Page 48 of Pack Rage
Mama narrowed her eyes, staying silent for a moment. When she did speak, her tone was sharp. “No vows. Some of her kin may need to be hurt.”
Grigor understood immediately. “I’ll make an exception for him.”
“You’ll need to get in line,” Brand snapped.
Grigor’s tone softened even more. “May I help you now, Alpha Mother? You’re bleeding too quickly.”
“If I die, so will that bastard,” she said softly. “Even if I had hoped to deliver the moon’s justice firsthand.” I felt Brand’s eyes on my face as I fought tears, and lost.
Grigor’s focus stayed on Mama, though he was still in my mind, soothing me. “We need all the hands we can get, Alpha Mother. Please allow me to do this small thing for the mother of my beloved, my wolf’s mate.”
She hissed, then slumped back down onto the sofa. “Go on, then. Just… stop calling me that. I didn’t earn it.”
Grigor moved slowly to sit at her feet and held out a hand, waiting for her to take it. “If we all got what we earned, I would never have the courage to walk under the moon.”
She placed her hand on his, and he did that thing again, where he pressed his forehead to it. Her hair moved first, sort of standing up on end, the curls waving in an invisible breeze. Then her eyes began to glow golden, and her lips parted. “Enough!” she said, just before Grigor listed to one side, catching himself on the sofa’s edge.
“Grigor?” I kneeled beside him, but he waved me away, pressing a hand to his sternum. Now Mama was the one who looked well rested, and Grigor had a little of that “rode hard and put up wet” aura he’d had beforedessert. “Are there any more guards?” I asked, worried.
“I’m well. Give me a moment.” I frowned, but did as he asked.
“Shit, that’s weird,” Brand said, rubbing his own chest. “He’s really good with the bonds. I could feel him pulling just from his own power, not from mine.”
Wearing another guard’s uniform, Finnick stepped into the room with Margarette clinging to his arm. “This room reeks, but it’s the only food we have down here. Flor, can you—” he began, but I was already on my feet and running to help.
The woman I’d met at Southern was gone. In her place stood a refugee, her hair ragged, her scarred face drawn, and her clothing filthier than Brand’s. “Flor,” Margarette cried out as I enfolded her in a gentle hug. “I’m so glad to see you. Where’s Glen?”
Bradley staggered into the room next, Finnick leaving me to rush to his side. The two chairs were carried to the table, and we sat the Hilliers down to eat. I was glad that the kitchen workers had piled plenty of meat onto the platter, since they both looked like they hadn’t eaten a meal—maybe not anything—in weeks.
Bradley made sure Margarette had plenty before he began eating, turning to me as he grabbed a small piece of meat, and took his time with it. I knew why they weren’t gobbling it down; I’d been starved enough times to know it would just come back up if you ate too fast.
He finally asked, “Why isn’t Glen with you, Flor? Is he safe?”
“I… I don’t know.” I explained what had happened, how Glen had drawn away the Enforcers outside. “I would’ve felt something if anything had happened to him, right? In our mate bond?” My mouth dried up as I tried to feel him through our bond now. It was oddly quiet, as if he was sleeping.
Margarette’s hand flew to her mouth, the usually perfect nails split and ragged, only a few chips of red polish remaining, and her eyes welled. “You’re mated? You and my Glen?”
I blinked, not sure how she was taking this. What kind of tears were those? The “I’m so glad to have a daughter-in-law” ones, or the “I’m so disappointed; my son could have done better than this trash” ones? I jutted my chin out. “We are. I’m mated to Glen… and Brand, as you know. And Luke, who’s up in the Mansion, I think. I’m, ah, also mated to Finnick.” Her eyes had gone wide, and Bradley had stopped chewing with a mouth full.
Grigor slid up next to me, and the meat fell out of Bradley’s mouth as he stared. “Do you want to tell them, or should I, sweetheart?” he murmured.
I elbowed him in the gut. “Not helping, Grigor.” He stifled a laugh, and I stepped away.
Finnick moved up beside me, stopping in front of Grigor just in time. Bradley had stood to do something—maybe launch himself at Grigor? Throw something? Finnick’s appearance stopped him in his tracks.
Finnick spoke to the newcomers. “I think this might be a good time to do introductions. Bradley, Margarette? This is mygreat-many-times-over grandfather, Grigor Dimitrivich. Grigor? These are our allies. Please don’t kill them.”
“Your grandfather?” I managed to squeak out, before all hell broke loose.
Chapter 23
A Necessary Vow
LUKE
My wolf paced inside my soul while I did the same in the room I’d been assigned, wearing a path in the plush carpet as I tried to process everything that had happened, without truly knowing what was going on. I’d endured torture, abuse, witchcraft, a lethal dose of silver, and managed to survive it all. But staying in my room in the Mansion while my mate and brothers were sealed in the cells below might be what killed me at last.
I’d felt Flor enter the Mansion, or at least come close enough that I could sense her through our mating bond. I’d even scented her in the air in the hallway when I’d opened the door, but the Enforcer stationed there, Niall, had shoved me back inside. “We may not be in lockdown, but until one of the family returns, no visitors are allowed to roam the halls.”
