Page 19 of Fearful Mate

One of the twins brings Caine and Peyton up to date when we arrive at their home while the rest of us take a seat on the outside deck.

“Do you really think Silas would care what the hunters have been doing?”Caine asks.

I shrug.“I know he cares about dire wolves and that should be enough.I also know my words put the fear of God in Aaron.He thinks Silas will retaliate and I want to believe that too.”

Before Caine can reply, the earth beneath our feet shakes before we hear the explosion.Screams rend the air as smoke billows from the main entrance.

“Not this shit again!”Peyton yells, already running in that direction.

We all follow suit, chasing after her to see what is happening.At the gate, a large black Hummer with dark tinted windows sits idling.All of us stare, not a single soul moving, as the passenger-side door opens.An older man in a suit slides out, his grey hair slicked back neatly.Steel grey eyes take in every person here.There are at least twenty people waiting with bated breath for him to make a move.

“My name is Mattias,” he says loudly.“I know what you are, and you know who I am.Return my son and we will leave without causing any bloodshed.

“I don’t believe you!”Iris calls out, stepping from the center of the group.“And if your own daughter can’t trust you, why should anyone else?”

A flash of pain crosses his features before he can hide it.Seeing his daughter was not something he expected.Interesting.

“I don’t have a daughter,” he says turning away from her.I hear her soft sob before a comforting murmur follows.Her sounds move further away, and I know that one or both her mates have taken her away from this scene.

“What guarantee do we have that you will leave us in peace?”Caine asks.

“None but my word,” Mattias replies with a glare.

“You cannot attack this compound,” I say loudly.“We fall under the Silas and the Thorn Packs’ protection.”I know I’m lying but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“And why would Silas afford you mutts such a luxury?”he asks with a sneer.

“Because we have dire wolves in this pack,” I announce.“And you know how he feels about dire wolves...”I let my voice trail off.

He draws a cell phone from his inner breast pocket and fiddles with it before pressing it to his ear.After long moments he speaks.

“I have a pack here claiming to be under your protection,” he says into the device.

His listens at who I am assuming to be Silas speaking on the other end before locking his gaze on me.

“What is your name, girl?”

My mate bristles beside me as I answer, “Lola.”

He repeats my name into the phone and waits a second before putting the device back in his pocket.

“Fine.You are protected.Bring my son and we will leave.”

Caine looks at me questioningly.I nod, knowing he is asking if it is safe for him to do this.He has to have the best interests of his pack at heart, and this could very well be a trick.If Mattias was actually talking to Silas, I know we have bought some time.It could still be a ruse, but we will have to take our chances.

Caine nods toward Godrick who quickly leaves to retrieve Aaron.It feels like it takes a lifetime for him to return even though I know it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes.He shoves Aaron toward his father where he falls on the ground.His bound hands don’t allow him to break his falls, and he lands with a loud thud.

Another man, burly and intimidating, emerges from the vehicle and lifts Aaron from the ground before placing him in the back seat.Mattias takes in each person standing before him.Assessing some while glaring at others.

“This is far from finished,” he states.“You may have protection now, but I will wipe your entire species from the face of the earth, dire wolves too.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Caine replies.

A moment later, Mattias is back in the vehicle and kicking up dust as they drive away.

“What do we do now?”Thomas asks no one in particular.

“We need to find out if Silas is really our ally.”

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