Page 95 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

I couldn’t mistake who that brusk voice belonged to. I’d spent twenty-two years in its presence.

“Hello, Dad,” I said, without tearing my gaze from Alpha Ryan.

He entered my field of vision, walking around the desk to stand at Alpha Ryan’s side. Brow furrowed, his eyes flitted from me to his alpha.

“Sasha wishes to know if we’re going to war,” Alpha Ryan said, filling my dad in as his second in command.

My father, Nick Havens, gave me a solemn stare. “Unfortunately.”

Alpha Ryan’s lips pinched at the corners as he shot my father a scathing glance for having answered my question.

The alpha’s head snapped toward me. “Of course we’re going to war. We saw the news. The death of that human child is the last murder those mangy bastards will commit.” He rose from his chair, brows slashed over sky-blue orbs. “Werewolves have been entrusted with the care of humans since the end of the Great War, and that hasn’t changed. We must exact vengeance for the human girl.”

“That human girl has a name.” A growl rumbled from my chest. “Chelsea. And I will decide how to carry out vengeance for Chelsea as her alpha, being a member of my pack, gives me the right.”

Both Alpha Ryan and my father blinked. Shock flashed across their eyes. It seemed apparent that they hadn’t realized the child was a latent, or from my pack. But pack law would still hold. Alpha Ryan would have no choice but to concede to my role as alpha where the girl’s death was concerned.

“I will not avenge Chelsea’s death by shedding innocent blood?—”

“Did you suddenly find the werebears’ blood innocent simply because your fated mate is one?” He interrupted, shocking me.

How the hell did he know?

I sensed the confusion that rolled off my pack mates in waves.

“Alphas know these things,” Alpha Ryan explained, his eyes twinkling. “We can shift subtle scent changes among the pack. I knew from the very night you met.”

Though my beta and the sentinel were astonished, they smelled the shame that pooled from my body. Loyal, they snarled at Alpha Ryan. Garret’s fangs poked out. Kevin shifted forward, muscles tensed and primed. Rage soon swallowed up my shame and my vision bled amber. Fire streamed through my veins while my inner wolf crouched low, hackles raised as she bared her fangs.

“Alpha Damon has nothing to do with my decision to not exact vengeance for Chelsea. Nor does that werebear affect my judgment.” I bared my fangs, my voice dripping like frigid ice. “I suggest you choose your next words wisely.”

A muscle popped from Alpha Ryan’s jaw, but he didn’t speak further.

As if my father sensed the precarious situation seconds away from going to hell, he asked, “Sasha, why do you think the bears are innocent?”

I tore my gaze from Alpha Ryan and faced my father. “Because the werebears are not responsible for the killings.” I pursed my lips, weighing my next words, anticipating the reaction they would bring. “The Dark Fae are responsible.”

My father’s mouth slackened. Alpha Ryan sat and leaned back in his chair, his mouth twisted with skepticism.

“Do you have proof?” Alpha Ryan asked.

Although my lips parted, I remained silent in a pregnant pause. I licked my lips and replied, “At this time, I have no proof. But if you give me time, I can gather evidence.”

The alpha frowned.

“Please, hear me out. You’ve heeded my advice in the past as your sentinel. My wisdom has not faded.” A thoughtful gleam flitted through his eyes. “Ifyou are mistaken about the werebears’ involvement in the slaying of humans and you spark a war between the bears and our people, it will cost countless lives. This war could even rival the Great War, span centuries, especially if the werebears’ believe we wronged them and the innocent party. The bears will not stop to exact vengeance on all werewolves. You know they’re unrelenting and dogged once set in their ways.”

Alpha Ryan’s gaze narrowed, but he sat motionless as he pondered over my words. My dad stared at him, flashing me a concerned glimpse. I shared his sentiments. Neither of us wanted a war. Besides putting our people at risk, it would place our blood, our family in mortal danger. After all, my kin still belonged to the Silverfang pack. My throat tightened, breath growing shallow as I pictured Tyler and Sky battling bears three times their size.

I swallowed as I awaited Alpha Ryan’s verdict. Like wolves, Garret and Kevin stood frozen, without even a rise in their chests.

“Twelve weeks.”

Relief loosened my chest. His gaze flicked up, pinioned me.

“You have twelve weeks to prove the Dark Fae are responsible,” Alpha Ryan said. “And remember this…yourfailure will spark a war.”

CHAPTER FOUR: ALLIANCE

---