Page 46 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

Damian snorts. “That’s assuming they care. Most of them have been in hiding for decades. Why would they risk coming out now?”

“Because it’s not just about them anymore,” I tell him. “This is bigger than packs or covens. It’s about survival. If we don’t unite now, there won’t be anything left to fight for.”

The room falls silent as my words hang heavy in the air. Damian’s scowl deepens, but he doesn’t argue. Alec taps his fingers against the table, staring at a spot on the glass.

“Fine,” Damian finally relents. “But if this blows up in our faces, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Duly noted,” Alec replies dryly. He looks to me. “Anything else?”

“Just one thing,” I say. “If we’re doing this, we do it right. No half-measures, no pulling punches. We find the witches, we find the portals, and we end this. Agreed?”

Alec nods. “Agreed.”

Damian hesitates, but eventually, he nods as well. “Agreed.”

The tension in the room eases a bit as the three of us rise from the table. The meeting might be over, but the weight of what’s ahead is heavier than ever.

As the others file out, I linger as my mind races with the next steps. This isn’t just about protecting my pack anymore. It’s about protecting Jaslyn. Protecting her magic, her strength, her future.

Because if these demons want a war, we’ll damn well give them one.

We’ve agreed on the witches we’ll need, the packs that will send warriors, and the urgency of the hunt, but one question keeps clawing at me: what to do about Jaslyn.

By the time I return to the packhouse, the debate is still raging in my head. Logic says she shouldn’t be involved, not after what she’s endured. But the part of me that knows her—truly knows her—understands that keeping her away won’t just be a battle with her temper. It’ll be a fight with her spirit, and that’s a fight I’m not sure I can win.

Which is exactly what Theo is going to tell me the second I bring it up. Still, I find him in the den with a glass of whiskey in hand, half-reclined in his usual chair. He’s been made aware of the situation, as has most of the pack at this point.

“You look like hell,” he observes without looking up.

“I feel like it,” I admit, collapsing into the seat across from him. And before I can stop myself, the words come spilling out. “I don’t know if I should let her do this. Not after what happened. Not after everything she’s already been through.”

Theo takes a slow sip of his whiskey, and the silence stretches out as he watches me with that infuriatingly knowing look. “You mean Jaslyn.”

“Who else would I mean?” I snap, though it’s more from frustration with myself than him. “She’s tough, I know that. Hell, she probably has more raw power than most witches I’ve ever seen. But she’s still—”

“Recovering,” Theo finishes for me. “From both the demon attack and everything else.”

“I don’t want to hold her back, but if something happens to her…”

Theo sets his glass down with a deliberate clink. “You can’t protect her from everything, Gray. If you try, all you’ll do is push her away.”

I open my mouth to respond, but a quiet creak stops me cold. My wolf stirs uneasily as my gaze snaps to the doorway. Jaslyn is standing there with her arms crossed. Her green eyes are sharp enough to cut glass.

“How considerate of you,” she says, her voice sweet as honey but laced with venom. “Deciding what’s best for me without bothering to ask how I feel about it.”

“Theo, leave,” I say through gritted teeth, not taking my eyes off her.

Theo stands, clearly amused. “You two have fun,” he says, slipping out and shutting the door behind him.

“Jaslyn—” I start, but she holds up a hand to cut me off.

“Don’t even try it,” she snaps, stepping further into the room. “You’re not going to bench me, Gray. Not after everything.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “It’s not about benching you. It’s about making sure you’re not put in harm’s way again.”

Her lips twist into a humorless smile. “And who exactly is supposed to fight these demons if not me? I’m a witch. You need witches. Isn’t that what you told the council? That’s what everyone is saying.”

“That’s different,” I argue. “Jade, Isadora… they haven’t been—” I stop myself, biting back the words.

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