Page 38 of Cats and Dogs

How could she tell? She didn’t know but she fucking needed to read up on Omegas, apparently.

“He killed Gwen,” Jason repeated numbly. Then he started moving towards the door.

Rye stood in the way and glared at him.

The wolf’s eyes set on their Alpha male’s.

“Don’t make me do this. Not right now. Trust me, you won’t like the result.”

Rye chuckled. “Just try to push me, dog. You came to my territory and abducted one of my females. The only reason you’re still in one piece is because you’re blood to some of my people. But, come at us again and I’ll take pleasure in tearing you to shreds.”

A second passed. Then Jason nodded. “I’m not ever going to attack this pride. Send a peace treaty to the pack. It’ll be signed and sent to the Council.”

The two males stared at each other for another second, and then Rye stepped aside, letting Jason go.

Before leaving, he turned to Hunter. “Come back home. I’ll need you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Christine repeated, after following his silhouette as he disappeared in the woods.

“Because,” said Jas, “he’s about to go home and kill Daddy Dearest. Tomorrow, he’ll be Alpha.”

Hunter swore out loud, and dashed towards the door, where Rye stopped him, too.

“Look, I can’t let him do this alone. He said it himself a few minutes ago: no one can take our father. He’s too strong, never lost a challenge.”

“Yes, and you’ll nonetheless stop and think for a minute. If your brother challenges your father, it’ll be a one-on-one. Jump in and it’d invalidate the result. It’s his fight.”

“I can—”

Rye sighed. “You can stay for two seconds and listen to me.”

“You don’t get it,” Hunter yelled. “All my life, I thought Jason was a goddamn piece of shit, and I was wrong. I owe him. I should be there for him.”

“Yes,” Rye acknowledged. “And none of that trumps one simple fact.”

Hunter looked like he might argue with whatever came out of Rye’s mouth.

“I have access to a private jet.”

The wolf stopped. “Oh.”

“Yes, 'oh.' Let me make a call. Whether he’s driving or running, we’ll get there before your brother.”

“We?” Hunter asked.

Rye shrugged. “Seventeen. That’s the number of times Hsu warned us of an attack. We owe you. This is one opportunity to repay the favor. Do you know how many times a shifter wins the leadership of a pack in a challenge and ends up killed right after? They’re weakened and vulnerable. All the Alpha males in your pack might descend on him and fight it out the moment he’s done. The true winner is always the person with the most support there. Let us help.”

Christine loved the fuck out of her Alpha for this.

“Sounds good,” Jas piped in. “Except, of course, for the fact that we’ll all get killed on sight if the enforcers find us anywhere near the border of their territory.”

Hunter shook his head.

“I can sneak you in. That’s not a problem.”

Coveney was the first to ask how, and Hunter shrugged.

“We just need to ghost.”

---