Page 36 of Unbreakable Bond
Michael loved Zoey, in one way or another he always had. He’d called her his family. But before dealing with her, Michael had to know what the threat to the pack as a whole was, the one Rafe had come home to talk to himabout.
Pack first, that was Michael. Rafe was the selfish one. He’d thought only of himself when he left. Now he had Zoey and he was thinking only of the two of them. Of keeping her for himself. But he had to talk to Michael first, put things right, or as right as they could ever be between them at thispoint.
“It’s Leo. He’s in trouble. He asked me to get the Moirae pack involved but that’s not my place. I told him the best I could do is talk toyou.”
Michael’s lips set into a thin line, “LeoDeLuca?”
Rafenodded.
“He’s Crescent pack,right?”
“Yeah. He said he’d have come to you himself but he’s afraid it’ll only cause more trouble for his family if he’s seen meeting with you. Their new Pack Alpha is bad news and Leo thinks once he’s done tearing their pack apart, he’ll come for the Moirae pack. Something about you providing refuge for the wolves that have left theCrescent.”
“I knew there was something going on in the Crescent pack. We’ve been getting a lot of transfers from there in the past couple of months. I’ve asked why but they all say the same thing, disagreements with new leadership.” Michael scrubbed his jaw again, “It’s a new guy. Maddox something. I’ve been meaning to check it out but the diplomacy of it all is… tricky. I can’t just walk onto their land and accuse their Pack Alpha of something no matter what I think he’sdoing.”
“What do you think he’sdoing?”
“Abusing hispower.”
Rafe nodded when he realized he and his brother were on the same page, “Leo fled or he swears he’d be dead right now. The guy challenged Leo’s dad when he was ill knowing he couldn’t take him at full strength. Killed the Alpha, killed his wife and took Leo’s siblings ashostages.”
Michael gaped at him, “Hostages? For what? What’s he askingfor?”
“He wants Leo dead too. He’s the last male in his line. The DeLuca lineage would die with Leo and the Alpha can set up his own as a new dynasty. He says he’ll let the younger sisters go if Leo gives himselfup…”
“But?”
“But...” Rafe nodded when his brother caught onto where he was going, “He won’t let the oldest sister go. He wants her for himself. Leo says he always has. He thinks she was part of his grab for power all along. That claiming her would unite the pack behind him even after the terrible things he’sdone.”
Michael’s scowl darkened, “And she’s not hismate?”
“According to Leo,no.”
He watched his brother scrub his jaw again and the familiarity of the act warmed some hollow piece of his heart. Their father had done that a lot when he was thinking. Michael reminded him of their father right now. Thinking. Plotting. Refusing to act until he’d put all the pieces together. It drove Rafe crazy. If he’d been in charge, he’d have swept into the Crescent pack the moment Leo came to him, seized control and then sorted out wrong fromright.
Michael shook his head, “So, what’s he want from us? To challenge this new Alpha on his behalf? To sneak in and steal back his familymembers?”
“No. He only asked that when he returns to challenge the Alpha that we have hisback.”
“He doesn’t think the bastard will fight fair.” Michael nodded, “I don’t blame him considering he challenged the previous Pack Alpha during an illness. He’s holding hostages and he intends to claim a wolf that isn’t his mate. Those are some pretty seriousallegations.”
“I know. That’s why I came to you. I’m standing with Leo. I came home to ask if you’ll stand withme.”
Michael eyed him for a long moment, openly assessing and then snorted, “That’s why you came home after all thistime?”
“Leo’s a loyal friend, a good man and a good wolf. He’s earned my help but I’m no good to him in a fight. I can’t unleash my wolf like that. I don’t trust him not to attack atrandom.”
“But you trust him with Zoey?” Michaelscoffed.
Rafe winced at the blow he should have seen coming. He’d known it was coming and he still hadn’t been prepared. Because Michael had refused to talk about her until now. Now, when he could throw it in Rafe’s face that he wasn’t good enough forher.
“She’s my mate, Michael.” He said evenly. “Mymate.”
“Yeah, well she’s my best friend and I’m the one that’s been there for herso…”
His wolf growled, “Don’t. Don’t try to excuse what you did. You tried to keep her from me. Mate trumps best friend. Mate trumps everything. She’s mine and you had no right to come betweenus.”
“I had every right!” Michael raised his voice, “You said yourself you don’t trust your wolf and I don’t trust you withher!”
