for Mercer to prove his loyalty.”

The glance that passed between Elliot and Rafe was so fast, Callum almost missed it.

Duncan removed his glasses, his gaze crazed and intense as he stared at Thatcher. “What happened to my brother?”

“They were caught.” Thatcher sighed. “Fortunately, for some reason, King has shown a bit of mercy. He’s keeping them prisoner rather than simply sending their bodies back to us.”

Duncan opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. He took a breath. “Let’s go get them.”

“It’s not nearly that simple, son,” Thatcher stood again, pacing the length of his desk. “An all-out attack will mean slaughter. Right now, as it stands, your brother is alive. We’re going to wait it out a little bit, and see what King wants.”

“I–” Duncan started once more and stopped.

“I swear we will get Mercer back.” He rapped his knuckles against the wood. “One way or another, we’ll get him back.”

Duncan glanced at his friends.

“Fine.” The one word was barely audible, but with it, Duncan turned to leave.

The rest of them followed, but before they could open the door, Thatcher called to them. “I don’t want this getting out. We want to avoid panic, retaliation, and another war with King’s pack.”

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