Page 73 of Forced Alpha Bride
The horrible pain inside me sharpens, a well of despair that shapes itself into a blade of vengeance. “I have to address the council!”
“Yes,” Mitchell says, his face somber.
“Damon, wait,” Winnie implores, grabbing my hand. I almost shake her off again, but I stop myself just in time.
I can’t blame her for this. She didn’t entice me home last night with offers of sex, even though that’s what I was hoping for. The distraction was mine alone.
Mitchell pauses, and I wave him ahead of us.
“What is it, Winnie?” I ask.
She glances over to make sure Mitchell has gone back to the others before she speaks.
“Damon, I know you’re hurting right now, but I want you to remember we really don’t have all the information.”
“What?” I ask, stunned. “Are you not seeing this?”
“Yes, I am,” she answers. “And my heart is breaking over it. My first instinct was to blame myself, but this is still awfully convenient, Damon.”
I want to deny her words, to ride the bloodthirsty wave of rage within me right into Valentine Creek and murder everything that moves. The pain inside me demands nothing else.
But what if that’s exactly what they want?
I remember Regina’s smug smile earlier when we were in the parlor and the way Mitchell seemed almost too sincere. Looking back at the bodies of my brothers, I realize that if I go out seeking revenge, I might never know what really happened.
And the bastards who killed your men would get away with it!
“You know I’m right, Damon,” Winnie says very gently.
“How can you be so calm?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’m not. My guts are twisting right up into my throat right now. I was so shocked by all the blood and death, I was ready to sign the death warrants of everyone in Valentine Creek myself. But it was the way Mitchell spoke to you… as if he suddenly really cared about your feelings—”
“Yeah, that didn’t sit right with me, either,” I mutter.
“And the fact that Rafe and Austin were the ones we specifically needed to speak to,” she goes on. “Remember what Austin said. Would Valentine Creek really have enough strength to take out an entire squad of seasoned warriors?”
“I don’t know,” I sigh. “And that’s the problem.”
“Let’s go talk to them,” Winnie says, taking my hand. “We can’t rush off to war, not like this. It wouldn’t be right.”
I follow Winnie back to the courtyard, taking one last look over my shoulder at Austin’s face.
I will find who did this, I promise you. I will avenge you, my brothers.
When we enter the main courtyard, Regina has a group of her guards standing in formation. Mitchell is on the phone while Cora and Bryce are shouting at each other. From the directionof the manor, I see more warriors coming in. Some loyal to me, others to the elders.
Oh, fuck. This is about to get messy.
“Damon!” Regina yells, pointing at me. “My personal guard is ready. Mitchell’s is en route. The others can’t decide on who they want to send, but I don’t care. Assemble your men to join with mine, and we’ll leave immediately!”
I take a deep breath and squeeze Winnie’s hand. She still hasn’t let go of me, and I’m grateful.
“No.”
My voice echoes around the stone courtyard, leaving silence in its wake. Regina and Mitchell gape at me in complete disbelief.
“Excuse me?” Regina says in a hushed voice, taking a step towards me. “What more evidence do you need?”
