Page 129 of Broken Wolf Heart
“We’ll need them all,” Mia says. “Giovanni loyalists, Vincenzo’s defectors, new pack, old pack—every able wolf.”
It’s not the worst news. But Lexi’s wolf is pacing under her skin. I can feel it even from here. The tension rolling off her. She’s losing control again.
She grips the edge of the counter until her knuckles go white. “I can’t do this if I keep fracturing every time I shift.”
That’s when I know. This is the moment. Levi and Mac were right. It’s time to trust my mate and our wolves.
I step forward. “I might have found a way to fix that—for both of us.”
Everyone goes still.
“That’s why Levi was here?” Lexi asks, searching my gaze as if she’ll be able to read the answers there. It reminds me of Levi and Mac—their connection. And now I see how much of our bond never really took.
“Uh, not to interrupt a good thing, but who the fuck is Levi?” Razor asks.
“Levi and Mac are co-alphas of the Black Moon Pack in Virginia,” I say quietly. “They’re friends of mine.”
Crow’s gaze on mine is intense and knowing. “That’s where you were,” he says. “All the years you were gone.” I nod. “You fought with them in their rebellion, didn’t you?” Crow asks, but his tone suggests he already knows the answer.
“Seriously? That story is already legendary,” Razor says, eyes wide as he looks me over like he’s seeing me for the first time.
“Levi and I trained together for a year. And then fought together for several more,” I say. “Outside of you all, he’s the only wolf I trust to help us.”
“What did he say?” Lexi asks.
“They sent the research to a hex wolf in Forest Hills. She doesn’t think this is about genetic modifications or poisoned power. She thinks the problem is that we’re not bonded deeply enough.”
Lexi only stares at me, and I remember the last time she looked at me like that. When she found out I’d become an alpha of a pack that technically didn’t include her. She’d felt like an outsider in my world all over again.
I’d hurt her that night.
And I’m hurting her now.
It’s the last piece I need to know this is the right thing. Even if it’s dangerous to use a hex blade without a witch to do the spell. Lexi’s only ever wanted to belong. Hell, she’s fighting for her place here as much as I’m fighting for my home.
This is what I can do for her. To show her she belongs to me. Body and soul—and wolf.
“You think we’re not really bonded?” she asks, and the pain in her voice stabs me right through the heart.
“We are,” I assure her. “But true mates…that bond is deeper. It’s more powerful than what we’re sharing now. If we can open it, we’ll share more than just our emotions or even our thoughts. We’ll share my alpha power. And yours.”
“Share our alpha power?” Lexi echoes, brows knitting.
“Mac says it’s what packs were always meant to do. Two alphas. Balanced. Bonded. Leading together.”
“Now that you mention it, the Lone Wolf Pack did the same thing,” Dutch says.
I nod because I heard the same story. Kai and Ash, leading together. It’s one of the reasons I think Mac is right about this being the answer.
“My mother used to talk about this,” Mia says softly. Her eyes fill with unshed tears, which is a rare sight and shuts us all up. “She says our shifter ancestors believed in this kind of balance, too, but it was lost when the human world’s patriarchy bled into our own hierarchy.” She smirks, blinking back her tears. “The Black Moon Pack is the perfect example of what happens when an egotistical, power-hungry alpha tries to rewrite how we were meant to live and lead.”
“Didn’t he try to outlaw fated mates at one point?” Razor asks.
“He tried,” I say quietly. “And it got him killed.”
“Well, I for one want to meet this Levi and his mate, Mac, someday,” Mia says. “She sounds like a badass.”
“When we get through this, I’ll make it happen,” I tell her.
