Page 47 of Broken Forced Mate
“Why you?”
The question I’ve been dreading. Because answering it honestly means revealing truths I’ve kept hidden since childhood. But with enemy forces closing in and Raegan’s safety depending on tactical decisions made in the next few hours, personal secrets become secondary to survival.
“I suspect it’s because they know what I am,” I tell him, closing the office door behind me.
Oren sets down the map, giving me his full attention. “Which is?”
“An alpha. Genetically, at least. My father was a pitiful excuse for a leader, but I’m sure they consider that a threat, nonetheless.”
He must catch the contempt in my voice when I say the wordalpha, because he grunts as I do. “Your father’s failures have nothing to do with your capabilities or your character, Wyn.”
“His failures cost him everything. His pack position, his family, his life. That’s the bloodline I carry.”
“Your father made his own choices. They don’t define what you’re capable of or limit what you can achieve. They’re not wrong to consider you a considerable obstacle.”
The words should be comforting, but they bounce off years of accumulated shame and self-doubt. “You don’t understand—”
“I understand that you’ve been using your father’s mistakes as an excuse to avoid claiming what’s rightfully yours.” Oren’s voice carries the authority of an alpha leader, but also the concern of a lifelong friend. “Including my sister.”
Heat flushes up my neck. “That’s different.”
“Really? Because I know how painful it is to reject a mate, and I can’t think of any reason you would do that unless you’re still letting fear of your family’s history prevent you from accepting that you deserve good things.”
Before I can respond, Dorian appears in the doorway with an armload of intelligence reports. He glances between Oren and me, probably picking up on the weight of whatever conversation he just interrupted.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, “but we have a situation that requires immediate attention.”
“What kind of situation?” Oren asks.
“Thornridge has been manipulating commodity markets across three territories, using the economic disruption to cover infiltration operations.” Dorian spreads the reports across Oren’s desk. “They’ve been planning this campaign for over two years, not just the months we initially suspected. They’re doing everything the historian said they would do.”
“All of this to get their hands on that Amanzite reserve,” I grumble. “We need to evacuate non-combatants. Get families to safety before this becomes a battlefield.”
“Agreed. But where? If Thornridge is conducting regional operations, nowhere in the valley is truly safe.”
“The coastal territories. They’re far enough away to avoid immediate involvement, and they have maritime escape routes if the situation deteriorates further.”
Oren nods. “Start making the arrangements. Priority goes to families with children, elderly pack members, and anyone without combat training.”
“What about Raegan?” The question comes out before I can stop myself.
Both men look at me with expressions I can’t quite read. Oren’s face shows understanding, while Dorian appears amused by my obvious concern for his sister-in-law.
“What about her?” Oren asks.
“She’s their primary target. The reason they infiltrated our territory in the first place. If Thornridge is preparing for active operations, she needs to be somewhere they can’t reach her.”
“She needs to be wherever her abilities can do the most good,” Oren corrects. “Raegan’s psychic capabilities may be our best advantage against enemies who’ve been planning this attack for years.”
“Her abilities won’t matter if she’s dead.”
“And our defensive strategies won’t matter if we don’t have intelligence about enemy intentions and capabilities.”
The argument feels familiar—another version of the same debate Raegan and I have been having about protection versus participation. But with enemy forces closing in and time running out, philosophical disagreements about her role become secondary to keeping her alive.
Now, I’ve just got to convince an alpha and his sister to see that logic.
Chapter 14 - Raegan
